January 21, 2006
New Site Admin
The Harbor UU has just got a new administrator for our website. Please stay tuned as we get up and running again with new information and some system upgrades.
Thank you.
Posted by harboruu at 04:08 PM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2005
HUUC Vision & Mission
At the March board meeting the Board of Trustees approved a new Vision and Mission Statement for HUUC. It will be approved by the Congreation at the upcoming annual meeting.
HUUC VISION
Harbor Unitarian Universalist Congregation is a dynamic liberal, religious community that protects and nourishes spiritual
freedom, integrity, intellect
and service.
HUUC MISSION
We welcome all and reach out to those who seek a liberal faith community.
Our religious education for children and our services and programs address spiritual, intellectual and ethical life issues.
We provide friendship to the lonely, comfort to the sick and distressed, assistance
to the needy and fellowship to all.
We invite you to come walk with us.
Posted by harboruu at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)
March 03, 2005
Volunteer Coardinator Needed
If you look at our new membership directory (thanks Marv) you'll see a listing of committees and task forces. All of these are filled by volunteers. It's important that all positions are filled and it's important that new members and friends are involved to ensure a smooth running congregation. If you are a people person who would like to have a wide affect on the good of the congregation see me to discuss this vital position.
Posted by harboruu at 11:19 AM | Comments (0)
Help Wanted: Worship Chair
Help Wanted: Worship Chair
The Worship Chair works to ensure we have consistently excellent worship services. Duties include: Ensuring volunteers such as worship coordinators and sound technicians are filled, recruiting guest speakers, making changes and updates to our services and more. Anyone who is turned on by our weekly worship services should contact Ike Stephenson to interview for this position.
Posted by harboruu at 11:17 AM | Comments (0)
January 31, 2005
Mission/Vision Update
Here are some possible mission and vision statements fromJanuary 30th. Mission and Vision Task Force Meeting.
PossibleVision statments: HUUC will become Muskegon’s premier liberal faith community.
Our vision is that this congregation will be an oasis for all who seek freedom to explore religious and spiritual ideas. We are connected by value-based principles and inspired to outreach and service.
Our vision is to become a congregation of people promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all humankind.
Possible Mission statments:
HUUC will promote open mindedness that will encourage tolerance, increased justice for all, and inspire members to service to the community.
The mission of HUUC will be to promote and exercise the seven U.U. principles through weekly services, religious education, outreach and community activism. (List seven principles.)
HUUC will be sanctuary where all are welcome to grow and develop their religious beliefs and to examine ways of becoming better people, promoting a better society for ourselves and the world.
A sub committee was formed as follows:
Jean Scarbrough – Chair
Andy Fink
Bill Wright
Jackie Macdonald
Nana Kratchovil
The sub-committee will meet February 10th. They will work with the above ideas to craft final mission and vision statements. It's intented that at the 2005 Annual Meeting the Congregation will have an opportunity to approve the results of this process.
Adieu.
Posted by harboruu at 12:13 PM | Comments (0)
January 28, 2005
New Board Members
The HUUC Board of Trustees is now back to full strength. Shawn Wilson and Mary Wiggins have agreed to share their time and talents with us through service on the board. Thanks Shawn and Mary! Below I present the current HUUC officer and board line up:
President: Ike Stephenson
Vice President: Andy Fink
Secretary: Jean Scarbrough
Treasurer: Marv Johnson
Board of Trustees: Nancy Witt Johnson
Board of Trustees: Jackie Macdonald
Board of Trustees: Linda Rhiel
Board of Trustees: Shawn Wilson
Board of Trustees: Mary Wiggins
Join the board and other HUUC folks this Sunday @ 1200 as we meet to craft a new Vision and Mission statement for HUUC. This will lead us into the 2nd 50 years of HUUC!
Posted by harboruu at 09:11 AM | Comments (0)
January 17, 2005
Burning the Candles
The Worship Committee recently learned that some of our members are allergic to the candles we use in our Worship Services. We want to be sensitive to the health and welfare of all our members. We found that beeswax candles seldom cause allergic reactions, although they are more expensive than the commonly used paraffin variety. Soy candles were also recommended. We have done some research and will do more to investigate sources. We intend to replace our current candles gradually. We'll purchase two pillars for our chalice and joys and sorrows bowls. Then we'll begin replacing the tapers we use.
We often receive candle donations from members and friends. Because of this policy change we will ask all further candle donations be either beeswax or soy based. And, if you would like to speed on this process, we are happy to receive donations of either candles or money!
There is a way to honor, remember, congratulate, thank and memorialize your friends or family members while at the same time help support programs and funds of the congregation by making special donations. The donor, of course, may designate the program to be supported and all donations are tax deductible. Special donations will be noted in the church newsletter.
Posted by harboruu at 11:50 AM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2005
Leadership Changes
At the HUUC Board of Trustees Meeting on 13 January 2005, Cathy Kaufman resigned as President of the board. Ike Stephenson, formerly
Vice President becomes President per the bylaws. At that same meeting Andy Fink was appointed Vice President. The board is moving
to appoint a person to Cathy's vacant position. Look for an announcement of a new board member soon!
Posted by harboruu at 07:17 AM | Comments (0)
January 10, 2005
HUUC Recognized by UUSC
HUUC has been recoginzied as a Vision of Justice Banner Society. This means that 50-90 percent of HUUC members are also UUSC members. HUUC was the only Michigan congreation to receive this recognition.
Also, remember we have begun collecting the Guesty at Your Table boxes and funds. By joining UUSC through Guest at Your Table you can ensure that HUUC is recognized again in 2005!
Posted by harboruu at 01:08 PM | Comments (0)
November 15, 2004
Vission and Mission Update
Vision & Mission Statement Update
The HUUC board will lead the congregation in crafting vision and mission statements. The current mission/vision statements are insufficient. They are neither memorable nor inspirational.
Several previous attempts have not succeeded. Therefore the board has come up with a time-bound approach that will give us a vision of where the congregation will go and how we'll get there. Beginning immediately you'll have multiple ways to participate in the process.
While participation is optional, it's essential those with ideas come forward. The more participants the better the process. You'll be able to contribute your suggestions in multiple ways including contributing to our website, and a project that will also help our 50th anniversary celebration.
Then in January the board will host a session to shape the ideas into a concise plan for the future. Multiple sessions will be held if needed. By March a small team will be crafting the language. The statements will be short-approximately 50 words total-written in simple, direct language.
At the annual meeting in May we'll vote on the new statements. This will assure that HUUC begins year 51 with a clear bridge to future accomplishments.
Please contact any board member, Nana’, or me if you have ideas regarding this vital task. Also, you may email me at ike@ikestephenson.com, phone me at 231-343-2518 or write your suggestions down and put them in my mailbox at HUUC. Look for more information on the process in a December service. That day we'll have an interactive opportunity for the congregation to help with the vision process and the 50th anniversary.
Posted by harboruu at 11:50 AM | Comments (0)
October 11, 2004
Good Sign for HUUC
Reverand Nana Kratochvil speaks at the unveiling of HUUC's New Sign. This was part of the kick off of the celebration of HUUC's 50th anniversary.
The new sign helped HUUC get off to a postive start of celebrating 50 years of 'Open Door, Open Hearts & Open Minds'
Posted by harboruu at 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
September 09, 2004
September Worship Committee Report
Worship Committee Report
9.9.04
At the Worship Committee meeting on 8 September 3 items of note were discussed.
1. The curtains in the sanctuary are down. We are going to try worship services sans curtains until at least 1 January 2005.
If we get concerns from folks who are having a hard time seeing we can then revisit this. We fell this is an appropriate
move aesthetically. If people are going to have a hard time with sun it most likely will be during the fall and winter when
we have low suns.
2. As part of our 50th anniversary celebration we want congregation members and friends to help out with our sermon series on the
7 principles. The 7 sermons will then be put into book form with short introduction as a sample of the thoughts and beliefs
of our congregation in our 50th year. The 2nd, 5th, 6th and 7th principles are still seeking sponsors. These include such
juicy possibilities as the environment and the democratic process. See a committee member to secure a principle to speak on and a date
to do so! P.S. Our 50th anniversary kick off is Sunday October 10th with Nana speaking.
3. Our 2nd Vesper Service of 2004 will be Friday September 17th at the Mcgraft Park Band Shell. We'll have a pot luck picnic at
6:30 PM, with the service beginning at 7:30 PM. I'll be be providing corn to grill, there'll be music and an opportunity for
members and friends to participate in a fall/harvest poetry reading.
P.S. This committee is still seeking more members. Not a better way to have a positive impact on HUUC than helping with worship
services.
Ike Stephenson, Chair
Posted by harboruu at 02:03 PM | Comments (0)