Annual Report to the Congregation

UUC Religious Education Committees

May 2008

The RE Committee for children and youth in the 2007-08 church year underwent shifts during the course of the year. In September, it consisted of Janet Clark (chair), Christine Chirolas-Brewer, Dotti Doyle, Charolotte Olson, Pete Pensa, and Peggy Tanney. Rosanne Silverman served ex officio until her retirement as RE Assistant in December. Her position was assumed by Christine Pensa in January, and Pete Pensa resigned from the Committee at that time. Charlotte and Dotti both left the Committee during the year, as they had many other commitments.

The RE Committee monitored the program monthly, including assessing and revising curricula, attendance, and volunteer needs. The Committee’s major commitment this year was to fund the comprehensive human sexuality program Our Whole Lives for the next church year through RE-sponsored congregational luncheons, which Charlotte Olson volunteered to coordinate. This was the third consecutive year of these events (previously to repay a loan for playground equipment). A total of $1, 574 was raised to pay for curriculum, training, and incidental expenses. Initial plans to offer training at UUC did not attract enough participants to be pursued, unfortunately, so our leaders who have not yet received training – Meredith Machler, Ken Bliznick, Lore Eargle, and Ray Williamson – will be trained in Atlanta this summer. Heather Calderone and John Carpenter received training last summer.

My heartfelt thanks to all who served on the Committee and in the myriad other ways that support the UUC Religious Education program.

The Adult Education Committee was comprised of Carolyn Fischer (chair), Bob Schneiter, Ann Scott, and Peggy Tanney. The Committee met monthly to determine and assess programming, recruit course leaders, and plan for the future. The congregation was blessed with excellent leaders for courses, including some of the ministers who filled the pulpit during Abhi’s sabbatical.

Courses included: Understanding Islam (Abhi), 3 sessions of UU History (Abhi, Millie, Wayne Arnason), Introduction to Buddhist Thought and Culture (Frank Tedesco), Pathways to Membership (3 series led by Abhi and Millie), Public Speaking Without Stage Fright (Bob Schneiter), The Money Taboo (Mark Morrison-Reed), The Equanimity Equation (Michael Schuler), Life Lines – Holding on and Letting Go (Millie), A Musical Trilogy – Thinking, Feeling, Healing (Bob Schneiter, Susan Golden), Reconstructing Progressive Liberal Religion for the 21^st Century (John Buehrens), Articulating Your UU Faith (Millie). Income from adult education programming netted almost $1,400.

Again, I sincerely thank all who served UUC to further the intellectual and spiritual growth of members and friends.

Respectively submitted,

Rev. Millie Rochester