Committee Purpose:

Chairperson:

Members:

Next Meeting:

e-Mail Contact:

Annual Reports:

Minutes:

Present. Harold Babcock, Cyd Raschke, Florence Mercer, Scot Cawley

Worship Service Calendar. An updated copy of the Sunday calendar is attached. On 3/28 Stan Barrett will speak in the pulpit. Harold is managing the newsletter and other communication deadlines with Stan, and Scot will contact Stan to coordinate the worship service. The only other change to the calendar is that on 5/9, Rev. John Burciaga, husband of Linda Lu Schultz, will speak in the pulpit. Regarding service assistants and chalice lighters, we are all set for the time being.

Chalice lighters. Only one or two committees remain to be scheduled for lighting the chalice, and we are still on the look-out for three generation chalice lighters for the upcoming family holidays.

The subject of expanding chalice lighters to include social groups was discussed. Although we have included common-interest groups in chalice lightings, it was decided to continue the policy of chalice lighters being UU denominational or FRS-sponsored groups only. By limiting the chalice lighters to FRS-sponsored or UU-specific groups, we will not face the uncomfortable position of having to exclude any group which might have a creed or policy that is not compatible with our principles. Further, the purpose of the chalice is to bond UU members with one another. It is our denomination's symbolic ritual, rather than a community tradition. An exception might be made, as is done in the case of announcements in the worship service, for groups or causes that are sponsored by an FRS committee.

Parish Council Meeting 2/4. There is a lot of positive energy among the church committees, however, a big concern facing the Council is the 04-05 Budget and upcoming canvass. Also, by the April Council meeting, we are to report our committee members for the coming fiscal year. At present, Florence, Scot, Rebecca and Michael will remain on the committee in various capacities. Cyd will contact Ann and some prospective new members. Pamela has accepted a full-time position, so won't be joining the committee at this time. Because daytime meetings are difficult for some members, we might alternate day and evening or weekend meetings next year.

Worship Service workshop 4/4, 12 noon. The agenda for the Workshop was finalized.

• 12:00 Welcome and introductions - Cyd
• 12:05 The deeper meaning of the worship service structure and themes in the hymnal - Harold
• 12:17 Worship Committee's role - Florence
• 12:20 Planning the 4/25 worship service - Cyd
• 12:25 Alex or Ray presents sermonette
• 12:35 Discussion
• 12:40 Alex or Ray presents sermonette
• 12:50 Discussion

Present: Harold Babcock, Scot Cawley, Florence Mercer, Ann Chase, Cyd Raschke

Sunday Worship Service Calendar: An updated copy of the Worship Service Calendar is attached. We are in good shape! However, there are some Service Assistant dates to fill, and chalice lighter calls to make. Committee members should let Cyd know which dates they would like to cover as Service Assistant or chalice lighting scheduler. We distributed revised copies of the Church Opening procedures. One new task is that once a month we need to check the pews to make sure we have 2 or 3 Joys & Sorrows forms and a pencil in the plastic packets.

Pulpit: We discussed the recent speakers, the good attendance during Harold's time away, and the snow storm-altered service of Dec. 7. In the event a last-minute substitute speaker is needed (should Harold or other speaker have an emergency), Bert can serve as a back-up. A contingency plan might be handy if a situation such as the Dec. 7 snow storm occurs again. An alternative service could be prepared ahead of time and stored in the pulpit. Harold will pursue the alternative service.

A New Year Evaluation: We took a minute to evaluate the work of our committee and the worship service. The only comments we have heard (other than good job!) involve having more lay participation in the service. We will put a message in the Steeple Weekly with a call for people to come forward should they wish to participate. One other concern was the accessibility of Joys and Sorrows forms now that they are in packets rather than the Order of Service. We will send out a reminder that J&S forms are available on the visitor's table and can be picked up on the way into the sanctuary.

Lay-Led Worship Service: We are fortunate to have Ray Wilson and Alexandra Mezey in the pulpit on April 25. In conjunction, we will have a workshop on how to give a Worship Service which Harold and the Worship Committee will lead. It will give Ray and Alex a chance to read their sermons, time them, evaluate how well they fit together. The workshop will be open to the Society, and should last no more than an hour. Because of Easter, we will try to schedule the workshop for April 4.

For the future, we would like to host another jazz service and another lay-led service entitled "Spiritual Odysseys" thanks to an idea from Alex Mezey, which would explore how we became UUs.

Next meeting: In lieu of a meeting in February, we will be in touch on-line and in-church. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, March 10 at 10:40 a.m. in the Conference Room.

Present: Harold Babcock, Scot Cawley, Florence Mercer, Ann Chase, Cyd Raschke

Sunday Worship Service Calendar: An updated copy of the Worship Service Calendar will always be distributed at Worship Committee meetings. However, the minutes and agenda, which are also sent via email, will be provided in hard copy form only upon request.

Pulpit: We are happy to announce that Wendy Von Zirpolo, Dir. of R.E. at Haverhill and minister-in-training, will be filling in for Harold on December 28. Thanks to Julie Parker-Amery for her recommendation. Speaking of Julie, she has confirmed the date of February 8 for speaking in the pulpit. We have left a message for Stan Barrett requesting that he consider March 28 for a pulpit date.

One of the people we contacted, Debbie O'Carroll, a story teller and Newburyport resident who has attended our church, was happy that we called, and although she was busy on the date we proposed, she would like to be considered in the future.

Chalice lighters: Thanks to Ann for her chalice lighting contacts, and the only date open for lighting the chalice for the remainder of the calendar year is Dec. 7. Committee members that are helping identify and line up chalice lighters should check with Cyd first to prevent duplicate calls.

Service Assistant: Harold has been working with Ann regarding the revised procedures for opening and closing the renovated buildings, and they will review and revise the guidelines for opening the church. Shortly, we will get keys for the new doors. When one's month is up, the Service Assistant needs to contact the next Service Assistant directly to let him or her know where to find the keys.

Thanks to Ann for obtaining some lamp oil for the chalice. It is the responsibility for the Service Assistant to check supplies and need for polishing the chalice before the keys are handed over to the next month's Service Assistant. Harold reported that we have enough candles for the time being.

For the month of December we will take turns doing a Sunday each: Florence 12/7, Harold 12/14, Cyd 12/21, and Scot 12/28. Scot has also agreed to assist Ms. Von Zirpolo with the service on Dec. 28. In January, Cyd will be Service Assistant; Florence, February; and Scot for March.

Joys and Sorrows form: Cyd reported that Admin. Asst. Vicki was in favor of the idea of providing in the pews a clear plastic pocket that could be filled with Joys and Sorrows forms and a pencil. Cyd will coordinate this change and communicate it to the congregation.

Lay-Led Worship Service: The Committee confirmed that for April 25, we would like to offer another lay-led worship service. Cyd will follow up with the individuals that have been identified as potential speakers. We will have three people give a 5 minute talk (or two with 8 minutes), and Florence has volunteered to assist with the service.

New Members: Our Committee has an opening for an additional member. We are encouraged to be on the look-out for potential new members.

Next meeting: In lieu of a meeting in December, we will be in touch on-line. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, January 14 at 10:40 a.m. in the Conference Room.

Present: Harold Babcock, Michael Fosburg, Ann Chase, Cyd Raschke

Harold opened the meeting with a reading, and we welcomed our new committee members, Michael and Ann.

Worship Service Calendar:

Pulpit: Harold distributed a list of days for which the pulpit will need to be filled. The first, September 28, will be filled by Rev. Bert Steeves. He has requested that someone assist him by reading the announcements and Joys & Sorrows. Michael agreed to assist Bert on that Sunday.

For the next free pulpit day of October 26, it was suggested that the group of parishioners who went to Romania, the "Transylvania 9", share their experiences with the congregation on that day. Michael is one of the members and will follow up.

Ideas for filling the pulpit on future dates included: Julie Parker-Amery, R.E. Director; Art Ledoux, whose talk on Buddhism in our pulpit in early 2002 was very well received; Anna Smulowitz, a Chaplin and speaker on Jewish and inter-faith matters and is another popular guest in our pulpit; Robin Zucker, who is in a year of UU residency locally; and Lynn Kerr.

For next year, we hope to have another lay-led service.

Chalice lighters: We will continue our objectives to bring new chalice lighters into the worship service, and to include committees and social groups. Worship Committee members should think of about five contacts (either individuals, families or groups) that they would be willing to contact sometime during the year. Call or email Cyd with your list of people or bring it to the October meeting.

Service Assistant: Michael will serve as Service Assistant through the next few weeks, Rebecca Robertson will do the remainder of October, and Ann, the month of November. On Sunday, Harold will orient Michael on the procedures for opening and closing the church.