2016 Press releases

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UU Congregation of the QC hosts Witches’ Ball 
Oct. 29, 2016

​The UUCQC Earth-Based Traditions Team will host a Witches’ Ball for families at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.
An indoor haunted forest will beckon guests inside for food and family fun. Activities will include youth and family ceremonies, door prizes, children’s crafts and games, tarot and tea leaf readings, dinner, dancing and more. Vendors include: Balance Healing Arts, The Astral Muse, and Readmore Book World and Rock Shop.
What: Witches’ Ball
When: Saturday, Oct. 29
   Doors open at 5 p.m.
   Youth ceremony at 6 p.m., Family ceremony at 7 p.m.
   Dinner and dancing to follow
Where: Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport
Cost: $10 adults, $15 couples, $20 family, $5 youth 13-18, children under 13 FREE.
Tickets will be available at the door.
The mission of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities is to create a vibrant, welcoming, diverse church family which embraces individual searches for meaning and devotes itself to community good.

Singer-songwriter Zachary Scot Johnson to perform concert
at UU Congregation of the Quad Cities
September 26 2016

Who: Zachary Scot Johnson, singer-songwriter
When:  Friday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport
Cost: $20 per adult, or $40 per family. Tickets will be available at the door.
More info or to interview artist: zacharyscotjohnson.com, (262) 488-1742
 
Singer-songwriter Zachary Scot Johnson will perform a family friendly concert at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport on Friday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Johnson has been described by The Lawrentian as having “the smooth guitar lines of James Taylor, the spunk of Joni Mitchell, the vocals of Elvis Costello, and the songwriting ability of all three.” He will perform songs from his new album, “Sad Songs.”
Johnson created the Song A Day Project, performing and recording unedited on YouTube each day for four years and has gained more than 34 million views. He has collaborated with well-known artists such as Shawn Colvin, Lisa Loeb, Marc Cohn and Roseanne Cash.
The mission of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities is to create a vibrant, welcoming, diverse church family which embraces individual searches for meaning and devotes itself to community good.

UUCQC VIGIL FOR ORLANDO
June 13, 2016

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities will host a vigil for victims of the Orlando night club shooting Tuesday, June 14 at 6:30 p.m. at 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport.
UUCQC Vigil for Orlando will include music, prayers, a reading of names of the Orlando shooting victims, and an open mic for attendees to express their feelings.
“I know there is a lot of fear due to the events of today, particularly in the LGBTQIA community,” wrote UUCQC Reverend Jay Wolin on his Facebook page Sunday night. “I wish you could find peace in your hearts. I know there are many hearts broken due to more senseless death. There are no words that can heal you, but remember that you are not alone.”
In the same Facebook post, Rev. Wolin also called for action, asking, “How many more have to die before we act? Will this tragedy move you? Will you stand up and work for and fight for change? To create an environment where love, not hate mongering, will rule the day? Will you work and fight to create meaningful gun control, adequate mental health care, and laws that respect people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, not discriminate against them? My religion, Unitarian Universalism, calls me to use a radical love and put it into action. Unitarian Universalism calls me to act against injustice. Who is with me?”
On Sunday, Unitarian Universalist Association President Rev. Peter Morales issued this statement: “Like people everywhere, I am horrified and distraught at the news of the killings at an Orlando gay night club. What is even more distressing is that this is but the latest in a long line of mass shootings. Our thoughts go to the victims, both the dead and the survivors, and the people close to them. May they find comfort and strength … May all people of good will, people of all faiths and no faith, renew our determination to end racism, end demonization of those of other faiths, end homophobia, and create a society where access to lethal weapons has some rational control. Otherwise we will wait helplessly for the next atrocity.”
The mission of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities is to create a vibrant, welcoming, diverse church family which embraces individual searches for meaning and devotes itself to community good.

Best Rummage Sale of the Year returns to UUCQC
June 1, 2016

Tchotchkes, trinkets, gewgaws, paraphernalia, knickknacks, bric a brac. You’ll find all these and more at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa, during a rummage sale on Friday, June 10 and Saturday, June 11 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
UUCQC is billing it the Best Rummage Sale of the Year and one that treasure hunters will not want to miss! You’ll find clean, well-organized housewares, appliances, working electronic equipment, furniture, collectibles and antiques, jewelry, kids’ clothes, toys, and much more, all at reasonable prices. More books are at this sale than can be read in a lifetime!
Proceeds from the rummage sale go to the UUCQC general fund to help the Congregation in its mission for social justice, community good, environmentalism and the individual search for meaning. 
Find out more at UUCQC.org or call the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities office at 563-359-0816.
The mission of Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities is to create a vibrant, welcoming, diverse church family which embraces individual searches for meaning and devotes itself to community good

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High priestess Rev. Selena Fox
​to conduct Nature Spirituality ceremony at UUCQC
May 9, 2016

Rev. Selena Fox will conduct a Nature Spirituality ceremony on Saturday, May 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa. The ceremony is open to the public, and a freewill offering will be taken. Fox also will speak on “Pagans, the Pentacle, and the 7th Principle” from the UUCQC pulpit at services on Sunday, May 15 at 10 and 11:15 a.m.
The Nature Spirituality ceremony will start with Fox casting a circle to create sacred space. The ceremony will be followed with a social hour and light refreshments. Fox also will conduct a question and answer session.
Fox is founder and high priestess of Circle Sanctuary near Barneveld, Wisconsin. Since 1974, Circle Sanctuary has been serving as a Nature Spirituality church, Pagan resource center and nature preserve. Circle Sanctuary’s Ecospirituality ministry reaches worldwide and includes publishing, education, environmental preservation and counseling.
Fox’s writings and photographs on nature, folkways, psychology and Pagan spirituality have been widely published in print and online. Fox travels internationally presenting workshops and ceremonies and hosts a weekly internet radio show. Fox holds an MS in counseling from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and practices spiritual psychotherapy and holistic counseling. She is an activist for gender and racial equality, religious freedom, interfaith collaboration and environmental preservation.
The UUCQC mission includes creating a welcoming, diverse church family that devotes itself to community good. It supports social justice and social action initiatives in the congregation and
the greater community. For more information, please visit UUCQC.org.

UUCQC hosting humanist
​David Breeden
May 2, 2016

David Breeden

Rev. Dr. David Breeden will present the program "Reflections on Humanism" on Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa. This event is free and open to the public. He will also speak from the UUCQC pulpit at services on Sunday, May 8 at 10 and 11:15 a.m.
Rev. Dr. Breeden is Senior Minister of the First Unitarian Society in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He holds an MFA degree from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, a Ph.D from the Center for Writers at the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School.
“Humanism is one step away from a religion in some ways,” Breeden said. “Humanism is more of an ethical commitment to serve the larger good, animals, people and the world.”
Prior to joining First Unitarian, Breeden was the first settled minister at the Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Bloomington, Minnesota. Rev. Breeden is a published poet and author and a social activist. He is committed to asserting the historic role of humanism with the Unitarian Universalist tradition.
The UUCQC mission includes creating a welcoming, diverse church family that devotes itself to community good. It supports social justice and social action initiatives in the congregation and the greater community. For more information, please visit UUCQC.org.

​UUCQC and Edwards Congregational UUC join for Earth Day Concert
April 11, 2016
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa, is hosting its 4th annual Earth Day Concert on Sunday, April 24 at 6 p.m.
Performances will include Quad City Singers, UUCQC Choir, Chalice Chimes, Edwards Congregational UUC Choir and more.
A freewill donation of $10 is suggested. Refreshments will follow the concert. Free childcare is available during the concert. Please call the UUCQC office at 563-359-0816 or email office@uucqc.org by noon on Friday, April 22 to make childcare reservations.
For more information on the Earth Day Concert, visit UUCQC.org.

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Coffee House and Silent Auction​

​March 14, 2016
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa, is joining with Hersong, the Quad Cities women's chorus, to host an annual Coffee House and Silent Auction fundraiser.
On Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2, the sanctuary is transformed into a 1960s-style coffee house with red-and-white checkered table-cloths and glowing candles burning in wine bottles, as guests enjoy music, food, drinks and bidding on silent auction items. Doors open at 6 p.m.; music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults; $5 for kids age 10 and younger.
Live music will include performances from Hersong; Green Valley Rejects; Rose n' Thorns; Greenmore; Steve Burke & Larry Miller; Doug McCollum & Company; Dave Krupke & Rex; Lucia Dryanski & Company; Sarah Allner; John Campbell and others. Go to UUCQC.org to see which night your favorite musical guest is performing.
On the menu is full meat chili, Moroccan (vegan) soup, pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, nachos with salsa or meat chili, garden plate with hummus or ranch dressing and home-baked desserts. Sip on wine, locally-brewed beer, fair-trade coffee and Unitarian coffee with Kahlua, tea and soft drinks while enjoying the live music.
With the support of small, local businesses, the Silent Auction features high-quality goods, gift certificates to your favorite places, unique services and one-of-a-kind items. New items are placed up for auction Friday and Saturday nights.

Teacher ordained by Thich Nhat Hahn leads Day of Mindfulness
Feb. 8, 2016
Quad-Citians are invited to join Dharma teacher Jack Lawlor in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh for a Day of Mindfulness at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, IA 52807. Day of Mindfulness will be Saturday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A vegetarian lunch will be provided.
Day of Mindfulness is co-sponsored by the Prairie River Sangha (formerly QC Meditation) and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities. The day will include sitting
meditation, walking meditation and chanting.
A free will offering will be taken. Registration information can be found at meditationqc.org. Please register by February 25. For more information, please call 563-359- 0816 or email office@uucqc.org.
Thich Nhat Hanh is a global spiritual leader, poet and peace activist, revered throughout the world for his powerful teachings and bestselling writings on mindfulness and peace. Jack Lawlor
was ordained by Thich Nhat Hahn as a Dharma Teacher in 1992 at the Plum Village monastery in France. Lawlor has been practicing in organized Zen meditation groups since 1975. He leads
the Lakeside Buddha Sangha in Evanston, Illinois.

Community and Police Relationships: Where do we go from Here?
Jan. 4, 2016
Latrice Lacey, Director of the Davenport Civil Rights Commission, will speak on “Community and Police Relationships: Where do we go from Here?”on Saturday, January 16 at 10 a.m. at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, 3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport, Iowa. 
Her presentation is on the history of policing with a focus on the Quad Cities. It will be of interest to those involved with the Black Lives Matter Movement and anyone interested in improving community and police relationships. The presentation will last about an hour. It is free and open to the public.
For more information, please call the UUCQC office at 563-359-0816 or email office@uucqc.org.