We strive to be a welcoming and growing spiritual community of religious liberals advancing acceptance, pursuing reason, nurturing love, furthering justice, and promoting peace.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Help Us Put on Events
Throughout the year, groups within the congregation organize and facilitate a number of events. We are always looking for volunteers to help put them on. These are one-shot commitments and a wonderful way to meet new people.
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Social Hour and Potluck Sundays
After each Sunday morning service, everyone is invited to stay for coffee/tea in the Social Hall. The first Sunday of each month is Potluck Sunday. These are times for conversation with the speaker or minister, discussion about the service, or just general socializing.
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Religious Education
Adult RE: Frequent sessions of Adult Religious Education are offered. A wide variety of topics have been included in recent sessions. Examples of past topics include Ethics, Biology and Spirituality, Separation of Church and State, Thoreau's essay on Civil Disobedience, Humanism, and Quakerism. The sessions include readings and open discussion led by one or more Fellowship members. Due to the general nature of the Adult RE topics, it is easy for new members and guests to participate.
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Social Action
Many Fellowship members are individually active in the community on social action issues. The role of the Social Action Committee is to support these efforts as well as to provide a framework for collective action. Each year the committee identifies a social action priority and an action plan.
Every year we participate in the Toledo Pride Parade. We collect food and hygiene products for several local organizations. We collect and fill backpacks to distribute to local homeless individuals. We pick up trash on the Slippery Elm Trail.
In years past, we have helped prepare and serve meals at St. Paul's Community Center in Toledo.
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Contributions
People may give to the Fellowship in a variety of ways, including active participation, financial contributions, and in-kind donations of material and labor. Visitors and non-members are invited to make financial contributions during the Offering at our Sunday Service. In the spring all members are asked to look ahead to the coming fiscal year, which starts July 1, and assist planning by making a financial pledge of the amount they intend to give during the next year. There's also a chance to complete a volunteer survey and indicate how they want to be involved in the coming year.
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Circle Dinners
Circle Dinners involve small groups of 6 to 10 people who enjoy having dinner together several times throughout the year. The style is casual and potluck, the talk is good, and the food delicious. Each group arranges its own schedule, but most groups get together about every 4 to 6 weeks. Members of the Circle usually host one dinner during the year. Circle Dinners provide an opportunity to get to know Fellowship people well and have a good time. Each fall the Circles are reorganized, giving a chance to be with a different group of people for the next year. Members as well as non-members are encouraged to participate.
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Join a Committee
MVUUC is an independent, self-governing organization. In addition to enjoying the various activities of the congregation, many members find fulfillment in helping to keep the society functioning. This is a great way to get to know people, to “give back” to the congregation, and to develop skills.
The Board of Trustees is the governing board of the congregation. Its nine members are elected to staggered one and two year terms at MVUUC's annual meeting in May. At the annual meeting, the congregation also elects a President-Elect, who, after a year, becomes the President.
The Religious Education Committee oversees the religious education program for our children.
The Social Action Committee coordinates the activities of the various social action task forces.
The Finance Committee oversees the financial management of the congregation, and prepares and implements the annual budget.
The Campaign Committee conducts the annual pledge drive for member financial support of the congregation.
The Building & Grounds Committee oversees the maintenance of the building and land.
The Sunday Services Committee finds speakers for Sundays.
The Membership Committee organizes the greeting of visitors and friends on Sunday morning, holds orientation sessions and “welcome dinners,” and assists newcomers who wish to join the congregation.
The Fellowship Committee gets church members and visitors together for friendship and fun outside of the normal hours of Sunday service.
The Communications Committee manages the web site, puts out the monthly newsletter, and debates ways to increase the visibility of MVUUC.
The Marketing Committee places notices and advertising in the media, finds events for us to participate in to make us more visible to the community.
The Caring Committee organizes assistance to congregation members who are ill or otherwise in need.
The Hospitality Committee cleans up after social hour and potluck Sundays.
The Aesthetics Committee decorates the building.