The HUUC Board passed the following policy regarding building closure:

• The general closure of the Heritage building is extended through the end of September 2020. Furthermore, the building shall not be used for large in-person gatherings (including Sunday worship service) through the remainder of the calendar year 2020. This policy shall be reviewed on a monthly basis in HUUC Board of Trustee meetings. (Note: The Board later superseded this policy with a larger “Heritage UU Church Policy Related to COVID-19.”)

The HUUC Board agreed to submit to the congregation, for consideration at the June 2020 annual meeting, amendments HUUC constitutional, summarized as follows:

• Clearly permit online congregational meetings.
• Permit the board to incur debt – in an emergency situation – of up to 25% of the annual budget without approval by congregational meeting.

 

The HUUC Board passed the following Resolution of Gratitude to Rev. Leslie Woodward for her outstanding leadership during the Coronavirus crisis.

In recognition of love & light way beyond the call of duty during an incredibly difficult time.
For unstoppable energy.
For unmatched patience.
For doing everything within her power to keep us all together – when we all felt like we were falling apart.
For all those things and more, the Board of Trustees of Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church would like to officially recognize Rev. Leslie Woodward as a remarkable leader, colleague and friend.
We couldn’t have made it without you.
Thank you.

On Saturday, January 18, 2020, Heritage UU Church members and friends, along with many others, participated in the Cincinnati Women’s March, a sister march of the one held in Washington, D.C. Here are a few pictures.

 

On Sunday, December 15, 2019, performers both young and old treated the Heritage UU Church congregation to a Christmas pageant. Here are a few pictures of scenes and performers.

We are excited to expand and grow each and every year. Thank you to Heritage UU Church for your continued support of this vital ministry. “And service is our prayer” is seen in each class. We are now receiving surplus food supplies from LaSoupe in Newtown for each class.

The year 2020 will see monthly classes at Heritage with at-risk teens from the Villedge. We will hold summer classes again for the New Richmond Boys and Girls Club and Artsy Fartsy. Our team of volunteers is essential to the success of these classes. Deep gratitude to each and every team member. To volunteer your time, contact:

Our Mission Statement: Heritage Healthy Cooking Classes encourages people from all walks of life to think about where their food comes from. We believe that nutritious food should be available to all people every day. We provide basic culinary skills to empower people to cook healthy, simple foods with less waste. We teach people how to cook thoughtfully with love and care for themselves and the environment, to help them realize the importance of being present while eating and sharing food with others.

January 2020.

The Clara Barton Guild members (that is, every woman of Heritage) began the 2019 holiday season with a grand, festive event on December 4. The mood for the early December dinner was set by the cool colors of turquoise, silver, gold and white. Bulb-adorned tables and a tree-filled beverage center welcomed the fifty-six attendees. Organized by Julie Kane and Chris Burroughs, the evening provided a jovial time for everyone.

Donations of delicious appetizers, tasty desserts and beverages helped to keep the cost low. A portion of the money raised was donated to Hope Springs Retreat Center (Adams County), Planned Parenthood (Cincinnati) and The Clara Barton Camp for Diabetic Girls (Massachusetts).

 

On October 12, 2019, Heritage UU Church had a “Gardening Party.” Here are a few pictures.

On Sunday, August 25, 2019, Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church held its traditional Ingathering Sunday. This included the mingling of the waters brought by congregants from far and wide, the beautiful water-themed music of our choir and… the dunking of church leaders!

A carnival dunking booth was set up outside the church building. The people who volunteered to sit on its precarious seat were our Senior Minister, Rev. Bill Gupton; our Minister for Religious Education, Rev. Leslie Woodward; and our Board President, Jim Nolan.

Shown below are some pictures from the event.

 

With a new church year comes a new Board of Trustees for Heritage Church. Congratulations to our new President, Jim Nolan, and our new Vice-President, Tamilyn Thompson! The Board’s secretary is Bob Rush, and Jaime Castle becomes our Past President.

Other Board members are Mark Buckley, Barb Lyon and Michael Wilhite.

The Board will hold its annual retreat on Saturday, August 17. Thank you, one and all, for your service to this church we love!

August 2019.

This large sunflower greeted church visitors who parked in the back lot on Sunday, July 7, 2019.