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Become involved with a project that has caught your passion: whether it's Green Sanctuary, Gift-Based Ministry, as a worship associate, leading a covenant group, or something entirely different, your congregation needs your involvement in order to benefit from your unique talents and gifts!

Become a religious educator. Whether you are working with children, youth, young adults, or adults, this work can be deeply fulfilling and fun!

Offer to become a lay leader in your congregation. Talk to your nominating committee. If your congregation's in search for new professional leadership, think about whether you might contribute in new and exciting ways to that venture.

Witness your faith in the company of others, on behalf of your congregation. Seek out connections with other religious groups who share similar values. Help carry the message -- beyond your congregation -- that makes clear Unitarian Universalism's values and voice in this challenging world.

Become a delegate to your UUA District's meetings. You'll learn new skills, develop a sense of Unitarian Universalism that extends beyond your own congregation, and help nurture the vitality of our faith in your district.

Don't wait to be asked: contact your congregation's Nominating Committee and tell them you're willing to serve. They'll be glad to hear from you!

- from the UUA

Hospitality Mission, Organization, and Task Descriptions

Mission and Strengths: The mission of the Hospitality Teams is to support Sunday services while enhancing community. In this volunteer model the teams enhance social interactions and create a sense of belonging to and responsibility for our spiritual community. Nearly all friends and members are assigned to a team, and thus have the opportunity to integrate into congregational life through service.

Organizational Model: Teams are organized on a rotating monthly basis. An overall co-ordinator with team co-ordinators and back-ups coordinators evaluate participation and re-balance the teams, so that members have the chance to work with different volunteers each year. Some members enjoy particular tasks in which they excel, so we honor those preferences. June, July, and August are done on a serve as you are able basis, without coordinators. Some members and friends who cannot attend regularly prefer not to be assigned to a team; those folks contribute as they are able.

Functions: Team members accomplish the following tasks:

  • Ushering
  • Ringing the bell
  • Providing food to share
  • Food set-up for coffee hour and potlucks
  • Offeratory Collection
  • Hosting and clean-up of coffee hour
Coordinators: Team coordinators will email their team members in a timely fashion before the month of service. Some coordinators will use Sign-up genius or a similar program if they want to organize in that fashion. Please tell your coordinator when you do NOT plan to attend services. This allows coordinators to call on extra help, if needed for a thin week in team functioning. Please let them know the jobs you prefer to do and which weeks you can commit. This is a TEAM, which means each one steps in, to help as needs are seen.

Team Instructions/ Job Descriptions:

Usher:

  • Arrive to start greeting no later than 10:40. If some folks are already seated, greet them and make sure they have a program.
  • If weather permits, stand outside to greet. Offer a program and remind folks to get their name tags.
  • Introduce yourself to new visitors and get their name. Invite them to attend coffee hour and get a name tag downstairs.
  • Assist visitors with name tag during coffee hour, speak with them and perhaps introduce to other friends/members.
  • Greeting new visitors during coffee hour is a collective responsibility (opportunity) to build community. We are noted for our fine welcome.
  • Stay in the back of the sanctuary until all seem to be seated. Close the inner doors to retain heat or AC and to eliminate glare for service leaders.
Ringing the Bell
  • As the prelude is finishing, when the service leaders start down the aisle, someone on the greeting team in the vestibule needs to ring the bell. It should toll approximately 11 times, to mark the hour, as is customary in religious communities.
Providing Food to Share
  • Team members are asked to bring food for the table each Sunday during their months of team service. For Second Sunday Potluck: all those attending and are able bring food for this luncheon.
  • Type of food: Some teams like to provide hearty food. This is not mandatory for teams. Simple offerings such as fruit, cheese and crackers, nuts, cookies is acceptable.
  • Juices: Those who do not attend regularly or who cannot bring other foods are asked to provide some juices or seltzer for the cold drink table.
  • Preparation: Please take your food downstairs when you arrive so the team set-up volunteers can get it ready to serve.
Food
  • Volunteer coffee makers and friends usually have coffee ready by 10:00. Otherwise, other team members must do coffee and hot drink set-up.
  • Team set-up volunteers should be on task by about 10:20. Singers can assist after rehearsal at 10:30. Two or three are needed each week.
  • Team set-up volunteers prepare food for presentation, put out silverware and plates, napkins, trivets, etc., whatever is needed.
  • Potluck Sunday: Use the “good china” and “silverware”, not paper plates and plasticware. Set out plates, trivets and serving pieces. Put food in warming and hot ovens.
Offertory Collection:
  • Please go to the back of the sanctuary as soon as service leader gets up to introduce the offertory.
  • Count the number in attendance. Each usher counts his/her side and estimates for the number of people upstairs in RE and downstairs. These numbers must be posted on the sign in the office.
  • Go to the front at the appropriate time, collect from the side seats as needed, from the AV person and then proceed down the aisles. Try to stay together in pacing.
  • Wait in the back until the leader indicates ready to receive.
  • Immediately after service, both go to the office or the DUO room. Both ushers must sign off on the funds collected and on total attendance.
  • There is a tally sheet and bag for the collection money in the office.
  • Coins collected for “Change for Change” need not be counted: Place into plastic bag.
Hosting and Clean-up
  • As coffee hour ends, begin to clear the table and store any food that can be saved for next week. Give away the rest or take it home yourself.
  • Wash, dry and put away all dishes and serving utensils. On Potluck Sunday, use the dishwasher for the china and “silverware”. Ask for help as needed. Many know how to use it. The short cycle takes 10 minutes. Dry the dishes and do another cycle as needed.
  • Unclaimed food containers are cleaned and left behind the dish drainer for a few weeks.
  • Tear down the drink set up. Unplug the heating tray, so it will be cool when stored on the shelf below.
  • Someone should can take tea towels home to launder and bring back next week.
  • Coffee and tea carafes are never washed with soap. Rinse with hot water only and place back in the drawers.
  • Clean table cloths as needed. When dry, fold carefully and store in drawers.
  • Put away tables and chairs (six per stack). Ask people to assist as needed.
  • Each team will have 2 or 3 volunteers to assist with clean-up. However it works best when all team members lend a hand, if they are able to stay.

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