MVUUF is currently closed to in-person events, but we are glad you are connecting with us! Many events are held online. For information about our policies around sheltering in place, see our COVID-19 Updates page.
It is a special pleasure to welcome visitors! We invite you to join our online services. Information about the service this coming Sunday is provided further down this page.
For more personalized information, we invite you to contact Lathe Snyder at lathe.snyder @ gmail.com. He would love to talk with you about our community and help you connect to our events and activities. You may also communicate with us by completing our Visitor Form located here .
Please also note that you can stay current with us by subscribing to our monthly newsletter and weekly email notices via the tan button that reads, “Yes, keep me informed”. You will find it at the very bottom of each page.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
June 2, 2020
My Dear Ones,
It certainly feels like America is burning down right now.
Let me be clear—protestors are not burning down America. State and local governments are burning down America. They are using militarized police departments and National Guard to burn us down. Our government is attacking our own citizens and giving free rein to white supremacists. I have seen it with my own eyes in both Beavercreek and downtown Dayton over the last 3 days. I know I am not the only one who has witnessed police violence firsthand.
State and local governments are burning down America right now.
Yet, if we are honest with ourselves and one another, we know the government’s anti-Blackness has been setting these fires for 400 years, when American colonists first used horrific violence to abduct Africans and bring them to North America as slaves. Although the systems have changed over the years, America continues to burn with the state’s anti-Blackness.
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.
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 offering several resources for us to gather, mourn, learn, and act (all outlined below). If you need any additional support, please text or call me (847.804.4614). If I can’t give you the support you need, I will find others who can.
May we be comforted and strengthened by the Love that connects us, holds us, and will never let us go.
I hold you in my heart,
Rev. Kellie
PUBLIC STATEMENT
- As people of faith, Unitarian Universalists affirm the inherent worth and dignity of all persons and work for social justice to embody that dignity.
- 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.
- It has gone on far too long.
- 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.
- 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.
- This is the time to join with others to raise our voices and stop this oppression by police and by white vigilantes.
- Holding police accountable is an essential step.
- 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.
Sincerely,
Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
Rachel Feltner, Board President
Rev. Kellie C. Kelly, Called Minister
Alice Diebel, Affiliated Community Minister
Here at the Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship —
Worship for the Weary
A shorter, more reflective service, that is in addition to our Sunday services
Thursdays, from 6:30 – 7:00 pm
Da Group (a group for our Black, Indigenous, and People of Color congregants only)
Tuesday, August 11th 6:30 – 8:00 pm
If you are new, let us know of your interest and we can provide you the information for Zoom video or phone access.
Anti-Racism Ally Group
Thursday, August 27th 7:00 pm
As we already indicated, there has been a lot of turmoil around racism in our country, state and city. 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. 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.
This Sunday’s Worship Service
Sunday, August 9th, 11:00 AM – Noon
“She Persisted”
with Rev Kellie
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 if you are using some other device, such as a landline.
11:00 AM – Noon Worship Service
(Tech assistance available from 10:30 – 11 AM if needed)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 852 938 388
1. Online link (computer, tablet, or smartphone)
uuma.zoom.us/j/852938388
2. Phone Dial-in
A. To use your cell phone, call:
+1 312 626 6799,,852938388# US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923,,852938388# US (New York)
B. To use a flip phone or land line, call: *
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
+1 253 215 8782 US
+1 301 715 8592 US
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
* Make sure to enter Meeting ID: 852 938 388 when requested.
Please note the following:
- 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).
- 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).
Religious Education
We are currently offering Religious Education programs for children and youth on Sundays, with most of the classes after the worship service, via Zoom. NEW, however — We are now offering a Sunday Zoom session for our children in Preschool through 1st Grade from 9:00-9:30 AM! Please contact Somaya Bernard, our Director of Religious Education, at re @ mvuuf.org if you would like more information about participating in any of these programs.
