Volunteer Opportunities for Sunday Services

There are several opportunities for congregation members and friends to participate in a Sunday service at our church, such as to:

1. Give ideas to the Program Planning Council
2. Give the "sermon" or talk
3. Be the service coordinator
4. Be the service moderator
5. Provide a special reading or musical piece
6. Sing in the choir
7. Be an usher
8. Be a greeter
9. Light the chalice
10. Run the sound system
11. Set up or clean up for coffee hour

UUCB encourages active participation in Sunday services, which is part of our philosophy of "shared ministry." Please consider volunteering for one of the activities described below from time to time. For more information, talk to a member of the Program Planning Council, as listed in the church newsletter.

1. Give ideas to the Program Planning Council

The Program Planning Council (PPC) designs the Sunday services that are offered each week (when the minister is not in the pulpit), seeking to provide services of creative and participatory celebration and worship. When the minister is in the pulpit, the PPC works closely with him/her to create the service. If you have an idea for a Sunday service — a topic, a speaker, or a program — please contact a PPC member to give the following information:

• Your name, telephone number, and email address.
• If you are suggesting someone else, their name, telephone number, email address, and what they know about UUism.
• A brief description of the content and intent of the reflection.
• Your (or their) experience with the topic.
• Why you see this as important to our spiritual community.
• A specific date or time of year that would work best, if applicable.
• A possible working title.
• Any related ideas or requests to make the service work well.

If you would like to be involved in programs on an ongoing basis, consider joining the PPC. Read a detailed description of the Program Planning Council's role and duties.

2. Give the "sermon" or talk

If you are interested in presenting the main talk for a Sunday service, contact a PPC member and give the information listed in #1 above. A good resource for people who want to present a service talk is the Sunday Service Presenters' Survival Kit from the Second Unitarian Church in Chicago.

3. Be the service coordinator

The service coordinator for a Sunday service is the church member in charge of making sure that everything for that particular service is planned for and taken care of, including communicating with the minister or guest speaker to make sure all speaker needs are met, lining up ushers, a service moderator, a chalice lighter, someone to do For All Ages, etc. A different person serves as service coordinator each Sunday. The service coordinator is a member of the PPC.

4. Be the service moderator

The service moderator is the church member who acts as the "master of ceremonies" to open and close a Sunday service, plus provides continuity in linking the service's various elements. A different person serves as service moderator each Sunday. If interested, contact a PPC member, who will provide training for this important role.

5. Provide a special reading or musical piece

If you have an idea for doing a reading or providing music for a Sunday service, contact a PPC member.

6. Sing in the choir

If you like to sing plus are able to regularly attend practices and performances, please consider joining our choir. For more information, read about the UUCB choir and view the current choir rehearsal and performance schedule.

7. Be an usher

Two ushers are needed at each Sunday service to set up the chairs and hymnals, help set up the stage, pass out the order of service, help seat people and assist with any special needs, collect the offerings, assist in the concerns and blessings portion of our service, and other tasks that may be requested by the service coordinator.

8. Be a greeter

Hospitality is important to our church, so every week we need someone to officially greet people as they enter the church for the Sunday service, making both visitors and members feel welcome.

9. Light the chalice

The chalice is the symbol of the UU church, and lighting it an important sacred act in each Sunday service. Often the chalice lighter will also give a short reading to accompany the lighting. Readings are provided by either the minister or the service coordinator.

10. Run the sound system

Volunteers are needed to run the church sound system during the Sunday service. If interested, contact a PPC member, who will provide specific training for this important role.

11. Set up or clean up for coffee hour

Volunteers are always needed to help make coffee, set out the coffee, tea, snacks, and dishes for the coffee hour, as well as clean up afterwards.

Note that longer-term volunteer opportunities are also available: participating on one of the church's program committees or running for church office. For more information about these longer-term positions, contact our volunteer coordinator at: