Congregational Proud Moments

Has something amazing happened at your congregation this year that you are particularly proud of? Have you met a funding goal? Successfully completed a project? Achieved Welcoming Congregation Status? Increased your membership? Become a Fair Share or Fair Compensation Congregation? Have your children or youth done something new and amazing? Then share your good news with the rest of the district!

At District Assembly, we want to hear and share your proud moments, whatever they are! Congregational Proud Moments that are submitted to the district office by March 20th will be posted in the Marketplace at District Assembly. In addition, some moments will be selected by the District Assembly Planning Team to read and highlight during the assembly. Then, in the summer issue of District Doings we will list all the proud moments shared with us, including those submitted during the District Assembly.

2009 Congregational Proud Moments

UU Church, Meadville, PA

The congregation has accomplished in ONE budget drive, a little more than what was accomplished in two budget drives, last year...and for doing this in spite of the economic freefall. This congregation increased the dues it is paying to the district and the UUA. The UU student group at Allegheny College decided on their own to do a fundraiser for the Meadville church, in gratitude for this church community.  (They will be selling Equal Exchange goods at a table in the campus center, for the week of April 6-10). The Allegheny College UU students also achieved recognition as an official student group at the college.

Oberlin UU Fellowship, OH

The fellowship ordained a minister for the first time, received a Chalice Lighter's grant, has a new logo, started a weekly radio show, gained 6 new members, and have 6 more who've expressed an interest in becoming members (together that makes a 30% increase in membership!)

UU Fellowship of Ligonier Valley, Ligonier, PA

The mortgage has been paid off. They have substantially increased their efforts to help combat hunger, both locally and globally. To this end the fellowship has more than doubled our participation in the Annual CROP Walk to fight hunger locally and globally, makes at least monthly contributions of nonperishable foods to the local food pantry, donates 50% of the proceeds of their annual back yard to the county food bank, and provides addressed envelopes to make it easier for members and friends to make individual contributions to the food bank. The fellowship has established a Peace Group that meets monthly, has produced stationary that promotes consciousness of peace, publishes a monthly newsletter, and has facilitated the congregation's participation in the UUA Congregational Study/Action Issue process to strengthen our efforts to promote peace. They have established a meditation group that meets weekly. The fellowship has begun efforts to make improvements to their property with the goal of having the property certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources as an official Wildlife habitat. They have continued our monthly forum known as First Fridays, during which they invite a representative from a different faith tradition and other groups each month to speak on and answer questions about his/her faith. Our topics have included Islam, Society of Friends, Mormonism, Mennonites, Buddhism, Amnesty International, Pennsylvania Prison Society, Blackburn Center For Victims of Domestic and Sexual Violence, and many others. This forum is open to the public, and has been an excellent opportunity for outreach to our community. 

UU Fellowship of Morgantown, WV

This year the UU fellowship of Morgantown has had an inspiring quality and diversity of speakers for the Sunday morning programs, including the presence of some wonderful and consistent UU ministers.  As a result they have had a larger number of visitors coming on Sunday morning. With a larger crowd on a Sunday mornings, comes more children and a growing interest in our RE program.  With March being Women's History Month, they have been honoring the writings and teachings of Sophia Lyon Fahs who was a groundbreaking leader in Religious Education over a hundred years ago.  She wrote "The Beacon Series" for children and has many of her writings in our hymnals today.

First UU Church of Indiana, PA

First UU of Indiana, PA is proud of their 50 years of liberal presence in Indiana County in Western PA.
The congregation became a lay-led and home-based Fellowship in September 1958, voted to become part of the UUA in 1961 and soon afterwards incorporated as the First UU Church of Indiana, PA. After decades of renting and ministers-of-record from the Cluster and also an IUP Sociology Professor who served for several years, a building in 1974 and called ministry for the last nine years have led to significant congregational growth in many ways. They also burned the 15 year mortgage on our building in January 09.  They didn't have anyone die, they just plodded through 15 years of monthly payments and came to the end of the term.
The congregation is very proud of our growth and long-term determination and commitment to Unitarian Universalism.

West Shore UU Church, Rocky River, OH

West Shore serves the homeless in many ways. Members have found this way of ‘living the faith” to be fulfilling, hard work and fun. Each year they provide volunteers for the Homeless Stand Down sponsored by Interact Cleveland in February. Three times a year they act as a host church for the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Although West Shore has hosted families for the Interfaith Hospitality Network for several years, Christmas 2008 was special. The congregation hosted five families at Christmas time with a total of 15 people. Throughout 2008 they hosted 14 families. Each time they host IHN families we have about 50 to 60 volunteers assisting through the week. This time 7 Jr. Church members and their 3 advisors took on an entire night. They cooked the meal, had crafts, activities and X-box games for the children and moms during the evening, and were the overnight hosts. They attended training for about an hour before they volunteered.

This Christmas week was followed by - Homeless on Hilliard:  West Shore UU Youth ROCK
Twelve West Shore youth, grades 8 – 12, and five staff/youth advisors spent the cold night outside on the church lawn, Friday, February 6, to gain personal awareness of the plight of the homeless, build community, and raise funds for Interfaith Hospitality and Interact Cleveland.  The group, joined by Rocky River Presbyterian Church’s youth and staff, raised over $1,300. One participant, eighth grader Kaleigh Macalla, said it all—“So many people are homeless….we need to made a difference.”
This event was followed by the Sunday Circus, February 15 which had a huge turnout.  The first-time event welcomed 115 people to an early afternoon of circus food, games and a performance by the St. Ignatius Circus Club jugglers.  Expenses were covered, and twenty packages of children’s underwear, plus $40.00 profit, will be sent to Interfaith Hospitality Network.

Send in your Proud Moments now! Email them to the district office at office at ohiomeadville.org