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 all 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: Louise Stomierowski: lstomier@aol.com
Alliance Sunday Book Sales: Helen Pechacek: helenpechacek@gmail.com
Alliance Sunday Jewelry Sales: Judy Laurenson: thelaurensons@gmail.com
Archives & Memory Garden Ministry 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The archives subcommittee, led by Glenis Bellais, organizes and protects the Cedar Lane historical documents, currently housed in Room 9 downstairs.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.
Team Leaders: Glenis Bellais: glenisbellais@verizon.net // Lyn Peters: lynpeters@verizon.net
Associate Minister Transition Team
Team Leaders: Vicky Strella: strella@verizon.net // Betsy Devlin-Foltz: betsy@devlin.foltz.com
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
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
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: Peggy Jackson: boardpresident@cedarlane.org
- Board President-Elect: Tod Chernikoff
- Board Treasurer: Joe Merenda
- Board Secretary: Anne Turner
Board Committees
- Endowment Committee: Jack Rodgers: ljackrod@gmail.com
- Financial Policy Committee: Carol Bertaut: carol.bertaut@gmail.com
- Governance Committee: Greg Falcigno: falcigno@netzero.net
- Human Resources Committee: Linda Gianessi: lgianessi2614@gmail.com // Judy Hautala: jhautala@ida.org
- Renovation Task Force: Maryann Dillon: maryann.dillon@outlook.com // Mary Means: mmeans@marymeans.com
Committee on Ministry Team
Team Leader: Marilyn Emery: marilynemeryhomes@gmail.com
Communications Advisory Team
This team meets monthly with Sara Davidson, Director of Communications & Membership Engagement, in an advisory role concerning communication strategy at Cedar Lane.
Team Leader: Sara Davidson: sdavidson@cedarlane.org
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.
Team Leader: Dino Drudi: dino.drudi@gmail.com
Facilities Team
Nancy Bliss: nabliss44@aol.com
Family Ministry Team
Team Leaders: Alice Chmil: alice.chmil@gmail.com // Marilyn Emery: marilynemeryhomes@gmail.com
Flower Ministry 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.
Team Leader: Isabel Marbury-Mauro: Isabel_m2@hotmail.com
Generosity Ministry Team
The Generosity Team encourages members of Cedar Lane and their families to share their time and talents through deeper engagement in the congregation. The Gen Team’s primary focus is leading the annual budget campaign. Pledges are members’ financial commitment towards the operating budget and enable staff and Board to responsibly plan ahead. Pledges constitute about 70% of income for operations.
Team Leaders: Mary Means: mmeans@marymeans.com // Marilyn Emery: marilynemeryhomes@gmail.com
Grounds Ministry 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.
Team Leader: Joan Riggs: jmr607@hotmail.com
Internship Team
The Internship Team supports the work of our intern ministers.
Teeam Leader: Tim Persons: timcedaruubot@verizon.net
Journeywomen
Team Leader: Magda Cabrero, magda.cabrero@truejustice4youth.org
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.
Team Leader: TBD
Labyrinth Ministry 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.
Team Leader: Chris Mauro, chris.mauro42@gmail.com
Library Ministry Team
The Library Team keeps the books in order and retire outdated books and rotates new books in.
Team Leader: 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.
Team Leader: Dianne Yaunches, dmy3145@gmail.com
Memorial Services Ministry Team
Memorial coordinators meet with families to discuss and plan the logistics of having a memorial service at Cedar Lane.
Team Leaders: Lyn Peters / Vicky Strella: memorials@cedarlane.org
Music Ministry
Team Leader: Harry Olson: harry.olson4@gmail.com
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.
Team Lader: Mary E. Farrar: maryefarrar@verizon.net
Pastoral Visitors Ministry Team
The Pastoral Visitors Ministry 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.
Team Leader: Betsy Binckes, pastoralcare@cedarlane.org
Right Relations Education Ministry Team
Right Relations Ministry helps Cedar Lane build and maintain a welcoming, safe, and inclusive community, so that all who enter, worship and work here will learn, communicate, and practice the idea of right relationship as part of congregational governance and all interactions with and for our beloved community. The Right Relations Education Team seeks to cultivate the motivation, ingrained habits, and skills to treat each other kindly and to manage disputes. We are beginning to actively promote awareness throughout CLUUC that we have a Covenant (giving it to new members, publicizing at church services – in the Order of Celebration, on the lobby and sanctuary screens), teach leaders of committees and teams about right relations, and hold classes and workshops for committee and ministry team members.
Team Leaders: Debbie Trent: dtrent@civilstrategies.net // Marilyn Emery: marilynemeryhomes@gmail.com
Social Justice Ministry Team
Social Justice Ministry Team: Moyo Myers / Usha Charya: socialjustice@cedarlane.org
Action in Montgomery (AIM): Dianne Yaunches: dmy3145@gmail.com // Robert Essink: robert.essink@gmail.com
Beacon House: Wayne and Dottie Mara: mara_fam@msn.com
Environmental Justice Ministry: Nanci Wilkinson: nanciwilkinson@gmail.com
Food Ministries
- Dorthy Day's Men's Shelter: Sandy Shaw: alexandersha@gmail.com
- Interfaith Work's Women's Center: Sandy Shaw, alexandersha@gmail.com
- Manna Food: Roger DeLucia, roger.delucia@verizon.com
- Shepherd's Table: Anne Fretz, annefretz@gmail.com
Immigrant Justice: Dianne Seiffert: seiffert@comcast.net
Sanctuary for Rosa Team: Charlene Belsom Zellmer: cbzellmer7@msn.net
Together Diversity Team: Marge Dimond: margeryjd@aol.com // Lee McNair: dragonpern132@gmail.com
UUSJ Liaison: John Gubbings: jgubbings@verizon.net
Sunday Morning 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 Hospitality Ministry Team
The Sunday Morning team coordinates ushers and greeters for worship services.
Team Leader for Ushering: John Dunn: john.m.dunn.66@gmail.com
Team Leaders for Greeting: Lisa Chernikoff: lisa.chernikoff33@gmail.com // Dianne Yaunches: dmy3145@gmail.com
Sunday Morning Visual Arts Ministry Team
We are actively seeking a point person for this new team to create slides for Sunday morning worship services! Email visualarts@cedarlane.org to participate or get more info.
Volunteer Coordinator
Wondering where your interests and/or talents would make a good fit at Cedar Lane? Connect with Carolyn at the email below to discuss ways of exploring ministry team engagement at Cedar Lane.
Team Leader: Carolyn Morrissey, volunteer@cedarlane.org
We Care Ministry 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.
Team Leader: Nancy Bliss: nabliss44@aol.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.
Team Leader: Val Carter: valcarterdc@gmail.com
Youth Programs Ministry Team
Team Leader: Jonathan Wigginton: jonathanwigginton@gmail.com
