Our Mission Statement
We are a welcoming, supportive, and inquisitive spiritual community, actively living our liberal values – transforming lives as we reach out in love, celebrate diversity, and advance justice.
Our Congregational Convenant
As members of the congregation of Community Unitarian Universalists in Brighton, we have associated ourselves together, not as agreeing in opinion, not as having attained universal truth in belief or perfection of character, but as seekers of Truth and Goodness. We, therefore, covenant to be a welcoming and inclusive community in which we shall:
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Foster spiritual growth;
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Create safe emotional space for children and adults;
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Share and seek opinions openly and respectfully, especially when we disagree;
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Respect and adhere to the democratic process and our procedures for decision making and communication;
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Communicate grievances only through appropriate channels established by the Board;
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Share our resources of time, talent, and treasure generously as we build and strengthen our congregation as a force for good.
We promise to strive, alone and together, to practice the principles of Unitarian Universalism in our lives, in our congregation, and in our world.
Sources of Our Living Tradition
Unitarian Universalist congregations live out the 7 Principles within a “living tradition” of wisdom and spirituality, drawn from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience. These are the six sources our congregations affirm and promote:
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Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
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Words and deeds of prophetic people which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
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Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
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Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
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Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
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Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Welcoming to All
Unitarian Universalism has made a commitment to opening its doors to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. First launched in 1990, the Welcoming Congregation program grew out of an understanding that widespread prejudices and ignorance about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people existed within Unitarian Universalism, which resulted in the exclusion of LGBTQ people from our congregations.
Today, 66% of U.S. Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregations and 94% of Canadian UU congregations are recognized as Welcoming Congregations. The program is supported by LGBTQ Ministries. CUUB is proud to be a welcoming congregation.
We're Green!
In 2016, CUUB became a recognized Green Sanctuary Congregation, a program developed through the Unitarian Universalist Association. This accreditation was granted after a three year process of congregational study, reflection, assessment and action in response to environmentally-related issues.
As Unitarian Universalists, we strive in our daily lives to make decisions which reflect the values described in our seventh principle "Respect for the interdependent web of all existenceof which we are a part". Our ongoing participation in the Green Sanctuary program provides us with a path to continue to reflect and live our lives in manners that support and honor this principle.
Our History
Community Unitarian Universalists in Brighton, affectionately called CUUB, was founded in 1998 in the homes of a few people who wanted a safe place to explore their beliefs with their children. They gathered and grew, and realized that they wanted to create something permanent for other residents of Livingston County. CUUB services were held on Sunday mornings in rented space in the Brighton Education and Community Center for years, until CUUB purchased our current home, located at 3333 S. Old US 23 in Brighton, in the spring of 2012.
CUUB filled a great need — for liberal religious tolerance, understanding, and growth — in greater Livingston County, and continues to do so today. Chartered in 2000, we are a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, an association of over 1,000 churches in the U.S. and Canada. We are a joyful, caring, curious, intergenerational community doing our best to live out our shared values.
Social Justice
We have a legacy of “deeds not creeds.” Our work for a better world calls us to unexpected places as we harness love’s power to stop oppression. From grassroots community organizing to interfaith state, national, and corporate advocacy; in protest marches, prayer vigils, and press conferences; in homeless shelters and in prisons, Unitarian Universalists put our faith into action.
Our justice efforts are grounded in our congregationally-driven social justice statements and our call to break down divisions, heal isolation, and honor the interconnectedness of all life and all justice issues. We model these commitments by creating just, welcoming, and inclusive congregations. We act in partnership with groups and communities most impacted by injustice on local, state, national, and international levels.
Our justice ministries focus on key priorities for our congregations and communities:
Our ministry includes service, education, advocacy, and public witness (the spiritual practice of taking a public position in support of justice). Our Side with Love campaign harnesses the power of love to end oppression. Our UU College of Social Justice provides experiential learning opportunities to deepen the work of justice for people of all ages. Our work is led by our denominational staff, congregational leaders, and a wide variety of coalition partners and UU groups focused on justice and identity.
Meet Our Staff
Rev. Leonetta Bugleisi
Consulting Minister
Reverend Leonetta Bugleisi was ordained as a UU Minister in November of 1990 after receiving a Master of Divinity from United Theological Seminary in Minneapolis.
Her service to multiple UU churches located in Mankato, St. Louis, Chicago, Rochester, Brighton and Farmington Hills Michigan filled the past 30 years. She added training in Grief Support; Dismantling Racism; Heart Sutra (with His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama & Thich Nhat Hahn); Survivors of Suicide; PTSD; Labyrinth Training and more have added usable resources to use in ministry.
After a year in retirement, The Rev. Leonetta is looking forward to a part-time Consulting Ministry with the Community Unitarian Universalists in Brighton and guest preaching at local churches. Her personal life is filled with travel with her husband, Michael Murphy, young adult grandchildren, and a spoiled cat named Misty.
Jeanne
Voltz
Administrator
Jeanne Voltz graduated from Cleary University with a Bachelor Degree in Business with a major in Accounting. She has worked mostly for nonprofit organizations. She worked for United Way, The Salvation Army, LACASA, the University of Michigan and Washtenaw Intermediate School District.
Beth Birkholz
Spiritual Exploration Coordinator
Ms. Beth’s background of working with children and adults teaching therapeutic yoga; a solid ethic working in non-profit agencies and a strong grounding in liberal theology promises to make her a good fit for our Spiritual Exploration Program. Integrating her skills and gifts into the S.E. Program is a great plus for our children and youth.
Shuntaro
Sugie
Pianist
The Japanese-born American pianist, harpsichordist, and fortepianist, Shuntaro Sugie, grew up in San Diego, California and started playing the piano at age 9. Since then he has won many prizes including the 1st Prize at the 2007 Southern California Junior Bach Festival. He studied at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (Germany) and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California (2007-2013). He is currently a doctoral candidate at University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance in Ann Arbor.
Shuntaro is active worldwide performing all around the USA, Europe, and Japan. Recent engagements include the Schlosskonzerte in Bad Krozingen, Germany and the Fringe Concerts as part of the Utrecht Early Music Festival in the Netherlands. He currently lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Facilities
CUUB facilities are available for member and community use. We have many rooms available for different sized meetings and events. Rental fees are dependent on rooms / dates needed, type of event and membership status.
Rooms available:
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Sanctuary
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Social Area
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Kitchen
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Boardroom
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Childcare Room
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Ministers Study
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Classrooms
Please send your requests for your meeting or event to facilities@cuub.org or click the button below to fill out the form.
Teams
Anyone who is interested in serving on one of these teams or volunteering for any of the activities, please contact the team with your name and contact information, and the chairperson will contact you.
Stewardship (Annual Budget Drive) Sub-Team
Tech Team
Small Group Ministries
Small Group Ministries meet regularly to enrich the social lives of our congregants. Small group ministries include:
A Course in Miracles, Contact Karen Sanderson
Art Class, Contact Katie Fox
Drum Circle, Contact Bob Duman
Men’s Group, Contact Hank Firek
Pottery Studio, Contact Julie Bohnhorst
Sewing Group, Contact Karen Sanderson
Kindred Spirits, Contact Dianne Morgan
In addition, be on the look out for classes, workshop, talks, seminars, and social events that frequently happen at CUUB.