Sunday Services Committee
9/2/08 Minutes
The meeting was called to order by the chair, Marcia Heath at 7 p.m. Rev. Pallas Stanford, Helen Oxley, Claire Paul, Randy James, Ed Newman, and Brian Heath were in attendance.
After lighting the chalice and opening words by Rev. Pallas, the minutes for the previous meeting were approved, and the agenda for this meeting was reviewed.
1. Service Planning:
a) September services
Sept. 7: Terra Collier-Young will serve as SSA. Pallas is seeking water containers relevant to traditions and has emailed requesting readers. In the discussion about changing or adhering to the order of service template that has developed over the past several years, Pallas said that she had made changes for the Sept. 7th service, including having moved “Singing the Blessing” from the end of the service to its beginning. Randy stated that years ago it had been decided that this closing, with everyone holding hands, should be a set way to end services and it has been done that way ever since. In order for Pallas’ change to not be too jarring to the congregation, she was advised by members of the committee to say something that will prepare people for her change. While we don't want people to feel disregarded about traditions, we make the distinction between tradition and expectations, and it’s okay to be shaken up and surprised. In any case, the discussion concluded with “Pallas, do what you choose!”
Sept. 14 Ed Newman SSA
Sept. 21 Brian Heath SSA, (add a celebration of the fall equinox in keeping with the Green Sanctuary requirements)
Sept. 28 SSA to be determined, Helen Oxley available as back-up
b) October 12th Kite-flying for peace event One World One Sky. There is an existing Santa Cruz children's hospice kite event in September, and they may help us in October. Mary Brooks and Judy Anton were recommended as energizers. Pallas has already talked with park rangers about which beaches are okay for kite flying.
October 19 will be a lay-led service for Association Sunday. Claire will coordinate, recruiting members to create a panel.
c) November 16 and 30 will also be lay service opportunities.
d) Dealing with proposals and requests for service leadership: Pallas stated that she sees the Minister as being the steward of the pulpit. UUF has a cultural norm which may be in tension with that model, since people expect that if they have a topic they want to propose, it will automatically be accepted as a Sunday Service. . Regarding the two proposals currently received, Pallas will talk with both and see if there is a way to invite them to be involved appropriately. Fred might be invited to serve as SSA for the Nov. 9 service. Members with a rough idea for a proposal can talk with Pallas as coach, and may be put together on a member panel.
e) Distinguishing Worship and Adult Education
Pallas asked us to discern what presentations are appropriate for Sunday and which may be better for adult education programs. Eight years ago, we had a 10 AM forum before 11 AM Sunday services, which allowed people to make one trip to the Fellowship on Sundays. Pallas may bring up this question of Sunday service and adult education timing as part of the Start Up conversation.
2. Split collection procedure: Helen Oxley reported very briefly that she and Deborah have drafted a procedure for handling split collections which they plan to submit to the Board. She asked for any input from SSC regarding two provisions which affect Sunday Services: 1) Each split collection is to be announced in the Order of Service on the Sunday it is scheduled, with the name of the receiving organization spelled out for the benefit of people who wish to contribute by check. 2) A brief announcement and explanation by the Sponsor of the split collection or an alternate is to be scheduled before the offertory. The Sponsor is to make both of these arrangements with the Sunday Service Associate for the day. SSC members recommended that the split collection procedure be added to the SSA handbook and that Helen ask Deborah to put it on the SSA website.
3. Green Sanctuary service requirements: Brian provided a Green Team handout on the UUA criteria for a UUFSCC Green Sanctuary. Included in the list were recommendations about how presenters and SSAs could ensure that issues such as sustainability and global warming would be appropriately integrated into at least two services per month. Pallas recommended that announcements be included in the Life of the Community portion of the service. This and other Green Sanctuary concerns and recommendations were generally accepted by the committee.
4. Children’s Moment (or “time for all ages”): Judy Anton has offered to help coach those presenting stories so that they can be seen and heard clearly. Her offer was joyfully accepted.
5. Sunday logistics: we agreed to add this statement to the order of service: If you are willing and able, please help clear away chairs after service. The SSA may point this out in the bulletin at the beginning of service, but is requested not to say it at the conclusion of the service.
6. Collaboration with Hospitality and Membership; Pallas wants to meet with chairs of these committees and SSC to coordinate their activities with Sunday service themes. Questions for Membership: Can we measure how many (visitors) attend, who speaks to visitors after, how many eventually become members, information packet.
7. Agenda items for October meeting:
a) Topics tabled from September meeting:
1. potential speaker: Karen Melander–Magoon (Ed has report)
2. changes to proposal form (drafts handed out, read before next mtg.)
3. Nov. 16th and 30th lay-led service options
b) Feedback: successes, lessons to be learned. How do we want to review services in the future? Do we want to have a SSC liaison that then gives feedback to the SSA? We received a draft feedback form to put in a few of the order of service to get feedback from members.
c) Preview planning for special worship services for the year
Non-Sunday
Christmas Eve
Solstice
Various Sundays e.g. Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day
d) Joint SSC and SSA meeting; wait for feedback before scheduling. Randy back after 10th October. Pallas will review the current SSA handbook and give feedback.
8. Future meetings of SSC will be held first Tuesdays at the Fellowship. Helen will email, book room and get key. There was discussion of gathering at Denny’s to carpool from north county. Next meeting is October 7 at the Fellowship.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Claire Paul, Secretary
Next actions: by whom by when
1. Reserve room at Fellowship for SSC mtgs, get key HO Sept. 16
2. Copy of handouts to Julie Gill and Deborah Pembrook MH Sept. 16
3. Review handouts before October meeting All October 6
4. Put request to help clear chairs in OOS PS Sept. 5
5. Set up meeting with chairs of SSC, Memb. & Hosp. PS TBD
6. Talk with Fred Seamon about serving as SSA Nov. 9 PS TBD
7. Talk with Marcia Hudson about her proposal PS TBD
8. Give Deborah Split Collection info for SSA website HO TBD
9. Prepare a grid that shows speakers, SSA, sound, etc. MH October 6