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Getting to Know Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church
An Invitation to Friends and Members, Old and New ~ There are a number of ways to participate in life at Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church. Sunday morning services offer a partial glimpse of the church in action. This document will help you learn about many activities that take place on Sunday mornings and every other day (morning, noon, and night!) of the week at Cedar Lane. Act on your interests, share your skills, develop new ones, and you will make new friends and serve the community. To learn more about any of the committees or activities described here, please feel free to contact the chairperson or one of our ministers A few activities on the phone/e-mail list may not be described in the booklet. Please give the chair a call to learn first hand about their work. Whether a new member or a long-time friend of Cedar Lane, your help is always appreciated and certainly needed.
The Members Services Committee
Index to Cedar Lane Committees and Activities
The Adult Programs Committee plans engaging educational curricula for our adult community. To serve the diverse interests of the congregation, the committee develops, facilitates, and coordinates courses and activities in the following areas: The Spiritual Search / Religion and Theology Social, Economic, and Political Issues Personal Development Art, Literature and Hobbies Sunday Forum (highlighting social and political issues of the day; held on Sundays at 10:45 a.m.) Cedar Lane's Adult Programs are informative and inspirational. The programs serve our members and others from the larger community. They provide opportunities for personal growth and development, as well as a place to have fun. The committee is assisted by the staff of the Religious Education Department and the Ministers.
Committee Size: 20 people
The Covenant Group program is designed to deepen the spiritual journey of its members. Groups of 6 to 12 members meet regularly, once or twice a month and are led by trained facilitators. This year eight new groups were formed with 6.5 people. The Kiplinger program was established with an endowment from the Kiplinger Foundation in memory of Willard Kiplinger, an early member of Cedar Lane. The centerpiece of the program is a lecture by a person prominent in the field of ethics; in 2003, the lecturer was William Schulz, former president of the Unitarian Universalist Association and Executive Director of Amnesty International. In 2004 the lecturer was Paul Butler, Professor of Law at George Washington University. On November 13 he spoke on the morality of punishment and questions of equity in criminal justice. The Labyrinth Committee was established in 2003 as a part of Adult Programs. A new labyrinth was painted and dedicated making it available to CLUUC and the wider community as a tool for meditation and prayer to encourage spiritual growth.
Since its beginnings in the 1950s, the Alliance has contributed to the well-being of the Church and its community. It has provided its members, both men and women, with fellowship, education, and opportunities for services. Early activities included purchasing and setting up the kitchen equipment and appliances and starting a day care for children so that young mothers could meet in the church for discussions and other activities. Today, a wide variety of activities are carried out under a Board and through committees. Activities include:
Managing the Used Book Corner; The Alliance raises its own funds and makes annual donations to the church operating fund and additional donations for special projects. The Alliance is open to initiating new activities of interest to members and new members are warmly welcomed to participate. Alliance Meetings: Second Thursday of each month; potluck luncheon, short business meeting, and a one hour program. Alliance Board: Third Thursday of each month
The Auction Committee is responsible for putting on the church's annual auction. The auction is the
major fund raiser for the church. The funds from the auction have been used for the church's operating expenses New church members will find the activities of the Auction Committee a helpful way to meet other members of the church and to become involved in the community life of Cedar Lane.
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall direction of the affairs of the church. It provides leadership, sets policy, maintains liaison with and provides guidance to major committees, and recommends specific actions to the congregation for vote at scheduled congregational meetings. The ministers and director of music report directly to the BOT. The BOT approves the church budget and has authority to commit the Church to contracts and conduct other financial transactions. The BOT meets on the third Tuesday of the month and other times as necessary; these meetings are open to the members of the congregation. Members of the congregation are invited to bring matters to the attention of the BOT by communicating directly with the Chair or appropriate committee liaison. The BOT, which is elected by the congregation at the Annual Meeting, consists of nine at-large members elected for three-year terms; and the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer are elected for two-year terms. In the spring, a Chair-Elect is chosen from among the at-large members, and serves as Chair in his or her last year of service.
Cedar Lane Stage promotes community participation and involvement in community theater. They present plays about important issues and great classics of dramatic literature at an affordable ticket price. If you love theater—any aspect of it—there are opportunities waiting for you in music, sound design, set construction, props, lighting, costumes, acting, stage managing, directing, play-reading, party-giving, fund-raising, publicity, ticket selling, and almost any kind of production work. This active, talented group welcomes members from the Church and the larger community. Plays are presented in early fall and late spring, each running for three weekends. The Summer Sampler of One-Act Plays runs for four weekends in July and August. Open acting auditions are held before each production. To learn more, call the Cedar Lane Stage at 301-949-3685 or leave a note in their mailbox in the church office.
Cedar Lane has a number of choirs for those who love to sing and find making music a spiritually stimulating and reward experience. The Adult Choir provides music on Sunday mornings from September through May. A Summer Choir, open to adults and youth, sings in June and July. The Youth and Junior Choirs perform at special occasions throughout the year. The Youth Choir is open to students from 6' grade through high school. The Junior Choir brings together the voices of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. The Handbell Choir is open to junior and senior highers by audition. Please call Dick or Mary Darnee at the church for more information about joining a choir. Rehearsal Schedule Adult Choir: Wednesday evenings at 7:45 p.m. and Sundays before the service. Summer Choir: Sunday morning before service. Junior Choir: Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Youth Choir: Tuesday evenings at 7:45 p.m. Handbell Choir: Tuesday evenings at 8:30 p.m.
This committee fosters awareness of denominational affairs at Cedar Lane, supports participation in the Greater Washington Association (GWA) of Unitarian Universalist congregations, the Joseph Priestley District and the UU General Assembly. The committee hosts a GWA meeting once a year and a Joseph Priestley District meeting about every five years. All church members are welcome on the committee, and those who attend the General Assembly as a Cedar Lane delegate automatically become a member of this committee for at least one year following General Assembly. Meeting Time: tba
The six member Endowment Committee manages the Cedar Lane Endowment Fund. The Committee is charged with investing these assets in a prudent manner to insure security and growth. Their management of this fund has allowed it to grow from $25,000 to just under $1.5 million in under 20 years. The Endowment Committee is assisted by the Planned Giving Committee which educates and encourages members to contribute to this fund. Committee Size: 6 Term of Service: 3 years Meeting Time: Third Thursday of the first month in each quarter
The Facilities Committee oversees buildings maintenance and improvements. The committee works closely with staff to identify and address short—and long—term facilities issues, and to establish priorities. You are welcome to join and learn about a fascinating and very important side of church operations. Volunteers who are handy at performing occasional maintenance work and/or conducting minor repairs are always welcome. Meeting Time: First Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
The Finance Committee serves as the financial advisor to the Board of Trustees. Its duties include:
The annual budget for CLUUC in FY '05 is $900,000 and supported chiefly by about 650 pledges from individuals and families. The average pledge is $1,300 per year or about $25 per week. Pledges make up about 80% of our income. Inquiries from individuals who have an interest in the financial side of church operations are welcome! Meeting Time: Second Tuesday of every month
The flower arrangements in the auditorium and chapel are a beautiful enhancement to our worship services every Sunday morning. The Flower Committee designs and arranges the Sunday morning flowers throughout the church, year round, as well as flowers for memorial services for church members. New members are welcome and can enhance their own skills through classes and work in flower arranging with more experienced members.
The Grounds Committee works to maintain and improve our natural surroundings and your help on the committee is welcome. Cedar Lane's beautiful setting is enjoyed by all our friends and members, but even natural beauty must be tended. The addition of our Memory Garden has provided volunteer opportunities for anyone who finds respite in nurturing plants. If you're interested in the committee or in helping with general outdoor work, call the Committee chair. Meeting Time: Second Saturday of each month at 9 a.m.
Leadership Development and Nominations In accordance with the CLUUC Bylaws, we conduct searches for candidates, maintain a roster of candidates, and nominate qualified candidates for election to the Board of Trustees. We also advise the Trustees of appropriate candidates to fill vacant unexpired terms on the Board and the designated committees. Committee Size 7 members Meeting Times: Second Mondays, 7:30 p.m. Oct.- Mar.
The Member Services Committee provides a warm welcome and information programs for prospective members, provides support services for new members to integrate them into the congregation, and performs special projects for the membership as a whole. The Member Services Committee provides a great opportunity to meet new and prospective members and to get to know long-time Cedar Laners, as well. This committee oversees the Visitor's Center, New Member Sundays, and New Member Brunches. The Visitors Center provides an easy gathering place to ask questions and learn more about Cedar Lane UU Church. It is open on Sundays following each service. Welcome Newcomer Meetings, a special time for new acquaintances to learn more about the church, are conducted twice a month. New Member Sundays conducted twice a year formally recognize new members during the morning services. New members are invited to socialize at the annual brunches held several times a year. Occasionally this committee takes on special projects such as the church photo directory and other special publications such as this booklet. Committee members are sensitive to the challenges of making a large congregation feel at home and want to be proactive in contributing to the growth and vitality of Cedar Lane's membership. To facilitate the committee's work (and to have a lot of fun) members enjoy a dinner each June and a planning retreat each July.
Meeting Time: Second Thursday of each month
The Memorial Reception Committee works with the Cedar Lane staff to hold receptions for memorial services free of charge to church members and friends. Volunteers are organized in monthly teams with two co-chairs, one person who prepares flower arrangements for the food tables, and workers. The committee purchases supplies for punch, bakes cookies, and welcomes homemade cookies from the congregation. Volunteers commit three to four hours to set up, serve, and clean-up for each event. Committee Size: 33 people plus anyone who can help Meeting Times: On call when needed
The Ministerial-Congregational Committee is our expression of an important theme in UU life: the need to develop and maintain healthy relationships between the congregation and its ministers. By charter, it "serves as a support group for the ministers and a communication channel between the ministers and the congregation." Monthly meetings allow the committee to "help the ministers in carrying out their work, and to advise them about conditions within the congregation that may affect relationships between ministers and members." Its current members are: Committee Size: 6 Lay Members and 3 Ministers Meeting Time: Fourth Tuesday of each month
Montgomery County Peace Action Montgomery County Peace Action is a chapter of the national Peace Action. Peace and social justice issues are addressed through education, political action lobbying, encouraging participation, writing letters, attending public meetings, and holding a spring luncheon with a knowledgeable speaker. Nuclear disarmament, preventing arms transfers to undemocratic human rights abusing countries, converting excessive military spending for human needs, limiting comprehensive economic sanction to weapons and war material are the focus of our attention. The group, while not a church committee, uses the church's facilities for its monthly meetings and maintains a mailbox at the church. Anyone interested in peace issues is invited to join. Dues are $25 a year which includes mailings and information from Montgomery County Peace Action and National Peace Action. Meeting Time: Third Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
The Music Committee supports all aspects of the CLUUC music program and provides consultation with the Director and Assistant Director of Music and organist and with the Concert Series Manager. Members assist with the CLUUC Concert Series by advertising, selling tickets, and arranging receptions for each concert. The committee also prepares contribution for the annual fund raising auction and arranges an "end of the year" party for the CLUUC choir.
Cedar Lane News is a primary means of communication within the Cedar Lane community. It is published biweekly, except through the summer when it is published monthly. Co-editors rotate duties. Having multiple editors increases time flexibility while decreasing the individual workload. Depending on length, each issue requires 2 to 4 hours of work. Co-editors pick up materials at the church on Thursdays after 5 p.m. Materials, which may be hard copy or on computer disk, are edited, arranged and printed camera-ready for printing each Monday. All co-editors need access to a computer with WordPerfect.
Every other Tuesday morning, a small group of dedicated volunteers meets to collate, fold and label the Cedar Lane News. The work takes two to three hours, depending on the number of people helping. Volunteers are always needed since not everyone can come each session. If you are interested in helping on a biweekly or monthly basis, call the Church Administrator, Sara Deshler, at 301-493-8300. It's a good opportunity to get to know a nice group of Cedar Laners and make a valuable contribution to our church. Committee size: 8-10
Meeting Time: Every
other Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. (Monthly in July and August) Often when people are facing personal difficulties - illness, grief or a lack of independent transportation - these very difficulties prevent them from connecting with church. These are often the times when people need church the most! Pastoral Visitors are a group of volunteers who visit members of the community who are ill, in need of emotional support or are often unable to come to church.
They meet the second Tuesday of each month from
The Committee's work focuses on fostering and supporting a mutually enriching relationship between Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church and our partner church in Dicsoszentmarton (the Hungarian name) or Tirnaveni (the Romanian name) in the Transylvania district of Romania. The Committee is responsible for facilitating, coordinating, and directing the development of mutually supportive programs and exchanges. The Committee advises the Ministers, Trustees, and congregation periodically of the status of the relationship and seeks Cedar Lane participation and input into the nature, tone, and direction of the partnership. Committee Size: At least 10 and the Rev. Roger Fritts Meetings: 1st Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m.
The Personnel Committee is charged with functions related to the staffing of the church. Their responsibilities include:
If you are interested in membership on the Personnel Committee, contact either its chair or the Leadership Development and Nominations Committee. Committee Size: 7 Term of Service: 3 years Meeting Time: Second Thursday of each month, September through June.
The Planned Giving Committee is a group dedicated to raising money specifically for the endowment of the church. The main focus of the committee is to plan a campaign that lasts the entire month of November. Gifts are accepted throughout the year with an ongoing acknowledgment program managed by volunteers. The committee hopes to schedule at least one fundraising seminar in a year to educate the congregation on the many ways of giving to Cedar Lane, including gifts through wills and other financial instruments. The Planned Giving Committee liaises with the Board of Trustees and the Endowment Committee as needed when doing long—term planning. This is a great committee to learn about fundraising and estate planning. Committee Size: At least five, more are welcome Meetings: As needed throughout the year, averaging six
Each year the Pledge Committee plans and carries out activities to obtain pledges of support for the operating budget from members and friends of Cedar Lane. Planning begins in late fall and culminates in a Sunday Service in early spring for the annual drive. The committee works throughout the year to assist new members in pledging The Pledge Committee provides opportunities for members with an interest in the fiscal health of the church to plan and carry out informational campaigns to raise the congregations awareness of the fiscal needs of the church. The Pledge Committee works on behalf of the ministers, the Board of Trustees, and other committees of the church. Members interested in participating in the activities of the Pledge Committee may contact the current chairperson.
The Public Awareness Committee seeks to make the surrounding community aware of all the activities and functions at Cedar Lane to which the general public would be welcome. To do this it primarily uses free advertising available in many news publications. Innovative ways to reach out to those that will recognize our faith and principles are actively pursued. At the present time the committee has no regular meeting schedule. Committee size: 4 people plus interested staff
Religious Education is a big, exciting program at Cedar Lane and there are many areas for volunteers to assist the teachers or the Minister of Religious Education (MRE) or the Religious Education Administrator. The Religious Education Council makes policies for the religious education of Cedar Lane's children by establishing educational goals; selecting and evaluating the curricula; training and supporting teachers; and planning many family and intergenerational activities such as Spring "B" and Holiday Craft Day. Presently the R.E. program has approximately 350 children and youth enrolled in a total of 34 religious education classes held during morning church services. All of the teachers, R.E. Council members, and room parents are volunteers. Parents (except for first year families) who have children attending R.E. classes are required to volunteer by teaching a class or assisting in many other ways. Although parents are required to participate in the R.E. program, the R.E. Council encourages Cedar Lane members who do not have children in the program to also volunteer. In addition to helping through teaching or assisting on Sunday mornings, leaders are needed to help the children implement social action activities. Also, two of the church's most popular events, Holiday Craft Day and Spring "B", rely on craft or course leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds. Please call the R.E. Office or let an R.E. Council member know of your volunteer interest, and we will try to incorporate it into the program.
Each evening a Security Check Team member inspects the church to see that windows and doors are locked and that lights and electrical equipment are turned off. Checkers also note and report any irregular situations that may compromise the security or safety of the building. The walk-through takes about an hour. Checkers serve for one week, and typically are invited to serve again in 12-18 months, though no commitment to do so is assumed. Some members have participated in this way for 10-15 years. Several experienced checkers serve as program supervisors. The program contributes to church security, by seeing that all is locked up tight, and benefits the church budget, by keeping lighting and heating bills down. Serving as a Security Checker is an opportunity to become well acquainted with the church building and is useful background for service on other church committees. Because of inevitable team turnover, additional volunteers from among church members and friends are always needed. Both individuals and couples are welcome. Join the evening security check team and see the world (of Cedar Lane!).
Unitarian Universalist Singles of the Greater Washington Area is a social group which provides opportunities for single adults to develop friendships and participate in activities that are interesting and fun. Social events for the year are planned at a kick-off dinner held in September. Although the group is based at Cedar Lane, it is open to all UU singles and friends. The group is guided by a Steering Committee that endeavors to have representatives from other UU churches. Regular event: Video nights at Cedar Lane on the second Saturday of each month.
The Cedar Lane Social Justice Council is an elected body that provides opportunities for members and friends to translate into action their shared commitment to the ideals of justice, peace, freedom, compassion, and service to those in need. The SJC establishes the annual social action agenda and provides opportunities to engage in social ministry — including helping others face to face and contributing funds, goods, and services to a wide range of social service agencies and groups. The SJC sponsors and facilitates the activities of several special Task Forces. Task Forces include:
Sponsorship of Students for the Ministry The committee makes recommendations to the Board of Trustees regarding congregational sponsorship of members of the Cedar Lane community who are seeking formal candidacy for a possible career in the Unitarian Universalist ministry. Further, the committee maintains contact with the church-sponsored ministerial candidates through their time in seminary. The committee is a resource for Cedar Laners headed for the ministry or merely exploring the possibility of embarking along this path.
Sunday mornings present a variety of opportunities to assist the congregation and our visitors. In most cases, you will serve once a month on a specific Sunday (e.g., the first Sunday each month), though helping more often is always welcome! Greeters arrive 15 to 20 minutes prior to the service. They greet all who come. They also provide directions to the Visitors Center or religious education registration. After the service, greeters are encouraged, along with all members of the congregation, to seek out visitors and extend a special welcome. Ushers serve to seat and assist the congregation at Sunday morning services. They add chairs when needed, take up the offering, and generally insure that the sanctuary is comfortable for the congregation. This is a great opportunity for new members to help out and get to know the Sunday routine. Substitutes are also needed, and are not committed to any one Sunday, but may be called on to serve when others can't make it. Coffee Servers are needed after each service to pour coffee during the social time. The church staff prepares the coffee, sets up the table, and cleans up. The role of the server is to pour the coffee and offer a warm smile. It's a great opportunity to see our church members and to make our visitors feel welcome.
All of us are moved to assist other members and their families in time of need, and to be a caring presence whether with a cake or casserole, a greeting card, a sympathetic phone call, or by helping in a temporary crisis. This makes every member of Cedar Lane a de facto member of the We Care Committee. The congregation is divided into a network of about 40 neighborhoods, each with a chairperson who is notified when the church becomes aware of needs. The chairperson calls other members in the neighborhood to alert them to ways in which they might be of help. Meeting Dates: No regular meetings, but we do a lot of telephoning and offer occasional training opportunities, such as a workshop on death and grieving. Regular Events: Neighborhood chairpersons make occasional contact with all members in their neighborhoods just to keep in touch. Some neighborhoods plan an annual brunch, supper or other activity.
The Worship Committee advises and consults with the Board of Trustees, ministers and music directors on matters affecting the form and content of worship services. It provides a conduit for the sharing of personal ideas, visions and inspirations within the congregation. One of its practical charges is to plan and organize the summer services. Committee size: 9 Term of service: 3 years Meeting Time: Fourth Thursday of every month |
Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist
Church |
