The One-Hour Choir

Lately I’ve been reading in church newsletters about the One-Hour Choir. The latest version of this was announced for Sunday, April 22, in the newsletter of the Unitarian Church in Lincoln, NE. It sounds like a lot of fun!

What happens is this: singers of all ages show up at 9:00 on Sunday morning, ready to sing. Ability to read music is not required. The assembled group learns a song or two, takes a short break, and performs a piece at the 10:00 service. How simple is that!?!

Each “one-hour choir” is just that — a one-time, no-other-rehearsal-necessary, singing experience. The selections are easily taught and easily learned. This would be perfect for people whose busy lives don’t allow for an ongoing commitment to choir.

Some of the songs in our hymnal supplement, Singing the Journey, would be perfect for this kind of group singing. They have simple melodies, with lots of repetition. “Come and Go with Me” and “Blue Boat Home” are good examples.

This might be a fun way to add more music to your Sunday services, as well as to engage people who ordinarily don’t participate. Once they find out how much fun it can be, they might join in more often. If you’d like more information, check with the Lincoln church.

PS - our District Annual conference was a wonderful weekend. You can read Laurel Hallman’s keynote address, find out about the award winners, and see photos at our Web site at www.psduua.org 

Democracy in Action

This weekend is our District Annual Conference. Members from Unitarian Universalist congregations all over our 7-state area will come together for a weekend full of conversation, learning, and business. We’ll have speakers, workshops, awards, and lots of information-sharing as people from large, medium, and small congregations sit down at tables and introduce themselves.

This weekend is also when the delegates from our district congregations do the business of the District. Our bylaws mandate: “The corporation shall hold an annual meeting within the District at a time and place set by the Board of Directors.” That’s why you won’t find us meeting in Honolulu or Mazatlan to avoid any midwestern April snowstorms!

The Business Meeting, which takes place on Saturday, is our time to report on the state of the District to our member congregations. Delegates hear from the Board and the Staff, elect new Board members and members of the Nominating Committee, and pass the next year’s budget. They receive written copies of our Annual Report which highlight the activities and services of the District, and they ask any questions they have.

In this way, we live out the 5th UU Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.