Our Leadership

The Worship Committee works in conjunction with the minister to offer worship during the Sunday services. They are often responsible for one lay-led service each month as well as some summer services.

The Worship Committee consists of:

• Barbara Handley (chair),
• Maureena Benavides,
• Janine Deckard,
• Jane Hellinghausen, and
• Scott and Sonja Millichamp.

The Worship Committee consists of volunteers who help to keep our Zoom Services running
smoothly. There is the Zoom Host, the slide operator, and the Worship Associate.
The Worship Committee was recently reformed to help plan for lay-led services and the
summer schedule. Our theme for the summer are our Eight UU Principles. Each Sunday will
highlight one of our Principles. We will again live-stream the Sunday Service form General
Assembly.
The Worship Committee is in search of volunteers to help with the summer services suggestions
for readings or music or presenters for a service on a principle.

The Religious Education Committee works to welcome children and parents to our church; plan and implement curriculum for our school-age children; oversees childcare for infants and pre-schoolers; helps to plan Intergenerational Services and activities.

The Social Action Committee currently consists of:

• April Graham,
• Harry Nutter,
• Emmy Ulmschneider,
• Kyndall Leone,
• Vincent Tran,
• Rebecca Dodge,
• Venus Smith,
• Jane Hellinghausen, and
• Eli Hilbert.

Our goal has been to offer education and concrete action opportunities to the congregation on issues of concern to UUs and to our specific area of West Texas.

We have met or led a service once a month since forming in late In January 2021, we led a service on homelessness that featured John Mark Echols, founder of The Field’s Edge, a homelessness advocacy organization that is building a tiny homes community for chronically homeless people in our area. In April, we led an Earth Day service, featuring a timely and engaging sermon by Emmy Ulmschneider. Several of our members also donated items to the migrant minors camp outside of town. We also offer recommendations to the Board about Share the Plate recipients. We look forward to leading more services and taking more actions in the coming year.

The Membership Committee is co-chaired by Erica Stoltz and Barbara Handley. We organized a Greeter Training in the Fall via Zoom. During the training, we were able to recruit Greeters for our Zoom Sunday services.

The Membership Committee with support from the minister held periodic Drop-In Circles. During these sessions, we learned about new friends and their journey. They had the opportunity to ask questions about UUCOM and Unitarian Universalism. We explained the path to membership. The membership committee is responsible for welcoming guests to our church on Sunday mornings, helping to integrate
new members into our church community, assisting the minister with New to UU classes and Newcomer Drop-In Circles, providing nametags, welcoming new members formally in a church service, certifying the member list, and other member-related tasks.

*Greeters: After a short training session, greeters arrive early to welcome guests and members to our church before and after the church service.

*Socials: Volunteers can help to set up and/or clean up church socials, such as brunches, lunches, parties, and fundraisers.

*Coffee Hour: Arrive early to make sure Keurig, tea, and snacks (optional) are ready for before service, and two tables are set up with chairs. Leave service early to start coffee pot and put out snacks. Clean up after coffee hour is over.

Volunteers help support church members and friends who may be in need of our attention or assistance. You may help by sending a note or card, making a phone call, visiting a hospital or home, providing a meal or ride.

Care Team members:

• Jane Hellinghausen,
• Sonja Millichamp, and
• Barbara Handley.

In July 2020, we began Community Circles as a way to keep in touch with our members during the time of Covid-19. Each circle had a leader who sent out emails, set up Zoom time and/or called the members in their circle. In the fall, we moved away from the Community Circles, although, Care Team members continued to check in with members from time to time.

The Care Team and other volunteers delivered meals to members in need. They sent out cards (sympathy, get well and “thinking of you”) to friends and members. Phone calls and text messages were sent out to friends and members as a means of checking in our community. Care Team members delivered groceries if requested. In December, Jane Hellinghausen, Rev. Julie Lombard and Barbara Handley visited many of our elders with holiday bread and other goodies!

After the “Great Freeze”, Care Team members checked in with members and friends to ensure everyone’s safety and access their needs.

The Public Relations Committee is responsible for developing
guidelines for external marketing and for social media notices.

Chair: Lisa Jebsen

The Building & Grounds Committee is responsible for overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of our building and the surrounding grounds. This may entail work parties, hiring out services or in-house services.

Chair: Tim Jebsen

Garden Team

Maintenance of our beautiful church gardens.

The Finance Committee is responsible for establishing guidelines for the investment of the endowment fund. They will oversee an annual audit of church finances.

Chair: Current Treasurer & Harry Nutter

The responsibility of the Nominating Committee is to secure a slate of officers for the Board of Directors as well as for the Investment Committee.

(members elected)

The Stewardship Committee is responsible for planning, organizing and conducting the Stewardship Campaign in the spring.

Chair: Current President-Elect

The Investment Committee is responsible for investing the endowment fund.

Chair: Harry Nutter