UU Society of Cleveland

Each of us is on a journey through our lifetime. We collect friends, heartaches and stories along the way. Join us as we feature friends from First Unitarian Church, including the YoUUth choir!

Service led by Rev. Joe Cherry and First Unitarian Church of Cleveland  Director of Religious Education, Allan Georgia.  The worship associates are Jess Levy and Debbie Kuehm. 

Musicians are First Unitarian Church of Cleveland, YoUUth choir and also Karin Tooley

From 12/23/18 worship service. 

In our continuing celebration of Chalica, Rev. Joe Cherry explores the Second Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations.

Sermon from 1/13/19

Over the next seven weeks we will be observing Chalica, a celebration of the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism.  Join Rev. Joe Cherry and Amy Collins, CLM, as they explore the First Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person.

Sermon from 1/6/19

Guest Reverend Beth Marshall leads this morning's service and shares the inspiring true story of how one person shared the gifts he was given and in doing so touched the lives of countless others.  Worship Associate - Jess Levy.  Musician - Karin Tooley

Rev. Beth Marshall is a life-long Unitarian Universalist.  

She began seminary at John Carroll University in Shaker Hts., with a detour through Southern Methodist University in Dallas, finally completing her Masters of Divinity at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago.  Since ordination in 2003, she has served congregations in Southold, NY; Toledo, Ohio; Findlay, Ohio; and Erie, Pennsylvania.   She is currently serving as a contract minister for both First Unitarian church in Cleveland and the UU Congregation of Greater Canton. 

She and her husband, Tony Wilgus, have made their home in Oberlin, Ohio.  Together, they are parents to five grown children and grandparents to seven grandchildren – who live across the country in five states and three time zones.   

From 12/16/18 Worship Service

Join Reverend Joe Cherry as we explore the mystery of pets.  Scientifically, pets don't make sense. They cost us money, they don't really do anything and that's not likely to change.  Scientifically, pets make a lot of sense because they offer us chances to lower our blood pressure, make many social interactions easier and help prevent loneliness. So, which is it?  Maybe it's just that pets and science don't mix?

This episode also includes the lighting of several holiday candles including the Hanukkah menorah and Advent wreath. 

The worship associate is Peggy Lagodny. Our guest musician is George Foley. 

From 12/9/18 Worship Service

Join the UUSC 2018-2019 Worship Team ( Amy Collins, Jess Levy, Peggy Lagodny) as we begin to unravel this month's theme of Mystery.  Jess provides a reflection titled, "What's Your Why?" and Peggy shares her reflection titled, "The Little Mysteries."  The musician is Karin Tooley.  

Sermon from 12/2/18 worship service

Change is never an easy process, and the UU Society of Cleveland is facing a big one. Join visiting minister Rev. Janet Onnie as she explores how to face the inevitable unknown, framed with a story by Rev. Meg Barnhouse.

The Reverend Janet Onnie has joyfully served the Unitarian Universalists in the tri-county area surrounding The Villages since 2011. Her ministerial career has focused on Florida and the Caribbean. She has supplied pulpits, trained congregations in the program of Lay Pastoral Care Associates, facilitated workshops and Board retreats, and co-founded the Venice Interfaith Community Association. She currently serves the Florida UU Ministers Association as President. Rev. Onnie mentors two ministers in Preliminary Fellowship, and supervises the TriUU ministerial intern. She is an outspoken advocate for racial justice and is a frequent contributor to newspapers and public forums.

Sermon from 11/25/18

Can a Symbol Be Enough?

Do religious symbols inspire you to create sanctuary? Join Rev. Joe Cherry as we learn about these symbols and the people who created them.   The worship associate is Jess Levy, and the musician is Karin Tooley.  

Sermon from 10/28/18 service

Special Note:  This service took place the day after the massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and includes words of remembrance for the victims.

Sanctuary is not some far off place, not a place reserved only for Sundays. Sanctuaries are everywhere, if we but look for them. Join us (Rev. Joe and Amy Collins, as well as Karin Tooley, our musician) this Sunday in a conversation about wonderful things in ordinary spaces. 

Sermon from 10/21/18 Service