Serve

Sharing Our Gifts & Doing the Work

There are many ways to share our gifts in service to the community, and many ways to serve. Sometimes, church service will be more like sharing the chores: we all have to pitch in to get them done. Sometimes, serving the congregation will be a way to share our true gifts, bringing us joy and energy while weaving the web of the community. We encourage each congregant and family to do both as you are able, recognizing that our capacity for service waxes and wanes with our life circumstances.

Here are a few ways to serve:

Sunday Morning Roles:

For all except choir, use this sign-up form

  • Greeter: Arriving about 30 minutes prior to the start of the church service, greeters prepare the table(s) for name tags and orders of service. They greet and in other ways provide a welcoming presence for all, but especially for those newer to us. After worship, they help put the name tag materials back in storage. New greeters are buddied by an experienced greeter.
  • Reader: Readers read elements selected and emailed to you by Rev. EB on/by Saturday. They practice beforehand, and arrive 15 minutes prior to worship to practice using the mic.
  • Opener/Closer: This position requires arriving thirty minutes early to assist Helene with setting up materials for worship, and staying after to ensure items are put away. (On rare occasions, when Helene is away, we will need a volunteer to be fully responsible for setup/cleanup: this will be communicated ahead of time.)
  • Worship Tech Team: These folks are trained to operate the A/V system, the livestream, and the Zoom, and are ready to help if Helene needs assistance. (On rare occasions, when Helene is away, we will need a volunteer to be fully responsible for tech.)
  • Songleader: Songleaders lead a centering hymn selected by Rev. EB and/or sing from the front mic during hymns that could use support.
  • Worship Weaver: Worship Weavers support the Minister in worship leading and may also sign up to fully plan & lead worship when the Minister is away, and to serve as “liturgist” to a guest preacher. Full description and application here.
  • Choir member: email Andrei at music [at] firstchurchjp [dot] org

Community Connections & Operations

Apply to work with children (2)

Ask to serve on a committee or the Governing Board

Join the “Caring Community” email list: you’ll field requests to make casseroles, deliver food, write cards, celebrate birthdays, etc. Email caring [at] firstchurchjp [dot] org

Notes:

  1. The Minister has the freedom of the pulpit and the ultimate responsibility to determine who may utilize the pulpit for worship, rites, and ritual purposes. The Minister will only invite congregants to lead worship who demonstrate respect for our theological diversity, commitment to accountable work dismantling racism and other oppressions, and sufficient emotional awareness to lead effectively for the range of congregational experience. Congregants whose current theological understandings appear to be significantly disconnected from Unitarian Universalist principles and sources, who are engaging in disruptive behavior, or who have a history of disruptive behavior at other congregations will not be invited to lead worship.
  2. All volunteers who work with children/youth must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, have attended this or another UU church for at least six months, complete an application, meet with the Minister/DRE, and pass a criminal background check. Congregants who who are engaging in disruptive behavior, or who have a history of disruptive behavior at other congregations will not be invited to work with children.