by Jim Nolan, Board President

Okay – where did October go? It’s been a very busy month for all of us – and I still haven’t carved my first pumpkin yet.

The theme this month, for me, is gratitude. I have seen so much wonderful, positive energy coming together – from so many different directions – that I’m a little bit in awe of it all… and of you for making it all work.

This month, Heritage hosted our first ever Town Hall Meeting. This was a more casual coming together for a Q&A with the board and the finance committee; and a great way to “take the pulse” of how things are going within the church. The attendance was wonderful, the dialogue was energetic and many great ideas were shared. I’m very grateful to all who attended, and there are already plans in-place to do it again in the early part of 2020.

The Heritage Board VP, Tamilyn Thompson, hosted our annual Fall Council Meeting on October 6. This meeting allows the board to re-connect with the various teams and committees working within the church and assess their needs and understand how the board can better support their missions. Again, the attendance was wonderful, and the discussions were incredibly helpful.

Lastly, there were not one, but TWO volunteer-led efforts to improve the grounds that surround the church. So much amazing and positive energy was put into this effort that saying thank you seems inadequate. The landscaping is improved, the labyrinth received some much-needed TLC and the area behind the church was cleared out and prepared for the arrival of our new shed!

Combine that with the marvelous developments happening around Heritage Acres and I think it is safe to say that the energy of Heritage is definitely being put into action.

For that, I am so very, very grateful.

Have a blessed Samhain, a happy and safe Halloween, and thank you for allowing me to be your president at this exciting time.

Jim

November 2019.

by Rev. Bill Gupton

With the change of seasons and the days growing shorter, I’ve been taking stock of the passage of time. Can it be that I have been your minister now for nearly 18 years? A quick glance in the mirror – where I am greeted by a gray beard, rapidly graying hair, and facial lines galore – confirms the fact that Heritage and I have taken several “trips around the Sun” together since you called me to be your minister way back in 2002.

Thus, hard to believe as it may be – perhaps for you, and I assure you for me – the time is rapidly approaching for my next sabbatical. This one will be quite a bit different from our two previous sabbaticals, however, in that I will continue working on the operational development of Heritage Acres, while taking a six-month leave from ministerial duties at Heritage Church. The Board and I are calling this a “hybrid sabbatical” (see detailed sabbatical outline elsewhere in this Heirloom) – which essentially means that unlike a more traditional sabbatical, I will continue to have some degree of ongoing interaction with certain church members who are involved, in one way or another, with our natural burial ground, Heritage Acres Memorial Sanctuary.

My sabbatical will begin February 1. I will return to full-time duties at Heritage Church on August 1. This timing was intentional, both to maximize my availability for Heritage Acres during its most crucial developmental stage, and to assure that I am back and fully focused on pastoral needs within the congregation before the most intense part of the 2020 election season. (It goes without saying that in our current cultural climate, next year’s election, and its aftermath, will be anxiety-producing and stressful for all of us.)

If you have thoughts, questions, or concerns about the upcoming sabbatical, please do not hesitate to contact me, or any member of our Committee on Ministry or the Board of Trustees. I can assure you that we’ve lined up an outstanding array of guest ministers and speakers to lead worship during the first half of 2020, including both my Cincinnati UU colleagues, Rev. Connie Simon of First Unitarian Church and Rev. Mitra Jafarzadeh of St. John’s. Other UU ministers will be joining us from South Bend (and yes, he does know Mayor Pete), from Columbus, from Lexington, and even further afield – while my Heritage colleague, Rev. Leslie Woodward, will be leading several intentionally all-ages-friendly worship services.

It is a fun, unique, and exciting time at Heritage. As Rev. Leslie often says, “Won’t you join us?”

Namaste,
Rev. Bill

November 2019.

by Rev. Leslie Woodward, Senior Minister for Religious Exploration

The birthday of one of Unitarian Universalist’s theological ancestors, James Luther Adams, is November 12th. Here is one story told about him when he lived in Chicago, as told by Jessica York.

In 1948, most congregations and houses of worship in the United States were segregated by the color of their members’ skin. Some were segregated by law; others by custom or by a lack of actively trying to welcome and include all people. The First Unitarian Society of Chicago was one of these congregations. Although their church was located in a neighborhood with many African Americans, only whites could join, according to the written by-laws of the church, and according to custom.

The day came that many members began to believe they needed to take action against racism, if they really wanted to live their values and principles. The minister, the Reverend Leslie Pennington, was ready for this day and ready to take action. So was James Luther Adams. James Luther Adams was a famous liberal theologian and social ethicist — a person who studies religion, beliefs, and values. Doctor Adams taught at the Meadville Lombard Theological School, right across the street from the First Unitarian Society of Chicago. And he was a member of the congregation’s board of directors — a leader in the congregation.

Along with some others, Reverend Pennington and James Luther Adams proposed a change in the church’s by-laws to desegregate the church and welcome people whatever the color of their skin. They wanted to include, not exclude. They saw this as a way to put their love into action.

When the congregation’s Board of Directors considered the desegregation proposal, most of them supported it. However, one member of the board objected. “Your new program is making desegregation into a creed,” he said. “You are asking everyone in our church to say they believe desegregating, or inviting, even recruiting people of color to attend church here is a good way to tackle racism. What if some members don’t believe this?”

Desegregation was a very controversial topic. In 1948, anything about skin color and racism was controversial. Some people, even some who supported African Americans in demanding their civil liberties, believed in a “separate but equal” policy, which kept people apart based on their skin color.

Respectful debate ensued at the First Unitarian Society of Chicago. Both sides felt, in their hearts, that their belief was right. Perhaps they were so busy trying to be heard they forgot to listen. And so, they kept on talking.

The debate went on in the Board of Directors’ meeting until the early hours of the morning. Everyone was exhausted and frustrated. Finally, James Luther Adams remembered that we should be listening twice as much as talking. He asked the person who had voiced the strongest objection, “What do you say is the purpose of this church?”

Suddenly, everyone was listening. Everyone wanted to hear the answer to this crucial question. Probably, the person who objected was listening especially hard to his own heart, as well as to the words he had heard from other Board members through the long discussion.

The Board member who opposed opening the church to people of color finally replied. “Okay, Jim. The purpose of this church is to get hold of people like me and change them.”

The First Unitarian Society of Chicago successfully desegregated.

There are things that you know, and there are things that I know. When we are together and listening to each other, with ears and hearts, we know more.

November 2019.

by Chris Burroughs

If you have been wondering who funded the playground canopy and the women’s restroom improvements, here’s the scoop! If you were curious about who provides the scholarships for the Hope Springs Women’s Retreat, read on! If you heard that someone made donations to a camp for diabetic girls, Planned Parenthood and the UU Women’s Federation but were in the dark about the donor, well, it was CLARA!! You know…Clara Barton!

The Clara Barton Guild of Heritage UU Church has its roots in the First Universalist Society’s Women’s Alliance, founded in 1917. When re-named to honor Barton, the Alliance wanted to show its respect for the “Angel of the Battlefield” (Civil War) and the founder of the American Red Cross. Barton ‘s religious leanings were Universalist, which also contributed to the her being chosen for the Guild’s name.

For decades, the women held monthly meetings with programs, dues and fellowship. In the 1960’s, church member Cora Littell donated 100 shares of P&G stock to the church and another 100 shares to the Guild. This allowed the Guild to take on larger projects to benefit the church and the larger community. Eventually, the leaders of the Guild gave their funds to the church’s holdings. However, the women still desired to have some money solely in their control and held various fundraisers. Today, the main event which feeds their budget is the Annual Book Sale, which realizes about $1,200. A slight surplus is sometimes realized from retreat registrations and annual dinner fees.

The Clara Barton Guild has been a significant support to many projects at Heritage. Recently, they purchased the canopy for the playground, provided scholarships for the women’s retreat, and refurbished the women’s restroom. Donations of $100 each were made to the Clara Barton Camp for Diabetic Girls, the UU Women’s Federation and Planned Parenthood. The women attending the annual dinner discuss and decide to whom donations should be made.

All Heritage women and those who identify as women are “automatically” members of the Guild. Women age 16 and above are included. Although there are currently no officers, long-time members Rae Jane Araujo, Julie Kane and Joann Meyer can provide additional information.

November 2019.

by Rev. Bill Gupton

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about nature, our environment, and our planet. Maybe it’s the work I am doing to create Cincinnati’s first natural burial sanctuary, which will allow us to do our small part to offset the pollution and environmental destruction being wrought by the modern American funeral industry. Maybe it’s my son’s work, in New Zealand, doing environmental restoration. Maybe it’s the book Jennifer has been reading, “The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative,” by Florence Williams – a fascinating look at the science behind why we really do feel better when we “get out in nature.”

Maybe it’s beyond my nuclear family: The seemingly relentless summer. The devastation of hurricanes and tropical storms. The rising sea levels and the melting of glaciers. Maybe it’s the inspiring, truth-telling leadership of young Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg, who has awakened an international uprising to confront climate change that might, I pray, just save us all.

Yes, there are many reasons for me – and for us – to have nature, and our planet on our minds these days. To devote ourselves, and a portion of our time and spirit, to helping mend the environment, wherever we happen to find ourselves living. I am given hope, by the dozens of volunteers who have showed up at Heritage Acres for work days that are beginning to transform that holy ground into an even more beautiful portion of our earth. I am given hope, by the upcoming “Garden(ing) Party” at Heritage Church (Oct. 12), when even more folks will put their fingers into the sacred soil of this beautiful planet, and help beautify the place we worship all week, every week. I am given hope, by those of you who compost, who garden, who recycle, and who use clean energy at home.

As “The Nature Fix” tells us, these kinds of activities feed our souls and literally improve our health and well-being – while at the same time, improving the health and well-being of our planet. As our Unitarian ancestor Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “In wildness is the preservation of the world.”

May it be so!

Namaste,
Rev. Bill

October 2019.

by Jim Nolan

Hello!

Looking back at least month’s article, I mentioned that you’d be hearing more about stewardship in the future. Well, I am happy to report great progress being made in that direction.

First, the replacement of the flooring in the Religious Exploration classrooms went very smoothly, thanks to some volunteer energy. Rev. Leslie is also the proud owner of some new, mobile, metal cabinets. These cabinets will provide a secure (and mobile!) place for the RE staff to store supplies and learning materials.

Second, members of the board, including myself, sat in with the finance committee’s most recent meeting to discuss various financial aspects of our Heritage stewardship, including both short-term and long-term visions for the church as both a spiritual home and as a physical entity. Part of those discussions involved allocating funds to replace the shed in the rear of the church. A new shed will provide a clean, safe and secure storage area for a wide range of needs.

It probably comes as no surprise to anyone that our building is starting to show some good old-fashioned wear & tear, both internally and externally. From fixing some small leaks in the kitchen to some much-needed TLC in the landscaping, the stewardship we are aiming for at this time is to put energy into action in these directions. Doing so will help sustain our church, make it a more welcoming place in which to worship, and encourage our new and first-time visitors to return.

In addition to some excellent volunteer work being done on the church grounds recently, there is also a “Garden Party” planned for Saturday, October 12, with an aim toward cleaning up our landscaping and working together in community toward a common goal. Food and child care are expected to be provided and all are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Lastly, I want to invite everyone to remain after the service on Sunday, October 13 for our first Heritage UU Church “Town Hall” meeting. The recommendation for a town hall-type meeting grew out of the last annual meeting when it became apparent that more communication between the board and the church members would strengthen our relationship to each other. Reid Hester from the finance committee will be present as well as other representatives from the church board. This will be your opportunity to ask questions, make suggestions, and get a sense of what is happening behind-the-scenes at HUUC.

As always, I am grateful that you have entrusted this role of leadership on me and I promise to continue to do my best to earn that trust.

Jim Nolan

October, 2019.

by Rev. Leslie Woodward

As I look back on my seven plus years as your assistant minister responsible for faith formation in our children and youth, even I marvel at how much my central view has changed when it comes to religious education.

I used to believe that if we could find the right curriculum, the right volunteer teachers and mentors, and the right combination of learning and fun then our children’s ministry would thrive. Of course, it would naturally follow that our Heritage children would continue to be involved at church as youth and, once they had grown-and-flown, would remain Unitarian Universalist as adults.

I no longer believe this is true. Statistics back me up — only about 12% of adult members in UU congregations were raised as Unitarian Universalists. Yes, an absolutely dismal statistic. What can we do about it?

Among my colleagues, one of the most important conversations going on now is acknowledging the place of parents/guardians as the primary religious educators in their family. Research has shown that if families do not actively participate in the religious education of their children at home and out in the world then most of what is taught to our children in Sunday morning programming will not stick.

Many parents believe that by having their children participate in religious programing at church on Sunday mornings, they have done their job of passing on their UU faith to their kids. If that were true, our churches would be teeming with adults who were raised Unitarian Universalists. We might even be so bold as to say that if the parents are not actively involved in transmitting their own faith to their children, we might be wasting our time in Sunday morning RE.

Unfortunately, parents cannot pass on what they don’t have — a comprehensive knowledge of what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist and how our faith informs the way we live and act in the world. Most Unitarian Universalists became UUs as adult seekers, either leaving behind their own religious upbringing or growing up in unchurched families. Understandably, they often feel inadequate as religious teachers of their own children. Perhaps more than any other faith community, Unitarian Universalist parents need support in fulfilling their role as the primary religious educators of their children.

Our new source of religious exploration programming, the Soul Matters Sharing Circle, is one way for Heritage to help meet that need for information and support. As our children explore a monthly theme in all their RE classes, parents/guardians can supplement and further their explorations at home by using resources provided in the Soulful Home newsletter. Engaging with their children and youth through stories, conversations and activities all linked with the monthly theme, adults will also connect with their own faith journey, learning how to live out their Unitarian Universalist principles in the greater world.

Soulful Home is distributed every month through our Heritage Announcements email list. You can also find the link on the HUUC website — look at the listings on the right side of the page under “Community.” Even if you don’t have children or youth in your household, I encourage you to read the Soulful Home newsletter. It may help you discern your own religious path through Unitarian Universalism.

October 2019.

by Rev. Leslie Woodward

On the last Sunday in August, we launched the beginning of Heritage’s church year with a terrific water ceremony and a great picnic with special activities. Yes, those of you who weren’t able to attend missed the chance to dunk Revs. Bill and Leslie and Board President Jim Nolan via a dunking booth. This is unfortunate as this opportunity is not likely to be repeated, LOL!

Life often gets in the way of church attendance. Sports, trips, school obligations, family responsibilities — all of these might make it hard or even impossible to attend worship and religious exploration events. Yet I often hear from congregants that they had a hard time getting to church that morning but they came and they were so glad they made the extra effort!

Because, it does take extra effort for most if not all of us to make it to Heritage on Sunday morning. When you can’t make it, you miss out on opportunities to hear wonderful music, inspiring words, and to make connections with other church members.

What you might not realize is that when you can’t come, we miss out too! Our spiritual community is made stronger when we can experience your presence even if it’s just through a smile or seeing you across the sanctuary. As Rev. Bill so wonderfully shared in last Sunday’s service, “I am because we are. We are because I am.”

One thing that helps many of our members on those days when it just feels like too much work to go to church is viewing their Sunday attendance as a spiritual practice. A spiritual practice is an action or activity that is performed regularly and intentionally to deepen your connection with the divine and/or the Spirit of Life. This could be meditation, yoga, prayer, nature walks, singing, or any other regular activity that is intended to enhance your spiritual life.

When your children or youth ask why they go to church for worship or religious exploration, you might explain that it enhances all of your lives to be in spiritual community together, especially in this era where so much of human communication is mediated through computers and phones. There is no better time to begin this practice than now. Right now.

Come to church. We are blessed by your presence.

Faithfully,
Rev. Leslie

September 2019.

by Rev. Bill Gupton

We said goodbye to summer – and hello to fall – with a bang (or was it a splash?) on August 25, with our annual Ingathering Sunday worship service, our water ceremony, a lovely picnic potluck outside, and . . . a dunking booth! Yours truly, along with my colleague Rev. Leslie (it was her idea) took the plunge as folks lined up to toss balls at a target that released one of your church leaders (Board President Jim Nolan also graciously joined in) into a few hundred gallons of water.

Speaking only for myself, I must say getting dunked was a very fun way to start the new season at Heritage Church! From the gorgeous, cooler weather to the truly intergenerational atmosphere of the day to the return of our Choir to the taste of baked beans and potato chips to the face-painting and temporary tattoos (thank you Eva Sofge!) to the joy on a child’s face when they hit the bulls-eye and watched Rev. Bill fall into the water – well, it was a day to remember.

We strive to create many days to remember throughout the year in our church community. Coming up in the next few weeks, you’ll have a chance to take part in more. There’s the Friday the 13th Game Night. I’m looking to start up a walking group. Don’t miss the Halloween Party. There are special events – and regular, weekly and monthly gatherings – for everyone.

As I said during that Ingathering Sunday service, one of the most beautiful things about Heritage Church is the sense of community that always seems to welcome more and more people into the circle. That morning there were several newcomers, who quickly fit right in. Maybe it’s because we don’t take ourselves too seriously. I mean, how many churches can you walk into for the first time, and take part in a picnic, then get to see the preacher being dunked in a water booth?

Sure, we can be serious, and frequently spiritual, but having fun is also high on our list. In these challenging times, a good sense of humor can be one of the best vaccinations against anxiety, fatigue and stress. This month, I encourage you to laugh. To smile. To do something – even if it’s just one thing – that is completely silly. And enjoy doing it!

Welcome to fall! Have a wonderful month.

Namaste,
Rev. Bill

September 2019.

by Jim Nolan

I am very happy to share with you that the Board of Trustees held its annual retreat on August 17 and came out of it with focus, energy and goals for the coming year.

Our theme for 2020 is “Putting Energy into Action” and at the core of this initiative is Stewardship.

Our Mission Statement is three-fold:

1. To be excellent stewards of our spiritual home.
2. To strive to recognize and acknowledge our service to each other.
3. To empower and encourage each other to make positive change in the wider world.

You will be hearing much more about Stewardship in the following months as there are many and varied needs inside and outside of our church.

To that end, I want to echo my message from last month and ask you to reflect upon what skills and abilities you might have and be willing to offer, whether that is in physical activity, planning or management of resources.

There will be many opportunities in the coming year to help maintain our thriving, active and loving community, both for the immediate future and as part of a long-term vision. I hope you will be engaged with us in whatever capacity you are willing and able to share.

As always, my very best wishes to you all.

Jim

September 2019.