What are we doing at our church? Have we accomplished anything? Because some of us have become so comfortable with our reccurring events, it is easy to lose perspective on all the wonderful work that is accomplished at UUCC. After reading through reports from Vice Presidents, DRE, our minister and Board minutes, I can tell you that there is a whole lot going on at our church. The lists that follow are dated from September, 2014 through December, 2016. The first list includes some of the events that are regularly scheduled but nevertheless require planning and organization from our staff and volunteers:
- Membership offers new UU classes for prospective members
- Board of Trustees meets for retreat to plan upcoming year
- Transgender Day and Grateful Gobbler Walk are sponsored by Social Justice
- UU kids put on a wonderful service
- Wednesday night dinners gain enthusiastic participation
- Publicity ads on WUTC promote our church to the community
- Interfaith Pride service recognizes our principles & values
- Communication committee publishes our weekly newsletter, updates our website & contributes to our Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram
- No Rehearse Christmas Pageant makes us smile
- R.E. sponsors indoor Walking Labyrinth
- Stewardship committee plans & follows through with stewardship campaign
- Seder Supper continues to be supported by our families
- New members join & are welcomed on New Member Sunday
There are many committees, volunteers, and staff that are not represented in this short list. We are very lucky that we have a staff and many volunteers that do their jobs successfully and with dedication. But wait, there’s more! Please read over this second list that shows some of the “special” accomplishments that have taken place over the last two years:
- Fall Harvest Festival
- RE comm. retreat
- PIC form ready for members
- OWL classes offered
- Harvest the Power classes
- DRE increased to ¾ time
- Online social media policy presented to Board
- Blessing of Animals service
- RE refurbishment completed
- DRE attends G.A.
- Social Justice cooks for Welcome Home Hospice
- New playground equipment donated
- LED lights installed/art work
- Groundhog Senior Luncheon
- New carpet and flooring installed
- Adult RE offers class on Islam
- Meet & Greet for RE families
- RE Civil Rights trip to Birmingham
- Asset mapping & dinner
- Black Lives Matter sign
- Police chaplaincy training for Cathy
- Bridging service for seniors
- Pray-ground experiment begins
- Tech Sundays to help members
- New nursery policy
- New security equipment
- Choir gains new members
- Service Auction succeeds
- Father Lapsley inspires
- Medievals sponsor Supply Drive
- Chattanooga Police hold graduation at UUCC
- UUCC covenant is published
Of course, with limited space, we cannot list every planned event but needless to say, we have had quite a bit of activity in the past two years. You might be curious about participation. Below are the number of visitors who signed a visitor form, as well as the number of folks who became members. Not surprisingly, we have already counted 33 visitors for just January & February in 2017. I’m told by many that we are doing a good job in being a warm and welcoming congregation. Let’s keep that going and try to help some of the folks who are looking for a peaceful church home.
2014 – Visitors 50, New Members 7
2015 – Visitors 88, New Members 10
2016 – Visitors 79, New Members 11