News

Have you ever looked at a budget and thought, “Well, that’s interesting…”? Do spreadsheets make you smile just a little? Have you ever uttered the phrase, “Can we reconcile that?” without irony?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions—or even if you just care about how our Fellowship uses its resources to support our mission—we’d love to hear from you!

The Finance Committee is looking for a few new members. Contrary to popular belief, we’re not just a bunch of spreadsheet enthusiasts staring at numbers on a screen. We enjoy each other’s company, laugh often, and discuss a wide range of finance related topics — all while finishing our meetings on time!

What we’re looking for:
Those with experience in at least one of these areas:
• Bookkeeping, accounting, finance or auditing
• Managing budgets or running a business
• Using digital accounting tools and spreadsheets
• Or, simply, comfort with numbers, attention to detail and a willingness to learn

What the commitment looks like:
• We meet ONLINE on the second Wednesday of each month from 6:30 – 7:30pm
• We ask that you review the monthly financial reports (P&L and Balance Sheet) before each meeting and jot down any questions you might have to bring to the meeting
• Meetings usually last about one hour, with the occasional meeting stretching 75-90 minutes
• Total volunteer commitment is approximately two hours per month
• Best of all, you can participate from the comfort of your own home—no commute, no parking, and yes, pajamas are acceptable

Serving on the Finance Committee is a meaningful way to help ensure that our Fellowship’s financial resources are managed wisely and aligned with our mission and values.

If you’re interested in serving, or want to learn more, please email finance@uufws.org

Janet Loew
Chair, Finance Committee
finance@uufws.org

July 1st, 2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Director of Faith Formation’s (DFF) service to the congregation. The Board has approved a sabbatical period of July 3, 2026 – October 3, 2026 to mark this occasion. Taking an opportunity to rest, reflect, and imagine during a sabbatical will help our DFF, Pam Lepley, prepare for her remaining years of service in this role with our Fellowship.

As Pam prepares for the sabbatical time, she shares these thoughts:

“Over the past couple of months I have spent time thinking about, and doing some looking into, different spiritual practices which interest me and which I might explore more in-depth during Sabbatical. I’m particularly drawn to Stillness as a spiritual practice – and it isn’t something that I have been able to allow time for – or that I have prioritized – in my life. My mind has been overcome with busyness. I look forward to the opportunity to reset and nourish my mind and spirit while seeking out opportunities to challenge my body with movement, and to experience the joy and wonder of our natural world.”

Click here for interesting reading with additional resources about Stillness as a Spiritual Practice.

You may be wondering…

“What happens during the Sabbatical time?”

Five Intentions for the Sabbatical

1. 1. Rest in the quiet, in a hammock, near the water…..a time to recalibrate mentally and physically, to be rested and ready for whatever is to come next.
   2. Travel, particularly to National and State Parks to explore the natural beauty, reviving my sense of awe and wonder.
   3. Explore personal spiritual practices as well as worship opportunities at other congregations (UU and otherwise).
   4. Reflect, through wondering and writing, taking time to think about and integrate new awareness and learning.
   5. Imagine, how might our faith formation/religious education program evolve to center families and support their (family and individual) spiritual and faith development? How might the role of this professional religious educator shift to widen the circle, prepare for deeper collaboration, and support the shift from ‘I’ to ‘We’?

“Who is holding the work of RE/Faith Formation?”

Sabbatical Support Team: We have a great Team providing support during this planning time and they will hold the primary work for children and youth faith formation this summer. Team Members include: Andrea and Mason Vaughan, Liz Martinez, Heather Zielinski, and Anne Garvey. You can reach them at sabbaticalteam@uufws.org

Sabbatical Coverage Faith Formation Assistant: Willa Carpenter, a teacher in our Elementary Class will be providing 5 hour/week coverage during the sabbatical. Their primary responsibilities will include: support for the Sabbatical Support Team, Support for teacher and nursery staff and volunteers, contact for questions about faith formation program – and liaising between the program and Rev. Kayla, Minister. They will also be taking on a summer project of cleaning out and organizing our RE Hallways space. You can reach them at willa@uufws.org from July 3 – October 3rd 2026.

Minister Rev. Kayla Parker and Staff: Rev. Kayla will work with the Staff Team to ensure that any Faith Formation/Religious Education work or issues which need attention are addressed. Justice Ministry efforts will be held by Rev. Kayla, Minister and Adult Faith Formation by Caron Armstrong, Director of Congregational Life.

Teams and Councils for which the DFF is the Staff Lead: Pam is working with the Teams and Councils in these areas of governance to prepare for the sabbatical period. The Team and Council Lay Leads are equipped to continue their programs and projects while Pam is away and they can always reach out to other Staff and the Minister if needed.

“Really….no contact with Pam for three months?”

Rev. Kayla will be able to contact Pam in the event of a true emergency.
Otherwise, members and friends are asked to wait until Pam returns to reach out.

If you’re really curious during the sabbatical summer about “where in the world is our DFF?” you are invited to check out the Sabbatical Photo Journal while she’s away.

“How can I help?”

Oh my goodness, we’re so glad you asked! Keep alert for other specific asks and ways to sign up coming out soon. Know that we will gratefully accept all kinds of help, including:

• • Teachers for Summer RE
  • Storytellers during Worship (email worship@uufws.org if interested)
  • Recruit Chalice Lighters (families, individuals, friends) for 11am Worship
  • Food Prep, Setup, and Cleanup for 2 Lunch and Learns (June 7 & Oct 4)  Sign up to help!
  • Food Prep, Setup, and Cleanup for the June 28 Sundae Sabbatical Sendoff Sign up to help! 
  • Support, Setup, Supervision, & Cleanup for two special guest RE Sundays (email sabbaticalteam@uufws.org if interested):  September 20 Riverwood Therapeutic Riding Center
    September 27 Haystack Homestead

“What happens when Pam returns in October?”

The Sabbatical Support Team and Pam are in conversation about that now!

Three things we already know:

1. 1. Pam will share about her time away at a Sabbatical Lunch and Learn:
      My Next 30 Years on Sunday October 4th, from 12:30-2:00pm. Sign up by September 30!
      Gather to celebrate the return of our Director of Faith Formation as she shares some of her sabbatical experiences and how they might help shape the next thirty years of her life and ministry.
   2. October 5-21 will be a time for Pam to reconnect with the Staff Team and lay leaders in her area of governance, as well as catch up on Fellowship happenings while away. The sabbatical will have been a time of growth and change for all of us. Sharing and learning from one another will help us move forward together with shared understanding and purpose.
   3. After this whirlwind reintegration, Pam will take a vacation with her favorite only cousin to the happiest place on earth during the last week of October. After the intentional time in October for listening and sharing post-sabbatical, she’ll be back and focused more actively on programming in November.

Work on plans for our Fellowship’s campus continues this month behind the scenes. A town hall for concept exploration with the architects is set for Sunday, September 13.  On Sunday, September 13, immediately following the morning worship service, we will accelerate again with a town hall featuring concept exploration with CJMW. This will be your opportunity to see our progress thus far and learn about the priorities that have been identified. A follow-up workshop is planned for Sunday, October 18 to discuss the direction that is evolving. A final presentation from the architectural team is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, following the morning service. More about these upcoming workshops will be shared in future newsletters. We hope to keep everyone engaged in these exciting developments for UUFWS as we look forward to improving our physical campus, as well as our connection to the community and each other. Your Facilities Planning Task Force: Jack Campbell Nancy Carbone, UUFWS Director of Finance & Operations Donna Hatchett, Communications Sue McQuiddy Brenda Westhorp Sharon Winters, Chair Questions/Comments? Contact facilitiesplanning@uufws.org

Don’t miss these upcoming opportunities to participate in the facilities planning process:

Sunday, September 13th

• Workshop #2 – Concept Exploration

Sunday, October 18th

• Workshop #3 – Shared Direction

Sunday, November 8th (tentative)

• Presentation of Facilities Plan

As you hug your children each morning and send them out to meet the day – at school, at daycare, at camp – know that we too are holding them, holding your family, with love in our hearts and prayers for safe reunions.

We know that anxiety, stress, and trauma compounds. It can become overwhelming. Regardless of where you live or where your children attend school, Monday’s violent loss of young lives has surely raised feelings of sadness, grief, anger, fear.

This is a reminder to take care of yourself. If you are feeling particularly tender, make sure you are resting and eating regularly. Meditate, pray, read spiritual or inspiring literature. Journal, draw, or create in some other way. Talk to a trusted friend or schedule a session if you have an established counselor.

Please reach out to me if you would like counselling referrals or resources on talking with children about death or violence.

With love and hope,

Pam
Director of Faith Formation

If you’ve ever attended one of the Fellowship’s many food events, it’s likely you dined with friends in the Foyer.

This notice is to inform you that, in order to increase safety and provide maximum accessibility for everyone, All Fellowship dining events are moving out of the Foyer back to the Fellowship Hall.

What does this mean for you?

1. Most of our events are organized by members and friends which means we rely on those who attend to help with either setup, cleanup, or breakdown. Signing up in advance whenever possible and showing up prepared to pitch in if you’re willing and able makes these events more fun for everyone!

2. We ask that you remain aware of the potential need to exit the building quickly and safely. That means keeping all doorways clear and making sure there is an exit plan worked out in advance

Know that staff, leaders and teams are working on the safest ways to use our spaces. We are currently pulling together a group to develop some suggested seating plans.

If you’d like to participate in making plans to increase safety and maximize accessibility, please reach out to Skip at safecongregations@uufws.org and let him know you’d like to be a part of that team.

Let’s not create unfounded fear by spreading “rumors” about ICE sightings that may be unfounded! If you or someone you know thinks they see ICE, please have them call the Siembra ICE watch hotline at (336) 543-0353. They will then confirm, and if it’s a valid sighting send this information out through their networks.