St. John's Unitarian Universalist Church

Social Groups

St. John's has a variety of social groups for our members to get to know each other in a relaxed setting:

Purpose/Mission/Goal: To provide opportunities for St. John-ers in their 30s and 40s to connect through social activities such as a Super Bowl Party, Taste of Cincinnati, and art outings. Some activities may include children as well.
Typical Meeting Pattern: Four to eight activities per year, typically on weekends.
Contact: Pete Asman

Purpose/Mission/Goal: This group meets for the joy of natural, spontaneous dance. We massage our feet at the beginning, gradually warm up, breathe, stretch, and move to our own energy level. We do simple movements-individually, in duos, trios and larger groups at times. We learn simple movement combinations and occasionally "show" a piece.
To help us get in touch with our "inner dancer" we use music, poetry, costumes and props. After a cool down (which may be a Qigong sequence), we rest on mats with guided imagery or quiet music in the darkened room. Then we share our experiences and a back rub.
Typical Meeting Pattern: Tuesday evenings, 7:00 - 8:45 p.m., in Krolfifer Hall at St. John's.
Contact: Mira Rodwan
Additional Information: Anyone is welcome! Some of us occasionally perform for Sunday services, rites of passage, and other ceremonies.

Purpose/Mission/Goal: Interweave is a membership organization affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association, dedicated to the spiritual, political, and social well-being of Unitarian Universalists who are facing issues as lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender persons, and their heterosexual allies; and facilitates the celebration of the culture and lives of its members.
Typical Meeting Pattern: We meet every 2nd Sunday after church at a nearby restaurant at 1pm. There is also one other social activity scheduled every month.
Contact: Peggy Vaughn or Robert Pickard, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StJohnsInterweave/
Additional Information: Members are encouraged to register as members on the Yahoo groups website for St. John's Interweave to get email updates http://groups.yahoo.com/group/StJohnsInterweave/

Purpose/Mission/Goal: To have fun and increase community among St. Johner's and friends age 50 and over.
Typical Meeting Pattern: Once a month happy hours/dinners at a nice restaurant on the second Friday of each month. Periodic planning meetings to set up other events.
Contact: Jan Hay
Additional Information: One becomes a member of this group by attending events published in The Reporter. The group could use some event planners and leaders, either singles or couples.

Purpose/Mission/Goal: 1) To learn about living as a male in contemporary times; 2) To promote our personal growth; 3) To develop male friendships; and 4) To bond our males to the church. NOTE: Spirituality and services to the church are not objectives of the group but are left to individual discretion.
Typical Meeting Pattern: During the school year, the group meets at 6 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month at the church. A meal, prepared by group members, is served (at cost). A talk and group discussion follows.
Contact: George Dershimer
Additional Information: The group is open to all interested adult males; church membership is not required. All day retreats at off-site locations are held in the spring and fall. During the summer monthly meetings (potluck suppers and open discussions) are held at member's homes.

Purpose/Mission/Goal: This is a women's book discussion group, open to all women. Before each monthly meeting we read a book by a woman author. Anyone can suggest a book and the group chooses the book for the next two months. Discussion is informal; often we have additional information about the author or criticism of her work.
Typical Meeting Pattern: We meet the third Friday evening of each month at 7:30, at a participant's home.
Contact: Sylvia Mersfelder
Additional Information: Attendance varies from four to about twelve. Women may join at any time. Bring a friend! We have several women participants who are not associated with St. John's. All that is required is a desire to read and discuss a good book by a woman author. We have read mostly fiction,but not entirely.

Each writer has the right to have the group listen to her work and be accorded respect.
Everyone claims equal time for her work to be shared with the group.
Everyone can expect caring feedback and will be prepared to give it.
Each writer will tell the group what kind of assistance is needed - technical,grammatical, structural, etc.
The facilitator for each meeting is responsible for keeping the discussion on track and making sure no one dominates.
The topic for the on-site writing is chosen by the facilitator.

The facilitator for a given meeting is responsible for picking the topic and for reminding others of the meeting (via e-mail or telephone.) We rotate this responsibility to share the wealth.
Contacts: Meg Harman and Abaya Onukuri

Purpose/Mission/Goal: To provide a social atmosphere for members and friends to have fun and to become better acquainted.
Typical Meeting Pattern:

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSES-A series of open houses that take place throughout December in the homes of members and/or friends of St. John's.
SUMMER POTLUCKS-This series takes place on Tuesday evenings throughout the summer months.
NEW MEMBER POTLUCKS-Three to four times a year, on Sunday evenings at St. John's. These potlucks welcome St. John's newest members.

Contact: Look for announcements in The Reporter. If interested in hosting a potluck, look for sign-up sheets posted in Krohlfifer at the appropriate time of the year.
Additional Information: These events are open to all members and friends of St. John's and provide a relaxed atmosphere in which to get to know more people associated with the church, not to mention sample some excellent cooking!

to actively promote the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism,
to discuss issues important to young adults,
to provide opportunities for questioning young adults of diverse backgrounds to form friendships through regular social activities, and
to do volunteer work.

Typical Meeting Pattern: We meet for discussion on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at 7pm, social activities on weekends (including lunch after the service on most Sundays,) volunteer activities on some Saturdays.
Contact: Nick Barnard or Joel Araujo
Additional Information: Recent discussion have included forgiveness, security, death penalty, humanism, and self esteem.