Sunday Morning Program Committee Resources


        The Sunday Morning Program Committee (SMPC) plans and implements
        year-round Sunday morning services during times when our minister
        doesn't speak. The committee works with our minister to facilitate
        and to plan shared programs. Members arrange for speakers from
        within and from outside the Fellowship.
        
        UUFA Website
        Committee Members

        Facilitator Duties
        Example for elements in an Order_of-Service
        UUA Worship Web
        Facilitator Workshop Notes (Brian Eslinger)
        The Worship Service (Charlotte Cowtan)
        Best Practices (work in progress)

        Jen and Jim Coppoc's UUSundays Spreadsheet
        Singing the Living Tradition (parts)
        Hymns Sung Between October 2008 and March 2010
        Linked Resources for UUFA Sound Guys

        Past Programs in 2001-2011

        Current Working Schedule Dec. 2011 - Sep. 2012


                December 2011
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                          1  2  3
              4  5  6  7  8  9 10 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             11 12 13 14 15 16 17
             18 19 20 21 22 23 24
             25 26 27 28 29 30 31


       Dec   4  "Building an Inclusive       Speakers: Jim and Jen Coppoc  [90,48]
                   Culture of Music"         Facilitators: Chris White, Sarah Carlson
                                             Accompanist: Barb Evenson
                                             Special Music: Fellowship Voices: "Hand in Hand"
                                             Special Music: Kids Choir, Earnshaw and Evenson Duo
                                             Sound: Donald Lewis, Greg Bruna

             Music is as natural to humans as breathing.  From the first rhythms of
             our mothers' hearts to the melodies and movement that are so much a part
             of early childhood on, music is a form of thought, a mode of expression,
             and a natural and powerful channel for human connection.  It's no
             surprise, then, that nearly all religious traditions keep music at the
             core of their worship experience.  This service focuses on how our
             congregation can use music to build community, to enhance worship, and
             to underscore our core values as Unitarian Universalists.


       Dec  11  "The Imperfect Holiday"      Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan  [72,42]
                                             Facilitators: Sarah Carlson, Linda Barnes
                                             Accompanist: Peggy Earnshaw
                                             Special Music: Recorder Consort
                                             Sound: Sam Wormley, Dallas Thies

             Whether we celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice, or Kwanzaa, this is
             stressful time of the year for many of us. We worry about finding (and
             affording) the perfect gifts; we struggle to set aside time from our
             busy schedules for visiting, travelling, cooking, wrapping, cleaning and
             entertaining. Perhaps it would be helpful to consider the blessings of
             imperfection.


       Dec  18  "Stories of the Season"      Speakers: Lori Allen and others  [104,60]
                                             Facilitators: Toby Ewing, Crystal Tice
           [All Congregational]              Accompanist: Ginny Molgaard
         [Winter Solstice Dec 22  5:30 UTC]  Special Music: Orff Kids
                                             Sound: Sam Wormley, Dallas Thies


       Dec  24  "Holiday Pageant"            Speakers: Jim Coppoc and Lori Allen  [55]
            5pm Service                      Facilitators: Sarah Carlson
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music: RE Kids - Images of Christmas
                                             Sound:

             "Shepherdy - The Unitarian Universalist Christmas Quiz"   Shepherdy
             teams will be comprised of children and good sports in the congregation
             who care to test their ideas of fact and myth surrounding Christmas. 
             Carols and candles will complete our annual child and family friendly
             Christmas Eve celebration.   


       Dec  24  "Lessons, Carols & Candles"  Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan  [50]
            9pm Service                      Facilitators: Kay Puttock, Amy Slagell, Toby Ewing
                                             Accompanist: Carole Benson-Holm
                                             Special Music: Carole Benson-Holm & Jen McClung-Coppoc
                                             Sound: Sam Wormley

             A traditional Christmas Eve service: familiar carols, Bible
             readings and candlelight.

       Dec  25  "The Gift of Presence"       Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan, Sam Wormley  [50+]
             [Single Service at 10am]        Facilitators: Sam Wormley, Toby Ewing 
                                             Accompanist: Cynthia Marten
                [Christmas Meal]             Special Music:
                                             Sound: Dallas Thies


                 January 2012
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
              1  2  3  4  5  6  7
              8  9 10 11 12 13 14 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             15 16 17 18 19 20 21
             22 23 24 25 26 27 28
             29 30 31



       Jan   1  "Who Are We and Where We     Speakers: Andrew Williams  [88]
               are Going: Starting the       Facilitators: Linda Barnes, Toby Ewing
                New Year with Direction"     Accompanist: Jen and Jim Coppoc
               [Single Service at 10am]      Special Music: Jen McClung
                                             Sound: Sam Wormley

             2012 will be a big year for the Fellowship. We are going to start the
             New Year with a bang, so mark your calendars to attend the Sunday,
             January 1st presentation. Andrew Williams will deliver ONE presentation
             at 10am.  There will be plenty of social time after the talk.  There
             will be no RE; however, the presentation will be kid-friendly. Come
             listen to the tranquil tunes of Jen McClung, hear some thought-provoking
             ideas based on our all-congregation survey results, and consider the
             year ahead with Andrew.  See you on the 1st!


       Jan   8  "Must We Deserve a Rainbow?  Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan  [61,40]
           [Stewardship Committee 5-7 min]   Facilitators: Sarah Carlson
                                             Accompanist: Ginny Molgaard
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Special Music: 
                                             Sound: Dallas Thies, Greg Bruna

             None of us can truly say that we've done anything to 'deserve' so many
             of the gifts that enrich our lives.  Sometimes, however, it's hard to
             rejoice in our good fortune when so many, who also have done nothing to
             deserve it, are suffering ill fortune. How can we reconcile E.B. White's
             dilemma: "being torn between the desire to savor the world and the
             desire to save it"?


       Jan  15  "Words and Deeds"            Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan  [65,50]
           [Stewardship Committee 5-7 min]   Facilitators: Amy Slagell & Sarah Carlson
                                             Accompanist: Peggy Earnshaw
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound: Sam Wormley, Dallas Thies

             On this MLK Sunday I will present the fourth in the series of services
             based on the sources of our Unitarian Universalist Faith: "Words and
             Deeds of Prophetic men and women which challenge us to confront the
             powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the
             transforming power of love".


       Jan  22  "Teach Me How to Pray"       Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan  [67,55]
           [Stewardship Committee 5-7 min]   Facilitators: Toby Ewing, Faris Winchester
           [Iowa Grown Meal]                 Accompanist: Mary Richards
                                             Special Music:
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Sound: Sam Wormley, Greg Bruna

             UUs are often uncomfortable with the idea of prayer. How do we respond
             when asked to offer a 'blessing' before a meal, or to pray for someone
             during a difficult time? How do we respond when someone says that they
             will be praying for us? What is prayer anyway? These are some of the
             questions I'll be wrestling with in this sermon.


       Jan  29  "Dragged Kicking and         Speakers: Mark Morrison-Reed  [85,54]
                    Screaming into Heaven"   Facilitators: Sarah Carlson, Mark Witherspoon
           [Stewardship Committee 5-7 min?]  Accompanist: Barb Evenson
             [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]   Special Music: Fellowship Voices: "Bonse Aba"
                                             Sound: Dallas Thies (both services)

             Early in the 19th century Universalism swept across our young nation
             finding a popularity it never again achieved. It proclaimed a truly
             radical message. Is it time for us to return to the message that God's
             love brooks no resistance? Universalism re-articulated for the 21st
             century.


                February 2012
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                       1  2  3  4 <-- PSD Annual Conference Planning in Bloomington MN
              5  6  7  8  9 10 11 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             12 13 14 15 16 17 18
             19 20 21 22 23 24 25
             26 27 28 29


       Feb   5  "Fellowship Forward"         Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan
                [Pledge Drive Kickoff]       Facilitators: Mary Richards, Amy Slagell
                                             Accompanist: Anne Kimber
                                             Special Music: Anne & Thea
                                             Sound: Sam Wormley

       Feb  12  "The Art of Lying:           Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan
               To Speak the Truth in Love"   Facilitators: Toby Ewing, Mark Witherspoon
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Accompanist: Ginny Molgaard
                                             Special Music: Recorder Consort
                                             Sound:

             It has been said that honesty is the best policy--but is it always? Are
             there times when it is best NOT to speak the truth--or even to tell a
             little 'white lie'?


       Feb  19  "Youth Service"              Speakers: Fellowship Youth
                                             Facilitators: None Required
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Accompanist: Mary Richards
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Feb  26  "Religion as a Subversive    Speakers: Paul Turner with Rev. Charlotte Cowtan
                          Activity"          Facilitators: Kay Puttock, Mary Richards?
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Accompanist: Barb Evenson
            [Soup Lunch]                     Special Music: Fellowship Voices: TBD
                                             Sound:

             Director of AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy) All religious
             traditions have a view of how human beings in the 'Perfect' world
             operate. It's also true that although the Ideal World differs from one
             tradition to another, all religious traditions are aware that humankind,
             in their view, fall short of their ideal. This implies that all
             religions are (or should be) subversive organizations attempting to
             change the world brom what it is to what it, in their view, should be.

             Today's Soup Lunch will provide an opportunity or focused discussion
             about the changes we would like to see in ourcommunities.


                  March 2012
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                          1  2  3
              4  5  6  7  8  9 10 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             11 12 13 14 15 16 17 <-- Spring Break Mar. 10-18
             18 19 20 21 22 23 24
             25 26 27 28 29 30 31


       Mar   4  "Politics and Religion"      Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan
                                             Facilitators: Amy Slagell, Toby Ewing
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Accompanist: Barb Evenson
                                             Special Music: Fellowship Voices
                                             Sound:

             Presidential Election years are always difficult times for Congregations
             to navigate the fine line between 'voting our values' and engaging in
             partisan politics. In our UU congregations, it is not uncommon for
             Republicans to remain 'closeted' out of fear of being 'shunned' if the
             congregation knew their political affiliation. It is good to be reminded
             of our proud heritage of fighting for the separation of Church and
             State, and how to both live and vote our values while honoring the
             separation of religion and politics that we fought to bring into being.


       Mar  11  "March Madness"              Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan
                                             Facilitators:
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Accompanist:
         [Spring Break Mar. 10-18]           Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Mar  18  "Spring Equinox"             Speakers:
               [All Congregational]          Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
          [Spring Equinox  Mar 20 5:14 UTC]  Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Mar  25  "Iowa Sisterhood"            Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:


                  April 2012
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
              1  2  3  4  5  6  7 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
              8  9 10 11 12 13 14 <-- PSD Conference in Bloomington, MN
             15 16 17 18 19 20 21
             22 23 24 25 26 27 28
             29 30


       Apr   1  "First Amendment"            Speakers: Mark Witherspoon
                                             Facilitators:
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Apr   8  "Easter"                     Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan
                                             Facilitators:
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Accompanist: Barb Evenson
                                             Special Music: Fellowship Voices: "Shine on Me"
                                             Sound:

       Apr  15                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Apr  22  "Candidating Week"           Speakers:
               [All Congregational]          Facilitators:
            [Fellowship Voices Rehearsal]    Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Apr  29   "Candidating Week"          Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist: Barb Evenson
                                             Special Music: Fellowship Voices: "Uma Familia"
                                             Sound:


                   May 2012
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                    1  2  3  4  5
              6  7  8  9 10 11 12 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             13 14 15 16 17 18 19
             20 21 22 23 24 25 26
             27 28 29 30 31 


       May   6  "Bridging"                   Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan
               [Annual Meeting]              Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       May  13                               Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       May  20                               Speakers: Rev. Charlotte Cowtan
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Transition to single 10am service from two services at 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m.
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

       May  27                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:



                  June 2012
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                             1  2
              3  4  5  6  7  8  9 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             10 11 12 13 14 15 16
             17 18 19 20 21 22 23 <-- GA (Phoenix) Jun 20-24
             24 25 26 27 28 29 30


       Jun   3                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Jun  10                               Speakers:
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                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Jun  17                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
         [Summer Solstice Jun 20 23:09 UTC]  Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Jun  24                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:


                  July 2012
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
              1  2  3  4  5  6  7
              8  9 10 11 12 13 14 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             15 16 17 18 19 20 21
             22 23 24 25 26 27 28
             29 30 31


       Jul   1                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Jul   8                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Jul  15                               Speakers:
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                                             Accompanist:
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                                             Sound:

       Jul  22                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
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       Jul  29                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
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                 August 2012
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                       1  2  3  4
              5  6  7  8  9 10 11 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
             12 13 14 15 16 17 18
             19 20 21 22 23 24 25 <-- Ames
             26 27 28 29 30 31


       Aug   5                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Aug  12                               Speakers:
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                                             Accompanist:
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       Aug  19                               Speakers:
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       Aug  26                               Speakers:
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                September 2012
             Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
                                1
              2  3  4  5  6  7  8 <-- Sunday Morning Program Committee Meeting
              9 10 11 12 13 14 15
             16 17 18 19 20 21 22
             23 24 25 26 27 28 29
             30


       Sep   2  "Humorous Science"           Speakers: Ewing & Wormley
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Transition from single 10am service to two services at 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m.
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

       Sep   9  "Ingathering"                Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Sep  16                               Speakers:
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                                             Accompanist:
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       Sep  23                               Speakers:
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                                             Accompanist:
         [Fall Equinox  Sep 22 14:49 UTC]    Special Music:
                                             Sound:

       Sep  30                               Speakers:
                                             Facilitators:
                                             Accompanist:
                                             Special Music:
                                             Sound:


  

       Stonetree Congregational Resources

       Backup ("hip pocket") Programs
         o  Singing Sunday (congregational member choose their favorites)
         o  Congregational Sharing (topical)


       Potential Program Ideas

         o  Greta Anderson
              -Integrating Cultures
              -AIDS Program
              
         o  Sarah Carlson
              -Living our Values When We Disagree: As UUs we are often
               skeptics, independent thinkers and have conflicting
               opinions. How can we affirm each other's dignity and
               show respect and compassion when opinions diverge and
               emotions heat up?

              -Healing relationships:  Reconciliation is the
               prerequisite for the deepest of spiritual journeys. 
               What does this mean?

              -Prayer:  What's In It For Me?  A different look at what
               prayer is, how various religious traditions, including
               humanist and non-theists view prayer, what do people
               actually do when they pray and how does it give meaning
               to people's lives.

              -Facing death:  The Journey with a Terminal Illness

              -How do we deal with economic and educational diversity?
               Are we welcoming of people just as they are? What
               judgments are made when a non-immigrant lives in chronic
               poverty, do not speak with proper grammar, and do not
               look to improve their education and economic status?

              -The Baha'i Faith:  As UUs we seek to learn more of other
               faith traditions. Learn more about the Baha'i faith
               tradition.

              -The Mindfulness of Breathing
              
              -Turning the Wheel of Dhamma-Buddhist tradition

              -Mandala: A Sanskrit word meaning "circle" and a sacred
               art across religious traditions. The circle is a
               spiritual symbol of wholeness.

              -Chanting and spirituality

              -Sacred Art

              -UUSC Environmental Justice Access to safe, affordable
               water is a human right.

              -Jesus Before Easter

              -The Concept of Sheol

              -Stirrings of Compassion:  Ability to enter the passion
               of another.  It is a deep and intimate engagement with
               "the other." How do we go beyond writing a check to
               support social justice to experience real engagement
               with real people?   How does compassion transform us? 
               Where does our community lack compassion?

              -Spiritual Development Across the Lifespan

         o  Jim Coppoc
              -Music Programs

         o  Paul Ferrone
              -Music Program (200th B'day Felix Mendelssohn, F. Chopin and/or
               Robert Schumann)

         o  Ginny Molgaard
              -Gardening, the spirituality of 
              -Poetry (organized by subject matter)

         o  Amy Slagell
              -Nature Focus


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