Lay Ministers Annual Report FY11

The current Lay Ministers are Margaret Costello, Jay Flynn, Judy Friedman, Kathy Hearn, Jud Leonard, Kate Mason, Brenda Roberts, and Greg Sullivan.

The Lay Ministers at FUSN extend the reach of pastoral service and provide a web of caring within the FUSN community. The Lay Ministers can offer support and be sensitive listeners should one wish to discuss employment, relationships, family, health, or similar issues, and often they can suggest referrals to professional service providers.

The lay ministers meet monthly, with Rev. Erin Splaine, to review and coordinate care within the wider FUSN community.

Lay ministers rotate responsibility for the Care Crew Book on a monthly basis. Each month a particular lay minister is in charge of finding Care Crew volunteers for that month's tasks. The Care Crew is a list of people from the FUSN community who have volunteered to be available to help those in need, on an occasional basis; we now have over 52 care crew volunteers. The lay minister of the month is also responsible for publicly thanking, via the FUSN newsletter, the care crew volunteers who helped out in the previous month.

Following is a list of our activities over the past year:

* Using the Care Crew, we arranged meals for people who had medical problems or were otherwise having a difficult time. We also arranged rides for people who needed to attend medical appointments or emergency situations, as well as arranging rides to FUSN services and events for people who are not able to drive. Additionally, we visited members in need.

* The lay ministers participated in an in-service training in January 2011 in Weston, MA., titled “Creating and Sustaining Lay Pastoral Care Teams”, sponsored by the Mass. Bay Districts of UU Congregations. This very useful training dealt with such issues as boundaries, listening, limits, and confidentiality.

* One of our members completed a booklet—“Planning Memorial Services”—which is now on the FUSN website.

* We produced the yearly Wheel of Life service in February 2011, in which we celebrated births, deaths, weddings, and other significant events that took place in the lives of FUSN members, relatives, and friends in the past year.

* We played a role in Sunday services, leading the chalice lighting and responsive reading, as well as facilitating the candles of joy and concern. We identified people needing care, and followed up on those who were going through a difficult time. Occasionally we were asked to do readings or participate in the service in other ways.

* We made ourselves available after the service to welcome newcomers and answer any questions they may have.

* Lay ministers also played a significant role in summer services, coordinating with the lay leader for a particular service, and performing any leadership responsibilities that were needed.

* We coordinate formation of new men's and women's support groups on an “as-needed” basis.

* We have sent many note cards, acknowledging significant events in people's lives.

The lay ministers’ primary responsibilities are to listen to people, care for them, and empower them to get the help and support they need, taking care to respect their desire for confidentiality. When people seem to need more than caring, listening, and some simple services, we direct them to Rev. Erin Splaine and/or other professionals.