At our Board Retreat in September, I started to see how our strategic plan can lead to an even stronger Social and Environmental Justice movement in our congregation. Rev Tim explained how groups can move to working on the upstream causes of suffering and injustice while continuing to work on the downstream effects of injustice. Through increasing education and awareness, engaging in service, and directly witnessing the effects of injustice, we can develop understanding and passion for larger scale action on behalf of justice. UUCville is already an energized partner with many other community groups and we hope to expand our commitment to

To further deepen our vision for UUCville, Kay Frazier, Jimmy Gorham, and Renee Brett led us in a moving exercise where we explored our hopes for our congregation and where we see we could be in 3 to 5 years. It was fascinating to witness all the passion we have for UUCville and how much our visions overlap (though being UUs, we also had many divergent creative ideas!).

We also talked about our progress on our Developmental Ministry goals and found that we have accomplished a lot. So much is going on, I cannot list it all, but here are a few highlights.

At our Congregational Meeting on June 4, 2023, we approved a new Mission Statement:

Ministry for Earth Committee – 2023 Rivanna Conservation Alliance’s River Round-Up

We are active on many fronts for this goal within UUCville and in the larger community. The Membership Committee has a Connection Table on Sundays (and would like board members to be there – especially the welcomer each Sunday). We have had community building activities including the Service Fair, the Auction, Adult RE classes, discussion groups, Covenant Groups, Adult RE classes, and Newcomers Circle monthly meetings. We participate in many social action projects in the community including IMPACT, PACEM, the Friday Food Pantry, the Soup Kitchen (at the Haven), the Appalachia Service Project, the UUCville Ministry for Earth Committee’s Rivanna Conservation Alliance’s River Round Up and many more. We had a booth at Charlottesville PRIDE again this year. Our Young Adult group is active and growing. In fact, there are so many groups and service projects, I hesitate to list them, knowing I have missed so many.

2023 Stewardship Steering Committee Service Fair

Our Board Treasurer, Kay Frazier, our DAF, Sean Skally, our Finance Committee and our Stewardship Steering Committee have made huge strides in helping us understand and support stewardship of our financial, grounds and human resources.

Communications Committee Table @ Service Fair

Our Communications Committee has taken our website to a whole new level with updated information on all fronts, great pictures and a warmth that reflects our community feeling. I see transparency in all aspects of church life from the financial reports posted online, to emails and texts letting us know about important activities, to numerous opportunities to be together and share our experiences.

I feel a new energy throughout the congregation and I am excited to see where it takes us.

Submitted by,

Pam McIntire, President