On Sunday, January 27, Heritage UU Church welcomed back its Assistant Minister for Religious Education, Rev. Leslie Woodward. Welcome back Rev. Leslie!

2019.

Richard Asimus, Donna Buckley, Bill Gupton, Cole Imperi, Laura Knight, David Spinney, and Erin Theodor appointed to Heritage Acres Board.

Heritage’s next Auction will be held April 27, 2019.

The Board has approved the hire of a security officer during Sunday services through service on June 30, 2019.

The Board has designated HUUC as a fiscal conduit for Heritage Acres.

Bill Gupton, Donna Buckley, Cole Imperi, Laura Knight, and David Spinney were appointed to the Heritage Acres Board.

Heritage Church owns approximately an acre of land beyond and behind our rear parking lot. This slightly sloped, triangular-shaped area has become very overgrown by weeds, honeysuckle, and other invasive species in recent years – and last month (September 2018), a group of Heritage volunteers began the task of clearing it, so we can eventually make use of it as a beautiful, natural space for reflection, picnics, events, even religious education activities.

Many thanks to Terry Planitzer and Bob Staggenborg (coordinator and visionary), as well as Bob Drake, Bob Lamb, Bill Gupton, Jennifer Sanders, Patrick Sanders, Dave Small, and Garry and Stephanie Wilson (and any others whom we may have inadvertently left off this list) for their “sweat equity” on a series of hot, humid days. Much work went into just beginning the clearing process (as you can see from these photos). More work days will be announced later this month.

October 2018.

On August 30, 2018, two members of Heritage UU Church attended the Dedication and Blessing of the Sanctuary Space at Clifton United Methodist Church (UMC). This space is being added to expand the capabilities of the Cincinnati Sanctuary Congregation Coalition, of which Heritage Church is a supporting member.

The Coalition exists to help a person or family take sanctuary in a place of worship, in order to avoid deportation. The Coalition’s criteria are that the person or family must have a case pending with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), must be at risk of being deported before their case is heard, and must be willing to be public about taking sanctuary.

To create the needed living space for sanctuary, Clifton UMC has contracted with a “second chance” contractor to do the remodeling for $18,000. A “second chance” contractor works with ex-offenders (often people who have completed a prison sentence). These workers are not always efficient, so the work takes longer. Clifton UMC had expected the work to be done by now, but it is not completed.

The living space is on two levels. The kitchen is upstairs, and not directly connected to the rest of the living space, but is separate from the church kitchen. This was required by code.

The future residents have a “private entrance” where they can receive visitors without coming through the main church and hallways.

The primary living space is in the basement. The church has two large rooms, with new weather efficient windows. One room is expected to be daytime living space, and the other will be the sleeping rooms. There is a small laundry area attached to the sleeping area. The bathroom is split, with the shower in one space and the sink and toilet in another.

Clifton UMC needs volunteers to finish and decorate the space—window treatments, paint and wall coverings. They are hoping different churches will sponsor this part. Eventually, they will need furniture, but they don’t want the furniture until the renovations are complete.

At the celebration, the space dedication was lovely and there was a lot of enthusiasm among the visitors and guests.

Pictures from the event are shown below.

 

As our Assistant Minister for Religious Education, Rev. Leslie Woodward, was about to begin her sabbatical, she received a gift at church on July 29, 2018.

The gift was a beautiful kimono that was hand made by Board President Jaime Castle (a professional seamstress, or as she likes to call herself, “sewist”). It was made to symbolize the Love that is the Spirit of this Church, so that Rev. Leslie, throughout her sabbatical (and beyond) can feel herself wrapped in our gentle, loving embrace.

 

During the summer of 2018, our children took a break from regular Religious Education classes on Sunday mornings in order to construct some fun! Projects included creating a giant flaming chalice sculpture out of egg cartons, constructing an igloo out of empty plastic milk jugs, creating helmets from papier-mâché, and being creative with Legos. A few pictures are below.

Board of Trustees for July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019

Officers

Jaime Castle, President
Jim Nolan, Vice President
Tamilyn Thompson, Secretary

Members at Large

Craig Horton
Barb Lyon
Bob Rush
Heather Wasco

Members and friends of Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church joined with other UUs from the area in celebrating Cincinnati Pride. On Saturday, June 23, 2018, at least ten Heritage folk, and probably more, participated in the Pride Parade through downtown Cincinnati and attended the Pride Festival at Sawyer Point. The parade and festival celebrate the lives of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and/or transgender.