UUCC BEGINS AND GROWS AND GROWS. . .

The Beginning

• February 1992 - Meetings to establish the fellowship began with monthly meetings for community building, social thinking and worship. In May, a member attended the New Congregation Training in Boston.
• January 1993 – The first public meeting was held at Hermitage High School in Henrico County, Virginia.

Birthing Day

May 30, 1993 - The Birthing Service for UUCC was held at First Unitarian Church. The church decided to be a consensus community and a year-round church. Sunday worship Services are held at a local public school.

Naming Day

July 18, 1993 – UUCC officially adopted its name. In September, the church found a permanent location at Shady Grove Elementary School and began to hold weekly services.

Charter Day

October 31, 1993 - Rev. Roberta Finkelstein led the Charter Service. Also present were Roger Comstock, Thomas Jefferson District Executive Director, and Rev. Rolfe Gerhardt, Minister of First Church in Richmond, Virginia. Ninety-six people attended and 51 adults and 12 youths signed the charter.

Growing

• December 12, 1993 – UUCC held its First Annual Church Meeting, approved the Bylaws and chose its first moderator.
• February 1994 - First All-Member Canvass held.
• April 1994 - UUCC was granted affiliation with the UUA.
• May 1, 1994 - Adoption of first budget and decision to proceed with the hiring of a full-time minister.
• January 1995 - Facilities Committee formed to find a permanent home for the church within a five-mile radius of the intersection of Broad Street and Gaskins Road.
• April 1995 - Contract signed for purchase of 6+ acres of land in Glen Allen (Hanover County).
• July 30, 1995 - Hired first Extension Minister, Rev. Julie Denny-Hughes.
• April, 1996 - Second Moderator selected.
• Car Tax in Virginia is abolished. 100% of UUCC members donate their car tax refunds to charity. Story was covered in Richmond Times Dispatch.
• 1995 – 1999 - Applied for and received three Chalice Lighters grants for hiring minister and construction of building. Received a total of $48,000 from Thomas Jefferson District Chalice Lighters.
• March 1997 - Y2K Committee formed to investigate the possibility of building a church on the land. Third Moderator selected.
• February 1998 - Congregation approved plans to proceed with the building process, to hire a financial consultant and to hire an architect.
• December 1998 - Meeting place changed to Ridge Elementary School.
• 1999 - Began a relationship with Interim Minister, Rev. Kathleen Rolenz, while our Ministerial Search Committee looked for a full-time settled minister for our church.
• Spring 1999 - Conducted a Capital Campaign and raised $330,000 in pledges from members for our new building. UUCC ultimately borrowed $429,000 from Metro Bank to finance the remaining balance.
• August 29, 1999 - the Congregation made the final decision to proceed.
• June 1999 - Ministerial Search Committee is affirmed.
• March 2000 - Search Committee meets Reverend Tim Kutzmark; after a precandidate service on Sunday, the Search Committee invites Rev. Kutzmark to be presented to the congregation as candidate.

First Called Minister

• Sunday May 7, 2000 - The congregation, by unanimous acclimation, calls Rev. Tim to be the first called minister of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church.
• August 2000 - Rev. Tim Kutzmark begins full-time ministry; moves into rented office space at the corner of Parham and Patterson Rd.
• March 2001- Installation ceremony for Rev. Tim Kutzmark. 

New Church Building

• Late October 2000 - Blessing of the foundation of building and mixing purifying salt and prayers into the concrete that supports the building.
• February 2001 - UUCC hires our first Coordinator of Children's Religious Education.
• June 30, 2001 - We move into our building in Hanover County, 11105 Cauthorne Road.
• July 1, 2001 - Gala Opening Sunday Service in new building, complete with ritual fire blessing and confetti toss! Our fourth Moderator begins his term.

Shared Grief

• September 11, 2001 - UUCC members and friends gather in grief for a solemn candlelight vigil commemorating the attack on the World Trade Center.
• September 14, 2001 - Over forty UUCC members and friends stand in solidarity with our Richmond Muslim sisters and brothers, creating a human shield in front of the Richmond Islamic Society mosque when they receive threatening phone calls. Representatives from Richmond area Mosques join us at the UUCC special worship service, attended by over 300 people who cram into the sanctuary.
• October 2001 - Adult Religious Education offers four-part educational response to September 11th, which is featured in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Growing and Growing

• December 2001 - UUCC hires our first part-time Administrative Assistant.
• September 2002 - We begin holding two services, at 9:00 and 11:00 AM, with separate Children's Religious Education Program at both.
• October 2002 - UUCC members participate in Unity Rally in response to opening of White Supremacist Church, 'World Church of the Creator'.
• Fall of 2002 - The Commission on the Mission presents to the congregation for approval UUCC’s new Mission, Vision, and Shared Ministry Goals.
• February 2003 - Social Action Ministry begins the Panera Bread Project to deliver leftover bread from Panera Bakery to area shelters and food pantries.
• Late Winter 2003 - ADULT Religious Education sponsors four-part series exploring war, peace, and the Middle East.
• March 19, 2003 - UUCC holds candlelight vigil on evening the American military action in Iraq begins.
• May 2003 - UUCC and First Unitarian Church hold first-ever shared flower communion at Temple Beth 'El in order to foster a shared Unitarian Universalist identity in Richmond.
• September 2003 - We begin presenting a Chalice to a different person/family each month to recognize them as Volunteer of the Month.
• October 2003 – We begin Community Circles, small groups that meet twice monthly for personal and spiritual reflection and friendship.
• November 2003 - Kim Spalding is hired as Coordinator of Children's Religious Education.
• February 13, 2004 - Rev. Kutzmark and UUCC members featured on television interviews at Richmond Court House for action on same gender marriage equality.
• March 2004 - The Board approves a New Governance Structure to be tried over the next year, dividing leadership responsibilities between an Operating Council (fiscal, infrastructure, policy, mission) and an Operating Council (spiritual health and programs). 
• May 2nd, 2004 - We hold a Miracle Sunday to offset the shortfall in pledge payments, raising over $5,500.
• May of 2004 - We hire Rev. Karen Matteson as our Interim Minister for the upcoming year to replace Rev. Kutzmark, who resigned to move to Boston.
• June 6, 2004 - On New Member Sunday, we note that UUCC has grown 85% in the last four years.
• June 13, 2004 - Congregation approved recommended by-laws changes. UUCC Board of Stewards will now have a Vice-Moderator, Moderator and Immediate Past Moderator, each serving one year terms.
• June 2004 - Search Committee begins the process of seeking a settled minister.
• February 2005 - Search Committee meets with Rev. Nancy Shaffer and asks her to be the candidate for called ministry at UUCC.

New Called Minister

• August 2005 – Rev. Nancy Shaffer joins the church as called minister.
• March 5, 2006 – Installation ceremony for Rev. Nancy Shaffer.