Author: Barbara Harrison

Greensheet Article – Sunday Service with GA (General Assembly) & UUFA Summer Vacation

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UUA General Assembly Sunday – June 27, 2021

UUA General Assembly, June 23-27, 2021, Circle 'Round for Justice, Healing, Courage

Join us on Sunday, June 27, for the largest annual gathering of UUs joining in worship! UUs from across the country are participating virtually this week in our annual General Assembly (GA.) The Sunday morning shared worship service is always a highlight of GA.

We will stream the service via our usual Zoom link at 11:00 on Sunday.

SUNDAY SERVICE Join via Zoom:  If you’ve already download the Zoom app, then simply click on this link to join us: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82365397153

SUNDAY SERVICE Join by Phone:  Use your phone to dial either 312 626 6799  or  646 876 9923. Then, when asked, enter meeting ID:  823 6539 7153  OR cut & paste this whole string of numbers, a couple commas, and an ending number symbol into your phone and it’ll dial all that automagically: +16468769923,,82365397153#

OR you can watch the live stream at noon Eastern. The service will be streamed on GA Online Events(https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2021/sunday-worship) and on the UUA’s YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcfE-wN-Fk6xsLDrOZicPcg)

For more information on General Assembly 2021 visit this link:  https://www.uua.org/ga
UUFA upcoming services 

UUFA response to pandemic and Church of the Larger Fellowship

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Good Morning UUFA members and friends,

In an effort to reduce community transmission of the COVID-19 virus we are suspending in person services until we are notified that the pandemic has passed and groups can gather again.

The UUFA leadership team is working a plan to provide our services and meetings on-line.  We will keep you posted on this process.  In the meantime you may want to visit the Church of the Larger Fellowship on-line.  It is the UU church on-line that many of you may already know about. Here is their link.

https://www.questformeaning.org/

If you would like to talk via phone please do not hesitate to reach out to us as we want to do everything we can to stay connected.  Please reach out to me at: president@uuathens.org

Be well !

In community,

Barb Harrison

Here is a fun and meaningful song for us to share from Debra Spangler, Athens Justice Singers director and community activist. I hope it brings a smile to your day.

https://youtu.be/4CkJc5JYmjY

Greensheet – UUFA news – December 9, 2019

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Sunday, December 15, 2019 – Yule – celebrating the season ! 

Join us in celebrating Yule, also known as Winter Solstice. We’ll learn a little about the history of the celebration and join our children in a craft and decorating the Christmas tree. Our UUFA choir will sing.  Coffee and fellowship at 10:30 am, service at 11:00 am.

Local events and opportunities to assist immigrants:
“Roots of Immigration:  Learnings from a recent visit to Honduras and Guatemala by Peggy Gish 
Tuesday Dec. 10, from 7-8:30 PM, Athens Public Library, 30 Home St., Athens, OH.
What prompts people to leave their homes in Central America and make the perilous journey to the United States, not knowing if they will be allowed in?  What are people there doing to provide alternatives to migrating?  And how might we respond in a helpful way?
These are questions Peggy Gish, who recently returned from a learning tour to Honduras and Guatemala, will address in her presentation. Peggy will share photos, stories, and information she gathered, followed by a time for discussion.
Additional activities at Peggy’s talk:
In the Community Room of the Library where Peggy will be speaking, there will be a place to donate gloves, hats and blankets to immigrants passing through the Columbus, Ohio Bus Station enroute to  immigrant sponsors’ in various places in the northern US.
As well, there will be a table where attendees of Peggy’s talk can donate money for buying gas or bus transportation for immigrants from SE Ohio to Chicago or
DC where they must go to get better documentation, a passport, from the embassy of their country of origin.
Athens United Immigrant Support Project  at Athens Uncorked
Sunday, December 15, 5:00 – 7:00 pm

The AUISP will hold their first fundraiser at Athens Uncorked. There will be snacks, wine, a presentation by keynote speaker Zach Reizes and over 40 items to bid on in our silent auction.

Contributors include but are not limited to:

Athens Uncorked
Kismet
Random House
Casa
Kindred Market
* UUFA  is sponsoring this event as well

Update on UUFA vision and mission process:
Thanks again to those who  turned out on October 18 to provide your ideas and vision of UUFA moving forward.  Please join us on  Sunday, January 12th as we welcome Rev. Rollins and Beth Casebolt to discuss this process and provide guidance.  If you have questions or feedback please do not hesitate to reach out to Barb Harrison, President –  740-707-6197 – barbunday@gmail.com

  From Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, Executive Director, Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio (UUJO)  You are invited to attend a UUJO Webinar, Wednesday, Dec 11, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm, Harvest of Shame: the Food on our Tables and the Conditions Farmworkers Face to Get it There. Presenter(s): Farmworker Staff of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW): Uriel Zelaya-Perez.  If you have not yet signed up for Webinar notices, please sign up at: https://uujo.wufoo.com/forms/m1k16gbw1qs7zc8/

 

This Year’s Unitarian Universalist Association Common Read  Susan W. and Andy R. want to invite others to join us for a reading group on “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States” which is the UUA Common Read for 2019-2020. With 400 years of interaction between native populations and the European settlers/colonizers to explore, we hope this book will give us a better understanding of the full scope of history on this continent. Details TBD, but we will probably meet three times starting in January 2020 so we can tackle the book in sections. If you’d like to join us (even if you can’t commit to reading the whole book, you’re still very welcome!) please contact Susan at suusanw.uu@gmail.com so we can keep in touch for scheduling, etc.  You can purchase the $16 book here.

FUTURE SUNDAYS – Subject to change—your ideas welcome. The next programming committee meeting is online via Zoom on Friday, December 13th at 6pm. All welcome to participate. To participate, download Zoom and ask us for the Zoom invitation in advance. – Katie, Brian, Susan & Wenda.

Sunday, December 15th: Yule Service, Katie Evans

Sunday, December 22nd: Nate Hayes

CHRISTMAS EVE, service – December 24th – 6:00 – 7:00 pm 

 

From Rev. Joan Van Becelaere, Executive Director, Unitarian Universalist Justice Ohio (UUJO)  You are invited to attend a UUJO Webinar, Wednesday, Dec 11, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm, Harvest of Shame: the Food on our Tables and the Conditions Farmworkers Face to Get it There. Presenter(s): Farmworker Staff of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW): Uriel Zelaya-Perez.  If you have not yet signed up for Webinar notices, please sign up at: https://uujo.wufoo.com/forms/m1k16gbw1qs7zc8/

This Year’s Unitarian Universalist Association Common Read  Susan W. and Andy R. want to invite others to join us for a reading group on “An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States” which is the UUA Common Read for 2019-2020. With 400 years of interaction between native populations and the European settlers/colonizers to explore, we hope this book will give us a better understanding of the full scope of history on this continent. Details TBD, but we will probably meet three times starting in January 2020 so we can tackle the book in sections. If you’d like to join us (even if you can’t commit to reading the whole book, you’re still very welcome!) please contact Susan at suusanw.uu@gmail.com so we can keep in touch for scheduling, etc.  You can purchase the $16 book here.

FUTURE SUNDAYS – Subject to change—your ideas welcome. The next programming committee meeting is online via Zoom on Friday, December 13th at 6pm. All welcome to participate. To participate, download Zoom and ask us for the Zoom invitation in advance. – Katie, Brian, Susan & Wenda.

Sunday, December 15th: Yule Service – celebrating the season

Sunday, December 22nd: Nate Hayes

CHRISTMAS EVE, December 24th- 6:00 – 7:00 pm – Our special Christmas Eve service.

 

HOW TO SUBMIT ITEMS FOR THIS GREENSHEET NEWSLETTER:  Please email items to wendasheard@yahoo.com and put “Greensheet” in the subject line. New ideas, new columns, announcements, artwork, photographs, biographies, joys, sorrows, birthdays, anniversaries, and whatnot all welcome for possible inclusion in the Greensheet. Deadline for each week: Midnight Monday. Thanks!

 

UUFA Special Announcement about Athens protest against separating families and inhumane treatment by U.S. government

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Dear UUFA Community,
As people whose religious tradition calls us to seek justice, we side with those most in need and most vulnerable.  The Unitarian Universalist Association has spent decades committed to supporting the dignity of immigrants and displaced people.  It should come as no surprise that it condemns the current assault on vulnerable families seeking asylum in the United States.
If you are longing for ways to put your time and talents into the service of our UU values, join us tomorrow (Friday, June 29) night at 8:00 pm by the Memorial on the college green at Ohio University.   The UUFA is cosponsoring a march and rally and our very own Rev. Don Rollins will be among the speakers. 
Tonight  (Thursday, June 28) at the fellowship, from 7 till 9, we’ll be making signs for the rally.  Basic materials will be available.  If you have supplies that you’d like to contribute, feel free to bring them along!
Hope to see you tonight…and especially tomorrow!
In community, 
Ad Hoc  UUFA planning team:
Patrick Gordon
Roberta Roberson
Jessie Roberson
Susan Westenbarger
Barb Harrison

UUFA Greensheet and Announcements for June 26 , 2018 – special note: UUFA as co-sponsor of Athens Rally to protest separation of families – Friday June 29 – 8-10 pm Civil War Monument OU

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UUFA Greensheet and Announcements for June 26, 2018

Many thanks to Katie Evans for leading us in a re-broadcast of UUA General Assembly in Kansas City, MO this past Sunday !   

What’s Happening this week….

Friday, June 29 – 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm –  Rally/March to protest “Separating Families”  – Civil War Monument , College Green, Ohio University Athens , OH – We must continue to speak out against the ongoing separation of children from families from ICE raids and deportations in our region, and from the devastating separation of families at the U.S.-Mexico border.  UUFA is co-sponsoring this event.  

What can you do ?  Attend ! Serve as volunteer march marshall or chant leader see information below:

1. Marshals: Our biggest need right now is to have march marshals. Marshaling entails walking along the edge of the crowd and directing people along the route. If any issues arise (i.e. a marcher gets dehydrated, a heckler starts yelling at the crowd) you will have instructions on how to address the situation and get in touch with organizers/other marshals. This might sound intense, but given how short the march will be, it shouldn’t be too difficult. As a marshal, you can still participate fully in the march and chant along with the rest of us. Bill Burke will be lead marshal. 
2. Chant leaders: We also need a few people to disperse throughout the crowd who will be in charge of leading chants and encouraging people to participate. 
If you or anyone in your organization can help with either of these roles, please email, call or text me. My email is katherine.king13@gmail.com and my number is 859-466-3325.
Sunday, July 1st – 11:00 am –  “What is Freedom”  with Brian Richards.  We hope you can join us for our weekly service. Coffee/tea available beginning at 10:30 am

UUFA approaches new leadership year as of July 1, 2018

We extend a heartfelt THANKS to the  UUFA  leaders for your courageous work in our congregation this past year.  Please join in extending thanks to the following individuals next time you see them. Some of the leaders listed below will be returning to positions but others will be stepping down and away from leadership as indicated next to their name.

Pat Gordon, President (Stepping down from leadership)

Kate Mitchell, Treasurer (Stepping down from leadership)

Barb Harrison, Recorder & communications (stepping down from committee on ministry moving into Pres-Elect position)  

Fred Snell, Sexton (stepping down from leadership) 

David May, member at large (stepping down from leadership)

Brian Richards, member at large (moving into President position)

Fred Woodley, member at large (continuing on as member at large)

Roberta Roberson, programming chair for 15 + years (stepping down from programming and committee on ministry & moving into board member at large position)

Amber May, membership committee chair (stepping down from leadership) 

Don Shamblin, endowment (continuing on endowment) 

Natalie Barman, endowment (continuing on endowment)

Dru Evarts, endowment (stepping down from leadership) 

Wenda Sheard, RE director (continuing next year in same role)

Robin Barnes – Committee on Ministry (continuing)

Jeremy Bowman – Committee on Ministry (continuing)

 

Welcome new UUFA Leaders for 2018-19 

Susan Westenbarger, Executive Committee member at large
Katie Evan, Executive Committee member at large
Jessie Roberson, Endowment Committee Chair
Jackie Warmke, Committee on Ministry

 

  • If you have an interest in serving in a leadership role at UUFA please contact Brian Richards to learn more !  Open positions available include; treasurer, sexton, recorder, communications , programming chair, membership chair. 
 

UUFA Greensheet and Announcements for June 21 2018

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UUFA Greensheet for June 21, 2018

Thanks to Brian Richards for this past Sunday’s service.  While it was a small gathering those present enjoyed discussion on the topic of time and our perceptions of it.

What’s Happening this week at UUFA 

Sunday, June 24, 2018 –   We’ll be watching an immediate re-broadcast of  2018 General Assembly Sunday Service!  The UU General Assembly is in Kansas City this week. Coffee/tea beginning at 11:00 , GA streaming beginning at 11:30 am.  

What’s Happening in our Area this month

Friday, June 29 – 8pm – 10pm – Athens Rally and Vigil Against Family Separation – Meet at the Civil War monument on College Green (OU Campus) . UUFA will be supporting this event and we hope members and friends will turn out in great numbers.

 

 

UUA General Assembly
UUJEC Actions of Immediate Witness (AIWs)

Given that the UUA has endorsed the Poor People’s Campaign, an Action of Immediate Witness would give a big boost to mobilizing our congregations.  So please support the AIW Join the Poor People’s Campaign. Our draft text can be found online here.  It’s a resurrection of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Poor People’s Campaign of 1967-68, now keynoted by Rev. William Barber. It seeks common ground among faith traditions for a broad-based coalition: Exactly what we need in these times.

What’s killing our society are the multiplying ways of “Making the Rich, Richer, and the Poor, Poorer”. Nothing demonstrates this better than the recent tax bill that showered wealthy corporations with truck-loads of cash, leaving the majority still struggling. Therefore please support our AIW  Tax Breaks for the People, Not the Rich. Our draft text can be found online here.  Here’s a sampling of justice in action: tax capital gains higher than earned income, stop tax evasion like offshoring, reduce regressive payroll taxes and taxes on essentials, and tax non-renewable resources like carbon fuels.

To Support the UUJEC AIWs

Delegates may sign on to support our AIWs at either the CSW exhibit booth or at our booth #319. At least 150 signatures are needed. Voting to select the final 3 will be in the Saturday morning plenary. After amendments are proposed at the Saturday afternoon mini-assemblies, voting on the final wording of each selected AIW will be in the Sunday morning plenary.

  • Share this information with your delegates.
  • Read how the AIW process works at GA.
  • Visit our Booth #319 in the Exhibit Hall.
  • If you are an Off-Site delegate, you can vote for AIWs electronically.
  • To cosponsor the AIWs, please contact UUJEC Board Member Dick Burkhart dick@democworks.org

 

UUFA Annoucements and Greensheet for June 12, 2018

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UUFA Greensheet & Announcements for June 12, 2018 

Thanks to Rev. Don Rollins for this past Sunday service on the Black Lives UU movement and mission. The 2nd sunday potluck was also enjoyed by all. Following potluck the UUFA board meet both current and new leaders for 2.5 hours ! More details to come soon.  Many thanks and kudos to this past years leadership  – Patrick Gordon, Fred Snell, Fred Woodley, Kate Mitchell, Dave May, Brian Richards and Barb Harrison.

UUFA Executive Committee for 2018 – 2019 – lots of opportunity for involvement !  Let us know now you’d like to be involved this coming year .  

Brian Richards, President

Barb Harrison , President-Elect

Board Members:

Katie Evans

Fred Woodley

Susan Westenbarger

Roberta Roberson

Committee Leadership positions open as of now:

Sexton

Treasurer

Recorder

Programming Chair

Membership  Chair

Communications (Greensheet, Social Media, etc…)

Social  Action

UUFA community turns out to support Athens Pride Parade and Rally this past Saturday, June 9

Athens celebrated it’s first LGBTQ Pride parade and rally this past Saturday ,June 9th.  Members of the UUFA were present and walked in the parade and hosted an info. table at Scripps halls during the rally portion of the event.  UUFA members present were, Brian Richards & Danielle Corbin and their daughters, Roberta & Jessie Roberson, Barb Harrison & Pat Gordon, Katie Evans and Dean Davis.  Thanks to all who came out to show great support for our community.  

 

RE News 

submitted by Wenda Sheard, RE Director UUFA

Religious Exploration News

After one Sunday with no children, and this Sunday with only two little ones present at the usual “sing the children downstairs” time of the service, Richard Thieret and Wenda Sheard decided to postpone any more planned RE lessons until school resumes in the fall.

Please, however, continue to bring your little ones to UUFA on Sunday mornings. We will still have fun and build community, even without planned RE lessons.

This week the little ones had gigantic fun playing and getting horribly messy with salt-flour clay and food coloring while hiding quietly with Wenda under the potluck table. Best RE Class Ever! (RE = Religious Explorations.) That was true even though the class had no “R” and tons of “E.” Thank you to Katie Evans and Danielle Corbin for helping clean up the Biggest Mess Ever.

Below are the names of UUFA members who have signed up so far to do childcare (and/or lessons?) this summer. Because every UU “working with children safety policy” we’ve ever read says we need to have two adults present at all times, we need to have two adults present in order to have the children downstairs.

The sign-up clipboard will go around again this coming Sunday—please do sign up for some fun. Hint: Ask the children to teach you about The Love Bowl—it’s our downstairs, child-friendly version of Joys and Sorrows. Explore all the supplies we have downstairs for impromptu fun. Any questions? Call Wenda. Thanks.

Childcare / RE volunteers so far this summer:

June 17th – Natalie B. & Wenda

June 24th – Linda H. & Wenda
July 1st – ? ?
July 8th – JCR & RR
July 15th – David W. & Wenda
July 22nd – M. Nagy & Wenda
July 29th – M. Nagy & Wenda
August 5th – ?
August 12th – ?
August 19th – ?
August 26th – ?

What’s Happening This week at UUFA

Celebrating Summer Solstice – 11:00 am Sunday, 10:30 am coffee/tea available with Katie Evans and Brian Richards

UUFA Greensheet and Announcements for June 6 2018

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UUFA Greensheet & Announcements for June 6, 2018 

Thanks to Katie Evans for her inspiring talk this past Sunday on living life with “No  Regrets” .

What’s Happening at UUFA this week…

Thursday, June 7 – 7:00 pm – Programming Committee

Saturday, June 9 – 2pm – Athens Pride Rally – meet at Athens middle School at 1:45 pm

Sunday, June 10 –  UUFA Morning Service followed by potluck –  11:00 am , Coffee / Tea beginning at 10:30 am

Sunday, June 10 – UUFA Annual Board Transition meeting – 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm – Ploghoft room

What’s Happening in our community …

Athens Pride  Events !!! 

Wednesday, June 6th @ 6-8PM: Drag Queen Story Time

Thursday, June 7th @ 8AM – 5PM: Rural Voices Summit

Thursday, June 7th @ 6-10PM: Breaking Binaries at the Brewery

Friday, June 8th @ Doors at 7PM: Comedy Show at The Union featuring Brooke Cartus, Whitney Chitwood, Scott Duff, and Brittany Meyer

Saturday, June 9th @ 2PM: Pride Parade & Rally – meet at Athens Middle School (W. State St.)  UUFA is a proud sponsor of this weekend’s Pride Parade…we hope you can make it

Saturday, June 9th @ Doors at 9:30PM: Dance Party at Casa Nueva with DJ Zteffen

Sunday June 10th @ 1PM: Hike & Picnic at Strouds Run State Park

What’s Happening within our UU Denomination

BLUU Updates…(Black Lives UU) is asking for our help as they prepare care packages for survivors of domestic violence who live in Kansas City. BLUU will distribute the care packages during UU General Assembly which is happening in KC in late June. If you can donate please follow this link on Amazon to do so. Thank you for your generosity.

https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/3AH3M6K6SC2HN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_ws_esjdBbGFKHDYA

UUJO 

Week of Action

June 10 – 17

During the week of June 10-17, 100 out-of-state UUs and other interfaith partners will meet in Columbus and join in-state teams to canvass the ring counties bordering Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Akron, and Cleveland for the Safe and Healthy Ohio ballot initiative. We will kick-off with a Training Praxis on Monday, June 11 in Columbus. There, we will engage in political education on talking points and how to canvass — THEN volunteers will deploy for six days of canvassing in the ring counties.

Congregational Gift
UUJO is offering a special gift for those UU congregations that can field a team of at least 2 members for the work during this week.   When your team arrives at the Monday training (9 am, First UU Church of Columbus, 93 W Weisheimer Rd) please see UUJO staff to register your team.  If your church can field a team of at least 2 people during the week, then UUJO will offer your congregation a free sermon in the Fall.  The UUJO Staff and some of the Board Members have volunteered to offer these sermon opportunities in gratitude for your congregation’s commitment to the Safe and Healthy Ohio ballot initiative.

Sign-Up 
JUNE 10- 17  WEEK OF ACTION SIGN-UP – HERE.
Whether you can come for the whole week or just one day your help is needed and deeply appreciated.

  • For five days during the Week of Action, we will train volunteers together before canvasses on nonviolent direct action and centering practices in preparation for collecting signatures in the most socially and politically segregated counties in the state.
    We will start Monday June 11, 11 am,  in Columbus at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 93 W. Weisheimer Rd.  Then spread out to other parts of the state, possibly near your own home.
  • In addition to canvassing, we need people to do data verification, making sure that people who sign are registered voters.
  • We’ll finish the week off with two days of signature collection at Columbus’s Pride Festival, an event that typically draws close to 1,000,000 people.

In addition to signing up above with Ohio Organizing Collaborative, please also fill out this very short form for UUs Volunteering in Ohio so that we can keep us all connected and coordinated and send you information about the Monday training in Columbus.

(And please share this note with fellow congregants, friends and family!)

Questions?:  contact Rev. Joan Van Becelaere,  uujoanvanb@gmail.com

A Personal Story

My name is Tanaia Woodland and I’m working on a campaign to reform Ohio’s criminal justice system because I believe the survival of our communities depends on it.

Will you join me? Click here to learn more and/or sign up to volunteer.

I live in Steubenville, in Jefferson County, Ohio. The opioid crisis has hit eastern Ohio hard. Our friends, neighbors, and family members are addicted and can’t access the services they need to get help. Instead, they get sent to prison.

When I was 19, I was convicted of a felony for drug possession and I went to prison. I had a job at the time and was about to start community college. I lost everything before my life had even really started.Now I’m a mother, and that felony makes it harder for me to provide for myself and my family every day. It’s an obstacle to getting jobs, housing, and public assistance. I keep trying, and I always will, because of my son.

My situation is all too common across Ohio. In black communities, in white communities, in small towns, and in big cities, hard working people are being held back by old drug felony convictions. Meanwhile, people struggling with addiction die or go to prison instead of getting the help they need.

I’m sharing all this because I’m asking for your help. You don’t know me, but chances are, you know someone who is addicted, in prison, or trapped by an old felony. We need volunteers all across the state to help collect signatures to get a transformative criminal justice amendment on the ballot.

Will you join us? Sign up here to volunteer with the Safe and Healthy Ohio campaign.

Let’s get this done – for our neighborhoods and our kids.
-Tanaia Woodland

 

 

UUFA Greensheet & Announcements for May 29, 2018

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UUFA Greensheet & Announcements for May 29, 2018

Thanks to the programming committee for our potluck memorial day sunday this past week !  A good time was enjoyed by all.

What’s Happening This Week at UUFA:

Sunday,  June 3, 2018 – 11:00 am, Coffee/Tea beginning at 10:30 am –  “No Regrets” – Regret can weigh us down and we get stuck in endless cycles of self- doubt and blame. But it can also be a catalyst for change when we focus on how we regret over what we regret. Join Katie Evans as she shares how she tries to live a life with No Regrets.

RE Instructor Update- Welcome Richard Thieret 

The children have been diving deep into their study of ancient Egyptian religion, life, and culture. This coming week will be a craft Sunday, including making our own hieroglyphics on flour and salt clay tablets. Will also spend some time planning the next couple Sundays with the children, giving them great choice in what Egyptian crafts to do next.
The children are excited that Richard Thieret has joined his wife, Wenda Sheard, to teach our religious explorations classes. Richard is a recently retired science teacher and former science department chair whose teaching is so exciting that school admissions offices always put his classrooms high on the school tour list for prospective students.
Richard and Wenda have taught together at schools in Wisconsin, China, and England. Richard has also taught in the Federal Hocking and Amanda Clear Creek school districts in Ohio. Both Richard and Wenda were born into Unitarian families and love teaching. Their own three children are grown, and their grandchildren just finished kindergarten and second grades.

 

40 Days of Action from May 13 – June 23

Every Monday, beginning on May 14th through June 18th there will be witness as well as non-violent direct moral fusion direct action in 38 states and in Washington, DC. People planning to participate in direct action must attend a training in their state. To get connected with training write to your state coordinator at NameofYourState@ poorpeoplescampaign.org and/or look for your state’s Poor People’s Campaign Facebook page.

https://www.uua.org/racial-justice/poor-peoples-campaign

UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray took part in the opening action on May 14th in Washington, DC, with other denominational and national leaders. Please participate on whatever Mondays work best for you and your congregation or group in both Washington, DC and your state.

 

UUFA Greensheet & Announcements for May 23, 2018

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UUFA Greensheet – May 23, 2018

Thank you Katie Evans and Brian Richards for this past Sunday’s service !

Memorial Service for UUFA  Founding Member Milton Ploghoft:

Milton Ploghoft

ATHENS – The family of Milton Ploghoft, 94, of Athens, will hold a memorial service on Saturday, May 26, 2018 for family and friends to remember and celebrate his life. The service will be at 2 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room at Ohio University’s Baker Center. The Ohio University Patton College of Education will hold a memorial for Dr. Ploghoft later in the year. He died April 3, 2018.

Milton Ploghoft passed away on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at The Laurels in Athens. He had been there for two weeks. He had a long and productive life and will be dearly missed by family and friends.

Milton was born on May 15, 1923, on a farm in Iowa to father Grover and mother Ora (Freeman). He had five sisters and one brother as well as two half brothers and two half sisters. He left the farm at age 16 to finish high school in Atlantic, Iowa. Next stop was Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in Maryville, Missouri, where he graduated with a bachelors degree. He got his masters degree from Drake University, and his doctors degree from the University of Nebraska.

In 1957 Milton accepted a position with Ohio University as principal of Putnam School. He held that position for one year. During that year, while living on Race Street, he and neighbor, Walter Wright, founded the Unitarian Fellowship in Athens. Milton then returned to University of Nebraska to obtain his doctors degree.

Ohio University hired Milton again in 1963 to be Chief of Party of a USAID project in Kano, Nigeria, that was to develop a teachers college. That college grew from an initial 200 students to become the Federal Teachers College of Kano with over 5,000 students the last time Milton visited Kano in 1999.

Upon returning to Athens, he remained active in international programs at Ohio University and for a time was director of the Center for International Programs at the College of Education. He made several trips to South Vietnam to visit ongoing programs Ohio University had in that country. After retirement, Milton remained active consulting with universities in Botswana, Swaziland, and Namibia.

Milton was a professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education at Ohio University. He wrote several textbooks. He received a pilots license while in Lincoln, Nebraska, and enjoyed flying small aircraft for several years. In later years Milton found much enjoyment as a member of the poetry club that meets at the Athens Public Library.

Milton and wife Zella established the Ploghoft Diversity Lecture Series at Northwest Missouri State University. Milton was instrumental in the formation of the African Educational Research Network and actively promoted its online journal.

He was a longtime, loyal, member of The Kiwanis Club of Athens. Milton was also a longtime member of the Tuesday Club in Athens. He faithfully attended meetings of those clubs as long as health permitted.

Milton was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Zella, and grandson Tyler Stewart (Christina). He is survived by his four children: sons Milton (Elizabeth) of Avoca, MI, and Philip of Athens and daughters Shelley (Ed) of Athens and Tara of Crystal Lake, IL He had 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 26, 2018 for family and friends to remember and celebrate his life. The service will be at 2:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room at Ohio University’s Baker Center. The Ohio University Patton College of Education will hold a memorial for Dr. Ploghoft later in the year. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register book at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.

What’s Happening This Week at UUFA:

Sunday, May 27, 2018 – 11:00 am, Coffee/Tea beginning at 10:30 am –  “Cookout” on Sunday 27th- bring a side dish or desert. Burgers, dogs, buns and condiments will be provided. No service, just food and friendship. 

UUA Encourages Participation in the “Poor People’s Campaign”

https://www.uua.org/racial-justice/poor-peoples-campaign

40 Days of Action from May 13 – June 23

Every Monday, beginning on May 14th through June 18th there will be witness as well as non-violent direct moral fusion direct action in 38 states and in Washington, DC. People planning to participate in direct action must attend a training in their state. To get connected with training write to your state coordinator at NameofYourState@ poorpeoplescampaign.org and/or look for your state’s Poor People’s Campaign Facebook page.

UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray took part in the opening action on May 14th in Washington, DC, with other denominational and national leaders. Please participate on whatever Mondays work best for you and your congregation or group in both Washington, DC and your state.

Weekly Themes for the 40 Days of Action Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival

The national mass meetings and teach-ins will be livestreamed on the Campaign’s Facebook page.

 

Week 2: May 20 – 26

Connecting Systemic Racism and Economic Justice – Voting Rights and Just Immigration

Week 3: May 27 – June 2

Veterans, Our War Economy, and Militarism

Week 4: June 3 – 9

The Right to Health – Ecology, Justice and Health – Water, Extreme Extraction, Climate Change, Health Care

Week 5: June 10 – 16

Everybody’s Got a Right to Live – Living Wages, Guaranteed Income, Housing and Social Services

Week 6: June 17 – 23

A New and Unsettling Force Challenging Our Nation’s Distorted Moral Narrative – A Fusion Movement Rising Up

Format for each week in the national and state capitals are:

  • Sunday evenings: Mass Meetings for spiritual, moral and tactical/logistical preparation for the next days’ events
  • Mondays: Gather at 10 am, 1 hour Training at 11 am, followed by press conference & rally, and then afternoon direct actions
  • Tuesdays: Teach-Ins
  • Thursdays: Theomusicology and Arts Events
  • Friday-Sunday—Worship

Have questions? Please write to Susan Leslie, UUA Congreational Advocacy & Witness Director at sleslie@uua.org or UU minister, Rev. Robin Tanner who is organizing for the campaign at robin@poorpeoplescampaign.org.

Forward Together!