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| You’ll have an opportunity
to attend two workshops. Workshops offered at 10:30 a.m. are specified
as “A”; those offered at 11:45 a.m. are specified as “B.” Please
indicate on your registration form your two choices; doing so does not commit
you to those particular workshops. |
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A1 The Key to a Vibrant Church:
How a Thoughtful Approach to Youth and Young Adult Ministry May
Transform Your Entire Congregation Honoring
the leadership of young people can be the key to make over your
congregational life for everyone, not just the young people you are
trying to target with youth and young adult ministry. When you put on
the lens of multigenerational ministry and work toward continuity in
life transitions and providing community with all age ranges, you will
see your congregation in a whole new way. Explore how generational,
technological, and identity differences are hurdles to effective youth
and young adult ministry and how to open the doors to growth in spirit,
connection, and membership for all.
Facilitators: Kierstin Homblette,
District Youth Ministry Consultant, and Claire Sexton, District Young
Adult and Campus Ministry Consultant |
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| A2
All Sing: How to
Inspire Congregational Singing Congregational singing can be a driving force in a Sunday
worship service. How to engage congregants in meaningful group singing
will be the focus of this workshop. Participants will learn how to
stimulate enthusiasm for group singing and will leave the workshop with
simple songs, chants, and rounds that will introduce the art of inspired
congregational singing. Facilitator: Marjorie Herman, Director of
Music, UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ) |
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| A3 Round-the-Table
Reading of Margaret Fuller Quips and Skits: A 2010 Bicentennial
Commemoration Let’s celebrate Margaret
Fuller’s 200th birthday this year by reading aloud her empowering quips
around a table. By taking the parts of Fuller, Emerson, Thoreau,
Hawthorn, Lowell, and others, we’ll bring alive Margaret Fuller’s
literary entanglements in short skits written and adapted by Fuller
scholar/author/actor Laurie James, and dig into the heart of our UU
foremother who used intellect and wit to combat the derision and
excoriation she has received throughout two centuries. Understanding how
one achiever overcame negative criticism can be a helpful step in your
own search for strength and sense of worth. Facilitator: Laurie
James, Project Director, Margaret Fuller Bicentennial Committee |
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| A4
Faith to Change the World
Learn how you can work with
your congregation and the UU United Nations Office (UU-UNO) to influence
global change. The UU-UNO represents the diverse voices of our faith at
the United Nations. This voice is vital in supporting advocacy of human
rights. Learn about UU efforts to address gender based violence in
Sudan, to stop climate change, to end criminal sanctions and violence
against LGBT people, and more! Special guest speaker, John Hooper, will
talk about the UUA's Study Action Issue on Peace and the draft statement
of Conscience on Peacekeeping to be presented at the 2010 General
Assembly. Facilitators: Bruce Knotts, UU-UNO Executive Director,
and Holly Sarkissian, UU-UNO Envoy Coordinator |
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| A5 Living a UU Life
in 10 Easy Steps We are a free faith, with roots hundreds of years old, and
exciting, bustling congregations throughout the US and the world. But –
one may ask – what does a UU actually do? In this workshop, we will
explore together some spiritual and ethical practices that might be a
part of your meaningful, fulfilling UU life. If you are interested in
what it means to be a UU – every day of the week, every week of the year
– this interactive workshop may give you some new ideas. Facilitator:
Rev. Bob Janis-Dillon, Parish Minister, First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon
County (Baptistown NJ) |
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| A6
Religious Community Through
the Wire
Pay a visit to UUtopia,
the UU Welcome Center, the UU Library, and the First UU Congregation of
Second Life’s sanctuary. Meet UUtopia residents. UUs are finding
religious community on Second Life, a computer accessed world where you
can “buy land,” “build a home,” and “attend worship,” among other
things. Facilitator: Amy Beltaine, Ministerial Intern, UU
Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY)
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| A7-A9
Leadership Roundtables, A
District Owner’s Manual
These
workshops are highly recommended for congregational presidents,
ministers, religious educators, and other congregational leaders. Choose
A7, A8, or A9 according to the location of your congregation (see
below). Participants will discuss these topics: (1) How Policy
Governance works in the District and why congregational leaders are
essential for its success; (2) Are congregational, District, and UUA
“Ends” in alignment and what is an “end” anyway? (3) How the District
Board and Staff can be effective partners for the advancement of our
faith and its power to change the world. Facilitators: Members of
the District Board |
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A7
Leadership Roundtables, A District
Owner’s Manual For
Long Island and New York City leadership. See description above.
A8
Leadership Roundtables, A District
Owner’s Manual
For Northern
New York and Connecticut Leadership. See description above.
A9
Leadership Roundtables, A District
Owner’s Manual
For New
Jersey and Pennsylvania Leadership.See description above.
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| B1
Bridging Ceremony Planning
Participants will help plan the
annual District Bridging Ceremony, which takes place near the end of the
school year and honors graduating high school seniors. The Bridging
Ceremony is a ritual that marks these seniors’ transition from youth to
young adults, with the participation and support of both communities, as
well as families and adult allies.. Facilitators: Kierstin
Homblette, District Youth Ministry Consultant, and Claire Sexton,
District Young Adult and Campus Ministry Consultant |
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| B2
Exploring Spiritual Practice in Your Congregation
Adult religious education
programs should provide not only intellectual stimulation but the
opportunity to deepen our spiritual lives. Come learn about a successful
model for exploring spiritual disciplines that can transform our daily
lives. Faclitator: Rev. Sarah Lammert, Minister, Unitarian
Society of Ridgewood (NJ) |
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| B3
How to Develop a Successful Outreach Auction
This workshop will provide
information on establishing an outreach auction that includes live,
silent, and tricky tray auctions with the proceeds going to selected
charities in the local community. Participants will learn how to solicit
donations, promote the auction within the local community, and organize
all the details for the event. Facilitators: Brooke Cannata and
Celia Mendelsohn, Outreach Auction Co-Chairs, Central Unitarian Church
(Paramus NJ) |
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| B4
Inclusion and Governance: Making Hospitality Real
Official policies about
inclusion and non-discrimination are only words unless we put them into
action. How do we embed the work of inclusion and hospitality in the
governance, policies, and practices of our congregations? How can doing
this increase our diversity and our accountability to marginalized
groups? Facilitators: Rev. Michael Tino, Chair, and members of
the District Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee |
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| B5
What Happens at the Parliament of World Religions
The Parliament of World
Religions was held last December in Melbourne, Australia. Unitarian
Universalists have been involved in varying degrees with the Parliament
since the first one in 1893. This workshop reviews our rich heritage in
the Parliament and helps us understand why it is important to maintain
contact with the international and interfaith community today and into
the future. Facilitator: Rev. Tracy Sprowls-Jenks, Minister,
First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (NJ) |
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| B6
Before Everything Else: The Fundamental Questions
There really are some
fundamental questions UUs must answer about themselves and their
congregations. Without these answers, no amount of attention to
governance, mission statements, pledge drive themes, or volunteer
recruitment programs will ever be enough. This workshop will ask and
begin to answer those questions. For a faith that embraces uncertainty,
some things must be certain. Facilitator: Doug Zelinksi, District
Program Consultant for Leadership Development |
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| B7
Gossip, Gripes, and Grudges: How Right Relations Go Awry
Times of stress, loss, and
change engender anxiety in congregations which can express itself in
ways that are disruptive and at time destructive to the healthy
functioning of the community. How the leadership responds to anxiety and
reactivity in the community can make a difference in how the
congregation navigates through difficult times. This workshop will
describe characteristics of stress in congregations and offer
suggestions for emotionally responsive leadership. Facilitator:
Frances Sink, District Right Relations Consultant |
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| B8
Ministers, The Next Generation: Supporting our Seminarians
Did you know there are more than
30 UU seminarians attending non-UU seminaries in the District? These
ministers-in-training have much to offer our congregations and in return
value the relationships and opportunities extended by UU communities.
How can you and your congregation support the formation of this next
generation of UU ministers? This workshop will outline: the current In
Care, In Covenant project, what it takes to be a field-education or
internship site, other avenues of support, mentoring. Community and
parish ministers, congregational leaders, and seminarians will take away
valuable information and inspiration from this workshop. Facilitator:
Rev. Julie Taylor, Project Coordinator for In Care, In Covenant |
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| B9
Creating Mandalas: A Spiritual Practice
Participants will learn about
the history of the mandala and will then have the opportunity to create
one for themselves. If desired, participants will share insights gained
from the experience with the group. Facilitator: April Castoldi,
Vice President, First Unitarian Society of Westchester
(Hastings-on-Hudson NY) |
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| B10
Workshop for Congregation Presidents and Parish Ministers and Members of
the District Board
A covenant is an agreement we make so that
we can be in right relationship with each other. Many of our
congregations have covenants and, of course, all of our UU congregations
are in covenant with each other through the UUA bylaws. But how are we,
as district and congregational leaders, to be in covenant with one
another? What are the benefits and challenges of such a covenant?
Facilitator: Rev. Burton Carley |
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