Learn about our volunteer committees, activities, and congregational management.
Community Life
Volunteer to help, or simply attend.
Auction
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Members contribute items and services. Some are auctioned off and others are displayed around the room for people to bid on silently. The items are interesting and diverse, and the food is yummy. Some of the service opportunities have included yard work, airport rides, and bread making lessons.
Chili Cookoff
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Best vegetarian and best meat chilis win a small prize. We also need help setting up, cleaning, up, and bringing side dishes. The Program Council runs this event.
Fellowship Supper
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We gather at 6PM in the UUFCC Fellowship Hall. Everyone who is able brings a main dish, side dish, salad, or dessert to share. It’s a great time for food and fellowship, and to get to know other UUs in an informal setting. We always take a few moments to honor those who have birthdays during the month and to introduce newcomers. No need to register ahead of time, just show up! Drinks, plates, and utensils are provided. For folks of all ages!
Freedom Seder
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The UUFCC Freedom Seder combines elements of a traditional Seder with tenets of the Unitarian Universalist religious tradition. It includes an intergenerational Passover service, followed by a potluck dinner. To stage a successful Seder, volunteers are needed to serve on the planning committee, to prepare food, and to assist with set up and clean up.
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Teams of about 20 individuals work together to greet visitors, usher, provide refreshments, set up for coffee hour, and tear down. Each team helps for four consecutive Sundays, roughly twice a year. Not only is the team work fun, you also get to know others informally. It’s a great way to expand your friendship circle.
Volunteer Money Counter
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This process takes approximately an hour, beginning around 11:30 AM after the Sunday service. Requires signing a confidentiality agreement. This position can be shared on a rotating basis among several volunteers.
Opportunities
We invite your participation.
Adult Choir
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Music reading is helpful but not necessary, and there is no audition. The choir rehearses on Thursdays at 7:00 PM in the sanctuary and provides music for Sunday services two or three times per month.
Covenant Circles
Five to ten people meet once a month for an hour or more to discuss topics relevant to them.
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They may meet in person or on zoom. The Circles are intended to foster community, to help individuals grow in spirit, and to explore ideas in a UU context.
Folk Dancers
Please join this group of folks passionate about dancing to international folk music. Explore different cultures through music and dance.
Games Nights
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We play various types they are not elimination games but ones where everyone plays until the end. UUFCC has a game collection, but anyone can also bring their own games. We welcome newcomers aged 18 and over. Children and youth may also attend with parents present.
Great Solar Car Festival
Each spring around May, KidTech (a local STEM non-profit) runs a small solar car design/ build/race event for ~100 middle schoolers from Centre Country.
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The UUFCC has supported this as part of their green initiatives for over 10 years.
If festival day is sunny, we are at the State College Area YMCA. If rainy, festival day is in the UUFCC building. Volunteers help to judge: fastest car, straightest car, hill climb, weight pull, rough terrain, etc. Volunteers are needed 9 am – noon on festival day. No experience necessary, and instructions are simple. Additional volunteer opportunities, starting every January, include: sessions to assemble solar car kits, delivering kits to the schools, and tutoring sessions with teachers and students.
View a 3-minute documentary overview here.
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Fest is centered on recurring themes: imagination, creative change, civil-rights era history & festival lanterns. It also highlights a different true story of how people achieved a pivotal civil-rights era success. The main Fest weekend includes a vegetarian potluck, drumming circle, community-built lantern garden, and Sunday service. For more info, visit our website using the button below.
Jazz Band
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Reading music is a must, and an understanding of jazz soloing over chord changes is a plus. This is a weekly commitment for rehearsal, and the band performs at various times throughout the year for services at the UUFCC and for the Valentine’s Day dance.
Meditation Mondays
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The meditation session lasts between 20-25 minutes. The group meets via Zoom on Mondays at 12:30 PM.
Memoirs
The Memoirs Group welcomes new participants who are interested in attending our meetings and sharing aloud accounts of their life experiences, each not exceeding ten minutes. The group is open to all.
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We meet on the first and third Thursday of every month (holidays excepted).
Song Circle
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We go around the circle with each person choosing the next song, either from our song books or a song they brought to share. We usually meet at 7:00 PM on the second Friday of the month in the Sanctuary.
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Opening with a chalice lighting and reading, the hour-long Service begins with a short presentation/video/music, followed by silence as we consider the ma- terial from our lived experience. As participants are invited to share their insights, we listen and expand our perspectives. Services end with a chalice extinguishing and final reading.
Women's Book Club
We are a women’s book club that meet on the fourth Wednesday of every month in the evening.
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We choose our books once a year, and the person who recommends the book generally leads the discussion. The group is hosted by a different member each month. New members and visitors are welcome at any meeting.
Committees & Teams
Become involved, contribute your time and talent.
AV Crew
The AV Crew helps set up for and run the audio visual for services on Sunday mornings.
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Usually two people work together during the service: one person will help monitor and handle the sound (for both Sanctuary and Zoom), and another person handles the slides, camera views, and other computer setup. Crew members are trained to set up the appropriate microphones, correctly coil cables, handle a mixer, use OBS, a video switcher, and host Zoom. No prior experience is necessary.
Aesthetics Committee
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We need helpers to put these items up and take them down, especially in December. We also supply artwork for the side hallway and are always looking for artists to share their work with us. It’s fun to do and rewarding to view the beautiful results every Sunday.
Building Committee
We are responsible for assuring that the structure, systems, equipment and facilities of the Fellowship building are properly maintained, …
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replaced and rehabilitated, consistent with the architectural integrity of the building, in order to meet the needs of the congregation.
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We are a community network of advocacy, support, and information for those who are in need of help and for those who wish to volunteer to help. We can always use people who’d like to deliver meals, provide rides, or help UUFCC members in other ways.
Grounds Teams: Social Gardening
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Our work is to keep the front gardens of the Fellowship looking tidy, attractive, and inviting. To build our sense of community, we gather at times, both during and after the workday, when at least a couple of people are available. Bringing your own tools is helpful, although there will be some available to borrow. Organizing talent to plan all-congregation spring and fall grounds clean up days is especially appreciated.
Grounds Teams: Mowers
We take turns mowing one-half of the 3 acre lawn (about 1.5 hours to mow) once or twice a month during the April-November season.
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We also trim the grass and maintain the UUFCC lawn tractor as needed.
Grounds Teams: Produce Fundraising
We sell vegetables, fruits, and homemade jams and pies after Sunday services in the summer and the fall, and donate the proceeds to the UUFCC.
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On occasion we need help with gardening, managing the vegetables, and keeping things in order. You can also volunteer to harvest before church on Sunday mornings, and/or set up tables and help with distribution after service.
Library Committee
Library committee members check in and re-shelve returned books, evaluate gifts, catalog and process new items, conduct inventories, …
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and promote the use of the adult and children’s collections. There are no formal meetings, just periodic workdays.
Membership Committee
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We help both prospective and continuing members become more familiar with and connected to the Fellowship, our faith, and the congregation. We follow up on any inquiries or needs of new attendees and members. In addition, we facilitate informative events like “Getting to Know UU” and the “Starting Point” workshops, which enrich participants’ understand- ing of how the Fellowship works and how to get more deeply involved. Our committee cultivates a welcoming atmosphere where both prospective and continuing members feel embraced.
Memorial Garden
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It is located on the UUFCC grounds directly behind the back wall of the sanctuary. It is landscaped as a garden with a permanent memorial plaque included. We can always use help with gardening.
Music Committee
We support the music director in all aspects of their role and organize the UUFCC Concert Series and the Young Artists’ Concert Series.
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We also support other musical activities, events, and groups within and as outreach from the UUFCC.
Publicity Team
We advertise periodically in local papers, on community group websites, and through social media outlets to promote some Sunday services and special events.
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The work involves scheduling ads, writing copy, proofing, creating posters, bulletin boards, etc. Knowledge of good ad design and digital marketing practices is helpful. Skill in desktop publishing/graphic design is a huge plus!
Recycling and Composting Initiative
Volunteers are needed to direct our compostables and recyclables to their proper collection destination which include organics, miscellaneous plastics, and all other recyclable materials.
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At the UUFCC we follow the Seventh UU Principle (respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part) as closely as we can. As a result, we have multiple streams of recycling and composting. If you live in the Borough, you can help take our compost; we also need help taking away our corrugated cardboard and occasional e-waste; and you can also help sort recyclables into our existing bins.
Worship Committee
We collaborate in shared ministry to support and inspire the spiritual lives of the UUFCC Congregation.
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In collaboration with the minister and the director of lifespan religious education (DLRE), we plan, develop, and promote services and programs that speak to both the head and the heart. You can serve as a committee member, be a chalice lighter, or, during the summer months, help to plan and carry out a lay-led service.
Justice Teams
All are welcome to be involved as you are able.
Climate Justice & Green Sanctuary
We empower UUFCC members and the wider community to collectively learn about, implement, and be inspired by sustainable practices in their everyday lives and organizations.
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The Climate Justice team creates opportunities to educate and engage Unitarian Universalists about the urgent need for environmental and climate action. We strive to live our lives in harmony within ecological limits.
Criminal Justice Reform
Our team is focused on activating people of faith and conscience to resist the criminalization of our neighbors and communities, and create a safer, more just, welcoming, and sustainable world.
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More specifically, we care about recreational space for people in prison, release of people convicted wrongly, and immigration issues.
LGBTQIA+
An open and affirming group committed to the promotion of a positive image for the LGBTQIA community and a supportive environment for LGBTQIA individuals, friends, and family…
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in UUFCC and beyond. A major project is the Pride celebration in June.
Racial Justice
The Racial Justice Committee coordinates efforts to create a more racially-just community within the UUFCC, the Centre County region, and beyond.
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We approach this work through education and activism. Members of the committee 1) provide educational opportunities for UUFCC members, and 2) serve as liaisons between the UUFCC and activist racial justice organizations and events outside of the UUFCC.
Reproductive Justice
The Reproductive Justice Team supports and advocates for people to have or not to have children, improves maternal and child health, …
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provides for safe and healthy environments in which to raise children, and supports the rights of individuals to express their sexuality without fear of oppression.
UUJusticePA
This group is working for real change for real people. The members help sustain the fight for justice for all in PA.
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The UUJusticePA vision statement: Pennsylvania UUs are aware of justice issues and are called to speak and take action that leads to a better commonwealth. The mission statement: Pursuing justice by voting, advocating and making just public policies. Our UUFCC representative will make us aware of actions we can take to promote justice in PA.
Religious Education
Become involved.
LRE Team
Comprised of 3 groups, each with a specific focus, in order to best meet the needs of families in the congregation and uphold the religious education program for UUFCC.
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- The Faith Formation Team helps to envision family ministry (family being defined as anyone in the congregation), multi-generational learning and growth, interfaith collaboration, and age-appropriate offerings.
- The Outreach Team systematically connects with all folks in the congregation in order to support their needs, help them get involved, and connect them with community.
- The Events Team envisions and implements various multi-generational events which incorporate our UU values and sources to benefit the congregation by offering fun, educational, and communal opportunities and serve as outreach to the community.
We welcome participation at various levels in any of these teams such as one-time helpers, short-time helpers, or on-going members. We also welcome anyone presenting ideas for educational offerings, events, or classes.
Propose a Program of Speaker
If you have an idea or interest in a particular area of education or exploration, or an event that you’d like to develop (or see developed), the LRE Team enthusiastically invites you to bring your idea …
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via email or in-person conversation, to any team member or to the DLRE. We strive to offer a variety of classes/explorations in various topics and categories of learning and we welcome your input! It is our goal to have offerings that each person who is a part of our community can resonate with and plug into. Additionally, we strive to create multi-generational activities and events that fosters relationships and community between our young people and our adults. We welcome your input in this area as well.
RE Teacher
The Lifespan Religious Education Program is a Co-op of volunteer folks who work to create a nurturing and safe environment for all of our participants in our classes and events.
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These volunteers are vital to the growth and sustainability of the program.
For all classes, the Director of Lifespan Religious Education provides the curriculum, lessons, and materials you need to facilitate and teach. You will find that teaching gives you a unique opportunity to learn the deeper aspects of being a UU and all the work we endeavor to do, and allows you to learn from the students you are leading or teaching. It is a profoundly rewarding investment of your time and energy.
All teachers, in accordance with PA state law, must obtain 4 background clearances and all information on how to obtain these clearances will be provided to you. This is also an investment of effort, but it helps us build an environment of trust and safety which is vital for creative wonder and exploration to occur.
Congregational Governance
For your information.
Board of Trustees
We act in the name of the UUFCC, work with the congregation to develop the mission and vision of the UUFCC, and communicate with, listen to, and engage the congregation.
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The board holds fiduciary responsibilities for the financial resources, human resources, and building and grounds, and develops policies necessary to effectively govern the fellowship. We conduct strategic planning and congregational assessments. Our members have job descriptions and are elected from and by the members.
Endowment & Directed Gifts Committee
Fellowship Relations Committee
The Fellowship Relations Committee are lay leaders and staff entrusted to help the congregation practice faithful communication and creative conflict …
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based on values of mutuality and consent. Our work is guided by the UUFCC covenant. Our work can include:
- Tending to the covenant by articulating and modeling its practice
- Provide training and other learning opportunities around the tensions needed for creativity in congregations
- Model and coach communication processes that promote mutuality and consent
- Model and coach creative conflict
The FRC also functions as the Safe Response Team. This part of our work is guided by the Disruptive Behavior and the Safe Congregations Policies found on the UUFCC website.
The work of the FRC in the capacity of Safe Congregations is to keep all members and friends of UUFCC safe — through prevention & monitoring, as well as by responding to or advising on issues related to congregational safety, such as disruptive behavior, bullying, sexual harassment, and child endangerment.
Finance & Stewardship Committee
We advise and assist the Board of Trustees in its oversight of the financial health, financial operations, and stewardship of the UUFCC.
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We coordinate all financial and stewardship activities including those of the Endowment and Directed Gifts Committee and the Annual Pledge Campaign team.
Human Resources Committee
We are responsible for policy development and oversight in support of the HR responsibilities of the Board.
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Through research of best practices and UUA policies and procedures, in conjunction with local employment trends, we act in an advisory fashion and formulate recommendations to the board for fair hiring practices, employee compensation, and other HR policies.
Nominating Committee
Program Council
We help to coordinate the activities of the committees and groups that are currently active at the UUFCC, as well as keeping these groups informed about one another’s plans.
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Each group or committee falls within a “cluster” of related committees: Community Life, Worship, Religious Education, Justice, and Communications. Each cluster has a representative from one of the committees within the cluster who facilitates the communication of information between relevant groups. All representatives must be members of the UUFCC and are appointed by the board based on our recommendations.