One never knows when an opportunity might arise to help out a worthy cause.  Michelle Novak attended an event over the summer at UCE to learn about the work done by The Interfaith Community for Detained Immigrants (ICDI).  In a conversation with Melanie Schikore, from ICDI, Michelle learned that they needed some media design project help, for their website and for their 2018 Solidarity Gala, their big annual fundraiser held every year in September.

Michelle volunteered her time and worked with her daughter Edie Alvarado, a second year Design student at Savannah College of Art and Design, to create the invitation for the event and also a redesign of the ICDI website.  (The website has not yet been relaunched, but here is the invitation and program cover for the Solidarity Gala)

Also of note, ICDI wanted to highlight the work they do with immigrant children, so the image of the tree was taken from an immigrant child’s art work. The child had been separated from his/her family.)

This work took a lot of time and effort, of course, but it provided an opportunity for Michelle and Edie to work as a mother-daughter team, on a project which helped an organization whose mission is so consistent with some of Michelle’s spiritual, and personal beliefs.

Never been to the Serendipity Auction before?  Here’s why you’ll have a great time

The Serendipity Auction is often called the “social highlight of the church calendar.” If you’ve never been to this spectacular event you may be wondering why—so let us share with you what the evening is like.

On November 10^th at 5:30 pm, the sanctuary doors will open to reveal an elegant auction hall. You may get to know someone new over a delicious dinner (Curt’s Café got rave reviews last year, and will be providing the food again this year). You may decide to buy some raffle tickets to have a chance at some terrific prizes.  Then walk around the silent auction tables and make some bids. Be sure you return to your desired items frequently to make sure you haven’t been outbid. There are items at every price point and for every interest. Bid on a gift basket, gift cards to your favorite restaurant, or beautiful handmade jewelry. Best of all are the many group events—join a Spanish dinner, a Civil War talk, or a spiritual exercise in walking a labyrinth—those are just a few examples of the wonderful opportunities to meet other church members or deepen relationships with members you already know.

After the silent auction closes, we’ll have the raffle drawing and an amusing musical interlude.  Then the live auction will begin, and it’s full of excitement. Once again, we have a new auctioneer this year—and for the first time, it will be a woman. Before the live auction starts, make a game plan with the printed catalog for what to bid on. Each item will be announced and then watch as your fellow members and friends one up each other until the winning bid is made. Don’t hesitate to hold up your number when the item speaks to you. You don’t want to miss out when it’s going, going, gone!

If you are still on the fence, give it a shot. It’s a great evening out—wonderful food and conversation, free child care, and all for a good cause. Some members dress up, but many come as they are.  Please join us—you won’t regret it.

Questions?  Visit our table at the back of the sanctuary this Sunday to learn more or reserve dinner/childcare.

Click here  to make your dinner reservation and reserve free childcare.

Click here  to view the auction catalog.

I saw it on Facebook.  The headline read, “Hundreds Hospitalized After New Hymn Introduced at Church.”  Pictured was a line of emergency response vehicles at the ready.  Chaos everywhere.  Life would never be the same.  Or would it?

It’s important to distinguish “change” from “transition.”

Changes happen in an instant: a decision is made, or a letter of resignation is submitted, or plane tickets are purchased, or someone asks you to marry them, and change is effected.  Even with advance notice of the changes, its impact is often not felt until the change actually takes place.  Then it’s done, period.

Transition is the time necessary to adjust to the change(s).  Once the change has been made and there’s no turning back, how shall we then live?  Over time and with the help of others we begin to lean into the change, perhaps find its efficacy, and become more comfortable with it.  While change happens in an instant, transition is not time specific.  We each experience transition in our own time.

Interim ministry embraces both change and transition.  Some changes have already taken place before the interim arrives on the scene.  Others occur once the interim is in place.  Some transitions are smooth as silk; most are not.  The point is to be ready for the real changes that take place once your new settled minister arrives.  How do we (corporately) deal with change and transition?

During the interim period, we’ll surely find out.  But don’t expect ambulances in the church parking lot anytime soon.  By faith, together, and perhaps with hands held, we’ll move forward in a world of our own making and make it better through acts of love and deeds of justice.  After all, this is the work of the church.

The joy continues,

Greg

Serendipity Donations

Bio Statement

You may know that we have a 9 person Nominating and Recruiting (N&R) Committee because you hear about it at congregational meetings. This team is specified in our bylaws and must nominate members annually in the spring to the Board of Trustees, to the Endowment Trustees Team, to their own N&R committee and to any other committee when required by the Board. N&R has offered assistance with ministerial search efforts too.

A corollary group is a ‘newish’ team that calls itself the Leadership Development Team (LDT). It evolved about 7 to 8 years ago out of an expressed need to find ways to cultivate and support new and continuing leaders at UCE. This group is not defined in our bylaws and is certainly not as well-known as the N&R team.

We have come to see that these teams overlap in their goals and plans. In the last two years, the two teams have met together twice and discussed how to support and cooperate with one another.

Both teams want to see members matched with the activities and opportunities that nourish, inspire, reward and satisfy. If people are entrusted with tasks that fit their skills and passions, it is an advantage to everyone at UCE.

Another goal of Leadership Development is to ensure that leaders do not burn out: that they can find successors and shift their activities when it feels right. No one should have to stay wed to a task when their interest shifts to another area of concern.

We are recognizing that training opportunities offer new and ‘old’ leaders alike a chance to sharpen their skills for planning, organizing, delegating, communicating. These skills are useful at UCE, at home, and at work as well.  Some training is offered online from our regional and national association. Some is offered in person at regional and national meetings and occasionally at local congregations.  The Midwest Leadership School has come into our sights over the last two years and one adult and two youth have attended. We are budgeting money to make these trainings more accessible to more members. If you are curious about the trainings, contact one of us personally.

There is a collection of ‘tools’ on our own website under the heading of “The Leadership Toolkit”. The toolkit info is here on the website.

We are eager to meet with members and learn more about what you are most interested in. Please say yes if we ask for a ‘one-on-one’ in the coming months.

Nominating & Recruitment Committee and Leadership Development Team

With the support of the UCE Endowment Committee, the Congregational Relations Team will be developing a lending library for the congregation of books and videos related to conflict resolution and the promotion of healthy relationships.  The goal is to provide an additional resource to the UCE community to help members handle conflicts or difficulties between them in ways that are consistent with our Covenant of Engagement. The lending library will be kept in the hallway outside of the church office/ Rooms 1-3, along with our other lending libraries.  It will include books and materials for all ages, including some books for parents and teachers.  To support this project, CRT is  requesting donations from congregants of any books on conflict resolution or healthy relationships that you have found helpful, and/or suggestions of books you recommend which the team will review for possible purchase.  Our thanks to George Monical who has already recommended some helpful videos and we look forward to more suggestions.  Please send them to Carla Leone, Chair of the CRT at Carla.leone10@gmail.com and let her know if you have books  or other materials to donate to the library.

A quick word for those who aren’t sure what the CRT is or what we do:  The Congregational Relations Team was established in 2011, shortly after the congregation adopted our Covenant of Engagement, as a way of supporting our efforts to keep to this agreement.

The team offers three main services:

1) Education and Prevention – programs and workshops designed to promote constructive use of conflict and healthy relationships; including our annual workshop “We Can Work it Out: Conflict as Part of Healthy Engagement;

2) Early Intervention/Consultation – private consultation to one or both parties to a problem or conflict between members of the UCE community, in which people are advised or supported in their efforts to resolve problems directly with the other party; and

3) Facilitated Conversations  – in which CRT members meet with both parties to a conflict or relationship difficulty and help them discuss the issues constructively.

The team is happy to present workshops, provide materials or offer consultation regarding constructive conflict and healthy relating to any church group or committee upon request. Please contact any member of the CRT to request assistance:  John Casey, Trudi Davis, Jean Durkin, Carla Leone and Mike Takada.  Contact information for them is available on the membership roster and through the church office.