Transitioning Together – Next Steps

Greetings my Fellow UU Members and Friends Surprised?   I know it has been a long time since you have heard from me about Transitioning. I hope you have noticed that it has been happening in a quiet subtle way with minor changes in our routine and slight modification in our traditions.   Rev Sam has brought back older traditions of our faith and has introduced new ideas as well.   We are now fully staffed with a delightfully talented Music Director Paul Yoder as well as an organized and gracious professional Congregational Administrator, Judy Gilmore, in our Front Office to meet our needs and grant our wishes.  Both are wonderful additions joining our...

Transitioning Together Update

Greetings Members and Friends I thought it was time to give you a short update on what has been or is about to happen around our Faith Home. It seems hard to believe that so much time has passed. On the Spiritual side – we now have our transition minister- Rev Sam Schaal. He is here and settling in and will be officiating at our Worship Service on Sunday August 1. You should have received an invitation to attend the light luncheon in the Social Hall following the Service. If not - you are receiving it now! Please join us. We will be celebrating the Reemtsma's birthdays at the same time. Unfortunately, we are not yet at herd immunity, and we still have people in our State and County who...

Transitioning Together-Phase Three

Dear Members and Friends, It is time again to update you on our transitioning process for the Interim Minister and this time it appears we will be doing this together "in person". I am writing this on the morning of our coming back together in person for the first Service in our Sanctuary since March of 2020. We are ready to once again meet in person keeping in mind the safety protocols that have been put in place. WE will not be hugging, shaking hands, or sitting close to those not in our family; we will be wearing masks., and we will not be singing. There will be no food or drink this morning after service and no sitting around chatting as we so love to do; however, we will once more be...

Transitioning Together-Phase Two

Dear Members and Friends: There is much to share this month about changes taking place within the UUCS congregation. So, before I take you to the second phase of our journey through Transitioning, I will bring you up to date on these changes. As most of you know Charlie Mannino is retiring from his position as Newsletter Editor and Technology Chair this month along with Cathy's stepping back from her responsibility as Web Manager/Master for the UUCs Website. Charlie and Cathy have been loyal, dedicated, supportive and caring members of this congregation for many years. We are – of course - sorry to see them retire and we certainly owe them our sincere thanks; however, they have earned...

Transitioning Together-Phase One

Dear Members and Friends:The time has arrived for us to begin our journey through the transitioning process to celebrate the retirement of current Minister, Terry Sims, and to begin the selection process for our Interim Minister. NO ONE – ministers, lay leaders or congregants are taught the skill of saying goodbye. How a ministry ends may affect not only how the ministry is remembered and regarded but also subsequent ministries. Endings should focus on celebrating what has been done, expressing feelings of gratitude and saying goodbye in a way that is remembered positively. We are currently putting plans together for a Retirement Celebration for Terry – with members/ friends, family, and...
Sherry Robinson
President

Unitarian Universalist Church in Surprise

We welcome you!
Sundays at 10:30am

17540 N Avenue of the Arts
Surprise, AZ 85378
(623) 875-2550

A Progressive, Inclusive Faith Community