-
Friction Farm Concert at HUUC Enjoyed by All
On June 7, 2025, in our sanctuary, 26 people attended a performance by the Musical Duo, Friction Farm, who are Christine Stay and Aidan Quinn.
Inspiring! Uplifting! Humorous! Thought-provoking! Passionately delivered! Loving and full of compassion!
For almost two hours, those of us present were blessed to experience songs composed of memorable and captivating lyrics and timely messages: messages built around social justice, gun control, immigration, acceptance of all, the importance of the spoken as well as written word in reaching out to each other and gratitude for this beautiful world of ours.
Attendance can be improved upon in future, yet with 26 tickets sold and a donation given the next day at church, $160 was raised. A big hurrah!
I have high hopes for another concert next year that will grow in size and support! And to that end, I encourage all who attended to share your experience of Christina and Aidan’s transformative music with all you know, so as to support both their work and the work of Heritage. We truly need these kinds of messages and “evidence of hope,” especially now and in the months to come.
Many thanks to Martha Vielman, Laci Adams, Neal Watzman, Bob Lamb, John Sandman, Reid Hester, Meredith Meyer, and Megan Lindle with special thanks to St. John’s, First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati, and The Gathering at Northern Hills for their advertising efforts! And lastly, I am grateful to Christina and Aidan for sharing their love and music with all of us!– Valerie DuBay, Event Organizer
For more information on Friction Farm access https://frictionfarm.com/
Image source: https://tinyurl.com/2yk4frf3
-
Little Free Library Coming to HUUC!
The HUUC Board of Trustees approved the installation of a little free library on the grounds of HUUC by the Gender Sexual Alliance (GSA) during the Board’s May 2025 meeting. The GSA will construct and maintain the structure that is currently slated to be installed near the street, across the driveway from our sign. More information will be forthcoming when it becomes available.
Image source: https://tinyurl.com/6u5ecc73
-
HUUC Board Briefs for June 2025
The Heritage UU Board of Trustees met on June 9, 2025. The following summarizes their activities:
The Board voted to appoint Jenny Hamerstadt to the Committee on Ministry as the Board-selected member. She will join the congregation-elected committee member John Colebrook. The third member of this committee will be chosen by the Contract Minister. The year-long terms will start when the minister’s contract starts on September 1st.
Photo caption:
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/
-
June 1, 2025 Annual Meeting Results and Awards
Among the rights and privileges of Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church membership is full participation in the Annual Meeting, this year held on June 1, 2025. This gathering is more than ritual. What transpires are some mundane but required votes, sometimes heated debates, and some heart-felt honors to those persons who have served our community for so well and so long.
The first order of business was to vote on our new Board of Trustees members, Endowment Committee member, and representatives to the UU Council of Cincinnati. Shown below are the names of those elected and their terms of office.
Board of Trustees – Three-year Term
Sue Rahall
Kelly Vienot
Committee on Ministry – One-year Term
John Colebrook
Endowment Committee – Three-year Term
Rowley Ellison
UU Council of Cincinnati – One-year Term
Rae Jane Araujo
Ann Jarboe
Bob Lamb
As the second order of business, the annual budget prepared by the Board of Trustees was passed following discussion.
The Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Barbara Rohrer
Barbara comments,
“I am very honored that the board of trustees chose to recognize my efforts as a volunteer on behalf of our congregation this year. In accepting this award, I want to acknowledge the contributions of all of my fellow volunteers, many who serve with diligence and care year after year. The success of our church community is as dependent upon them as much, if not more so, than anything I have done.”
The Booth Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Rebecca Pace.
Rebecca Pace comments,
“I want to thank the members of our congregation who responded to help cover our recent cash crunch. I’d also like to thank all those people who help with the bank deposit each week–and sometimes miss potluck because of it! I really appreciate the recognition and I’m happy to continue to serve as your Treasurer.”
HUUC Board President Jaime Castle also awarded three Light Keeper Awards to Katie Kpaeyeh, Jen Ciolino, and Susan Conley.
Images sources: https://tinyurl.com/rhbhutec and courtesy of Barbara Rohrer and Rebecca Pace
-
Standing Room Only for Rev. Bill’s Retirement Open House
The evening of May 18, 2025, Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church (HUUC) celebrated Rev. Bill Gupton’s 23 years as their Senior Minister prior to his retirement at the end of the month with fine finger food, drinks, music, gifts, and variety of guests. The Great Hall was filled to standing room only capacity.
Following a time to socialize, HUUC member Ann Roberts served as Master of Ceremonies for various presentations. Speakers, in person and virtual, reminded the assembled of Bill’s call to HUUC, working on his staff, and involvement with Heritage Acres. The full HUUC choir sang a version of American Pie, reworded for the occasion.
The program ended with three gifts from the congregation to Bill. The first was a t-shirt emblazoned with “Still Imagining,” a watercolor of the church building by HUUC congregant Bill Webster, and a book of special wishes from people Bill has touched during his tenure at HUUC.
Image source: courtesy of B. L. Barnes
