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Practical Arts

How to Evaluate the Minister

May 17, 2023 | Filed under: Church 201, Practical Arts

Congregations and ministers agree that periodic evaluations of the minister are part of a healthy congregational life, but HOW to evaluate the minister in a way that strengthens the minister’s connection to the congregation can be a puzzle. It is too often the case that ministers feel “picked on” during …

It’s Not About the Lattes: And Other Things Millennial Parents Want UU Congregations to Know

May 16, 2023 | Filed under: Ministry, Practical Arts, Teaching

by Bethany Russell-Lowe (Millennial) and Sharon Wylie (GenX) This past March, we attended a gathering of UU ministers, a time for us to rest together, to worship together, and to learn together. During a collegial discussion about the future of church in an increasingly secular world, the idea arose that …

In Which A Minister Looks to Attend Church on Her Sunday Off And Is Reminded Why Religion Is In Decline

August 16, 2015 | Filed under: Practical Arts, Worship

I am blessed to have one Sunday off each month, and I usually sleep in and rest up that day, grateful for a precious TWO DAYS OFF IN A ROW (Monday being my usual day off). I don’t usually think about attending church; it would defeat the purpose of a …

Church 101: Giving Money (Part 2 of 2)

January 25, 2015 | Filed under: Church 101, Ministry, Practical Arts, Teaching

People new to congregational life are often anxious about pledging. After all, this is a financial commitment you didn’t used to have. Here’s what I hear most often: How much should I pledge? Pledging is a spiritual practice, a commitment to the future of the congregation. The practice of making a …

Church 101: Giving Money (Part 1 of 2)

January 18, 2015 | Filed under: Church 101, Ministry, Practical Arts, Teaching

Aha! You knew some day this blog would grub for money, didn’t you? Churches are all the same. Church financial scandals in recent decades have led many to view fundraising as an example of religious hypocrisy: if religious people really want to make the world a better place, why don’t …

Church 101: Children in Worship

January 11, 2015 | Filed under: Church 101, Practical Arts, Teaching, Worship

So much has been written about children attending worship services that I feel I have little to add. At the same time, parents with young children have many questions and worries about attending church with children. So here goes. Many parents are surprised to learn that children are welcome to …

Church 101: Something Bad Happened On Our First Visit

January 4, 2015 | Filed under: Church 101, Ministry, Practical Arts, Teaching

You made it to church for the first time! You got yourself out of bed on Sunday morning, had the right set of directions, found a parking spot, and arrived not too late for the start of the service. You even enjoyed the service! But… Something off-putting happened. There was …

Church 101: What to Say in the Sunday Receiving Line

December 28, 2014 | Filed under: Church 101, Ministry, Practical Arts, Teaching

Before I became a minister, I never, ever, even once went through the receiving line to greet the minister after a worship service. I assumed that everyone else waiting in line had something meaningful to say about the service, something deep. I had no idea what to say. I came …

New Year, New Focus for the Blog

January 15, 2013 | Filed under: Announcements, Ministry, Practical Arts

I started this blog a couple of years ago, mainly as a place to post my sermons. While in my parish internship, I began posting my monthly newsletter column here. And then at some point, I started actually blogging, writing for this invisible internet audience. This blog has never been …

Six Reasons Justice GA Was A Success

June 25, 2012 | Filed under: Ministry, Practical Arts, Prophetic Outreach

Representatives of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations met in Phoenix last week for our annual gathering, called General Assembly (G.A.). Unlike previous years, our gathering this year had a focus on learning about and participating in social justice work (particularly on immigration issues) in partnership with local activist groups. …

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