Sundays at 10:30AM

“UUs & Religious Language, Part II”

May 4, 2025

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.

Story for All Ages

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

Musician

Michael Jefry Stevens, piano

Mr. Stevens is a accomplished pianist, composer and “Steinway Artist,”. He has released over 80 CDs and composed over 340 works for both large and small ensembles. An active bandleader for over 40 years, his music spans jazz and modern musical styles. Michael lives in Black Mountain and is a frequent performer and popular jazz piano teacher in the WNC area. We, once again, welcome Michael to UUFH as our guest pianist.

“Women Who Fly”

May 11, 2025 at 10:30am

Get your wings on. Inspired by the scholarly book “Women Who Fly,” by Serinity Young, George Grimm-Howell will invite us to celebrate the indomitable feminine spirit that wants to escape earthly bonds of oppression and soar to her fullest potential. We will lift up airborne women in the worlds of mythology, on the 19th century Iowa prairies, and in our own families and communities.

May Theme – Liberation

Speaker: Rev. George Grimm-Howell

Rev. George Grimm-Howell joined UUFH in August 2024 as its settled minister. George graduated from the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2022 and recently served the UU Church of Columbia, MO and the UU Fellowship of Jefferson City, MO. He was ordained in St. Louis, MO, in June 2024. 

George puts his energy primarily into efforts for building and sustaining a multigenerational, multicultural beloved community that centers love, justice, and healing. George frequently incorporates socially transformative art forms into the worship experience and seeks to create opportunities for encounter and dialogue in the Hendersonville community and beyond.

Story for All Ages:

Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen

Musicians:

UUFH Choir, Janey Ryan; Director, Shirley Gruenhut, accompanist

She found her haven on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains of WNC in the fall of 2023!   Janey Ryan 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.

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

“UU Liberation Theology, Part II”

May 18, 2025 at 10:30am 

Theology must serve the goals of liberation, healing, and justice for both people and the planet. Yet many theistic liberation theologies fail to connect clearly with UUs. To create meaningful change, a new constructed theology is needed—one that derives its authority from natural sources rather than supernatural ones.

May Theme – Liberation

Speaker: Rev. George Grimm-Howell

Rev. George Grimm-Howell joined UUFH in August 2024 as its settled minister. George graduated from the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2022 and recently served the UU Church of Columbia, MO and the UU Fellowship of Jefferson City, MO. He was ordained in St. Louis, MO, in June 2024. 

George puts his energy primarily into efforts for building and sustaining a multigenerational, multicultural beloved community that centers love, justice, and healing. George frequently incorporates socially transformative art forms into the worship experience and seeks to create opportunities for encounter and dialogue in the Hendersonville community and beyond.

Story for All Ages:

Click, Clack, Moo! Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin

Musician:

Jenna Jaffe, piano

Jenna Jaffe has been performing music, dancing, and making art since she was a child.  She has a vocal performance degree from the University of California at Santa Barbara and extensive graduate vocal work from the University of Southern California. Jenna is multifaceted. She is a multi-instrumentalist who has taught for thirty years. She is mixed-media visual artist who focuses on equality for all life. Jenna teaches ESL at AB Tech, is on the board of the Asheville Area Piano Forum, and both the National & local (VTMLA) Music Teachers Association. She is also a Certified Peer Support Specialist and an ordained minister.

In 2022 she received a Tzedek Social Justice Impact Award for her musical and artistic work engaged in community activism and system change.

In her “spare” time she gardens, studies languages, mindfulness, energy healing, and spends time with her family and animals. She also teaches and performs regularly.