by Vicki Hamilton Hall, WUU Treasurer One of the duties of the Treasurer is to provide financial reports to the board each month. The most recent monthly reports are for January – I know it seems like a long time ago but as I write this February isn’t over. In addition to an Income and Expense Statement and a Balance Sheet, Felicity prepares a Financial Dashboard Report. This is a report recommended by UUA because it shows trends, so provides a good overview. Here are two parts of the report – Trend Analysis – shows the overall year-to-date for income… by Austen Petersen, Director of Religious Education In December, our fantastic Bad Art Games Night for children was an incredible success, drawing a lively and well-attended crowd. The air buzzed with laughter and creativity as kids unleashed their artistic flair in unconventional ways. A heartfelt thank you to the brilliant Kate McGaw, whose enthusiasm and dedication brought this event to life. Here’s to Kate and the young artists who made our Bad Art Games Night an unforgettable celebration of creativity and community. Over a dozen children gathered at our congregation to have fun with the idea of Bad Art. We… by the Soul Matters Sharing Circle team Here we go again. Another injustice. Even more inequity exposed. So much pain. So many issues. So little equality. And so, so many people with certainty. I wish I had it. Don’t you? The crystal-clear clarity of who’s right and who’s wrong. Every aspect of their argument neatly lined up. Nothing at all left to doubt. But when I wake, so much ambivalence shares my bed. So weary am I of having to announce my position right away. So worried about my limited view. So concerned that my people will no longer consider… by David Wilcox & Jessica Sapalio, WUU Social Justice Chairs Our WUU mission calls us to serve our members and friends, Greater Williamsburg, liberal religion, and the global community and to work toward justice for all. One of the ways we live that commitment is through our social justice ministry. As SJ Co-Chairs, we support the WUU SJ leaders who actively coordinate that ministry. Here is a list of the current WUU social justice programs. Share the Plate – Twice a month, WUU directs the entire Sunday service offering to support non-profit, generally local, human service organizations that provide much-needed… by Linda Lane-Hamilton, president; Pat Russo, vice-president Thank you for helping the Board revise the bylaws The Board held four information sessions with more than 30 WUU congregants to discuss the proposed bylaws—and has made a number of changes as a result. The Bylaws Committee (Chris Faia, chair, and Lola Warren), the Board task force (Linda Lane-Hamilton, Pat Russo, Phoebe Kent, and Les Solomon) and the entire Board thank all that participated in these sessions. Here is the link to the most recent proposal. Note that the non-discrimination statement has been reinstituted and the Board roles reorganized, among many changes…. From July 2023 to January 2024, five people became members of WUU. We will recognize them during the worship service on February 4, 2024. Get to know our newest members by reading their bios below, and be sure to offer them a warm welcome to the community! Cynthia Abbott Being an Army brat, then married to a US Public Health officer, I’ve moved around quite a bit in my life, living most recently in Florida, Kansas, and Alabama. My husband and I moved to Williamsburg in the fall of 2019, following our daughter and son-in-law when they moved here. Since… by the Soul Matters Sharing Circle team Love, it sits in the chest, at least at the start. It’s what makes our heart beat again after being broken, and our lungs breathe again after being closed off in the dark for far too long. For some, it came in the form of our grandfather’s eyes which saw us as carriers of something bigger and more precious and older than our little bodies disclosed. For others, it arrived as we pressed hard against our mothers’ warm skin and heard a speechless whisper say we can always come home. We recognize love… Our theme for this month is an interesting one, it takes the central value of love and calls on us to do something more with it. It’s not just love, it’s considering the gift of liberating love. One of the things I hope for folks to be able to find in our congregation is a place to feel cared for and cared about. It’s what our pastoral care does, but it’s also what folks find in our small groups and on Sunday mornings and hopefully in just about everything that we do here. That’s one of the ways that we… by Linda Lane-Hamilton, president; Pat Russo, vice-president As we kick off the new year and think about what success looks like at WUU in 2024, the Board will focus on work that will shape the future of WUU. This Spring, the board will make decisions about our next minister—whether to form a search committee for a called minister (a year-long process) or hire a development minister, contract minister or other options. The board meets with UUA Transitions Manager Christine Purcell Jan. 10 on Zoom to discuss next steps. Rev. Michelle’s interim ministry ends June 30, 2025. The board will vote…
A Look at Our Financial Health
December Bad Art Games Night
Welcome to the Gifts of Justice & Equity
Social Justice: Living Our Values
February 2024 WUU Presidents’ Report
January 2024: Welcome, New Members!
Welcome to the Gift of Liberating Love
January 2024 Newsletter Column – Liberating Love
January 2024 WUU Presidents’ Report
