Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland

What is Our Connection to the Crisis in Israel/Palestine?"
2023-11-27 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Join Mark Weber and Don Bryant virtually on Zoom with UUs from UUCC, West Shore, and SouthWest.

Three topics to be addressed:

Mar and Don will begin with, “How I got involved” ;

What is missing from the dominant narrative – historical perspective?

What local communities and organizations they have worked with.

For the link, please email Laurie at sunnyskies2023@yahoo.com. We look forward to seeing you!

November 2023 UUCC Board Meeting
2023-11-28 19:00 - 21:00
UUCC is governed by an elected Board of Trustees. The Board is responsible for determining and upholding the mission and vision of our congregation, as well as for making financial and legal decisions. The Board of Trustees meets on the 4th Tuesday of the month. All Congregation Members are welcome to attend Board meetings, except when an Executive Session has been called. Members may address the Board only by prior arrangement with the President.

To attend the Board meeting, send an email to board@uucleveland.org for the Zoom link.

Fact Distinguished Speaker: "The Power of Scenery: Fredrick Law Olmsted and the Origin of National Parks"
2023-12-02 15:00 - 16:30
Next Distinguished Speaker via Zoom: Dennis Drabelle – December 2, 3 PM ET via Zoom

Register Here

Frederick Law Olmsted saw city parks as vital to the pursuit of happiness and wanted them to be established for all to enjoy. When he wrote down his philosophy for managing Yosemite, a new and different kind of park, one that preserves a great natural site in the wilds, he had no idea that he was creating a visionary blueprint for national parks to come.

Dennis Drabelle provides a history of the national park concept, adding to our understanding of American environmental thought and linking Olmsted with three of the country’s national treasures. The Power of Scenery tells the fascinating story of how the national park movement arose, evolved, and has spread around the world.

Participants in this Zoom event will be eligible to win a copy of The Power of Scenery.

Ohio Post-Election Analysis: Where Are We Now?
2023-12-03 09:00 - 10:00
Join in person or via Zoom

Speaker: J. Cherie Strachan, PhD, Director, Ray C. Bliss Institute of Applied Politics, Political Science Professor, University of Akron.

History will mark the Fall 2023 Ohio elections as two of the most controversial in our state’s history. How did we get there and where will the results take us?

December Potluck Food & Fellowship
2023-12-10 11:30 - 13:00

Recognizing and Resisting Fascism as People of Faith
2023-12-12 20:00 - 21:30
Zoom Presentation Register Here:Rev. Cecilia Kingman has been studying authoritarian systems for most of her life and is currently doing doctoral work at the Pacific School of Religion on the responses of faith communities to fascist and totalitarian regimes. After the collapse of the communist dictatorship in Romania, she spent two decades working with the Unitarians of Transylvania to strengthen civil society and support sustainable agricultural and community development.

Please join UUs for Social Justice on December 12 at 8:00 PM ET, when Rev. Kingman will share her thoughts on how to recognize the less well-known characteristics of rising fascism, as well as her conviction that our faith as Unitarian Universalists compels us to resist it in all its forms. Several of us from UUCC have already attended a presentation of hers and it was excellent.

Where: Via ZoomCost: FREE or purchase a ticket as a donation to UUSJRegister Here

The Rev. Cecilia Kingman has been studying authoritarian systems for most of her life and is currently doing doctoral work at the Pacific School of Religion on the responses of faith communities to fascist and totalitarian regimes. After the collapse of the communist dictatorship in Romania, she spent two decades working with the Unitarians of Transylvania to strengthen civil society and support sustainable agricultural and community development.

Cecilia is a 2003 graduate of Starr King School for the Ministry and has served congregations in Oregon and Washington, most recently serving as the Minister for Faith and Justice at the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Edmonds, Washington until last year. Cecilia lives in the greater Seattle area, where she is active in interfaith organizing. She is the mother of four children, two of whom are still in school. Cecilia nourishes her spirit by caring for a number of animals and a very large vegetable garden.

Wednesday Night Community Dinner
2023-12-13 18:00 - 20:30, 2023-12-20 18:00 - 20:30
Come and enjoy a meal on Wednesday evenings at 6pm. Requested donations are there to help defray costs. Childcare is available, making it a great time for small groups and others to gather. If you’d like to help provide a meal or help with setup and clean up, volunteers are needed. Sign up here

Signature Drive to Help End Partisan Ohio Gerrymandering
2023-12-16 10:00 - 13:00
As a congregation, UUCC has experience serving as a staging site for petitions to protect democracy and individual worth and dignity.

Now another proposed constitutional amendment regarding fundamental fairness in the democratic process is underway. Volunteer with UUCC, Citizens Not Politicians and Fair Districts Ohio to create a more fair redistricting process in our state.

UUCC will again serve as a staging site for petition pickup and drop off:

Wednesday from noon to 3 pm

Saturdays from 9 am to 12 pm

We will also be a site for a couple of Drive through signature events. The first will be this Saturday December 16 from 10am to 1pm. Consider showing up during this time to help collect signatures!

For more information, email Laurie at sunnyskies2023@yahoo.com

Values Amendment Info Available at Coffee Hour
2023-12-17 11:30 - 12:30
UUCC has been asked to support amendments to the proposed revisions of the UU Purposes and Principles in Article II, one adding a “Peace” value (text here) and one modifying the Equity Value (text here). Stop by at Coffee Hour to learn more.

December Listening Circle: Vision
2023-12-17 11:30 - 13:00
We’ll meet in the Library to explore our hopes and vision for our congregation. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/DecemberVision

December Listening Circle: Values
2023-12-17 18:00 - 19:30
We’ll meet over Zoom where we’ll respond to the proposed revision of how we frame our values. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/DecCircle

Values Amendment Info Zoom Session
2023-12-18 16:00 - 17:00
UUCC has been asked to support amendments to the proposed revisions of the UU Purposes and Principles in Article II, one adding a “Peace” value (text here) and one modifying the Equity Value (text here). We need to decide together whether our congregation should support these proposals for consideration at GA in June. Information and discussion sessions will be followed by an online congregational survey. Join a Zoom Session to learn more: Click here to join Zoom

Winter Solstice Celebration
2023-12-21 19:00 - 21:00
Join us for a Winter Solstice Celebration All are Welcome!The Earth Centered Spirituality group is hosting a ceremony for all ages. Bring a small stick for our communal fire and something to sit on. We are planning to hold the ritual outside! Please dress warmly.

Ceremony in the UUCC Parking lot21600 Shaker BoulevardShaker Heights OH 44122

UUCC Shaker Building Closed
2023-12-25 00:00 - 2023-12-30 23:59, 2024-01-01 00:00 - 23:59

December 2023 UUCC Board Meeting
2023-12-26 19:00 - 21:00

The Real Story About Drag Story Hour
2024-01-07 09:00 - 10:00
In person or on Zoom

Speaker: Veranda L’Ni, Drag Entertainer; Administrator, Drag Story Hour Cleveland Chapter; Creator, current Drag Pride flag; Author, Reader’s Digest article. https://www.rd.com/article/drag-queen-story-hour/

Drag performances, once limited to bars, film and television have expanded to brunch/story hours in coffee shops, books stores, libraries and churches. Our goal is to present information to those who may be curious about Drag Story Hours and to hopefully quell any fears that may be out there about them.

At 11:30, after the worship service our guest will present a story time in Fellowship Hall.

Drag Storytime
2024-01-07 11:30 - 12:30
Following the service Sunday, January 7 at 11:30, Veranda L’Ni will present a Drag Storytime free and open to the public, all ages in Fellowship Hall.

Dinner Discussion: UU Values Revision
2024-01-10 18:00 - 20:00
UUCC has been asked to support the discussion of proposed amendments to the Final Proposed Revision to Article II of the UUA Bylaws. The first proposed amendment would change wording of the Equity Value (click here for details) and is supported by UUCC delegates to the 2023 UUA General Assembly (GA). The second would add an eighth Value: “Peace” (click here for details), and was recommended for consideration by a UUCC congregant. We need to decide together whether our congregation should support these proposals for consideration at GA in June.

There will be information and discussion sessions occurring through mid-January which will be detailed below and in the weekly newsletter, followed by an online congregational survey.

More details here: UU Values Revision Continues

UU Values Revision Survey Distributed
2024-01-12 00:00 - 23:59

Congregational discussion: UU Values Revision
2024-01-14 11:30 - 13:00
UUCC has been asked to support the discussion of proposed amendments to the Final Proposed Revision to Article II of the UUA Bylaws. The first proposed amendment would change wording of the Equity Value (click here for details) and is supported by UUCC delegates to the 2023 UUA General Assembly (GA). The second would add an eighth Value: “Peace” (click here for details), and was recommended for consideration by a UUCC congregant. We need to decide together whether our congregation should support these proposals for consideration at GA in June.

There will be information and discussion sessions occurring through mid-January which will be detailed below and in the weekly newsletter, followed by an online congregational survey.

Brunch will be provided by the fabulous

More details here: UU Values Revision Continues

January Food & Fellowship
2024-01-14 11:30 - 13:00
Harry’s Kitchen Crew wishes UUCC members and alike a Happy New Year.

To start the new year off, The Crew is preparing and serving Brunch on Sunday January 14th following the Sunday morning Service. They have planned a menu of Chicken & Waffles with fruit salad, chewy Blondie Bars and warm beverages. Donations are welcome.

There will be a brief Congregational discussion about two proposed amendments to the UU Values Revision, and a fuller conversation about addressing the needs of our facility in ways that best meet our vision for ministry. (more information here)

Care Not Cages III: Care Response & Abolition
2024-01-16 18:30 - 20:00
About the eventJoin REACH Ohio and The Cuyahoga County Jail Coalition to learn about non-police care response and carceral abolition, and how they work together.WhereTuesday,January 16th 6:30-8:00pmUnitarian Universalist Congregation of Cleveland21600 Shaker Blvd, Shaker Heights, OH 44122

Presented by: Bree Easterling (they/them)Clevelander and disabled Air Force veteran Bree Easterling has a rich background in social justice,working for the Cuyahoga County Veterans Service Commission, the LGBT Center of Greater Cleveland,& Policy Matters Ohio. Bree is also a founding member of REACH, who are working towards bringing a nonpolice care response program to Cleveland.

Sponsored by:Cuyahoga County Jail Coalition Care Not Cages Cuyahoga Reach Responding with Empathy, access and Community Healing

Play - Thurgood free January 20th
2024-01-20 15:00 - 17:00
A dramatic reading of the play THURGOOD comes To: Forest Hill Church (3031 Monticello Blvd, Cleveland Heights) Saturday afternoon, January 20 at 3 PM. The accomplished actor Greg White, who was understudy to the play Thurgood by George Stevens last fall at the Allen Theater in downtown Cleveland, will give the dramatic reading. In 2014 Mr. White starred in the production of Thurgood that was put on by the Ensemble.

The play has Thurgood Marshall tell this own triumphant story of how a boy from the backstreets of Baltimore changed history. From arguing the 1954 landmark case Brown v. Board of Education to becoming the first African-American Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall’s tenacious advocacy broke open the civil rights movement, paving the way for the young African-American leaders of our future.

The doors will open at 3 pm. Light refreshments will be offered before the performance.

To Attend Please email: racialequitybuddies@fhcpresb.org

Afterward, tables of six to eight will discuss the dramatic reading, the life of Thurgood Marshall, and his relevance today.

This free event is made possible by sponsors:Racial Equity Buddies, The Social Justice Advocacy Ministry of Federated Church in Chagrin Falls, The Community Church of Chesterland, and the Ensemble and in part, by a grant from the Outreach Ministry of the PRESBYTERY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

Fair Districting: How to Stop Gerrymandering
2024-01-21 09:00 - 10:00
In person or on Zoom

Speakers: Ohio State Sen. Nickie Antonio(D-23), Ohio Redistricting Commission Co-Chair and Senate Minority Leader; Annette Tucker Sutherland, Shaker Heights Chapter Chair, League of Women Voters of Greater Cleveland.

In 2015 and 2018, Ohio voters approved amendments to the state Constitution that created a Redistricting Commission to draw districts for the Ohio General Assembly and for Ohio’s representatives to Congress. The Redistricting Commission met after the 2020 Census, but each proposed map was determined unconstitutional by the Ohio Supreme Court, including the map used for the 2022 election. After that election, the Ohio Redistricting Commission, with bipartisan support, adopted a sixth version of statehouse maps. Those maps show a Republican advantage of 61-38 in the Ohio House and a 23-10 advantage in the Ohio Senate. The battle continues with a new statewide ballot initiative to create a “citizens not politicians” redistricting commission.

UU Values Revision Survey Results Due
2024-01-22 00:00 - 23:59

GCC Update! Start Your New Year With UUs Together!
2024-01-22 19:00 - 20:30
Please join us virtually on Monday January 22 from 7-8:30pm.

What is GCC planning in 2024?

Meet GCC delegates and core team members from each of the UU Congregations. Keisha Krumm, Lead Organizer for Greater Cleveland Congregations and Tyeson Douglas, GCC Fellow, will update us on the very impactful first quarter of 2024 Actions. Accountability with Mayor Bibb and meeting with judicial system candidates prior to the March 19 primary are but some of what is planned.

There will be time for questions and answers. Let’s get ready to participate in democracy at the local level!

For a link to the meeting: Please email Laurie at sunnyskies2023@yahoo.com.

Want to know more about Greater Cleveland Congregations or GCC?link here

January 2024 UUCC Board Meeting
2024-01-23 19:00 - 21:00

January Listening Circle: Values
2024-01-25 17:30 - 19:00
Our January Values Listening Circle will be in-person in the Baker Room (Room 213). We’ll respond to the proposed revision of how we frame our values, focusing on Liberating Love. Sign up here: https://bit.ly/JanCircles
