Many years ago there was a catch phrase in evangelical Christianity. WWJD? It stood for ‘what would Jesus do?’ For a while you saw it everywhere — buttons, t-shirts, bumper stickers, those colorful rubber bracelets, and even some billboards in the south. The phrase became part of a book franchise that to-date has some 60 titles on a variety of topics.

Of course parodies popped up right away. My favorite is WWJB? — who would Jesus bomb. It felt like the perfect answer to the warmongers that claimed a preventive strike could somehow lead to peace. I still shake my head over that warped reasoning.

Until recently you could also buy a beaded bracelet that featured WWUUD? standing of course for ‘what would [a] UU do?’ It was meant to be a reminder that how we live our principles out in the wider world is more important than what we say in worship or among our like-minded friends.

Sunday February 1st is the first day of Rev. Bill’s sabbatical. Throughout the six months that he will be away from Heritage on his well-deserved period of rest and renewal, I suspect that problems and opportunities will arise. And I also suspect that the words “What would Bill do?” will pop out, perhaps inadvertently in more than one discussion. Those words may even escape from my own lips during a problem-solving conversation.

But here’s the thing: We don’t need Rev. Bill to tell us what to do. It’s true that his unshakeable sense of justice and deep faith in the power of love serves us well. He has a way of articulating hard truths that allow us to see more clearly and translate that renewed vision into action. Bill embodies the love that is the Spirit of this church.

What you might not realize right now is that Bill’s kind of faith is contagious. We don’t have to ask, “What would Bill do?” because we have direct access to the same Spirit that feeds Bill and guides his life. We can draw from the similar sources of wisdom, drink from the same deep wells of compassion, align our actions with the same sense of righteous justice.

During Rev. Bill’s sabbatical, new leaders will arise, new avenues for social action will open, and relationships between the wider world and Heritage will be strengthened. And when Bill returns we will not only say, “Welcome back, we missed you.” but also say “We’ve grown while you were away. And we’re ready to grow even more now that you’ve returned. Let’s get started.”

May we make it so.

Faithfully,
Rev. Leslie

by Rev. Leslie Woodward

Our religious education programming for winter/spring is off to a wonderful start, with a cadre of both experienced and novice teachers leading the way. Please express your gratitude to our Religious Education volunteers:

 

Preschool:
Rae Jane Araujo
Chris Burroughs
Lynn Lindley
Savannah Provard

Kindergarten/First Grade:
Kay Inskeep
Marleen Johnson
Ellie Lamb
Steph Tacy

2nd/3rd Grade:
Hollie Johnson
Rebecca Sievers
Eva Sofge
Heather Wasco

4th/5th Grade:
Connie Booth
Nicole Dangelo
Amy Leirer
Lisa Lindmark
Ann Roberts

Junior High:
Suzanne Epperson
Karen Fahlgren
Bob Lamb
Kyle Mesrin

Two upcoming RE Community Days also will need volunteers to work with our children. On February 15th, children will celebrate “Love Sunday” in RE with fun activities that lift up both affection and gratitude for special people in our lives.

On March 29th the ever-popular “Take Apart Party” returns to the Great Hall. Start thinking about those broken or obsolete items in your home that would be fun for our children to dismantle but please hold off on bringing them into church as Rev. Leslie’s office already is stuffed full. We’ll also need lots of tools (especially small screwdrivers) and lots of adult volunteers to keep our children safe.

Sundays at Heritage are wonderful! Won’t you join us?

We finally made it to February and the beginning of Rev. Bill’s sabbatical. We would not have gotten here so confidently without all the hard work of so many people on various committees. Here is a smattering of the behind-the-scenes work that has occurred.

A huge thank you goes to the Committee on Ministry for all of the pre-planning work that went into the development of the Sabbatical Guidelines and the Sabbatical trifold document. This group of three will also be working throughout the coming months to monitor the pulse and well-being of our community. If you haven’t done so already, take a look at the back of the Sabbatical trifold. You will see how much work the Worship Committee has done! They already have every sermon planned through the beginning of August. They are making sure that the sermons meet Heritage’s high standards of inspirational worship. We will all appreciate their work in the coming months.

Reverend Leslie and the Care Committee will work closely during the sabbatical to nurture the emotional needs of the congregation. Rev. Leslie will also be preaching four Sundays. Not only is that additional work for her, but the Religious Education committee will also be stepping up to fill her shoes on those Sundays.

We also have a newly-formed group discussing Social Justice. We look forward to seeing what direction they will take us in the next few months. If you are interested in Social Justice planning, the next meeting will be on Tuesday, February 17th at 7:00.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the Board of Trustees. They have kept the sabbatical in the forefront of their discussions. Those members who act as Board Liaisons to other committees will also be attending those meetings in lieu of Rev. Bill.

We are excited for the opportunities to grow, play, learn and relax while Rev. Bill is gone. It will be a time for us to accept new challenges and enjoy new experiences. As Board President, I am so grateful for all of the hard work that everyone has given to make it happen. Thank you.

Fondly,

Ann Roberts

If you answered “Ghostbusters!” you know your movie trivia, but we’re talking about something else here. Since Bill Gupton is fading into a sabbatical for a few months, and especially if you are fairly new to the congregation, wondering who you’re “gonna call” if you face a ministerial need is a viable question. The detailed game plan is published and available in brochure on Rev. Bill’s Sabbatical, and the website also has the Sabbatical Guidelines adopted by the Board of Trustees. In case of a personal, pastoral counseling need, Reverend Leslie is the appropriate contact. If the pastoral need involves a medical issue where a supportive congregation is helpful, the Care Committee should also be called. For administrative matters, the church office would be an appropriate starting point.

Heritage’s Care Committee is often involved in addressing needs. The current Care Committee consists of Tamilyn Thompson as chair, aided by Barb Barnes, Donna Buckley, Chris Burroughs, Julie Kane, Joan Stoffregen, George Wheaton, and Stephanie Wilson with Joann Meyer as an active board liaison. The Care Committee’s vision statement is “The Care Committee strengthens the Heritage Church community by offering compassionate support, helping hands, and celebratory acts depending on individual needs.” These caring people turn this vision into reality by reaching out to those with known needs by providing calls, cards, meals and compassionate support.

To accomplish these wide aims, activities are divided among specific leaders in terms of calls, cards, meals, and bereavement. Joan Stoffregen currently leads call activities. When a need is recognized, as a result of disclosure during Candles of Community or personal contact, Joan is typically the one who calls to determine the needs and start the organization of people to help out. Assistance can take several forms. If the issue is family illness, Joan assesses if hospital visits, home assistance, a card or a couple of supportive meals are appropriate.

Chris Burroughs handles distributing cards made by Stephanie Danner for illness, sympathy, and congratulatory purposes. We limit congratulatory cards for birthday and anniversary well wishes to the 10-year marks.

Russ Araujo organizes the use of meal support sign-up via Meal Baby on the Internet. (If you are interested in possibly providing food for a family with an illness or for a memorial celebration, please assure that you have contacted Russ for announcements and access.)

Barb Barnes orchestrates the on-site receptions for memorial services for member/friend families and assures that off-site services are attended.

The Care Committee helps assure that these supportive offering happen. Although we are always looking for more, active members (see Tamilyn Thompson if you are interested) you need not be a member to help out with these supportive needs. If you would like to be a part of the pool of people possibly providing assistance, please fill out one of the blue “Congregational Care” forms available on the literature table in the lobby and put it in the Care Committee mail box in the church office. Through completion of this form we know which areas of service you are willing to help in, such as rides for those in temporary need (for purposes of doctor visits, grocery shopping, to church), visits to members/friends in the hospital or homebound, preparation/delivery of food for the family of the ill or for a memorial service, or help with temporary tasks such as child care, house or yard work.

The work of this committee and all those who support it is just one aspect of the many ways we show we care at Heritage.

by Rev. Bill Gupton

Happy New Year! The calendar does not lie – it is actually 2015 . . . we are halfway through the second decade of the 21st century! It was 13 years ago this month that I began a conversation with your Ministerial Search Committee which would, later that spring, result in Heritage calling me to be your 43rd minister. Six years ago this month, I was in the midst of my very first sabbatical. And now – the time is almost here for a second sabbatical.

How is that possible?!? It is truly mind-boggling for me to think that we have been together long enough that I have earned not one, but two, sabbaticals. But again, the calendar does not lie – here I am, in my mid-50s, with a child in college, serving the 13th year of a very happy and fulfilling ministry at Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church! It is a joy and honor to be your minister, but I continue to wonder: Where have all those years gone?

There is more specific information elsewhere in this Heirloom about the upcoming sabbatical, but here, in this space, I want to give you a little background perspective, and also let you know what I am planning to do (and not do!) during the six months beginning in February and ending in July.

“Sabbatical” comes from the word “Sabbath” – a period of sacred time set aside for rest and renewal after a time of hard work. The Biblical creation story speaks of God resting on the seventh day; the Hebrew calendar is based on that story, and involved cycles of six days of labor, followed by a seventh day for worship and sacred contemplation, called a “Sabbath.” Our modern “week” is similarly structured, with Sunday (or in some faiths Saturday) being a Sabbath.

Thus, roughly every seventh year, tradition has it that the clergy take an extended Sabbath, or “sabbatical,” to restore and renew their own spiritual life (not to mention, their spirits). I am indeed blessed that the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association recommends, and that Heritage included in my contract, this type of sabbatical period. One month of sabbatical leave is accrued for each year served. My sabbatical begins Feb. 1, and runs through the end of July.

So what will I be doing during those six months? My professional and personal development plans for the sabbatical are four-fold:

• Becoming trained in UU Spiritual Guidance (what the Catholics would call “Spiritual Direction”). Through a series of retreats and seminars, peer practice and review, trainees in this program learn how to offer Unitarian Universalists appropriate companioning and discernment on their spiritual paths and with their individual spiritual practices. I will complete the program in May, at which time I will have the credentials to offer small-group and individual Spiritual Guidance at HUUC beginning in the fall.

• Further study of natural burial sanctuaries throughout the U.S., including on-site visits at both leading and emerging “green burial” sites around the country, and research into how one goes about developing a natural burial sanctuary. My goal is to return with a plan that will ultimately lead to the development of a non-profit corporation and the creation of a new “green burial” ground in Ohio.

• Visiting and learning from UU congregations that are successfully navigating what we at Heritage are calling a “re-imagined church for the 21st century.” What are the trends in congregational community? What are new and emerging worship styles? How do we keep “church” relevant for millennials (and beyond)? I want to consider these questions, and learn how some of my colleagues and some of our sister congregations around the country are answering them.

• Continue work on my SUUSI history and archives project, including pulling together an update or addendum to the book I published a couple of years ago on the history of the Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute.

What you might notice is that my plans do not include the “exotic trip” many imagine when they think of a minister on sabbatical. I am not going to visit the Holy Land (unless you count SUUSI!) or spend several months meditating on top of a mountain in Tibet. Maybe for my next (pre-retirement, or even post-retirement) sabbatical – but I doubt it, even then! That kind of thing is just not my style. My travels will be within the U.S. (and maybe Canada); most days during the sabbatical I will actually be at home.

But, per the spirit of sabbatical, I won’t be involved in what is happening at the church – at all. I am confident your lay leadership and your professional staff (including Rev. Leslie) will keep things running very smoothly indeed. The Worship Committee has Sunday mornings well taken care of, with an excellent array of guest ministers and preachers lined up already. The Committee on Ministry and the Board of Trustees have developed policies and procedures to guide the administration of church life while I am away, and will work collaboratively to lead the church during that time. Please look elsewhere in this newsletter, as well as on the bulletin board in the church hallway, and online, for more information – or speak with me, with Ann Roberts (Board President), or Bob Rush (Chair of the Committee on Ministry and a past Board President), if you have any questions or concerns.

For the remainder of January, I will be available and working as usual – leading worship, attending meetings, providing pastoral care – while tying up as many loose ends as possible before the sabbatical. There will be parties and goodbyes – and many emotions. Then I will see you again in August, ready to begin the next phase of our shared ministry at this wonderful and beloved congregation, where Love, indeed, is the spirit of our church.

Namaste,

Rev. Bill

Welcome to 2015! As we start into the second half of the church calendar year, we look forward to some unique opportunities and lots of fun. On February 1st, Rev. Bill begins his sabbatical, not returning until August 1st. To kick off the sabbatical, two events will occur. On Sunday, January, 25th, we will have a short send off event. It will be not only a farewell of sorts, but also a celebration of him crossing the threshold of being Heritage’s longest serving minister.

Then, the following Sunday, members from the Board of Trustees and the Committee on Ministry will concduct the church service on how we not only survive the 6 months that Rev. Bill will be gone, but how do we thrive and grow. We will review our pledge of Living in the Spirit of Community as well as discuss how we move forward with our Social Justice initiatives. Knowing that Bill is our #1 cheerleader and organizer in this area, how do we keep our spirit of Standing on the Side of Love moving forward?

We have some big church wide parties coming up as well. On Saturday, March 7th, join the Music Committee for the Heritage Family Dinner and Variety Show. It is a new event that promises to be full of laughter and probably a few tears. Then on April 25th, don’t miss the annual Auction. If you have never been to the Auction, ask others how much fun it is. It is a night of community and our church’s biggest fundraiser.

So even though the next months of the sabbatical may provide us with a few challenges, I look forward to it as a time of congregational growth and community collaboration.

Ann Roberts

‘Holy chaos’ indeed reigned over our Pop Up Christmas Pageant on December 21st! Our choir section was filled with stars and angels, our chancel crowded with shepherds, sheep, wise people, and animals of all shapes and kinds — not to mention Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus. I even saw some additional angels “pop up” in the congregation!

Many thanks to Glenn Lindmark and Jaime Castle for costume coordination and construction, to Kay Inskeep for on-the-spot costuming, to Les Tacy and additional wonderful singers and musicians, to our narrators Jill Beyette and Regina Pugh, and to all of you who took part in our no-rehearsal pageant or provided an enthusiastic audience. It was totally awesome!

Thanks also go out to Marleen Johnson and Kyle Mesrin for hosting the Heritage Family Holiday Night. Good cheer and fun accompanied gingerbread house and ornament construction.

Perhaps these events have launched some new holiday traditions for Heritage?

We barely get a moment to breathe before the New Year brings new opportunities to the forefront. In other places in this Heirloom you can read of HUUC’s plans during Rev. Bill’s sabbatical. Please read these carefully and be assured that our beloved community will continue to provide care for each other in his absence.

We also begin recruiting for our late winter/spring series of religious education classes. Our current courses conclude at the end of January and then we transition to new curricula and new teaching teams. Perhaps 2015 is your year to get to know our wonderful Heritage children and influence the future of Unitarian Universalism?

I invite you to click through these links to learn more and talk to me soon!

Preschool: Chalice Children

In a group setting, with loving adult guides, young children can engage in spiritual seeking, develop their openness to sharing, and experience the benefit of a supportive community. https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/chalicechildren/

Kindergarten/First Grade: Creating Home

This program helps children develop a sense of home that is grounded in faith. https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/home/

2nd/3rd Grade: Moral Tales

Provides children with spiritual and ethical tools to make choices and take actions that reflect their Unitarian Universalist beliefs and values. https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/tales/

4th/5th Grade: Sing to the Power

Affirms our Unitarian Universalist heritage of confronting “powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.” Participants experience their own power, and understand how it can help them to be leaders. https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/children/sing/

Junior High: Building Bridges (continued)

A world religions program to deepen youth’s understanding of the dynamic, fascinating, and varied world in which they live. It seeks to broaden their knowledge of humanity and embolden their spiritual search. https://www.uua.org/re/tapestry/youth/bridges/

2014 was a great year. 2015 will be even better! Won’t you join us?

Faithfully,

Rev. Leslie Woodward,
Assistant Minister for Religious Education

Dear Heritage Community,

For the last six months or so I have experienced intermittent hearing loss in my left ear. After experiencing an episode of extreme vertigo earlier in December and consulting with several doctors, it appears I may have a chronic inner ear condition.

The good news is that some of my hearing loss may be reversible. The bad news is that this will take time and further testing and, until we know more, I am not a good candidate for a hearing aid. This is frustrating for me and I ask for your help in the coming days.

Some things that might help:

• Be sure you have my attention before speaking to me. If I don’t react I probably didn’t hear you call my name.
• Excuse me if I speak too loud (or too soft) occasionally. Sometimes I can’t hear myself well enough to regulate my own voice volume.
• Whisper only in my right ear, not my left.

I am of course available for questions. Testing is scheduled for mid-January and we should have more news by the end of the month.

Thank you for your patience!!

Faithfully,

Leslie

Once again, Heritage members were challenged to count their blessings this holiday season by counting all the first-world luxuries we enjoy, then using those tallies to determine a contribution to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). Last year Heritage’s collective contributions to UUSC were the highest ever! Although our program wasn’t as visible this year, I hope many families used this opportunity to recognize the many blessings they receive.

Tallying this year’s items was a bit easier for me as I wisely made a written record that our house has, for example, 46 light switches and 22 windows! With two boys away at college, counting shoes and computer screens was also quicker though somehow my husband and I had increased our own screen tally. I didn’t even try to count books and just estimated that we had 3,000 and left it at that.

My family’s grand total: $86.70.

Again it seems appropriate in light of all the conveniences we enjoy to double our contribution to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee to $173.40.

Even if you didn’t grab a calendar to ‘count your blessings’ with the HUUC schedule I hope you and your family will make a generous gift to UUSC. Contribution envelopes are still available in the foyer.

May the dawning of the New Year bring you many comforts and great joy!

Faithfully,

Rev. Leslie

by Rev. Bill Gupton

“Home for the holidays” is a phrase that has taken on new significance in my life this year. For the first time, our son Patrick will be “home for the holidays” – coming home after completing his first semester away at college. Things will be different, of course; though he did visit for two days at Thanksgiving, this will be the first extended visit home that Patrick has made after going out into the world on his own for the first time. The pressures of school will be off his shoulders, and he will be able to do all those things young people look forward to doing at Christmas break: sleeping late, eating home-cooked meals, catching up with friends. And for Jennifer and me, it will simply be a blessing to have him in our home once again, day after day, night after night. It is the best gift we could possibly receive!

With the holidays upon us, I hope that you will make time to share the spirit of the season with your Heritage Church family. For all of the women in our community, there’s the annual Clara Barton Guild Holiday Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at church. Everyone – of all ages – is invited to our annual Christmas Tree Trimming party in the sanctuary after the church service on Sunday, Dec. 7. Be part of helping transform our sanctuary into a holiday wonderland. If you are new to HUUC and have never seen our spectacular Christmas tree, you’re in for quite a treat!

As always, Jennifer and I will open our home to church folks and friends for our Holiday Open House, on the following Sunday afternoon, Dec. 14, between the hours of 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. If you wish to bring a snack or drink to share, you are welcome to do so, but there is no expectation that you arrive with anything other than your holly, jolly self! Then the next Sunday, Dec. 21, our monthly potluck lunch after service takes on a decidedly Christmas-y feel. Don’t miss it – and do be sure to bring something hearty and festive to share with the hungry crowd.

We culminate the season with our Christmas Eve worship service at HUUC on Wednesday evening, Dec. 24. Our wonderful Choir and musicians will sing and play for us. We will share in the traditions of candlelight and sacred readings. There is nothing quite like the beauty of “Silent Night” in the darkened Heritage sanctuary, with faces lit by the warm glow of candles. After the service, stick around for a bit and enjoy Christmas cookies and apple cider in the Great Hall. Invite your friends and neighbors, and be sure to arrive early – parking is always at a premium on this very special night.

However you and your family choose to celebrate the holidays – and whatever holidays you choose to celebrate – I wish you a joyous season of love, laughter and light.

Namaste,

Rev. Bill