Kids Belong in Churchwith Reverend Rebecca Hinds
Today we will celebrate our children, youth, and Religious Education Program!
We will rejoice in the presence of our young people in worship and let their gifts
widen our circle of care and belonging.
Emily White will give the Time for All Ages,
Priscilla Shumway will be our Worship Associate,
with music provided by the choir, Gregory Krause and Ryan Pagels.
Stream this Sunday's service here
9:30 AM - Nursery Opens, Annex
Children ages 5 and under are welcome in the nursery from 9:30am - 12:15pm.
Children ages 7 and under are welcome after RE classes until 12:15pm.9:45AM - Meditation Group, 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.10:00 AM - RE Classes, Upper Gage Hall and Annex
Following RE classes, children will join their grown ups in the sanctuary during service.
Elementary aged students (K - 5th grade) will meet in Upper Gage Hall.
Youth (7th grade - 12th grade) will meet in the Annex.10:00 AM - Forum, Lower Gage Hall
Niki Anne Feinberg and Chris Farmer: "Ecovillages for an Alternative Future?"
We are so excited to begin a new year of Religious Education classes this Sunday! Our children and youth will set out on a journey of spiritual growth; nurturing their UU values and building community rooted in love. We can’t wait to share this year’s adventures together.
This year, children will meet in Upper Gage Hall and the Annex for RE Classes at 10:00am before service. Children will then join the congregation for the full 11:00am service in the Sanctuary.
Women's Group Saturday, September 13th; 9:00am - 12:00pm
Main Library; 68 Calhoun Street Charleston, SC 29401
The Women's Group will meet to discuss the "Building for Belonging" materials from Soul Matters this Saturday. Please know that you are welcome whether you are able to preview the materials or not. Contact dianeehopkins77@gmail.com with any questions.
The Alliance Fall Meeting Sunday September 14; 12:30pm
Upper Gage Hall
The Alliance Fall Meeting will begin with a lunch immediately after the service with the meeting to begin at 12:30pm. The meeting will include discussion of upcoming projects and events. Contact Dboyer@luc.edu for more information.
This is your last chance to support our annual pancake and syrup drive to benefit the James Island Outreach food pantry.
Please bring any brand of pancake mix and syrup to church on Sunday, September 14th. Donations will be accepted in Gage Hall.
We have several church volunteers who help at the Outreach on a weekly basis. The Outreach is experiencing a 60% increase in client activity at the food pantry in the last six months.
All donations are greatly appreciated.
Call Priscilla Shumway with any questions 843-425-1850.
Death Cafe Monday September, 15 2025; 7:00 - 8:30pm
Lower Gage Hall
The Unitarian Church in Charleston is pleased to host a monthly Death Cafe. At a Death Cafe people gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss death. The objective is "to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives." To learn more about Death Cafes in general, click here.
For more information about our event, please reach out to Scott Morgan at wsm371@gmail.com.
Updated Parking Information
When parking in the Church spaces during the week, or on Sundays, members must display their parking permit with your name and phone number visible at all times.
For Sunday morning parking, those who are able, are asked to park in the nearby parking garages. Queen Street parking garage (93 Queen St) and Majestic Square (corner of Archdale and Market streets) garages offer 3 hours of free parking with a barcode that is printed on our Order of Service weekly. While there has been issues with the parking garage barcode previously, we recently made adjustments and it is working again.
Members with mobility challenges may park in the church spaces behind Gage Hall in Jacob's Alley or across the street at the Charleston Day School. If you park in any of these spaces, you must display your parking permit, with your phone number clearly visible. Failing to do so may result in your vehicle being towed or locked behind the Charleston Day School gates.
If you are a member and do not have a parking permit, or have parking questions, please email lily@charlestonuu.org.
Upper Gage Hall Renovations Are Complete
Thanks to the Lucy Boyle Memorial Fund, the RE Classrooms and Church offices got a much needed refresh. Stop by during the week to see these renovations.
Lucy Boyle was a child in our religious education program and was a joy for everyone in the congregation. After she passed, her family created a fund for special RE projects and programs to continue her legacy.
Share the Plate Update
In August we raised $376 for Metanoia, a nonprofit organization in North Charleston dedicated to community development.
Our Share the Plate program not only raises funds, but raises awareness about local non-profits. Donations given to Share the Plate are split 50/50 with the church and the organization for one month. For the remainder of September, funds marked with "Share the Plate" with benefit the Lowcountry Period Pixies.
Musicians Wanted!
This fall we will be forming a UC- CHS "House Band," which will play for the service one Sunday a month.
This volunteer group will cover a wide variety of styles and genres, depending on the themes of the service. We are primarily looking for drums, guitar, electric bass, keyboard, and singers; however we are open to other instruments! Time commitment is minimal, 1-2 rehearsals per service beginning in late September/early October.
Interested?
Please click the link below to respond to this quick questionnaire.
Our Chancel Choir rehearses every Wednesday! Interested singers are welcome to attend. Please email our music director at ryan@charlestonuu.org for more details.
SAVE THE DATE
Join us for this fall Social Justice Council event on Saturday October 18 at 7:30pm in Gage Hall.
Memorial Service
for Paul King Saturday September 20
2:00 pm
Reception in Gage Hall to follow
Family Circle Returns September 20: Save the Date!
Are you raising children or teens in our church? If so, Family Circle may become your favorite church activity. Each month we meet at a member’s home for a potluck meal together. Afterwards, kids play together under the supervision of paid childcare providers while adults have a guided conversation on a theme relevant to our faith and the many challenges and delights of parenting.
Ordinarily we will meet on the second Saturday of each month, but in September we’ll gather on Saturday, September 20, 5:00 - 7:00pm in West Ashley. More details will be provided as the date approaches. Watch for a signup genius coming next week in the Gateway. If you have any questions or would like to help out, please contact Allison Sterrett-Krause (allisonsterrett@gmail.com).
LowCountry Food Bank Fall Schedule for UU Volunteers
On September 20, we will dedicate our work in memory of Paul King who volunteered with us as recently as this spring. Paul's life was dedicated to helping others stay healthy and active, so this work was meaningful to him and Kathleen. A strong showing in honor of Paul would be
Our church has a long history of volunteering with the Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB), primarily packing BackPack Buddies boxes for school children, Senior boxes, or sorting donated food for folks with food insecurity throughout coastal SC. Please join us on the 3rd Saturday of each month to volunteer at the LCFB (located at 2864 Azalea Drive, N. Chas)
Fall dates include September 20th, October 18th, November 15th, and possibly December 20th (to be confirmed).
We meet at 9:00 a.m. and usually finish by 11:30. Closed-toe shoes required. Children 12 and older with an adult and 16 and older are welcome to participate; LCFB staff will sign for school volunteer hours. Please sign up using
Significance of Location: Newmarket Creek, along with Gadsden and Halsey Creeks, is part of the proposed “Just Ecological Corridor” of sustainability on the peninsula, that has come out of the M.A.R.S.H. Project (see its website). M.A.R.S.H. is a possible CAJM extension of the Gadsden initiative. Relevance to Church: Sweep is organized by church member Dave Ruef, with other community groups and members participating. The M.A.R.S.H. Project was co-founded by our Dr. Blake Scott who will be leading an exciting forum about the project with several speakers on Sept 21, before Rev. Rebecca's environmental sermon and a cool post-sermon fair of related info tables. A weekend of events to not miss! Oh yes, the 7th UU Principle!!! Event Address: Downtown Charleston near the forthcoming Lowline: Huger Street between King and Meeting Streets, meet outside the entrance to parking garage of Meeting Street Lofts on Huger St.
Family Friendly: eligible for county school youth community service credit
Logistics: 2 hr free pkg in garage (additional across street at former Palmetto Brewery), wear closed toe shoes, long sleeves and pants for insects, bring hat/water/bug spray/sunscreen/ gardening type gloves if you have (latex ones supplied). Registration:NCreekSweep@gmail.com-- provide name, # in party and reference the church Need more info: contact Dave @ (215) 219-6059, Ruefassoc@gmail.com
See you there! (rain or shine unless pouring)
Alliance Rummage Sale Saturday, September 27, 2025
Click this link to register
for the SCUUJA Fall Festival bit.ly/scuuja
BOOK OF LIFE
To share a significant life event (births, deaths, celebrations, transitions and other joys and sorrows) send to Marcia Castano at marciapate5@gmail.com 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.
