March 2026 UUFA News

UUFA Worship team has completed one month of collaborative, UUA guided services on LOVE.  We have enjoyed working together on these services and hope it has been meaningful for those of you in our community.  Jeff Wunderly has placed a “feedback box” at the back of the entry way into the Fellowship building. Please speak directly with one of us or place your ideas, feedback and suggestions in the box.  We thank you.

A poem for March 

Hope Is Risen

Hallelujah!
As the spring sun coaxes lilies and bluebonnets from the soil,
Let us celebrate that even after murderous betrayal,
After days and nights suspended in torture,
When all the world has gone dark and we cried out,
“Why have You forsaken me?”—even then,
there is a sunrise.
Even then, there is a resurrection, if we will climb the hill to look for it.
If we will roll away the stone
And recognize the different shapes that Hope can take
To walk among us in the returning light.

By Elena Westbrook

Sunday Services March 2026

 

All services are held at 184 Longview Hts. , Athens, OH 45701 – 11:00 AM – Noon
March 1 – Exploring Possibilities – As people of faith, we are called to let love guide our way, to believe that a better world is not only possible, but that we can create it in ways both large and small. In creating that better world, how do we lean into the unknown while remaining rooted in our values? This sometimes feels like a tension at the heart of our faith: to boldly question and respond to injustice and remain grounded in our Unitarian Universalist values–justice, equity, transformation, pluralism, interdependence, and generosity–so that we may most fully affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Join us Sunday, March 1, when we’ll wrap up the 2026 30 Days of Love Campaign by exploring possibilities for creating a more just and equitable world. Service Leader Roberta Roberson
March 8 – “ if music be the food of love…” Performance and participation.  The connections formed through music are not dependant on ability or training. We all have a part to play. And in our connection we find power and strength. Music with a purpose. Servuce Leader, Nellie James
    March 15 – Topic TBA with service leader Richard Thieret

Potluck Conversation

 March 15 – Noon – 1:00 PM – UUFA Monthly Potluck – Immediately following service. Please bring a dish to share and label if you would, with ingredients so that folks with special dietary situations can enjoy and be informed ! Thank you for your consideration.
March 22  –  UUFA member Jeff Wunderly will lead our service to offer perspectives on this vernal occasion. A time for new beginnings, planting seeds and finding balance, the Spring Equinox gives us an opportunity to cast aside the dark, cold cloak of winter and embrace all that a bright spring day might bring. Please join us, friends old and new, all are welcome!

March 29 – Elemental, my dear Watson”
a light hearted exploration of uu’s and how serious we often are
In these troubled times we sometimes forget the joy of playing together. Laughing together is a balm to soothe the soul. Be prepared for Dad jokes, and maybe being just a little silly. Nellie James service leader.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAVE THE DATE        UUFA’s  Annual Meeting Sunday, April 12, 2026 12:15-1:15 PM

 

 

UUFA Welcomes New Members – Sunday, February 22, 2026

On behalf of the Membership Committee we are proud to welcome new members Sara Berens, Nate Wallace, Jenn Watson and LaVerna Vickers to the UUFA community.

Our own Pete Mather, Fellowship President, made the welcome official as he led the pledge of New Members to the Fellowship and then asked the Congregation to pledge their support to our new members.

Each new member provided a brief biography of introduction that we are thrilled to share below.

 

 

 

New Members Jenn Watson, Nate Wallace and Sara Berens become new members of UUFA. President, Pete Mather facilitates. LaVerna Vickers was unable to attend .

 

 

Sara Berens 

Sara was raised in Lancaster, Ohio by her mother Helen but has called Athens home for two decades. First as an undergraduate in fine arts at OU in the early 2000’s and then returning in 2011 for graduate work prior to her current role as faculty in Social and Public Health. Her connection to the UUFA began when she attended a wedding at the fellowship in 2005 before marrying her husband, Nate, there years later in 2014. When their son, Lukas, was born during the pandemic, which was incredibly isolating for new parents, they hoped to find a community to help him grow and occasionally began attending services. 

She has always been searching for deeper meaning but her AML diagnosis in 2025 led her to re-question the role of spirituality in her life. Her extended family’s catholic faith never quite fit, nor did the Nazarene church she attended as a child. And while she’s drawn to nature, she’s not sure paganism fully resonates either. But she does know her life experiences growing up with a single mother in a low income family, losing her sister during the height of the fentanyl crisis in 2023, and overcoming cancer have instilled a deep sense of justice that has shaped who she is today. More so than any religious doctrine, that sense of justice is what has brought her to this community. 
Nate Wallace 
Nate Wallace is a lifelong Ohioan with deep regional roots. Born to Jadeen Davette Hughes and Richard Eddy Wallace, he was raised in the Newark area and has been a part of the Athens community since 2003. After earning a Master’s in Political Science and a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Ohio University, Nate focused his research on the visual culture of weird fiction. His academic career spans both the classroom and administration, including seven years in the Research Office at Ohio University and teaching humanities at several institutions, such as Columbus State and the University of Rio Grande. He currently serves as a Graduate Application Reviewer for Ohio Online.
A long-standing participant in the local music and political scenes, Nate has performed with bands like Princess and Yokai at Casa Nueva and The Union. His civic engagement ranges from supporting Pat McGee’s city council campaigns to co-founding Athens for Bernie Sanders alongside his wife, Sara.
Nate and Sara’s connection to the Unitarian Fellowship is deeply personal; they were married in the church’s outdoor area in 2014 and held their reception in the building. After attending periodically when their son, Lukas, was younger, they are now eager to engage more fully as members of the congregation and contribute to the fellowship’s community life.
Jennifer Watson 
Jenn Watson moved to Athens from Minnesota with her family in the spring of 2017 when her children’s father took a job at Ohio University. Jenn has two teenage children of her own, Simon and Charlotte, and resides with her partner Josh (who typically also attends service), bonus daughter, Evie, and their two rescue dogs, Archie and Bear. As a family, they foster dogs and puppies through the rescue organization, PAWS. During the day, Jenn works from home for The Ohio University Foundation, the fundraising arm of the university. You could say Jenn’s favorite hobby is volunteer work…. She has previously served on the board of directors for PassionWorks and Ohio Valley School of Celtic Dance and Culture, and was involved with many nonprofits working toward social justice and building stronger communities in Minnesota, including a YMCA family camp in northern Minnesota and the Junior League of Minneapolis. 
Jenn’s daughter, Charlotte, who you will see regularly, is a freshman at Athens High School school and is involved with cheer and theater. Charlotte enjoys baking and helping with children’s activities, and plans to pursue a career as a pediatric nurse. 
When the weather is nice, you can find Jenn outside enjoying the sunshine on one of the area lakes, relaxing on the deck, or hiking the trails at The Ridges. As a family, we are grateful to have found a sense of belonging and purpose with the UUFA, thank you for having us! It has brought a sense of renewed commitment to community-building here in Athens.
LaVerna Vickers  
My name is LaVerna Vickers.   I was born in Orange County, CA and moved to West Virginia in 1989.
I have two grown sons who went to UU in Charleston,  WV when they were little.  They loved it!!!
My ancestry is Scottish and Cherokee with a few others thrown in.  I follow the Red Road for both my spirituality and my heritage. 
I currently live just across the Ohio River, in Cottageville,  WV.  Its about an hour from Athens.
My background in employment is mostly education and social work, however I also went to welding school when I was 48 years old and I worked with the Pipefitters union as an apprentice for 2 1/2 years. I am very happy and grateful to have found UU Athens and to become a member of this wonderful family!!!

A part of our service on February 22nd was also a “Why I Give” moment from our members.  Members, Jessie Roberson, Susan Westenbarger and Jeff Wunderly shared from their perspectives why they give to UUFA.  Jeff has grasciously agreed to share his message with you all in this newsletter.

 

 

Why I Support By: Jeff Wunderly

I would like to offer a few words about what brought me to the UUFA and what inspires
me to continue supporting the organization. My family attended First Christian Church of
Springfield, Ohio, until we moved into the country when I was five. After that, we seldom
made the drive into town on Sunday mornings. I always thought of myself as a spiritual
person, but never strongly connected to any particular institution or perspective. After
attending OU and settling in the Athens Ohio area I enjoyed a good life, but one that
was not always as enriching or connected to the community as I imagined.
Then, a couple of years ago, shortly before our 15 th anniversary, my wife told me she
didn’t want to be married any more. My world fell apart, and I almost didn’t make it
through. When I went to the UUFA that first Sunday, it was out of something close to
desperation. It helped. When I heard the congregation sing, “We are sending you light,
to hold you in love,” after Joys and Sorrows that first time, I couldn’t help but cry. I’ve
found many things in that wacky brick building. I’ve found love, support, community,
inspiration, hope, joy and more. As time passed, I really began to feel at home.
Which brings me to the second half of the question, why do I continue to support the
UUFA with my time, money and energy?
I appreciate that at UUFA spirituality and religion are not things that are done to us but
are things we do for ourselves and for each other. Shared experience is an important
ingredient in any ritual. We come together with our diverse wants and needs trying to
help one another along our spiritual journeys. Sometimes just having someone to hold
your hand on the walk, a hug or a small gesture can make all the difference. This
organization is far from perfect, but the imperfections can be as endearing as they are
frustrating… more or less. Just like most families. It is a fragile balance we keep, and it
scares me to think how easily the tradition could fade.
The Unitarian Universalist Pocket Guide is a cool little book given to new members.
Two stories from this book, one called “Saving our Lives,” and another, “Not the Last to
Need Saving,” really hit the mark for me, because the reality is that the UUFA might well
have helped save my life. It was the little extra buoyancy to keep a drowning person
afloat. So now it is my turn to help share rituals, the joys and sorrows of this community.
My turn to show up, fill a seat, donate to keep the boiler running and the lights on in the
work of art we call our Fellowship Hall, and to be a witness to our efforts and our lives.
Perhaps I can even help someone struggling under their burdens and pay forward some
of what I’ve received.
That’s how I arrived at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens, and why I intend to stay.

 

 

 

  UUA denomination wide information 

 

Are you looking to become more familiar with our denomination?

We are part of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The annual gathering of all UU congregations is General Assembly which is in June.  Involvement for all UUs can be as intense as you wish  or what fits with your interest and abilities to give back. There are many ways to share time, talent and treasure. Please be sure you find what works for you and your family.

The Unitarian Universalist website link:

https://www.uua.org/

We are part of a regional association – Central East Region – CERG. Richard Thieret often encourages attandance at their events.

https://www.uua.org/central-east     

 

Small Congregations Highlighted

Believe it or NOT…March is the UUA smalll congregation month.  If you have a interest or have the time please check it out and let us know what you find:

https://www.uua.org/leaderlab/events/2026-small-cong-month

 

 

UUJO – UU Justice Ohio – congregations of Ohio join together to fight for social justice

Spring Assembly Registration Is Here!

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/fkgnzjf?source_id=0e00b0bc-5089-4273-aae0-77d6d85c9096&source_type=em&c=23Vxi-6r3mDZJJd6yl7s7wIMiEvaDxHF8fGlxyCwM0uL2PrjybGO-w==

April 25, 2026First UU Church Columbus

Dear Ohio UUs:

The UUJO Spring Assembly that will be held on Saturday April 25 at First UU Columbus (93 W Weisheimer Rd, Columbus, OH 43214). The keynote speaker and workshop leader is Pablo DeJesus, The Executive Director of UUs for Social Justice in DC. Pablo’s talk at 10:30 AM is titled “Faithful Defiance in Times of Democratic Trial.” Pablo is an energizing and very enjoyable speaker!

It is important that everyone know about this and get a chance to register. Please share this message and post it prominently. Any inquiries can write to this Editor: RevTom.uujo@gmail.com.

Registration fee is $65 plus a small fee. The Board urges those who are able to make an additional ticket purchase as we will apply such funds for scholarship support.

A $10 early registration fee reduction for March. On the registration data sheet use the promotional code: EARLYSAVE10

Be well this month and we look forward to seeing you soon.