Submitted late, but with love, by Lisbet White
Religious Education: Exciting news – our kids will be merging with the thriving Kent RE program starting mid-September. Two volunteer teachers are all they ask; no financial support is needed at this time. Kent has a thriving youth group, as well many children in the younger classes. Our Mystery Wallis will be moving on to work, travel, or higher education, whichever one wins out. Thank you for your amazing service to our kids and our community, Mystery.
Website & Technology: We’re fielding a team to assess our website and really think about our on-line presence, and what content and format we want to be highlighting, especially for new visitors. Most website visitors are newcomers who want to find out about us, not current members. If you are interested and willing to help with this effort, please drop an email to office@uuyo.org.
Hardware for Zoom Worship Services: Since the world turned upside in March, UUYO has been continually adapting to offer high quality, live worship services via Zoom. Our most recent improvement has been to upgrade the computer we use for our services. Board President Andy Crabb recently built a computer out of the components that are needed, and he and Tim Raridon have been working tirelessly to get the bugs out and optimize what we offer. These are big purchases in service of our mission, and our Church Endowment committee has funded these items. We’re on-line for the for the foreseeable future so we are investing in our future.
Pledge Drive: October 6-31st. Yes. It is early this year! The Stewardship Team is asking everyone to participate in 1 one-hour Zoom meeting in October, and to make a pledge of financial commitment. No pledge is too small. We are all in this together, Carrying Each Other Through. The Stewardship Zoom Meetings will take place Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7-8 on October 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, and 22. And Saturday, October 10 from 11am-12pm, and Saturdays October 17 and 24 from 2-3pm. Just choose one and let Lisbet White know: lisbetsw@gmail.com. Board members will be guinea pigs at the first meeting on October 6th.
Recent Speakers: The Board is excited about building collaborations with recent speakers at our worship services: the youth from Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past, Sensei Alex Kakuyo, and Derrick McDowell, of the Youngstown Flea. Such exciting happenings in our community.
Black Lives Matter: UUYO’s BLM sign giveaway on Saturday mornings is wildly successful. We have surpassed 1100 signs, and keep needing to order more. It is time to take things a step further and move toward action and policy. We discussed developing a process to adopt the 8th principle like some other UU churches are doing. This principle moves us toward anti-racism in Policy and action. Stay tuned.
Our physical space: We still tend lovingly to our physical space at 1105 Elm St. Monthly Work Days are held on the 3rd Saturday of the Month from 10-2. All are welcomed to don masks and help with outside tasks. Just show up ready to lend a hand. We are also moving forward with a plan to re-pave the driveway, to make it safe for all who use it.