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Unitarian Church of Sharon
4 N. Main St.
Sharon, MA 02067
781-784-3652
E-mail UCS
Short Term Planning
May 2008
All winter the Short Term Planning Task Force has been assessing the congregation’s needs for Sunday morning worship and RE as well as space for office work, groups and meetings. In conversations, the Worship and Religious Education Committees have firmly agreed that Sunday worship services and children’s programs need to happen very near each other, and that infants and toddlers will need their own space in the same building with adults. We’ve been assessing how work flows from office staff to church volunteers, particularly leaders, and which parts of that work needs security and privacy. We’ve also carefully considered the groups and programs that currently use the church for meetings.
With the various puzzle pieces of those needs in mind, the task force then began gathering information about possible temporary space when the building is under construction. We expect to be able to use the Meetinghouse and Vestry on Sunday morning and during the week, so we’re looking for program space near the church for a Sunday morning multi-age program for elementary grades, with a separate area for our preschool class. We’re also checking out office space for staff and volunteers, and planning how to get information from an off-site office to vestry bulletin boards and volunteer mailboxes which will be located in the vestry.
We’ve identified a few spaces that for low or no cost would meet most of the needs of the congregation, professional staff and Interim minister. Once those estimates are in, we’ll make recommendations to the AIM Steering Committee and the Board, hopefully by mid-May. Look for more information soon!
Jack Armstrong, Chair, Deb Cayer, Louise Marcoux, Joe Rando
March 2008
Members of the Short Term Planning Task Force (Jack A., Joe R., Louise M., Deb C.) met at noon on Sunday, February 24 to learn about the planning process that's underway to meet the needs of the congregation during construction this summer and fall. We've been charged by the Board of Trustees to gather necessary information from committees and other congregational leaders, and then to make recommendations to AIM and the Board. We've been at work this winter talking to committee chairs, professional staff and lay leaders. Now we'd like to hear form members and friends of the congregation who'd like to share their questions, observations and good ideas.
We're considering issues that will apply once construction begins, such as:
- Where will we have Sunday worship services and children's religious education?
- Where will the church office(s) be located?
- What church supplies need to be accessible and what needs to be in storage? Is storage best if centralized (at a cost) or is it ok if it's dispersed (to free spaces in members' homes)?
- Where will members, friends and staff meet with the Interim minister this summer and fall?
- What are the comparative costs for temporary office and classroom space in various locations?
- How will congregation members and friends find one another for fun, fellowship and support while there's limited access to the building?
- If the church lawn is dug up for a new septic system, how long will it be before children can play on it?
- And what should we do about the Bean Supper if, come September the parking lot, lawn and new wing are all tightly wrapped in yellow "Danger-No admittance" tape?
Committees and lay and professional leaders have been considering these issues (and more) in great detail. At this meeting we'll share their needs and ideas, and hear ideas and questions from all interested folks who have not yet had the chance to consider this and give their opinions. In March we'll finalize recommendations with committees, share them with the AIM Steering Committee and gather their comments, then send all recommendations to the Board of Trustees so they can make a decision about final plans. At that time we'll publicize the final recommendations to the congregation through the newsletter.
All are welcome and encouraged to hear what's up with short term planning. If you have ideas or questions and can't attend this meeting, contact Jack A. As always, we'd be glad to have the help of anyone who would like to be involved in any aspect of short term planning!
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