Cottage Party Notes I
What do we yearn for in Worship?

Many yearn for more variety and more emotional inspiration
o More emotional and inspirational services
o Variety in liturgy, sources of truth -- consider Star King as good example of this
o Respectful sharing of diverse God language, grounded in immersion in Seven UU Principles
o More guest ministers
o More spiritual and emotional music, more connected to service, more inspirational, more diversity and visiting musicians, less organ, longer hymns
o Let people share joys & concerns out loud in service

We also “Still want rationality that’s not too wacky”
o More politics in sermons, more head, more intellect
o More theology in sermons, connect world religions
o More theological exploration with fellow members – what drives us ultimately?
o Shorter testimonials with better supervision
o Shorter community concerns

What do we yearn for in congregational diversity and growth?

Keep it welcoming! We are never “done” with this.
o Bring back the blue cups in coffee hour to recognize newcomers
o Control din of coffee hour with better acoustics (use rugs, tapestries, etc.). Can we get more coffee hour space
o CONTINUAL energy for Welcoming Congregation, anti-oppression, racial & socio-economic inclusiveness
o Bring back the Diversity Flag (easier to identify than “welcoming congregation” flag)

We talked quite about about pastoral care from ministers and fellow parishioners
o More pastoral support from ministers for our personal issues, prayer support – this is an invaluable complement to secular therapy
o Office hours for our ministers
o Keep the Caring Council going – it’s up to us to care for our community. We are the ministers of this church. Let’s train parishioners to offer pastoral support
o Notice people’s attendance (say, by assigning deacons to pay attention) and reach out to exiting people
o Listen to Caring Council and remember people’s concerns
o Interpersonal spirituality (relationships that go beyond “I’m fine.”)
o Balance personal with political
o Reach out to invite new members to plug in
o Celebrate volunteer work that people give to FP

We have a long way to go to build understanding of people different from us (mostly white, mostly well-educated)
o Welcome minority youth with baggy pants
o Welcome people regardless of money

What do we yearn for in religious education and spiritual development programming?

We want to provide opportunities for all ages
o Keep our momentum with young people
o Stronger youth group and young families
o Rejuvenate older parishioner involvement
o Rejuvenate MidLife group
o Promote awareness of small group opportunities
o Clarity in our resources and structure

What do we yearn for First Parish’s community presence to become?

Bring back how we were on 9/11 -- open doors during the week, with regular hours for public access, candle lighting

Commitment to environmentalism (be a Green Congregation)

More political guts.
o Ministerial columns in Boston Globe
o Rush Limbaugh attacking UUs on the radio

Interfaith dialogue.
o FP ministers participate in Cambridge Ministers Group.
o Sister church
o Interfaith visitors exchange program
o Outreach to immigrant youth


Other comments

Promote awareness of our financial crisis, and true costs of running church
- posted by Bruce Hoppe @ 3:00 PM