[Worship] Minutes of December2, 2020 meeting of W & M Comm

Sun Dec 20 12:24:18 CST 2020

Minutes for Wed., December 2, 2020 Meeting of the Worship & Music Committee
In Attendance:  Adeline Bailey, Kat Hawbaker, Martha McGovern, Maggie Meyer, Suzyn Mills, Annie Warmke
Chalice Lighting:  The Coronavirus Prayer   by James Parker
Dear Lord,
In this our hour of doorknobs and droplets,
when masks have canceled our personalities; 
in this our hour of prickling perimeters, sinister surfaces, 
defeated bodies, and victorious abstractions, 
when some of us are stepping into rooms humid with contagion, 
and some of us are standing in the pasta aisle; 
in this our hour of vacant parks and borded-up hoops, 
when we miss the sky-high roar of the city 
and hear instead the tarp that flaps on the unfinished roof, 
the squirrel giving his hingelike cry, and the siren constantly passing, 
to You we send up our prayer, as follows:

Let not heebie-jeebies become our religion, 
our new ideology, with its own jargon.
Fortify us, Lord.  Show us how.
What would your saints be doing now?
Saint Francis, he was a fan of the human.
He’d be rolling naked on Boston Common.
He’d be sharing a bottle.  No mask, no gloves, 
shielded only by burning love.
But I don’t think we’re in the mood 
for feats of antic beatitude.
In New York City, and in Madrid, 
the saints maintain the rumbling grid.
Bless the mailman, and equally bless 
the bus driver, vector of steadfastness.
Protect the bravest, the best we’ve got.
Protect the rest of us, why not.
And if the virus that took John Prine 
comes, as it may, for me and mine, 
although we’ve mostly stayed indoors, 
well-- then, as ever, we’re all Yours.

Until further notice,
AMEN

1. Minutes of  November  were approved.
2. Theme for 2020- 2021:  How can we be mindful and authentic in cherishing all life? 
3. Sharing:  Committee members will bring “anchor readings” for the theme as resources for development of worship services.
4. Moving Forward with Virtual Worship and Return to In-Church Services:  What are next steps??
• Providing both in-person and virtual worship services:  After much discussion, the committee settled on the following pilot approach, adjusted as needed:
o One in-person service will be offered per month.
o Timing will be 11:00 a.m. for virtual service, 12:15 p.m. for in-person service.
o Both services will usually be held in the Sanctuary.
o Safety protocols will be followed at all times.
o The Safety Committee (in cooperation with the Membership Committee) will provide Greeters and Ushers to implement those protocols.
o The in-person service will emphasize participation/interaction of attendees and will be light on incorporation of elements requiring technology.
o The in-person service will feature Randall Kidder’s live music.
o The first in-person service will be November 22 for Thanksgiving; the Christmas Eve service will be the in-person service for December.
• MUSIC:  Kat shared information about a service called Worshipcast that deals with copyright issues for music. The cost per year is $235.  One concern is that the covered pieces are primarily from the Christian tradition.  Another alternative is purchasing rights to use one piece in perpetuity.  For example Emma’s Revolution charges $250 for “Peace, Salaam, Shalom.”  We will consult with Martha Webster about other alternatives.
• GUIDELINES FOR DESIGNING/PREPARING WORSHIP SERVICE: Martha will prepare a draft and will submit it to Committee members for feedback.
• Using Report from Adeline and Martha on Holiday Planning/Brainstorming sponsored by Appalachian Cluster as resource for planning:
Of special note:  Fire Communion - At beginning of service, share sorrows/fears that letting go of; at end, share joys/hopes; Involve families – Distribute “pick-me-up kits”
5. Adeline reported that the process for the Community Card Project has been established and is progressing smoothly.  Thank you, Adeline!
6. The Board of Trustees has chosen Martha, Adeline, Suzyn, and Kat as recipients of the FUUSM Service Award for their efforts in planning our Sunday worship services.  We are both humbled and grateful for the recognition.  
7. General Reflection on Services 
What to continue:  visuals with music, music performances
What to refine:  increase participation using chat, at-home props, breakout rooms, polls, thought/discussion prompts such as “What is one thing you will take away from this service?”
Thematic/coherent:  
Spirituality/Faith Tradition:
Life Span: 
8. Financial Matters:  Kat will check whether a donation was made to UU The Vote.  Martha reports that no donation was sent from W & M Committee to EVE.  As we recall, the congregation was encouraged to send individual donations.  A thank you was sent to Robin Bozian.  
9. Choir/Music Update:  Martha Webster and Choir are preparing several pieces. [12/20 “A Blessing”]   
10. The Committee decided to ask committees/groups to reflect on how they are, or intend to be, mindful and authentic in cherishing all life and then to be a part of, or to take responsibility for, a worship service on that 2020-2021 theme.  The Committee hopes that this approach will deepen insight into the purpose of the committee/group, will increase involvement of members/friends, and will inform the congregation of the activities of the committees/groups.  Adeline included information about this initiative in The Confluence for October.  
Martha and Rebecca Phillips have asked for feedback from women of the congregation.  Women’s Group led the November 15 service.  Women’s Group will hold both in-person and Zoom meetings each month.  Beth Lepore and Kat will share leadership for the in-person meetings, the first to be Monday, December 14 at 3:00 p.m. in the Social Hall.  [Postponed because of COVID situation]  Martha and Rebecca will share leadership for the Zoom meetings, the first to be Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Green Sanctuary has requested a Sunday in April (11, 18, 25?)
George Banziger will discuss the issue further with Men’s Group and report back.
Martha will report as she makes follow-up contacts with the Board, Board of Trust Governors, Caring Committee, Building & Grounds, Membership, BRIDGES, Finance, and W & M Committee.
December 2020 – April 2021:  
Projected:  February - Jim O’Donnell on indigenous peoples – Suzyn is contact, no specific date yet
       January 31 or February 7 - World Interfaith Harmony Week – Martha is contact
       January or February – Monica Jones has not replied yet.  Martha will contact again
November
	1	Kat, Jane T-S, Martha McG  -  Day of the Dead & All Souls
	8	Kat - Sources of Spiritual Sustenance
	15	(Kat) Rebecca, Martha – Together Apart: Our Pandemic Year   Women’s Group, 2020-21 theme
		Suggested song:  “The Keep Going Song” by the Bengsons on Youtube
	22	Kat – Thanksgiving: Let’s Tell a Truer Story   
       [Kat will lead first in-person service at 12:15 p.m.] -CANCELED
	29	Advent begins  Kat – Making Each Day Count   (Card Project, Ribbon Ceremony – fence, virtual)
			Adeline has organized the Community Card Project.
December
	6	Suzyn Mills – Worship Leader, Martha Webster “Healing Power of Music”
	13	Kat & Martha – “Light One Candle”  InterfaithWinter Holidays 
	20	Kat – Winter Solstice Spiral   Zoom at 11:00, Noon in the courtyard				24  Christmas Eve – “Ring Out, Wild Bells!”   
       Ringing Bells, starting at 5:00 p.m. and Reverse Parade
	27	Kat – Kwanzaa, a Cultural/Community Look 
January 2021
	3	Kat – Fire Communion -  Zoom at 11:00 a.m., noon in the courtyard
		Gary Hamilton reports that Men’s Group will help with undecorating that day.	
	10	Appalachian Cluster – shared Zoom service
	17
	24	Braver Angels – George Banziger + others
	31
February		
       7
	14
	21
	28

Possible Topics and Speakers:  
Swap/Share with Charleston UU, Athens UU – Kat  
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 

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