News and Announcements

Lynn Hunt, our Credentialed Religious Educator, was elected to the national board of the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) at their annual meeting during General Assembly in June.

Her portfolio is Chapter Services, which includes working on leadership development in LREDA chapters and facilitating collegial relationships between UUA district staff and LREDA chapters. In addition, she continues to be the Good Offices representative for the Central Midwest District LREDA chapter. In this position she helps Religious Educators around the district with professional concerns and issues concerning right relations with their congregations and colleagues.

This is another example of how our church serves our wider tradition. This is a significant responsibility for Lynn in helping to shape the ongoing evolution of our religious education program in congregations around the nation. Congratulations, Lynn!

Tags: Member News, Religious Education by admin

Margret O’Neall, a long-time church member, who served as a choir member, past Board President, and Student Minister in 2007-08, recently completed her ministerial internship at the Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO.

Margret is coming back home to be ordained. Many friends and local area ministers will be present. The Reverend David Bambaugh will give the sermon.

Please join us for Margret’s ordination ceremony on Sunday, July 19, at 4 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Following the ceremony of celebration, there will be a reception in Fellowship Hall, which will be a potluck meal. We are asking members of the congregation to contribute their good food for this celebratory feast. For more information, please contact Kathy M., Chair, Ordination Committee. More details and updates will follow. [Read more →]

Tags: Member News, Ministry, Worship by admin

Faith Under Siege — A History of Unitarian Theology: A New View of Unitarian Development from Christianity to Theism and Humanism

by Anatole (Tolly) Browde

“Faith Under Siege” is a history of Unitarian theology from its early beginnings in Transylvania to the modern, diverse church. It is a plea for us to build a faith that can pass the test of time, for us to reason together, celebrate together, perhaps pray together and, above all, have faith together. Tolly will be selling and signing copies of his book on Sunday, March 8.

Tags: Adult Education, Member News by admin

Edna J. Patterson-Petty’s quilt “Road to Redemption” will be one of 44 on display in January at the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., an exhibit put together to honor Barack Obama as the 44th president.

She was very excited about being asked to make the quilt, despite the 3-week time constraint to get it done. “This is beyond anything I ever expected,” Patterson-Petty said. “First of all, I never expected to live long enough to see a black man as president. To have this, well it’s like hitting it out of the park. Nothing compares.”

Edna has had her works displayed around the world, and currently has a rustic terrazzo inlay in the sidewalk of the light-rail stop at the Emerson Park MetroLink station in East St. Louis. Edna has been a member of First Unitarian Church for 14 years.

Tags: Member News by admin