Greetings, members and friends of UU Middleboro! We’re already a month into the new church year, and the weather is getting crisper as the days shorten and nights lengthen. It’s time for pumpkins and candy corn and fall colors and (almost) time for pumpkin spice-flavored everything.
Our tasks for the second year of interim ministry are coming clearly into focus. We’ve tried out a few sample covenant statements (bonds of fellowship) as unison readings the first four services of the year, and plans are in place for Andrea Priest to lead up a team to present a draft statement for the congregation to consider adopting. When we say together a shared covenant, we strengthen our commitment to treat one another with mutual respect even when opinions vary and emotions run high.
The church will also be creating a fresh mission statement, one which is short and crisp and easily remembered. A mission statement captures those things that we believe in most strongly and will guide all our actions and the direction of our projects. There are many things that we hold as values– a mission statement captures those values we hold as most salient. Our current mission statement does a wonderful job of capturing a broad range of values and concerns, but its 180-word length makes it unwieldy for its purpose. We might consider retaining it as an “expanded mission statement,” to refer to for inspiration and reflection.
We are working, too, on strengthening our organizational chart, and there is great news to share there. Bill Howe has agreed to head up our Finance Committee, which will consist of the Treasurer, Investment Committee, Fundraising Team, and Pledge Drive staff. Thanks, Bill! Andrea Priest will chair a small Personnel Committee, dedicated to facilitating staff functions and allowing for mediation of disputes should the need arise. Thank you, Andrea! I will be convening the first meeting of a new Public Relations Team in the first week of October. We hope to strengthen our visibility and outreach and suggest changes in presentation that we hope will make us more attractive as a church for the 21st century.
The projects I’ve mentioned so far are all in the arena of “governance.” We also will be strengthening ministry during this transitional time. To that end, Viola Fairweather and I will each be offering a small group ministry opportunity on the experience of grieving losses. It’s not too late to sign up. There are sign-up sheets on the church parlor table. You can also contact the minister or office administrator to enroll. The first meeting of the October-November Wednesday group is on October 4 at 12:15 pm in the Parish Hall.
Finally, please take a moment to offer a word of welcome to our newest members, Bruce Henrikson, Diane Reed, and Paul Sanford. Welcome, all!
Autumnal blessings,
Rev. Peter
