Communications
Congregational Life
Finance
Hospitality
House & Grounds
Memorial Garden
Religious Exploration
Social Activities & Events
Social Justice
Worship
Communications
Who are we? We are the Communications Team which currently includes two co-chairs; Mary Strieff and Sue Schaedler, working closely with Jill Brunelle our Office Administrator. We welcome assistance from all who are interested in communicating what’s happening within our SUUS community and beyond!
What do we do? The Communications Team maintains and provides content for our SUUS website. We let you know what’s happening at SUUS on a weekly basis simply by clicking on our website to see the many worship, educational, justice and social opportunities that exist. We also provide input to our weekly news so that it can be picked up and provided by email to our members and friends. We post on Facebook and Instagram several times a week and link our FB services and sermons to our Sunday Service posts and our Worship page.If something urgent comes up, that’s us too, we use Constant Contact or Breeze to send out email blasts to let our members and friends know of any cancellations, passing of one of our members, Social Justice opportunities, and so on.
When and how do we meet? We meet as needed. The co-chairs might have a working session together to do some updates to the website content, we meet perhaps quarterly with Rev. Craig to take stock of how things are going and discuss what might need refreshing. We work with staff members such as our DRE, or committee chairs to keep their committee related information up to date.
How can one get involved with the work of this Team? Whom should I contact? If you are savvy with social media accounts and would like to help promote our SUUS presence on those platforms, or if you have ideas about web design and content that would make our current website more appealing or user friendly please reach out to Mary Strieff or Sue Schaedler. We would love to have some fresh perspectives!
Congregational Life
Who are we? The Congregational Life Committee is chaired by Alice Fleming, membership chair and Barb Francese, the Caring Coordinator. The committee is made up of greeters and care team members.
What we do? The membership portion of the committee is responsible for welcoming all members, friends and visitors on Sunday mornings. The caring team provides assistance to members and friends as the need arises in the form of cards, calls, visits, meals and rides.
When do we meet? We meet more or less quarterly in person before church on Sundays. We would LOVE to have more greeters, and the commitment is up to you (once a month, once every few months). It is a great way to get to know members and meet visitors.
FINANCE
Who are we? The Finance Team is a 5-member team with representation from the Board, the Vision Fund, and the Congregation. Frank Sirianni, the SUUS Treasurer, serves as Team Lead. Mary Cosgrove and Neil Schultes (Congregation), Lemi Liu (Vision Fund Custodian), and Gary Feder (Board) are the other members. Adding vital support with team tasks is provided by Arline Morrissey.
What do we do? We help collect money! We help spend money! The Finance Team supports the Board’s role of fiduciary responsibility for SUUS by reviewing finances, making financial recommendations, and administering some financial tasks. An important activity is Stewardship, led by Mary and Neil. This involves a variety of giving initiatives, such as the Annual Canvass. The Finance Team also helps prepare annual budget proposals for review by the Board.
When and how do we meet? The Team meets every other month, primarily online but on occasion we meet in-person at SUUS. Meetings usually take about one hour. We play well with others!
How can I get involved? Whom should I contact? If you are interested in adding your strengths to the Team, please reach out to any Team member.
HOSPITALITY
Who are we? What do we do? The hospitality committee is here to ensure a welcoming environment for both visitors and members at SUUS. We facilitate and organize coffee hour, special memorial services, provide food and drink service for the annual auction, and host exclusive SUUS sponsored special events as agreed upon.
How do we meet? Current members of the committee include: Tracy Ernst and Sarah Jane Dailey. We huddle weekly via phone to discuss SUUS hospitality needs.
·How can one get involved? The committee is always recruiting SUUS volunteers to host Sunday after service coffee hour; sign-ups can be found in the fellowship hall or you can contact the SUUS office at 203-245-8720 to sign-up. We are seeking new members to join our committee; commitment is flexible. If you have any questions, please reach us by calling either Tracy 860-388-7558 or Sarah Jane 413-478-5065
House & Grounds
Who are we? The House ad Grounds Committee is co-chaired by Chris Jobson and Tom Lee and supported by a fluid but dedicated group of SUUS members, helping with regular maintenance and special tasks as needed.
What do we do?There’s a well-known saying “Home is where the heart lives” If so, then, clearly, our beloved church is where our spirit lives. Please join us to cultivate your self-fulfillment and our collective spiritual growth, by joining the H&G committee in its important role of maintaining and improving this special place, inside and out. As another saying goes, “More hands make for light work.” So we welcome all to contribute to our Spring and Fall cleanup sessions and periodic chores while having fun in the process. Admission is free, but the rewards of participation are priceless!
When and how do we meet? While we have no regularly scheduled meetings, our two standard gatherings are on Saturdays in the Spring and Fall, when we gather all hands to clean and prepare the buildings and gr9ounds for the upcoming seasons. Communications for special tasks are otherwise handled by email, text or through the newsletter.
How can I get involved with the work of this Committee? Whom should I contact?Whether you have a “green thumb” or “two left thumbs”, there’s a welcome place for you with House and Grounds! Please reach out to Chris Jobson at (203) 540 – 6391 or cwjobson@gmail.com for more information or if you’re interested in helping.
Memorial Garden
Who Are We? We are the Memorial Garden Committee which currently includes Co-chairs; Jennifer Farmer-Etzel and Beth Chipman and one member, Barbara Francese. We are currently looking for additional members so please read on.
What do we do? The garden serves as a memorial area for SUUS members, their partners and their families. The Memorial Garden Committee ensures that the garden and burial plots are maintained and plans and facilitates with the Minister and families for the committal of the cremains. Options available include the burial of ashes and/or the placement of a brass memorial nameplate in the garden. A Remembrance Book, containing biographical information and a photograph of each individual is kept in the Memorial Cabinet in the church living room. The MGC budget is separate from the church operating budget so there is also some record keeping involved.
When and How do we meet? We do not have regular scheduled meetings. Meetings (in person or by phone) occur when a need arises such as an upcoming interment, arranging for garden maintenance (professional or volunteer), updating the Remembrance Book, and generating a monthly report to the Board.
How can one get involved with the work of this committee? Whom should I contact? We are currently looking for new members to help with this gratifying way of serving our community. If you are interested, please speak to Jennifer Farmer-Etzel or Beth Chipman
Religious Exploration
Who Are We? The Religious Exploration Committee is chaired by Jennifer Swenson and Scott Swenson.
What do we do? Working with Molly Nolan our Director of Faith Formation, we plan and execute meaningful experiences for children and youth to engage in our community and learn about Unitarian Universalist values. This includes interactive Sunday morning lessons and activities from curricula such as Soul Matters, Building Bridges, and Our Whole Lives.
We organize social justice activities like Birthday bags for local food pantry, Toiletry bags for Homeless Hospitality Center in New London, weekly food pantry collection, and making no sew blankets.
We participate in community activities such as Madison Green up Clean up, and Halloween Scarecrows. We plan social events like movie nights, ice cream socials, Halloween party, and Easter egg hunt.
We help organize intergenerational activities like Mystery Pen Pals, and Messy Faith Bad Art and Unfair Game Night. We are planning a Saturday night camp-out and Sunday morning pancake breakfast this coming May/June.
· When and how do we meet? The RE committee meets monthly via Zoom with meetings lasting about an hour to plan activities.
How can I get involved? You can get involved by joining the RE committee, being a nursery volunteer, or joining our teaching team. Participating in RE as an adult leader is easy, fun, and a great way to meet our inspiring young people. Please join us! Contact Jennifer or Scott Swenson
Social Events & Activities
Who are we? Our co-chairs are Kathy Helmrich and Lindalea Ludwick. Our members are Maryann Bracken, Jenny Lee, Barbara Peese, Gail Bogossian and Yann van Heurck.
What do we do? What activities are we involved in? We plan varied and fun activities to encourage connections among us in the SUUS community. Past activities include hikes, potluck lunches and dinners, intergenerational game nights, field trips, author events and play performances. We are open to new ideas and happy to coordinate with other SUUS groups such as Faith Formation, Social Justice, and House & Grounds when our interests align.
· When and how do we meet? The Committee generally meets by zoom about 8 times a year and our zoom meetings are usually about 30-45 minutes long. We welcome new members and new ideas—please contact Kathy Helmrich kahelmrich@yahoo.com or Lindalea Ludwick lpl@elslaw.com if you’d like to join us or learn more.”
Social Justice
Who Are We? The Social Justice Team helps SUUS members and friends to practice our UU values through action and advocacy. Our focus continues to shift as the need arises
- What Do We Do? What activities are we involved in?
- We support marginalized people through the Share the Plate program and through microloans to KIVA;
- Our online We Rise page offers resources for those who may feel unsafe during these difficult times
- We advocate for the environment through the Green Team by contacting our legislators on specific legislation and through coordination with Interreligious Eco Justice Network (IREJN)
- We work with Shoreline Indivisible and UU the Vote with GOTV postcard campaigns
- We advocate for gun safety legislation with CAGV and other groups
- We support the rights of immigrants with our work with IRIS, public witness events, and rallies.
- We support our Food Insecurity team with work at the community food pantries and our children are active in collecting food for distribution.
- We are currently looking to ally with CONECT and its broader network working for social justice in Connecticut.
- When and how do we meet? We meet and coordinate via email as issues arise. Occasionally we meet in person.
- How can I get involved? Contact Jere Armen or Mary Strieff for specific issues you may want to support. Contact Yann vanHeurck for Environmental Issues and Barb Francese for Food Insecurity.
Worship
Who are we? We are the Worship Associates Team. We are a team of creative, supportive, and striving to be innovative group of individuals who currently include: Gail Bogossian, Jill Bowen, Mary Cosgrove, Steven Ernst, Jenny Lee, Deborah McDonald, Sue Schaedler, and Rev. Craig as our advisor.
What do we do? What activities are we involved in? Our team works to provide services on the Sundays when Rev Craig is not in the pulpit. How do we do that? We have a good rapport with Yale Divinity School to coordinate with students to provide preaching opportunities. We also recruit other individuals from the community, or work within our own SUUS community to provide lay-led services. We are the helpers and producers if you will, to coordinate lay-led or guest speaker services, working with our staff to select the music, provide publicity, and create the program.
· When and how do we meet? Our team meets with Rev. Craig quarterly to collaborate, percolate ideas for services, discuss past services to consider opportunities for improvement, or celebrate successes. We review the Worship Calendar to ensure the next few months are planned out and discuss ways to fill any gaps.
· How can one get involved with the work of this Team? Whom should one contact? There are many ways to get involved! If you have an idea for a lay-led service that you would like to propose, go for it! If you know of a speaker who is aligned with our SUUS values, please suggest them. If you would be willing to join our team to learn more about what we do and gradually get involved in helping to provide worship services please let us know. You can reach out to any team member, or contact Rev. Craig.