UUs of Catawba

Members of UUCCV posed questions to Rev. Melissa, many of them concerning her feelings about our current deliberations about a Call to Ministry. In the July 26, 2020 service, she answered them! This is the audio of those questions and her answers.

Melissa's song written especially for our April 4th stewardship event -- which ended up being held on Zoom instead of in our building. Like everything else.Sunday's here, it's eleven o'clock --but we're still in pajamas and fuzzy socksbut that's fine --we're seekin' the divine online.A bulldog barks through the silent meditating --A young couple "multi-tasks" (starts procreating) --sublime! They're seekin' the divine online.Here is the church without the steeple --"church" is in the bonds of this community of people.Amazing grace ain't in the hymnals, y'see--grace is in the love we share (and AT&T).Minister reads our sermons in her office filled with plants.Nobody knows she's not wearing pants!It's no crimewhen you're seekin' the divine onlineMinister's screen freezes -- she says "Oh, s***!"The people crack up because she didn't mute it.She whines:"I hate seeking the diving online!"Here is the church without the steeple --"church" is in the bonds of this community of people.Amazing grace ain't in the hymnals, y'see--it's letting go of "perfect," showing up authentically ...One day we'll be together again,the introverts cringing that we're back to holding hands,But it's not time so we're seekin' the divine online ...and that's just fine!Yeah, we're seeking the divine online! -- Rev. Melissa Mummert, 2020

Our end-of-the-year service in its entirety. Contains Lee Shackleford's readers-theatre piece "Sorry Could Be Better," performed by Katherine Farris and Lee.

The entire service at UUCCV for December 22nd, 2019. Rev. Melissa Mummert is the speaker and Greg Williamson is the lay leader.

Patrice Gaines (http://www.patricegaines.com/) returned to the UUCCV pulpit on December 1, 2019.

Rev. Brian Combs leads Asheville’s Haywood Street congregation, a mission church that has created transformative ministries focused on connecting human beings, many of whom are homeless.

So what about all the people who say they're "good without God"? Are you one of them? There are more than you might think!

What do UUs have in common with the ancient faiths of the world? More than you might think, and Professor Lola Williamson is just the person to tell us all about it.Before her talk, Greg Williamson leads the congregation in a responsive reading of Sophia Lyon Fahs’ “It Matters What We Believe.”

We have some important statements on paper, right there in our hymnals! Melissa leads us through them. A great primer for anyone wanting to learn more about where UUs get their beliefs and practices.

Greg shares insights he gained from the "Gladdening Light" conference in Winter Park FL in February 2019.

Melissa learned a lot from her father. Also from watching TV.

Does anybody ever mean it when they say "I'm Sorry?" What does it mean to "mean it"?

Selected stories and songs from the joyful "Living Our Abundance" service, preparing the congregation for the upcoming Stewardship Dinner event

Melissa Mummert, Delene Huggins, and John Shirreffs share insights about the Our Whole Lives curriculum!

When we feel despair, we want to get away from that feeling as soon as we can, right? But maybe there are other options.

What does it mean to be truly honest with someone? Is it worth it?

Rev. Melissa Mummert speaks about the ways in which our beloved departed live on.

The path to spiritual enlightenment is filled with seeming contradictions. Dr. Lola Williamson explores a few of these from her own experience and from years of study.

Rev. Melissa Mummert leads us through a dark place and into the light.

Are the result of our genetics or our environment? Rev. Melissa Mummert says the answer is "yes."

Melissa's just seen the documentary "Won't You Be My Neighbor" and what did she see in it? Our first UU principle.

Many UUs believe in miracles and many do not. So how do we come to a day celebrating a story about a miracle?

Lola Williamson reads an excerpt from "The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown, and Lee Shackleford tells a story about the struggle to get out of a Comfort Zone. Paul van Breemen leads the congregation in singing "Lean on Me."

Tipping points throughout history have often come done to small groups or even individuals. Melissa encourages us to resolve this year to embrace that possibility!

Sometimes failing is the best thing we can possibly do.

There are as many ways to be saved as there are to be lost...

Dr. Katherine Farris reflects on being the reed that bends rather then the mighty oak that gets uprooted.

Our own Dr. Lola Williamson, an Emeritus Associate Professor of Religious Studies, explains the preeminent American philosopher William James' idea of "belief as pragmatic," and encourages understanding and exploration.

Rev. Melissa Mummert shares insights and reflections on the virtue of "not-knowing" ... of being open to discoveries and perspectives our rational minds may reject!