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On September 9, Rev. Nan Geer asked a large group of OUUC members to envision a Sunday morning in 2006 and to write down what they saw. Afterwards everyone got a few votes to choose the visions that appealled to them the most. Here is the summary compiled by Emily Ray.

Each item listed indicates a "vote." The numbers in parentheses are additional "votes" by participants.

Group 1

Building

• larger
• glassed in patio
• annex improved
• two story RE
• new building (bigger)
• lots of big trees
• fruit trees
• same parking down the street
• different building
• library
• (1) bigger rooms
• gardens
• flowers, no weeds
• well equipped RE space
• middle school doing car washes
• (1) larger coffee space

Service

• met (greeted)
• woman minister
• (1) part-time associate minister
• couple
• DRE
• music service (recorded and choir); piano
• (1) 45 person choir
• 20 person youth choir
• (1) family sharing service re-instated
• full services
• bigger service (for 150)
• of the attendees are not here today
• (1) discussion (talk back) conducted by minister
• non-minister services
• children at the beginning
• eager youth attendance

After Service

• discussion groups
• interest groups
• committees
• coffee (Batdorf and Bronson) hour
• over-50 men's softball game
• men's support group potluck

During Week

• (2) men's support group
• committee work
• planning meeting for 7th * pledge drive
• activity for strengthening young adult group

Group 2

• (4) great music
• (1) music for kids - kids' choir? RE opening music/ceremony/singing?
• sound system; stage; vibes & bongos
• (3) more space for coffee hour/conversation (e.g., covered deck, porch, tables, chairs)
• (2) greenhouse
• mowing the lawn
• RE extension (2,000 square feet with RE Director office)
• (2) sanctuary extension
• no parking - everyone walked in
• (5) retirement home next to church
• parking lot on annex property with paved path
• mausoleum for ashes - memory garden
• lots of people
• (1) interactive service
• "This I believe" service
• commitment ceremony grandfather as minister greeting people
• (2) kids galore in RE program
• church open 24 hours a day
• part of Olympia core, not remote
• bike rack, covered
• schedules on Palm pilot
• trail access for walking and biking

Group 3

• (1) larger church; stained glass & flower beds at entry
• (1) someone to care for property-full-time maintenance person
• (4) church sponsoring large, well equipped/safe family shelter
• second story on RE wing & older children going to classes upstairs
• adequate meeting rooms that don't have to be too multi-purpose (sanctuary not so multipurpose)
• 10-room RE building with a gym
• (2) one service in a large sanctuary
• sanctuary full during the service
• kept flashing on Sunset Life building
• lingered to listen to the music
• large enough to have senior minister and two associate ministers
• main image: building itself with no people
• sufficient paid support staff: full-time DRE and administrator; not so dependent on volunteers
• (1) all staff paid better
• stimulating sermons
• (1) my kids like coming to this place…whatever age/stage they are in
• like to see some really good adult discussion groups/classes - great variety
• would like to see two 400 member churches in town
• would like to have a 4-acre garden on the property
• would like to see a retirement center on the church campus
• would like to see a conference center that includes arts center
• the minister calls me and says, "I'd like to come over for coffee and get to know you." (I would like it to happen when I'm well, not dying.)

Group 4

• (17) Expanded present building for different, larger building
• (1) Bigger kitchen and social hall
• (1) Greater ministerial presence
• (4) Full-time DRE
• More gardens
• Library
• (1) Communication center
• New entrance to church, no steps, especially no steps down
• Improved sense of congregational togetherness

Group 5

• (8) A different, larger facility
• Place to park
• (1) Minister in 5th year
• See new friends and old
• (1) Broken ground for retirement home for UUs
• Luci's working in the garden
• (6) Have an associate minister, full-time DRE, full-time church administrator
• Grandchildren love it
• Minister has a regular column in the newspaper
• Choir sings every Sunday
• (2) People are generous financially
• (1) Diversity in Sunday services
• (1) Debt has been retired
• (1) Active endowment program
• (2) Active social life - well attended events create small centers of intimacy - "Extended Family Program"

Group 6

• Music-piano & string quartet
• (1) Choir
• Larger foyer
• (2) Larger building
• Greeters
• Lighting the chalice
• Children in beginning of service
• Enthusiastic about group activities
• Singles group
• More single men
• Readers' theater
• (3) Service provided intellectual challenge
• This I Believe
• Membership doubled
• Membership smaller
• Circle of chairs in sanctuary
• (1) 2nd level for RE
• Underground parking with elevators
• (1) Old wounds healed
• Grounds keeper
• Garden

Group 7

• (2) Co-ministers (e.g. husband/wife other partners) providing pastoral work, trading time, skills, contribution, personal connection; proximately located
• Same building -
• Kiosk out in front for info
• Full capacity/2 services
• RE vegetable garden/memorial garden
• Different building
• Indoor Rec
• More space
• Visibility
• Accessible
• (5) Central location
• Dedicated RE space
• Week-long activity (besides committee meetings) drop-in dinners; family retreat
• (1) Pagan service weekly Sunday morning
• (3) More membership; still intimate; greater diversity
• Discussion after service; post-service function
• "Family Room" or common lounge with fireplace
• (4) Community presence/visibility (web, TCTV, newspapers, NPR); congregational activism

Group 8

• More beautiful grounds - natural/native
• (1) Totally different building - large, light, sanctuary space for 400
• RE director greets children - educational wing
• Large reception area - information area - attractive
• Male/couple as minister - preaching today
• (1) Educational center on Division Street near bus stop
• Personal growth courses for members/non-members
• Appeal to whole community
• Central space for coffee, etc.
• Outside space inviting; can meet outside
• Dynamic/appealing whether activity or learning experience or worship or social interaction
• (6) Sense of belonging/contribution/giving/receiving
• Piano and choir music - instrumental too
• (1) Participatory worship service
• Order of service with all week's activities
• Lots of new people and long time friends
• Van to pick up people who don't drive

Group 9

• Beautiful bus stop with nice big crosswalk, and a trail to the church
• Bike rack
• Patio covered with little tables and chairs
• Hallway widened
• Lunch after services
• (1) Two-story RE addition with elevator and indoor play space
• Sanctuary bigger to allow one service
• My future kids walking to Sunday School
• (1) No B&G - other structure in its place?
• Homeless shelter
• Sweat lodge with or without 'shrooms
• More visible location with parking or on verge of moving with Sunday restaurant or café
• Greetings and farewells
• Choir-led services
• Coupled minister
• (1) My kids have their own social circuit at church
• Church shuttle bus with use by affiliated groups

Group 10

• Multiple-age activities
• Huge wooded lot centrally located on a bus line
• (1) Covered bike shed - secure
• (6) One service
• One Sunday school
• (2) Lunch after the service, concurrent with activities, meeting
• Large eating area (multi-purpose)
• People dedicated to aesthetics, maintenance of physical space
• (3) Large foyer, wide halls
• Current space with bridge (enclosed rooms) to annex
• Road vacated
• (3) B&G is expanded - community space
• Dance floor
• Kitchen
• Stage
• Day programs for children/elderly
• (1) Gardens - native plants, vegetable, flower, natural (sustainable), labyrinth
• (3) Close ties with sister church/annual exchanges
• Larger worship area
• Storage
• Bulletin boards
• Communication focal points
• Buildings also being used by church and community
• Lots of different kinds of music
• Art work
• (1) Theater productions
• (3) Full-time DRE with professionally paid staff
• Youth-led service
• 2 + ministers
• (1) Youth choir/orchestra
• (3) BIG youth program (involved parents)
• Adult RE and children's RE (before service)
• Everyone contributes to work
• Good relationship to neighborhood
• Large group outings + van
• Small interest groups
• Easy communication about participating in activities
• Gym - shared physical activities - games
• Community swimming pool
• Ice-skating rink
• (1) Sharing
• People aware of needs of others
• (2) People's absences are noted
• Annual picnic with everyone there
• (1) Kids tell parents "We've got to go to church today
• Great playground
• Sports field - base ball
• Physical space very accessible
• Wonderful sound system
• Connected to greater community
• (15) Financially sound
• Money to share
• Give out grants
• Loving and effective relationship with other UU congregations
• Known as a place that provides help
• Outreach to areas with no UU
• (2) Campus ministry to TESC/SPSCC/St. Martin's
• Services on internet
• Church band

Group 11

• Minister is connected to people, knows people
• (1) Services by people who have a passion in life who explain how than passion has affected their life
• More potlucks in a well equipped kitchen
• More of the arts evident in church: visual art and theater
• After church small discussion groups
• More college students attend lots of outreach
• Better financing/organization
• Whole new architectural plan; totally rebuilt
• (6) New RE complex at the site of the annex
• Moved DRE out of the closet - has a new office
• DRE is connected with the youth program
• (1) Greater involvement of the church in the community in an important social way
• (1) Big choir, and children's choir
• Some racial diversity
• Knowing everyone I saw
• Instrumental music
• (2) Large area for coffee - greenhouse over patio area
• Between 5 and 10 memorial services have happened
• Church experiences more passages, wider diversity of ages, more people
• Bus service helps people get here
• Raining on bicycle rack
• Alternative school on site

Group 12

• Same church - more open space - remodeled
• Up-to-date easily accessible info. For all groups
• More emphasis on functionality vs. aesthetics
• Same design except 2nd story over n. wing - new location for more parking
• Garbage screened or enclosed
• Weed patch in front landscaped - flowers
• (2) Flowers
• Fruit trees, all around and garden - fruit trees and veggies to those in need
• Annex demolished an rebuilt for RE with covered and connected walkway to church
• Parking garage below annex to come up to level of hill
• (1) Candlelit, quiet chapel - sacred space (not part of our sanctuary)
• (1) Closeness - warmth - friendship - community
• More counter space in Kitchen
• Minister on steps - welcomes all
• Library
• Nicer nursery
• Church bus picks up parishioners
• Female minister (drives bus?)
• (1) Sunday afternoon activities - diverse activities that promote closeness
• Different and regular dinner activities that include families and children
• Memorial wall
• (1) Permanent shelter for homeless
• (1) Larger sanctuary
• Minister giving nearly every service/ participatory worship services
• Kid's close friends here
• Adult RE
• (2) Talk back after service
• Kids' activities outside church, like Kids' Dinners for Eight

Group 13

• (1) Vegetable garden/fruit trees
• Memorial garden
• (1) Elderly community housing
• (1) Larger community area/foyer
• More sanctuary/RE space
• Completely different space
• Baskets overflowing at offering
• Community center aspect - all times - youth hand out
• (2) Full time DRE - ½ assistant, and youth DRE ½ time
• Joyful volunteers
• Strong emotional presence at service
• (4) Music - all kinds
• Active children's part of service
• Older children outside doing active things - car wash, picnics
• Series of lectures - thematic messages
• UU heritage in lectures
• (6) Intellectually gratifying
• (1) Kids are excited about RE
• (1) Endowment fund - helps with youth scholarship, conferences, retreats, seed money for future members
• (2) Fireside chat room/ library
• Institutional kitchen - 2 dish washers
• After church potlucks/picnics
• Remember/recognize members in need during service - appropriate cares & concerns

Group 14

• Choir loft
• Flower beds, beautiful landscape, no ivy
• Enough room for RE
• (4) Sister congregation - smaller family - individual involvement
• expansion - not a "split"
• (1) Every Sunday, service followed by lunch and then various work parties, committee meetings
• RE by volunteers - many members involved
• (2) Gallery wall commemorating our heroes and history/department members
• Adult RE, intellectual stimulation (opportunity for adult RE and worship service)
• (1) Travel - people who lived on bus route or within bike or walking distance used this mode. Sufficient Parking for rest
• Teen involvement - relevant/interesting