Whether we call them “ministries” or “committees,” these dedicated groups of volunteers do the daily work of the congregation, following policies set by the Board of Trustees. The Council of Ministries coordinates the work of our committees.

The ministries of CVUUS exist to carry out CVUUS’s Purpose Statement. Because the Purpose Statement is a living, breathing document, designed to be continually revisited and revised as appropriate by the Board, the ministries of CVUUS must be flexible enough to be responsive to changing priorities.

See our annual report: 2018-9 CVUUS Annual Report

Board Nomination

Mission: Seek members who want to serve on our Board. From the Bylaws: “Nominations for the Board of Trustees and for board officers will be made by a Board Nominating Committee. The Board Nominating Committee consists of the Vice President of the Board and two members of the congregation (who will not be members of the Board) who are elected at the Annual Meeting. Members of the Board Nominating Committee will serve for two-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive terms.”

Members: Hannah Sessions, Mike Greenwood, Gordon Gibson, Doug Richards

Combined Campaign Team (Stewardship)

Mission: Solicit pledges toward meeting our budget.

2024: Steve Maier, Heidi Sulis, Kate Gridley, John Barstow, Andrea Sambrook, Alan Moore, Ellen Flight, Mary Hadley, Mary Conlon, Rev. Tricia

2023: Kate Gridley & John Barstow

2022 Chair: CVUUS Board

2021 Chairs: Brett Millier and Karl Lindholm

Caring Network

Mission: Provide support, such as calls, visits, meals, and rides to those in need.

Chair:  Kathryn Schloff

See Caring Network and Lay Pastoral Care.

Communications Team

Mission: Oversee our communication efforts including our website, newsletter, weekly blast, Facebook page, advertising, Front Porch Forum posts and service and event flyers.

Members: Laura Asermily, Jess Danyow, Margy Young, Mary Hadley

Mission: Oversee selection of organizations to receive a portion of our weekly service offerings and arrange for their visibility through display and speaking during worship.

Chair: Jean Terwilliger

Members: Avi Freund, Liam Battjes Greenwood, Ash Hickey, seeking others

See Sharing Our Donation Plate.

Facilities Committee

Mission: Ensure the short and long-term maintenance of the buildings and grounds of CVUUS in a manner which will support and contribute to spiritual growth of congregants and staff and which facilitates the Society’s efforts to promote social and environmental justice in our community and the world.

Chair: Bob House

Members: Mitch Kramer, Paul Stone, Llyn Rice, Alan Moore, Seth Gibson, Miles Peterle, Scott Barkdoll, Paul Vaczy, John Stark, David Bristol (Jean T, David D, Neil C, Sue R, Laura A copied)

Art Gallery Team: Hannah & Bill Sessions, Larry Vanderburgh, Dinah S, Marnie W, Kimberli G, Pat Todd, Deanne Morse, Elio F, Kate G, Neil C, Sue R, Geoff B, John & Alice B, Laura

This committee cares for our sanctuary, Fenn House, and grounds. See also Rental of Our Building.

Finance Committee

Mission: Draft and oversee our budget.

Chair: Mary Conlon

Members: Alan Moore, John Berninghausen, Rich Wolfson, Mary Hadley, Ann Webster

Flower Buds

Mission: Coordinate flowers and seasonal decorations for weekly services and special events.

Chairs: Marnie Wood, Dinah Smith

Members: Alice Berninghausen, Chris Murphy, Jess Danyow, Susie Patterson, Revell Allen, Hilary Hatch, Louise Cadwell, Kimberli Gray

Flowers: Catie Raishart’s Foxglove Farm, Revell Allen’s CSA

December Decorating: Kathryn Schloff (tree/ inside wreath), Chris Murphy or Alice Berninghausen (outside peace wreath)

Gatekeeping

Alan Moore, Carol Harden, Marnie Wood, Kate Gridley, Abi Sessions, John Barstow,  Mitch Kramer,  Lise Anderson, Revell Allen, Lise Anderson, Miles P, Alice Berninghausen, Dorothy Mammen, Mike Greenwood, Anne Christie, Allison Cutler, Becky Strum,  Hannah Sessions

Leadership Development Team

Mike Greenwood, Colleen Brown, John Barstow

Library & Information Resources

Mission: Acquire, organize and promote access to our congregation’s library, book sale cart, and other information resources.

Chair: Artley Wolfson

Members: Lise Anderson, Susie Davis Patterson, Ellen Flight (book covers), Bobbi Loney (children’s books), Sheila House (CUUK books),  Ann Ross (history, archives)

See The CVUUS Library.

Middlebury College UU Students

Currently Elio Farley, Kai Fukuda, others. Formerly Tyler McDowell, Allie Izzard, Sky (Celeste Allen), Aida O’Brien

Music Ministry Team

Mission: Oversee music for worship and special events or venues.

Carol Harden, Revell Allen, Jen Cohen, Chris Murphy, Andrea Sambrook (Kate Gridley and Poppy Rees copied)

Choir: Steve Maier, Priscilla Bremser, Revell Allen, Larry Vanderburgh, Brett Millier, Carol Harden, Rosalie Cryan, Neil Chippendale, Anne Christie, Chris Murphy, Kate Gridley, John Barstow, Doug Richards, Ann Webster, Marnie Wood, Martha Fulda, Dee Carroll, Jean Terwilliger, Avi Freund, Joan Soper, Liam Battjes Greenwood, Geoff (Dale) Birdsall, Kimberli Gray, Louise Cadwell, Paul Seward, John Stark, Andrea Sambrook, Dorothy Mammen, Margy Young, Ginny Ashenfelter (Brenda J, Samantha Rubin, Janie Wulff)

Pastoral Care

Mission: Provide temporary counseling support to members and friends in various kinds of distress.

Ministers; Tom Morgan in the domain of community ministry; Caring Network for physical needs.

See Caring Network and Lay Pastoral Care.

Personnel

Mission: Provide oversite and policy with regard to hiring practices, benefits, salaries, and conflict resolution.

Chair: Gordon Gibson

Members: Ann Webster, Connor Timmons, Mary Conlon (ex officio), seeking others

Religious Exploration Council

Mission: The RE Council, working collaboratively with the Director of Religious Exploration (DRE) with a sense of joint vision, will organize and oversee a Religious Exploration program for children and youth that is aligned with the congregation’s Mission Statement, Purpose Statement, and the Unitarian Universalist Values.

Members: Poppy Rees, Jess Rouse, Julia Santerre, Greg Bernhardt, Rev Christina, others

Nursery Care: Unstaffed for 24-25

Sparks: Bobbie Loney, Julia Santerre

MUUGS: Poppy Rees, Jess Rouse

Youth Group: TBD     OWL (Gr 6-8) led by Joanna Colwell & Jordan Young Jan

Coordinated, overseen by the Director of Religious Education

• Religious exploration programs for children
• Youth programs
• Nursery

See Lifespan Learning at CVUUS.

Rhubarb Festival

Mary Hadley, Lise Anderson, Sheila House, Gayle Muenchow, Elizabeth Golden, Chippendales, Vanderburghs, Brett Millier, Dinah Smith, Sue Rasmussen, Kathryn Schloff, Martha Soderberg, Michele Lowy, Mary & Peter Conlon, Jean Terwilliger

Safety Team

Chair: Alan Moore

Members: Will Porter, Mike Greenwood, Laura Asermily (Richard Hopkins, Dr. Paul Seward and Dr. Morris Earle and Poppy Rees consulted as needed on health matters)

Board’s COVID 19 Policy Advisory Team: Rev. Barnaby, Will Porter, Priscilla Bremser, Kerri Duquette-Hoffman, Jean Terwilliger

Sangha (Meditation Group)

Dinah Smith, Colleen Brown, Van Van Order, Bobbie Carnwath, Tracey Harrington.

Service Auction (Radical Love Exchange)

Mike & Liam Greenwood, Mary Hadley, Marnie Wood, Andrea Sambrook, Kimberli Gray (Priscilla Bremser, Donna B, Terry Racich, Lise Anderson, Connie Leach & Chris Prickitt have been previously involved).

Small Group Ministry

Mission: Deepen and broaden personal spiritual growth by meeting in small groups of 8-10 members at each others’ homes or CVUUS, usually once every month to focus on a spiritual or religious topic.

Chair: needed (Larry Vanderburgh for 2024)

Doug Richards, Dinah Smith, Alan Moore, Helene Vanderburgh

See Small Group Ministry.

Retirement Group (dormant): Dinah Smith

Residence at Otter Creek GrUUp (dormant):  Mary Lou Bright

Cingles (dormant): Revell Allen, Monty Montgomery

Social Justice Action

Bobbi Loney

Worship and Worship Team

Mission: Provide the congregation with varied, coherent services that are spiritually deep as well as intellectually, existentially, and morally challenging.

Interim Ministers: Rev. Tricia Hart and Rev. Christina Silliari

Community Minister / Ministerial Intern: Tom Morgan

Music Director: Jen Cohen

Director of Religious Exploration / many Times for All Ages: Poppy Rees

Worship Team Chair: Abi Sessions