In this final episode of Rooted & Reaching before we take a summer break, Tim Lattimer reflects on his term as congregational president that concludes at the end of this month. Tim and Sara discuss the ways UUCC interacts with and reflects the political dynamics of its local and national contexts, the work of the Board this past year, and advice Tim has for future Board members.  Thank you for listening to Rooted & Reaching week after week. We hope the stories and conversations you heard here made you feel more connected to the UUCC community, taught you something new, and inspired you to be curious about your fellow congregants. With love, Hannah, Sara, and Valerie

Save the date! UUCC’s annual auction is returning this fall on Saturday, November 13. The auction is UUCC’s flagship fundraising event, bringing together community members for an evening of fun, food, and competitive bidding wars. After a successful virtual auction this February, the auction team is back and already planning the next chapter of this much-loved and highly-anticipated tradition. This year, the auction team is led by Zach Nelson. Zach is an elementary school band teacher who is no stranger to fundraising for his students, and he’s ready to contribute his skills and expertise to fundraising for UUCC. In this episode, Zach tells Sara a bit about what to expect for this year’s auction and shares his reflections on teaching music virtually over the past year. Want to get in on the auction action? Joining the auction team is a great way to get to know congregants and the community! Email [email protected] to learn more.

On Sunday, May 23, UUCC’s Quest class of 2021 presented their credo statements during an inspiring worship service. After a year of discussion, questions, and reflection alongside each other and their mentors, the youth of Quest shared with the congregation what they’ve learned about themselves, what they believe, and who they are in this moment. Today’s Rooted & Reaching episode is a special one: tune in to hear from the Quest students themselves, their fearless teacher KP McLaughlin, and Quest mentor Amber Guthrie. Congratulations, Questers! Thank you for the wisdom, wit, and grace you share with this community every day.

Last week, the agenda for UUCC’s upcoming annual meeting scheduled for June 6 was published, and you may have noticed this “New Business” item: a congregational vote on the ordination of Jen Raffensperger. What does this mean? Why is Jen’s ordination dependent on our congregational vote? Well, it’s all part of the intense and involved process for becoming a minister in the Unitarian Universalist tradition, and you can learn more about it in today’s conversation with Karyn Marsh. Karyn is a friend of UUCC, and the spouse of UUCC member Barry Marsh. Karyn was recently granted preliminary fellowship by the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Ministerial Fellowship Committee — that’s a lot of words to say that Karyn is so close to becoming a UU minister! Karyn graciously sat down with Rooted & Reaching for a conversation about the process for becoming a minister, her ministerial internship at All Souls Unitarian Church in Tulsa, and her own theology.

Today's episode of Rooted & Reaching is a special message from members of the UUCC congregation. Enjoy!

UUCC’s One World Coffeehouse music series was founded by Lauren Haywood in 1999 and operated continuously for 20 years as a showcase of regional talent in the community—until the pandemic put a pause on the 2020-2021 season. Today, Sara chats with Ross Martin, a member of the One World Coffeehouse planning team, about plans for the return of the One World Coffeehouse this fall. Ross also shares about his own creative practice and inspiration as a musician and songwriter, and grants a peak behind the curtain on those Stay-at-Home Choir recording sessions. And as a special treat, Ross closes the episode with a brand new song!

Kelli Danaker is UUCC’s Religious Education Assistant, and this past Sunday, she designed, led, and performed in our spring music service titled “Essential Labor.” In the days leading up to the service, Kelli spoke with Sara about the inspiration behind the service and why it was important for UUCC to dedicate a service to considering the rights of blue collar workers to live and work in dignity. Kelli also chats with Sara about the process and experience of leading a worship service and her journey in singing.

Cradlerock Children’s Center located in the Owen Brown Interfaith Center is one of UUCC’s closest community partners. The non-profit preschool and daycare began many years ago as a ministry of UUCC, and Amanda Ayoola-Morton, Cradlerock’s Executive Director, continues to view the center as an extension of UUCC’s vision and an expression of the congregation’s values. Cradlerock Children’s Center is founded on a commitment to developing the social and emotional well-being of children and making quality childcare affordable for all families. Today, Amanda talks with Sara about her journey to Cradlerock, her love for the center, and the culture she strives to cultivate among the parents and teachers of Cradlerock.  Content warning: domestic violence

Phil Webster and Mary Rodgers have been at UUCC since 1994. They thought they’d raise their kids in the congregation then move on. Instead, Phil and Mary have devoted 27 years—and counting!—to serve the UUCC community in a myriad of capacities. These days, they lead UUCC’s Environmental Justice team, and Phil serves as the Climate Task Force chair for the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland where he mobilizes UUs across the state to advocate for climate-friendly legislation in Annapolis. Today, Phil talks to Sara about his many years of service and how “the more you put into something like UUCC, the more you get back from it.”  Organizations Phil mentions in the conversation UUCC Environmental Justice Team Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Maryland (UULM-MD) Maryland Legislative Coalition Central Maryland Transit Alliance Citizens Concerned for the Environment

This year, we’ve missed being in the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, the building UUCC operates out of during non-pandemic times. It’s so much more than just a building, though. The Owen Brown Interfaith Center represents gathering and connection, and is the site of countless memories and life transformations. OBIC, as we fondly call it, is an anchor in Columbia that brings together multiple faith communities under the same roof, united under a common vision for a more equitable and inclusive world.  Today, we take a peek behind the curtain of OBIC and get to know Monica Hilliard, OBIC’s Assistant Building Manager. Monica, along with the rest of her wonderful team, keeps things running at the interfaith center around the clock. What happens at OBIC during the hours when UUCC isn’t there? A whole lot, it turns out. Sara also asks Monica a series of fun get-to-know-you questions, so don’t be a stranger the next time you run into Monica at OBIC!