The Wednesday Brown Bag Jul 18

We're reading and discussing the latest issue of UUWorld (2012 Summer).

For the July 18 "Around the UUWorld Wednesday Brown Bag Lunch" we'll be discussing the article, "We Know Why We're Here": p. 26, or read it online here.

The article is about UU Church of Ogden, Utah.

UUCO doesn't have children's RE during the worship service. Children stay in the service every Sunday -- and the RE time is after the worship service. UUCO made this switch several years ago -- at least in part because "we couldn't get teachers because they all wanted to attend the services."

UUFG also has a challenging time getting teachers for our during-the-service RE. Should we try what UUCO is doing?

At UUCO, children's participation includes:

- lighting the chalice (UUFG does that)

- four children pass the baskets during the offertory

- two older youth light the candles of joy and sorrow

- some kids sing in the choir with adults

Additionally, the minister's sermons adapt to the presence of kids: "I may include a reference to the start of school or some other event they can relate to. I try to use simpler words or a parenthetical phrase when I am talking about something complex....I use a lot of story and humor."

Would these steps be sufficient to keep a worship service engaging for all, or most of, the kids for the whole 75 minutes? Or for a 60 minute service?

One of the UUCO parents said: "Our hope is that enough of what happens in worship will in [for our kids] and they will remain UUs when they become young adults." Does being in the service and hearing more sermons increase the chances that a UU kid will become a UU adult?

During the kids RE time after the service, UUCO also offers adult RE during that hour after the service. UUFG offers its 9:30 Sunday discussion before our service. Would after be better? Are there adult RE UU curricula that you'd like to see offered during that time?

UUCO has 102 members. Is their smaller size relevant to the success of the model that's working for them?

Other features of UUCO:

Eight years ago they founded a drop-in center for LGBT youth.

UUCO members lobbied for a nondiscrimination ordinance in Ogden.

Members have been active in immigration and antiwar issues, UUCO hosted the Occupy Ogden encampment for 3 months, and maintains a food pantry.

Musically, UUCO draws from a strong jazz and blues scene.

Apart from ideas from UUCO that UUFG might consider, there are factors that are nothing like UUFG's situation:
- being in a town that's half Mormon, and
- having a congregation in which 40% of the members are former Mormons.

How does it make you feel to be a supporting part of a denomination that has this sort of presence in Utah? Things we could never do in Gainesville, we are indirectly supporting. Our faith is manifesting in other places -- and it is manifesting differently.