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.

by Rev. Bill Gupton

To paraphrase my colleague, Rev. Leslie Woodward, “It’s going to be a wonderful month at Heritage Church. Won’t you join us?”

Late in the month, one of my favorite annual church rituals – the Water Ceremony during our Ingathering Sunday – will allow all of us (regardless of who you are, where you’ve been, or even if you brought water) to symbolically and literally join together in community as we kick off the fall season and a new “church year.” This meaningful ritual reminds us of our physical Source (water) and our spiritual Source (God, community, the Spirit of Life, Om…). It reminds us of our interconnection with one another, of the rites of passage (weddings, funerals, the welcoming of babies) yet to come this year. It reminds us of the sacred cycle of life of which we are a part. And it allows us to blend our experiences (and water) into one common container – all while creating beloved community.

Rev. Leslie and I also have some other plans for our Ingathering Sunday that we’re keeping a secret – at least for now!

Earlier in the month, I will be offering a couple of “seeker services” – worship services that are particularly newcomer-friendly, designed to give a good sense of Unitarian Universalism, and Heritage Church, to those who are less familiar with us (and serve as a refresher for those who are very familiar who we are and what we do!). Please be sure to invite a family member, neighbor, friend or co-worker. I will continue the “seeker” theme on the 1st of September by exploring the ways our church and our faith differ from other churches – in our own, and in other, faiths.

Meanwhile, your Worship Committee is thinking of new and innovative ideas to make our services fresher and more enjoyable for all ages and all stages of faith development.

Can you tell I’m excited about worship at Heritage this summer/fall? I hope you’ll join me – not only in the sanctuary, but at all the other fun and friendly gatherings we have lined up in the coming months. And if you think you want to join Heritage – if you are ready to become a member – please speak with me or drop me an email. Our next Membership Ceremony is September 8.

See you at church!

Namaste,
Rev. Bill

August 2019.

by Rev. Leslie Woodward

September begins a new year in our Religious Exploration (RE) Program and this year we are trying something new. Our RE program will be using curriculum built around a subscription program called Soul Matters — sharing resources with a network of over 150 Unitarian Universalist congregations who follow the same monthly themes.

Each month will have a different spiritual/religious theme that will be explored in RE throughout the entire month. In September, our theme will be “Expectation” and our children’s RE groups will explore what it means “to be a people of expectation.”

This fall we will also have three separate age groups for religious exploration so we can assure we are using age-appropriate activities for children and youth. Our three groups will be Sparks! — preschool and kindergarten; Flames! — first through sixth grades; and Ignite! — seventh through 12th grades. Watch for more information on how you can help lead and assist in our RE groups!

One of the greatest benefits of using Soul Matters is that children and their parents can explore the same theme together throughout the month. Families can continue their discussions of the themes at home through dinner conversations, car chats, bedtime stories, movies, and books tying into the themes, allowing religious exploration and education to be more than just a couple of hours on Sunday morning.

To help with this, I will be sending out a monthly email with ideas and resources about that month’s theme to weave into your family’s week. These will, of course, be only suggestions. Use them as it works for your family. And if you have ideas to add or something about which you want more information, please let me know.

Religious exploration is going to be great at Heritage!

Won’t you join us?

Rev. Leslie

August 2019.

by Jim Nolan

Hello my fellow gentle, angry people.

I want to begin by saying how grateful, honored and humbled I am to have been asked to take on the role of President of the Board for the coming year.

I’ve never been President of anything before – so I’m feeling mildly intimidated by the task. I keep thinking of the 1993 movie Dave, starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver, in which an ordinary person is thrown into an official position and must learn how to do the job on the fly. To paraphrase the main character, “I was hired to do a job for you and it is just a temp job at that.”

I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor than Jaime Castle. Her boundless energy and incredible creativity have taught me a great deal about leadership. In doing so, she has also set the bar pretty high, but I promise to always work my hardest to do the best job I can.

Under Jaime’s leadership, we were given the mission of “Recharging our Individual and Collective Energies.” She also provided for us an anthem in Sade’s “By Your Side.” For this coming year, my goal is to build upon what Jaime achieved and to guide us all into putting that renewed energy into action.

In Physics, Velocity is defined as Speed with a Direction. Similarly, by action, our individual and collective energies can do so much good in the direction of our church, our community and into the wider world.

For the next week or so, I would like us all to reflect upon what skills we have and what we would like to contribute to putting energy into action.

Are you good with tools? Can you cook? Do you like to read to kids? Can you plant and maintain a garden? Do you play an instrument? Can you lead and organize a group? Are you good with computers? Or – do you have time to offer where you can watch, lend a hand and learn a new skill? All of these – and more – will prove to be so valuable in maintaining the future of our church and its mission.

I can’t think of another Sade song to share to motivate you to action – but might I offer James Brown’s classic “Get Up Offa That Thing?”

Or, to take another quote from the movie Dave:
“You don’t really know how much you can do until you, stand up and decide to try.”

I look forward to putting energy into action with you all in the coming year.

~Jim Nolan

August 2019.

Rev. Bill Gupton

What have you been doing with your summer? The longest day of the year has already come and gone, and the days are getting ever so shorter. But it’s not too late to make the most of this special season – to make memories, share laughter, experience something new and exciting.

For some, that means travel. Do you have any fun trips lined up? (I did my traveling in May, when it was still springtime here in the States but downright chilly and on the cusp of winter in New Zealand!).

For others, summer is a family time, with children out of school and the opportunity to spend more time together – hiking, swimming, going to Kings Island or an FC/Cincinnati game. For still others, summer is a chance to reconnect with far-flung friends, be that on a shared vacation or by meeting up at a Unitarian Universalist summer camp. Jennifer and I always join a thousand or so of our closest friends at the Southeast UU Summer Institute in the mountains of North Carolina. This year, Jennifer is the Director of SUUSI! It’s a huge volunteer role, but definitely a labor of love.

You can learn more about all the UU camps and conferences here:
https://www.uua.org/beliefs/get-involved/where/camps-retreats-and-conferences
(and yes, that’s our own Chris Whittaker and a much younger Henry Sofge featured in the picture; yours truly is somewhere off camera).

Wherever you go this summer, whatever you do, keep Heritage Church in mind (and in your heart) by collecting some water, and saving it to bring with you to our annual Ingathering Sunday worship service on August 25, when we mark the “end of summer” and our “homecoming” with a UU tradition: the Water Ceremony.

And when you are in town, be sure to come to church on Sunday mornings. There will be a wide variety of interesting topics for reflection, outdoor activities for the children, and Heritage’s amazing, loving community to welcome you. Plus, in August we’re planning some special worship services for newcomers, as well as the aforementioned Ingathering Sunday.

Have a safe, refreshing, love-filled summer. I hope to see you at church soon!

Namaste,
Rev. Bill