The Pastoral Care Ministry provides connection and support for members of our congregation by staying in touch, acknowledging the joys and concerns of their lives, and providing a loving presence and a helping hand, especially in times of sickness or difficulty. All requests are handled with confidentiality and respect.
If you, or a church friend, need a little TLC getting through a difficult time of transition, please let one of our lay pastoral care ministers know.
Barbara Brown: (716) 632-8699 barbarabradybrown@gmail.com
Lynn Mancuso: (716) 691-7084 riverwings121@aol.com
Dan McArdle: dmcardle277@gmail.com
Maryellen McCone: (931) 636-4415 maryellen.mccone@gmail.com
Office: Office@buffalouu.org
They each care for several people in the congregation through phone calls and safe visits. They do not offer therapy, run interference, or manage anyone’s care. The Lay Pastoral Ministers offer an authentic ministry of caring presence.
If you would like to join our wonderful volunteers as a helper, please contact the office.
Covenant Groups
Covenant Groups are groups of six to ten people who meet on a regular basis to engage in a structured discussion for deepening relationships and understanding. Covenant Groups are meant to complement Sunday services by presenting a small-group setting in which participants can more openly share their experiences and collectively “hold” those shared experiences in a safe and trusting environment. It is in this personal environment that members learn to:
- Share experiences openly and honestly
- Listen without judgment or interruption
- Develop relational skills and closer connections to members
- Expand and/or complement one’s own search for meaning and truth, spiritual development or religious engagement
Each group develops a covenantal agreement for how they will be with the group and each other. Although groups tailor their own covenants, some general agreements often include to attend regularly and to respect the confidentiality of all discussions in the group Groups meet once or twice a month at the UUCB or individual homes. Topics are generally selected from a list of available topics, and a structured format is followed. If you are interested in being part of a Covenant Group, please e-mail covenantgroups@buffalouu.org.
The Social Justice Ministry team guides and leads the congregation in living our values through social justice activities as we seek to build a better and more just world. Each month we identify a local not-for-profit whose values align with our own as our Share the Plate recipient. We coordinate social justice activities through these organizations such as collecting needed items, postcarding, adopting a family for Christmas, clean-up on Earth Day, serving dinner at a soup kitchen, and furnishing an apartment for a refugee family. We welcome you to join us for any or all of these activities and welcome your suggestions for worthy organizations and activities to support.
– Hy Carrel, Maria Testa, Susan Milde, Rachel Krajna, Ted Lightfoot, and Jill Monacelli.
Contact: Maria Testa – marialtesta@gmail.com
UAIM was selected as one of only eight churches in the United States to pilot the Accessibility & Inclusion Ministry Team (AIM) Program, a partnership of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). UAIM of Unitarian Universalist Church of Buffalo has been certified twice by the Unitarian Universalist Association. Our recent certification was this spring (2021). Each certification is for three years. Through our partnership in the AIM Program, our congregation is working to become more inclusive and welcoming to people with disabilities. We invite you to join the Universal Accessibility and Inclusion Team at UUCB. Please contact UAIM at UAIM@buffalouu.org To become involved in our many inclusion, social justice, and accessibility projects. We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.
A member of our team is a member of ARISE (Acceptance, Respect, Inclusion, Support & Equity) which is a self-advocacy group that meets at our church the second Wednesday of the month. ARISE is also connected with VOICE Buffalo.
AA & NA groups met weekly at our church before the pandemic.
EqUUal Access is an organization for Unitarian Universalists living with disabilities, their families, friends, and allies. The mission of EqUUal Access is to enable the full engagement of people with disabilities in Unitarian Universalist communities and the broader society. To learn more, visit http://www.equualaccess.org/.
Our church is a member organization of VOICE Buffalo. Founded in 1996 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, VOICE-Buffalo is an interracial, urban-suburban coalition of 66 faith-based congregations and communities, business and labor organizations of Buffalo and Erie County.
VOICE draws together people of many faith traditions, denominations and income levels to act powerfully on local, regional, state and national issues of justice and equality through community-building negotiation with decision makers, and direct action.
VOICE Supports its members through congregational and leadership development, in addition to engagement in direct action within their own neighborhoods. In cooperation with a wide range of other groups in the region, VOICE brings the pwer of our shared faith-values into the public arena in order to shape the decisions that affect the quality of life throughout Erie County.
Our hope for the future lies not in faith in our elected representatives but in the grassroots holding our decision-makers truly accountable. As people of faith, we must participate in a form of democracy in which every voice is heard as we work together to set a moral compass. VOICE is the local organization which is trying to harness the power of community organizing and reclaim a true democracy.
Women’s Society
Founded 150 years ago to promote fellowship and cooperation among our members and to sustain interest in Unitarian Universalist ideals, the Society remains a vital, active force in the contemporary life of the church. Membership in the Society is open to all and is gender neutral. Dues are $20 per year, but membership is not necessary to participate in our activities and programs.
Our Speaker/Luncheon Series programs are diverse, stimulating and interesting, ranging from musical entertainment to lectures from well-known local authors and academics, to presentations on area issues and civic concerns. Presenters are knowledgeable, personable, and enjoyable. Additionally, the Society organizes two outings each year: The Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario, Canada and one other to a local site of interest to our membership. See announcements of upcoming events in the E-Blast (weekly newsletter), the Monthly Newsletter and the Order of Service insert.
Luncheon Speakers (2024):
May – Chuck LaChiusa, City Murals
June – “My Fair Lady” @ Shaw Festival, NOTL
The Women’s Society has made donations to the following charities:
Haven House International, Planned Parenthood, Cornerstone Manor, Gay and Lesbian Youth Services, WNY Women’s Foundation, Islamic Society of Niagara Frontier, Jericho Road Community Health Center, International Institute of Buffalo, Peaceprints(TM) of WNY, WNY Food Bank, Lion’s Club, VOICE Buffalo, WNY Peace Center, Food Not Bombs
Women’s Society Officers and Committee Chairs
Officers:
President – Lucy Sloan – lsloan4525@aol.com
Secretary – Linda Cohen
Treasurer – Kathy Ryan
Committee Chairs
Membership – Paulette Notaro
Luncheon Coordinator – Sandy Van Every
Hospitality is Tim Ashton.
Publicity is Bonnie Botsford.
MEMORIAL SERVICE RECEPTIONS
A Memorial Service Reception may be available in our Parish Hall to UUCB members for a nominal fee. Contact Nancy Wilkins: nlaurienwilkins@yahoo.com.