Shared Ministry led by Worship Associate Reflections Publication Team, Karen Kurth, Mary Higgins MacDonnell, Catlyn LeGault, Susan Steinbach and Lorraine Nail Visher

Join us for a celebratory look at how reflections written by UUCD Worship Associates have been solicited and compiled into a new publication coming out Fall of 2024. The team will describe the ups and downs of the process, stage a skit, and express the joy of collaborating in the spirit of shared ministry. Music will be offered by Laura Sandage and friends.

The legacy of the Worship Associate Program here at UUCD has long tapped into congregants’ hidden talents such as insightful writing, storytelling, songleading, researching profound topics, etc. It takes a village to put on a worship service from the minister, the worship associates, the visual arts designers for the altar, the music director and musicians/singers/bell ringers, stories for the children, the coffee makers, cookie bakers, greeters and ushers, the staff printing the order of service, and so on.

The Spring/Summer 2024 edition of UU World highlights an article by Elaine McCardle, saying “The concept of shared ministry is ascendant within UUism today. It means sharing leadership by transcending hierarchies and rethinking traditional divisions among the roles of ministers, religious educators, music directors, lay leaders and others. Shared ministry is an approach – collaborative, interconnected, less strictly hierarchical – that lives into the faith’s highest values.”