Congregational Conversation May 2023
2023-05-14 11:15 - 13:00 (America/New_York)

Food & Fellowship May 2023
2023-05-14 11:15 - 13:00

Linking Legacies concert at UUCC
2023-05-14 13:00 - 14:00
Be sure to join us at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 14th for Linking Legacies, a free musical event celebrating the music of Black Americans. Linking Legacies will be held in the Sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland (21600 Shaker Boulevard), and will feature Christopher Jenkins (viola), Khari Joyner (cello), Steven Weems (tenor), and Dianna White-Gould (piano). Linking Legacies will celebrate the legacy of African American composers who had (or have) a connection to Northeast Ohio by featuring performers who have personal connections to the institutions where those composers trained, as well as connections to the composers themselves. This program will highlight works for voice, piano, cello, and viola by Nathaniel Dett, Hale Smith, Dolores White, H. Leslie Adams, George Walker, and others. Linking Legacies is free and open to the public – don’t miss this very special musical event!

Christopher Jenkins

Khari Joyner

Dianna White-Gould

Proposals Due
2023-05-16 21:00
Details TBD

Permaculture Garden/Orchard Maintenance: help wanted
2023-05-17 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-05-24 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-05-31 10:00 - 11:00
A good-humored group of people trims, weeds, plants, and putters from 10 AM to Noon or so. We welcome your help and your company. Can’t come every week? That is OK! Come when you can.
Have questions?
Contact Tom Gibson or Dan Homans.
We meet every Wednesday during the garden season
Bring yourself and your favorite tools and maybe some water
we are a fun group

FDR Musical Play: Aristocats
2023-05-20 14:00 - 16:00
Disney Musical, The Aristocats
Saturday, May 20, 2 pm
FDR Academy, 800 Linn Drive, Cleveland 44108
This year FDR is performing Disney’s “Aristocats”. UUCC support this year includes some hands-on and financial help with snacks, scenery/ costumes, providing a videographer, and a cake for the cast party. Special recognition is due to our own Becky Burns, who has been serving most ably and tirelessly since last fall as the Volunteer Music Director!
This is the fourth year that FDR has been selected for a prestigious grant to perform a Disney musical, with assistance from Playhouse Square. Some of you may remember the fun in previous years of painting parties, making costumes and props, and attending performances at FDR. We know how participation in the arts can be a transformative experience, and we’re glad to participate.

Congregational Conversation: Article II & GA
2023-05-21 09:00 - 10:00
UUCC Delegates to the 2023 General Assembly will share results from the 2023 UUCC General Assembly Survey and facilitate a discussion about what has been learned. The goal is to provide guidance to the Delegates who will be voting on Article II at GA and involve the congregation more in the issue. A follow-up survey will be created based on the results and survey discussion. Topics include:

Current or Proposed UUA Purpose statement
Current Principles or proposed Values for the UUA
Current Sources or proposed Inspirations for the UUA
Current or proposed UUA Inclusion statement
Current or proposed UUA Freedom of Belief Statement
Current or Proposed Article II
General Assembly Topic Preferences

Tour Rustbelt Riders Compost Facility
2023-05-24 11:00 - 12:30
Composting Tour at Rustbelt Riders
Free Tour
Ministry for Earth is sponsoring up to 15 people for a tour of RBR’s facility on Wed, May 24th @ 11am on 2701 St Clair Ave, Cleveland.
1 hour tour + Q&A.
Please contact Dana Hercbergs
Call: 216-816-8675

GCC Delegate Assembly in Person
2023-05-25 19:00 - 20:30
After several years of being apart, Greater Cleveland Congregations (GCC) will gather together in person!
Thursday May 25, 2023
7 PM
Imani United Church of Christ
832 E 222nd Street
Euclid, Ohio 44123
We are excited about coming together again as a whole organization! In order to re-acquaint ourselves, or make new acquaintances, the assembly will include one-on-one gatherings along with house meetings, where groups of leaders will sit together for a guided discussion. Once again our EngageGCC tri-chairs, Marcia Levine, Susan Reis and Willie Brown, whose congregation is hosting the assembly, will lead the meeting.

All are welcome to participate and you can sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJKts_OIwNLLF-Uu6HP91DuC9KomgKapEoYanIUI0AMz1zdw/viewform?usp=sf_link

GCC Updates
Last month, leaders of the GCC Juvenile Bindover Team had an unprecedented meeting with all six of Cuyahoga County’s juvenile judges to establish a relationship and to express GCC’s deep concerns about the bindover of youth to adult court. As a result of the meeting, the judges have invited GCC leaders to sit in on their courts and individual meetings with the judges will be scheduled to continue this extremely important dialogue.

In recognition of GCC leader Donna Weinberger‘s efforts, the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board has chosen Donna and GCC to receive a Helping Hands Award for their work as longtime advocates for reforming criminal justice systems and policies to include diversion efforts and education related to mental health and substance use disorders in Cuyahoga County. Congratulations to Donna and the team!

Last month, nine GCC staff and leaders joined eight other organizations in Washington, DC to form a New Organizing Alliance and discuss how the group can work together to create change. At the meeting an interim structure was outlined, leading eventually to the formation of a member-based collective that will leverage the expertise of each organization. The new organizing alliance will have two national trainings, one this coming fall in Washington, DC and one next spring in Cleveland.

UU Taboos: Sin
2023-05-28 19:00 - 20:30
The words we use matter. But the words we don’t use matter too.
I have been hoping to find a way to talk about words and what is wrapped up in them, especially when our spirituality is at issue. Here’s my attempt at that: a set of conversations about some of the words we don’t use. And hopefully along with that, a chance to enjoy one another’s company and some beautiful Summer evenings outdoors.
Being able to ask meaningful questions of ourselves requires looking at our assumptions, biases and implicit feelings. And since we create brave space at UUCC, I invite us to do just that about some of the big picture religious ideas that sometimes rattle around when we work on big ideas.
What are these ideas that often show up as what we are trying NOT to do, and NOT to be? What are our feelings about these ideas? What can we learn about ourselves by reflecting on our feelings? And how else may we understand these ideas? How can they challenge us? What can we learn by thinking with them as well as against them?
These conversations will have a particular structure. Its going to be a casual conversation. There’s no curriculum here. Instead, the goal will be to invite those who join the conversation to express their feelings about one of our taboos. After we get those feelings out, I’ll hope to give some wider context, some other points of view that we might reflect on. After some discussion, we’ll invite one another to express some new directions they could see for these taboo ideas that hopefully lead to more discussion.
We’ll be gathering on Sunday evenings in either the garden or on the East lawn, unless weather chases us inside. I sincerely hope some fireflies join us.

Board Presentation on Proposed Changes to the Code of Regulations
2023-06-01 19:00 - 20:00
The Board of Trustees will be holding a zoom session to present and discuss the proposed changes to the Code of Regulations.
This meeting will be held on Zoom on Thursday, June 1, at 7 pm. Please register here if you would like to attend.
The proposed changes are available via the Annual Meeting Agenda.
We hope to see you there and answer all your questions!

March with Pride for All Ages
2023-06-03 09:00 - 14:00
Join UUCC’s Pride for All Ages group for the Pride Parade and Festival. We’ll meet at 9:00 a.m. at the Shaker Building and hop the Rapid to the staging area. Staging starts at 10:00, with kickoff at 11:00. If you don’t want to meet up beforehand, just look for our banner. This is a fun, family-friendly opportunity to live your UU values!

Tour of the Shaker Building
2023-06-04 11:15 - 11:45 | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Boulevard, Shaker Heights, 44120, United States
Please join us for a fun and informative tour of the UUCC Shaker building immediately after service.

UUCC 2023 Annual Meeting
2023-06-04 11:30 - 12:30
The Annual Meeting of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland will be held on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at approximately 11:30 am. The meeting follows the UUCC Sunday Worship Service. The meeting will be in person, with a Zoom option. Please pre-register for the Zoom meeting here. The Board of Trustees will host a pizza, salad and ice cream picnic immediately following the meeting.

All members are urged to attend. The list of eligible members is posted at UUCC. If you are unsure of your status please inquire to boardpresident@uucleveland.org by May 31.

Click here for the Agenda and supporting materials.

Orchard Perennial Planting and Pizza Party Saturday
2023-06-10 10:00 - 13:00
June 10, 10 AM to 1 PM
We need help getting new Plants in the ground: Come fill out the rest of the UUCC apple orchard with beautiful, pollinator-friendly perennials. We’ll have almost 500 plant plugs and full-sized plants expressly designated by Cornell University as attractive to apple orchard pollinators. Bring hand trowels marked with your names. We’re inviting UUCC neighbors, as well as members for a fun event. Pizza (both kid-friendly and veggie, plus drinks) will be provided.

UU Taboos: Dogma
2023-06-11 19:00 - 20:30

Film Screening and Discussion: “Our Common Humanity:
2023-06-15 19:00 - 20:30
Our Common Humanity: The 1858 Oberlin Wellington Rescue and the Trial of the Century
Shaker Library presents the documentary “A Common Humanity” on the 1858 Oberlin Wellington Rescue, in which the community defended the freedom of Black neighbor John Price against slavecatchers, and the resulting ‘Trial of the Century’ in Cleveland, which tested the Fugitive Slave Law in Ohio.
Filmmakers Kevin Cronin and Peter J. Manos (both SHHS class of 1976) will lead a discussion following the screening.
Produced with support of Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Cosponsored by the Shaker Historical Society.
Come watch the film & meet the filmmakers at the Shaker library on June 15, 7-8:30 pm OR join the event online,
Registration link: https://events.shakerlibrary.org/event/10466989

Brush up on this amazing story:
https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/oberlin-wellingtonrescue/
https://www.oberlinheritagecenter.org/cms/files/File/OB-Wellington%20Rescue.pdf

Registration is required. There are 74 in-person seats available. There are 179 online seats available.

UU Taboos: Salvation
2023-06-18 19:00 - 20:30

GCC presents to Cuyahoga County Council: Pre-Trial Justice
2023-06-20 16:30
Be one of the GCC 100!
Please sign up to support Greater Cleveland Congregations at the Cuyahoga County Council meeting on Tuesday, June 20 at 4:30 pm. The GCC Pretrial Justice Team will be talking about what the Council can do now to prevent unnecessary incarceration, bring down the jail’s population, and provide public safety.
We need 100 people to show up!
E-mail or text Pat Dillard to sign up (at patdillard13@gmail.com) and we will send you complete information. Join fellow UUCCers at 4pm in the parking lot to carpool to the Cuyahoga County Council meeting. We will be gathering up with other GCC people at 4:30 outside the chambers. Wear your yellow GCC shirt (if you don’t have one, you will obtain one there). Our own Pat Dillard will be one of 4 speakers! We will leave shortly after 4pm, so please be prompt. There is free parking if you are going on your own.

Don’t forget to also sign up on the form below so the GCC folks know you are coming

Pre-Trial Justice Team to Present at the June 20th Cuyahoga County Council Meeting
GCC’s Pre-Trial Justice Team is working on reducing jail before trial in Cuyahoga County. On June 20th, it will present to the County Council its research showing that jail before trial does not increase public safety and does hurt people who are presumed innocent. The team will ask the Council to reduce the number of beds they fund (through a smaller jail or renovations) and to fund pre-trial services that will improve the safety of all.The team would like GCC leaders to join them at the meeting. Wear your GCC t-shirts and/or buttons if have them! Public comment begins at 5pm at the County Administration Building, 2079 E 9th Street. If you are attending, please be there by 4:30pm. (Parking in the County lot will be free if you ask for validation.) Questions? Contact Louise McKinney at louisewennermckinney@gmail.com.Please sign up here if you are planning to attend: https://forms.gle/5N8HAoCK9PbWpcTD9
We want to show our power to the Council!

Summer Solstice: Walk the Labyrinth
2023-06-21 19:00 - 20:30
The UUCC Earth-Centered Spirituality Group invites you to a celebration of the Summer Solstice

Join us as we celebrate the coming of summer
and walk the labyrinth
Wednesday, June 21st at 7:00 p.m.
on the west lawn at UUCC
21600 Shaker Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH
Please bring a chair or something to sit on.
For more information contact Peggy at wtchywmn9@gmail.com

Also

COME AND WALK THE LABYRINTH

From June 22nd through July 3rd
On the west lawn of
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland
21600 Shaker Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH 44122

The Labyrinth is a form of walking meditation that is centuries old.
It is used by many different faiths for
spiritual centering, contemplation, and prayer.
We hope you will take some time to experience
this wonderful form of meditation.
For more information contact wtchywmn9@gmail.com

UU Taboos: Evangelize
2023-06-25 19:00 - 20:30

Spring Clean out Dumpster Arrives
2023-06-26
Dumpster will be available starting June 26th
Attention Everybody!
Congregational Members, Staff, Teachers and Renters
UUCC Operation Council and the Building & Grounds Team are going to do a “purge-cleanout” of spaces and closets in the Shaker Building. In particular we are want to clear off the stage. We have schedule a 20-30 yard dumpster to be available on-site starting June 26th.
Please take time out of your busy schedule to “pitch, throw away, dump” any broken items into the dumpster. Staff and a work party will be purging items from various spaces, e. g. stage, boiler room, garage, etc. If there is anything you want to keep that is on the stage, please remove it from the stage other wise it will be tossed into the dumpster.
There may be items that you have in cabinets and/or closets that would be ideal for the FREE CYCLE event. Free Cycle is planned for later in 2023. You could save some items for Free Cycle, but put them in a box, mark it “Free Cycle” and remember to bring them out on Free cycle Day.

Proposals Reviewed at Board Meeting
2023-06-27 19:00 - 21:00

Walk the Labyrinth with Shirley Nelson
2023-07-02 11:30
The Labyrinth is a form of walking meditation that is centuries old. It is used by many different faiths for spiritual centering, contemplation, and prayer. The Earth Centered Spirituality Group will be constructing a labyrinth on the west lawn. It will be available from June 22nd through July 3rd.

On Sunday, July 2nd around 11:30 after the Sunday Service Shirley Nelson will be facilitating a Labyrinth Walk
All are welcome: for anyone who would like to learn more about the Labyrinth and how to walk it.
We hope you will take some time to experience this wonderful form of meditation.

For more information, contact Peggy Lagodny at wtchywmn9@gmail.com

Announcement of Funded Projects
2023-07-03

UUCC Freecycle 2023
2023-07-09 11:15 - 12:30 | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Boulevard, Shaker Heights, 44120, United States
Don’t throw it away. Give it away. Bring things in decent condition (nothing broken, torn or otherwise unusable) and put them on tables outside the Church and SWAP. if you would like a table contact sharon.edmond@uucleveland.org.
Set up 9 am – 9:45 am
Shop after church from 11:15 pm to 12:15 pm
Volunteers welcome and needed for clean-up at 12:30 pm

Outdoor concert with Moises Borges and Friends
2023-07-09 13:00 - 14:30 | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Boulevard, Shaker Heights, 44120, United States
Join us on Sunday, July 9th for a special musical treat! You’re encouraged to bring a picnic lunch (and maybe some to share) for after the service, and then Brazilian jazz guitarist and singer Moises Borges will perform a live concert on the east lawn (or in Fellowship Hall in case of rain), beginning at 1 p.m. Moises will be joined by percussionist Dylan Moffitt along with other great musicians – there will even be a special guest appearance from members of UUCC’s Chancel Choir! Donations are welcome to defer the musicians’ costs, but there is no cost for admission. Bring a lawn chair and a friend – I’ll see you at the show!

Obon Japanese Festival
2023-07-16 12:00 - 17:00 | Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland, 21600 Shaker Boulevard, Shaker Heights, 44120, United States
Come one – come all! Cleveland Buddhist Temple is hosting the special celebration here at the UUCC on July 16th.
Come join us and be part of the fun! CBT – Obon 2023 Flyer
