by Karen Hager, Interim Religious Educator

Over a year has now passed since Heritage closed its doors, due to the pandemic, and over a year has passed since RE families have been able to gather in person. Zoom classes are the next best thing, but online connections cannot replace physically being in each other’s presence.

Thankfully, the weather is warming, vaccinations are increasing, and COVID numbers are declining. And, with these better conditions, RE will now be able to offer opportunities for families of all types and sizes to gather in person.

The Interim RE Committee has begun planning for monthly family activities, held at HUUC. These activities will be outside, masked, socially distanced, and COVID-friendly in all other aspects. As of this writing, our first event is about to happen: an Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, hosted by the Kpaeyeh and Meyer families. (Held Sunday, March 28.)

The next planned event is a Bird Feeding event, to be held on Sunday, April 25 from 3-5 pm. A “make your own birdfeeder” craft is being planned, as well as bird identification activities and snacks. Drop by any time between 3-5 to join the fun.

Family activities are designed to best suit kids ages 3-10, but all congregants are welcome, including all ages and family types.

If you are interested in helping with future in-person family activities, please email Karen Hager at:

April 2021.

by Rev. Bill Gupton

Beloveds –

Soon, I will be back with you, returning from a four-month, delayed sabbatical in which I have, true to my promise, “hibernated” through this difficult winter. The timing of my sabbatical clock, as it were, resulted in something I think it is fair to say is fairly unique among ministers of any generation – a “pandemic sabbatical.”

So what, exactly, have I been doing, these past four months? Like any creature in hibernation, I have been sleeping. I have rested. I have not gone out much (after all, we are still in a pandemic). In fact, neither Jennifer nor I even left the greater Cincinnati area, save for a quick end-of-sabbatical weekend away at a rental cabin in the country.

When I did get out, it was usually to the beautiful rolling hills of Heritage Acres, where the seasons come and go in unhurried grace. Winter at Heritage Acres is a quiet, reflective time, perfect for someone on sabbatical. It is also the best time to tend to the tasks of removing those pesky vines, invasives, brambles and fallen branches (not to mention entire fallen trees) – a sort of “winter cleaning” for our sacred sanctuary. And what a blessing it was to be able to do this work with and alongside my son, who has been unexpectedly with us for the past year, thanks to the pandemic. I did my best to cherish every single moment of the opportunity to be with Patrick, drinking in the invigorating fresh air and getting to know the incredible young man that he has become.

Akin to the winter cleaning taking place at Heritage Acres, our family undertook, in our home, a long-overdue assessment of the accumulated “stuff” of three lifetimes. Perhaps you have heard of the Swedish practice of “dostagning” – commonly translated as “Death Cleaning.” It is both a domestic and a spiritual practice, the sorting through of one’s possessions with the dual purpose of decluttering (ostensibly so that one’s survivors do not have to do so upon one’s death) and reminiscing. What to hold onto? What to get rid of? What the heck is some of this stuff, and why do we have it? What tender memories are woven into this or that material object, this trinket, that poem or letter?

Needless to say, dostagning is a huge undertaking – which is to say, although I (and in fact, all three of us in the Gupton-Sanders home) began it during my sabbatical, the process is ongoing. Yet already, there is a sense of accomplishment. But the best part of it all, as you might imagine, is indeed the memories. The opportunity to reflect on a life’s journey. A journey – a path – that has led me here, to this beloved community. It is hard to believe that we have been in Cincinnati now almost 19 years. Patrick grew up in this place, and in this home. Meanwhile, we have welcomed so many into our church home – just as we, ourselves, were welcomed way back in 2002. We have also said goodbye to many, whether they were called elsewhere on their own life’s path, or whether their journey in this life itself reached its inevitable end.

Through it all, we have been held by, and within, an eternal Love. And we have held one another, with our own love.

Thank you, for the memories. Thank you for being part of this amazing journey, and this amazing congregation. I look forward to being back with you in April.

Namaste,
Rev. Bill

April 2021.

by Tamilyn Moore

Happy Spring all! There is green everywhere and beautiful flowers are starting to bloom. We have more light and warmer temperatures each day. We get to welcome Rev. Bill back on April 1. Lots of things to smile about!

Hitting one year of quarantine has me thinking a lot about where I was at a year ago and where I am now. The thoughts a year ago were that it would be great to work at home for a month or so (ha!) and have more time with the family. We would enjoy the spring weather and get some things done around the house. We would spend more time together and grow closer as we shared laughs. I would have lots of time to work out and would be in great shape by the time we were done.

Now, some of those house projects are done, some are still in the middle of getting done. Still working at home with no return-to-work plan in place or even discussed. Again, enjoying the warmer weather and more time outside, more sunshine to soak up. In a good rhythm with the family with lots of laughs had and still happening. We have happily discovered a new ice cream place that can accommodate all our dietary needs. Some working out has happened, and we have all stayed healthy.

Also now, I have received my second vaccine dose, Nicole will get her second soon, and one child becomes eligible to schedule on March 29. We will have another layer of protection against Covid-19 and can breathe a little easier when we do our shopping or participate in outdoor activities. Hoping the vaccine will be approved for the under 16 crowd soon so the entire family will have this extra layer of protection. We all still need to keep other protections in place for those who cannot get the vaccine and to prevent more variants from getting a chance of developing. Just a little longer to keep on wearing that mask and keep on with a physical distance from others.

Wishing each of you more sun, more light, more happiness!

Virtual hugs to all!

Tamilyn Moore

April 2021.

by Karen Hager, Interim Religious Educator

With a full month of shared programming behind us, I can report that the UU congregation in Blacksburg, VA is greatly enjoying this new arrangement with Heritage. We have had children and youth join our Children’s RE classes and Middle School meetings, and nearly every adult class offered has had HUUC attendees.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet and connect with UUs outside of our home congregations, and we have so much to learn from each other! If you haven’t yet taken advantage of the opportunity to join the Blacksburg congregation, I urge you to do so.

In the articles on Religious Exploration for Children and Youth and Adult Faith Development Programs, you can learn about the many classes and activities now open to HUUC congregants.

FYI, I’ll be teaching “The Fifth Dimension for Adults” class on Tuesday, March 23 myself. It was wonderful to see so many HUUC attendees – with many faces familiar to me! – at our last class. I hope you’ll join us this month for a fun and fascinating discussion.

Karen

March 2021

by Tamilyn Moore

Hope everyone has dug out of the snow and that you are enjoying all the icicles as the sun shines through them as the snow melts.

With all the snow, the initial signs of spring are hidden. If the crocuses are coming up, we cannot see them. Hopefully as the snow melts, we will see that green of spring poking up through the grass and in our flower beds. The trees don’t seem to be budding out yet, they must be waiting for the snow to melt away as well. I look forward to all the new growth the snow will lead to as it provides sustained water to all the plants waiting to grow and bloom again.

With more and more people getting vaccinated, I look forward to the new growth that will lead to as well. While we need to keep vigilant with mask wearing and physical distancing, we can feel more confident that we are protecting ourselves and others when we are also vaccinated and more around us are vaccinated. Helping my mom to try to find an open vaccine appointment has shown me how frustrating the process can be. I hope many of you are having success finding an open appointment, getting your vaccine scheduled, and getting administered those vaccines. Hopefully Nicole and I will get ours soon as more Ohio locations open up to those who are at a higher risk due to medical conditions.

It will still be a while before we are back to having in-person services. I miss seeing all your faces and most of all, I miss the genuine hugs received from so many. Distant and virtual hugs just aren’t the same, but it is what we have for now with those outside of our bubble.

Be sure to watch spring arrive, watch the greens of spring show up in more and more places, enjoy the sun helping to melt the snow and provide us warmth through the cold. While I have enjoyed my time outside shoveling, getting fresh air, waving at neighbors as they walk or drive by, I look forward to longer times outside as the warmer temperatures allow for it. Stay safe, stay warm!

Virtual hugs to all!

Tamilyn Moore

February 21, 2021.

by Tamilyn Moore

We are just about a week into 2021 and a lot has seemed to happen already. The Capitol insurrection was a devasting event for our nation. I was happy to connect with some in the congregation that evening through Zoom to be in community with each other.

Lots of feelings when this happened. My first job out of grad school was with the Architect of the Capitol. It is the federal agency that takes care of the Capitol building, all the House and Senate buildings, the Supreme Court building, the Library of Congress building, and the U.S. Botanic Gardens. I was hired for a fairly new position that was created after Newt Gingrich’s Contract with America, which gave legislative branch employees the right to unionize and bargain collectively. I participated in some of those first contract negotiations with about eight different unions representing different trades of employees doing work in and around the buildings. This was my start in the world of labor relations.

I remember all the times I was able to walk through the halls and see the beauty created so many years ago. My boss would show me places in the Capitol that visitors were not able to go. He shared with me the history of the building from the eyes of someone who worked there. As I watched the insurrection, I was deeply saddened to see the carelessness with which that sacred building was being treated. I then thought of all the employees who would have to clean up and fix the damage that was done. I thought of the work those employees and others had put into setting things up for the inauguration, work that was now undone and destroyed. My heart broke for the employees in the building worried for their health and safety, their life.

In my office, the one in the federal building in downtown Cincinnati, I have a picture of the Capitol on the wall across from my desk. Very easy to see while I sit and work. It has well-wishes from my coworkers during my time working with the Architect of the Capitol. I long to see that again and feel the connection with the building and its employees.

As we continue to move through 2021, think of your connections to others. Establish again those connections that have faded. Stay connected!

Virtual hugs to all!

Tamilyn Moore

February 2021

by Karen Hager, Interim Religious Educator

My Sundays are now quite different than they were pre-pandemic. As Director of Lifespan Faith Development for the Blacksburg congregation, I never get to attend RE classes with the children. Our program is large, and my time has to be spent making sure all classes run smoothly, and so I don’t spend that one-hour weekly with a specific group of kids.

But now that our classes are virtual, I spend nearly every Sunday morning running zoom for the PreK and K-5 classes, and I get to experience the joy and fulfillment of being with UU children on a weekly basis.

The main driver for our Blacksburg curriculum choices this year was fun, because we knew, after spending time online each week in virtual school, kids weren’t going to want to attend church online unless they had fun doing so. And so, our kids learn, but above all, our classes are fun!

One of the big advantages of being online is that there is no expectation of children being quiet and still. When quiet is necessary – when we’re all watching a video together, for example – the mute button plays its role, but quiet is not usually necessary. Children enjoying being with each other are a joy for adults, as well. And, if a class goes completely off the rails, the adults just laugh and roll with it, letting the kids talk about what they want to talk about. As I write this, I’m recalling yesterday’s class that turned into an impromptu introduction to the kids’ pets, as one by one, they were pulled into the zoom window and introduced. I’m getting to see a whole part of our children’s lives that I can’t when we’re together in a building on Sunday mornings.

I hope that your family will give our Blacksburg virtual RE classes a try this winter and spring, and find out how much fun virtual RE can be. And, if you’ve ever considered teaching RE, but were a bit afraid of whether or not you’re up to the role, join us and watch other teachers as they lead our classes. Teaching RE is one of the most rewarding volunteer roles at HUUC, and we’ll be working to make sure that teaching this fall is as easy as possible on our volunteers! (If you don’t have children in RE but would like to sit in on a class, contact me at the email address below. For safety reasons, we do not publish zoom links to children’s classes, so you will need me to provide you the link.)

Karen

February 2021.

by Tamilyn Moore

Winter solstice has passed, and we are now getting just a little more light each day. Soak in some sun when you can. The natural Vitamin D does wonders for our mental and physical health.

I’m sure many of us Zoomed through the holidays, seeing the family we love only through a computer screen. Knowing we are all keeping each other safe by not being in the same room. We even zoomed with family we don’t normally see on the holidays. Family we normally move through the holidays with just a text wishing them joy. Some family we zoomed with a couple times because it was so nice to “see” them the first time.

It’s about time to get back to the grind of our not so normal life. Back to work and back to school, back to regular meals at home, back to each day looking like the last as we stay home to stay safe. But now there’s more light with vaccines being given. We discuss where in the line we will be able to get the vaccine. As I see Facebook posts of friends who are healthcare workers getting vaccinated, I smile. I am glad they are able to be protected as they work to care for the rest of us. I am hopeful that as more vaccines get approved, more can get vaccinated and then return to a less socially distant life.

As we move into the colder months, likely with more snow, I wish you all health and happiness. I wish you virtual time with family and friends. We welcome Karen Hager back to Heritage to share her RE enthusiasm with us! I look forward to seeing your names and faces during service, knowing this community is together and there for each other.

Virtual hugs to all!

Tamilyn Moore

January 2021.

by Karen Hager, Interim Religious Educator

In December 2004, three days after Christmas, I had a son. And, almost two years later, I stepped foot through the doors of Heritage for the first time. This little being in my life was what brought me in initially because I did not want to be the only one in charge of his spiritual upbringing.

My husband, Monte, is a 5th-generation UU, and would probably not have considered any church for our family beyond a Unitarian Universalist congregation. I, on the other hand, was raised in the United Church of Christ, so I was open to the possibility of other denominations. But a day spent searching the internet and Cincinnati churches left me firmly pointed in the direction of Unitarian Universalism, due mainly to the religious education program. I know that I’m not alone on this point; religious education is the reason many visitors come to our congregations for the first time.

Although we intended to try out all of the Cincinnati UU congregations, we never got further than our first visit to Heritage. We found our home here, and became members and very active lay volunteers, with both of us chairing or serving on multiple committees. Among these, I was a member of the RE Committee and still have, and use, the chalice Jenni Rytel made for me when I joined.

We moved to Blacksburg, Virginia, in 2009 and began attending the UU congregation there. A year after we moved, the Director of Religious Education retired and I decided to apply, mostly out of a desire to see my son receive the religious foundation that brought me to Unitarian Universalism in the first place. Ten years later, I have become a Director of a Lifespan program, a credentialed religious educator, a UU curricula author, and a trainer for the UUA. I am very excited and happy to bring my experience back to Heritage to help prepare for your next settled religious educator. My interim period will be a time to try new ideas in RE and see what fits best with HUUC.

I am looking forward to reconnecting with old friends and forming new relationships, and believe that a bridge can be forged between my two congregations that will last longer than my tenure at HUUC. And I really want to hear from you. What is working in RE and what could be improved? What have you wanted to see added? How important is RE to Heritage’s future? What are you willing to do to see RE succeed here? Those answers will help me to prepare the foundation of a program so that your new settled religious educator can hit the ground running this summer. I hope you’ll be a part of the conversation!

Karen

January 2021.

by Tamilyn Moore

Welcome to the winter holiday season! Wishing everyone joyous and healthy holiday celebrations!

As December starts, Rev. Bill will be resuming his sabbatical. The Worship Committee has lots of great services lined up. Leslie will also be spending her last month with us before her retirement on December 31. Join us on December 13 for Leslie’s last service. I look forward to continuing to “see” everyone through Zoom. Maybe we will even get a glimpse of some holiday decorations as people zoom in for service.

The holidays this year will look a little different for many of us. While we don’t generally do large family gathers, my family was going to travel to northern Michigan to see my Dad and Stepmom, but we have all decided that would not be a good idea and have cancelled the trip. Instead, we will video chat sometime over the long weekend. I will miss spending the time with them, but by staying apart for the holiday, we can help ensure we will get to see each other in the future.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is about presence rather than presents. It is about being with family and friends. It is about delicious foods. That makes it even harder to be alone this holiday, which many of us will be doing. Be sure to reach out to family and friends and connect virtually and by phone this year. If you have family that will be spending the holiday alone, reach out to them. If you need someone to reach out to, send me an email and I will get back to you. Send your email to:

As the dark evenings sometimes make staying safe at home hard, my family plans to light the house up this year. Lots of holiday lights inside and out. Lots of holiday cheer around the house. And, of course, lots of holiday music starting the day after Thanksgiving. How long the tree and lights stay up depends on how long the cats allow them to. Make sure to bring some light and joy into your home this month. Maybe drive around to see lights others have put out to share with the community. Maybe create some luminaria for Christmas Eve as we would have done at Heritage for the Christmas Eve service.

Be sure to connect with others and find light through these times. Hold your family and friends close in your heart if you cannot hold them in your arms. Keep the faith that staying safe at home is worth it to see each other again when we safely can.

Wishing you the best and virtual hugs to all!

Tamilyn

December 2020.