UUCA March Monthly UUpdates
March 2021
- Rev Kate's Corner
- Religious Education
- President's Column
- Board Meeting Summary
- UUWA 21 day Challange
- UUWA Meeting
- Hermitage of the Heart
- Jubilee Anti-Racism Training
- Women's Book Group
- Green Sanctuary
- Immigration
- Racial In-Justice History
- Banter With Bay
- Donation Station
- UUJO Concert
- Get to Know Us
Rev. Kate's Korner
Hello my dear spiritual companions,
It is nearly Spring! It might not feel like it, but deep in the soil green tendrils are pushing their way up toward the sunlight. What fresh, young dreams are starting to bloom in your life? How can you nurture that growth?
In February we engaged in the Appreciative Inquiry process in small groups. Appreciative Inquiry is a standard part of being in this limal interim time and it focuses on what the congregation does well and how we can do more of it. If you didn’t have a chance to participate in an Appreciative Inquiry group please give the following questions some thought and send me your notes.
Why did you first come to the UU Church of Akron? What were you looking for? What appealed to you about this congregation?
Why did you stay at UU Church of Akron? What draws you here? What do you love?
What does UUCA do best? When have you been the most proud to be a part of UUCA?
Tell me about one or a few peak experiences you have had at UUCA. What are your best happy memories?
Think about the UUCA in five years. In 2026 what do you hope this congregation is doing? What is happening Sunday morning? What does worship feel like? What are folks excited about?
Your reflections on these questions will be given to the Ministerial Search Committee, who will use them in finding UUCA’s next settled minister. Help them communicate who we are at UUCA and where we hope to head in the future.
Please know that while my time here is limited I am loving being your minister. Thank you for being you.
Warmly,
Rev Kate
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Hello Dear Friends!
Spring is fast approaching and so is the UUCA RE’s first ever Hogwarts Camp! Kids and youth are invited to a socially distanced UUCA Hogwarts Camp beginning with Hogwarts House Sorting on Sunday, April 11th at 2pm. The sorting event will be held outdoors on the UUCA grounds (as Covid health conditions allow).
UUCA Witches and Wizards can look forward to online and socially-distanced activities that are instructive, entertaining, and full of UU community goodness. We’ll enjoy time centered around herbology, defense against, the dark arts, wandmaking (and lore), and more. Registration for this event opens Feb. 15th and closes March 31st, but early registration is encouraged for all young pupils wishing to receive an early (and most magical) welcome. Please read the UUCA RE’s special statement on transgender rights and register below!
*We as an RE program at the UUCA would like to affirm our support of trans people and the movement for trans rights in the US and around the world. We do not support, either in part or in whole, any statements made by JK Rowling in opposition to the current movement for trans rights and wholeheartedly disagree with Ms. Rowling’s position. We believe that including trans supportive language in our programming and in our global community encourages the movement toward a safer, healthier society and in no way undermines or harms cis-gender identifying people.
Register here ---https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScBpRdDIthw5fwgQLrK_4QTgWaqwc27dtdIDnVZ51FNzoeJCQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&gxids=7628
Take a look at what else is going on this March at the UUCA RE!
Hogwarts Camp is coming to the UUCA this Spring! Children and youth are invited to register by March 31st. Our Hogwarts week will begin with house sorting on April 11th at 2pm on the UUCA church grounds and will continue with fun, magical, connection-centered activities throughout the week. Please contact Carolyn Stevens (uuakronoffice@gmail.com) and Abby L’Bert (dre.uuakron@gmail.com) with any questions.
Teacher David is paying the RE kids a visit on Sunday April 11th for a special music-filled RE class! Preschool and elementary-aged kids are welcomed to login along with their adults for the UU centered Sunday session. David Palomo also hosts a PJ Dance Party on the 4th Friday of every month @ 7:00p on Zoom. Little ones can enjoy a fun start and soothing wind down to their Friday evening :). Here’s the link to join David P. on Friday nights: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82879613657?pwd=cWpmbTYzYVpZY0FXOUtQRXl0N3BHZz09
The RE Program is doing Sundays! Join us online before church service on Zoom, from 10am to 10:30am (or at 9:45am for virtual kids' "decaf" coffee hour time :). Elementary-aged kids are welcomed to join our UUCA adult guides for weekly theme-centered connection, learning, and FUN! Parents are welcomed to log on with your kids to assist:).
7th - 12th graders are welcome to join COYA’s online Zoom meetings on 4th and 1st Sundays at noon! COYA involvement offers youth a great way to connect with others, get creative, develop leadership skills, AND get together for socially distanced fun. Those interested in learning more, please contact Kelly Urbano (kell100@yahoo.com) and Abby L’Bert (dre.uuakron@gmail.com).
UUCA parents and ALL! Our support-centered meetings (hosted by Elizabeth Reilly and Abby L'Bert) are here to help! We are alternating a parent support and check-in space (2nd and 4th Tuesdays) with an all-church morning meditative support session on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Both sessions will be held at 6:30am on Tuesday mornings so please feel free to join us as you are able. As always, please contact Elizabeth Reilly (reilly@uakron.edu) and Abby L’Bert (dre.uuakron@gmail.com) with any questions you may have.
Please make a note of my current, RE-online office hours as well! Feel free to connect with me by email or text at (dre.uuakron@gmail.com) or (330)701-9839 Tuesdays through Fridays between 10a - 3p!
Abby L’Bert
DRE @ the UUCA
(330)701-9839 (text)
President’s Column Hallie Bowie, President of the Board of Trustees (she/her)
UUCA: Ready to meet new challenges together.
It has been very nearly a year since the pandemic started affecting life at UUCA. It
was March 11 th , 2021 when I Rob Sturr and I got a call from Reverend Tim. I don’t
recall if he had left a message or sent a text, but I do remember that it was clearly
something that needed immediate attention, so I pulled off to the side of the road
on the way home from a meeting. He called to tell us UUA was advising that
congregations be ready to suspend in-person services, and find a way to do
services online in order to keep members safe. It was Wednesday, and that
afternoon we expected that we would have one more service in person, but by
Thursday the staff had determined that it was best not to meet even one more
time in the sanctuary. I know the Coronavirus had been in the news a bit prior to
this, but I had no idea when I attended church on March 8 th that that would be
our last time together in the sanctuary for quite a while. Amazingly, Rev. Tim,
Abby, and the rest of the staff worked out a way to hold a Zoom service just days
later!
Since then we have had to change almost everything about the way our faith
community works. Besides Sunday worship, we have found ways to continue our
community meal, Whole Foods distribution, Religious Education Classes, UUWA,
Hermitage of the Heart, COYA, UU the Vote, and much more. We have not only
continued these important ministries, we have welcomed a new interim minister,
adopted the 8 th Principle, and started new initiatives such as the Neighborhood
Pods! While we very much miss being together in person, the online format for
Sunday services has made it possible for us to post past services to our UU Church
of Akron YouTube channel! So far we have about 4 services posted, plus a
fabulous re-boot of our Welcome to the UU Church of Akron video put together
by Deb Lemire. It’s great for sharing with friends who are curious about our
congregation.
The next 12 months are going be different than the past 12. We will be finding
ways to safely see more of each other in person, even if our faces are still masked
for a while longer. These are challenging times, but our congregation has met the
challenge and will continue to do so. I’m excited to see what we accomplish
together next!
FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING SUMMARY
And please feel free to join us for March Board Meeting-
UUCA Board of Trustees Meeting for March
Time: Mar 24, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/93501798559?pwd=NzdSbXlEYzhoNWtYUmtZVVJYZ3JhQT09
Meeting ID: 935 0179 8559
Passcode: 918303
One tap mobile
+16465588656,,93501798559# US
UUWA 21 DAY CHALLENGE
YWCA 21 DAY RACIAL EQUITY ; SOCIAL JUSTICE CHALLENGE
The Cleveland YWCA began the program in 2019 as tool to train staff. That first year 2500
people signed up. The challenge has spread. In 2020, the second year, 30,000 people joined
from 50 YWCA’s across the country. The program has spread through 1800 zip codes in 28
states!
The areas of focus are to raise awareness which will lead to change in attitudes and inspire
action to resolve environmental racism, as well as the harm done by the use of native mascots
in sports, police violence and human trafficking.
The challenge lasts for 21 days because that is how long it takes to establish a habit!
“This is an exciting opportunity to dive deep into racial equity and social justice. We
are so glad to have you along for the ride!
The 21-Day Racial Equity and Social Justice Challenge is designed to create
dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly
those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership. Our challenge
starts on Monday, March 1st and continues (Monday –Friday) through March 29th.
Each day of the challenge you will be presented with activities such as reading an
article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience and more.
Participation in an activity like this helps us to discover how racial injustice and
social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another, and to identify
ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.”
The following is the link to join this program, which starts on March 1.
https://www.ywcachallenge.org/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x13776abcd
Join UUWA for discussions after the 21 DAY CHALLENGE to share your thoughts and ideas. The challenge days are week days (M-F) March 1through March 29. The discussions will be held every Thursday at 5:30 pm via zoom.
Here is the Zoom link.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97912752192?pwd=bjd3UWN5WGdjSGJ4NC83TFdROEZhZz09
Meeting ID: 979 1275 2192
Passcode: 888445
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,97912752192# US
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
UUWA MONTHLY MEETING
March 19 promises to be a day of great interest for UUWA’s. Sister Judy Bourg, a Notre Dame nun, who has been working with Latinos in their journey to a fuller life will meet with us on Zoom. After living in the Highlands of Guatemala for 11 years, she has returned to the states where she works in the borderlands, both in the US and in Mexico. Her stories of giving aid and shelter to migrants and asylum families will bring us to a better understanding of the situation on the border and an appreciation of the “better angels” who bring comfort and relief to the immigrants.
Join us. March 19 at 10:15 for social interaction and 10:30 for our meeting and program.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/91202910117?pwd=RWFIR0ZEOFM4dTB2Ly85b0dBQWxpdz09
Meeting ID: 912 0291 0117
Passcode: 820358
One tap mobile
+13017158592,,91202910117# US
Dial by your location
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Hermitage of the Heart
Every first and third Thursday, Hermitage of the Heart creates spiritual community in a contemplative setting. Each service explores a theme connected to the rhythms of nature and spirit, to provide a space and time for renewal, stillness and peace amid the maelstrom, so we are able to emerge ready for life. Together, we seek respite, find ways to refresh our spirits, rest in an oasis of peace.
Come join our community, seeking wholeness of body, spirit and mind. We experience light and darkness, silence and song, inspiring words and images, and sustained time for reflection and meditation as sources of hope and courage. Take the time to nurture, ground and center yourself.
The sacred space is open from 6:45-7 PM for entering music, and the service begins at 7 PM. You are welcome to invite others who may seek to experience a time of being held in compassionate community, finding and storing the energy to be at peace within themselves before reentering the world.
Join us March 4th.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/97615742417?pwd=Q29HdnZxbzIxeG8rUlFLS0g0WVBUdz09Meeting ID: 976 1574 2417
Passcode: 414097
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,97615742417# US
Jubilee Anti-Racist Training
March 19-21, 2021
This training is designed to deepen our understanding of how race and ethnicity play out in our institutions and our daily lives; and help build a true multicultural community. This is in direct support of the 8th Principle. The training includes presentations, discussions, videos, exercises, and small group work. This 2 ½ day workshop is open to anyone who wants to journey toward making a stand against racism and building Beloved Community at the UU Church of Akron. With the generosity of the Wilson Fund, 50% of registration fee will be reimbursed. More info and Registration here https://www.uua.org/central-east/calendar/jubilee-3-0321
Women's Book Group
WOMEN'S BOOK GROUP Will meet on ZOOM
Wednesday, March 3 at 7 p.m.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/99792258683?pwd=VXdVanNIakp2Tk1xTk9CcEs0QVNydz09
Meeting ID: 997 9225 8683
Passcode: 266849
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,99792258683# US (Chicago)
We will be discussing
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
All women are welcome. For questions, contact Jan Schrader janzst@yahoo.com
GREEN SANCTUARY PROGRAM
The Green Sanctuary Program was created by the Unitarian Universalist Association in 1989 to encourage congregations to demonstrate their commitment to environmental stewardship. The voluntary Program required congregations to develop and implement action plans to reduce the environmental impact of their church building and grounds. The enthusiastic UUCA Green Team helped our Church become a certified Green Sanctuary in 2012.
A 7th iteration of the Green Sanctuary Program was announced by the UUA last year. There is a path for congregations like ours to go through an accreditation renewal process. As before, it involves a plan and actions. A key part of the new Program is the inclusion of environmental justice and civic actions. The new Green Sanctuary Program can be found online at: https://www.uua.org/environment/sanctuary/green-sanctuary-2020-process
It would be helpful for the UUCA congregation to review the new Green Sanctuary Program and help decide if we should formally enter the reaccreditation process. The UUCA Stewardship of Earth Committee will be soliciting inputs on this topic in the future.
Thank you.
IMMIGRATION NEWS
Family Updates
Our friend and former resident Edwin has gotten his El Salvador passport, so now has official ID, a big relief. Next step a driver’s license and green card. Edwin and Antonio are doing well.
Acting on a call from a North Hill family we know well, a small group of committee volunteers and donors were able to contribute enough to purchase a plane ticket for their 15 year old niece who was being held at the border. A ton of calls, forms to fill out, and running around was masterfully accomplished by Susan Gallagher. It was joy all around when we heard she had arrived. A different family we also serve is in the process of bringing a relative to Akron from Central America. With coyote fees, transportation, paperwork etc., their extended family has pooled $15,000 to support this one immigrant's journey!!
Immigration Nation
Covid time is the perfect time to learn more about Immigration in our country. See Immigration Nation on Netflix. Check out familiesbelongtogether.org, the National Domestic Workers Alliance at domesticworkers.org, the American Friends Service Committee, the Poor Peoples Campaign, and the Action Network for updates.
Humanitarian Aid in the Desert
Hear what Sr. Judy Borg, a Sister of Notre Dame, has to say about her work and experiences. She has served in Guatemala and Central America for decades, and now is at the US/Mexican border helping families on both sides with basic needs, legal advice, humanitarian aid. Who are those people who place bottled water and food in the desert for travelers? Sr. Judy Borg is one of them. She also places crosses in the desert when people have lost their lives there. Join a zoom meeting on March 12, 7pm To get the link contact immigration@uuakron.org The UUWA is also scheduled to hear from Sr. Judy on March 19th.
We NEED YOU!
Vicki Sue, our 90 hours per week (really!) community outreach and support volunteer knows needs and concerns better than anyone. Her assessment of needs is as follows:
· Back-up drivers who can take someone (with a mask, sitting in the back seat) to a doctor's appointment or court hearing or the Immigrant
· Worker Project offices in Canton. (Get on a call list for when needs arise)
· Furniture - currently looking for a single bed (mattress, springs, frame) for a woman on her way here. A few dressers as well.
· Winter coats, sweaters, etc. for new arrivals.
· Back-up drivers who can attend Foodbank or Good Samaritan Hunger Center drive through food distributions, pick up for N Hill families, and drop off on their porch or steps. As back up, perhaps you will be called once a month or so, with adequate notice. No direct contact with others. Food is put in your trunk, you drive it where it needs to go, and set it outside, then knock on the door and return to your car. You may get a joyful, thankful wave if you wait and watch.
URGENTLY NEEDED: Anyone who can speak Spanish and work from home. Vicki Sue, Barbara Kemper, Cheryl Rennik and maybe a few others get calls from Spanish speaking families who have a particular need or problem. Keep up with calls makes it difficult to be responsive and carry on daily business. If one or two people would just take messages and get information, that would help the "system" run smoothly. Your phone number would have to be given to families we work with. They are thankful for our support, "no problemas" anticipated.
The Immigration Committee welcomes your engagement and interest. We have an email list for info and alerts and plan to have a committee ZOOM soon - no date yet. If you want to make sure you are in the loop or have any questions or ways to help contact Immigration justice Co-Chairs Sharon Geffken (330-620-6890) and Cathie Finn (330-928-5130). Email immigration@uuakron.org.
BANTER WITH BAY
According to the United Nations, March 1st is Zero Discrimination Day: a day to recognize where discrimination exists and attempt to eliminate it. Here in Ohio, we have yet to pass legislation protecting LGBT individuals from discrimination in housing, employment, and other important areas of life. The Ohio Fairness Act, which has been introduced repeatedly for a decade, failed to pass again in 2020 and will need to be re-introduced in 2021. According to Equality Ohio, the pandemic was a large reason why the bill was not voted on -- but not the only reason.
Furthermore, we do not currently have state-level legislation protecting the right of gays to marry should the federal right be overturned. In fact, until Obergefell vs Hodges in 2015, it was explicitly illegal for gays to marry in Ohio, and the state refused to recognize marriages performed in other states between gay and lesbian individuals. The 2004 constitutional amendment that bars same-sex marriage is still in our state constitution, overridden by the Supreme Court but standing as a testimony to our state-level bigotry. It would take another constitutional amendment to repeal it, something that doesn’t seem to be on any group’s agenda just yet.
Who opposes these bills? Why haven’t they passed yet? Seven in ten Ohioans support the Equality Act’s passage, and yet, year after year it fails to come to a vote. Elizabeth Sullivan, the opinion director for cleveland.com, suggests this is the fault of a few Republicans in the state legislature; “If the two Larrys -- House Speaker Larry Householder and Senate President Larry Obhof -- wanted this bill to pass, it would.” Lisa Garvin (same source), an editorial board member, thinks this is just politicking: “It’s an election year, and Republican lawmakers are far more concerned with getting re-elected than carrying out the will of the people.” To listen to editorials, this is just a matter of time, as it has broad support from the people and is largely uncontroversial.
But I think the matter goes a little deeper than that. Let’s look at a snapshot of Ohio in 2013, right before same-sex marriage was legalized federally. According to PRRI, 47% of Ohioans believed gays should be allowed to marry, and 47% were opposed. When offered a three-way choice, 41% answered that gays should be allowed to marry, 23% were in favor of the separate-but-equal tactic of civil unions, and 30% were against either option.
Who were these people who oppose such a basic right? Statistically speaking, they are religious; when asked about a proposed Ohio constitutional amendment to allow gay marriage, there was no single religious group where a majority of people voted yes, while the religiously unaffiliated were 70% in favor. As expected, evangelicals were among the strongest opposition voices, with only 56% in favor of nondiscrimination laws and only 25% in favor of allowing gays to marry. But they alone didn’t make up the numbers to oppose the changes. Among Protestants, only 45% of white people were in favor of the constitutional amendment to allow gays to marry, while 53% of minority Protestants supported it. For the nondiscrimination ordinance the numbers were closer; white Protestants supported it 70% of the time, while minority Protestants were in favor 72%.
Statistically speaking, the average anti-gay voter was elderly. Among Millennial Ohio voters (ages 18-33), 64% favor amending the Ohio constitution to allow same-sex couples to marry legally, compared to only 28% of senior Ohio voters (ages 65 and older). So we’re talking about elderly, religious, white people: exactly the sort of people we see in church every Sunday. Surely none of us would have opposed the ordinance; our faith drives us to support lgbt equality, and in fact, the UU Church of Akron was a major force in favor of equality. But can we say the same for our friends? Our relatives? Everyone we run into at the grocery store?
Now, we’ve been looking at old data. I tried to find more recent polling, but it seems like nobody’s asking how obgerfell v hodges changed how people feel about same-sex marriage in Ohio. It seems like everyone just assumes that because it’s legal, everyone is on board now. And maybe they’re right. Maybe everyone’s changed their minds since then, seeing that allowing gays to marry hasn’t meant the end of the world or provided a significant challenge to their own marriages. There’s some evidence to support that idea; in 2017, polling showed that the number of Ohioans in favor of same-sex marriage had risen to 56%, and 68% were in favor of paid leave for LGBT individuals who were adopting children or taking care of sick family members. The poll even showed that 61% believed that there were significant ways in which LGBT individuals were still discriminated against, despite the legalization of same-sex marriage. That implies most people know there’s more work to be done to achieve full LGBT equality.
But...
Let’s change the lens just a little. Same-sex marriage is already the law of the land, after all, and equality for gays in housing and employment and education is seemingly right around the corner. But what about transgender people? In 2016, 48% of those polled were opposed to trans people being able to pee in the most appropriate bathroom for their gender, while only 43% supported this. It was only this past December that the state law forbidding trans people to update their birth certificates to match their true gender was overturned. There is still no mechanism for changing the birth certificate; laws must be passed and procedures created to allow this, and the legislature is in no hurry to do so. Instead, they’ve introduced a bill banning transgender people from participating in sports.
We’ve run many efforts to try and support full equality for all LGBT people at the church, and I am confident that this year we will run many more. I’m sure many of you are calling your legislative representation regularly, pushing for these efforts to pass. But are we doing enough to influence the people around us? To educate and explain the nuance behind the propaganda your friends and family may be receiving from those who are against LGBT people existing as full and equal members of our society? Are we pushing our employers to make anti-discrimination policies, or better yet, full-on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts to make sure all their employees can bring their whole selves to work? Changing the law also means changing the hearts and minds of the people who are being governed so that they demand the law be changed. But I firmly believe that someday, with a lot of hard work, we’ll have an Ohio that is fair and equal for all. - Bay Gaillard (they/them)
DONATION STATION
GET TO KNOW OUR STAFF~ BRIAN LAAKSO
I grew up in Brimfield and spent much of my childhood traveling to Akron, Kent, and Cleveland for events and activities. I have lived in Oberlin OH, Burlington VT, Philadelphia PA, and I currently live in Akron where I have been since 2001.
2. When did you start working at the church? What do you do? What do you like about it?
I began at UUA in 2011 as the Keyboard Artist, and I became Music Director in 2020. I'm currently responsible for everything musical, and I enjoy choosing a diverse array of music that coordinates with the weekly themes. From the choir, to the music committee, to guest artists, I love my job because I get to work with lots of great people, expressing a variety of styles of music.
3. What is something people wouldn’t guess about your job?
A lot of time goes into choosing music for the services, and then practicing that music in preparation for Sunday morning. Also, many people wouldn't guess that the church isn't my only job. I'm also a music technology teacher at McKinley High School in Canton during the week, and I travel to many different states as a dueling pianist on Friday and Saturday nights.
4. What are you the most proud of?
I'm most proud of my family. I have three sons and a niece that live with me, and we all get along really well, and my wife Angie and I spend a lot of time and effort nurturing them and helping them grow to be the best people they can be.
5. What would your ideal Friday night look like?
I would love to come home from a great day of teaching, go for a walk around the neighborhood with my kids, go to a dueling pianos gig at a local venue and perform a great show, then get home early enough to be able to go back out to see a punk rock show with my wife and friends.
About Us
Email: uuakronoffice@gmail.com
Website: www.uuakron.org
Location: 3300 Morewood Road, Fairlawn, OH, USA
Phone: 330-836-2206
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UUAkron