Our Ministry Teams and Committees
Whether we call them “ministries” or “committees,” these dedicated groups of volunteers do the daily work of the congregation, following policies set by the Board of Trustees. The Council of Ministries coordinates the work of our committees.
The ministries of CVUUS exist to carry out CVUUS’s Purpose Statement. Because the Purpose Statement is a living, breathing document, designed to be continually revisited and revised as appropriate by the Board, the ministries of CVUUS must be flexible enough to be responsive to changing priorities.
See our annual report: 2018-9 CVUUS Annual Report
Board Nomination
Mission: Seek members who want to serve on our Board. From the Bylaws: “Nominations for the Board of Trustees and for board officers will be made by a Board Nominating Committee. The Board Nominating Committee consists of the Vice President of the Board and two members of the congregation (who will not be members of the Board) who are elected at the Annual Meeting. Members of the Board Nominating Committee will serve for two-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.”
Members: Catie Raishart, Doug Richards, Allison Cutler
Canvass Campaign
Mission: Solicit pledges toward meeting our budget.
2021 Chairs: Brett Millier and Karl Lindholm
Caring Network
Mission: Provide support, such as calls, visits, meals, and rides to those in need.
Chair: Kathryn Schloff
Members: Michele Lowy, Mary Lou Bright, Dale Birdsall, Pat Schmitter, Ginny Moser, Nita Hanson, Nancy Wright
Library of Things: Kathryn Schloff, Michele Lowy, Artley Wolfson
Let’s Eat Together: Dale Birdsall, Ginny Moser
FUUDIES: Michele Lowy, Nita Hanson
UU Mobile Shuttle: Judy Sperry
Cards: Susan Humphrey
See Caring Network and Lay Pastoral Care.
Communications Team (non-meeting)
Mission: Oversee our communication efforts including our website, newsletter, weekly blast, Facebook page, advertising, Front Porch Forum posts and service and event flyers.
Members: TBD
Facebook Postings: Donna LaRose
Website Help: Brian Mason, Margy Levine Young
Weekly Blast Help: Barbara Merz
Bulletin Board Help: Lois Alberts
Worship Directory Ad/Graphics: Caitlin Gildrien
Order of Service/Newsletter Help: Sheila House, Nita Hanson, Lois Alberts, Allison Cutler, Laura Ferguson, Martha Fulda
Stream Team: Margy & Jordan Young, Richard Hopkins, Rich Wolfson, Lucy Tenenbaum
Pictures: Susan Humphrey, Kate Gridley, Ellen Flight, Karl Lindholm, Poppy Rees
Year in Review: Rich Wolfson. Laurie Borden
Parent Group “Livelies”
Babysitting, dinner, and homework help for CVUU children.
Members: Kate Gridley & John Barstow, Abi & Bill Sessions, Ellen Flight, Revell Allen
Donation Ministry (Share-the-Plate)
Mission: Oversee selection of organizations to receive a portion of our weekly service offerings and arrange for their visibility through display and speaking during worship.
Chair: Allison Cutler
Members: Barbara, Karle, Chris Murphy, Ashleigh Hickey, Avi Freund
See Sharing Our Donation Plate.
Facilities Committee
Mission: Ensure the short and long-term maintenance of the buildings and grounds of CVUUS in a manner which will support and contribute to spiritual growth of congregants and staff and which facilitates the Society’s efforts to promote social and environmental justice in our community and the world.
Chair: Bob House
Members: Mitch Kramer, Paul Stone, Llyn Rice, Alan Moore, Seth Gibson, Miles Peterle, Scott Barkdoll (Jay H, Jean T, David D, Scott S, Neil C, Sue R copied)
Art Policy: Kate Gridley
Banner Policy: John Barstow
Blue Jeans Sunday: Bob House, Gerry Loney
Ground Floor Project: Steve Maier, Jay Harrington, Paul Stone, Llyn Rice, Mitch Kramer, Jean Terwilliger, Artley Wolfson, Marty Kulczyk, Kate Gridley.
Landscape: Sue Rasmussen, Dinah Smith, Gerry Loney, Nan Crowell, Sheila & Bob House, Don Groll
Lower Level Use Coordination: Lise Anderson, Miles Peterle, Mike Greenwood
Sanctuary Door Code: Llyn Rice
Sanctuary Upper Windows: Paul Stone
Signage/Lighting/Extinguishers: Mitch Kramer
Snow clearing coordinator: Karl Lindholm, Bob House, Ron Hallman, Richard Hopkins, Gayle Muenchow, Alan Moore
Sound System: Mitch Kramer, Shannon LaRose, Alan Moore, Scott Smith
Tech Help: Jordan & Margy Young, Brian Mason, Monty Montgomery
Solar Electric: Rich Wolfson
This committee cares for our sanctuary, Fenn House, and grounds. See also Rental of Our Building.
Fellowship
Chairs: Mike and Liam Greenwood
Finance Committee
Mission: Draft and oversee our budget.
Chair: Mary Hadley
Members: Alan Moore, Mary Conlon, John Berninghausen, Rich Wolfson, Ann Webster
Donation Ministry: see above.
Money Counting: Nita Hanson, Mary Hadley, Allison Cutler, Margy Young, Dale Birdsall, Mary Conlon, Monty Montgomery
Planned Giving: John Berninghausen
UU’re Home: seeking leader
Flower Co-op
Mission: Coordinate flowers and seasonal decorations for weekly services and special events.
Chairs: Marnie Wood, Dinah Smith
Members: Sue Grigg, Alice Berninghausen, Bobbie Carnwath, Chris Murphy, Elizabeth Golden
Flowers: Catie Raishart’s Foxglove Farm
December Decorating: Bobbie Carnwath (tree/ inside wreath), Chris Murphy or Alice Berninghausen (outside peace wreath)
Gatekeeping
Alan Moore, Carol Harden, Marnie Wood, Kate Gridley, Barb Karle, Abi Sessions, Bobbie Carnwath, Nita Hanson, John Barstow, Mitch Kramer, Donna & Shannon LaRose, Lise Anderson, Elizabeth Golden, Revell Allen, Lise Anderson, Miles P, Alice Berninghausen, Dorothy Mammen, Mike Greenwood, Anne Christie, Allison Cutler, Becky Strum
Green Sanctuary Committee
Mission: Address our congregation’s need for greater environmental awareness and encourage participation of all of our congregants in constructive and meaningful environmental action. (From GSC Action Plan)
Chair: Elizabeth Golden
Members: Jean Terwilliger, Mary Hadley, Steve Maier, Sue Rasmussen, Ollie Cultrara, Cindi Gillen, Steve Butterfield, Mike Greenwood, Terry Racich, Richard Hopkins
See A Green Sanctuary.
Hospitality Ministry
Mission: Provide snacks and beverages for worship services.
Chair: TBD
Julie & Neil Chippendale, Elizabeth Golden, Ken Levine, Gayle Muenchow, Donna LaRose, Margy Young (Ollie Cultrara, Ann Webster, John Barstow and Pat Schmitter help as needed).
Leadership Development Team
Mike Greenwood, Colleen Brown, Bobbi Loney, John Barstow
Library & Information Resources
Mission: Acquire, organize and promote access to our congregation’s library, book sale cart, and other information resources.
Chair: Artley Wolfson
Members: Lois Alberts, Bobbi Loney, Sheila House, Barb Karle, Elizabeth Golden
See The CVUUS Library.
Membership Ministry
Mission: Welcome congregants, guests and newcomers and enroll members.
Chair: Marjorie Carsen
Members: Mary Louise Bright, Sheila House, Pat Schmitter, Carol Harden
Greeters: All above, plus Marnie Wood, Lois Alberts, John Barstow, Dinah Smith, Carol Harden, Monty Montgomery, Donna LaRose. Mike Greenwood
Name tags: Ginny Ashenfelter
See Become a Member.
Middlebury College UU Students
Formerly Tyler McDowell, Allie Izzard
Music Ministry Team
Mission: Oversee music for worship and special events or venues.
Chair: Carol Harden
Lucy Tenenbaum, Poppy Rees, Shannon LaRose, Richard Hopkins, Kate Gridley, Chris Murphy
Pastoral Care
Mission: Provide temporary counseling support to members and friends in various kinds of distress.
Members: Laurie Borden, Jordan Young, Marjorie Carsen
See Caring Network and Lay Pastoral Care.
Personnel
Mission: Provide oversite and policy with regard to hiring practices, benefits, salaries, and conflict resolution.
Members: Gordon Gibson, Mary Conlon, Connor Timmons
Religious Exploration Council
Mission: Provide children, youth, young adults, and adults an opportunity to explore, reflect, and learn in a nurturing spiritual community.
Co-Chairs: Tracey Harrington and Jessica Rouse
Members: Catie Raishart
Nursery Care: TBD
Childcare: TBD
RE Teachers: See Religious Exploration
Kids for Kids: Bobbi Loney
Coordinated, overseen by the Director of Religious Education
Ensures that people of all ages grow and flourish as human beings and as Unitarian Universalists through education, action, and reflection on their experiences. Included in our Faith Development Ministry:
- Religious exploration programs for children
- Youth programs
- Nursery
See Lifespan Learning at CVUUS.
Rhubarb Festival
Mary Hadley, Lise Anderson, Sheila House, Elizabeth Golden, Chippendales, Vanderburghs, Brett Millier, Pat Schmitter, Mary Ann Deverell, Dinah Smith, Martha Soderberg, Michele Lowy, Mary & Peter Conlon, Jean Terwilliger
Right Relations Team
Mission: Ready to hear your feelings and needs regarding difficulty with another congregant or staff member, helping you get them addressed and keeping connections healthy.
Members: Joanna Colwell, John Barstow, and Anne Christie
Safe Congregation Team
Chair: Alan Moore
Members: Rev. Barnaby Feder, Poppy Rees, Will Porter, Mike Greenwood, Laura Asermily (Richard Hopkins, Dr. Paul Seward and Dr. Morris Earle consulted as needed on health matters)
Board’s COVID 19 Policy Advisory Team: Rev. Barnaby, Will Porter, Priscilla Bremser, Kerri Duquette-Hoffman, Jean Terwilliger
Sangha (Meditation Group)
Colleen Brown, Van Van Order, Bobbie Carnwath.
Service Auction (Radical Love Giveaway)
Seeking leaders. (Mary Hadley, Donna LaRose, Terry Racich, Lise Anderson, Piper Harrell, Connie Leach & Chris Prickitt previous leaders)
Small Group Ministry
Mission: Deepen and broaden personal spiritual growth by meeting in small groups of 8-10 members at each others’ homes or CVUUS, usually once every month to focus on a spiritual or religious topic.
Chair: needed
Doug Richards, Marjorie Carsen, Dinah Smith, Alan Moore, Elizabeth Golden, Tracey Harrington, Richard Hopkins
See Small Group Ministry.
Parent Group: Tracey Harrington
Retirement Group: Dinah Smith
Residence at Otter Creek GrUUp: Ann Brouseau
Native Moons & Natural Mindfulness: Liam and Mike Greenwood
Cingles: Revell Allen, Marjorie Carsen, Monty Montgomery
Social Justice Action
Addison County Interfaith Climate Action Network: Steve Maier, Bobbie Carnwath
Black Lives Matter (BLM) Ally Group: See SURJ
Community Lunch: Alan Moore, Revell Allen
Community Dinner: Kathryn Schloff, Alan Moore, Abi Sessons
Class Equity: Board
Crop Walk: Kids for Kids
Food Justice: Paul Stone
Food Shelf Donations: Barbara Merz
Gleaning: seeking leader
Guest at Your Table: Kids for Kids
GunSense: seeking leader
Habitat for Humanity: Dale Birdsall, Bob House, Bobbie Carnwath, Alan Moore
Hunger Council: Seeking rep
Indivisible/Middlebury Huddle Groups: Kate Gridley, Barb Karle, Bethany Barry
LGBTQIA+: Ollie Cultrara, Jordan Young
Meals on Wheels: Monday UU team: Mary Conlon, Ann Brousseau, Mike Greenwood, Bob House. Other routes: Barbara Merz, Bethany Barry, Van VanOrder, Mar Harrison, Carolyn Brewer.
Mexican Consulate/Migrants: Lise Anderson & Miles Peterle, Martha Fulda, Alan Moore, Chris Murphy
Open Door Clinic: Heidi Sulis, Jordan Young
Peace Day: Rich Hennessey, Donna LaRose
Refugee Resettlement: Abi Sessions
SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice): Joanna Colwell, Kathy Comstock
UU United Nations Liaison: seeking rep
VT Workers Center: Donna LaRose
WomenSafe: Dottie Nelson (Kerri Duquette-Hoffman, Amy Mason, Joanna C)
Women’s Group
Elizabeth Golden
Writing Group
Bobbi Loney, Nancy Wright
Worship Ministry
Mission: Provide the congregation with varied, coherent services that are spiritually deep as well as intellectually, existentially, and morally challenging.
Chair: Abi Sessions
Worship Associates: Liam Battjes Greenwood, Karl Lindholm, Martha Fulda, Jason Duquette-Hoffman, Wren Colwell, Esther Thomas, Becky Strum, Julia Chant
Stream team: Margy and Jordan Young, Richard Hopkins, Rich Wolfson, Larry Vanderburgh, Eric Maier (music)
Zoom Coffee Hour hosts: Jordan Young, Lucy Tenenbaum, Julia and Neil Chippendale, Abi Sessions
See our Worship page.
Youth Group
Poppy Rees and Allie Izzard