MINUTES
Sunday Celebration Meeting
February 3, 2013
Present: Helen Armstrong Susanne Maziarz
Ian Corlett Nick Nanos
Yves Haury Sandy Rafos
Amanda Henderson Kurt Thomsen
Allison Kabayama Patricia Trudeau
Kristina Kiil Joan Walder
Moira MacDonald Wayne Walder
Mark Timm
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- 1. Call to Order 12:30pm
- 2. Agenda: a) Topics and Themes. New directions (Wayne)
b) Sunday Services
c) Calendar
- 3. Sunday Services
Positive changes:
- Weekly meetings [Wayne, Amanda, Susanne (WAS) and sometimes Pat] are working extremely well and improved the cohesiveness of the service message, story and music, and flow of service.
- WAS are calling the SL for the upcoming service by phone so can be part of planning, if possible, and to inform choice of readings.
Action: Pat to send updated SL contact list to WAS.
- Storytelling has reached a new plateau with Amanda’s exceptional storytelling skills and the relevance of the story to the message of inspiration.
- Wayne has spoken and challenged the Congregation about Social Action (gutsy, risk-taking and powerful).
Requested changes:
- Social Action Committee (SAC) is ready to move forward with two Social Action themes which have been adopted by the Board:Neighbourhood Tree Stewardship and Anti-Poverty initiatives including the East End Refugee Committee (EERC) this spring and the Out of the Cold program in the autumn.
Recommend: Consciousness raising on these issues by the SL by mentioning Tree Stewardship and EERC at the end of services and services on Social Action and Spirituality (the first is Feb 10 and then Greening Service on April 21 (Earth Day).
- To reflect new Mission Statement (to empower Spiritual Growth and Shared Action for the Care of the World) by re-introducing once a month Testimonials (previously Odyssey) on this subject by Members and children and youth (eg Brenagh and Daylen recently spoke about this to the younger children).
Action: Pat to make invitation to Members and children and youth to give Testimonial.
- Membership Committee would like SL to make special mention of new members at the two services following the New Member Joining Ritual.
Action: Kristina to send Pat one or two suggested sentences.
Action: Pat to incorporate mention of new members into the SL script.
- Selection of Bring a Friend Services that is most reflective of Neighbourhood.
Action: Pat to ensure the monthly “Bring a Friend” services are services that are Wayne, Amanda, Susanne services (and possibly featuring Spirit Choir) and are lead by an experienced SL.
Problems or issues:
- Conflict between set-up and some theatrical elements (eg. Chalice blocked view of Naomi’s mime storytelling or a dance piece, etc.).
Recommend: Pat to ask for a diagram of set-up plan from Keith Parks.
Recommend: SLs to consider set-up for “unconventional” service elements.
- New Member Joining Ritual needs review, streamlining and revision with a view to inclusion of new Mission Statement and with input from children/youth.
Action: Kristina to send Joining Ritual script to WAS for revision.
Action: Wayne to bring suggested changes to Membership Committee.
- SLs sometimes find they do not have up-to-date script. (Pat attaches updated script to weekly Overview e-mail message.). She will also include the most recent calendar.
Action: Pat to post most recent version of script to be accessed by SLs when the new website is ready.
- SLs are not always aware of changes to the Calendar that affect them.
Action: Pat to advise SLs of changes in the schedule.
- Technology issues with equipment problems and Susanne having to change the overhead projection screens while playing, etc.
Action: SLs to provide suggestions to Pat about potential persons who could manage our equipment needs prior to and during service (eg Gordon Thorne, Ed Preston, possible older youth). NB: Laptop can also be operated from the back of the sanctuary.
Action: Pat to approach suggested individuals and offer re-numeration where appropriate.
Action: Technology Persons to determine schedule amongst themselves and provide schedule to Pat which Pat will pass on to SLs.
- 4. Topics and Themes
Wayne attended a Ministers’ conference and passed along the Worship Theme History document compiled by Rochester UU Congregation. Rochester holds three Small Groups each month on the given topic. For example, our Mission could be distilled to Themes (eg. Deepen, Befriend, Service, UUism not “Anything goes”). Knowing this far in advance will greatly assist Susanne in planning the music and Amanda in developing LL curriculum.
Action: WAS to develop Theme and Topics for 2013-2014.
Action: WAS to ask Congregation for suggested topics on a given theme.
Action: WAS to disseminate the monthly Topics to Congregation.
Action: Sandy Rafos (and possibly other Groups) could suggest that the Women’s Group meetings be informed by the current, monthly topic.
Wayne spoke about Martin Luther King Jr.’s reasoning about having a “radical sense of values”. MLK identified four areas: Racism, Militarism, Materialism, and Narcissism and talked about what each is, how they are occurring, and how to change them. MLK focused on Racism. We could focus on Materialism.
- 5. Calendar
- Ensure we are having at least four Pagan services per year.
- Moira has contacted the group that won the TO Greening Award and is encouraged to ask them to speak at one of our summer services.
- There are still openings for summer service speakers.
Action: SLs to let Pat know if we have a Message they would like to share.
- Kurt might give a message on the theme of Disability and the Strengths we gain when we realize and respond to a given Weakness.
- Susanne advised that Joe Jencks will be in town Feb 24.
Action: Susanne to contact Joe Jencks and invite to be the Musical Guest on February 24 and if not it will remain as Spirit Choir.
- Susanne is making arrangements with an extremely accomplished pianist who is here from the Netherlands who is willing to give a concert at Neighbourhood from which the proceeds will be shared 50-50%. He has agreed to be the musical guest on the Sunday morning and the concert will be held the same afternoon. We are looking at April 7th. Neighbourhood Members will be offered reduced admission.
Action: Susanne to work with this guest pianist on when this will best take place and advise Allison.
Action: Allison to take care of advertising and logistics for this concert.
- Wayne spoke of an amazing sacred singer, Fred Johnson, who is willing to come to TO.
Action: Susanne and Wayne to discuss having Fred Johnson come as musical guest and to give concert.
- Many changes were made to the Calendar.
Action: Pat to send revised Calendar to SLs and WAS.
- The Calendar covers us through June. Kudos to Pat!!
- 6. Meeting Adjourned 2:00 pm