Rev. Roy Reynolds

10:30 a.m., via Zoom.

There is powerful untapped potential within the Unitarian Universalist faith. Imagine what would happen if the soulful gifts of Universalism were wedded with the creative gifts of Transcendentalism. This sermon dives into that possibility, affirming a communal ground of abiding love (our Universalist ethos) with the creative zest of Transcendentalism’s love of nature and creative human possibilities. This Sunday Service offers a vision of hope for these turbulent times.

Rev. Reynolds is a retired UU minister in Salt Lick, Kentucky. He writes regarding his Retirement Ministry:

Since December 2018, I describe my ministry as “contemplative eldering.” A Contemplative Elder serves spiritual wisdom through soul-spirit devotion to earth-centered companioning and contemplative practices. As a contemplative elder, my calling turns us toward deep dialogue, wisdom circle work, group experiences, and individual mentoring. Devoted to “The Great Turning” vision of Joanna Macy, I enhance and deepen that earth ethos by practicing with Dr. Robert Sardello in Contemplative Heart work. This earth-based ministry helps people grow wisdom qualities, capacities of awareness, and deep communal discernment.

Worship Associate: Bill Lyon.

2021.

Mimi Sinclair and Steph Tacy

10:30a.m. IN PERSON at Moundview Park, 3130 Newtown Road, Newtown Ohio.

(Viewing by livestream will also be available.)

Our days and nights are filled with busyness. Time taken for work, school and play. We are almost constantly in motion. But, as we move, are we doing so while being aware of our spirits, body and mind? Do we go through the motions without realizing the full potential of the experience from being fully present? Join us for this exploration as we gather for a Vespers style service filled with inspirational words, song and silence.

Those who cannot or choose not to attend in person can view a livestream of the service. A link will be available on the church homepage by Sunday morning.

2021.

Rev. Bill Gupton

10:30 a.m. IN PERSON at Moundview Park, 3130 Newtown Road, Newtown Ohio.

(Viewing by livestream will also be available.)

Pack a picnic basket and come to our new home-away-from-home, Moundview Park, for an old-fashioned Fourth of July picnic with your Heritage Church friends and family. We will share joys and sorrows, some prayerful silence, maybe a reading or two, sing a little (bring those pesky masks) – and then we will break bread with one another for the first time in a long time! Each household should bring their own meal and beverage, as our pandemic protocol does not allow for food sharing just yet. And remember – all our summer outdoor gatherings meet rain, shine . . . or cicadas!

Those who cannot or choose not to attend in person can view a livestream of the service. A link will be available on the church homepage by Sunday morning.

2021.

12 NOON, via Zoom

(There is no HUUC-specific worship service today)

Last summer, more than 10,000 screens logged in to watch the Sunday morning service of the General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association – the most people ever to watch a UU worship service. This year, we expect to break that record! Starting at noon today, led by the remarkable First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, join UU’s from all over the world in shared singing, celebrating, praying, learning, and worshipping. This is not an event to be missed! (Did you notice the host church is a Universalist congregation?)
Learn more about this exciting service at the GA Sunday Morning Worship page.

2021.

Rev. Bill Gupton

10:30 a.m. IN PERSON at Moundview Park, 3130 Newtown Road, Newtown Ohio.

(Viewing by livestream will also be available.)

Join us for our second in-person worship service at Moundview Park. This morning, we have much to celebrate as a church community. For starters: the return of our HUUC Choir! Yes, the Choir will sing for us today as we celebrate just a few of the following events and milestones: Father’s Day. The 25th anniversary of Rev. Bill’s ordination as a Unitarian Universalist minister. Honoring our recent high school graduates. Juneteenth. The summer solstice. Heck, we might even celebrate a few more things, too!

Those who cannot or choose not to attend in person can view a livestream of the service. A link will be available on the church homepage by Sunday morning.

If you are not yet a member of Heritage, but are ready now to join the church, please contact Rev. Bill Gupton. If you have questions about membership, Rev. Bill will be happy to answer those as well. You can contact Rev. Bill at:

2021.

Rev. Alice Diebel

10:30 a.m., via Zoom

I saw this phrase on the wayside pulpit of a church right around the corner from my home congregation. I wondered what the UU version of making our lives a sermon would be? As I explore that question, I will share my work with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women through my ministry, Circles of Spirit.

Worship Associate: Steph Tacy.

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Alice Diebel is a community minister affiliated with the Miami Valley UU Fellowship in Dayton, Ohio. Her focus in the community is on reforming our systems of mass incarceration and reaching out with compassion to people who have been affected by incarceration. The ministry involves the love and care of a pastor and the active voice of the prophet. Diebel has been a UU for over 30 years and decided to pursue the ministry after receiving a “calling” from the voices of people deeply involved in criminal justice reform, voices such as Bryan Stevenson and Michelle Alexander.

2021.

Rev. Bill Gupton

10:30 a.m. IN PERSON at Moundview Park, 3130 Newtown Road, Newtown Ohio.

(Viewing by livestream will also be available.)

After more than a year of virtual worship services, we at last gather in person this morning! Our joyful reunion will no doubt include plenty of tears, smiles, laughter, giddy excitement and, perhaps for many, a bit of trepidation. All emotions are welcome – and understandable. It has been a long time, and not only our social, but our worship community norms and expectations have changed. We won’t be going back to “normal” or the old way of being – but we will be back together in community!

Please plan to arrive early to allow time to get parked, oriented, and in place before 10:30. Most of us should park in the parking lot near Newtown Road, next to the baseball field (unless you have an accessibility challenge), and walk up the hill to the large pavilion. If we run out of parking spaces, be alert for directions from our parking guides and ushers. Oh – and bring a mask.

Those who cannot or choose not to attend in person can view a livestream of the service. A link will be available on the church homepage by Sunday morning.

Note that our Annual Congregational Meeting will take place this afternoon, beginning at 1:30 p.m., on Zoom. All church members should grab some lunch after worshipping together in person, then log in using the link you will receive to help conduct and complete the important church business of our Annual Meeting.

Read on for some of the guidelines that have been set by the Board for our outdoor Sunday worship gatherings – which will occur every other week (rain, shine, or cicadas!) throughout the summer at Moundview Park:

• Households should remain socially distanced apart from other households. People may sit at tables, in chairs that they bring, or stand in the surrounding area.
• Hand sanitizer and masks will be available. But please bring your own mask if possible.
• Unvaccinated persons should wear masks.
• Fully vaccinated persons may consider wearing masks as desired.
• Congregational singing is allowed. When singing, masks should be worn by all.
• There is a playground right next to the pavilion. Children may play there before, during and after the service, but should be masked at all times, and of course monitored or supervised by parents/guardians.
• Joys and Sorrows will be submitted in writing ahead of time, either via email as is done now, or written on a pad that will be available at the pavilion ahead of the service. They will be read aloud by the Worship Associate.
• No sharing of food or drink.
• Expectations around hugging, physical contact and consent will be explained at the beginning of each service.
• In-person services will be livestreamed or shown on Zoom so that those who cannot or do not choose to attend can be part of the worshipping community. It is understood by those in attendance in person that they may appear in the worship broadcast, and their names may be mentioned online for any joys or sorrows they may share.
• Microphones, a P.A. system, etc., will be used as needed. Sharing of hand-held microphones is not allowed (e.g., multiple speakers or singers do not use the same mic).
• At this time no numerical cap on attendance is expected. This may be reconsidered with more experience throughout the summer.

Worship Associates: Bill Lyon, Lisa Prantl, and Erin Walczewski.

2021.

Rev. Bill Gupton

10:30 a.m., via Zoom

One hundred years ago this week, one of the most horrific acts of racial genocide in American history took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yet most Americans were never taught about the Tulsa Massacre, which left an uncounted number of black Tulsans dead, and destroyed countless more lives, families, businesses, and possibilities. Those few who did learn about this terrible tragedy in school learned a sanitized, white version of the story.

This Memorial Day, we will remember the victims, the vicious white supremacy, and the white-washing of history. And we will commit ourselves to the challenge of rewriting history.

Worship Associate: Bill Lyon.

2021.

Rev. Bill Gupton

They’re heeeere! Just like clockwork, after 17 years the cicadas are emerging to delight or terrorize (depending on your perspective) suburbanites, farmers, delivery people, pets, and anything else that dares to share this part of the world with them this summer. Today we will take a light-hearted approach to worship as we celebrate (?) this unusual manifestation of the Great Cycle of Life.

Worship Associate: Lisa Prantl.

2021.

Bill Lyon

The big issues of our time—racial justice, the environment, human rights, healthcare, and many more—what do they have in common? The path toward progress is hampered by the divisiveness in our society.

HUUC Worship Committee member Bill Lyon will explore the spiritual and practical implications for people of a progressive faith. What are the challenges and opportunities that we face as we seek to bridge the divides even as we remain committed to social change? Be sure to join us.

Worship Associate: Steph Tacy.

2021.