The Tidewater Cluster Met the Moment!
On a beautiful April day, WUU hosted the UU Tidewater Cluster Gathering for 2026. We invited our fellow Cluster congregations to join us for a day of learning, worship, and fellowship. Our campus was filled with energy from Coastal Virginia UU in Va. Beach, UU Fellowship of the Peninsula in Newport News, UU Fellowship of the Rappahannock in White Stone, UU Fellowship of Fredericksburg, First UU in Richmond, UU Community Church in Glen Allen, and lots of WUUs!
While a brief illness prevented his attendance at the Gathering, Rev. Jude worked with his ministerial colleagues in the Cluster to create opening and closing services that set the tone for the day and brought us all back together with shared art, music, and love.
In the Keynote, UUA President Rev. Sofía called on us to embrace the UU values that speak to us and lift them up in our lives.
“We are not asking you for enlightenment. We're not asking you to be a savior. We're asking you to live your faith. What does your faith ask of you in this time? How will you hold this faithful possibility through grief, through hopelessness, through the yearning for beloved community long enough to save a life, to strengthen a spirit, to teach a mind, or even encourage a nation? How will you be a UU disciple in your own understanding of living our liberal and liberating tradition every day in the small ways?”
Just under half of the workshops were led by people from WUU. Asha McLaughlin led a large group in an exploration of ways to be fully present. Gene Roche provided a forum on Humanism. David Hamilton shared QiGong in the memorial garden. The Green Committee gave an excellent tour of accomplishments and plans, including the unexpected appearance of a monarch butterfly caterpillar. Kate McGaw led a social justice leaders forum. The Wheel of the Year group shared some of techniques and uses of candle magic and staffed the grass labyrinth. Robin Wootton convened a gathering of RE staff and volunteers and a space for our six youth attendees to get together. Helen Hansen hosted the presidents’ roundtable.
The Safety Team helped keep our campus secure while providing a wonderful welcome as people arrived and throughout the day. Our registration desk attendants, greeters, and floating helpers skillfully managed the large crowd and patiently addressed all the little issues that came up during the day. The kitchen crew made sure no one went away hungry and made great use of our space to help everyone find a comfortable place to have lunch (even using the golf cart!).
Here are just a few of the many positive comments we received:
Beautiful setting
Hospitality
Fellowship
Great space
Food was great
Very friendly home church
Great people! Flexibility! Lots of fellowship!
Nice to see all of the diverse congregations
Good coordination & directing guests
Thank you for having parking attendants to help find spaces
I'm impressed by your beautiful building and grounds, but even more by the beautiful people in your congregation.
By the numbers: 167 people, 36 volunteers, 21 workshops, and one amazing keynote!
If you missed the Gathering, enjoy these videos.
Next year the Cluster Gathering will be in Fredericksburg.