What do we say when words are inadequate? How do we answer the unanswerable question? Our Sacred Silence is often the only adequate response to the deepest of life's struggles. It is our ministry of presence to God, to one another and to our experiences that transcends language, religion, culture or education, to join our hearts in healing.
Maureen Porter will be our Worship Associate,
Emily White will give the Time for All Ages,
with music provided by Ryan Pagels.
9:45 AM - Meditation, Upper Gage Hall Participants gather for an hour to practice insight meditation and discuss various aspects of the meditative path and its interplay with our lives. 10:30 AM - Nursery Opens, Annex - For the summer, children ages 7 and under are welcome in the nursery until 12:15pm or the conclusion of worship.
- If you need childcare to be able to attend meditation this summer, please email office@charlestonuu.org and emily@charlestonuu.org to let us know.
11:00 AM - Worship Service, Gage Hall (see more information below)
12:00 PM - Coffee Hour, Gage Hall Immediately following the service you are invited next door to join us for coffee and light refreshments in our fellowship hall.
Sunday Services in Gage Hall Until Further Notice
We ask for and appreciate everyone's help putting up chairs immediately following service to allow space for coffee hour.
Visitors who would like to see the Sanctuary after service, can meet Lily, our Church Administrator, by the membership bulletin boards. From there, a member will take visitors over to see the Sanctuary.
Sign up to be a Sunday Fellowship Facilitator!GreeterFlowers
AUGUST-AT-A-GLANCE
August 6 - Millennial-Z Social, The Garden by Charles Towne
Fermentory W. Ashley, 6:00pm August 15 - Lowcountry Food Bank Volunteering, 2864 Azalea Dr,
9:00am. Signup HERE August 16 - RE Teacher Training, Upper Gage Hall, 9:30am August 17 - Death Cafe, Lower Gage Hall, 7:00pm August 20 - All Church Third Thursday Happy Hour, Taco Boy
Charleston, 5:00pm August 22 - Minister's Book Club, Lower Gage Hall, 10:00am August 22 - Family Circle, W. Ashley, 5:00pm August 23 - RE Registration and Orientation, Upper Gage Hall,
10:00am August 26 - First Choir Practice, Lower Gage Hall, 6:30pm August 27 - Vestry Board Meeting, Zoom, 7:30pm August 30 - RE Kickoff!, Churchyard, 10:00am
THIS WEEK AT CHURCH
TONIGHT: UU Millennial-Z Social Thursday, August 6; 6:00pm The Garden by Charles Town Fermentory
Join our Millennial and Gen-Z group for our monthly first Thursday Happy Hour. This month we will be gathering in West Ashley at The Garden by Charles Towne Fermontory. Email office@charlestonuu.org with questions OR if you would like to join our new WhatsApp group!
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Save the dates! New Year of RE Kickoff 🎉 Here are our initial back-to-RE events as we begin the church year together.
August 16 →Volunteer Orientation & Training, 9:30-11am August 23 → RE Parent Registration & Orientation Day, 10:00-11am
Kids are welcome to join us this day, we'll have something fun planned for them while their grown-ups are meeting. August 30 →Bubble Ceremony, 10:00am in the churchyard
We'll speak our prayers, blessings, and intentions for the new year, and then blow them into bubbles🫧A kid-friendly way to welcome our new year
together. All ages are encouraged to join. September 6 →Kids' Table at the Welcome Back Breakfast, 11am
Join us in Lower Gage for food and something fun with the whole congregation! September 13 → First day of RE classes! 10:00-11am
Family Circle Saturday Saturday, August 22; 5:00pm
West Ashley
Join others who are raising children in the church for a time of friendship, good food, and thoughtful conversation (plus an hour of child-free adult interaction). Please RSVP at this link: Family Circle Monthly Sign Up(Navigate to the August tab. Location details will be shared by email on the Friday before the event.)
🌱 RE Volunteers Needed As we begin a new church year, we’re looking for caring members of our congregation to be part of our Religious Education programs.
Our children and youth are the future adults of our local and global UU faith communities. Nurturing their UU journey is one of the most meaningful ways we can contribute to their lives, and to the future of Unitarian Universalism as a whole. You don’t need to make a huge time commitment. You might teach once a month, read a story once a quarter, or simply be someone we can call on when another volunteer needs a substitute. Lesson plans and materials are provided. You just bring yourself, your good energy, and a willingness to be part of our kids’ lives.
Whether you can commit regularly or be an occasional backup, we’d love to have you! No teaching experience necessary. Contact Emily at emily@charlestonuu.org to learn more or get involved.
🌈 Kids Are Welcome at the SCUUJA Fall Festival! September 26, 2026; 9:30am-4:15pm
UU Congregation of Columbia
Kids and families are warmly invited to join us at the SCUUJA Fall Festival! Children can move freely between activities throughout the day, with plenty of ways to play, create, and learn. Nursery care and the playground will be available all day.
Kids' activities include:
🎨 Arts & crafts for children and adults, including Craftivism: making buttons for justice
🔬 Climate science experiments for kids with a science teacher
🌳 Plenty of time for play and connection!
Come enjoy a fun, intergenerational day of community, justice, and learning!
Minister's Book Club 4th SATURDAY of the Month; 10:00am Lower Gage Hall
August 22nd - "How Western Christianity Got it Wrong: Replacing the God of fear with a spirituality of healing" by Randy Woodley
September 19th - "The AI Mirror: How to reclaim our humanity in an age of machine thinking" by Shannon Vallor (NOTE: the September meeting will be on the third Saturday)
October 24th - "A World Appears: A journey into consciousness" by Michael Pollan
Upcoming Membership Classes September 20, November 8, January 24, April 11 12:30pm in Upper Gage Hall
If you're considering membership, join us for an upcoming membership class after church this fall or next spring. RSVP to jules@charlestonuu.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sign up to fill our Blessing Box
With the school year around the corner, families will be stretched thin as school supplies are purchased and new activities begin. Over backup pantry stock is almost empty. Please consider signing up to bring donations on an upcomingSunday: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C044EAAA82EAAF49-57940404-fall#/
Blessing box donations can be placed directly in the box, if there is room, or in the storage cabinet in the storage area of Gage Hall (where the folding chairs are stored.) Throughout the week, staff refill the box outside as space allows, but we have been limited in our restocking ability since our storage cabinet is almost empty!
To share a significant life event (births, deaths, celebrations, transitions and other joys and sorrows) send to Marcia Castano at BookOfLife@CharlestonUU.org by Saturday evenings at 6:00 p.m. or write them in person on Sunday morning.
The physical book is kept at the front of the church near the pulpit.
Interested in joining our wonderful church community?
Click here to learn more about membership.
