Long-Range Planning

An energy/force/enthusiasm—call it what you will—seemed to bubble up, quietly but steadily within the congregation after last year's Sunday Worship all-church discussions. The Long-Range Planning (LRP) Committee and the Board felt it, and many church members expressed this new sense of energy as well. With the help of Rev. LaMar, the Board and the LRP committee kept that energy bubbling through the summer, with Summer Worship Service ‘Conversations’ on a variety of themes related to what being a church means.

The church ‘Advance’ last August focused us even more. Then the LRP committee held three more Sunday worship service all-church discussions, one in October and the others in January and February. In these last discussions, we encouraged you to think ‘outside the box.’ We asked you to think about what Channing’s purpose for being is. And we asked you to imagine how we could better display—to people outside of our church community—this church’s energy and strengths, and offer what we now have to others. You gave us your sincere and thoughtful ideas throughout all these discussions, and we thank you heartily.

There were many things happening this year that showed your faith in, and enthusiasm for, the future of this church. The Board took steps to streamline and focus its work and to communicate with all church members. Many members stepped up to revive music in our worship services (including new members in a reinvigorated choir). We had a wonderful 15^th Anniversary celebration, with both old and new members coming together joyfully. We had an outstanding auction with the highest participation and profit ever. Despite worries about the economy, we volunteered even more time and money than in other years to help those in need outside our church.

Now we believe the church is ready to take the steps to lay out, and execute, a plan for its future. What are those steps?

First, the Leadership Development and Nominating committee will recruit members from a cross-section of the congregation to work with some Board members on a short-term LRP Steering committee. That committee will be charged to look at all the data collected over the past 2 years (LRP committee research, 12 Keys data, your ratings and worship service discussion comments) and create some possible ‘visions’ of what the future of Channing Memorial Church will be (remember “Channing is the church that” and “How can we make Channing visible” discussions?). This work will occur in a few intense weekend day and/or evening sessions during late Spring and early Summer, so the steering committee can present its ideas to the congregation early next Fall.

Next, once the congregation listens to the steering committee visions and has opportunities to discuss them, members will vote to choose one of them.

Finally, the Board will create task forces necessary to implement the various parts of the chosen vision.

-- Lorraine Hughes

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 Adult Religious Education

April Book Discussions:

The Adult RE book discussion of The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong, led by Ken Grim, continues on April 13th at Northfield Elementary School, beginning at 11:30 a.m.  Even in an age governed by reason and technology, fundamentalism has emerged as a major force in every major religion. This book, written with an understanding of history, sociology, and human spirituality, offers a study of this radical form of religious expression.

The next book in Channing’s book discussion series will occur on April 27th at Northfield Elementary School at 11:30 a.m. We will discuss either Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi, or The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albon.  Look for further details soon.

Contemplative Conversations:

Join Reverend LaMar on April 2nd, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at Bethany Lane for meditation and quiet conversation about your life, your spirituality, and your world. If you are hungry for spirituality deepening, this is an opportunity to move inward in a small, intimate group setting.  Note that there will be an additional contemplative conversation on April 9th to reflect on the topic of 'resurrection.'

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Around the UUA, Joseph Priestley District

Union Sunday: May 4, 2008,11:00 a.m. at First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, Charles at Franklin St., Baltimore, MD

 “Spiritual Freedom”, The Reverend Laurel Hallman

 Union Sunday commemorates the great “Baltimore Sermon” preached by William Ellery Channing on May 5, 1819, at the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore. Our guest minister this year, the Rev. Laurel Hallman, is Senior Minister of the First Unitarian church of Dallas and candidate for President of the Unitarian Universalist association in the 2009 election. A reception will follow the service. 

 Singers wishing to participate in the mass choir are invited to arrive at 9:00 a.m. to rehearse.

Second Annual Goodloe Celebration in Remembrance of the Rev. Don S.S. Goodloe and the dedication of the building housing Goodloe Memorial Unitarian Universalist Congregation:  April 27, 2008.

Goodloe Memorial Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 1540C Pointer Ridge Place, Bowie, MD 20716 
"Up, Up and Away Toward Freedom" by Dr. Christopher Bell as Frederick Douglass.
RSVP to Tisha Richardson at  410-768-5462. Please let us know if you will need childcare.

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