What a year it has been! You have welcomed me warmly, although I’ve been in your physical presence fewer times than the fingers on my hand. With the commitment and love of the leaders and members of this congregation, much has been accomplished in our Covid era/on-line ministry!

Healing was what I heard was a number 1 need of the congregation a year ago. This has proved true, and there have been hours of listening to individuals and groups to let stories and feelings be revealed. On June 20, the Summer Solstice, there will be a service and ritual to offer a chance for mourning and release, which will be another step in the journey of healing those most wounded by the past.

Of course, the ongoing conversation all year were around two subjects: dealing with the Pandemic, keeping our ministries vibrant and our connections strong; and the decision to change the name of the congregation.

The tasks of Interim Ministry which I am charged to guide you through to transition to your future, are listed here. Many thanks to the Interim Team who have offered their time and hearts to help me – Ann Salamini, Bev Ryan, Chris Little, Kay Frasier, Pam McIntire.

Interim Tasks

History Lifting up the facts and mythology of a congregation’s life.

Through one-on-one listening sessions, group history review sessions (in September and May), in sermons and video stories, we began to remember and review the joys and sorrows of your history. A new Archive team (Wayne Arnason and Sandy Brooks) began working on organizing the physical archives, and there is new interest in collecting more stories in video.

Identity Identifying features, vision, self-image, and ideals of a congregation

In the fall, leaders of the Interim Team hosted listening circle to ask people what they most love about the congregation. These conversations, in addition to the listening circles (summer 2020 and spring 2021) about a new name for this congregation, began to give you a new sense of your identity. Always in formation and evolving, the “snapshot” word image (above) was created.

Leadership Supporting leaders and discovering new leaders.

Many groups were able to continue their ministry, on-line or in different ways, and essential functions thrived – governance, pastoral care, religious education, worship, social action, membership, finance. The Pledge Drive Team enlisted more than 40 members to help with a very successful campaign. A new Soul Matters group met, to help nurture new facilitators to begin growing small group ministry to serve more members and friends. There is a stirring of excitement and possibility of more involvement by more people in all areas as we look forward to returning to in-person community!

Connections Strengthening or creating links to other communities – UUA, UU congregations, interfaith neighbors, community partners

A number of members took advantage of participating in on-line worships, workshops and classes offered by the UUA and other congregations. We kept actively engaged with community partners – the Charlottesville Clergy Collective, PACEM, IMPACT – and we welcomed to our services and gave offerings to those chosen to receive the monthly Social Action Collection.

Health Strengthening finances, processes, practices.

The current fiscal year is ending without incurring debt, thanks to the Pandemic Personnel loan and careful monitoring of spending by our staff. Fundraising was strong (even on-line), and the Annual Pledge Drive achieved a record-high result. Congratulations to that team, headed by chair Dawn Dirks!

Deeper understanding of processes and structures is leading to real work in the 2nd year of interim to triage the areas of the organizational needs to strengthen this organization.

Your Ministry: Coming Together in Love; Reaching Out in Service

Besides the areas specific to interim ministry, it is also vital that the ongoing ministries of the congregation be carried out in ways that are helpful and meaningful. Here is a summary overview of the ministry you did.

Governance and Leadership — Under the wise and compassion direction of President Lorie Craddock, your Board of Trustees has been a group of thoughtful, attentive, effective guides for this fragile ship in stormy waters. They deliberated with love in their hearts, they reached out to members, they participated in worship, and they partnered with staff and lay leaders.

Ordination — Following a thoughtful series of conversations, the congregation voted to ordain longtime Director of Faith Development, Leia Durland-Jones, in recognition of her ministry, her training and credentialling, and her commitment to the congregation. The Ordination Service of the Rev. Leia on October 18, 2020 was a joyous high point in the year.

Sabbatical — Rev. Alex McGee has served the congregation for ten years as a part-time Assistant Minister and stepped up to the plate in 2019-2020 to cover many bases when there was no Lead Minister. As is customary for UU ministers, and a sign of UUCville’s wisdom as an employer, she was granted a sabbatical leave January-May 2021.

New Name — A decades-long conversation about the name of the congregation was revived in 2020, and listening circles convened to come to consensus. Christine Gresser and Liberty Powers co-chaired a task force appointed by the Board of Trustees to guide the process and bring the motion to a congregational meeting. On September 27, 2020, the congregation voted to no longer use the words “Thomas Jefferson” as part of the church’s name, with 95.4% voting in favor. In the months following, out of a myriad of nominations, proposed and discussed in small groups and by survey, three finalist names were brought to the congregation to vote on June 6, 2021! Thanks to the Board appointed task force who oversaw this process.

Worship – Both the Family Chapels and the Community Worships, held each Sunday, have been well-attended and much appreciated. Many thanks to Rev. Leia and Caroline Heins for their engaging and meaningful Family Chapels; to Rev. Alex for her work last summer getting the Zoom worships in such a good place; to Sean Skally for his tech skills; to the Worship Weavers who offer warmth and welcome; to the Altar artists who design a visual focus each month; to Scott DeVeaux, the UUCVille Virtual Choir, James Smith for wonderful music; to Christine Gresser and others for sharing joys and sorrows; to our talented video editors Lucy Gilbert and Ellie Ransom who brought alive rituals and songs with their art!

Music — Scott Deveaux created, directed, and edited a Virtual Choir, learning and using new tech skills! He also provided music for a number of hymns produced into beautiful videos by our video editors. James Smith added his piano artistry to worship services, playing live from the Sanctuary.

Soul Matters — In our worships and in the weekly Wednesday “Soulful Home” e-communications, we followed the themes and resources offered by Soul Matters, a UU collaborative of leaders from more than 100 congregations. One of the 6 UUCVille Covenant Groups this year met with Rev Linda, using Soul Matters materials and methods.

Faith Development — Children, youth, and adults had a number of opportunities to meet in Zoom sessions and explore the adventure of learning in age-based and multigenerational community through Soul Matters materials emailed in Wednesday Soulful Home, middle and high school youth offerings, classes, and a Women’s Dream Retreat weekend. A number of the Adult offerings were shared with other UU congregations.

Pastoral Care — The volunteer and ministerial involvement in this area has continued offering a network of support to many members. Pastoral Visitors (Shirley Park and Patty Wallens co-chairs) is training and bringing new members. Carenet (Sandy Brooks and Lara Gastinger co-chairs) functioned smoothly to coordinate support and meals to people during crises. An intentional phone-calling network chaired by Greta Dershimer made sure that members who could not stay in touch vis internet were contacted regularly.

Membership — In spite of being an e-church all year, the Membership team (Christine Gresser and Achsah Carrier co-chairs) has welcomed visitors, convened small group conversations, and signed new members.

Communications — An intensive effort was made to redesign the two weekly e-newsletters and to focus people on the web site as a go-to location. The new Breeze data base was put into effect to make contacting folks easier in a multiplicity of ways, and intense focus on a communications strategy helped the annual pledge drive be successful. Prioritizing the health of our members and succeeding at converting to digital services is a hugely important success. Many thanks to leaders Liberty Powers, Achsah Carrier, and staff Sean Skally, Caroline Heins for all their work!

Social Justice

• IMPACT CVille has recruited new team leaders to help coordinate our Networkers. Kelsey Cowger and Greta Dershimer served on research teams and brought 124 UU Cville members to the spring Nehemiah Action.
• The Social Action Collections held monthly were administered skillfully by Natalie Somer. Chair Karen Prairie facilitated a meeting in May with a record 17 applicants hoping to be recipients of the 2021-2022 monthly Social Action Collection.
• Revs. Linda and Alex, along with new member Rev. Fritz Hudson, attended monthly meetings of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective.
• The ongoing commitment to the monthly Food Bank, and the PACEM winter shelter were supported by scores of members, under the leadership of Elizabeth Breeden.
• Racial Justice continued to be a focus of learning and action, with Adult Ed classes, national workshops, community action, and sermon themes.
• The congregation renewed its commitment to the work of Green Sanctuary, with a special Earth Day service celebrating the work of the past, and tours of the gardens with previews of thoughts for the future.

Stewardship (Caring for Our Resources)

• Financial Management – Under the skilled leadership of chair Marian Wendelin, along with treasurer Stan Walker and Director of Admin and Finance Sean Skally, the Finance Committee gave wise counsel and oversight to the congregation’s funds and expenditures.
• Fundraising – The Pledge Drive (chaired by Dawn Dirks) was a joyful and energizing chance to connect with members and raise the level of giving. Other fundraisers (a fall sale and spring auction) were successfully led by Kay Frazier, raising spirits as well as money.
• Buildings and Grounds – The impressive building improvements made possible by the Glenn Short Fund, have been mostly accomplished during the covid-necessitated shut-down, overseen by Sally Taylor. Maintenance and improvements of the grounds and gardens has been extensive, led by Walter Hoffman, Kay Frazier and many others. Sean Skally paid close attention to maintenance and repairs.
• Personnel – Donna Redmond, chair, and the committee worked diligently to provide parity in benefits and pay levels for the staff. They partnered with Rev. Linda and President Lorie Craddock in evaluations of senior staff.

What a year it has been! Although this historic Pandemic has kept us apart for more than a year, good ministry has happened, people have been supported, inspired, and cared for. It has been a wonderful and eventful year, and I continue to be grateful that our paths came together for this year just past, excited about the year to come, and hopeful for your future after I have left you.

Rev. Linda Olson Peebles June 2021

PASSAGES (May 2020 – May 2021)

Members Who Have Died

John Anderson
Jan Bernhard
Mary Rose Curtis
Arthur Given
Marc Goldberg
Charles Martin
Gary Melton
Bernice Melvin
Cordelia (Dee) Plunkett
Jim Souder

New Members

Natalie Abbott, Kathy Bauer, Meg Dunham, Conrad Heins, Joanna Hickman,
Fritz Hudson, Neil Marrin, Haley Owens, Holly Sauer

Members Married

Kelsey Cowger and Matthew Carter
Gretchen Beck and Gove Johnson

Bridging Youth

Jay Gardner, Zoe Gardner, Caroline Landis, Ian Sanders, Xavier Mehta

Children Dedicated

Isaac Stafford Abbott Carter