Church Works

What a wealth of talent, wisdom, creative energy, and just plain hard work goes into the nurturing of a religious community! These are the people who get things done.

Beacon Bookstore offers many publications from Beacon Press and the UUA. The Bookstore also sells used books and magazines with all profits going to the UUSS general fund. Open every Sunday!

Coffee Hospitality sets up, serves, and cleans up after our two coffee hours each Sunday.

Communication Facilitation Monthly informal Congregational Conversation meetings are scheduled on the first Sunday of the month. All UUSS members and friends and interested persons are encouraged to attend. The purpose is to raise questions, create useful discussion and strengthen social ties while addressing UUSS issues.

Endowment Trust was established to safeguard and strengthen our congregation's mission and long term vitality. Gifts from members and friends to the UUSS Endowment Trust are invested in a prudent and diversified manner. Each year a percentage of the trust's income is spent for special and nonrecurring needs of UUSS.

Finance plans and revises a budget that determines how we will spend the funds raised through pledges, rentals and fundraising. Members must approve their proposed budget.

Membership serves the congregation by welcoming visitors, helping to integrate new members and supporting activities that make all members of the congregation feel welcome and included. Whatever your interests and talents UUSS has a place for you.

Ministry Committee supports and attends to the health of the ministry at UUSS and reviews concerns about the ministry voiced by the members. The Board of Trustees and the ministers select committee members.

Music Committee members are dedicated to making music an integral part of the worship experience and creating a common ground for diverse beliefs through the universality of music: The UUSS Choir is part of the Music committee. New singers and musicians are always welcome. The Choir is led by the UUSS Music Director and sings at one service each Sunday and rehearses once a week. UUSS Harmonies is an activity group where amateur singers harmonize on hymns and folk songs just for pleasure

Nominating Committee members are elected by the congregation. This Committee enlists candidates to fill Board of Trustees, Program Council and other leadership positions each year.

Office Volunteers help support the staff to provide a variety of services to members of the congregation as well as to the general public. Tasks vary and include: Greet and answer visitors questions and telephone calls, help prepare the weekly Order of Service and BlueSheet. Data entries and use of the copier may be asked of them. Weekday Office Volunteers for one to three hours weekly. Sunday Office Volunteers before and after Sunday services, once every four to six weeks as scheduled.

Personnel Committee members make recommendations to the Board regarding personnel policies, job descriptions, salaries and benefits for non-clergy staff.

Program Council members are elected by the congregation. Their mission is to nurture current programs and encourage new ones; and to coordinate committee efforts so members can serve the congregation more effectively. The Program Council works with the Board of Trustees to establish budgets and is responsible for program implementation within the bounds of the budget and the Long Range Plan.

Property Management members work cooperatively with the business administrator to maintain our buildings and grounds. The Grasshoppers work in teams of three to maintain the lawns, and the Water Bugs work individually to water our flowerbeds and other plantings in the dry season.

Forum offers monthly Sunday afternoon lecture-and-discussion programs from September through early June. Forums feature a wide variety of topics, highlighting social and political issues.

Religious Education, in collaboration with the Religious Education professional staff, offers special growth and development opportunities for children and young people. Members reflect on the purpose and direction of religious education, choose and develop curricula, and plan special events. Other volunteers contribute to activities for children and youth.

Religious Services works closely with the ministers in planning and presenting Sunday services, and arranges for guest ministers. Worship Leaders take on specific roles and duties as participants in each service.

Stewardship plans and supervises an annual campaign to fund the work of the congregation through pledges of monthly donations.

Unigram editors are responsible for communicating with members who have information of interest to the UUSS community. The editor-members alternate responsibilities for editing and lay-out of the Unigram for monthly distribution by the UUSS staff.

Website Committee maintains and updates the UUSS website. It also develops policies and procedures regarding the use and maintenance of the website. The committee is open to all UUSS members and friends regardless of technical expertise.

Welcome Team members arrive before Sunday services to help ready the Sanctuary. They may distribute hymnals, greet people as they arrive for the service, hand out Orders of Service, and help with seating as needed. They also collect the offering, answer questions of people stopping by the table. Newcomers are encouraged to join; it's a great way to get acquainted.