Tidewater Cluster

A circular graphic with a Blue crab holding a blue flame in the right claw; inner ring, above the the crab in blue letters: TIDEWATER CLUSTER; in blue letters below the crab: Unitarian Universalists in Virginia; outer ring in letters: GLEN ALLEN - NEWPORT NEWS - RICHMOND - VIRGINIA BEACH - WHITESTONE -WILLIAMSBURG - FREDERICKSBURG

Tidewater Cluster Gathering
Keynote Speaker Announced
April 26, 2025
Hosted by Unitarian Universalist Community Church (Glen Allen)
Held at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond

A middle-aged Caucasian bald man with black rimmed glasses and beard pictured to the shoulder with a dark button down shirt against a white brick wall.

Eric Bliss will be the keynote speaker at the Tidewater Cluster Gather in April. He is the Youth and Emerging Adult Ministry Specialist for the Southern Region of the UUA. A native of Knoxville, TN, Eric grew up attending both Westside UU and Tennessee Valley UU Churches.

He holds degrees in Marine Biology and in Education. Eric has been active in UU leadership over the course of 35 years, beginning as a YRUU group leader, eventually becoming a youth mentor, coordinator, and adviser at such places as The Mountain, Ferry Beach, NCCJ’s Anytown, and at GA Youth Caucus. He was the Director of Religious Exploration at First Unitarian Society of Denver for six years and served as the Youth Chaplain, the Quuest Youth Camp Director, the LREDA Chair for the Mountain Desert District, and on the Fahs Collaborative Guiding Team. As a career educator, Eric has taught classes from Ecology – to Chemistry – to English as a Second Language.

The Tidewater Cluster Gathering provides members of seven UU congregations in the Tidewater region the opportunity to come together to share a day of worship, learning, fellowship, and inspiration. This is an all-day event, beginning with coffee and check-in at 8 AM, worship, workshops, and a closing ceremony. All ages are invited to attend. Childcare will be available upon request. Continental breakfast and lunch will be included in the registration fee. Registration details and a list of workshop offerings will be available soon.