Traditionally, UUs are committed to remaining intellectually and spiritually open to change. We liked to say that “revelation is not sealed.” And at our best, we truly mean it. However, change and spiritual growth do not come easily. Now to be clear, everyone’s path is different. Yet I do note that our most broadly shared language, The 8 Principle, does not include a single traditional religious word. I’m just mentioning this. During this season of rebirth and Lent, perhaps we need to revisit the religious language of the season and to explore what language triggers us (worlds like sin, salvation, savior, etc.), to see if we can create new meaning for ourselves and our inner lives. Especially in the times that we are now living in.
Speaker
Rev Michael Carter
Rev. Michael J. Carter is originally from Baltimore, Maryland. He moved to New York City in 1980 and lived there for 25 years, working as a professional actor before moving to Asheville with his family. Michael is an ordained Inter-faith minister and received his BA Degree in Letters from the College of New Rochelle where he graduated cum laude. He received his Masters In Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City (class of 2000).While serving various Unitarian Universalist Congregations in New York, Michael was trained as an anti-racism trainer by the Unitarian Universalist Association and has been recognized by President Clinton for his efforts. Michael has served at Mission Health System as a chaplain and diversity officer. He now serves as the minister for Unitarian Universalist Congregation of The Swannanoa Valley, in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina.
Poetry for All Ages
selections from For Every Little Thing
Musicians
UUFH Choir, Janey Hall; Director,
Janey Hall grew up in the church of Christ and it is there where she grew to love singing. after getting a degree in Music Education, Janey taught for almost 30 years in the field of ~ you guessed it ~ music education. Choral music was her specialty & her super-power (one of them) was teaching middle school-aged kids. While she taught, she sang and acted professionally on the side. In 2012, Janey founded and was the Artistic Director for SoCo Women’s Chorus in Austin, Texas. She directed them until she retired in 2020. She found her haven on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains of WNC in the fall of 2023!
Shirley Gruenhut, accompanist
Shirley is an avid chamber music player and New York native who now calls Hendersonville home. A graduate of Brooklyn College, she was the first time recipient of the prestigious Charles Ives Award for excellence in musical performance. She studied graduate level piano accompaniment at the Manhattan School of Music. She assisted at the Metropolitan Opera House studios and has performed regularly in New York, as well as Europe and Israel. Shirley is a member of ACMA-Association of Classical Musicians and Artists, Sing For Hope, and ACMP-Association of Chamber Music Players. She is also a professional member of AAPF, the Asheville Area Piano Forum. She was founder of several chamber music ensembles
We gather for worship and fellowship each Sunday with a service at 10:30 followed by coffee hour. Dress is casual. Parking is plentiful. And our building is accessible.
Family Ministry / Sunday School: All Ages meet in Sanctuary at 10:30 AM Children go to classrooms at 10:45 after the “Story for All Ages.” On the lower level, we have a nursery for infants and toddlers, and we have classes where children and youth learn about and explore faith, religion, justice, and community.
We welcome you: your whole self, with all your truths and your doubts, your worries and your hopes. Join us on this extraordinary adventure of faith!