Ministry Teams & Contact Information
Cedar Lane and its members sponsor, host, and/or support many ministry teams and their good work. Below you may find a comprehensive view of the teams and committees at Cedar Lane and contact information for each group.
The Alliance
We invite men and women to come together for social, cultural and community service opportunities. Come join our monthly potluck on the 2nd Thursday of each month from noon to 2 pm (September - June), our Tuesday bridge group, our marathon bridge group, monthly book group or monthly film series.
Alliance President: Sue Woodruff, alliance@cedarlane.org
Alliance Books: Helen Pechacek, helenpechacek@gmail.com
Alliance Jewelry Sales: Judy Laurenson, thelaurensons@gmail.com
Assistant Minister Transition Team
Team Leader: Tim Persons, timcedaruubot@verizon.net
A/V Team
The AV Team facilitates the church’s “nurture community” mission by providing audio and video support. Simply put, we ensure that participants in every church occasion can hear and see every event, for both able-bodied members and members with hearing or mobility disabilities. In addition to supporting Sunday services, we also enhanced scores of additional events, including memorial services, weddings, concerts, films, symposiums, lectures, meetings, etc.
Team Leaders: Michael Morse / Rick Lohmeyer, AVTeamLeader@cedarlane.org
Auction
Cedar Lane holds an annual auction in early November that acts as a major fundraiser for the church.
Team Leader: Kathie Bryant, auction@cedarlane.org
Board of Trustees
As Trustees, we covenant to keep the best interests of the Congregation at heart and to carry out the trust placed in us as guardians of our Vision/Mission and as stewards of Cedar Lane’s resources. We will exchange ideas thoughtfully, honestly, and respectfully as we seek to understand different perspectives and strive to reach a position we can all support. When the inevitable challenges occur in our interactions, we will stay in community and reaffirm the values that brought us together. We will hear all voices, commit to the decision of the group, and communicate frequently with the Congregation. representatives of the Congregation, we will be generous in support of our Vision/Mission and mindful that our example influences the community as a whole.
Board President: Gail Riley, gailcedarlane@gmail.com
Board President-Elect: Peggy Jackson, peggyjack@aol.com
Board Treasurer: Ellen Kelley, kokum1290@gmail.com
Capital Assets Planning: Mary Means (mmeans@marymeans.com), Maryann Dillon (maryann.dillon@outlook.com)
Capital Campaign Task Force: Regina Dull (reginadull@gmail.com), Don Bliss (dbliss@omm.com)
Development/Fundraising Committee: Regina Dull (reginadull@gmail.com)
Endowment Commitee: Betty May Cleary
Financial Policy Commitee: Jack Welch (jack1165@gmail.com)
Governance Committee: Jim Kelley (cembra241@verizon.net)
Human Resources Commitee: Jack Welch (jack1165@gmail.com)
Mosaic Makers Committee: Alison Moses (soualison282@gmail.com)
Books Team
We supply and stock the book cart on Sundays after worship services and provide books for special events, such as the annual Kiplinger Lecture.
Laura Leigh Palmer, laura.leigh@asapgraphics.com
Committee on Ministry Team
Ann Meyer, pianistannx@gmail.com
Denominational Affairs
The primary responsibility of the denominational affairs committee is to provide a liaison between the congregation and both the Unitarian Universalist Association and the region.
Dino Drudi, dino.drudi@gmail.com
Director of Lifespan Religious Education Transition Team
Transition Team Leader: Linda Gianessi, lgianessi2614@gmail.com
Facilities Team
Nancy Bliss, nabliss44@aol.com
Flower Team
The mission of the Flower Team is to provide decorative beauty and the spiritually of nature for Sunday services through seasonal and artistic floral arrangements. Members of the team design and produce these arrangements for the Sanctuary every Sunday and for the Chapel when it is used to support the Religious Education program. Arrangements are typically presented in a variety of Japanese Ikebana styles or Western-style bouquets, etc. We meet on an as-needed basis for a schedule sign up/potluck lunch, during which we also discuss any issues that come up and socialize. We are always open to new members, but they must either have previous experience with any style flower arranging for larger size public spaces or be willing to take flower arranging classes.
Isabel Marbury-Mauro, Isabel_m2@hotmail.com
Grounds Team
The Grounds Team helps keep our campus beautiful and clean! They help with watering plants and flowers, raking up leaves, adding mulch, etc. Each year they hold two clean-up days (one in the spring, one in the fall) to invite the larger Cedar Lane community to help with major campus clean-ups and beautification. These events are family-friendly.
Ellen Kelley, cembra241@verizon.net
Immigrant Justice
Dianne Seiffert, seiffert@comcast.net
Internship Team
The Internship Team supports the work of our intern ministers.
Carolyn Morrissey, camorrissey@comcast.net
Kiplinger Lecture Committee
The Kiplinger Team's task is to select a nationally known speaker to deliver the annual W. M. Kiplinger Lecture on Ethics in American Society. Help plan and promote one of Cedar Lane's largest speaking events.
Jessica Sawyer, jsawyer50@outlook.com
Labyrinth Team
The labyrinth team primarily creates labyrinth walking events that coincide with the seasonal changes. Our biggest event happens on New Year's Eve each year.
Carol Edwards, labyrinth@cedarlane.org
Library Team
The Library Team keeps the books in order and retire outdated books and rotates new books in.
Mary Morse, mary.c.morse@gmail.com
Membership Engagement Ministry Team
The Membership Engagement Team looks to welcome newcomers and help them find their way into membership at Cedar Lane. The team also helps monitor that members continue along the spectrum of faithful engagement.
Dianne Yaunches, dmy3145@gmail.com
Memorial Coordinators
Memorial coordinators meet with families to discuss and plan the logistics of having a memorial service at Cedar Lane.
Lyn Peters / Vicky Strella, memorials@cedarlane.org
Memory Garden and Archives Team
The Memory Garden and Archives Team schedules dedications of new name plates on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend each year, but family members can order name plates at their convenience. Newsletter announcements in January alert members of the congregation to the deadline to order name plates for the specific dedication service. Family members or groups of interested individuals may make arrangements for a name plate.
The archives subcommittee, led by Glenis Bellais, organizes and protects the Cedar Lane historical documents, currently housed in Room 9 downstairs. Glenis and her assistants gather weekly to work on the archives.
Lyn Peters / Glenis Bellais, lynpeters@verizon.net, glenisbellais@verizon.net
Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee works to recruit members to join the Board of Trustees as well as the Nominating Committee, as team members finish up their terms.
Marilyn Hathaway, nominations@cedarlane.org
Pastoral Visitors
The Pastoral Visitors Ministry of Cedar Lane UU Church are volunteers who have been trained to provide confidential service to others, under the leadership of the ministers and the Lay Coordinator for Pastoral Care. Their training includes developing the skills, such as active listening and supportive presence that are needed to provide an empathetic and trustworthy connection with those in need. Training also includes ongoing classes or workshops in particular subjects, such as dementia. Visitors are available for Cedar Lane UU Church members and friends in their home, hospital, nursing home, or rehabilitation center. Pastoral Visitor support is usually requested during times of life transition, such as illness or injury and recovery, death of a loved one, or confinement to a hospital or other facility.
Betsy Binckes, pastoralcare@cedarlane.org
Religious Education Ministry Team
This team formulates the church's policies on religious education, organizes and carries out all programs. They also service events related to Religious Education (RE). Adults interested in the growth and enrichment of our children and youth may contact us about opportunities to teach or assist in our RE program.
Travis Ploeger, travisploeger@mac.com
Safety Team
Andy Wilson (caver4@gmail.com), Jack Welch (jack1165@gmail.com)
Social Justice
Social Justice Team: Moyo Myers / Sandy Shaw, socialjustice@cedarlane.org
Action in Montgomery (AIM): Ron Outen (ron@ronouten.com) / Dianne Yaunches (dmy3145@gmail.com) / Robert Essink (robert.essink@gmail.com)
Beacon House: Wayne and Dottie Mara, mara_fam@msn.com
Dorothy Day's Men's Shelter: Don Cleary, mensshelter@cedarlane.org
Environmental Justice Ministry: Jim Laurenson, environmentaljusticeministry@cedarlane.org
Interfaith Works Womens Shelter: Cat Kahn, catmandu0806@yahoo.com
Partner Church Team: Carol Bertaut (carol.bertaut@gmail.com), Charlene Zellmer (cbzellmer7@msn.com)
Rwenena/Congo Kids: Annette Scarpitta, scarpitta.annette@gmail.com
Refugee Support Team: Cathy Knapper / Kay Gottesman, refugee-support@cedarlane.org
Manna Food: Paige Emerson, paigecemerson@gmail.com
Shepherd's Table: Anne Fretz, annefretz@gmail.com
Rebuilding Together (Montgomery County): Greg Falcigno, falcigno@netzero.net
Immigrant Justice: Dianne Seiffert, seiffert@comcast.net
Together Diversity Team: Marge Dimond, margeryjd@aol.com
Stewardship Team
The Stewardship Team is dedicated to nurturing the members of Cedar Lane and their stewardship of our community through their generous donations of time, talent and treasure. One of our primary activities is leading the annual budget drive.
Sunday Lounge Table Assignments
Nancy organizes space for those looking to promote their upcoming programs, events and current opportunities in the Lounge on Sundays after worship services.
Nancy Janssen, nancyjanssen@verizon.net
Sunday Morning Team
The Sunday Morning team coordinates ushers and greeters for worship services.
John Dunn, john.m.dunn.66@gmail.com
We Care Team
While We Care is a committee of the church, it is an organized way to be together as a faith community, to become more than a collection of individuals. We Care is a way to support each other in times of distress. The We Care program connects Cedar Lane members and friends with tangible support in times of need. This support is organized by “neighborhood” so volunteers do not need to travel far to assist. We Care also helps Cedar Laners get to know one another and to stay connected to the congregation. The We Care neighborhood program is chaired by Helen Pechacek.
Helen Pechacek, helenpechacek@gmail.com
Worship Associates
Cedar Lane’s Worship Associate (WA) program promotes shared ministry by providing opportunities for lay people to play leadership roles in our Sunday morning worship services. Our ministers involve Worship Associates in a variety of ways, including: delivering the call to worship, offering the chalice lighting words, sharing community joys and sorrows, and voicing a reading selected for our communal worship. WAs may be asked to offer a short personal reflection or give a brief homily.
Mary Farrar, maryefarrar@verizon.net
Volunteer Coordinator
Carolyn Morrissey, volunteer@cedarlane.org
Central East Region Cluster
Linda Gianessi, lgianessi2614@gmail.com
Liaison to Unitarian Universalists for Social Justice (UUSJ)
John Gubbings / Kay Scott, advocacyUUSJ@cedarlane.org
