This Sunday’s Worship Service

Sunday, November 29th, 11:00 AM – Noon

A Bigger Table

with Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen

Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen is a Midwesterner at heart, lives in Boston, and is learning all the time about liberation, solidarity, courage, and cowardice. She is the Immigration Bond Coordinator with the National Bail Fund Network and previously did faith-based justice work and youth organizing. She is a Unitarian Universalist minister and is passionate about progressive organizing in the Vietnamese American community, building power across prison walls and feeding people.

Rev. Nguyen is one of our Miami Valley Peace Heroes!

Please join us for our Worship Service, on Zoom!

If you are on a computer you may simply use the button at the top of this page. Otherwise, details are below for various devices, including a phone.

11:00 AM – Noon Worship Service
(Tech assistance available from 10:30 – 11 AM if needed)

Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 852 938 388

To join online (using a computer, tablet, or smart phone) click below:
uuma.zoom.us/j/852938388
No passcode required

To join on your cell phone or land line,
please call 1-929-205-6099
and make sure to enter the Meeting ID, 852 938 388, when prompted.

Please note the following:

1. This service will be recorded and/or live-streamed to Facebook. If you do not want to be included in the recording, please turn off your camera, mute your microphone, and change your name to “MVUUF” (these are all Zoom options once you join the meeting).
2. If you would like to submit a joy or sorrow for the service, please email Rev. Kellie by 10:00 PM on the prior Saturday evening (minister @ mvuuf.org).

Other Events and Activities

(All of these activities are on Zoom.)

On Sundays, in addition to our service and youth religious education, we have Women’s Group at 9:30 AM and also a Scripture Study at 9:30 AM.

Coffee Hour after the Sunday service is at 12:00 noon.

Coming in early December – Blessing and Opening of the Peace Heroes Trail! Follow this link.

MUSIC: Choir Rehearsal is at 7:00 PM each Wednesday.  Our monthly Acoustic Jam is normally the third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM.  This year’s holiday Wassail service will be on Sunday, December 6th, at 11:00 AM. Contact our Music Director, Sara Davis, at music @ mvuuf.org for more information about participating in music activities.

We have a Death Cafe, normally the fourth Monday of the month at 7:00 PM.

Other montly meetings include our Social Action Committee, the West Dayton Action Group, the Transgender Alliance Group, and the Chalice of the Willow (Covenant of UU Pagans). You will find more specifics about our programming around Anti-Racism toward the bottom of this page.

Our Facebook page is listed as “Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship”. You will find various announcements there.

For specific questions or to be put in touch with a group you may also send an email to info @ mvuuf.org.
 

Religious Education — Updates for Fall!

We’ll continue meeting on Zoom as we present our classes this fall. This year our young children’s programming is split into two classes, PreK-1st grade and 2nd – 5th grade. These classes follow the Soul Matters curriculum which has been adapted specifically this year to teaching in the online learning environment. Our middle school youth are exploring different religions in the Neighboring Faiths curriculum and the high schoolers continue with their youth-led discussion group format.

All children and youth attending CYRE classes must register. Registration helps us learn names, track attendance, plan for activities, and accommodate any special needs. Please complete the registration form here.

We welcome adult volunteers to assist on our teaching teams.  All classes are held on Sundays (PreK-1st grade from 9:00-9:30 AM, 2nd-5th grade from 1:00-2:00 PM and MS/HS from 2:30-3:30 PM) such that in this online environment, adults can volunteer to teach religious education without missing any of the worship services!

Ask any of our congregants who have volunteered as teachers and you will find that it is one of the most rewarding ways to become more engaged in our community and grow in your own understanding of our Unitarian Universalist faith. Please contact our Director of Religious Education, Somaya Bernard (re @ mvuuf.org), or our Children and Youth Religious Education Volunteer Coordinator, Gail Saugstad, if you have ANY questions about religious education or to volunteer.

Public Statement, and Programming Around Anti-Racism

In light of George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police on May 25, Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is issuing a public statement to the community, and we offer resources to assist us in the processes of mourning, learning, and action.

As Unitarian Universalists, we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every human being. We believe that we are all connected to one another: what affects one of us, affects all of us. Our Unitarian Universalist faith calls us to commit our time, resources, and hearts to the important work of ending police violence and all other parts of our country’s systemic anti-Blackness. Our faith calls us to do this today—not tomorrow or some distant someday.

PUBLIC STATEMENT

1. As people of faith, Unitarian Universalists affirm the inherent worth and dignity of all persons and work for social justice to embody that dignity.
2. We condemn racist police practices that deny Black people in this country human rights and, in the case of  Breonna Taylor and George Floyd and so many before them, the very breath of life.
3. It has gone on far too long.
4. We side with the families of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd in love and we side with all impacted by murder and other violence as a tool of oppression by people of power.
5. We urge the greater Dayton community to reflect deeply on our criminal justice system and how to transform it into one of restorative justice that is safer for everyone.
6. This is the time to join with others to raise our voices and stop this oppression by police and by white vigilantes.
7. Holding police accountable is an essential step.
8. Recognizing that racist police practices are a symptom of pervasive and systemic racism in our national culture and institutions, we re-commit ourselves to anti-racism work.

Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Rachel Feltner, Board President
Rev. Kellie C. Kelly, Called Minister
Alice Diebel, Affiliated Community Minister

Anti-Racism Ally Group
Thursday, November 19th 7:00 pm
Are you a white person with questions, ideas, concerns or just want a place to have discussions about what is going on? Then please join our Anti-Racism Ally group, newly revamped. Each meeting will allow for learning, actively practicing being allies, open discussion, and creating actions we can take to follow and support Black, Indigenous and all People of Color (BIPOC) in our congregation as well as residents in the larger community. This group normally meets on the 4th Thursday evening of the month (except when there is a holiday). If you have questions, would like meeting access information, or would like to provide input before a meeting, you are welcome to contact the group Co-Leaders, Kristen at KristenBeireis @ gmail.com or Bill at rossviva @ hotmail.com

Da’Group (a group for our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color congregants only)
Tuesday, December 14th          6:30 – 8:00 pm

Da’Group is a space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to gather and share their stories, receive and provide support, and celebrate their joys, sorrows, and celebrations with each other.
This group meets monthly, usually on the second Tuesday of the month.