New Year, New UU!

1/29/25

New Year, New UU!

It’s an incredibly exciting time at UUCDC! At the congregational meeting earlier this week, we shared exciting updates about the capital projects this year.

  • We have installed a solar array providing 33 kW of green power to our church and the grid.
  • Air conditioning will be installed in the lobby and Fellowship Hall later this spring to adequately cool the entire building in warmer months.
  • The lift will be replaced sometime this year, significantly improving our building’s accessibility.
  • And, most excitedly, we’re nearing the final design for the kitchen!

With all this exciting progress, we’ve nearly depleted the funds from the capital campaign. But we’re not stopping here! We’re actively pursuing additional funding through a Chalice Lighter Grant for the lift project and a Faithify Fundraising Campaign for the Kitchen project. And here’s where we need your help.

Faithify is a UU crowdfunding platform, and your support will significantly impact the Kitchen project. By contributing, you’ll help us bring this vision to life. All donations are tax-deductible, and every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to our goal. You will not be charged until the campaign ends on March 27 if we successfully raise at least $40,000. This is an all-or-nothing campaign. 

Please consider donating through this link, and if you’re able, share it with others who might be interested in supporting this momentous project. Together, we can make a lasting difference!

We’re also launching the exciting new Family Room Pilot Program! Since the kitchen will be built in the space currently occupied by the Nursery, we want to experiment with new ways to serve our childcare needs before construction begins while we still have a fully functional nursery. One idea we’re exploring is a Family Room where parents can stay with their young kids, watch the service, and let their kids enjoy toys that might be disruptive in the sanctuary. We’ll use the current Youth Room to experiment with this idea and set it up to livestream the service. We need folks to volunteer to take on this project and use their creativity to create a space that works best for you. Email the Family Room Team with your interest.

Celebrate Spring with us on March 15 at the UUCDC AUUCTION! Do you have an item or event to offer at the Auction? Keep an eye out for more information from the Auction team. 

And don’t forget—General Assembly will be in Baltimore this June! If you’re thinking about attending, please complete this form.

There’s so much to look forward to! I’m thrilled to be on this journey with you!

Thank you so much for your generosity!!

Marylin Huff, Board President

on behalf of the Board of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County


uucdc board

12/23/2024 

Happy Holidays, everyone!

We hope this season brings you joy, rest, and cherished moments with family and friends. As we celebrate, let’s take a moment to reflect on the amazing progress we’ve made together this year. From adopting new ByLaws to the installation of solar panels, 2024 has been a remarkable year of growth and achievement for our congregation!

Looking ahead, 2025 promises to be just as exciting. We’re gearing up for some major improvements, including air conditioning much of the rest of the building, replacing the lobby lift, and making an important decision about adding a kitchen to our main floor. These strides will continue to enhance our shared spaces and ministry.

And the biggest milestone of all? This summer, we will bid a heartfelt farewell to our phenomenal interim minister, Rev. Ed, and warmly welcome a new settled minister to lead us into the next chapter of our journey.

Curious about what the board has been working on? Check out the minutes from our Dec 16 meeting.

Missed a service? Don’t worry—our services are recorded and available online for you to watch anytime.

Here’s to a joyful holiday season and a bright year ahead!

Thanks for an excellent year!

 

Marylin Huff, Board President

on behalf of the Board of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County


Nov 26, 2024

Dear Friends,

Happy Thanksgiving! May this holiday bring joy as we gather with family and friends to celebrate and give thanks. Let us also reflect on the complex history of this day and its lasting impact on Native American communities. Together, we can honor the spirit of gratitude while deepening our commitment to reconciliation and understanding.

Our congregation has so much to be grateful for this year, and I’m thrilled to share the highlights with you:

  • First and foremost, amazing news—Rev. Ed’s surgery was a success! He’s recovering at home and will be back in the pulpit December 8. What a blessing!
  • Our solar array is up and running! We’re now harnessing the power of the sun for our building, and to top it off, the paperwork for our 30% rebate is underway. Exciting times for sustainability!
  • Have you seen the new website? Don Sloat and Megan Grissom worked with a web designer and our website looks awesome! 
  • The kitchen renovation project is moving forward! The Capital Projects team and a dedicated group of UUCDC members have reviewed a preliminary design and sent it back for revisions. Stay tuned for updates as the design takes shape!
  • The Youth Room transformation is beginning! It’s being reimagined as a “Family Room” to better serve our community. We’ll share more details as this project progresses.

Curious about what the board has been up to? Here’s a link to the minutes from our Nov 18 meeting.

Thank you for being such an integral part of our vibrant and caring community. Together, we’re building something truly special!

Wishing you a joyous and love-filled Thanksgiving!


With loads of gratitude for our amazing community,

Marylin Huff

Board President

Unitarian Universalists of Delaware County


October 29, 2024

Dear Friends,

Watch out for heavy equipment on our grounds! Solar installation kicks off this week and should be wrapped up before Thanksgiving!

Kitchen/Family Room: After multiple productive meetings, the board has approved hiring a design firm for professional drawings. We can’t wait to share these at our congregational meeting in January! Plus, we’re eager to transition our current Youth Room into a multipurpose “Family Room” ASAP. If you’d like to join the team making this happen, please reach out to the board!

Our Member Engagement meeting on Sunday was a fantastic success! If you couldn’t make it, don’t worry—we recorded it! And, please contact GTS or Rev. Ed if you’re interested in getting involved in new ways.

We understand that election week can bring some anxiety for many in our community. To support everyone, the Social Justice Council is organizing several events during that week for community and pastoral care. Be sure to check out Connections for all the details!

Curious about what the board has been up to? Here’s a link to the minutes from our Oct 21 meeting, where we continued updating our policies. You can find the complete list of our current policies here.

Thanks for being part of our vibrant community!

Warmly,

Marylin Huff

Board President

Unitarian Universalists of Delaware County


September 18, 2024

Dear Friends,

Wow, what a kickoff to our church year! We had a blast at the Ingathering Picnic, and it was amazing to see our church buzzing with energy as our religious education classes got underway!

Our church leadership just wrapped up a retreat where we dreamt big and set some super exciting goals for the year. We’re all about making it easier for you to get involved and ramping up our volunteer spirit!

Our ministerial search is rolling full steam ahead, and your input is key. If you haven’t filled out the search team’s survey yet, now’s the time—your thoughts matter!

And get ready for a bright future! Our solar installation is kicking off in a few weeks, so keep an eye out for those solar panels.

One of our big goals is to add a kitchen, which is a bit of a puzzle since it involves moving things around without a building expansion. We want to hear from you on the best way to make this happen. Join us for a Town Hall meeting on Sunday, September 22, to dive into the details and share your ideas. Since the kitchen will likely take over the nursery’s spot, we also need to dream up a new home for the nursery. We’ll be reaching out to gather your thoughts on the kitchen project in fun and creative ways this fall!

Save the date for our Community Participation event on Sunday, October 27, right after worship. It’s going to be a great chance to brainstorm how we can build an even stronger, more connected community!

On a more serious note, to keep everyone safe, we’re installing security cameras and tightening access to the building. If you lead a group and don’t yet have a key card, please contact the church administrator to get one. On Sundays, our friendly greeters will be at the doors to welcome you.

Thank you for bringing your energy and enthusiasm to our church. Together, we’re making it a vibrant and welcoming place for everyone!

With hope and love,

Marylin Huff

Board President

Unitarian Universalists of Delaware County


Ingathering Sunday

August 26, 2024

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the start of an exciting new church year! Please join us for our Annual Ingathering Service on Sunday, September 8, at 10 AM in our sanctuary, followed by a board-sponsored picnic on our grounds. As we embark on this fresh chapter, I’m thrilled about the remarkable strides we’re poised to make together.

First, our ministerial search is officially underway! We are excited to find a new spiritual leader who will inspire and guide us. Your support and engagement are crucial as we seek the perfect fit for our vibrant community. The search committee will reach out, and I encourage you to stay involved.

We’re also excited to announce that a solar panel array will be installed on our grounds in October! This green initiative underscores our commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship while reducing utility costs. The solar panels will set the stage for an expanded air conditioning system, ensuring our spaces stay comfortable year-round. We will have a Town Hall between services on September 22 so folks can get more information about the work the Capital Projects team has been doing over the summer.

As we look ahead, there’s a palpable sense of hope and optimism. These developments—the ministerial search, solar panels, and improved air conditioning—reflect our collective spirit and bright future. We’re moving forward with renewed energy and a deep sense of purpose.

Thank you for being an integral part of this journey. Your faith, dedication, and enthusiasm make our community truly special. Here’s to a year of growth, inspiration, and enduring hope. Let’s make it one of our best yet!

With heartfelt joy and anticipation,

Marylin Huff

Board President

Unitarian Universalists of Delaware County

Aug 19, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes