At the congregational meeting on January 24, the "Sunday Morning Expansion Team" presented its recommendation that, due to current crowded conditions in the Sanctuary, Religious Education and parking lot, UUCDC should add a second worship service on Sunday morning, beginning in September 2010. Adding a second service will both alleviate our overflowing parking lot and crowded Sanctuary and classrooms, and allow us to continue to welcome the many visitors who come on Sunday morning.
Below is a link to the Expansion Team's report and recommendation, and a link to a blog where you can comment on it, and see what other people have to say.
Service Expansion Report
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Hi Folks! The move from one Sunday morning service to two is a big one for any congregation. We wanted to provide a vehicle for members of the church to ask questions and to express their hopes and fears, their excitement and concerns. This is one way to do it. There will be others, including in-person sessions, as we develop the plan to add a second service.
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to leave your comments or questions here. You can respond to comments made by others as well. When commenting, please keep in mind that our relationships are sacred, and that we are all bound by our Covenant of Right Relations and our Unitarian Universalist principles which place respect for every individual of primary importance.
If you have a question, either a member of the Expansion Team or I will attempt to answer it promptly. I hope this communication tool is beneficial to the congregation.
Peter
What a terrific idea to create a space where we can share our thoughts. As President of the Congregation and a 15 year member of UUCDC, I am very excited about the prospect of moving to two services. While I will miss the intimacy of a single service, the fact is that we have become so great as a congregation that more people want to be a part of us. An important component of being a Unitarian Universalist is spreading our faith to others so that they too have the opportunity to transform their lives, as we have. My experience with other congregations shows that moving to two services strengthens congregations rather than weakens them. It adds more excitement, more vitality and more energy to growing as a congregation and as a meaningful force in the local and wider community. I think our future is very bright.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea! I would like to see the services close enough in time to allow me to teach RE and then attend service with my child. I know this isn't a popular idea, but I think kids should attend regular services as well as RE class.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious what the approach will be for children's Religious Education classes. Will they all occur during one of the services? (if so, we may loose some of the intergenerational mingling that now happens before and after service) or will some classes happen during each service? (if so, families with children's classes at both time slots would have a difficult time)
ReplyDeleteFollowing up on Brad's post, I would think that the long term goal is to offer RE at both services. As a practical matter, though, due to the increased expense, it may be necessary to go with RE for one service initially and than transition to two services eventually.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that folks are posting to this blog. The Sunday Expansion Team will be meeting with church staff on March 3 to begin to discuss how two services might be organized. Because we want to make the full range of "services" (religious education, music, etc) available to the most people, I believe our ultimate goal should be to conduct two "full-service" services on Sunday mornings (full RE program at both, chorus singing at both, etc.). This will require us to incur costs that we may or may not be able to bear in the short term. We will look at all our options (including possible sources of outside funding through grants and the like) and then determine whether we can move directly to two full services or whether a transition over time makes sense. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteI was raised in a small church where two services were necessary during part of the year. The cost did not increase by much, just the cost of materials for more adults and child program supplies and the pianist for an extra hour. I don't understand where the extra cost is occuring.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am in favor of two full services if possible. I feel lost in the mass of people.
Barbara, the costs are primarily in extra staff hours. To offer childcare at both services, for example, we'll need to double the hours of our caregivers. There will be additional cost for the accompanist for our choir and for our administrative assistant on Sundays. We are looking at ways to trim the costs, primarily by seeking volunteers to fill some of the needs.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you feel lost sometimes. I'm glad you and your kids are here.
Peter
Yes, there have been a few Sundays when the Sanctuary was full and extra chairs were needed. My thought, however, is that unless/until an "overflow" occurs for many more Sundays, it's difficult to justify 2 services every week. Why not wait until the end of the fiscal year (June 30) and keep count? If warranted, double services can be instituted in January 2011.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous (funny name):
ReplyDeleteOn the days when the sanctuary was nearly full, we don't know how many visitors were turned off by the large crowd or the search for seats and decided not to come back. The move to two services is, in my opinion, a proactive way to expand our membership and our influence in spreading Unitarian Universalism.
Mark Bernstein
There is no mention of the extra burden placed upon Peter for the additional service, shy of “staffing issues”. Is there any thought as to possibility hosting an “Intern Minister” to assist in the pulpit beyond our “Worship Associates”. I feel this is a logical progression in Peter’s growth as a minister and something we should offer, if not already, to expand his ministry. Peter has a lot to offer as a minister beyond our church’s needs and our church community has a lot to offer in terms of a learning environment for up and coming ministers in how to run a good church. Sorry to add another level to this conversation. CHRIS
ReplyDeleteThere is no mention of the extra burden placed upon Peter for the additional service, shy of “staffing issues”. Is there any thought as to possibility hosting an “Intern Minister” to assist in the pulpit beyond our “Worship Associates”. I feel this is a logical progression in Peter’s growth as a minister and something we should offer, if not already, to expand his ministry. Peter has a lot to offer as a minister beyond our church’s needs and our church community has a lot to offer in terms of a learning environment for up and coming ministers in how to run a good church. Sorry to add another level to this conversation. CHRIS
ReplyDeleteChris, I"m glad you're thinking about this and hope others will, too. I am not concerned about the "extra burden" of leading a second service on Sundays. But I am very interested in serving as a mentor and teacher to seminarians, and to having UUCDC become a "teaching congregation." Now that I am in final fellowship, this is possible. All it takes is a commitment from the congregation to support it, both logistically and financially. Let's keep this in mind as an additional growth opportunity both for me and for the congregation!
ReplyDelete