by WUUC | Nov 2, 2022 | Announcements
Written by Tevina Flood,
As the COVID team has adjusted the required safety measures for gatherings, it has now become possible to have potlucks in the sanctuary the way we did before the pandemic. The powers that be have all concurred that this is okay.
I’d like to propose that we hold our first potluck after service on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. While I feel a similar though lesser ambivalence about Thanksgiving as I do about Columbus Day, I am all in favor of Thanksgiving dinner leftovers (Yum!!!) being used to jump-start our potluck resurrection. That way they’ll be no need to agonize about what to cook and bring (although you might be in agony as you contemplate having to share your candied yams or green bean casserole). If, like me you have a qualm about a holiday that is hurtful to some indigenous people, please try to focus on the spirit of gratitude and thankfulness and less on the questionable historical myth.
Having done a potluck at the end of November, I would propose to hold the next post-service potluck on the first Sunday in January and then every first Sunday thereafter.
You may be asking why we should go back to doing these when we already have the monthly Circle Supper potlucks. There are several reasons. Circle Suppers have limited seats available, they aren’t family friendly, they are not necessarily conveniently located, and, for much of the year, they require driving after dark in strange places. As we have younger families join us, it’s important that we find ways to include all of their members, not just the adult members. For those with limited transportation, a potluck just after service is much easier to manage than a special trip to someone’s home.
If you think you might be interested in attending the potluck in the sanctuary, it’d be great if you could go to the link below to let me know. It’ll help me plan if I have a rough idea of how many people might stay after to share food together.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NEFlONB360HD1fmIuEI7W_rVekWXtK2-8eQDOOqvp5M/edit?usp=drivesdk
Please send your thoughts and questions to Tevina Flood.
by WUUC | Nov 2, 2022 | Announcements
November 2022
Thank you to the 34 people who voted for their favorite organizations for ASJ’s monthly Special Collections! Votes have been tallied and below is a list of the ten organizations receiving WUUC’s special collections over the next year. A couple spots are always left open to respond to unexpected events that lead to efforts we feel called to support.
On November 20th our Special Collection will go to the organization that received the most votes – Northwest Abortion Access Fund – which serves Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Alaska with trained, compassionate volunteer advocates running a toll-free hotline, help with paying for their abortion care, and help with transportation and housing for the procedure.
In September we collected $1,032 to support WUUC’s Black Student and Family Fund (BSAFF). This money, along with WUUC volunteers, assists families of students in the Northshore School District (especially those living at Greenleaf, a subsidized housing community) with a variety of needs – from essentials like food, shelter, and monthly bills, to community organizing, leadership development, and support for future dreams including college and career development. Your contributions fund programs and services with the goal of providing a safe environment for students to explore and express their identity as they navigate the racial constructs of their world.
The ASJ Committee thanks WUUC members and friends for their generous support of our monthly special collections, which take place during services on the third Sunday of every month. Instructions for giving are posted during the service, and you can also donate anytime the following week at https://onrealm.org/wuuc/-/give/now, or by sending a check to WUUC at P.O. Box 111, Woodinville, WA 98072. Please make checks out to WUUC and write “ASJ Special Collection” in the notes.
Special Collection Recipients, Nov. 2022 – October 2023 (In order of number of votes)
Northwest Abortion Access Fund
Black Students and Families Fund (BSAFF)
Arms Around You
Na-ah Illahee Fund
Advocates for Immigrants in Detention Northwest
National Alliance on Mental Illness – Eastside (NAMI)
Camp Ten Trees
Farmer Frog
Lambert House
Woodinville Storehouse Food Bank
by WUUC | Nov 1, 2022 | Announcements, Uncategorized
– Jan Radoslovich, WUUC Board VP and Liaison to Ministry Council
“In the Soup” by Rev. Robert Walsh (Reading at the 10/23/22 Worship Service)
My dictionary says the word minister is etymologically related to the word minestrone. I am not making this up. They are both derived from a Latin root that means to serve.
The image of ministry as minestrone is particularly apt for the ministry church people do all together that makes us a ministering congregation. Each bean, each vegetable, each piece of macaroni or pinch of spice gives not only its substance to the soup but also its spirit, its texture and color, its flavor and aroma. Each person offers a unique set of gifts, and if we do our job of organizing well, each gift will be creatively matched with a need—so that the whole becomes a warm, nourishing, life-giving religious community.
All who serve the church and the principles and values we hold dear are ministers. If you are doing part of that work, you are doing ministry, no matter how unlikely that may seem. You are in the soup—the minestrone of ministry!
The “In the Soup” reading seemed like the perfect introduction to what the Ministry Council has been doing for the past several months. The Ministry Council works collaboratively with the Minister in the management and oversight of WUUC ministries and programs in accordance with the mission of the church while abiding by policies as specified by the Board and the congregation. The Ministry Council consists of Ministry Leads, Board Reps for meeting facilitation and notetaking, and the Minister.
For the past 7 years, the Ministry Council has been organized and operating under the “Three Umbrellas of our Ministry” – Community & Engagement, Transformation & Action, and Sustainability. The Ministry Council felt it was time to revisit this model, to literally spend some time “in the soup” of our work. How are the umbrella groupings working? What is our understanding of the Ministry Council mission? Is the Ministry Lead role effective in providing communication, collaboration, troubleshooting and oversight between ministries and with the Board and Minister? What changes need to be made to improve the functioning of Ministry Council in supporting the Ministry Leads and ministries of WUUC?
From April through August, 2022 the members of the Ministry Council focused their meeting time and efforts on addressing these and other questions about the Ministry Council model. We also sought and received input from Ministry Council alumni. A few outcomes of our work together:
- We agreed that the Ministry Council model is working well, but that the Umbrella Groupings needed to be revisited.
- We reviewed and clarified the mission of the Ministry Council and the roles/responsibilities of the Ministry Leads.
- We reduced our meeting frequency to every other month, and will continue to meet virtually by Zoom.
- We developed the “Seven Umbrellas of Ministry at WUUC” and confirmed or recruited Ministry Leads for each umbrella grouping.
Here are the new “Seven Umbrellas of Ministry” and Ministry Leads that were approved at the October, 2022 Board Meeting:
Sustainability – Ministry Lead: Marcia Sprang. Ministries include: Building and Grounds (BAG), Endowment, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Stewardship, Woodinville Country Day School, Building Rental, MarCom (Marketing/Communications)
Justice and Service – Ministry Co-Leads: Cora Goss-Grubbs/Pam Green (rotating)
Ministries include: Welcoming Congregation, Climate, Racial Justice Task Force (RJTF), Land Acknowledgment, Economic Justice, Blood Drive
Worship and Music – Ministry Lead: Donna Johnson. Ministries include: Worship Leaders, Zoomkeepers, Camera/Sound Techs, Choir/Special Music, Earth-based Services/Celebrations, December Labyrinth
Lifelong Learning – Ministry Co-Leads: Skylar Hopkins, Director of Religious Education/Rev. Dan Lillie. Ministries include: Nursery/Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Jr. and Sr. Youth Groups, Our Whole Lives (Lifespan Sexuality Education), Adult Religious Education, UU Identity Formation (Denominational Affairs Team yet to be formed)
Membership and Hospitality – Ministry Lead: Amy Genova, Membership Coordinator. Ministries include: Membership Team, ComCom (Internal Communications, E-mail Distribution Groups), Ushers and Greeters, Coffee/Social Hour Support
Social Connections – Ministry Lead: Tevina Flood. Ministries include: Engagement Groups, Social Events, Small Group Ministries, Pondering Groups, Connections Groups, Recurring Small Groups, Men’s and Women’s Retreats, Camping Trip
Care and Support – Ministry Lead: Rev. Dan Lillie. Ministries include: Lay Pastoral Associates, Care & Concerns Team, Support Groups
This Ministry model is an experiment and will continue to be evaluated as implementation progresses through the church year. If you have questions or feedback for the Ministry Council, please contact any of the Ministry Leads, Board Representative Jan Radoslovich or Rev. Dan Lillie.
by WUUC | Oct 28, 2022 | Announcements
As a congregation, we strive to build and maintain a safety culture to keep children, youth and adults safe from sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct while participating in congregational life. In response to the feedback and concerns expressed by congregational members during the September Town Hall and Zoom meetings as well as individual conversations with Board members and our Minister, the Board is forming a “Safer Congregation” Task Force to study and implement Safer Congregation best practices.
The Task Force will include Board Members Leslie Morton and Jan Radoslovich, R&R Team Member Lori McConnell and at-large member Justin Gertler. The Task Force will work on a comprehensive Safety Policy that addresses sexual abuse, harassment, misconduct, and disruptive behaviors. The Board welcomes your suggestions and comments on this policy and other aspects of the Task Force work. Future communication will provide venues for this feedback. If you are interested in working with this Task Force, please contact Leslie Morton, Board President.
by WUUC | Sep 6, 2022 | Announcements, DRE Blog
- Compensation: $25/hour
- Part-time: 20 hours/week
The Director of Religious Education (DRE) oversees the vision, planning, management, development and evaluation of religious education programs for children and youth in order to nurture religious and spiritual growth.
For more details about the duties and qualifications for this position, please see the position description here or below.
To apply for the Director of Religious Education position, please send your resume and a cover letter telling us why you’re interested in the position (and why you’d be good at it) to mjohnson@wuuc.org.
Open until filled; position begins in Fall 2022.
Director of Religious Education Position Description – Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church
Reports to: Minister
Status: Part-time, 20 hours per week (0.5 FTE)
FLSA: Non-exempt
Effective: July 2022
Compensation: $25 per hour, based on UUA fair compensation guidelines. Benefits include prorated health, retirement, and paid time off, study leave and professional development expenses.
Work Schedule
20 hours per week to include at least 3 Sunday mornings per month. The remainder of the time will be split between working from home, regular office hours (to be coordinated with the minister), attendance at meetings, events and training. Some limited travel may be required.
Job Summary
The Director of Religious Education (DRE) oversees the vision, planning, management, development and evaluation of religious education programs for children and youth in order to nurture religious and spiritual growth and encourage Unitarian Universalist identity formation.
The DRE will affirm the principles and values of Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church (WUUC) and the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and abide by the WUUC Staff Covenant.
Essential Functions
- Recruit, vet (including background check), train and lead a team of volunteer teachers, youth advisors and others who support the religious education program.
- Supervise the Childcare Supervisor staff member.
- Coordinate with the minister and the worship team to provide support for mini-worship services, weekly Time For All Ages messages during Sunday worship services, and occasionally lead other worship for children and youth.
- Work with the Minister to develop and lead rites of passage for children and youth; assist with other ceremonies as requested.
- Encourage and support the involvement of children and youth in all aspects of church life, including worship services.
- Publicize the children and youth religious education program to the congregation and the community at large (when appropriate).
- Integrate social justice learning opportunities for children and youth.
- Coordinate and schedule special religious education programming and activities such as Our Whole Lives sexuality education, Coming of Age, and youth conferences and trips.
- Manage RE program records and files. Maintain records for religious education activities, including attendance, field trips, background checks and program expenses. Manage budget for RE program.
Other Responsibilities
- Attend staff meetings, Religious Education Committee meetings, and other meetings as requested by the Board or Minister.
- Provide monthly reports to the Board, Ministry Council, and RE Committee.
- Set goals and develop a plan for personal professional development.
- Maintain the church’s resource library on religious education topics for the use of the congregation.
- Coordinate planning for youth service trips every other year with youth input.
Minimum Qualifications
- Ability to model appropriate, effective and welcoming behavior and attitudes toward the children, youth and volunteers under their supervision.
- Working knowledge of the functions and philosophy of Unitarian Universalist religious education programs.
- Skill in coordinating, leading, and delegating to volunteers and religious education staff.
- Ability to work collaboratively with the minister and volunteers in planning creative programs, including worship, for children and youth.
- Proficiency in English language communications, both written and verbal.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google applications, email, calendaring, social media and Zoom. Ability to learn membership database and other new programs as needed.
- Ability to move and lift children’s furniture in order to set up classroom space. Reasonable accommodations will be made according to physical ability.
- CPR and First Aid training is strongly desired.
- Must submit to and pass a background check.
Core Competencies
- Compassion and Care
- Creativity and Innovation
- Developing and Motivating Volunteers
- Mission Ownership
- Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Interpersonal Skills
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Resilience in Times of Change and Transition
- Decision Making and Problem Solving
- Attention to Detail
- Organization and Time Management
- Technical Expertise
