Committee and Group Directory

One Sunday of the month, bring books and magazines to exchange in Fellowship Hall. Leftover books are donated to Books for Prisoners. Leftover magazines are recycled.

If you are interested in joining and helping out, please contact Kristi Mercer.

Do you enjoy playing bridge? Our UUCUC Bridge Group meets on the third Monday of every month from 12:30 to 2:30 in Fellowship Hall.  

For more information contact Mary Joncich.

The Feminist Book Group meets monthly to discuss books featuring strong women characters or addressing issues of importance to women. We welcome new readers of all ages who identify as women. On average, 8-12 members attend. Twelve books for the upcoming year are chosen at an annual book-choosing gathering in early summer, a favorite event. In choosing books nominated by members, we strive for a balance of fiction and nonfiction, short and long, and culturally diverse selections. Occasionally, movie nights or other social events are held in members’ homes. 

We meet on the third Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Meeting format is a brief check-in, book introduction by a volunteer leader, followed by discussion using a rotating chair format which allows each member uninterrupted time for their thoughts and comments, and a check-out. A brief time for socializing follows the discussion. This year we have met via Zoom or with a hybrid meeting at UUCUC using the OWL. 

Direct inquiries to Karen Folk or Priscilla Kron.

The Gastronomical Society, affectionately referred to as “Gastro,” counts 50-75 members and enjoys monthly dinners. Members are encouraged to host at their home, a restaurant, a park, or at the church. The host chooses a dinner theme, with members contributing potluck style. In the last several years, Chinese New Year is celebrated in January, featuring take-out tastings from favorite Chinese restaurants. Our abbreviated 2019-2020 themes also included dinner at the Wheelhouse Restaurant in St. Joseph, a gathering at Riggs Beer in recognition of our inaugural chair, Emily Sanders, and her husband, Bill, prior to their departure to Pittsburgh, and a walk-up birthday party. Owing to the pandemic, the society was inactive in 2021-2022. In keeping with mission and vision of the church, the group strives for diversity and for new church member inclusion.

For more information, please contact Terry England. 

Interested in learning about Folk Dancing? Join us in Fellowship Hall every Tuesday at 7:30 to learn and dance!

For more information, contact Scott Rode.

The Older Men’s Group (60+) was founded in July, 2021, as an offering in the Adult RE program.  The Group is led by David Gross and Dave Sharpe. As a discussion group, we have an informal agenda, and are guided by the interests or concerns of our members. Our meetings begin with a check-in, and our discussion frequently arises from the comments during check-in. 

In preparing for this report, we asked the members for a word or phrase about how they feel about the Group. The responses included: “Develop friendships”; “Be welcoming”; “Share our personal experiences”; Be more human, lighten up: Affirm each other”; “Learn to be more open”; “Safe space to ‘take risks’; Building connections”; “Support each other”; and importantly, “Steer clear of ‘you should do’ type statements.” With such comments as guides, we have built an open, yet diverse, Older Men’s Group.

We have about 15 active members, and attendance varies from 5-6 to a dozen. We don’t take attendance, and members fit the Group into their busy lives. Our meeting style makes our Group a good way for men who are new to UUCUC to build a relationship with an interesting group of men. 

Assuring accessibility for all members is a guiding principle. In the two years we have met at Fellowship Hall, on the South Lawn, and in members’ homes.  Each option has involved compromise in accessibility. David Gross has arranged for us to meet at Clark-Lindsey Village. Our meetings are now more accessible to several members who live at Clark-Lindsey. Also, a number of other UUCUC members live at Clark-Lindsey and may wish to join our Group.

For more information contact Dave Sharpe and David Gross.

The Parent Support Group was established in Spring 2020 as a way for parents to meet regularly via Zoom to share in the challenges and joys of parenting during the pandemic. The group has continued to meet weekly since, with members (and occasionally Reverend Sally) signing up to act as host. Over the past year, the parent support group has met for 50 out of 52 Saturdays. In November 2022, the group hosted its first parents' retreat weekend, which nine members attended. 

The Parent Support Group has approximately 15 regular participants with a smaller subgroup attending each Saturday. Each week, the group gathers for honest sharing, generous listening and being fully present with and for each other. The group makes participants feel less alone on the journey of parenting. Members have all expressed profound appreciation for the meaning, comfort, inspiration, humor and joy they derive from this community. 

For more information contact Rev. Sally Fritsche.

(Submitted as a collaborative effort by members of the Parent Support Group)

Looking for a way to get outside with community? Join the Thursday walking group at 10:15am at Meadowbrook park. This group meets at the bike rack, and goes from there. 

For more information, contact Chuck Trumble.

The UU Women’s Lunch Group is a social lunch for women in the church. The group meets every other Thursday at 12:00 in the Children’s Chapel. Everyone brings their own lunch, and the time is simply spent chatting and catching up with one another as a way of building community.

Contact Jenny Hunt or email uuwlg@uucuc.org

Wise Older Women (WOW) is a monthly discussion group for those who identify as women and are over 50 years of age. The topics focus on issues related to aging and being older women. The groups honor confidentiality and hold space for each woman to share as much as is wished. There are two groups: the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 1:00-3:00 PM; and the 3rd Thursday of each month (occasionally the 4th) from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM.

 For additional information, feel free to contact Priscilla Kron or Millie Davis. We'd love to have you join us!

Our church community is growing. People are looking at the values, principles and commitment to action of Unitarian Universalism and are sensing that what we have to offer is meaningful in their personal lives and speaks to their passion to create a world that reflects the eight principles of Unitarian Universalism.

UUCUC offers members and friends a library collection related to social justice, children’s themes, and UU-related topics. Each book is available to check out for a period of time, and readers may also enjoy reading books in the comfort of our library at the church. For more information about library policies, please contact Jody Hanger.

CUUUltivate Climate Action is UUCUC’s environmental team, formerly known as “Green UU’s.” This team has, in the past, been responsible for ensuring the church’s facility is as energy efficient and sustainable as possible, by implementing policies that make our building more energy efficient; and by installing solar panels, minimizing waste, and maximizing recycling (including providing opportunities to bring those “hard to recycle items” to church). The team also has been responsible for designing, maintaining, and operating landscaping that is sustainable and pollinator friendly.

The work of CUUULtivate can encompass all of the eight principles of our faith, but particularly embodies the 7th principle which is “respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part”.

For more information contact Andy Robinson.

The Immigration Justice Team (IJT) of the UUCUC Social Action Council was first formed to respond to the inhumane treatment of immigrants at the border. It has evolved to provide support for, and develop relationships with, our immigrant friends and neighbors in Champaign-Urbana.

We speak out against injustice on behalf of immigrants’ rights, work with other local immigrant justice organizations, and hope to be able to continue to provide hospitality and emergency refuge to our immigrant friends in need.

How Our Purpose fits the Mission of UUCUC

Build Community. Our team works with members and friends to provide a carrying community through our programs, particularly by setting up apartments for newly arriving immigrants and providing welcome/backpacks for unaccompanied minors. We work beyond our church community to make Champaign Urbana a more welcoming place by collaborating with our partners: CU Immigration Forum, Immigration Project, The Refugee Center, New American Welcome Center, and more.

Seek Inspiration. We are moved by acts of kindness and love TOWARD our immigrant friends and neighbors, and by the acts of kindness and love we receive FROM our immigrant friends and neighbors, many of whom are willing to share their joys and sorrows with us, and offer us good food, conversation, and friendship.

Promote Justice. Our Immigrant Justice Team advocates for a more just and humane national immigration policy by supporting the rights of immigrants crossing the border to seek asylum and making their way to Champaign Urbana. Our collaboration with the Community Alliance, a group of CU-based immigrant justice organizations, helps us promote justice for immigrants here at home. Our affiliation with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and the National Immigrant Justice Center broadens our reach beyond our community.

Find Peace. Working to promote justice, seek inspiration, and build community helps us find peace in ourselves and our team. This peace helps us work in the turbulent, unjust landscape of bringing immigrant justice to our community, our state, and our country.

For more information contact Pam Richart.

(formerly Partner Church) 

Our church has been a “Welcoming Congregation” since 1999. You may have seen this designation on the banner of our newsletters or on a plaque in our church lobby, but what does this mean? It means we have worked and are working to make our church home open and supportive for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, non-binary, intersex, asexual, and queer people of any stripe. We collaborate to meet the annual requirements of the UUA’s Welcoming Congregation Program. We currently try to meet and socialize at least once every quarter. Our Team welcomes queer identified individuals as well as our allies. 

We continue to learn about undoing homophobia and transphobia and opposing discrimination in our individual lives, our church community, and our society. We work to understand and honor our various identities, backgrounds, and experiences and to create a safe, inclusive space in which people of many different gender identities, sexual orientations, and gender expressions can come together.

If you are interested in joining, contact Jerry Carden, Team Lead

If you are an adult aged 16 or older who is interested in racial justice, this book group is for you! To date, our readings have touched on a variety of issues affecting Asian-Americans, Native Americans, African-Americans, and people of mixed heritage. 

The group reads both fiction and non-fiction for broader perspectives and appeal. Through discussions we hope to better understand other cultures, ourselves, and each other. We would like to empower ourselves to create Beloved Community in our church and our broader society.

For more information contact Priscilla Kron or Sandy Hannum.

The Purpose of the UUCUC Racial Justice Team is: To educate ourselves about racial injustice, white privilege, and implicit racial bias, and to work to dismantle white supremacy in our schools, our church, our workplaces, and our communities.

Racial Justice Team's activities support these UU principles:

1. The worth and dignity of all people

2. Justice, equity and compassion for all

6. World community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.

8. Spiritual wholeness by working toward diverse multicultural Beloved Community.

For more information contact Priscilla Kron.

Reproductive justice encompasses racial equality, economic security for families, contraception access, sex education, gender equality, and abortion rights and access. Huge changes are moving through the nation right now – abortion rights are being squelched in half of the country, while the other half girds to ensure access to reproductive healthcare for all who need it.

For more information contact Mike Sabacinski. 

Shared Offering is a vital part of the church's financial gifts and touches almost every aspect of our mission. Shared offering is part of the operations council and is led by Pat McClard.

Working with the various organizations that we donate to through shared offering provides many opportunities for inspiration right here in our community from people who are doing the work of building a beloved community. All of the organizations that we support are voted on by the congregation and chosen because they support the church's mission. For more information, please check out the shared offering page. 

For more information contact Pat McClard.

Only active every election cycle. 

For more information contact Mike Sabacinski.

We are one of the affinity groups aligned under the Congregational Life Council. We sometimes coordinate with the Care Core Team.  This monthly group meeting serves those who find themselves called to be a caregiver for someone else- whether from a physical or mental/emotional illness. Each caregiving circumstance is different. Our concern is for at least one person who can no longer care for themselves without assistance. They may be local or in a distant state and might reside in their own home or apartment; others may be in a care facility.

This support group provides a safe and trusted place to share about our caregiving experiences and often includes private information, complaints or fears, humor, inspiration, and empathy. We offer each other our personal experience, emotional support, rides, meals, and care assistance when needed. 

Most of our members are actively involved in other groups and committees. The Chalice Circle serves to add to the health and strength of UUCUC as another important aspect of ‘building community’ and hopefully finding whatever peace is possible among trying circumstances. 

We are most proud of the number of years we’ve been meeting to provide support and consistency when a health care situation arises within their own circle of family or friends. People rotate in and attend as long as they feel the group is meeting their needs. People can continue meeting with the group whether their person(s) have passed on or recovered from their illness. 

Contact Tim Temple for more information.

This chalice circle provides a space that allows and encourages personal and spiritual growth through sharing our stories by way of the written word. The Reflective Writing Chalice Circle continues to meet the third Thursday of every month, currently via Zoom. Each member is encouraged to bring an original piece of writing to share for each meeting. We also do timed Quick Writes in our meetings. One need not be a “writer” with a Capital W! Some of the works are fiction or poetry, and some are based on our individual experiences and observations. Our discussion following each reading focuses on our shared humanity rather than literary critique (unless requested!). Our Circle has been consistent with about seven members. Monthly attendance usually ranges from five to seven persons. We are a friendly group and welcome folks to come by to see if you’re interested in staying.

For more information please contact Pat Nolan.

Sunday Morning Meditation Group meets weekly via Googlemeet, at 9am for a short, guided meditation. The group is open to anyone, whether “experienced” or new to meditation.  Weekly meditations are led by a volunteer leader each week.  Meditations range from Mindfulness, Buddhist-centered (often Metta or Loving Kindness), Body Scans, to Chinese Qigong.  Last Sunday of the month is often a 20-minute silent meditation with bells at intervals.

Participation varies, with most weeks having around 4-6 attending. A typical virtual gathering includes lighting a chalice,  a 15-20 minute meditation (either silently, led by a member of the group, or listening to a guided audio), brief reflection among the group, ending about 9:30 so members can attend the 10:15 church service if they wish. 

Although we don’t have a large attendance, the group plays an important role in one facet of UUCUC’s mission: Find Peace. The “goal” of mindfulness practice is not to attain an eternally blissful state or clear the mind of thought. Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment, exactly as it is. When ruminating on the past (which can’t be changed) or trying to plan the future (which can’t be controlled), we miss what is happening right now at this exact moment: in the mind, in the body, and in the external surroundings.  This group began in 2015 after a Mindful Meditation workshop as part of adult religious education.

Contact Information

If you have questions or would like to know more information about the Sunday Morning Meditation Group, please contact Millie Davis or Karen Folk.

For further information or if you are interested in joining, please contact UUCUC Choir Director.

For further information or if you are interested in joining, please contact Tanja Hodges.

The Music Committee facilitates music-related activities within the Church.

For more infomration, please contact Tanja Hodges. 

For further information or if you are interested in joining, please contact Jim Hannum.

For further information or if you are interested in joining, please contact Jerry Carden and Jonny Beckett.

Join fellow grade school-aged children to make music for the church! All boys and girls are welcome to participate. Contact UUCUC Choir Director.

The Building and Grounds Advisory Team oversees the continuous and ongoing preservation, maintenance and improvements to church property as UUCUC works to fulfill its mission. The committee acts as a clearinghouse for the needs and concerns of the members and staff in regards to property matters.

The Finance Committee is involved in monitoring our church financial resources and advising the Board of Trustees on matters of financial policy and management.

Planned Gifts to UUCUC are valued for their intent, not for their size. You can give a planned gift now or include a gift in your estate plan. Planned gifts, including endowments, provide financial stability for the church and support our mission. Gifts can be designed to meet strategic goals, honor loved ones, and enhance programs dear to the donor.

The Service Auction is an event where members and friends of the church offer services for sale to each other, and these services are sold to the highest bidder (by a real live auctioneer!). All the proceeds of the sales go to the church.

The Personnel Committee recommends policies to the Board of Trustees in accordance with UUA standards and guidelines, and to assure that we as a congregation reward the staff in accordance with guidelines of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).