Our Keynote Presenter We are excited to welcome our keynote presenter, a UUA Leader who will share their vision with us and help us Meet the Moment.

Workshop Title: Cluster ChorUUs

Presenter(s): Marcy Stutzman

Host Congregation: UUFP

Description: We’ll spend time in this workshop learning a choral anthem and other service music, then sing together during the cluster worship service. Please register and include the voice part you typically sing so we can select music to suit the ensemble! Music will be distributed in advance of the meeting for individual rehearsal.

Workshop Title: Stewardship Forum

Presenter(s): Denise Rimes

Host Congregation: FIrst UU Richmond

Description: This will be a guided discussion with attendees who do stewardship committee work in the seven congregations. It is an opportunity to meet with those who work on stewardship across the Tidewater Cluster. This is a good time to discuss best practices and issues unique to stewardship committees.

Workshop Title: Presidents’ Roundtable

Presenter(s): Helen Hansen

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: This is an informal roundtable for congregational presidents and moderators, to provide updates on their respective congregations. The session is for current presidents and moderators, or their designated representatives only.

Workshop Title: Membership Forum

Presenter(s): Nancy and Perry Duncan

Host Congregation: CVUU and UUFF

Description: What does Membership look like in 2025? Sharing today’s challenges. This will be a guided discussion with attendees who do Membership committee work in the seven congregations. It is an opportunity to meet with those who work on membership across the Tidewater Cluster. This is a good time to discuss best practices and issues unique to Membership committees.

Workshop Title: Much More than an Annual Gathering

Presenter(s): Rev. Andrew Millard

Host Congregation: UUFP

Description: In December 2010, UUA staff and board members from four Districts (including ours) met in Orlando to discuss the formation of what is now the Southern Region. The consensus statement from this meeting was dubbed the Orlando Platform, in a nod to the Cambridge Platform of 1648 that established self-governing congregations in cooperative and accountable relationships with one another. Since the UUA’s new regions would cover much more of the country — our Southern Region covers the whole of the southeastern US, from Virginia to Texas! — the Orlando Platform also made the case for more local organization, namely congregational clusters “where the focus can be on particular needs and where congregations can build covenantal relationships of accountability”. In April 2011, then, local ministers, lay leaders and others met in Newport News to discuss forming a cluster of congregations in Tidewater, given so much we could do together as a cluster that we can’t do (or can’t do very well) as individual congregations. Now that the Tidewater Cluster is firmly established, and since the needs identified by the Orlando Platform have only increased in the last fifteen years, let’s “meet the moment” and make plans for taking our congregational cluster to the next level, by sharing resources, programs and even staff!

Workshop Title: Building a UU Safer Congregation: Why we need it. How it happens.

Presenter(s): Sarah Soltow

Host Congregation: First UU Richmond

Description: Join First UU of Richmond to explore the process of creating or improving your community’s safety awareness and planning. Sarah Soltow, who heads up the Safer Congregations initiative at First UU, will provide the background and important steps along the journey. Attendees will be invited to share their particular experiences and lessons learned.

Workshop Title: Youth Forum

Presenter(s): David Wilcox

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: This is a space reserved for youth attending the Cluster Gathering. Join other Middle and High School youth from the Cluster in a conversation about what matters most to you. Learn about opportunities in the Cluster, Region, and nationally.

Workshop Title: Open Beta for Gen Alpha: what’s working for RE K-12 programs now

Presenter(s): Robin Wootton

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: Meet with other RE staff and volunteers to share programs for next gen of UU children and what’s working for you. We’ll talk about how to engage families and parents while balancing multigenerational services and volunteer burnout! 

Workshop Title: WIDENING THE CIRCLE: Becoming The Beloved Community

Presenter(s): Rev. Sherman Z. Logan, FUU, Dr. Wayne Dawkins, UUFP, and Diana Chappell, CVUU; moderated by Rev Viola Abbitt

Host Congregation: FUU, UUFP, CVUU

Description: In this Moment when Diversity Equity and Inclusion has been legally dismantled by our government; how are UU congregations within our cluster purposefully demonstrating our commitment to Widen Our Circle into a more diverse, inclusive, multi-cultural, multi-racial beloved community. Join us for a Powerful video and open panel discussion with Rev. Sherman Z. Logan, FUU, Dr. Wayne Dwakins, UUFP, and Diana Chappell, CVUU; moderated by Rev Viola Abbitt.

Workshop Title: Earth Ministry — Keepin’ It Going

Presenter(s): Anne-Marie McCartan & Pam Luke

Host Congregation: FUU & UUFP

Description: So many good social justice causes are dominating the attention and time of our fellow congregation members. What are you doing to keep earth-centeredness and climate change in the forefront? In this session, we will share what’s going well and what we could use some guidance on. For instance, are you considering going for the new Green Sanctuary 2030 certification? Did you use it as a framework for your actions this past year? Do you find it best to focus on one “big project” or to keep active on many fronts as opportunities arise? Are you working with outside groups, such as Virginia Interfaith Power & Light? All are welcome, whether or not you are an active member of a climate justice team.

Workshop Title: Deepening our Connection to Earth on our Sanctuary Grounds

Presenter(s): WUU Gaia Council

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: Here at WUU, we have formed a new group, the Gaia Council, to help us learn about and deepen our connection to “the interdependent web of all existence”. Join us as we share our first projects and talk about our plans for the future. Moving from theoretical to hands’ on, we have started a monthly book club, begun development of an Arboretum on our grounds, and started removing invasive plants. Our plans are to “bring conservation home” by managing our grounds to support healthy ecosystems, using the principles championed by Dr. Doug Tallamy and Homegrown National Park while involving WUU members from RE kids to adults. Weather permitting, this workshop will include a walk on our new (developing) WUU Arboretum Trail.

Workshop Title: Social Justice Leaders Forum

Presenter(s): Kate McGaw

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: This will be an opportunity to meet with those who work on social justice in the Tidewater Cluster. We will discuss best practices and issues unique to social justice and share what we have been doing and hope to accomplish in our congregations and communities.

Workshop Title: Leadership Opportunities in the UUA

Presenter(s): Rev Viola Abbitt

Host Congregation: CVUU

Description: Many of us serve our respective Unitarian Universalist congregations as volunteers, but have you thought about what it might be like to serve the denomination? Come and hear about the different opportunities there are for participation and leadership within the Unitarian Universalist Association and how to get involved.

Workshop Title: UU Discipleship

Presenter(s): Rev. Jude Geiger

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: Rev. Jude shares insight from his doctoral work: Covenant as a spiritual discipline. Moving past simple dichotomies. Living into our pluralistic faith. And learn about an upcoming 6 session program for Emerging and Young Adults in the Tidewater Cluster on being Social Justice Stewards.

Workshop Title: QiGong

Presenter(s): David Hamilton

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: Qigong (CHEE-GONG) is an ancient Chinese health practice that seeks to integrate mind, body, breath, and spirit. It can be thought of as meditation in motion. Although it looks very much like Tai Chi, the movements are simpler and much easier to learn. The routines are non-aerobic and easy on the joints. Although Qigong is usually done standing, participants may sit if they need to. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothing that will allow freedom of movement.

Workshop Title: Creativity and Play in Our UU Experiences

Presenter(s): John Countryman, Linda Lutes, Asha Tyska McLaughlin, Liz Wiley

Host Congregation: FUU, WUU

Description: Come and explore the ways our congregations can and have used creativity to enhance spaces and feed the souls of their congregations, in and beyond the worship experience. Here’s a chance to use our hands and hearts and energies as we share inspirations about how visuals and color, sound and song, and our own perspectives can play together to create meaningful experiences and inclusive spaces.

Workshop Title: Be Here Now: Showing up fully present, while remaining grounded and balanced.

Presenter(s): Asha McLaughlin

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: How to navigate these challenging times while being able to show up as our full selves. “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” French philosopher & mystic, Simone Weil

In this session, we will learn some key daily protocols to support ourselves as leaders and UUs. Some examples are: brief daily meditations/affirmation practices; breathwork; sleep hygiene; self-care commitment strategies and Loving Kindness words.

Workshop Title: Sound Bath and Meditation

Presenter(s): Wendy Morgan

Host Congregation: FUU

Description: The powerful vibrations of the gong, singing bowls, tongue and ocean drums, tingshas and chimes offer deep physical and mental relaxation, energetic clearing and stress relief. Bring your yoga mat for the sound bath, and allow the healing frequencies to wash over you. Meditation with mantra will follow.

Wendy Morgan has been teaching yoga since 2011 and discovered the benefits of sound and sound healing several years ago. She believes everyone has unique gifts that awaken when the body, mind and spirit come into a state of balance and harmony. She offers a nurturing and light-hearted space in which to learn and grow.

Workshop Title: Building the Heat of Our Practice in Chaotic Times

Presenter(s): WUU Wheel of the Year Group

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: For Tidewater Cluster CUUPS/Nature Spirituality practitioners and those curious to learn more. We will gather in an intentional circle for composting the negative into resilience and determination; using group visualization, chantwork, and other techniques, we will feel the strength of collective energy. How can we use our energies for good in the world – showing up safely, powerfully, and vibrantly?

Workshop Title: Humanists Forum

Presenter(s): Gene Roche

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: Humanism has shaped Unitarian Universalism for more than a century, offering a framework grounded in reason, scientific inquiry, and ethical responsibility. Today, that tradition feels newly urgent. Rapid advances in artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and emerging fields such as synthetic biology are actually challenging long-held assumptions about what it means to be human.

In this time of accelerating change, how might a humanist perspective serve our congregations more fully? And how might our congregations cultivate spaces where humanists grow in wisdom, connection, and purpose? All are welcome.

Workshop Title: WUU Labyrinth

Presenter(s): Self directed

Host Congregation: WUU

Description: The WUU grass labyrinth will be available throughout the day. Located behind Parker House, it provides an opportunity to intentionally set time aside during the day for a walking mediation within the spiral structure.

Workshop Title: Self-Differentiation and Boundaries for Healthy Relationships

Presenter(s): April Kelsey

Host Congregation: UUFP

Description: A workshop related to self-differentiation and boundaries for healthy relationships.