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December 3, 2007

Dear Ones,

The Membership Committee (Stapely Emberling and Steve Gormley, co-chairs) with Lorraine Reilly from last year’s Membership Task Force, are putting in place the components of a new welcoming process for visitors and newcomers. By improving the quality of our efforts to attract, welcome, connect, inform, engage and track those who come to our doors every Sunday for the first time, we hope to encourage visitors to come back again and again, learn more about us and eventually become members.

We know the first few visits make all the difference to people who are looking for a church community in which they can be true to themselves, grow spiritually and enjoy the feeling of belonging in caring community. We also know that newcomers need more assistance than we have been offering in order to understand the history and values of our religious movement and congregation; what we intend to accomplish “within, among and beyond” ourselves as a faith community; and what it means when one of us “signs the book” to become an official member.

Membership has been grappling with the fact that we’re going to need to grow our teeny committee and recruit some additional help in order to realize our ambitious new dream. The welcoming process we have developed will require faithful stewardship in order to remain vital and effective over the years.  We’ve created new committee responsibilities, big and small, and have identified lots of short-term projects too, perfect for folks who like to “drop in,” do a bit of work, and then “drop back out.” We’re also well aware that Membership is not the only committee that is in need of reinforcements. Many committees have been operating for some time with skeleton crews. Fewer hands make the work so much more daunting and way less fulfilling as well. So… Membership decided to sponsor, with help from the Board of Trustees, an

All-Congregation Committee Fair: January 6, after both services !!

Any group or committee in the church is invited to use their allotted table space that day to erect a flashy display, give away information or gifts, solicit feedback or ideas, fill sign-up sheets with names—anything that might inspire enthusiasm, increase understanding and attract supporters and volunteers. Contact me - (203-227-7205, ext. 19) if your committee or group would like to sign up for a share of table space.

The Committee Fair will offer visitors and newcomers too the opportunity to meet new friends, learn about our congregation, and join in the fun and work. Here are some other things you—all by yourself—might do to help a newbie feel welcome. Wear your nametag!! Greet a person sitting near you in the service or standing alone in the foyer, saying “I don’t think I’ve met you yet! My name is….What’s yours?” Help a person with questions you can’t answer to locate a greeter or Trustee (wearing yellow ribbons). Offer to serve coffee to a stranger in line behind you. Tell him or her why finding this congregation felt like a “homecoming” to you. Attend the Newcomer Orientation every once in a while—all are welcome to come meet some new folks and share the story of your own journey to UUism! Talk about your church with neighbors, friends and colleagues. Wear UU jewelry and T-shirts, use UU totes and mugs in public! Here are two sources for cool UU stuff: Unitarian Universalist Jewelry by Chalice Art and Uni Uniques.

In this season of generosity, hope and celebration, give the gift of the free faith you’ve found.

Be the best UU u r,

margie

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