Summary Notes and Action Items

 from the UU Congregation in McMinnville

Visioning Retreat

 

July 29, 2007

 

 

Action Items:

  • Assess the age of the children who would potentially attend the UU in Mac
  • Get more information about Chalice Circles (Nancy)
  • Get draft mission statement from Nancy
  • We will hold our next three meetings at New Thoughts on Aug. 19, Sept. 16, and Oct. 21 from 6:30-8:00.  Patriciafaye offered to present on the first Principle, Nancy on the second Principle, and Leah on the third.
  • We will discuss a time and place for a potluck at the next meeting.

 

Small Group Summaries:

 

Religious Education – Adults

1.  Comparative Religions/Traditions

            - New Cosmology

            - Interfaith dialogue

            - Other religious experiences/travelers

2.  Book groups/ study groups

            - What is U.U.?

3. Sense of Spirituality

            - Evolution of human consciousness/self-awareness

4.  Experiential

            - Music

            - Yoga

            - Joys and Concerns

 

Religious Education – Children

 

1. RE for separate age groups (e.g. nursery, K-1, 2-3)

2. Music

3. Celebrating and covering different faiths and cultures, including rituals

4. Summer Camp

5. Morality and values, right vs. wrong, our feelings and thoughts

6. UU curriculum and bible stories, games, crafts

7. Self awareness with the body – yoga, silence, solitude

 

Categories #2, 3, and 5 received the most votes.

 


Community Involvement

 

Philosophy for community involvement could be:  Focus our efforts by looking at existing and possibly new grassroots opportunities for involvement.  Then we could create a database with these opportunities and connect people with these efforts when possible.

 

One brainstorm from the small group is that we could begin immediately collecting food for the food bank at each of our meetings.

 

Social Action

 

Methods include: 

-          Letter writing campaigns

-          Local efforts to effect change

 

Topics could include:

-          Dangers of religion

-          Environment

-          Poverty/hunger

-          Powerlessness (including voting)

-          Health and education, particularly with children

-          Immigration – status change

 

Spiritual Nurturance

 

Creative expression came up as a common theme.

 

The following main topics received many votes:

1.  Chalice circles

2.  Community building

            - Joys and concerns

            - Trust and mutual support

            - Singing/hymns/music

            - Network/directory of congregants

3.  Spiritual retreats and workshops

            - Music

            - Prayer

            - Breath work

            - Joys and concerns