As a small, lay-led congregation, we rely on committee involvement by volunteers (members and friends). It's where the action is! Here is a list of committees and a brief description of what they do. If any of them catch your fancy, you can find contact information at http://www.fmuu.org/contacts.html. We invite you to find a committee whose activities look intriguing to you, and contact the chairperson to volunteer your individual talent and energy!
This committee, formed after our 50th Anniversary celebration in 2002, researches church history, identifies material to be preserved, determines the most appropriate form for storage of records and artifacts, and assures that systems are in place to capture information as it is created for subsequent archival storage.
This new committee incorporates and expands functions of an existing Building and Grounds committee. It oversees and coordinates the physical maintenance of the church building and grounds; coordinates volunteers for mowing and snow removal, and other yard related work; monitors an annual preventive maintenance schedule; makes recommendations for capital improvements; and assures maintenance of a church property inventory.
The purpose of this committee is to plan and coordinate these functions for members, friends and visitors. This includes welcoming newcomers, and organizing coffee and refreshments after Sunday services; creating a visually comfortable and pleasing space, including decorations for special celebrations, throughout the building; and organizing regular and special church social gatherings during the year.
This committee has overall responsibility for the annual review, revision, and extension of the congregation's long range plan. Each year, it identifies major directions of the church for the ensuing five years; develops a plan of concrete steps that can be taken toward those goals, based on input from the congregation and church committees; and monitors implementation of specific objectives in the current Five Year Plan.
The purpose of this new committee is to provide all member services through three major functions. New Member Services includes meeting and greeting, orienting and integrating new members. Adult Religious Education organizes classes and recruits teachers to meet the common interests of established as well as new members. Pastoral Care includes such activities as sending special cards and making home visits to ill members, and making referrals for counseling.
The purpose of this committee, chaired by the Program Coordinator, is to plan Sunday services, forums, and special programs. It establishes themes for services, organizes intergenerational programs, and plans for rites of passages to be observed. It strives for balance among several types of program content, and generates ideas for program topics and speakers. The volunteer Music Director is a committee member but maintains a separate budget (See Choir).
The purpose of this committee is to promote the FMUU Church in the Fargo-Moorhead area, and to make the church visible in the larger community. The Publicity Committee produces and distributes all Church advertising for Sunday services and special events; researches UUA resources for promoting growth; gathers information about different community areas and seeks new members with appropriately targeted publicity.
This committee is responsible for establishing a philosophy of religious instruction and implementing it by designing an overall curriculum plan. The committee undertakes RE related projects, such as Guest at Your Table; and it assists with ongoing RE concerns such as approving curricula and teacher selection. In addition, the committee is responsible for the Child Care and Child Supervision component of the program.
The purpose of this committee is to inform and educate congregation members and the public in areas of social concern; find ways and means to rectify social injustices; and sponsor or support groups organized to deal with social problems. The committee identifies opportunities for and coordinates church involvement in social change issues, in the church and in the larger community; and it proposes policy for making public statements on issues of member concern.
This committee fosters stewardship and a culture of generosity within the church, and plans stewardship opportunities for members to contribute financially toward realizing the goals of the congregation. As its primary responsibility, the committee develops and coordinates the annual Stewardship Campaign on behalf of the church. In addition, the committee undertakes special fund raising projects on request or in conjunction with other event planners.
In addition to standing committees, individual members organize and/or lead various activities for all interested members and friends.
The Book Club meets monthly to discuss books of mutual interest in a casual setting. Church membership is not required, only an interest in the book(s) to be discussed.
The FMUU Choir is an opportunity for people of all skill and interest levels to come together in choral singing. The choir performs at Sunday services at least once a month with a repertoire that ranges from traditional choral compositions spanning several centuries of music history to original pieces composed specifically for the group. The choir rehearses every 3rd and 4th Sunday at 10:00 am (child care is provided), and perform at the 4th Sunday service of the month.
This club is a church fundraiser and fun social activity. The club is open to both church members and non-members of all experience levels. The commitment is one game of bridge (24 hands) starting in the fall and running through April. Pairs play in each others's homes at times that are mutually agreeable.
This is an e-mail list for occasional social events with UU church members and friends, and includes movies or theater, often with meals or coffee before or after.