Committees & Groups at All Souls

A vibrant, urban Unitarian Universalist congregation, All Souls enjoys a diverse collection of standing committees and groups that meet regularly. To read a brief description of each, click on a committee or group name below. To discover when a committee or group meets, see below, check our Monthly Calendar listings, or contact the All Souls office.

COMMUNITY ~
Book Discussion Group • Caring Committee • Christian Fellowship Committee • Circle Suppers • Committee on Ministry • Denominational Affairs Committee • ElderJourney Group • Fun & Frolic Committee • Green Sanctuary Committee •
Hospitality Committee • Humanist Discussion Group • Meditation Practice Group • Membership Committee • Men's Group •
Music Committee • Newsletter Committee • Personnel Committee • Social Action Committee • Small Group Ministry • Sunday Services Committee • UU Campus Ministry
ADULT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES ~
Movie Nights • UU Parenting Group
FINANCE ~
Capital Campaign Committee • Finance Committee • Planned Giving Committee •
Stewardship Committee
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS ~
Aesthetics Committee • Buildings & Grounds Committee • Technology Committee
NOMINATING ~
Nominating & Leadership Committee
TEMPORARY ~
Minister's Sabbatical Committee

Web Manager's note - this page is a work-in-progress - content is being developed and added regularly.

Aesthetics Committee
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Book Discussion Group ~ Chooses books and schedules gatherings for discussion of readings.
Meets on the 3rd Monday of the month at 1:00 PM.

Join us on Monday • July 20th at 1 p.m. in the Ackerman Room

The chosen book for discussion this month is UNACCUSTOMED EARTH by Jhumpa Lahiri
Pulitzer Prize winning author Lahiri delivers eight dazzling stories that take readers from Cambridge and Seattle to India
and Thailand as they explore the secrets of family life.

AUGUST selection is Loving Frank by Nancy Horan
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Buildings & Grounds Committee ~ Tasked with interior and exterior care and maintenance of all our buildings and the parking lot.
Contact Paul Shaffer phshaffer(at)aol(dot)com to learn how you can help.
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By-Laws Committee ~ Called every three years to review By-Laws and proposed revisions.
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Capital Campaign Committee ~ Formed to launch a three-year campaign to finance the purchase and renovations that would meet the critical needs of our growing congregation in our new home at 19 Jay Street. Focus is on the fulfillment of donor pledges through June 2009.
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Caring Committee ~ Staying connected with the congregations needs and providing physical and spiritual sustenance to those in need (health changes, life changes, etc.)
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Circle Suppers Committee
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Committee on Ministry
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Christian Fellowship Group ~
Seeking to grow our faith by learning about Jesus and his teachings. Members need not identify as Christians; there is a wide variety of theological beliefs within our Fellowship, which holds worship services on each Sunday of Advent, and on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Meeting Thursday, February 19, 2009, 5:30 PM, Emerson Room. Topic will be Mardi Gras and Lent. All are welcome.
Contact Mary Jean Kanabis mjk(at)snet(dot)net
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Denominational Affairs Committee ~ Encourages and promotes congregational involvement in UU denominational affairs and events in our district (Clara Barton District, New England Conference) and nationally (annual UU General Assembly), promotes membership in the District Chalice Lighters Program.
Contact Jonathan Harger hejeharger(at)ct(dot)metrocast(dot)net
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ElderJourney Group ~
Members & Friends of All Souls, ages 65 and beyond, meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month for lunch together, and enjoy lively discussion, occasional speakers, and the fellowship of peers.
Join in on Tuesday • July 14th • at 12 noon at the home of Jan Hine, Old Lyme
BRING ... a Sandwich
Salad, Dessert & Drinks will be provided
A reminder & DIRECTIONS will be mailed from the office
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Finance Committee ~ Oversees all aspects of the financial health of All Souls. One of our esponsibilities is to scrutinize the monthly financial statements by comparing actual income and expenses to our budgeted projections. When significant variance occurs it is our duty to analyze the differences and propose adjustments, thereby keeping our financial position stable.
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Fun & Frolic Committee ~ Sponsors monthly Pizza & Game Nights, organizes annual Hopeville Pond camp-out, and other fun activities for all ages.
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Green Sanctuary Committee ~ As a short-term group concerned with environmental issues and actions, our central objective is to engage members of All Souls to hold sustainability as one of its core values. We encourage all members to help make All Souls greener by conserving energy, and being aware about lowering carbon emissions. We enjoy having conversations to hear your input; we can demonstrate our values if we Step it Up.
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Hospitality Committee ~ Tasked with managing all aspects of greeting, ushering and parking for Sunday and other services, scheduling coffee-hour hosts and flower donations.
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Humanist Discussion Group ~
Meeting Thursday, February 19, 7:00 PM, Emerson Room
Also see ASUU monthly newsletter (mailed) or contact Sandy Geaman sandygeaman(at)hotmail(dot)com or Jonathan Harger hejeharger(at)ct(dot)metrocast(dot)net
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Meditation Practice Group (Sangha) ~
Practice consists of mindful sitting, walking and Dharma discussion. The ultimate goal is inner peace for practioners and all sentient beings.
Meets in the Vail Library every week on
Tuesday - 7:15 AM
Wednesday - 5:15 PM
2nd Saturday of the month - 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
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Membership Committee ~ Primary function is to welcome visitors to All Souls and to guide interested newcomers through the process of becoming members of the congregation. Twice each year we hold Exploring Membership series for newcomers interested in membership in our congregation.  We follow up by supporting our new members through their transition into the mainstream of the All Souls community and helping new members find ways in which they can share their gifts of time and talent in contributing to the work of the congregation.  We staff the Welcome Table after each service and offer a friendly face to visitors who may have questions about Unitarian Universalism or All Souls.  We hope to embody the spirit of radical hospitality as we meet visitors who are searching for a spiritual home.
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Men's Group ~ A discussion group for ... men! Meets Tuesdays at 6:30 PM.
Contact Paul Shaffer phshaffer(at)aol(dot)com
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Minister's Sabbatical Committee ~ Concerns include action plan and time line for sabbatical preparations, budgetary impacts, distribution of ministerial responsibilities and recruitment of guest preachers during our Minister's five-month sabbatical in 2009.
Read our Sabbatical Handbook here ...
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Movie Nights

• Friday, February 27, 2009, 7:00 PM, Unity Hall ~ Facilitated discussion follows.
  Pay It Forward
  Like some other kids, 12-year-old Trevor McKinney believed in the goodness of human nature. Like many other kids, he was determined to change the world for the better. Unlike most other kids, he succeeded.

• Friday, April 24, 2009, 7:00 PM, Unity Hall ~ Facilitated discussion follows.
  Religion and Violence: Untangling the Roots of Conflict
  An interfaith dialogue with prominent Christian, Jewish and Muslim voices, to explore how all three traditions become entangled with violence, and illuminate resources for living together in peace.
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Music Committee ~ Coordinates and ensures the quality of music at All Souls, supporting and guiding the work of the All Souls, Camerata and Family Choirs, providing instrumental accompaniment for choirs, and featured group and solo performances on non-choir Sundays.
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Newsletter Committee ~ Getting out the news - monthly! A daunting task to bring YOU the news! Once the newsletter is composed and printed, a "Mail Crew" is convened to collate & fold it ready for mailing. A small group meets once a month to do this (usually on the third or fourth Thursday morning for a couple of hours.) It is a congenial group of souls who do an essential task. Help is always appreciated. To volunteer, simply call the office.
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Nominating & Leadership Committee ~ Presents nominees for Board and committee positions, up-date committee and sub-committee job descriptions, promotes regional (Clara Barton District) and national UU leadership porgrams, and produces leadership workshops for committee chairs and others interested.
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Personnel Committee ~ Evaluates staff compensation and insurance programs, makes recommendations to the Board of applicants to be hired for staff positions, and recommends new positions to be created as our congregation grows.
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Planned Giving Committee
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Small Group Ministry
A church has many functions, and people have a variety of needs and interests.
Small Group Ministry (SGM) provides a format with which we nurture connections and explore spirituality within our congregations.
To learn more about All Soul's Small Group Ministry program and 2009 session topics, click here.
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Social Action Committee ~ Oversees and organizes the monthly Good Neighbor Offering, Food Pantry Donations, our Housing and Homeless mission, volunteers at Davis Farm/Habitat For Humanity project, Fifth Saturday Soup Kitchen meal, and more. Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month. Contact Mike Burns michelpaulburns(at)gmail(dot)com or Barbara Brockhurst barbarabrockhurst(at)ct(dot)metrocast(dot)net
NO MEETING ON JULY 18 ~ We will next meet on Thursday, August 20
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Stewardship Committee ~ Promotes nurturing support for those within and without our walls and designs and implements the Annual Fund Campaign.
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Sunday Services Committee ~ Works closely with the minister to ensure high-quality services throughout the year. Committee members represent a variety of spiritual backgrounds and beliefs which helps to support our richly diverse congregation. Responsibilities include assisting the minister and filling the pulpit at least one Sunday each month.
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Technology Committee ~ This group attends to the IT and A/V needs of the congregation, offices and building, and includes the web manager. We meet rarely, but welcome new talent. Have special IT, programming, videography or A/V skills? Contact Bruce Pick brucepick1(at)comcast(dot)net
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UU Campus Ministry ~ Gathering each Sunday evening at Harkness Chapel, Connecticut College. Students lead particularly chaotic lives. This time together provides a safe space for connecting, relaxing and considering one's religious and spiritual identity and perspective.
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