Small groups gather on their own schedule, in their own way. Some have more formal structures of leadership, while others might have a point person who coordinates schedules. Small groups can meet at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center, virtually, or anywhere else in the world.
what is a small group? create a new group!
Families with Kids
👪 REFLECTION GROUP FOR PARENTS WITH YOUNGER KIDS
3rd Sundays, September 2026 – May 2027, 11:30-1PM | access calendar event
UUCC members Anna Choe and Miriam Pokharel-Wood facilitate a reflection group, centered around a monthly theme with discussion questions, for parents with younger kids monthly. Childcare available for parents as they gather. This group started in January 2026 and participation ranges 12-20 parents, and 12-16 kiddos. Newcomers welcome fall 2026.
Contact: Anna Choe, Miriam Pokharel-Wood
🧸 BABY & TODDLER SUPPORT GROUP | access calendar event
Join UUCC congregant Ann Faust for a Baby & Toddlers Support Group monthly on the 2nd Wednesday at 10AM downstairs in room 150 at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center. We’ll have a shared snack table for us to eat and mingle at the end and welcome new families to this inclusive gathering space.
Contact: Ann Faust
🌄 CAMPING TEAM | learn more
This team currently consists of Lee Gelwicks, Kevin Omland, and Zach Nelson. They help plan/coordinate the annual camping trip that takes place Memorial Day weekend. Typically everybody goes to Rocky Gap, although plans have shifted for 2027.
Contact: Camping Team, camp@uucolumbia.net
📱 WHATSAPP FOR PARENTS WITH YOUNG KIDS
Join the conversation with other parents! Whether its about parenting, hand-me-downs, play dates, registering for school, or anything in between, fellow UUCC parents are communicating in WhatsApp about it all!
Contact: Hannah Nelson
🌻 RE CHILDREN’S COMMITTEE
The Religious Education Children’s Committee started gathering again in August 2026. Gratitude to congregants and Director of Children and Family Ministries Kelli Danaker who are gathering to imagine and build together on behalf of and with our children at UUCC. Here is the committee’s mission: To work with the Director of Children and Family Ministries to serve the children and youth of UUCC through creative, stimulating programs and activities that promote and nurture their Unitarian Universalist faith.
Contact: Kelli Danaker
Middle & High School Youth
🎉 MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP
Returning weekly on Sundays beginning August 9, 2026 | 10:15-11AM in room 180 | access calendar event
Calling all UUCC middle schoolers! If you are in grades 6-8, you are invited to join UUCC Youth Leader, KP McLaughlin for Middle School Youth Group! We will gather in the teen room on Sunday mornings after Time for All Ages to socialize, play games, discuss big questions, plan service projects, build community, and more! If you know a middle schooler who would like to join us, reach out to staff member Kelli Danaker, Kelli@uucolumbia.net or, feel free to drop by on any Sunday morning.
Contact: Kelli Danaker, KP Vermow McLaughlin
💛 HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP
Returning weekly on Sundays beginning August 9, 2026 | 11:11-1:11PM | access calendar event
High schoolers are invited to meet up with UUCC congregant KP Verow McLaughin in room 180 downstairs from 11:11 to 1:11PM. Newcomers always welcome! Join us to play games and break into high school and middle school small groups. We’ll discuss big questions, learn about world religions, get to know each other, plan projects to make the world a better place, and more.
Contact: Kelli Danaker, KP Verow McLaughlin
Identity / Affinity Groups
🚴 BIKING GROUP
Contact: Ken Walsh, Ken Rock
🎲 BOARD GAME & POTLUCK NIGHTS
2026-27 dates: September 12, October 2, November 8, December 4, January 3, February 6, March 5, April 3, May 2, June 4 | access calendar event
All are welcome to our board game & potluck nights. We also enjoy a potluck, so bring snacks/dishes, board games, or just bring yourself!
Contact: Jill Cairns
🧶 CREATIVITY CIRCLE
Last Saturday of the month at 11ish AM at OBIC | access calendar event
Bring whatever arts or crafts project you happen to be working on and chat and share ideas with other artsy people. No experience or particular skill is necessary. Don’t have anything to work on? Hang out with us anyhow. We are a fabulous, fun-loving group!
Contact: Tina Horn, Melissa Affolter
💛 DISABILITY SOCIAL GROUP
Tuesday, September 1, 6PM at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center | access calendar event
Join the Disability Social Group in July 2026 to celebrate Disability Pride Month. There will be food! This group is for those who have a disability, chronic illness, mental health issues, and/or are neurodivergent. Our goal is to support each other and have fun!
Contact: Hannah Nelson, Miriam Pokharel-Wood
🐦 FEEDER FLOCK
Sundays, before 10AM worship service
The Feeder Flock at the Owen Brown Interfaith Center is a dedicated team of volunteers who fill the bird feeders outside Sanctuary B and Sanctuary C before Sunday services. Recently, two of our members have flown the coop, moving away from the area, so we could use some assistance in keeping our feathered friends fed. 🪺
Contact: Gus and Jen Larsson (jengus123@verizon.net)
🌈 LGBTQIA+ GROUP
Ice Cream Social – Sunday, October 4, 2026, 4PM | access calendar event
The LGBTQIA+ group provides opportunities for queer congregants and community members to connect, share, and have fun together. Newcomers and longtime congregants alike are always welcome to our gatherings. Congregants can also get added to the LGBTQIA+ Group in UUCC’s Realm database to suggest meetups, share resources, ask questions, etc. Connect with staff member Hannah Nelson (hannah@uucolumbia.net) to get added.
Contact: Sara Davidson, Laurice Grae, Hannah Nelson
🥞 MEN’S BREAKFAST GROUP
1st Fridays @ iHop in Columbia, MD | access calendar event
UUCC’s Men’s Breakfast Group meets on the 1st Friday of each month at 9:15AM for fellowship and food! Newcomers welcome!
Contact: Jim Wu
✒️ OUR LIVES AND BEYOND WRITING GROUP
Current members are writing memoir, legacy, fiction, and/or poetry, and all genres and experience level are welcome. We gather online on 1st & 3rd Fridays, 10-12PM. Our goal is to encourage the art of writing with supportive, positive feedback as well as constructive suggestions.
Contact: Kay Armstrong Baker: kay_armstrong-baker@comcast.net
💛 UUs FLYING SOLO
UUs Flying Solo is a social group directed primarily at “solo flyers who do not have a live-in co-pilot”. The mission is to provide support, socializing and friendship through participation in activities of shared interest to the members.
Contact: Norma Byers
🪷 YOUNG ADULTS
The young adult group is a group of adults who self-identify as “young adult,” which means we have a fairly broad age range. We communicate via a WhatsApp group chat where anyone can share news or suggest a get-together. There is also a WhatsApp for parents with young children.
Contact: Hannah Nelson, hannah@uucolumbia.net
Elders
📚 ED GADDY’S BOOK GROUP
Wednesdays, 7PM on Zoom | access calendar event
If you’d like learn what book we’re reading next, or wish to join our group, connect with UUCC member Ed Gaddy: edward.gaddy@gmail.com.
Contact: Ed Gaddy
🥪 SEASONED SOULS
3rd Thursdays @ 12PM in Sanctuary A | access calendar event
Bring your lunch and join us for a monthly gathering filled with friendly conversation, and sometimes a community guest speaker. Staff members join us as they’re available, and newcomers are always welcome.
Contact: Deb Lattimer, Jacquie Weinberg, Margaret Lafon
🫂 SENIOR SUPPORT GROUP
2nd and 4th Mondays @ 7PM on Zoom | access calendar event
Are you interested in a support group that openly discusses and learns from each other about the evolving life and emotional challenges of aging, such as partial or full retirement, health matters, family concerns, relationships and isolation, transitions, maintaining energy and mobility, agility and independence? If so, join us!
Contact: Mark Gorkin
💛 VANTAGE POINT GATHERING
2nd Fridays @ 7PM at Vantage Point in Columbia, MD | access calendar event
UUCC members and friends living at Vantage Point in Columbia are invited to join us monthly in the apartment of UUCC member Chris-Ellyn for snacks, drinks, and time to connect in a relaxed environment. New members moving into Vantage Point are encouraged and invited to join us.
Contact: Chris-Ellyn Johanson
Spirituality
☯️ DAO FORUM: INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
Fourth Sundays, 11:30AM in room 213 (meeting August 30, 2026 instead of August 23, 2026) | access calendar event
The Dao Forum – Interfaith Dialogue is starting back up again! Details to come as they’re available about what the group will be discussing.
Contact: Jing Wang
✨ DROP-IN DISCUSSION CIRCLE
2026 fall dates: Sundays, September 20, October 25, November 15, November 29, December 13, December 27 | 11:30-1PM | access calendar event
Young adult and adult newcomers, longtime congregants, and everybody in between is invited to join Director of Communications & Group Connection Sara Davidson for a drop-in discussion circle. Join us to reflect and connect and wax philosophical.
Contact: Sara Davidson
💛 KARUNA CAREGIVERS
At UUCC, pastoral care is provided by the minister and congregants alike. Congregants may call on the minister for pastoral counseling in times of crisis, discernment, grief, or whenever the perspective of a minister would be helpful. Karuna Caregivers are a lay team of trained pastoral caregivers who are available as listeners in times of transition, sorrow, illness, grief, celebration, or joy.
For needs or to volunteer, email us at Karuna@uucolumbia.net
🧘 MEDITATION GROUP
Tuesdays @ 7PM in the chapel | access calendar event
Let’s learn and practice together the techniques of mindfulness meditation, which benefit both our personal lives and relationships with others.
Contacts: Linda Uphoff, Cindi Wood
🌕 TEA AND TAROT
Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 6:30PM | learn more and register
Join us for our next Tea and Tarot with an opportunity to plan the upcoming congregational year together. Let’s imagine what we’d like to do together around tarot! Perhaps people have interests / ideas. We may also discuss a possible book group with a trauma informed tarot book that Hannah Nelson will bring to the group.
Want to join us? Contact Hannah Nelson, hannah@uucolumbia.net
🌙 TURNING CIRCLE
Two Fridays a month at 7:30 PM in room 150 | view calendar event
Turning Circle is a Pagan spirituality group that meets twice a month at our Owen Brown Interfaith Center (OBIC). We follow an earth-based faith, celebrating the eight Pagan high days, as well as some moon phases as we honor the interdependent web of life of which we are a part. We welcome friends and drop-ins.
Contact: Alex Cauthen-Zach, alexxphoenix@yahoo.com
🌻 WORSHIP ASSOCIATES
Worship Associates are congregants and members who support our minister in planning and leading Sunday worship services.
Contact: Rev. Lisa Bovee Kemper, lisa@uucolumbia.net
Fundraising
🎉 AUCTION TEAM
busy in the few months leading up to UUCC’s Annual Auction in November | learn more
The Auction Team plans UUCC’s Annual Auction, UUCC’s largest fundraiser of the year, and always held the second Sunday in November.
Contact: Auction Team, auction@uucolumbia.net
🌱 ENDOWMENT BOARD
as needed | learn more
The Endowment Fund is a permanent source of financial capital that grows and produces income for UUCC today and ensures that our congregation is financially healthy and able to continue its work for decades to come. It provides a lasting legacy through appreciation of investments.
Contact: Endowment Board, endowment@uucolumbia.net
💸 PLEDGE TEAM
busy leading up to UUCC’s Annual Pledge Drive in Spring | learn more
Unlike other religions or churches, our Unitarian Universalist congregations do not receive funding from a national or global fund for operations. UU congregations are self-financed which is one of the things that makes every congregation so unique. Each spring we run a budget drive to fund a budget for the upcoming year of congregational life at our interfaith center.
Contact: Pledge Team (Kevin Mercer and Jim Johnston), pledge@uucolumbia.net