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Programs > Branches
> East Mountains
East Mountains Report: June 2009
The East Mountain branch of our congregation has been hard at worship here in
the East Mountains. We just finished collecting for our second food donation to
Bethel Storehouse. They provide food, clothing, and many other forms of support
for the unfortunate in our community. We have given clothing (lots of it) to
this organization in the past, and they much appreciate our efforts. Our group
has raised over $300 in our spare change account. We will soon be deciding which
of our local charities we will gift, keep a base, and then start again.
This year we are starting off with a new logo for our branch, penned by one of
our members. We hope to use this for brochures, welcome cards, and other
stationary for the branch. We have grown our techie side with the addition of a
better sound system and better use of DVDs and worship materials. Our music also
has been much enhanced by the gift of prerecorded piano accompaniment, Unitarian
music CDs, and a keyboard to help with chants and new hymn learning.
The East Mountains is a vibrant community. Since we started advertising in our
local paper, we have begun to attract new faces to our little congregation. We
have added chairs to our worship space to accommodate new faces and have been
developing our children’s worship activities, as well, to attract young
parents. Rearranging our space has made worship more comfortable for all our
members and guests, and we are starting to think about what to do as we grow
beyond our present quarters at Good Fibrations!, which can handle up to about
thirty people.
--Bethe Orrell
East Mountains Report: April 2009
The East Mountain group has been established as a branch
congregation and has been meeting for over a year now at our new location in
Edgewood (at #3 George Court, just west of Route 66 and Highway 344).This church
group meets at 10:30 AM every Sunday. Services typically have 10 to 15 members,
visitors, and guests at this time, and we are geared up to grow!
The East Mountain branch has become very active in local
community projects. We have established a bank account in Tijeras where we are
collecting "Change for Change" to help those in need and several charities in
our community. We also have volunteered several days to help needy neighbors
with yard work and contributed winter clothing and canned goods to Bethel
Storehouse and Talking Talons Thrift Store. Several charities have presented
information during our services in the summer months.
We are happy to provide childcare during services at any
time. Prior notice is appreciated but not necessary. We have activity booklets
for older children, and art materials and supervision for younger children as
needed.
As of November 2008, the East Mountain branch is governed
by a steering group of five members, including a chairman (Tyler Mason), a
worship committee representative (Anne Marie Silva), a facilities representative
(Bethe Orrell), a treasurer (Pat Endean) and secretary, and an iMinistry
representative (Susan Moore).
The worship committee consists of five members, and they
rotate leading services each week.
--Susan Moore
East Mountain Report: July 2007
Branch Organizer Roger Hartz has now met with the East
Mountain group three times, and the core group of 5 or 6 members is on its way
to establishing itself as a branch congregation later in the year. The group
meets at 3 pm on the second Sunday of the month in the Los Vecinos Community
Center in Tijeras.
Each meeting consists of a lay-led worship service
featuring a DVD sermon and lay participation, which is followed by an
organizational meeting and planning session. Volunteers have been found for
Contact Person, Location Coordinator, Branch Stewards, Technician (iMinistry
member), and Membership/Advertising/PR Coordinator. In addition, one or two
people will be attending RE and small-group worship training in Albuquerque in
August and September.
After the training, the group plans to begin holding weekly
worship services in late September. Although the critical mass of 10 to 12
regular congregants is yet to be reached, the group is moving forward with plans
for a Grand Opening Sunday in late fall or early winter when they expect
participation to increase as people move out of summer and into fall and winter
schedules.
--Roger Hartz, Branch Organizer
East Mountains Report: May 2007
Perhaps
it was a bad day or perhaps it’s just that Sunday afternoons are not a good time
to meet with the folks in the East Mountain area. But what they lacked in
numbers was more than made up for in enthusiasm.
Six people attended the first East Mountain Branch
organizational meeting on Sunday, May 20, 2007, in Roosevelt Middle
School in Tijeras. After introductions, Doug Cowan led a short worship service,
which was followed by an informational session conducted by Branch Organizer
Roger Hartz.
There was much discussion about the requirement of
“critical mass,” the idea that it will require a minimum of 10 to 12 people to
organize a successful branch congregation. Roger pointed out that he’d received
emails form five people expressing regret that they would be unable to be a the
first meeting, so it appears that with six people in attendance, one spouse also
interested but at a bike race, and five interested but unable to attend, a
critical mass of 12 would be reached. Attending members also said that they
would call their local First Unitarian friends and neighbors to remind them of
future organizational meetings.
Although the magic number of 10 was not present, the group
decided to proceed with the idea of forming a branch congregation, and Jackie
Addis volunteered to be the contact person, Anne Lewis, to locate a
semi-permanent meeting location, Sandy Nettleton to assist with the technical
duties, and Craig Nettleton to work with membership and PR.
Future meetings of the East Mountain group will be at 3 pm
on the second Sunday of the month. The location will be announced in the First
Unitarian Messenger and via e-mail.
--Roger Hartz, Branch Organizer
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