[Worship] Minutes of August 5 meeting of Worship & Music Committee
Martha McGovern
marthamcg at suddenlink.net
Sat Aug 8 21:40:11 CDT 2020
Minutes of August 5, 2020 Meeting of the Worship & Music Committee
In Attendance: Adeline Bailey, Peg Clifford, Kat Hawbaker, Nancy Luthy, Martha McGovern, Suzyn Mills, Ralph Olander, Annie Warmke
1.. Minutes of July meeting were approved.
2.. Theme for 2020- 2021: How can we be mindful and authentic in cherishing all life?
3.. Goal of Maintaining Sense of Community
Use of a Call Tree Nancy Luthy summarized the conclusions from inquiries: Members of the Council did not see a need for reviving the Call Tree. They were willing to notify their committee/group members. Since email provides direct or indirect contact to all but two members/friends, email will continue to be the main way of keeping all informed of FUUSM matters.
The group discussed other purposes or situations in which a faster means and/or a formal call tree might be needed. For example, canceling church services because of area flooding or plumbing problems. It was suggested that texting might be the method of the current times and that adding cell phone numbers to the directory might be a next step.
4.. Nancy also notified us that Jim Rapp will probably be the new Board liaison.
5.. Moving Forward with Virtual Worship and Return to In-Church Services: What are next steps??
· Committee position on live in-church services: In an abundance of caution, we will hold no live, in-church services until conditions in the larger community can make doing so safe.
· Technology Team (Ralph, Mike Bailey, Rev Kat, Al Tuttle): Ralph Olander reported that improved A/V equipment will be needed to meet the long term needs. The cameras with the desired features are not equipped with microphones, so the current sound board will need to be replaced. Al Tuttle is being asked to investigate options and possible consultants.
· Ralph also noted the need to use the PA system for services held in the courtyard.
· Mike Bailey will create a placard for display during transition from social time to the worship service. The placard will welcome, remind participants to mute their microphones, invite participants to enter a reverent frame of mind.
· Services (whether pre-recorded or live) will be aired at 11:00 a.m. on both Zoom and Facebook Live and then posted on Youtube later.
· The committee members expressed how valuable they feel Randall Kidder's music has been for morale during the pandemic and how keeping him on the payroll is a very high priority. They also considered how his contributions can be utilized more effectively (e.g., to promote participation in the virtual worship services, to improve coordination between Randy and the designer of the worship service.) Martha will respond to Randy's email.
· Kat shared information about a service called Worshipcast that deals with copyright issues for music. She will investigate further and report.
· The Board task force has established guidelines for returning to in-church services and for use of the church buildings by outside groups.
· The Committee recommends that in-church services a. have attendees wear masks and hum hymns; b. limit musical performances - whether vocal or instrumental - to small groups (solo - trio), perhaps by family groups; c. pre-record performances for sharing on TV screen.
6.. Financial Matters:
Jane Tumas-Serna has made a $500 donation to the Worship & Music Committee. She designated the funds to purchase of battery-powered candles for the candelabras in the Sanctuary and for special services, such as the Day of the Dead. If funds remain, she would like them to go toward covering technology costs.
Dr. Mark Sibicky has requested that his stipend ($75) for the August 16 reflection be put toward a cause of the W & M Committee's choosing. The Committee voted to add the amount to the Technology budget line for purchasing improved A/V equipment.
7.. Reflection on Service - Though we did not formally analyze July 19 (Andrew McKnight) and July 26 (Annie Warmke), both worship services designed by Suzyn Mills, positive comments were shared on music choices and transmission clarity, Ralph's incorporation of enhancing techniques in the recorded service components, the coherence of the two services.
What went well:
What to refine:
Thematic/coherent:
Spirituality/Faith Tradition:
Life Span:
July - October:
Possible Topics and Speakers:
Swap/Share with Charleston UU, Athens UU - Kat [on August 16??]
UU Vote
>From Interfaith Power & Light - Democracy Values & the 2020 Election: A Reflection Guide for Faith Communities - Martha
Women & Vote Empowerment - Annie
History of Voting - Jann Adams ??
Black Lives Matter (Panel -- Moni, Geroge B, Darryl T, Ted G) - Kat ??
Gospel Music and/or Blues -- Sadie Johnson
BLM and Sumner School in Parkersburg [Peg - contact Peshka Calloway for October 18, 25???]
July
5 Kat - The Paradox of We: Now and In the Future
12 GA - 24-28 video
19 Andrew McKnight - Tilling Our Common Ground OR Beyond These Walls (Suzyn Mills)
26 FUUSM Principles & Covid-19: Our Call to Care for Each Other: (Annie Warmke with
Suzyn Mills)
August
2 Kat - Lammas: First Fruits of Harvest (Celtic) 9:30 a.m. - Courtyard, 11:00 a.m. - virtual
9 "Celebrating 80 Yrs of UUSC: Brave Legacy, Bold Future" - pre-recorded
16 Kat & guest speaker Mark Sibicky, Ph.D. The Social Psychology of a Pandemic:
Conspiracy Theories, Social Anxiety, and Why Some People Won't Wear a Mask
23 Kat & Martha Prayer and Poetry
30 Kat & guest speaker Felix Burrows Speak for Yourself (racism and poverty)
September
6 Labor Day (respect for essential workers) Peg Clifford & Kat
13 Positivity in Pandemic (Kristen - artist)
20 Water Ceremony + Autumn Equinox
27 Congregational Meeting - Short Service
October
4 Annie Warmke - Values and Voting {Blessing of Animals in Courtyard}
11 Indigenous People's Day
18
25
Possible Topics and speakers for future services:
· ***Wenda Sheard from Athens UU proposes collaboration, perhaps in spring 2020, in which Athens and Marietta would do a joint service, at Athens church one Sunday and Marietta church another Sunday. Offer came via Robin at bozian.com
· Jim Rapp - idea to connect historical events/movements to FUUSM - "From These Pews"
· Martha will communicate to Rev. Elizabeth Teal of the Jacksonville, Florida UU congregation that we will welcome her as a guest speaker and will coordinate dates, probably in the summer. 904-874-0047 reverendteal at gmail.com
· Kat will open discussion with Rev. Elizabeth Maleke , Williamstown Presbyterian, about a pulpit exchange or team preaching.
· The nature of prayer - Rain Dance was envisioning, 4 types - supplication, thanksgiving, contrition, praise
· Forgiveness as recurring service - connected with Yom Kippur "We forgive ourselves and each other. We begin again in Love."
· clarification of various service/outreach activities of the local congregation and endeavors with UUA, UUSC, etc. and their relationship with FUUSM principles, mission
Need for tracking and regular reporting? For example in Finance Committee records and Annual Meeting report?? Do our church finances align with our mission?
· Possible speakers: artists: Dani, Morgan/Owen
· Workshop service: prayer flags - Kat and Peg will take the lead on the service; Jane Tumas-Serna is willing to help.
· Mind maps may help the congregation identify how they are active in FUUSM efforts/activities and what additional options they would like.
· Moral leadership: Truman and Berlin Air Lift
· Rancho Mirage Writers Festival (published on February 17, 2017) - Questions from Bret
Stephens: Are we a country that seeks and attracts human capital and believes in being
fundamentally open to the world? Are we a self-critical country or a country of blamers?
Do we define our interests according to our values or vice versa? Do we have a healthy
innovation culture? Do we have a healthy civic culture? Are we still a nation of
optimists? What are our attitudes toward foreigners, failure, global leadership, change,
each other?
· Touchstone REACH Packet, Hungry Town, multiple intelligences with additional one - existential-spiritual, powerful children's stories, ages of women, This I Believe, family stories as carriers of family values, June Teenth celebration, reflections of people who grew up in UU congregation (Jay Phillips, Mike Bailey, Dean Banziger), Bill Bauer and Peg Clifford on suicide and kindness, reflections of former ministers, Living Mindfully - Prepare for the Unexpected (Robin Bozian, Anita Newhart, Sue Montera, Virginia Mayle), Quill as a storyteller, Quakers on consensus, morality of artificial intelligence.
· Hal Walker - Suzyn Catherine Roma - Kat
· Peg Clifford - What does democracy look like to whom?, We are all brothers (Day of the Dead),
5 words for learning in Hebrew, immigration - world map of our origins
Cooperation with other churches - bus trip to African-American Museum in DC or
Underground Railroad in Cincinnati
· Protest - contrast burning cross & burning flag (Barb Kidd)
· Diversity: awareness of brain injury - (Beverly Bradley)
· Summer Institute: Encouraging attendance, using resources e.g., Non-Violent Communication
· Peg Clifford - "Where did I come from & why?" testimonials from members/friends
· Visual Arts (social justice, spirituality)
· Shelley Graffs - Singing in Sacred Circle, etc. graffs at cinci.rr.com
· Trauma-Informed Care/ Trauma-Informed Schools
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