News Articles

On four Saturdays in October and November of 2024, HUUC members Susan Conley, Rebecca Pace, and Barb Barnes participated in the MidAmerica Region of the UUA sponsored course titled Extended Leadership Experience. This course was an opportunity for existing leaders, and soon to be leaders, to gain experience and knowledge about how to lead congregations more effectively.

In addition to multiple readings and videos prior to each session, the course included six hours of UU history and theology by Rev. Connie Simon plus lectures and discussion by other UU leaders on the course’s additional UU leadership topics. These topics included creating covenant, dismantling white supremacy culture, mission/vision work, listening circle modalities, systems theory, and conflict resolution considerations.

Current MidAmerica Region thoughts include re-running this course in the Spring of 2025 and/or the next level of this program. For more information on UUA courses, investigate the following links:

https://www.uua.org/midamerica/ele

https://uuinstitute.org/learners

https://www.uua.org/midamerica/events/webinars

For more personal information about their experiences with this course, contact the Susan, Rebecca, and/or Barb at the following email addresses:

Image source: https://www.uua.org/midamerica/events/extended-leadership-experience-level-1

On two Tuesdays, September 24 and October 8, 20244 GAPP (Greater Anderson Promotes Peace)  and ACRU (Anderson Churches for Racial Unity) hosted a two-part workshop at Heritage Church.  The workshop, led by Mandy Kender, was on compassionate communication, teaching how to bring empathy and understanding to conversation.

A resource was the book Nonviolent Communication by Dr. Marsha Rosenberg.  On September 24, 42 people attended and 36 on October 8.

Image source: https://tinyurl.com/5762b8x9

On October 25, 2024 the publication ICT (formerly known as Indian Country Today) ran a news article by Heritage member and national correspondent for ICT Mary Annette Pember, along with authors Shondiin Mayo and Mark Trahant with the headline “Historic Apology: Boarding school history ‘a sin on our soul.’” The article discussed President Joe Biden’s October 25, 2024 speech, at Gila Crossing Community School in Laveen, Arizona, apologizing for tribal boarding schools.

According to Wikipedia, ICT is a nonprofit, multimedia news platform that covers the Indigenous world, with a particular focus on American Indian, Alaska Native and First Nations communities across North America.

The published article by Mary Annette Pember et al can be read in full at:

https://ictnews.org/news/historic-apology-boarding-school-history-a-sin-on-our-soul

Image source: https://tinyurl.com/44bkf2mj

On Sunday, October 20, 2024, several HUUC congregants joined several other area UUs to raise funds to support the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention by participating in the Out of the Darkness Community Walk. The mission of this organization is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. 

The UU Team had its best showing ever for the 2024 Out of the Darkness Walk. The team raised a total of $1,738.23 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. They were 13th in fundraising, out of 183 Teams! And that’s not all; at the time of this writing there were still some donations that hadn’t been processed, including some from Donor Advised Funds. 

But wait, there’s more! You can still donate online via the link below. Walk donations are accepted until December 31, 2024 at https://tinyurl.com/2p8wn627

To all those that couldn’t make it in person, we know you were there with us in spirit – even those who registered but couldn’t make the walk and/or donate, YOU MATTER! Every person who shows support helps spread the word and adds to Team Pride. We are truly grateful to those of you who took the time and effort to register. You made a difference.

Save the date for Sunday, October 5, 2025 and join us next year!

Rebecca Pace

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Pictured, from left to right with UU Church affiliation: Wanda Crawford – St. John’s, Jackie Drake – HUUC, Bob Drake – HUUC, Trish Hart – First Unitarian, Rebecca Pace – HUUC, Nicole Stanforth – St. John’s and her daughter Arrow (above in hat), Lynne Lefebvre – HUUC, and Lynn Prewitt – HUUC. 

Photo source: Rebecca Pace 

The Heritage UU Church Board of Trustees met on October 14, 2024. The following summarizes their activities:

The Board continues to plan for Rev. Bill’s departure at the end of this church year. We are working on a congregational survey to seek your thoughts and input, followed by a series of town hall meetings to discuss the situation further. We have a number of different paths we can take in this transition. We want to be sure that we are as informed as possible as we proceed.

HUUC Board of Trustee members.
Front row: Jaime Castle, Rebecca Pace. Back row: Luke Walczewski, Antonio Ciolino, Garry Wilson, Susan Conley, Roger Miller

Image source: https://huuc.net/huuc-board-members/