Gratitude from the Parish Committee

This fall, many items have come to the attention of the Parish Committee which have caused us to feel hopeful and grateful.  Here is our thanksgiving list…

New Members – We welcomed 3 new members who have recently signed the guest book:  Susan and Michael Plass and Mary McGarigle.  We are delighted to have them join us!  We are also grateful to the Membership Committee which has figured out a way to have folks sign our membership book in a time of Covid and has been reaching out to new folks who have joined our virtual services.

We remain financially afloat! – We are very grateful to the Finance Committee which created a plan B budget to enable us to measure how we are doing relative to the new reality of reduced rental income and changed expenses.  Rather than feeling that we were adrift from our budget, we have a way to see where we stand.  With careful planning, it looks like we will come out even despite the many challenges we are facing.

Our website is amazing!  The communications committee has risen to the challenge of updating our website so that prospective candidates in our ministerial search process can get a real feel for our congregation and our vibrant community.  If you haven’t visited the site lately, check it out!

Our search is moving ahead – The survey, cottage meetings and focus groups have given the search committee lots of valuable information about our church and our needs and desires for our chosen minister.  They have just completed a 50 + page congregational record plus documents too numerous to count– no easy feat!!  This is scheduled to go live to prospective candidates on December 1st.  Thank you to the hard working Search Committee!

The proposed eighth UU principle – The Social Action Committee is inviting us to begin a self-examination of ways in which we can help build a more equitable, inclusive community and can actively work to dismantle racism and other oppressions.  Thank you Social Action Committee for your leadership on this.

Our Committees are rising to the challenges we face – All of our committees are working to find creative ways to work toward our mission and provide opportunities for us to engage with one another and to participate in making this world a more equitable and loving place.  We now have liaisons from the Parish Committee to each church committee so we can work together more effectively.
Our staff is incredible – Each Sunday service is a work of art.  Our staff have been creative and hard- working throughout this difficult time.  They continue to collaborate to provide us with wonderful experiences and to keep our business and building in good order.  

Thank you to all you contribute so generously to this church community!!

Sue Twombly for the Parish Committee:
Kristin Bray, Nick Haddad, Jean Merkl-Gorman, Kelly Morton, Norah Mulvaney-Dey
Dia Warren