2021 Fall Call
The MidAmerica Region Chalice Lighter Committee is pleased to announce that the UU Church of Columbia, Missouri, is the recipient of the Fall 2021 Chalice Lighter Call! The congregation’s current space is not accessible to individuals with disabilities—it is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, nor does it align with their mission to be radically welcoming to all. With the funds from this grant, the UU Church of Columbia proposes installing two automatic doors—one at the main entrance at the front of their building and one at the back entrance of their building. By installing automatic doors, all persons will be able to enter the building without assistance, bringing it up to compliance with the ADA, and importantly, allowing the congregation to be radically welcoming to their congregants and visitors with disabilities.
This is part of a larger project in which the congregation will be adding an elevator and making other accessibility improvements.
By installing these automatic doors, the congregation hopes to live up to this statement on the Visitor Information page of their website: “The Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, Missouri, is a welcoming congregation. Whatever the faiths you have known, or the flags of your heritage, you are welcome here. Whoever you are, and whomever you love, you are welcome here. And, whether you arrived by a short or a long route, you are welcome here.”
You can help the UU Church of Columbia to be radically welcoming to all by donating to the Fall 2021 Chalice Lighter Call. Donate today!
Faithify
Chalice Lighters is also supporting another MidAmerica congregation by helping the Second Unitarian Church of Omaha, Nebraska, to bring to life a vision of religious education that is more effective and sustainable. The congregation has started a Faithify campaign to raise $4,700 to increase the hours of their Director of Religious Education so they can live up to their religious education goals. The MidAmerica Chalice Lighters program will make a donation of 10%, up to $1,000, of the final amount Second Unitarian raises during their Faithify campaign. Learn more about their campaign and donate.