January 29, 2012
WEAVING THE GORGEOUS WEB
(Passing of the Collection Basket)
Thank you to all of you who turned in pledge cards for 2012. Given what has been pledged so far, we have fallen short of what the Board forecasted for the coming year. This is not entirely unusual at our fellowship, but your Board is trying to think of ways to rectify this situation early rather than later in the fiscal year. This will require several different strategies. One of those strategies is the use of collection baskets.
We as a congregation are going to pass collection baskets during the service this Sunday and each Sunday in February. At that point, the Board will evaluate the practice to determine whether it should become a permanent part of our financial policy.
We realize that this is a cultural change for the church, and we ask that you approach this with an open heart and give it a bit of time to see how you feel about it. The Board wants to know your thoughts on the use of the baskets so that we can evaluate this process. You can speak to any of us at any time, and our contact information is on the last page of this newsletter. We will consider what everyone tells us before making a final decision.
The use of collection baskets does several things for us:
Those who have pledged may use the basket to keep current on their pledges. Just be sure you put your donation an envelope marked with your name so that we know it should be credited to your pledge.
This is a convenient way for friends who have not pledged and visitors to make a contribution to our fellowship without having to track down the box in the entryway.
Eventually the proceeds of the collection baskets can be targeted to specific projects and/or charities within the community.
The passing of the baskets will be accompanied by music, which will allow us all time to reflect or meditate on our gorgeous web and the joy that giving can bring us.
December 11, 2011
Weaving the Gorgeous Web
"We ask that you weave here, together, some kind of sturdy, gorgeous web, because without that among you, the building doesn’t stand. There’s no sanctuary here that is not made of your flesh and bone and love and will. The building will not stand. The lights go out. Religious education shuts down, and the kids are on their own in a wild world. The thing won’t work. So, yes, we ask you to fund this sturdy, gorgeous web. We ask you every year for a financial pledge. And because “we” are “you,” we can be neither apologetic nor coy or subtle about this."
~Rev. Victoria Safford
The theme of our pledge campaign this year is 'Weaving the Gorgeous Web.' I hope you will (if you haven't already), take a moment to read the Reverend Victoria Safford's statement printed above. As she makes abundantly and eloquently clear, this is our place. That it exists, how it exists, what it is and what it can be are entirely up to us - to our determination and will, yes, and also to our inspiration and imagination!
What is this place to you and to your family and friends? This is the first question we each must address not only in our heads but in our hearts. The gorgeous web is ours to weave not just today, not just once, and certainly not alone. We weave it together, day by day, and the pattern created is made strong and beautiful by our shared experiences of joy, of sadness, of life, learning, caring and compassion.
This is our opportunity, in community with others of like mind and heart, to ensure the web will grow larger, stronger and more beautiful. We must each consider carefully and generously our financial contributions, just as we do our ongoing contributions of time and talent. Each component is critical, each of us holds a strand in the web. Each of us brings unique gifts and dreams. Help make them real.
With Faith in this Loving Community,
Janis Cheney
Board President & The Bismarck-Mandan
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Church Board of Trustees
November 14, 2011
Dear Members and Friends,
On behalf of your Board of Trustees, I write to share information on the coming conclusion of Reverend Lyn Burton's consulting ministry with our congregation.
We first met Lyn several years ago when she was a seminary student. She and our long time member Anne Summers were college roommates and as a result of that connection, Lyn came as a visiting ministerial student on several occasions.
Subsequently, we prevailed upon Lyn's professional expertise for support and assistance with strategic and long range planning activities. And just over three years ago, as Lyn was completing her seminary studies, the Board of Trustees entered into a contractual arrangement with her to support our continued strategic planning and growth related activities. Originally, the Board contract with Lyn was to conclude in May of 2011. As a result of changing our fiscal and church planning year to align with the calendar year, the contract was extended to December 2011.
During these past three years, Lyn has played a key role in supporting our growth as individuals and as a faith community. She has shared her professional expertise in helping to guide and deepen board deliberations and capacity; she has generously shared information, insight and resources that have supported our strategic planning, development of religious education, and enhanced service planning and presentation. One of the most significant realizations for me as a result of our work with Lyn is that our congregation - and any congregation with or without professional ministerial presence - will only be successful if there is recognition that we all hold and share responsibility for ministry. And in holding and sharing that responsibility, we are committing ourselves to the greater good of our congregation, community and world.
We invite you to connect with and celebrate Lyn and her work with us during her November 16-20 and December 14-18 visits. For her final visit in December we will be hosting a congregation wide celebration of her ministry to our community. Please plan to join us for this event on Sunday, December 18.
The work and relationship between a board, congregation and minister is significant and unique. As such, there are very specific protocols set by the denomination, to facilitate a successful conclusion and transition. Probably the most challenging is the requirement that there be no contact between the minister and members of the congregation for a year following the end of their professional relationship. This requirement arises from the awareness that congregations need time and opportunity to establish new ministerial relations without the temptation of drawing on the comfort of the known. This is a time of launching into growth and change.
If you have developed a pastoral relationship with Lyn, please be sure to visit with her about the upcoming transition. Lyn and/or the Board will be able to assist you in finding support you may need.
The Board is planning forward into the coming year in anticipation of this change. Central to our deliberations are the maintenance and expansion of critical ministry efforts including pastoral care, right relations, spiritual development, social justice and community outreach. As a part of our upcoming annual meeting on December 12, we will have the opportunity to discuss plans for the coming year in detail together. Over the next few weeks, as our planning continues, please feel free to share your ideas, passions and insights with members of the Board. Additionally, we will continue to have available to us the support and resources of the Prairie Star District.
Endings - just as beginnings - are times of change and challenge. We face unknowns and uncertainties. There is blessing in both as we celebrate accomplishments and build on them to shape our future.
As always, I welcome you thoughtful comments and questions. Thank you for your ongoing support of this fellowship and its ministry.
Sincerely,
Janis Cheney, Board President
What does the Bismarck-Mandan Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and Church mean to you?
By Janis Cheney
Here’s one answer.
This congregation is a significant part of the fabric of my life. The people I meet here and the experiences we share here are extraordinary for their nourishing, enriching, challenging and inspiring qualities. We are all on our own journey to live the best life we can; it is a blessing to share this journey with others who choose to seek justice, truth and love, who see possibilities in the questions and never stop at ‘good enough.’ I cannot imagine my life without this faith community.
During the next month, your Board of Trustees will be developing a budget for 2012 for presentation, discussion and approval at our annual meeting in December. If you have hopes and dreams for our congregation or plain and simple requests, please contract Treasurer Steve Crane or any member of the board (names and contact information are listed on the last page of this newsletter.)
In conjunction with the process of developing a budget, this is also the time of year when we ask members and friends to support our vision, mission and ongoing operation with their financial gifts. Have you read our vision and mission recently?
Vision: We will be a vibrant, caring spiritual community for all who seek an inspirational and religious home.
Mission: We are fellowship of free minds, welcoming all, a beacon of enlightenment and sanctuary, and offering a call to build a better self, community and world.
Lofty sentiments, to be sure. But words chosen carefully in a process of discussion, collaboration and discernment to reflect what, who and how we are together and in the larger community. Words that help to reflect and illuminate how we live our UU principles individually and collectively.
I hope everyone will take a few moments in these next weeks to think about their own answer to the question above, to reflect on our vision and mission, and to thoughtfully consider the financial gift you can joyfully share to support our ongoing presence in your life and in the Bismarck-Mandan community.
More information and opportunity for conversation will be forthcoming!
