From Our Ministers

Grace Period
In a recent sermon Barbara said, “No family is without some weirdness.” That goes for our church family, too. Let’s agree that the process around the decision to add a second Sunday service could have gone more smoothly, especially with regard to communication.

As part of our effort to do better, last month the Council not only contacted UUCB Network committee representatives, we also posted a message to the online UUCB discussion list asking for input. Many of you responded. (Go to http://www.uucb.org/groups/lists to join this list.) In addition, we added two new channels of communication. You can now email us at council@uucb.org or leave a message on the council comment line at 525-0302 ext. 377. All we ask is that when leaving a comment or question you give us your name and a way to get back to you. This is a conversation.

Proposed Fall Sunday Schedule
After considering all the comments received to date and wrestling with many possible variations, we concluded that the schedule proposed by the worship team still seems to offer the most for the most.
    10 a.m. Education Hour (Personal Theology, adult and children classes)
    11 a.m. Service
    12 noon Coffee, snacks, light lunch
    12:30 p.m. Additional classes, workshops, meetings, etc.
Childcare will be provided from 9:45 a.m. until the end of activities.

Beginning in January we will offer another Sunday service at 9 a.m.
Although this was initially intended as a more family-oriented service, the Worship Team is reworking the concept because many families said that time slot wouldn’t work for them. We’ll keep you posted as new information becomes available.

We won’t know how these changes will work until we try them, but the feedback raised a number of concerns, including:
    * Logistics. We need to allow a few minutes for transitions between activities, so the Education Hour will likely be 50 minutes.
    * No more late starts. We’ll need to start the Education Hour promptly at 10:00 so that Personal Theology and classes have as much time as possible.
    * Parking. The short break between programs and influx of visitors will likely create more congestion.

What you can do
The Council has offered to lead the evaluation of these changes, with a preliminary review in November, and another in late spring. In the meantime, we’re asking you to come along in the spirit of good will. Please reserve your judgment until the new programs have had a chance to get on their feet. Help us by working to find creative solutions to the challenges we will undoubtedly encounter along the way and by bringing as much grace as possible to this time of change.

In the same sermon, Barbara also said: “Families are stronger and healthier who share affection, appreciation, frequent and fruitful honest, open communication, and time together. This builds adaptability, flexibility, willingness to try new things. Crises can be dealt with in constructive ways. Warmth and good will help in good times and in bad.”

At the July Council meeting one of the representatives said, “A happy ending is possible even after a rough beginning.” May it be so.

The UUCB Council
Jim Acock, Lynnette Delgado, Ann Harlow, Sue Magidson, Jane Middleton, Judy Sam, John Tucker