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Giving Time and Talent: Welcoming and Hospitality

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Sunday Greeters

Lee Reid
When someone catches your eyes with a smile, a connection is made.  You are changed almost without being aware of it.  This small, light act is deeply affirming and inclusive.  When someone reaches out to you with a warm greeting, it is a connection so basic, so human, that we give little thought to it.  We just know that it leaves us feeling recognized.  Call it being welcomed, call it being valued.  This is hospitality at its most basic level.  It is a spiritual gift.  It touches and changes us.

What do I value in my work with welcoming and hospitality?  An easy answer.  I enjoy the connection I have with others.  I enjoy introducing new and ‘been around’ people to others and to the life of the church.  I know that I’ve been around a long time and still much is continually new.

How does the church and the congregation benefit from the work of the Welcoming and Hospitality team?  Maybe we benefit more because we enjoy what we do.  Maybe in that enjoyment and commitment to the church we are able to offer a smile and a reaching hand.  Maybe we can help others discover the gifts of this church. --Lee Reid & Team, Sue Shaw, Linda Carney, Fran Morrier, Bonnie Prescott

UU Sisterhood

Gini Johnson
What I have valued in my leadership role and participation with the Sisterhood has been the opportunity to help facilitate the spiritual lives of sisters through reinstituting annual retreats and various other activities, such as caroling to nursing homes.  It has been great fun to have our monthly gatherings and potlucks with themes which have fostered creativity, getting to know one another better and emotional intimacy which leads to awareness of the needs of others in our midst. 


The entire community benefits from the increased connectivity of the women which then deepens our church family ties. --Gini  Johnson


Madeline Silva
The original intention of the Sisterhood was to have fun with other women of the church; doing things together to create bonds of shared experience and joy. That happened for me and continues as I and others strengthen the ties of friendship and caring.

The Sisterhood welcomes all adult women who are willing to share in this communal experience. At the monthly Sisterhood gatherings we find supportive, caring, accepting women with individual and interesting personalities and lives. --  
Madeline Silva





Ushers
Ken Mandile
As an usher, I enjoy greeting people as they arrive on Sunday morning and I also enjoy participating in the services though the offertory.  Our team of head ushers (me, Bob Ritchie, David Blodgett, and Jay Lavelle) recruit volunteers each week.  It’s a nice way to allow church members who don’t have an opportunity to help in other ways to participate in a small, but important part of the service. 

Being the procrastinator that I am, I’m often recruiting ushers at the last moment, but it’s very rare that someone say “no” to my request for help.  Sometimes there’s a hint of trepidation, but once they’re done, they realize how easy it is.  For those of us who can’t sing, it’s a good chance to participate in the service.

I’m always fascinated by the many small things that make our church function.  There’s a role for anyone and everyone that wants to help.  The ushers are one small piece of a wonderfully functioning church and I’m happy to be part of it. --  Ken Mandile


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