2025-2026 UUCC Committee and Program Area Reports
(received by May 13, 2026)
Adult Religious Exploration Committee (ARE)
Committee Members: Carita Barr (frequent guest), Linda Brennison, Melissa Bush, Don Cooper, Renea D, Rebecca Drennan (past chair), Meredith Garmon, Lexi H, John Logue, Pat Mohr, Doug Motel, Kim M, Jessica P, Connie Quirk (board liaison), Rev. Stephen Robinson, Konni Shier, George Starega, Bethany Storlazzi. (Varying Activity Levels)
Major Accomplishments
ARE consistently strives to build community through a variety of events and offerings that enable members and friends
to gather together – to learn, to play, to talk and listen more deeply. ARE welcomes members and friends who volunteer to lead events, as well as soliciting speakers, movies, and other information and expertise from the broader community.
The ARE committee has supported and sponsored a few one-time events, several multi-part events and classes, continued on-going regular events and classes, and sponsored some new on-going events as noted below.
Example One-Time Events- one part or multi-part
· History of Unitarian Universalism (6-part series led by Don Cooper)
· Seeking Serenity and Community in Troubled Times (led by Michelle Robinson)
· Super Bowl Watch Party
· Majority Rules Better Ballot Initiative (shown two separate times)
· Responding to the Anti-Trans Movement -first session held 4/12/2026, second session scheduled for 6/28 after related Rev. Robinson sermon
Longer-Term Multi-Part and On-Going Events
(Bold italics indicates new this fiscal year, strike-out indicates suspended at some point this fiscal year, with event frequency and duration, if applicable, in parentheses)
· 3 Story Circles (weekly- 2 in-person, one Zoom, ongoing)
· Chair and Regular Yoga with Bonnie Stronach (weekly for ~ three months, ended fall, 2025)
· Exploring Spirituality (bi-weekly- every other week, ongoing)
· Knit or Knot (weekly, suspended spring, 2026)
· Meditation (weekly for 8 weeks- ended mid 2025)
· Trauma Survivors Support Group (monthly, ongoing)
· Women’s Book Club (monthly, ongoing)
· Young Adults Activities (many event types, events, and locations, on an irregular but continued basis, fitting the varied schedules and interests of the young adults, ongoing)
· Zen Meditation (weekly beginning Spring, 2026, ongoing)
Factors Affecting Our Committee Work, Present and Future
We’re working to be more inclusive, multi-generational and cross-cutting in new offerings with other committees and interest groups, as appropriate, while continuing to support current mostly self-sustaining groups. As such we propose
to continue to offer a mix of one-time or short-term “courses”, classes, or events, as well as testing out and getting on-going activities “on the calendar”. A good example of the latter are Game nights- we have them on the calendar for
the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7 pm. ARE is hosting May 20, CYRE has agreed to host in June, Finance and Fundraising have agreed to host in July. This is definitely an experiment- we have high hopes but will need others to participate to make it worthwhile, fun and valuable. For the former, we have people planning workshops and other events. People are so busy, and our overall calendar is so full it’s difficult to find good times that work for people and are attractive enough to claim attention and to build loyalty for longer-term initiatives. We’re looking forward to the year ahead. Our co-chairs and new and seasoned members are looking forward to the year ahead, with a little boost to
the budget to give us some added flexibility for speakers, occasional childcare for programs, and more.
Deb Matherly & Blake Carlton, Co-Chairs (Year 1 for both)
1
Animal Ministry (an independent subcommittee of the SAC)
Anita Grossman, Chair
Building & Grounds Committee (B&G)
● Replaced HVAC unit for RE wing
● Re-configured/improved sound room behind stage
● Designated an archive room (old minister’s office)
● Moved minister into new office at end of RE wing
● Purchased and installed new lights for stage area of Sanctuary (to improve zoom appearance)
● Constructed bigger platform with half wall for tech team in Sanctuary (work in progress)
● Installed new door code system
● Executed security assessments (Security sub-committee)
● Distributed/arranged Christmas decorations and removed after holiday
● Re-organized & labelled storeroom shelves by committee
● Purchased & installed peace pole in front of church
● Purchased & installed new water fountain in hallway
● Completed new siding on outside wall facing playground
● Installed solar powered lights outside stairs leading to playground with hanging baskets on stair rail
● In planning: re-finish wood stage wall & panels in sanctuary
Pat Mohr, Chair
Caring & Hospitality Committee
Committee Members: Joan Watterson, Jean Capalbo, Regina Moody, Jane Lawther, Jane Gillespie, John Logue, Jim
Kimbler, Marlene Trader, Michelle Robinson, Stephen Robinson, Linda McLeod
Major Accomplishments:
-The addition of Linda McLeod as Memorial Services Director was a much needed and valued addition to the Caring Committee. She, along with the Caring Committee members, have provided 3 well planned and well attended Memorial Services and Receptions for Cheryl Soehl, Jim Verne, and Ron Edge during this year. Linda has also developed an updated plan for these services that is more aligned with the current membership, with realistic expectations for receptions that reduce some of the burden of food donations by our members. By providing a consistent plan to share with families, these services are more transparent regarding family and UUCC expectations which honor and celebrate the lives of our community members and friends.
-A new outreach endeavor by the Committee is to identify shut-ins in our community who might enjoy a bit of outside contact and socialization brought to their homes. 2 to 3 members of the Committee and/or our UUCC community bring in a simple lunch, eat with the shut-in, and visit with them for a while. This has been piloted and was well received by
both the shut-in and the UUCC folks who provided the lunch and time together.
-The Committee is now providing the option of Virtual attendance as well as our physical meetings that occur monthly at the church.
-A very effective email chain is now operational so that our communication has greatly improved over this past year.
-Weekly inclusion of Candles of Community in the Eblast keeps everyone up to date with joys and concerns of our community.
-A lot of interest in providing support to the Caring Committee was expressed during our Committees Fair this year.
-The Committee now has a more organized method of tracking the status of individuals who are being served by the members of the committee. The first category is Active and a monthly average of 5 to 8 folks has been in this category throughout the year. The second category is Wellness Check-ins with about 8 to 10 folks monthly who receive texts,
phone calls, or informal chats in this category. And finally, Jane Lawther, sends individual greeting cards to 8 to 10 members and/or friends each month. These cards are get well, thinking of you, and sorry for your loss remembrances.
-Services provided by the Caring Committee are individualized based on need and generally include provision of meals, rides to medical appointments or to pick up meds, home and hospital visits, assistance with technology, and rides to church and church sponsored events. We strive to let our folks who we serve know that they are not alone and are part of the UUCC beloved community. The Caring Committee has felt well supported by the Board during this past year and feels that the UUCC
Board values this committee as contributing to the overall well being of our special, safe place in the
Columbia area.
Sandra Merritt, Chair (Year 2)
Children & Youth Religious Exploration Committee (CYRE)
Committee Members: Jonathan White, Meg White, Kate Noel Wells, Laura Brashears, Matt Brashears, Nancie Shillington-Pérez, Bethany Storlazi, George Starege (DRE)
Major Accomplishments:
● Creating vision and values of CYRE
Vision and Values· Provide an abundance of opportunities to families, children, and youth that will provide for fun,
spirituality, volunteerism, fellowship, etc., in order to strengthen our connectedness to each other, our
congregation, and our community. This should be done through flexibility and transparency, in a way that utilizes openness and an active dialogue between the DRE and CYRE.
· Grow and sustain a community that is supportive, loving, and encouraging, creating space for authentic
individual growth. Teens and children should be included in UU events, meetings, and discussions, as
people with inherent worth and dignity. Conversely, adults are invited to share their talents and work with the youth.
· Offer engaging opportunities to learn UU history and values, world religions, spirituality, social justice,
and independent and critical thinking in ways that are connected and applicable to today’s world.
● Hiring George as DRE to replace Milo who left only a couple of months prior.
● Boston Heritage Trip happening this summer for 2020 Covid youth
● Adding a 3rd sunday class for young children ages 4-8
● Starting a High School youth group
Lydia Ureda, Chair (Year 1)
Communications
Chair to be Determined, Update Submitted by Linda Brennison
Denominational Connections Committee (DCC)
Pat Mohr & Deb Matherly, Co-Chairs
Endowment Fund Committee
Tim VanDenBerg, Chair
Finance Committee
In 25/26 the Finance Committee accomplished the following:
1. Modified the Financial Policies and Procedures then had them approved by the Board of Trustee.
2. Participated in the hiring of a new Bookkeeper, an excellent choice by the way.
3. Began posting a budget snapshot in the weekly eblasts.
4. Added a trained usher/counter to the Committee for better continuity.
5. Conducted a very successful 26/27 Pledge Drive then hosted a Thank You lunch for members and friends.
6. Developed the 26/27 Budget.
7. Acquired a new computer for the Bookkeeper.
Jim Kimbler, Chair Fundraising (an independent subcommittee of Finance Committee)
1. Recruited volunteer committee members.
2. Modified the Fundraising Policy and had it approved by the Board of Trustees.
3. Developed a plan of activities and events for the calendar year 2026.
4. Conducted a very successful Yard Sale.
5. Invited CUUPS to our meetings, then got Board of Trustees approval for the Covenant between UUCC and CUUPS.
6. Began evaluation of alternative payment methods, with the expectation of a policy in 26/27.
Jim Kimbler, Interim Chair until June 30, 2026
Green Sanctuary Committee
Committee members: Kevin McKinney (past chair), Caroline Eastman (immediate past chair), Tom Clements, Tom Howell, Deb Matherly, and more.
The most significant accomplishment of the Green Sanctuary Committee and the Social Action Committee in 2025-26 is planting the Peace Pole on our UUCC grounds.
This 75th anniversary gift to the congregation is a symbol to the Shandon, Columbia, and world community of our values and commitment as Unitarian Universalists to peace with justice.
Our peace pole expresses in nine languages, “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” and all are related to our congregation, our building and land, our community:
— English, our spoken language
— Hungarian, the language of our partner church in Beszterce, Transylvania, the birthplace of Unitarianism
— Catawba, in recognition of first Americans on the land
— Gullah, language that remembers enslaved people in our area
— Spanish, to recognize our immigration stories, past and present
— Hebrew, to acknowledge that our UUCC home was built as the Tree of Life Synagogue
— Japanese, traditionally included in recognition of the Peace Pole originators
— Braille, our commitment as a welcoming congregation
— Music, because it is the universal language of our joys and concerns
The Music plaque on our pole is unique to peace poles. UUCC member Kevin McKinney composed the stanza for our pole, then wrote and performed an original song, “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” at our two dedication services, Sept 21, 2025, and May 3, 2026.
Our peace pole was hand-made to order in the shop of Jim and Sue Law, the current proprietors of Peace Pole Makers USA, Winfield, MO (peacepoles.com).
Factors facilitating and inhibiting our committee work
1. Facilitating are our connections with other committees: Worship, Kitchen, ARE, CYRE, and Building &
Grounds… in fact, the congregation is quite supportive.
2. Facilitating are our connections with SCUUJA’s Climate Justice action team and partner, the Conservation
Voters of SC, as well as the Climate Reality Project. Through these organizations, our outreach into the
community is expanding. We have attended and testified at public hearings on state and national environmental issues. Importantly, Tom Clements spoke to oppose recommissioning the Savannah River site to produce plutonium pits for nuclear weapons, and Sharon Givens attended a hearing to support SCUUJA testimony against building the nation’s largest gas-fired, polluting power plant in the lowcountry, which is expected to feed data centers.
3. In June, the Green Team will vote on holding regular meetings separate from the Social Action Committee so that Green Sanctuary business will have equal time (1 hour). The time crunch has been an inhibiting factor.
Special initiatives and constraints
1. The Green Team chair is an automatic member of the Building & Grounds committee. We are planning to organize a group of volunteer gardeners to spruce up our UUCC grounds this spring. The effort is expected to
continue in the following seasons to support Bill Dolley’s work as our sexton.
2. The UUA Green Sanctuary 2030: Mobilizing for Climate Justice calls on our UUCC to engage in work that highlights four essentials of climate action: congregational transformation through collaboration; community resilience to climate disruption; justice work in partnership with those most harmed by climate change; and mitigation to reduce emissions from energy usage, transportation, waste, and consumption.
3. We are all very busy people who donate time and treasure as liberally as we are able. The Green Sanctuary Committee is constrained by available time and resources, yet much can still be accomplished.
4. Our UUCC peace pole is planted but needs a small terrace and park benches that invite visitors to sit and contemplate its message. Plans are in the works for a 10’x10’ terrace with park benches to enhance the pole and invite the community in. The terrace would feature matching slate and brick to unify the peace pole with our building. As a fundraiser for construction, we are considering selling engraved bricks.
Sharon Givens, Chair (Year 2)
Kitchen Committee (an independent subcommittee of the Caring & Hospitality Committee)
Kitchen Committee Members: Abigail Brandon (cell 803 269-0740 ), Melody Smit (cell 208-249-7510), Connie Quirk, Joan Watterson, Jeannette Walton, Ryan Kern, honorary member Jim Kimbler The Kitchen Committee plans on an afternoon kitchen clean in September of this year. This will be in coordination with
the overall facility clean that is being scheduled by the board. The date is scheduled for September 12th, just in time for the SCUUJA conference.
Our church is once again sponsoring the Annual SCUUJA Fall Festival. This will be the fourth year that UUCC has hosted the event. In order to accommodate other planning the festival, which usually falls on the first Saturday of October, will be rescheduled at the end of September. The KC will once again be in charge of breakfast and lunch
service. During this fiscal year, the KC has continued to partner with the Caring Committee to provide support for end of life memorials as well as several other programs like the CYRE Spaghetti Dinner, Chocolate Auction, Pancake Feed and other RE functions. We are so grateful to have a facility that so many activities can be organized.
Melody Smit, Chair
Leadership Development Committee (LDC)
Committee Members: Robert Gillespe, Richard McLeod, Lydia Ureda, Michele Currie and John Logue, serving as Past
President.
Major Accomplishments: Filled vacant Board and Committee positions with nominees, presented slate to the Board and
will be voted on by the Congregation at the annual meeting in June.
We had a Committee Fair on November 9 th , which was well attended. Most of the church’s committees had a table and a representative to speak with any interested members after
church. Also, we began work on a training of incoming nominees for June. We will also be working on a “Leadership 101” training for any future members who are interested in trying a leadership position within the UUCC. This will take place in the fall, to hopefully help recruit some new members onto the committees. Due to the nature of the purpose of the committee, the biggest constraint is that the whole nomination process is confidential and can only be talked about within the committee. It is difficult to get to know all the people that are available for nomination at the social hours on Sunday.
We will be putting together a procedure manual for the next chair to assist with deadlines and a copy of the by-laws, which lays out an outline of when people need to be nominated for open positions.
Michele Currie, Chair (Year 1)
Membership Committee
Committee Members: Annette Flavel, Susan LeGacy, Patty Drews, Melissa Engle, Renea Dauntes, Jason Cobb, Alisa G. (Junior Member)
Accomplishments for 2025/2026
New Member Signing
In April 2025, we welcomed 15 new members to UUCC with a special celebration held in the Social Hall.
Visitor Outreach
All visitors who complete a visitor card receive a welcome email, an invitation to Visitor Orientation, and follow-up communication to help them feel connected and informed.
Sunday Morning Greeter Program The Sunday Morning Greeter Program was successfully implemented this year and continues to provide a warm and welcoming experience for members and visitors alike.
Circle Suppers
Circle Suppers has officially returned and is currently in the planning phase. Patty Drews and Susan LeGacy are
leading this initiative, while the Membership Committee has been testing a new sign-up protocol.
Membership Table
The Membership Table has returned to the Social Hall during Social Hour. The table provides brochures and
information about Unitarian Universalism. Don Cooper oversees the table and also manages additional membership
support duties, including:
● Folding the Order of Service
● Ensuring visitor cards are available in the Sanctuary
● Keeping the reception desk stocked with name tags and membership materials
Karaoke Party with CYRE
The Membership Committee will co-sponsor the June 6 Karaoke Party with CYRE as a fun opportunity for fellowship
and connection across generations.
Special Initiatives for 2026/2027
UUCC Visitor Orientation Video
A new visitor orientation video is being developed to spotlight UUCC and the Unitarian Universalist presence in
Columbia, South Carolina. The video will provide visitors with a welcoming and authentic look at our congregation,
programs, and community life, with completion anticipated in Fall 2026.
Longstanding Goals of the Committee
● Continue partnering with other committees to strengthen engagement among new members, long-ter
members, and CYRE families
● Foster meaningful opportunities for connection and community throughout the congregation
Laura Miller, Co-Chair (Year 1) and Donald Cooper, Co-Chair (Evergreen)
Memorial Garden (an independent subcommittee of B&G)
Pat Mohr, Chair
Partner Church Subcommittee (an independent subcommittee of Denominational Connections)
● In July 2025, the congregation welcomed Beszterce minister, Rev. Zsolt Solymosi, & congregant,
Katinka Fulop, for a 5 day visit in Columbia. Locally hosted and feted, UUCC members spent time with
them at a congregation-wide picnic & other events. Zsolt preached on Sunday, July 20, and spoke at Still
Hopes Retirement Community, where his talk on Romania in the shadow of the war in Ukraine had
piqued interest 2 years before. This was Zsolt’s 4th visit with us.
● Christmas cards were circulated for members of the UUCC Congregation to sign; 45 cards were mailed
in November – one for each member there.
● The twice annual $800 gift to the Bezsterce congregation was sent & acknowledged.
● The annual fundraising event, “Evening Serenade,” was held Sunday, February 22nd after weather
caused two postponements, necessitating adjustment and flexibility. With Anna Hamilton curating an
impressive musical program, Lee Minghi arranging a dance showcase, Jean Capalbo organizing an
extraordinary auction, and so many members of the congregation contributing their talent and delicious
food, proceeds exceeded all past totals, raising over $5,000.
● Our UUCC Easter greeting was conveyed in a short video created by Partner Church Committee
members, along with a second video by the CYRE children, filmed thanks to George Starega.
● PILGRIMAGE to ROMANIA, July 3 – 17, 2026: Discussed during Zsolt’s visit in July 2025 and
further inspired by a video presentation from the 2024 pilgrims, planning for our next group of pilgrims
began in fall 2025. Nancie Shillington-Pérez & Sharon Givens are taking the lead and a total of 7 will
meet Rev. Zsolt “Where East Meets West” for a tour of Istanbul before going on to Transylvania,
Romania.
● Rev. Robinson will dedicate the pilgrim group in June, as our next ambassadors.
● As we acknowledge our own aging, the group continues to seek ways to bring younger members into
our committee.
Submitted by Susan Robinson for Lee Minghi, PC Committee Chair
Personnel Committee (PC)
Personnel Committee Members: Tom Clements (cell 803-240-7268; ), Melody Smit (cell
208-249-7510), Bob Gillespie, Tiffany Rushton, Mary Martin, Michele Currie Board Liaison
The 2025-2026 fiscal year has been another busy year for the Personnel Committee (PC). Replacements for the
Bookkeeper and DRE were installed as both positions vacated due to both parties moving. Spring/Summer of 2025 was
once again busy with the PC advertising, interviewing and hiring the new Director of Religious Exploration and
Bookkeeper.
The PC, in coordination with the Minister, board members and input from CYRE, developed a training plan complete
with 30, 60 and 90 day benchmarks as a guideline for the new DRE. The PC has also coordinated a shadowing program
with other DRE’s in the region for our new DRE to take advantage of wisdom and information from other
congregations. The PC proposed two changes to the Personnel Policy Manual, change in pay from bi-monthly to bi-weekly and a
correction of the errors in the PTO chart, which were approved by the board.
Annual Staff Reviews were administered by the Minister this year, rather than by the PC this year per changes in policy. Based on the feedback given by staff, we use this information to make any changes needed to the Letters of Agreement. Tom and I were once again able to meet our goal of having the LOA’s finished in good time for the board
to meet and approve the changes before the beginning of the new fiscal year.
In past years staffing the nursery has been a challenge due to no one’s negligence. Gaps in coverage and changing schedules and a host of other issues made it difficult to be sure of nursery staffing. Having a DRE on staff and present on Sunday mornings has helped alleviate some of those issues, along with bringing back the “Auntie” program to help cover at the last minute have helped. The other significant development is the presence of 2 adults that need the extra pay available. Once again, many people have contributed over the years and we appreciate all the effort to make the nursery a more stable program. This is much needed if we are to meet our goals of growing the family cohort of our congregation and of being a busy and effective congregation. Tom and I will be stepping down from the PC at the end of the fiscal year. We are happy to hear a new chair person has been recruited; Tom and I will be dedicated to a smooth transition for the next chair and will continue to be available for assistance whenever needed.
Tom and I extend our many thanks for the hard work and willingness of so many individuals who work with us to bring the goals and responsibilities of the PC to realization. We also acknowledge our great committee members that we work with and will miss working with such dedicated and wonderful people.
Melody Smit and Tom Clements, Co-Chairs (Year 3)
Security (an independent subcommittee of the B&G Committee)
No Chair
(Michael Sullivan) Share the Plate (an independent subcommittee of the SAC)
Committee Members: Linda Brennison, Laura Hartwig, Linda McLeod, and Melody Smit (incoming chair)
We conduct STP duties via email with each other and do not have in-person meetings. The co-chairs of Social Action
are included in many of the STP emails in that STP is a subcommittee of Social Action, however they do not take an
active role in our committee.
Once again, the UUCC has been most gracious in responding to the needs of the community. The Michael Sullivan
STP donations from May 2025-April 2026 totaled $15,091, an increase despite the anonymous donation of $417 being
added to the monthly totals only 5 of the 12 months (May 2025-September 2025) in this annual report. The period of
the very generous donation ended in September 2025. It is all the more impressive that the total surpasses last year’s
annual report period as donations were greatly decreased in January 2026 due to the services being canceled twice that
month. The STP grand total from 2011- April 2026 was $172,506!
Additionally, we tried something new this year by inviting two of our “top-scoring but never-before elected” candidates
(More Justice and Senior Resources Meals on Wheels) or in one case, the “frequently second-place” candidate
(Transitions Homeless Center) to speak to the congregation. Therefore, representatives from More Justice and
Transitions Homeless Center were granted 10 minutes each to replace the usual sermon time slot on Aug.31, and a
representative from Senior Resources’ Meals on Wheels and the regularly scheduled STP representative from Harriet
Hancock Center shared the sermon time slot on Sept. 7. All representatives’ presentations were exceptionally well
received, and those involved in the planning were encouraged to consider repeating this experiment in the future evem though there was a good deal of coordination necessary with the Worship chair and the representatives.
Nancie Shillington-Pérez, Chair (Final Year)
Shared Ministry Committee
Rev. Stephen Robinson, Chair
Social Action Committee (SAC)
Committee members: Marleen Trader, recorder (2nd year), Kevin McKinney and Connie Quirk (immediate past
cochairs), Anita Grossman (chair, Animal Ministry, independent subcommittee), Nancie Shillington-Pérez (chair, Share
the Plate, independent subcommittee), Bethany Storlazzi (CYRE and YA liaison), Alisa G., Anna Hamilton, Aren Pace,
Bethann Rocheleau, Beverly Bruck, Blake Carlton, Breedlove, Carita Barr, Caroline Eastman, Carolyn West, Christina
Seel, Darrell Shier, David Roof, Donald Griggs, Emilio Pérez-Jorge, George Starega, Janae Walton, Janet Swigler,
Janice Kahrs, Janette Walton, Jay Zimmerman, Jean Lomasto, Joan Watterson, John and Judy McMaster, Karen Brown,
Laura Hartwig, Linda Brennison, Linda and Richard McLeod, Marc and Patty Drews, Marni S, Sue Sanghi, Regina
Moody, Sandra Merritt, Susan LeGacy, Tom Clements, Tom Howell, Tony Hurson, Tony and Yolanda Ganong, Victor
Gascon, Will Perry, and others. A core group of the above participate in regular meetings.
Major Accomplishments
Three activities stand out for the 2025-26 church year: planting the UUCC Peace Pole in the lawn off Woodrow Street,
strengthening our relationship with SCUUJA, and preparing the congregation to vote on full membership in MORE
Justice at the June annual meeting.
— For more on our peace pole, please refer to this report’s Green Sanctuary section.
— SCUUJA, our statewide UU justice alliance, has expanded our outreach, especially with respect to legislative
activities that have challenged our values this term. UUCC again hosted SCUUJA’s fall festival, which brings the 10
UU congregations in South Carolina. SCUUJA is helping us grow our collective UU presence in our communities and
in state government.
— MORE Justice is a coalition of more than 25 churches of many faiths and several nonprofit organizations. Together,
these congregations are striving to change local policies and secure financial resources from the government to improve
conditions in neighborhoods challenged with unaffordable housing, gun violence, and mental health. The congregation
will be asked to vote in June on UUCC becoming a full member of the coalition.
Factors affecting our committee work, present and future
Facilitating our committee work is the overwhelming commitment of our entire congregation to social justice.
We are a community that embraces the less fortunate with mercy:
— collection of food for Harvest Hope Food Bank (in collaboration with the Kitchen Committee)
— collection of warm clothing and other needs for homeless people using Columbia’s overnight shelter during cold
weather
— collection of gifts at Christmas for Families Helping Families (this year we put happy smiles on the faces of four
local families)
— collection of funds for the international justice projects of Guest At Your Table, sponsored by the UU Service Committee. (This year, we changed the GAYT collection month from November to April to avoid multiple Social Action Committee fundraising efforts in the same month.)
— Share-the-Plate weekly donations distributed monthly to local charitable organizations
Our community embraces justice work:
— Our participation increased this year toward affecting public policy via SCUUJA and its partners and the community
outreach of MORE Justice.
— In September, we hosted the annual SCUUJA fall festival that brought our state UU congregations together to learn
from experts in climate justice, racial and economic justice, immigration justice, and bodily autonomy, which includes
LGBTQI+ justice and reproductive justice. We are scheduled to host the next fall festival on Saturday, September 26.
— We participated in the various activities of MORE Justice to focus local public policies on affordable housing, gun violence, and mental health. Gun violence and mental health are ongoing issues, whereas affordable housing was selected last fall at the congregational network meeting and community problems assembly, researched and studied
over the winter, and honed into policy papers at the March rally. The results of this work were presented to elected officials at Nehemiah Action in April for their commitment to focus effort and resources on solving complex problems of unaffordable housing.
– We answered the many calls for public protest (three No Kings protests at the State Capitol and others against incessant, devastating changes in public policies that violate our UU values).
— In October, we marched in Columbia’s annual Pride Parade, which gives voice to our commitment to welcoming the
LGBTQIA+ community into our congregation.
— In January, we again marched and participated in the festivities honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (King Day at the Dome).
— In April and forthcoming, Social Action partnered with ARE for two sessions and a Sunday service focused on
extending our welcoming congregation to the trans community, understanding trans justice, and resisting the anti-trans
movement.
— Social Action will continue partnering with Green Sanctuary to create an inviting terrace and seating around the
UUCC peace pole.
Time and communication are the problems inhibiting our work, but plans are in the works to improve at least the latter of these.
— Time is so necessary to keep track of and attend to all the various meetings, legislative updates, social justice
activities, and resources that keep us informed and active.
We lean on our partnerships with SCUUJA and More Justice to keep us informed of many local issues and
events, often (but not always) intersecting with other local (and often nationally affiliated) partners such as CVSC,
ACLU, NAACP, Sierra Club, Climate Reality Project, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, and others. We
also lean on the UUA for social justice resources, regular webinars, and other updates, also tying into SCUUJA.
— Communication with the committee and the congregation at large is challenging—more specifically, it’s technically
challenging.
· Deb and Sharon are planning to work on the social action and green sanctuary webpages over the summer to
update text and photos and to develop communication methods to supplement our weekly email of congregational
“Events and Meetings.”
· We also expect to use our church Facebook and Instagram accounts more frequently for updates and
opportunities to engage.
· We are working to improve “in-house” communications through regular “tabling” events in the social hall;
end-of-service announcements when warranted; more consistent use of event posters on the easel in the foyer
before services; and regular updating of the Social Action bulletin board in the hallway near the restrooms.
· Thanks to our past chairs for modeling these multi-faceted communications methods!
— Thanks to our past chairs, Kevin and Connie, we own a small canopy, weights, and other tools to enhance our UUCC
presence at community events such as protests, Soda City markets or community fairs. Most recently, we purchased a
sturdy wagon to haul these items more easily.
— Under our canopy, we field many questions from passersby asking about Unitarian Universalism. It’s a terrific venue
to promote our values and invite people to a service.
Deb Matherly & Sharon Givens, Co-Chairs (Year 1)
Technology Services Committee
No Chair at Present
The Forum (Program Group?)
Jeanette Walton, Chair
The Mountain (a subcommittee or program area of Denominational Connections)
10
Jeanette Walton, Chair
Worship Committee
The current members of the Worship Committee are as follows: Linda Brennison, Chair, Laura Culler, Marc Drews,
Anna Hamilton, Kate Heald, Neal Jones, John Logue, Deb Matherly, Pat Mohr, Connie Quirk, Rev. Stephen Robinson,
Larry Siegel, Melody Smit, George Starega, Bethany Storlazzi, Bonnie Stronach, and Andy Wells
My goal has been to email the worship leader or service leader a complete script by Friday, allowing adequate time for
review and preparation. The committee members have told me this has added greatly to their sense of preparation and
organization.
To support this process, I maintain regular communication with our Administrator, who keeps me informed of the
status of the Order of Service. Once the Order of Service is finalized by the Administrator, including all service
elements and music selections provided by Music Director Anna Hamilton, I begin compiling the full script (or Order
of Service worksheet).
The committee and I have worked diligently to encourage announcements to be submitted to the Worship Chair in
writing. This has been successful. At the suggestion of Rev. Stephen, announcements are read by the Worship
Committee at the end of the service to avoid taking away time from the sermon and other important elements, and the
flow of the service.
This script is then tailored for the individual leading the service that week and emailed to them via Google Docs. When
Rev. Stephen is in the pulpit, a Worship Representative may support portions of the service. When a guest speaker is
present, a Service Leader is often designated to lead most aspects of the service, while the guest speaker provides the
sermon, opening and closing words, and sometimes the Story for All Ages.
A key tool supporting this work is Google Docs, which is used to maintain both the weekly Sunday scripts and the
Worship Committee’s Sunday Services Worksheet. This worksheet serves as a central planning and tracking document
for both past and upcoming services. It allows us to maintain a record of services, include announcements in scripts,
track other activities occurring on the same day, and coordinate events such as fifth Sunday potlucks. This level of
coordination helps prevent scheduling conflicts and respects the congregation’s time and energy.
The Committee Chair is responsible for emailing new sermon titles to the Web Assistant, Sabine, for posting to our
website and to Richard McLeod for posting to our YouTube video introductions.
Flexibility and Continuity in Worship Leadership
We have had strong success in securing speakers. During the period when Rev. Stephen was on bereavement leave, the
need for additional speakers increased significantly. In response, members of the congregation stepped forward to lead
services, and outside speakers were also recruited. This demonstrated both the flexibility of our system and the depth of
engagement within the congregation.
The Worship Committee is responsible for securing speakers for Sundays when Rev. Stephen is not in the pulpit. We
are fortunate to have access to a strong and diverse pool of speakers, including individuals who return regularly as well
as newer voices from the community and congregation. Speakers have represented a wide range of perspectives and
experiences, enriching the variety and quality of our services.
At the same time, this remains an area where additional committee involvement would be beneficial. Expanding
participation in identifying and inviting speakers would help sustain and further broaden this diversity. Continuing to
seek new voices, while maintaining relationships with established speakers, will remain an important goal moving
forward.
Honoring Traditions and Spiritual Life
An important responsibility of the Worship Committee Chair is to remain aware of significant traditions, holidays, and
commemorations so that services can be thoughtfully coordinated. Rev. Stephen provides excellent leadership in
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observing both traditional holidays and Unitarian Universalist days of remembrance. This collaboration helps ensure
that the spiritual depth and continuity of our services are maintained.
As Committee Chair, I addressed the Congregation regarding the importance of reverence during the Candles of
Community. As a result, I do sense more reverence during “concerns”, less clapping, and fewer “announcements”.
Inclusion of Children and Youth
When I became Worship Committee Chair, I made a deliberate effort to listen carefully to the needs of our CYRE
program. I first worked with Bethany Storlazzi and her philosophy, and later with DRE George Starega. Both have been
communicative and collaborative partners.
Together, we have worked to include children and youth in services in meaningful ways, while also respecting their
privacy. An important accomplishment promoted by the Worship Committee has been the development of a formal
policy that prohibits photographing or sharing images or videos of anyone under the age of 18 without explicit parental
permission. This reflects the Worship Committee’s commitment to creating a safe and respectful environment for all.
Ongoing Worship Support and Stewardship
In addition to planning services and coordinating speakers, the Worship Committee is responsible for several ongoing,
day-to-day tasks that support the Sunday worship experience.
These include taking attendance, maintaining and distributing hymnals, keeping the worship cabinet organized and
stocked, and ensuring that the pulpit area is orderly and cared for. While these tasks may seem small individually,
together they contribute significantly to the smooth and welcoming atmosphere of our services.
The Flower Team was created by and reports to the Worship Committee. Under the leadership of Maura Farley, the
team has made a consistent and generous contribution by providing flowers every Sunday. This represents a meaningful
improvement over past years, when there were periods without flowers. Regularly having flowers has added beauty and
warmth to our services and enhanced the overall worship environment.
And finally, I would like to add that during my time as Worship Leader, there has been a steady interest in membership
with several new members joining the committee.
It has been my great honor and pleasure to lead this group of devoted individuals.
Linda Brennison, Chair (Year 3)
Young Adult Group (YA) (a subcommittee of the Adult Religious Exploration Committee)
Updates Submitted by Facilitator, Bethany Storlazzi