MLUC’s fellowship and community life is as rich and varied as the congregation itself. This year brought six art exhibitions, a thriving partner church relationship with Várfalva, a growing Women’s Lunch and Learning program, our annual holiday workshop and auction, and dozens of book groups, study circles, and interest groups that keep people connected throughout the week. Whether through art, theology, meditation, or simply a shared meal, our community finds countless ways to deepen connection—with each other and with the wider world.
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Congregational Engagement Team | Holiday Workshop | The Art Group | Meditation | Partner Church Committee | Auction | Lecture Lunch | Women’s Lunch and Learning | Theology Explorers | Jazz & Joe | Folk Sing | Theatre Group
Congregational Engagement Team
The Congregational Engagement Team continued its ministry of welcoming visitors each Sunday by coordinating greeters, ushers, and the Information Table. Their goal is to help newcomers connect with others and discover opportunities for involvement within the church community. The team also coordinates periodic tours of the church building and hosts an annual dinner for new members. This year, MLUC welcomed 23 new members.
Holiday Workshop
Over 100 people turned out for the annual Holiday Workshop on the second Saturday in December—in the snow. New crafts, new vendors, and a few new volunteers who stepped into leadership roles made this one of the most energetic editions yet, with many of the new additions coming through word of mouth and the group’s presence in the Atrium throughout the year.
This year also marked the first-ever Christmas in July event, a small but spirited gathering where volunteers made bows for the December greens table months in advance. It’s exactly the kind of quiet, joyful preparation that makes the big event feel effortless. Looking ahead, the Holiday Workshop team is counting on that same mix of longtime volunteers and new energy to keep the tradition growing.
Meditation
Meditation at MLUC offered a diverse range of activities, from ongoing regular small groups to unique events such as five Singing Bowl Baths, an outdoor Labyrinth walk, and a full-day retreat. The program maintains a dedicated following of members and neighbors who gather weekly for Sunday Meditation I (12 to 15 participants), Meditation II (six to nine participants), and a regular book group. This year’s outreach successfully brought in several new participants from the wider community, some of whom now attend MLUC’s Sunday services.
Looking ahead, the program is implementing a natural consolidation after a full year of growth: the Monday morning book group will move to Zoom-only, and the Monday and Thursday evening groups will conclude. New practitioners are welcome to join the activities at any time.
The Art Group
The Art Group celebrated an expansive year, working in tandem with other MLUC committees and creating spaces where adults and youth could create together. The Fireside Gallery hosted six exhibitions this year (up from four last year), featuring a wider range of themes, media, and local artists. These shows intimately connected to the life of the congregation, with themes like Why Save the Earth, A Home Transforms Lives, Joy and Resistance, and Politics of Joy,growing directly out of recent sermons and initiatives.
The Art Group expanded its offerings beyond the gallery walls with the launch of a new film series, beginning with the documentary Color Light Spirit. An intergenerational art tent at the annual picnic brought adults and children together to create art centered on the theme of home.
Looking forward, the group plans to cultivate wider regional ties by connecting with artists at the Delaware County UU Church and arranging art excursions. The group also continues to anchor its work in the MLUC community through a collaboration with Music Director David Brown for Music Sunday.
Partner Church Committee
Our partnership with the Unitarian Church of Várfalva, Hungary remained vibrant and active this year, sustained by the steady work of the Partner Church Committee. Rev. Barabás Zsolt, minister of our partner church, joined several committee meetings. Members collected signatures for Christmas and Easter greetings sent in both English and Hungarian, hosted coffee hour for Partnership Sunday in January, and organized an auction dinner (shown above) featuring Hungarian food and music. The MLUC Bookstore continued to generate funds that support scholarships, Sunday school, and the minister’s discretionary fund in Várfalva.
The committee also hosted a Zoom conversation with Rev. Andrew Weber about his planned multi-congregational trip to Transylvania in summer 2026 and took a new step to help strengthen the partnership by recruiting MLUC teens to begin building friendships with teens in Várfalva through Zoom calls. We welcomed a new member, in keeping with our goal to expand the committee, especially with younger members who can carry the partnership forward. Looking ahead, the committee plans to organize the next partner visit, deepen the teen friendship program, and launch a publicity campaign for the Bookstore.
Auction
For more than 50 years, the MLUC Auction has been one of the highlights of the congregational year—and this year’s “Kaleidoscope” edition was no exception. The live auction drew more than 100 members for a fun and lively evening, while the week-long online silent auction brought in over 80 participants bidding on 90 items. Together they raised more than $50,000.
What makes the auction special is our community coming together for a fun evening in support of MLUC—and the many opportunities it creates to strengthen connections throughout the year. Nearly every item offered is an invitation to build community, including 16 dinners hosted in members’ homes, a pool party, trivia night, piano lessons, gardening instruction, and tickets to Villanova basketball, Phillies, and Philadelphia Union games. Vacation getaways to Nevis, the Jersey Shore, and the Maine coast rounded out the highlights.
The auction is open to everyone—as a donor, bidder, volunteer, or simply a guest for the evening. Mark your calendars: the 2026 auction is Nov. 14.
Lecture Lunch
Lecture Lunch is a monthly series featuring a shared meal followed by a short talk by a volunteer speaker on a topic of their choosing. Open to everyone, the program is coordinated by a three-member committee and typically meets on the second Wednesday of the month.
This year’s series ran from September 2025 through May 2026, hosting nine events with an average attendance of 30 participants. Speakers were drawn from the congregation, the staff, and the wider community, and the topics ranged widely—from housing and homelessness to music theory, from democracy and civic action to the art of video storytelling, from the Academy Museum in Los Angeles to the life and legacy of illustrator John Falter.
Women’s Lunch and Learning
The Women’s Lunch and Learning wrapped up a successful second year, with meetings on the second Saturday in September, October, January, February, March, and April. Sessions drew an average of 15 to 20 women to discuss topics such as family advocacy, cultural evolution, and women’s challenges in work, writing, and music. The program returns for its third year this September, and all women are welcome. Participants share that what makes the group so special is the dedicated time just for them—a chance to deepen connections and broaden horizons together.
Theology Explorers
Every week, a group of seekers, doubters, questioners, and wonderers gathers to dig into the big questions—spiritual, metaphysical, religious, scientific—with no agenda other than honest inquiry. The Theology Explorers typically draws eight to 12 participants per session, with a committed core and a rotating cast of visitors drawn in by whatever topic is on the table that week. Members take turns choosing subjects and facilitating discussion, drawing on books, videos, and materials as varied as the questions themselves.
This year brought a few welcome new faces into the group—always a sign of health. Members continue to volunteer to facilitate sessions across a genuinely wide range of topics, and the group is looking forward to Rev. Morehouse leading another session in the coming year.
Jazz & Joe
Jazz & Joe is held four or five times a year, typically on the evening of the fourth Wednesday of the month. It regularly draws a strong turnout of jazz enthusiasts from both the congregation and the wider community. Each performance
features five professional jazz musicians—sometimes more. Attendance is free, though attendees are encouraged to contribute to The Jazz Sanctuary, the organization that brings live jazz to religious spaces. A small group of MLUC volunteers provides refreshments, including nonalcoholic beverages, and guests are welcome to bring wine or beer to share.
Folk Sing
Folk singing has been a tradition at MLUC for over 50 years—beginning in Carl Zweben’s living room and now held monthly at the church. Open to people of all ages, the gathering welcomes anyone who enjoys informal group singing, no talent requirement! Some participants bring instruments, and songbooks are provided.
Theatre Group
Launched in spring 2026, a new Theatre Group began meeting to develop ways to create and present theatre at MLUC. The group is currently preparing for its first production in October 2026: an exciting cabaret-style evening featuring a variety of scenes, songs, and theatrical acts. Please watch for upcoming announcements to learn how you can participate in and support this new group.