Church
Committees
Committees of the Church
are formed by the Executive Board and report to the Board. Committees
will normally develop Co-chairs, have a membership of active Church
members, hold periodic meetings and accomplish their appropriate
services to the congregation.Volunteering your time to a church
committee not only allows you to share your gifts and energy with
your church community but also allows you to quickly develop friendships
and sense of belonging with other Church members. The brief descriptions
below will give you some sense of the activities of the various
committees. Contact the respective committee chairs (the UUCJ telephone
directory will have the most current listings) directly or ask your
Mentor or Membership Committee contact for assistance in getting
started.
Building
and Grounds:
The basic function of the Building and Grounds Committee is to maintain
the church buildings and grounds in good repair. This committee
works closely with all other committees and constituency groups
within our Church to provide for the care and development of the
Church property in ways that will facilitate and enhance spiritual
growth and the needs of all members. In performing this service,
the Building and Grounds Committee administers one of the largest
segments of the annual church budget.
To further the effort
in solving the problems with the pond and to help build a
consensus for what could be done, a List_Serv. or "e-mail group
list" has been created.
You can join the list
by going to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Walden_South/promote
To view the messages
that have been posted go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Walden_South/messages
To post a message to
the list, send it to the following address. It will go out to all
members of the list. Walden_South@yahoogroups.com.
Any and all ideas, information, and suggestions concerning concerning
our beautiful pond are welcome.
Caring
Committee:
Reaches out to
help those in our congregation who are in need of comfort due to
illness or loss, with phone calls, cards and visits. Organizes congregational
helping efforts in cases of long-term need.
Committee
on Ministry:
Responsible for understanding and articulating the desires of the
congregation for the style and content of the UUCJ ministry. Works
closely with the Minister to assure there is a good two-way communication
of both the congregation’s and the Minister’s needs and
expectations.
Denominational Affairs / Book Table:
Informs the congregation
and visitors of various denominational activities. Has a table with
copies of sermons and denominational books for sale. Provides representation,
as possible, at General Assembly and other UU meetings and events.
Endowment:
Manages Endowment Fund for ongoing support of Church facilities
and program, encourages gifts to the Fund.
Fellowship:
The Fellowship Committee plans and facilitates social events for
the congregation. The primary purpose for Fellowship events is pure
fun, but it also lets our members and friends get to know each other
in an informal setting.
Finance:
Prepares annual operating budget, reports on financial conditions
to Executive Board and Congregation. Liaisons to the Treasurer who
supervises cash flow, pledge payments, and issues finance reports;
and to fund raising chairs who supervise the annual canvass, capital
fund drives and special fund raising events.
Membership
Welcome visitors and guide prospective new members through our membership
process. Provide mentors for recent new members and generally assist
them in becoming fully integrated into our Church community. Work
the minister, other committees and the congregation to provide a
welcoming atmosphere and programs that will attract new members
and allow our Church to grow.
Nominating
Nominates candidates for Executive Board, Committee Chairs and vacancies
to offices. Members of this committee are elected directly by Congregation.
Public
Relations
Publicizes news and activities of the Church to the Congregation
and to the larger community. This committee facilitates and provides
resources for internal and external communication such as the church
newsletter, order of service announcements, website and bulletin
boards. Facilitates external communication, community and new member
outreach, by methods such as advertising and hosting or participating
in events of general community interest.
Religious
Education
Establishes philosophy, curricula and procedures for our children
and youth religious experience and learning, conducts Sunday youth
programs. Liaisons to the Religious Education director who provides
professional management for our youth programs.
Religious
Services
Coordinates programs for religious services, advises and assists
the Minister on services as needed. Arranges guest speakers when
the Minister is out of the pulpit.
Social
Action
Stimulates interest and involvement in community and world issues,
coordinates volunteer activity, meetings, programs and other events.
Organize and participate in local social action programs such as
world peace protests, Crop Walk, feed the hungry programs, gay and
lesbian concerns, and ecological action groups. Liaisons to the
national Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and to UU-UN national
office. Conducts the UN Sunday program.
Interest
Groups and Social Events
The
GroUUp
This group brings young adults in their 20’s and 30’s
and families with young children together to participate in both
fun social events and beneficial social action activities.
Our
Gang
This group plans and carry out a wide variety of programs and activities
appealing to the 40’s + crowd. Activities include group travel;
attendance at cultural events; a bridge group; a hiking / birding
group; photography and book clubs.
Zip Code Clusters:
Church members have formed
geographic clusters by zip code to better connect with their UUCJ
neighbors. Cluster gatherings foster fellowship and address caring
needs of those UU’s located in close proximity to each other.
Clusters will also be used to as a forum to address important Church
issues in small group settings.
UUCJ
Women
The focus of this group is to offer an open and welcoming opportunity
for the women of this church to join together in a variety of activities.
The activities are intended to include women of all generations
and provide an informal networking system of support, sharing and
companionship. The group meets monthly facilitated by one member
volunteer who organizes a cultural, creative, inspirational, or
just plain fun event for the UUCJ Women to enjoy together.
CUUPS
Founded in 1989, First Coast Covenant of Universalist Pagans, or
FCCUUP, meets eight times a year at the UU Church of Jacksonville
for celebrations and potluck dinners. Our celebrations draw from
a wide range of Earth-centered, Neo-Pagan, and indigenous religious
traditions, as well as UU spirituality. All FCCUUP events are open
to everyone, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race,
ability or spiritual path. All that is needed is an open mind, and
a respect for the viewpoints of others.
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Fellowship
& Fun
UU’s
are notorious for wanting to have fun together, so our Fellowship
Committee, and other Interest Groups, aim to please by organizing
many fun, intergenerational social events such as Luaus, Halloween
parties, movie nights, and group outings to baseball and hockey
games.
Dinners-For-Eight:
Share an interesting evening each month with 8-12 other UU's and
friends by signing an interest list in the Social Room after the
Sunday service.
Sunday
Lunch Bunch:
An informal gathering of church members and guests who share lunch
and fellowship together after Sunday service and social hour at
a prearranged restaurant nearby the church.
O'Leno:
This annual event is shared by all church members and friends and
takes place in May at O'Leno State Park, near Gainesville, Fl. From
Friday through Sunday afternoon, all generations unite in good fellowship,
food, fun and a reaffirmation of our church community. There is
a nominal fee to cover food costs and camp rental.
Special
Events:
Musical performances, lectures, workshops, and artistic exhibits
are offered or sponsored by the UUCJ on a regular basis. Watch this
Web site and the church bulletin for details.
Annual
Canvass:
This yearly event, directed by the Canvass Committee, is held in
the spring, and involves an all-member pledge drive. Several activities
are held to define goals and to organize and involve members in
the canvass. Activities include an all-member pre-canvass social
event. Pledging of individual members takes place the following
day.
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UU
District Activities & Organizations
SUUSI:
Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute
The Southeast Unitarian Universalist Summer Institute is
held in a mountain setting each July. Week-long events include workshops,
nature outings, youth programs, young adult programs, theme speakers,
intergenerational events, athletics, worship services and a full
schedule of evening social activities.
SWIM:
Southeast Winter Institute Of Miami
Each year after Christmas, Unitarian Universalists convene
in Miami for a week of fulfillment and celebration. SWIM allows
participants to plan a week of assorted activities suited to their
own pace and desires: workshops, nature, and sight-oriented programs,
a theme program led by UU Ministers, and many social opportunities.
Camp Owaissa Bauer, site of the Institute, is just south of Miami,
Fl.
The
Mountain: Camp And Conference Center
Located on a spectacular 4,200 ft. mountain top in Highlands,
N.C., The Mountain's campus includes a lodge, 20 cabins, dining
and recreation hall, tennis courts, two lakes, trails, rock climbing,
waterfalls, and exciting natural attractions. It operates year-round
with programs and vacations designed for youth, adults and families.
Program literature is available in the church office.
UU
District Organizations
Florida District, Unitarian Universalist Association - Our
church is a member of the Northeast Cluster in the Florida District
of Unitarian Universalist Churches. We are also a member of the
Florida District. Volunteer District Officers and Committees provide
training and support for district churches. Expertise and coordination
is provided by a professional District Representative.
Unitarian
Universalist Association
We are a member of the Unitarian Universalist Association
by vote of our congregation. UUA, headquartered in Boston, serves
as our national theological, public relations, social concerns and
administrative headquarters. It also provides a wide range of professional
support services to Districts and individual churches. We have voting
representation at its annual General Assembly.Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee - A non-profit international organization, the
UUSC works to support self-help development projects, improve human
rights, provide emergency relief and promote peace throughout the
world.
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