Shaping Our Future

Program Possibilities Conversation – 10/25/2009 and 12/20/2009 Consolidated

2009-12-22T17:18:00.000-08:00

Theme: Program Possibilities (Two-Circle Composite, sorted into similar response clusters)

Circle Participants: Carolyn Mitchell, Gene Bullock, Donna Moore, Betty Petras, Nancy Frank, Donna Mohr, John McCann, Diane McCann, Mary Romeo, Sally Wilson, and Richard Wilson

Question 1: What learning opportunities, small or large group experiences, and other program activities have you found most important or meaningful at Cedars?

The Faith and Reason video discussion series with Bill Moyers that Alan Miller and Diana Peters led (although some discussions seemed overly dominated by a few participants)

Spirituality and Sustainability Book Group discussions

The Spiritual Book Group

The Spiritual Odyssey Group

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Parenting programs

End-of-Life Issues programs

Rev. Julie led a Grief Circle that was very significant in allowing me to share feelings about the death of my spouse

The Transitions program and group that formed around that theme

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Sitting down and sharing with like-minded people

The Men’s Group

The small Men’s Group has provided a good basis for establishing interpersonal relationships

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Our tradition of Public Forums for the wider community, with guest speakers or panels on special subjects

Public Forums with panel presentations of interest to the larger community

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Interactive events like the Solstice Service today

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Worship Associates training

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Community Service Day drew tremendous response from participants as well as service recipients

Question 2: Of many program possibilities, from spirituality, social and environmental justice issues, to better care for ourselves and others, what areas should Cedars focus on in the future, short and long term?

After-service discussion of themes and content presented in the Sunday Service

It might be good to organize talk-back time to discuss interesting sermon themes with the ministers – maybe in a local restaurant after the services

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More small support groups of various kinds

Programs exploring issues not usually talked about would be good, like how family values are passed to children and teenagers

We should offer a program on issues around leaving one faith tradition and joining another

There was a good Meditation Group at one time that should be reestablished

The well-attended Women’s Retreat suggested there is loneliness that can be addressed by such a group

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Integrate singing with the children in a service for all ages

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Social and environmental activities now seem very strong, but we need more spiritual emphasis – messages from the heart

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I need experiential activities – where we experience and share, rather than just listen; I (different individual) also want more experientially-based activity – I enjoy discussion groups when sharing primary experiences, but not just for planning or conducting business

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We should organize more programs that provide a larger community presence for Cedars
Island and North Kitsap communities need to do more together, inform each other more – we should sponsor attractive programs in Poulsbo to draw more North Kitsap interest

Worship Issues Conversation - 10/18/2009 and 12/6/2009 Consolidated

2009-11-30T14:18:00.000-08:00

Theme: Worship Issues (Four-Circle Composite, sorted into similar response clusters)

Circle Participants: Nancy Frank, Donna Mohr, Chris Smellow, Gerlind Jenker, Becki Maxwell, Royce Reid, Sarah Reid, Robert Mohr, Phil Brown, Bunny Stumbo, Bill Scarvie, Angie Hoffpauir, Darrin & Shelley Kaurin, Sandy & Gene Bullock, Louise Rikley, Carolyn Mitchell, Beth Balas, Frank Petrie, Donna Moore, Walker Willingham, Diana Peters, Robin Hanaway, and Betty Petras

Question: What do you look forward to the most when you attend Sunday worship at Cedars?

Fellowship

The greeters, especially for newcomers

A feeling of belonging – getting away from isolation

Being with community and friends is important

I come to church to see the people – I like the fellowship of coffee hour, getting to catch up with people.

Small group bonding with like-minded people

A community of open-minded people

Discussion about meaningful things

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Each Sunday, I expect to center myself and join with others; it's a time to think, clarify some questions in the dark corners of my brain. The entire experience of the day allows me to reach deeper in spirit; a spiritual recharge.

I look forward to the spiritual replenishment each week - I need that.

Different Sundays provide different things, but especially a time for quiet and to focus our scattered thoughts on what is meaningful

The variety of services, week to week. There is a format, but subtle week-to-week changes keep it interesting.

I like being brought back to my spiritual center

Leave after the service inspired and connected

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Good worship service

Worship experience as a whole

The service is an entire experience. Everything is important, and it needs to tie together.

Cohesiveness of music, worship, all aspects of service so the entire message is consistent

Thematic, integrated nature of services

A great production kept moving without dead time

Connection to the depth of the message, be it sermon, music, or story – without applause that breaks the connection

I may go in and out during a service, my attention wander; but, it’s cued by things in the service. I like it when they make you think.

We had several ministers who were not as experienced in worship, and that was tough for them sometimes.

There has been more cohesion, a total experience, with the new ministers

The experience of the minister is very valuable, have that now in worship.

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Collaborative

Lay-led services demonstrating the depth and breadth of our community

We have wonderful worship associates, they add so much to the service – they are top-notch

I like it when they participate more, and go back and forth like they did this morning.

Worship associate readings or presentations can be very moving

Some readings can be very spiritual

I enjoy the worship associates' presentations for the chalice lighting

I like the summer services led by the worship associates, there is always so much variety.

It’s not like in other churches where the attendance drops off if they are led by the worship associates. That’s nice.

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Good music

Music: quality, variety. It helps us enter the meditative space

Music is important. The choir is getting so good

I like the music very much

I really like the renewed emphasis on music.

I like special music, such as when the kids sing, other special groups, solos, use of other instruments.

We have a lot of talented people in the congregation, use them more for special music.

The messages in the songs are important, need all the verses. It honors the composer and the poet to sing all of the songs. I like that.

The words in the songs are important, often reflect the theme of the service, like this morning.

I also like singing all of the songs, not just a couple of verses

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It’s also good to have the kids stay in the service sometime, see an adult service, be a part of that.

We had intergenerational services sometimes, it would be nice to do them again

I like to see the kids come down for story time, it’s a nice part of the service.

Watching the kids come forth for a story for all ages and their responses is satisfying

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I like the joys and concerns, the water and rock symbols – that’s nice

I love joys and concerns. They help create and deepen a sense of community.

I love them, too. It’s nice to hear what is happening in people’s lives.

Joys and concerns are a special part of the service – I liked it when the children did them, too.

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The quietude – a chance to sit still, center, and focus

I really like the “quiet time,” meditation/reflection time. It brings a special power to the service when all of us are gathered and experiencing this together. I just wish it were longer, like even a whole minute or 90 seconds. We did that in another church and it really allowed for a deepening spiritual experience.

The time for the quiet moment may need to be changed – it’s kind of noisy with the children going out, and it feels like too big a switch.

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Sermons

Rich, “meaty” sermons

I derive inspiration from the sermons

A sense of awe

Transformation and awe that doesn’t come just from one source but possibly several

Learning something I didn’t know before about religion

I enjoy the services when someone gives a personal account, a story, of their life. Like the gentleman from Virginia (Marvin Evans) did. I find that very meaningful.

The sharing of personal depth

Diversity of services: Biblical, Secular, Eastern, Native American, Lay-led

It’s interesting to contrast different traditions in worship – such as Catholic traditions being so different

I would like to have a discussion circle to discuss the sermon, even though we've tried this and people didn't respond. Many churches do this

Stimulating ideas, makes us want to discuss afterwards

Consider including talkback time after the service

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What do we do about the offering and where it is placed? You need to be mindful of the flow of the energy level of the service. Is having it at the end ok?

I think it fits well at the end, after you have taken in the service, it’s time to give back.

I like it at the end, too.

Maybe special offerings could come earlier in the service, especially if they are tied in with the theme of the service.

I like the lack of prescribed order, especially around the offering, I enjoy seeing what will happen each week, how it will go.

I agree, makes it seem less formal and more accepting of what people do.

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How do you feel about applause in church? To me it breaks the mood.

I agree wholeheartedly, it does break the mood.

Sometimes it may be appropriate, like this morning with such an upbeat song

You will never get everyone to agree on that, but it’s nice to bring it up and have the discussion.

I don’t want to quell the spirit – if it moves you, express it

Could be like they do in deaf services, with hands (but it might seem too much like a Baptist service, with a hallelujah!)

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Effective utilization of space, safe, and secure

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Suggestions for Improving the Service:

Transitions throughout the service are sometimes clunky and jarring. The flow of the service should be to bring us into a deeper spiritual, meditative space, hold us there, and then gradually bring us out again.

The period of sitting that lasts from the Chalice Lighting to the end of the Sermon is way too long.

Invite folks to “close the ranks” after the children have left for RE. This will increase the intimacy of the gathering.

Say some words of thanks after the offertory is brought up to the front. The current transition is clunky.

Music or drumming should always be carefully integrated into the mood of the service so as not to be too loud or distracting.

There should not be applause after presentations as this interferes with the mood of the service.

The current way of ending the service is too abrupt. Would like to sing a closing hymn.

Sometimes the service is a bit too long - today, for example. The musical program, while lovely, extended the length of service. We should never go over 1 hour and 15 minutes. We must remember that people have many other responsibilities and things to do.

The Worship Committee sometimes has exceptional things to do that take longer; we need careful engineering of the worship program. Sometimes the service becomes too performance oriented for me. The music presentation may take over the sermon.

I would like to have more participation of the congregation in the service - a balance between listening (too much can be passive) and participation, although too much participation can be distracting (e.g., talking with one another before the beginning of the service)

Prefer Webster Hall over the Playhouse, but would prefer something not so much like a gym.

Prefer “theater in the round” setup rather than the “elevated ministers”

Webster Hall acoustics continue to be challenging.

What happened to the speakers? They are not fully adequate.

The sound system and inability to hear all that is being said remain a serious problem. We can't afford a better system from our regular budget. Would it be possible for individuals to donate specifically for a sound system independently of our core budget? Although we don't yet have a solution, this continues to come up as a problem. We need to experiment with alternative locations, adjusting the piano, training everyone how to use equipment, e.g., the microphone.

Public Presence Theme Conversation - 10/11/2009 and 11/29/2009 Consolidated

2009-11-24T14:17:00.000-08:00

Theme: Public Presence (Two-Circle Composite, sorted into similar response clusters)

Circle Participants: Carolyn Mitchell, Gerlind Jenkner, Donna Moore, Karolynn Flynn, Mary Romeo, Louise Rikley, Mark Rosenwald, Channie Peters, Diana Peters, Jane Martin, and Richard Wilson

Question #1: As Cedars has endeavored to have a public presence, what activities do you think have been most valuable or best reflected our values in the community?

The forum Religion’s place in the Public Square. Timely issue, well publicized, well-planned (great, diverse expert panel), extremely well attended. Did this one all on our own.

Most of the shared programs with Eagle Harbor Congregation Church: environmental films, speakers.

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Volunteering in support of the Suquamish-sponsored Canoe Journey this year

Congregational participation in the Bainbridge Island Interfaith Council’s Super Suppers project

Weekly congregational food donations to Bainbridge Island’s Helpline and North Kitsap’s Fishline social service agencies

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Our annual community service workday at Helpline House

Work at Helpline House—but next time get some PR from it

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Jaco and Barbara writing pieces for the local paper.

Community newspaper columns by the ministers

Barbara’s planned holiday workshop at the Martha & Mary complex in Poulsbo

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Current roadside signage at The Island School and new signs being made for the office and temporary highway use

Question #2: In looking at our public presence, what would you like to see us do more or enhance?

Consider scheduling book discussions and similar small group activities in the office or another public place in order to be more inviting to newcomers

Promote book reading activities through local bookstores and libraries (identify books currently on our “reading list”)

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Develop and sponsor programs on issues bigger than the island but that hit home specifically: for example: Government farm subsidies program - How it rewards the wrong people; how to support the small farmer.

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Sponsor activities like “parent education” to draw more families to Cedars

Need to get Cedars to sponsor things that will interest and pull families in the community in -- forums on: Keeping our kids healthy, Social Action for families, Family health and nurturing issues,
Teen sexuality issues, for example —speakers, 1/2 day “summits.”

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Get out special publicity for visiting ministers (like Amanda Aikman)

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Find more ways to be visible: a banner that could be hung at all Cedars’ sponsored events or co-sponsored events.

Carry our Cedars banner to events in which we are participating (like the Crop Walk)

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Develop an affordable and effective handout that is available at all Cedars’ sponsored or co-sponsored events.

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Return to advertising our presence in the local newspapers’ listings of churches (stopped this year for financial reasons)

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Need improved presence and relationships with public media.

Find ways to break through barriers to cross-community publicity imposed by practices of the local papers (Bainbridge event announcements not considered relevant by the North Kitsap Herald and North Kitsap activities or off-island contact person not of interest to the Bainbridge Review)

Pursue getting Cedars activities into local newspaper calendars

Get minister columns into North Kitsap newspapers

Find a way to get info into the island COOL MOM blog/website

Our Home Theme Conversation - 10/4/2009 and 11/22/2009 Consolidated

2009-11-20T13:22:00.000-08:00

Theme: Our Home (Three-Circle Composite, sorted into similar response clusters)

Circle Participants: Sally Wilson, Carolyn Mitchell, Andrea Tryon, Beth Balas, Donna Mohr, Tom Kuniholm, Frank Petrie, Diana Peters, Donna Moore, Jane Martin, Leslie Marshall, Richard Wilson, Tracy Dickerson, Louise Rikley, Gene Bullock, Sandy Bullock, Phil Brown, Gerlind Jenkner, Vinnie Perrone, Angie Hoffpauir, and (by later email) Diane McCann

Question #1: What do you most like about the way Cedars uses shared facilities?

I am delighted with the home we have now: It is a wonderful space - light, airy, roomy

Webster Hall is a quality space with natural light and a great feel.

The location is great (more convenient) for North Kitsap members.

I am delighted with the home we have now: It is in a setting committed to education - given that individuals are lifelong learners, what better place to explore, adopt, and practice spiritual issues than in a school.

Classrooms at The Island School are wonderful for the children. We need a place for our youth as well, so that they stay connected with the rest of the congregation.

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I love the idea of sharing space with a school

I’m proud that we share The Island School; it would be empty on Sunday anyway, and it’s a prudent, fiscally sound choice for us.

I am delighted with the home we have now: It is making use of a facility that might otherwise be empty on a Sunday, and it fits in with our aspirations of taking good care of the earth in that we are not adding more buildings, etc.

Appreciate the green aspect - sharing allows building use every day

Our use of The Island School represents a green sanctuary by giving us a smaller footprint. The space also offers versatility in how we set up.

Ecologically sound, less taxes, less carbon footprint.

Practical – the facility already exists, cheaper in the short run.

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There is really positive interaction with The Island School administration; they like us and we like them

The relationship with The Island School is very positive for both sides

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Church-in-a-box is appreciated for what it allows, since we are not big enough to have our own building and The Island School has so much positive energy

How everyone has fallen into use of The Island School is impressive (our setup modifies the shared space to better suit our needs)

Two things are striking: aesthetics and comfort: The Island School provides a beautiful space more like Hyla, but it is not as comfortable as desired, and it takes too much effort to set up, so there is concern about potential burnout

I would like to create a more personalized spiritual space, one more aesthetically pleasing, comfortable.

Noise is very difficult at times

The space seems too spread out, we are too far away as Amanda said this morning. Not an intimate environment, space too expansive.

Maybe we need to re-look at how we are using the space, especially seating.

Maybe we should invite people to move closer after the children leave, so there aren’t so many holes. That might create a more intimate space. It is a hassle to shuffle around, though.

People get nested, might be harder to move.

The labor intensity of set-up is huge, especially for a few people like the chair and sound people.

Alan Miller works so hard, harder than just about anybody on Sunday morning, not really fair all the time.

We are living within our means and at low risk, in contrast to another church (different denomination) that I recently learned is having financial difficulties and was forced to sell a building that they had funded and built.

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We aren’t really in a position financially, but having our own space would make a huge difference for growth and programs, etc.

We would use it more, do more things, if we had our own space. Hard to do that now.

If you are a housemate, renting space, you have to abide by others’ rules; they can seem arbitrary, cause friction.

We had that at Hyla more than here, and the Playhouse was really a mess!

Right now it’s less hassle with maintenance, if we had our own place there would be more.
It could be designed so that there wouldn’t be as much maintenance. Depends on the design.

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Helps to have church office where there is meeting space.

The Katz building offers versatility, represents a future opportunity for an expanded role in the community during the week. Our use of TIS is limited primarily to Sundays.

There is a thought about using capital fund and buying office space, share it with another group, but I think that may not be good and I am not in favor of it.

That depends on the deal {re above}, could be a good investment.

Question #2: What images does “Our Home” suggest about Cedars, both currently and in the future?

At Cedars, need to be more attached to people rather than place, more community (our tribe).

Yes, a gathering place more than a physical structure.

In sociology, you call that a “non-territorial community.”

Like the Bedouins, they had to make their places comfortable and hospitable. You need a great sense of hospitality if you are migrants. We need to do a better job of that.

There are lots of complex feelings about this issue – place can help evoke shared memories, meaning, sense of history.

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My “church” is not only at The Island School. It is in my garden, on my computer, and on my refrigerator. Our UU faith doesn’t only reside in a physical place. The physical place is less important than the community we build.

Being green, our image is reflected in the wider community.

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Place needs to be more aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, we don’t have that now. We need to be more welcoming.

Here is not “home” yet, -- it’s too spread out and too formal, structure of chairs could change and be more welcoming of people.

We could have banners, images, to help personalize space, decorate room more.

We could have family activities to make things, etc. But, that would create more work for set-up

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Life is never perfect...but the setup instructions are as close to perfection as one can get. I have only one suggestion, which I hesitate to make, as I am aware of how much effort has gone into the setup process for the service...but if it (the process) could be simplified, that would be helpful...

The effort we face is worrying – is the effort to set up and take down at The Island School more or less than the effort to maintain a building of our own?

We need to have a “set-up” that makes it not such an ordeal to be a community, it needs to be easier.

We need more “theater in the round” like Barbara experimented with a couple of times (several people re-iterated this, felt it would reduce isolation).

The music was beautiful this morning, but I had to crane my neck to see the choir, it’s hard the way the set-up is now.

How do we create a better sense of community, be more creative in use of space and people? Not easy.

We could experiment with the choir, in different directions.

Yea, bring the “show” down, and have choir among the congregation. Come down to sing, not so far away on the stage.

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A real problem is the acoustics; the acoustics in such a large room are terrible.

Money is always the stumbling block to doing more, for example the sound, it could be fixed but it would be expensive. Need to look for creative solutions.

Sound and noise are a problem. Sometimes people may not be able to hear well.

We could ask how many people have trouble hearing, be playful about it. Have different sounds and voices, from different parts of the room, check on a paper whether things were heard or not, sort of a reality check.

We could also train people to use the microphone better. Talk into it properly, not down at the waistline.

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I’ve always wanted our own building where we can be set up and could share with others

I’ve always wished we could share a church with another congregation - perhaps a Jewish one

Space has uses beyond our congregation.

Quimper UU Fellowship in Port Townsend and Eagle Harbor Congregational or Grace Episcopal on Bainbridge are examples of how building-owning churches can be vibrant institutions that share their buildings with other community groups

We have to dream big or it won’t happen

A prominent sign needs to mark where we are – one that is rooted in the earth

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If we had a building, we’d be in trouble right now because of the economy

It would be nice to own an office building so we would have a permanent location

Owning something is better than owning nothing. We should have a plan to purchase a modest building to serve as our office/ community center. Need a formal committee or task force to keep abreast of and explore opportunities as they arise.

What should we do with our capital fund? Should the capital campaign pledge ask be combined with the Stewardship ask? Three people felt no, it diminishes the importance of both to combine the asks. Better to do them separately.

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Synergy with The Island School: We share a mutual regard and similar values. Future shared ownership of space with TIS & perhaps Grace on adjacent property would be a positive development.

We will need more storage as we grow. Maybe TIS will let us build a storage building somewhere on the property.

Trust for Working Landscapes has a long range plan to build an educational facility on the city-owned Day Road property just east of TIS.

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One last thing, I would love to see an occasional service scheduled somewhere in Poulsbo - Chapel at Mary & Martha for instance.

Glad that Barbara’s doing some stuff there; it’s in keeping with the idea of making North Kitsap more included.

Youth & RE Theme Conversation - 9/27/2009, 10/9/2009, and 11/15/2009 Consolidated

2009-11-14T09:56:00.000-08:00

Theme: Youth and RE (Four-Circle Composite, sorted into similar response clusters)

Circle Participants: Robert Mohr, Donna Moore, Royce Reid, Sarah Reid, Nancy Phillip, Karolynn Flynn, Terry Siebert, Donna Mohr, Janetmarie Valiga, Prill Hinkley, Becki Maxwell, Keri and Chris Schmit, Arlene Wade, Dianah Jackson, Brian Sorenson, Porter Hall, Beth Balas, Vinnie Perrone, and Richard Wilson

Question #1: when our Religious Education program (including youth ministry) is functioning at its best, what does it look like?

We have a full complement of teachers, RE committee members, and RE Director

There will be a teacher and an assistant in every classroom

A committed, passionate youth leader is found who can develop programs and generate ideas that get the youth fired up to participate and to bring their friends.

There would be a designated, perhaps paid, youth ministry director and it would be great, but not essential, if this person were in his or her early 20’s,

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Kids bring parents to church

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There’s better PR within the church about what’s going on in the programs. Too many people without children haven’t a clue what goes on. Suggestions to improve this: Integrate the children more often in services to make them visible and an active part of what Cedars’ services are about, and create a “Photo Frame” presentation -- an ongoing and continually updated slide show presentation of children involved in RE activities -- to greet people as they come into the Island School for services.

We are more inclusive of our kids - I remember great intergenerational services at Hyla and think we could do more with kids in the service now; do we talk at them or allow them to participate and share?

As congregation, we really honor the kids and do more intergenerational activities & events – share wisdom both ways

We see and hear more youths in Sunday Services

Younger kids are included in chalice lighting, etc.

Intergenerational get-to-know-the-kids activities

More of the congregation is involved in RE and the children know people in the congregation

Non-parents interact and work with the children

Working on creating more fun events – community gatherings outside of Sunday service

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Telling kids what UU is and helping them find an internal rudder as belief system

Kids share the same values

Kids overcome society’s tendency to look down on religion

DRE gets sense of feedback that older kids are still developing (Jr. & Sr. high)

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The age spectrum of our activities should be more complete – the youth group now meets at a separate Sunday time and those kids are basically not there when the rest of us are

Other churches have their youth group on some other day of the week and expect their kids to come to church on Sunday

I know why the kids in our youth group have chosen to meet at a separate time, but it sends a message to the kids that they don’t need to come to church;

How fantastic would it be if those kids would come to church and see Rachel in her Worship Associate role? - I grew up in a Lutheran church and was pretty active; I was a shy child but the adults encouraged me to do things that I never would have done on my own, which was great

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A favorite time was with the youth group that is now in college; they were a very close-knit group that grew up together and several things worked well for them - one that worked really well was the mentoring program where a specific effort was made to connect people in the congregation with young people, and a lot more could be done with that program

I want my kids to know the older adults and remember them

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One of the goals of the parenting group is to provide good unsupervised playtime; that might sound weird, but we want them to be kids playing together, and to see them grow up together

Our kids are growing up with the kids at Cedars; it’s not just kids they know at church but kids they are growing up with, and that seemed to be the case with that group that is now in college too – they weren’t necessarily best friends but more like cousins, comfortable with each other and sharing common values (just like we adults do)

Recent bridging ceremony with 15 or so kids graduating – deep bonds between kids & deepening bonds between parents

Friendship bonds last a lifetime

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Effort is made to get more about the RE program and its core values out into the community, such as a newspaper article about the OWL program and on open invitation for other young people to attend.

The story is shared that this is a place where children learn values of honesty, diversity, compassion, spirituality, and equality in a tradition of openness rather than dogma.

Cedars sponsors forums, talks, films that deal with children, and family issues (could be about nutrition, substance abuse issues, speakers who present research about healthy families, etc.). By sponsoring these kinds of events, Cedars would most likely attract more families with children, and this would be an opportunity to grow and develop the RE and Youth programs.

The 3rd step in the OWL program is activated and taught – the application and relationship issues part of the curriculum. Again publicize an invitation to other youth in the area to join in.

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It’s working well – Keep it going

Question #2: What else would indicate a really thriving RE program at Cedars?

A full-time RE Director (DRE)

Full-time RE Director (DRE)

Youth Coordinator

A mix of age groups in leadership roles. Youth, even younger children would play a more active part in more aspects of Cedars. We make room for every voice.

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We see more families visiting and joining because of the reputation of the RE and Youth programs out in the community.

People check-out Cedars because friends or a kid’s friends are in it and they want to participate

Getting Press – newspaper interest about the achievements – generate buzz

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The children love the program and they are the ones who encourage their parents to attend services.

The Story for All Ages currently seems to be for adults much of the time – why not sit down on the floor with the children and make sure the vocabulary is appropriate?

Church represents both inspiration and fun for the children and youth.

Teenagers (and recent teenagers) wanting to come back and participate in more than a social way would indicate a really good RE program

Families take advantage of Camp Elliott in Seabeck, a UU camp that is meant to be quite wonderful. Imagine a group of Cedars’ families attending an annual long weekend stay at the camp. The bonding that will happen would certainly nurture deeper relationships and develop enthusiasm in the children for “all things Cedar.”

Kids and families go to Elliott (UU summer retreat/camp at Seabeck)

Evening gatherings with things for the kids to do and mixing the families as a counterpoint to
Sunday mornings would be good for community building

Family fun events

Have auction items for kids to bid on

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Participation by all age groups on Sunday morning so everyone sees each other every week

Older kids are here at The Island School too

Adults of all ages participating in the RE program and paying attention to the children, so kids have connection with adults other than parents – and a real sense of community

There needs to be an effort to restore or refresh a sense of community that embraces all ages – it will take more than just picnics and other activities (the Connection Dinners aren’t open to kids), it would take something like the mentoring program’s pairing up

Coming of Age and Mentoring programs

No more isolation of RE & youth from the greater community

Integrated youth at Sunday – have a space for them

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Having our own building – a home for the kids

Continuity for kids – our own sacred space & no more RE in a box

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Have children participate in social action, creating positive energy/synergy to be appealing and to draw more desire to participate

The children have active opportunity to do community service.

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Partnering with other churches – interfaith society for kids (OWL does some of this)

OWL program shares truth in an environment of trust

Growth Theme Conversation - 9/20/2009 and 11/8/2009 Consolidated

2009-11-12T15:42:00.000-08:00

Theme: Growth (Four-Circle Composite, sorted into similar response clusters)

Circle Participants: Beth Balas, Nancy Frank, Larry Frank, Bunny Stumbo, Stan Stumbo, Frank Petrie, Bloom Beloved; Prill Hinckley, Alan Miller, Carolyn Mitchell, Robert Mohr, Angie Hoffpauir, Phil Brown, John Munson; Donna Mohr, Judy Willott, Vinnie Perrone, Frank Mandt, Karolynn Flynn, Donna Moore, Gene Bullock, Sandy Bullock, and Bill Scarvie

Question: When you imagine Cedars “growing,” what do you envision that could strengthen and enhance the well-being and mission of our congregation (including, but not limited to, growth in numbers)?

A lot of growth has already taken place. Things that helped that growth occur: RE program, more organized procedures, less chaos

We’ve been gone a few years and now that we’re back we see a new enthusiasm and that’s good.

Why do we need to grow? I mean growth for growth sake, is that always good?

Growth for its own sake is not healthy.

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We don’t have enough members to support programs. We need to educate people about our mission and needs, be sustainable, and hopefully that will help.

There needs to be more discussion with each other about how to sustain the church. We may not know how to do that.

We need more members to have more money to support programs. We don’t have enough now to support what we do.

We can’t continue to rely on special events like the auction to balance the budget, need to have regular pledging, stewardship for this.

People will give to concrete things, specific things they know. They see a need and they give more.
“Fund a need.” We always had special collections for things and people gave well to them.

People give well to special collections here, but we still need to be able to pay our way with pledges rather than special events.

We don’t have the money to pay the choir director to grow the program, not fair to ask her to do more.

Maybe we should have a Sunday without a service or other church activities and ask people to think about what they were missing.

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Desire growth in numbers but wary of proselytizing. More comfortable with working to make Cedars more visible in the greater community by sponsoring lectures, events

Cedars’ membership matches the characteristics of Bainbridge Island demographics more closely than any other church on the Island. As a way to attract newcomers, we could sponsor secular activities that appeal to the “typical” Bainbridge Islander. We should look for the “closet Unitarians” on the island.

Get people to know “who we are” beyond being a “church.” The “church” in our name carries a certain meaning that could be a turnoff.

An important way to get the word out about ourselves is to spread by word of mouth.

We need a workshop on “elevator speeches” to help us tell others about who, what we are.

Get Cedars more visible and more thoughtfully regarded in the community

A stronger outreach program involving us in visible activities for the benefit of our communities: forums, speeches, public witness.

I wish more people knew about us, through newspaper articles for example.

Need to get better PR for things we do---large turn out for Helpline Service Day could/should have been in the newspaper

More visibility in the communities, especially North Kitsap: Fishline hasn't seen a Community Service Day for a couple of years, while Helpline had it last year and is planned to have it this year.

When Cedars is present at a public event, we should carry an identifying banner.

Create a Cedars’ banner that is displayed at the events we host or participate in

Obtain and display roadside signage showing people where we are on Sundays: Sandwich board signs on Day Road @ both Madison and Hwy 305, east and west sides.

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Grow by creating opportunities to connect with one another, to have more intimate interactions.

This creates a reason for folks to return. People stay because of opportunities to connect more deeply.

Growth means we are creating more opportunities to learn from each other, for others to participate in learning. For example, Alan Miller’s classes on UU’ism.

Need for more small groups to address specific needs and to engender more intimate relationship among members.

Spiritual life of Cedars will grow through additional ways to increase intimacy; Covenant Groups, Circle Suppers suggested as kinds of things to do this

Desire for Cedars to not only be about ideas but more about matters of the heart

Looking for the kind of spiritual inspiration and insight that can be used in day to day life. Make it real.

Experience in another congregation was that growth really started when they got their own building, on the heels of having had a strong, permanent minister for 5 years. However, The Island School building and location is a good substitute, and maybe owning our own is not that important, especially now that the ten Hoves are here.

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Age is becoming a factor. Cedars’ population is heavy on the 50 + club. Real need to attract younger families

Focus more on attracting families with young children.

Need to find more ways to make it easier for families with children to participate

Sponsor family projects, speakers, events. Attract younger families.

Sponsor a forum that deals with children and family in an effort to gain visibility within the school age family group. Urgent need to attract more families

To grow, you need to consider the young person’s perspective, that is, young adults in their 20’s and 30’s who are cynical about God and church but who want a place to connect with like-minded people. Such people exist locally at Islandwood (both students and staff), BGI, Northwest College of Art, and Olympic College. They are looking for outdoor and nature activities with a spiritual connection. They are also looking for anything having to do with “green,” “sustainability,” and environmental justice. Suggest taking the “Sanctuary” out of “Green Sanctuary” as it sounds too “churchy.” Other places where we might connect with these people: a booth at Harvest Fair, an ad or article in Yes! Magazine, offering a “nature meditation retreat” or a “walking meditation” where God is de-emphasized and our connection to nature is primary, holding an event on the “2012” phenomenon

Communicate in the ways that younger people do: Facebook, Craigslist (for example, advertise a “Nature Hike for All Ages in Kitsap County”), old fashioned bulletin boards in downtown Winslow

Someone suggested places like Islandwood, and BGI. They have similar values. How do we reach out to them?

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The music program is really important, and really should be expanded to an arts program, we could do so much to attract folks.

Music enhances the worship experience for sure. A church I went to had dance in the service sometimes.

It would be great to have a children’s choir – wasn’t someone doing that at one time?

Music is definitely one way for people to find a place to share. We need lots of ways for people to feel connected. That’s what it’s all about

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Do a much better job with visitors.

Grow a culture of radical hospitality, with the goal of shifting our attention toward moving support of Cedars ahead of support for causes that we, as individuals, find worthy.

Need a big tune-up of the Membership Committee’s engagement with visitors

Need better process for follow-through with visitors. Ideas: Have person/s posted who engages visitors, casually introduces them to others in the coffee hour, perhaps even check in with them outside of Sunday service; create an inviting, informative, and intriguing Cedars PR brochure that each visitor receives—an effective take-away.

Growth and development needs to happen in Cedars’ procedural processes: i.e.: improved process for keeping the directory up-to-date and organizational improvements regarding ways to communicate

Growing the spirit of the community as well as the spirit of the individual.

Ideas about increasing number of visitors: Encourage the Worship Committee to build a “Friendship Service” in which each person would invite a friend or two. The service would honor the bonds between us and our visiting friends. They would become part of a ritual blessing. The service would not be about Unitarianism 101; it would be a way to share with our visitors what it feels like to attend Cedars.

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Limited size of congregation limits the variety of diverse groups that can be successfully offered. This means some needs go unmet

We should continue and strengthen our relationship with Eagle Harbor church, Grace Episcopal Church, especially around social justice and environmental issues

There’s a church in Suquamish that we have done things with, around social activism. That’s a really important area.

Other UU churches I’ve been to have partnered with other churches, such as an racial or minority churches, which weren’t represented in the congregation.

I’m not sure how many racial or ethnic groups there are in the area; be good to find out.

We should seek out diversity in many ways, not just racial or ethnic. Many in the congregation are getting older, and diversity of age is important. How do we attract younger folks, reach out to them?

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I’m not sure what the conversation circles are all about, and I’d like to keep talking more about this process.

I want to make sure that all people are heard, not just a few people who are always here. Who’s going to make decisions about these things? I want to make sure that the people who do the work of the church have a say in things that affect them. The church committees should be brought in and have a say.

I don’t really like to use the computer or blog – I like to have face-to-face conversations about things, see other people. The interactions give me more ideas.

Community Theme Conversation - 9/13/2009 and 11/1/2009 Consolidated

2009-11-03T14:49:00.000-08:00

Theme: Community (Six-Circle Composite, sorted into similar response clusters)

Circle Participants: Sally Wilson, Lyn Peterson, Carolyn Mitchell, Judy Willott, Andrea Tryon, Frank Petrie; Bea Dixon, Becki Maxwell, Rod Kempkes, Richard Wilson, Sheryl Hamm, Channie Peters; Diana Peters, Donna Moore, Jack Peterson, Robin Hanway, Karolynn Flynn, Roger Katz; Royce and Sarah Reid, David and Andrea Barnes, Jack Fiore, Maria Fiore, Donna Mohr, Rebecca Nyamidie, Julie Katana, Barb Saunders, Diane McCann, John McCann, Mary Romeo, Brian Sorensen, and Bill Scarvie

Question #1: What aspects of congregational community do you value most?

Commune with others who share common beliefs and values

Connection with other like-minded people, opportunities to share wide-ranging ideas

A community of friends with shared values, whom we might not otherwise have met

I value the opportunity to engage with people during the coffee hour

Developing local connections with friends, both old and new

It’s a place to go outside of one’s own extended family

The fact that Cedars is a strong community that offers a place to connect with people outside of family, outside of work; people with whom I share similar interests in spirituality and social perspectives

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It’s like a deeper family, a source of friends but more than friendship, an important part of life, support and inspiration. It’s also a place to make a greater contribution.

Able to get to know people on deeper level, growing together over time – sense a deep community more than just social; acknowledging there is more to learn for our personal growth

Events in people’s homes that expand opportunities to really get to know people, to share time with them in more intimate settings.

As a single person, I consider Cedars my family. I need a place to come to connect with people I respect and enjoy. This is what Cedars is for me.

Broad generationally, life-span, so can learn from each other & hear people’s stories and experiences

People reaching out to others—for example: Pastoral Care group contacting people who have lost a family member, or are experiencing other difficult times. This is meaningful to people, creates a feeling of belonging and being cared for.

Value of being with a group of people where you can express your private spirituality; interacting helps to be more accepting and compassionate

Joys & Sorrows provides an opportunity to get to know others a little more deeply. It’s a place that’s more accepting of who I am.

Intimate small group gatherings (get to know others very well)

Gatherings, dinners, getting to know others

Open and welcoming opportunities to connect older members with newer members

Very personal yet not structured – relates to life and us as community

Children are welcomed and cared for – a community working together

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Small group gatherings meeting on regular schedule for exploration of common theme – always welcoming new people to join the group

Checking-in opportunities

The opportunity to connect deeply with others

The opportunity to share my thoughts in a safe environment.

Confidentiality, trust, non-judgmental, valuing others for who and what they are

An opportunity to be heard without judgment, and a responsibility to hear others without judgment

Covenant Groups

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Communal groups working together

Church members working together in smaller groups

Helpline day - working with others who have similar spiritual leanings

Community of thinkers – dig in and do things

It provides an opportunity to give back with our talents.

Coming together for common purpose, e.g. social action, learning, having worship atmosphere sometimes

Events that get people working together outside of Sunday service.

Things like the auction that bring out peoples’ talents and gifts and get people working together.

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I appreciate that the congregation is free to practice religion in a way that suits their needs; there is no higher authority imposing things from above.

I like how today’s sermon (Crazy Quilt) reflects the diversity of the congregation.

That it feels like a non-judgmental group. Everyone’s accepted as they are.

It’s who you are, not what you are

The idea that authority resides within me, and not outside of me

Think on your own

Non-judgmental, bring our own religion, spirituality, etc.

Like minded – mutual respect

A feeling of respect for differences

Appreciate that it is a place to come where diverse perspectives are accepted and welcomed; find it a place where it’s okay to have less traditional views about religion. Likes Jaco’s non-theist point of view.

I came from a very conservative religious background, and I appreciate that there is no pressure to conform to a certain standard, and that there’s no mandate on how to dress, what can be said, and such.

Question #2: How might we foster a greater sense of community at Cedars?

“Hands out, smiles.”

This has been the most welcoming of the five UU congregations I’ve experienced.

We all need to make the effort to meet newcomers and talk with them each week.

Welcome newcomers but don’t overdo it, over-welcoming can scare people away.

Balance inviting newcomers and outreach with overwhelming newcomers and scaring them off

Find new ways to connect with new people without scaring them off. Maybe a stepped process could be developed: an initial contact from someone on the welcoming committee, maybe followed by an e-mail or phone call asking if they have any questions, as well as continuing to nurture a connection with them, without making them feel as if we’re stalking them.

Invite newcomers to become involved, but don’t overwhelm them with responsibilities like leadership right away.

Avoid pressure to participate and allow alternative opportunities to participate and to contribute

For newcomers, an historical review of recent developments in the life of Cedars: ministry, building plans, attempts to acquire land

Engage active non-members and encourage participation

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Actually create more opportunities to do things and connect with others (don’t just talk about it).

Develop gathering – social mixers, organized events, casual gatherings, and many-many opportunities

Create additional opportunities for more intimate interactions: Example was given of the greeting time within the service and how the energy of the group expands at this time. Take this as a tip off that people come alive when they are given opportunities to connect.

Increase opportunities to engage with others on important topics in small groups.

More invitations (personal touch) to people to join activities; reaching out more

Develop intimate personal community – i.e. choir – participant chosen group with personal connections

Getting to know each other in smaller groups (socially) with no special agenda so we can grow to trust each other

More small groups doing stuff – shared strengths and thoughts – shoulder to shoulder

More friendships and more opportunities to connect with others

Mentorship/friendship, personal connections

More opportunities to connect with people.

The “Dinner Connections” are wonderful and should be kept going.

Offer more family events: picnic, camp

Involve the youth group more

Integrate youth in worship.

“Small Group Ministry”

Dinners together in small groups

Talent shows, auctions, and reading groups

Talent Revue – builds trust, good time too

Game nights

Have an annual congregational retreat.

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Diversity

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Make building a stronger community an essential part of everything we do. For example, focus on team building in every committee and group as a way to enhance community. Make team building an integrated part of every gathering: examples: start meetings with a check-in or starter, personal sharing type question; include a chalice lighting, perhaps a reading—integrate ways to bring people into a deeper knowing and connection with one another at every Cedars event, gathering, or meeting. (“What you pay attention to expands.”)

Create projects that get people thinking beyond just their own needs and that get them more connected to others.

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Provide training in self-care; that is, learning how to set boundaries, how to say no and how to forgive yourself for doing so

Build a culture of right relations. Provide training in the principles and practices of right relations: issues such as gossip, disruption, conflict, trust

Extended ministerial care (visiting teacher)

Caring about the welfare of one another beyond the pastoral care team

Create an Emergency Fund for people who might need help from time to time. We could dedicate one of the year’s special collections to this. It could be decided whether this is a micro-loan or simply a gift. Lots of details to work out, but it is one way to offer help to people within our community that may need it from time to time.

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Strengthen neighborhood groups

Create better connections through the Neighborhood Teams. Provide team leaders with training on how to welcome and include new members of the team. New team members should be welcomed and encouraged to help, not marginalized because they are unfamiliar with the work.

Find ways to lighten the burden of organizing, so more appealing “doors” to participation

Make sure that newcomers are welcomed and included in neighborhood team activities.

Increase the frequency and variety of neighborhood teams.

Neighborhood teams should get together socially more often.

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Light the flaming chalice at all gatherings, as a reminder of who we are and who we are with

Have a “Suggestion Bowl” each Sunday into which people could write out and place comments, concerns, ideas they might have. We could also use this “bowl” as a way to gather feedback on a particular issue that the congregation might have. A rotating group of “monitors” could take over the responsibility to collect the comments each week. It might be fun to have a white board by the coffee table headed: WHAT ARE YOU THINKING. The monitor for the week would post some or all of the comments on the board for others to read. A complete tracking of the comments could be printed on the web-site, much like the Future Shapers Blog This way a record could be kept of people’s comments.

Conversation Circle Process & Intent

2009-10-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

At the risk of repeating some things that many of you already know, it seems like this blog needs further explanation or clarification about the direction and format of the current Conversation Circle process.

Cedars’ 50th anniversary year has reinforced a growing sense of arrival in its development as a religious community, and this has suggested congregational engagement in a new assessment of present circumstances and future possibilities. Such a process, suggested by the “Celebrate Our Past – Shaping Our Future” theme adopted for the anniversary year, began to develop in the spring of this year at Cottage Meetings organized as part of the annual canvass. Those events included facilitated discussions exploring participants’ thoughts and dreams about current and future possibilities for Cedars. Those forward-looking ideas remain with us as displayed in poster panel form in Webster Hall and they are the direct source of the themes now used to guide the Conversation Circle process.

The overall objective of this new effort is to identify and clarify congregational goals (an initial half-year objective) and implementation strategies for the guidance of Cedars’ further development (the following half-year objective) in a widely-participatory process extending over the full course of the church year. These future-shaping concepts will be keys to a significant future, and the level of congregational participation in the process will directly affect its success. High levels of participation should result in broadly-supported goals and well-conceived strategies for achieving a future that we seek together.

The Conversation Circle process itself is consequently meant to be as widely inclusive as possible, with its primary venue being an easily accessible, relatively brief, and frequently occuring conversation opportunity within, or part of, the coffee hour that follows all of our Sunday morning services. In place and time, this is intended to expand the opportunities for participation and the open format will also allow selective participation in personally meaningful portions of the larger process when conflicting responsibilities or activities make that necessary.

This blog and the Cedars website invitation to participate in direct email communication are meant to serve as further means of participation, and planning is underway to provide additional venues that might better serve segments of the congregation, such as the parents of small children, who find difficulty with the Sunday morning venues.

Planning is also underway for open sharing of the discussion contents and added comments, and for the eventual sifting, sorting, and processing of the congregation’s overall effort. This latter effort will conclude each half of this church year and is intended to produce a report for presentation and further discussion at the mid-year and annual congregational meetings.

Conversation Circles

2009-09-27T22:40:00.000-07:00

I recently attended a Shaping Our Future Conversation Circle on the topic of Growth. There were three of them in progress when I found one with an opening. While the conversation was lively, what struck me was that, given the time limitation of 30 minutes, we weren’t able to get delve into the topic to deeply. With a group of six people, each one had, in essence, five minutes of discussion. This did not allow for a lot of give and take, especially since a topic like this could easily have taken the rest of the afternoon.

My understanding of this process (and someone please correct this if I am wrong) is that the comments will be compiled to get a sense of what the congregation thinks about each of the topics discussed, and somehow come up with a church vision for the future from all of these discussions. I personally felt some real limitations since there were only six other people whose ideas and thoughts I could hear, and I found myself wondering what else the other two groups were coming up with. Others who couldn’t or didn’t attend a Conversation Circle could post comments on this blog, though this option doesn’t seem to be getting much use.

What would be most useful for me, and I suspect others in the congregation, is to hold a couple of large half-day town meetings or workshops, were lots of ideas and interaction can take place. It seems to me that if there is a vision for the future that comes out of this process, this would be the best way to get congregational buy-in for it.

Shaping Our Future

2009-09-02T16:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry to have missed the first go-round of Shaping Our Future Conversation Circles. -- This summer has been amazing; absolutely the best, tastiest, and largest crop of tomatoes we've grown since moving here in '95. The sunshine and warmth have produced spectacular crops for many farmers. The abundance at our local farmer's market is a delight to the senses: veggies and fruits galore, specialty breads, and even local shellfish (the clams are incredible!). All this local bounty makes living our Green Sanctuary values a joyful pleasure.

As we move into the future, I hope we will place our values--particularly those we've learned and continue to learn from Green Sanctuary and Welcoming Congregation--in the forefront of our efforts to grow. All this sun brings growth readily to mind. For our church, growth means substantially more than just numbers to me. Wanting to grow spiritually and organizationally, as well as numerically, in the summer sun and the winter rain & snow. We need a balance--seasonally, personally, intellectually, reverentially, spiritually--to enable the potential that lies within us. Glad to know we have a good team of folks seeking that balance by asking all of us to share our thoughts and opinions.

Welcome

2009-08-30T17:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a blog on which Cedars UU Church members and friends may comment and interact around the "Shaping Our Future" process now unfolding.

Conversation Circles after church on Sunday mornings will be discussing a series of weekly themes during the fall of 2009, each of which will also be the subject for blog engagement, as desired. This gives those of you not able to be at church on a given Sunday the opportunity to contribute your thoughts and ideas on that theme, or add more during the week afterward.

Please use the weekly themes and starter questions below to guide your comments. Each theme week begins on the scheduled Sunday, as noted (repeating the series once).

To e-mail comments on the weekly theme, see the link to Shaping Our Future above.

Members of the Shaping Our Future team will consider input from all sources in their effort to articulate a set of goals for the near future of our congregation, which will be presented at the annual mid-January Congregational Meeting.

Thank you for your thoughts and for caring about Cedars!

Your Future Shapers: Karolynn Flynn, Frank Petrie, Richard Wilson, Bill Scarvie, Becki Maxwell, Angie Hoffpauir, and Rev. Jaco ten Hove

Weekly themes and starter questions:

September 13 & November 8:
Community
1. What aspects of congregational community do you value most?
2. How might we foster a greater sense of community at Cedars?

September 20 & November 15:
Growth
1. When you think of Cedars “growing,” what do you envision that could both strengthen and enhance the wellbeing of our congregation?
2. What specific ways might Cedars grow, including, but not limited to growing in numbers?

September 27 & November 22:
Youth and Religious Education (RE)
1. When our RE program (including youth ministry) is functioning at its best, what does that look like?
2. What else would indicate a really thriving RE program at Cedars?

October 4 & November 29:
Our Home

October 11 & December 6:
Public Presence

October 18 & December 13:
Worship Issues

October 25 & December 20:
Program Possibilities

November 1:
Other