Afghan refugees in our area NEED HELP to find affordable housing and decent entry-level jobs. These are critical for both groups of local refugees: those recently housed (the minority) and those in hotels.

Dolly Joseph is a lifelong resident of the Charlottesville area, and has recently begun painting again after a many-year hiatus. These paintings represent her exploration of mythologies, spirituality, and symbology. Mixed media on canvas, the images are created by layers of watercolor, acrylic, marker, and metallic pigment.

After the initial outpouring of donations from the congregation to help our sponsored family, the Refugee Welcome team decided to also join the wider community effort to help many more refugees who are living in limbo in local hotels. Weary families waiting for apartments, most with multiple children, have been...

During the month of February we will be contemplating the Soul Matters theme “Widening the Circle.” As we look to a future that includes gradually emerging from the Covid nightmare and then beginning a new era of developmental ministry, your Board of Trustees wants the congregation to imagine how to...

#12 – 2/4/2022 This week we begin to get into home energy saving steps that require a bit more effort and money but bring large rewards to both you and the earth. The links below take you to details about how to be successful. Today’s Tips: Stay Cool Source: https://www.cvillechallenge.org/action/stay-cool...

What Does it Mean to Widen the Circle? I’ve been learning a lot about the concept of “ingroups” lately, from the field of psychology. Ingroups are groups where we feel belonging, because we share something important to us in common with all the other members of the group. You likely...

#11 — 1/28/2022 Do you sense a lot of anxiety in and around yourself these days? According to psychologist and environmentalist Dr. Renée Lertzman, it’s normal for us to feel so overwhelmed by the climate crisis that we try to protect ourselves through denial or resignation. Identifying these feelings helps...

Leigha Rae I’ve previously worked in local nonprofits and am excited to join this wonderful Congregation as an office assistant. I am a life-long resident of Charlottesville and really enjoy the community. I love spending time with my family and friends. In my spare time I like to read, learn...

See what we have achieved in the past six months! July BUCK $2,071 August RISE $2,668 September Food Pantry $3,084 October IMPACT $4,772 November IHS Hospital Meal Packets $2,141 December Birth Sisters $1,694 Total $ 16,429.55

Knowing this is a stress-filled time for us all, Rev. Leia and Linda offer this message we received from the President of our national UUA, Susan Frederick Gray, reflecting on frustrations and fatigue, worries and grief from so much loss, amid the current Omicron variant surge. Her words resonate with...