Accomplishments


 * GROWING SPIRITUALLY THROUGH WORSHIP, MUSIC, AND ART**

WORSHIP
 * 2009 Holiday Pageant was created by our youth group & performed by our children
 * Rev. Charlie Kast returns with memorable service “Love -- the Number One Commandment”
 * Installation ceremony and celebration for our new minister Rev Maj Britt Johnson
 * Ordination of our former intern minister, Patty Hanneman
 * Services connected by monthly themes
 * Worship Associates program started
 * 10 minutes of inspiring music added before worship starts: singing (Hymn Sing) alternated with Instrumentals (Gathering Music)

MUSIC
 * Two new groups formed to perform at services -- WomenSinging & UUGrass
 * Children’s and Youth Choirs, and Community Church Singers singing more often
 * October -- Iolanthe by Gilbert & Sullivan spectacularly performed
 * December -- Missa in Tempore Belli by F. J. Haydn, performed by Adult Choir accompanied by a 13 piece ensemble. Also performed at Croasdaile Village Retirement Village
 * January -- Adult Choir and other’s participation in MLK Jr. Day festivities at the1st Baptist church
 * March -- Wonderful and memorable music commissioned for Maj Britt's installation written by Glenn Merhbach and performed by the Folk by Four
 * March -- U-Ukes -- fun, new ukulele group started
 * April -- Exciting Spring Music Gala Synesthesia -- Music in Green & Blue
 * May -- Randall Thompson's Peaceable Kingdom presented by Adult Choir
 * June -- Peaceable Kingdom, and other choral and solo pieces, performed at Carol Woods Retirement Community

ART
 * Children's summer art displayed and sold to add to Pennies for Peace -- children's summer Faith in Action project
 * Metal winged sculpture installed in the courtyard
 * Art on our walls –- varied, incredible high quality mixed media


 * EXPLORING & SHARING OUR FAITH**

COVENANT GROUPS
 * Leader training at Small Group Meeting Institute in The Mountain retreat center attended by three of our Covenant Group facilitators
 * Community dinner & tryout of Covenant Groups sponsored by Covenant Groups leaders
 * Covenant Groups program growing significantly
 * Monthly First Sunday Family Dinner – RE & Small Group Ministry Program sponsored to help families get to know each other.

OTHER ADULT EXPLORATION
 * Spiritual Centering Class and Building Your Own Theology courses offered
 * Meditation Workshops offered
 * Friday Lunch Discussion Group started to share thoughts on current issues -- morphed into Lectio Divina
 * Outdoor Connections trips expanded for those who find wonder and community in nature
 * Spiritual Exploration for Adults (SEA) sessions every Thursday night starting in September


 * DEVELOPING OUR FAITH IN THE NEXT GENERATION**

CHILDREN AND YOUTH
 * Children’s RE program for 2008-9 theme was UU History (for 2009-10 it is Our Jewish and Christian Heritage)
 * Our Whole Live (OWL) sexuality education classes for 4th-5th Grade added and weekend sessions for 10th-12th grade students continued
 * OWL training of additional teachers to cover the growth in the program
 * New Coming of Age program for 9th grade started
 * Middle School Movie Night added to the regular program
 * Heifer International is the RE Summer Faith in Action project -- Children’s art project is about animals

YOUNG ADULTS
 * UNC Campus group continues its energy & success
 * Marion Hirsch (our Director of Religious Education) was invited to speak on our campus ministry program at two national denominational events
 * Sent UNC Campus Ministry Co-chairs to General Assembly to foster future leaders
 * Two graduates of our program, Sean Hosea (Campus Group) and Tamzin Mitchell (High School Group), are attending Starr King School for the Ministry


 * COMING TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY**

CARING AND CONNECTING
 * Caring Ministry reorganized; added Pastoral Visitors program
 * After church community gathering revitalized by the Membership Committee
 * "One Small Step" volunteering program initiated
 * Affinity groups thriving (Women’s Circle, Senior Men, Achievers, etc.)
 * New member process re-designed – now once per month orientation sessions
 * "Membership Hospitality Month" in May helped us focus us on being more welcoming to visitors
 * First online newsletter issue delivered

HAVING FUN
 * Shelter Neck Family Retreat was held for the third year
 * Flaming Chalice softball team returns again
 * 5th Annual Women's Circle Beach Trip at Holden Beach


 * MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD**

CONNECTING WITH OUR VALUES
 * Economic Justice in Hard Times -- a well attended 2009 Summer Straley Series
 * Youth trip to Nicaragua: –- 5 youth participated
 * Orange County Industrial Areas Foundation -- participated in and supported this group as it changed to Orange County Organization Council (now renamed to Justice United)
 * Freedom Rider Historical Marker in place (Part of Charles Jones’ history): strongly supported motion at Chapel Hill Council meeting.
 * Community Service Ministry is new name for Social Concerns Committee

ACTING ON OUR VALUES
 * 2008 International Human Rights Award given to Peggy Misch by The Human Rights Coalition of NC. Carrboro Town Council names 12/9/08 "Peggy Misch Day"
 * Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of the NC’s highest honors, awarded to Dan Pollitt by Gov. Beverly Perdue for a lifetime of “integrity, learning and zeal,”
 * Habitat built 2 homes with coalition of other faith groups and raised our share of needed financing
 * Inter-Faith Council kitchen group prepared/served three meals per month
 * Youth/adult work team trip New Orleans – 12 youth and 5 adults.
 * OCOC (now Justice United - see above) sponsored session on Grass Roots organizing in a Congregation attended by Maj-Britt and other members
 * UU Quilters complete stoles for Children's Choir and quilts for Habitat home owner
 * Energy Action Taskforce (now ECO: Energy COmmittee) provides home energy audits and LED Christmas light sale
 * 100-Ton Challenge group: 10 families reported saving 2.8 Tons of CO2 and 4860 gallons of water
 * The Sins, a Burmese refugee family supported by us since July, 2007 most found jobs & moved into a larger rental unit. Their children doing well in school and their son with cleft palate has been getting free help at UNC hospital

SUPPORTING OUR VALUES > (raised over $2,000)
 * Community Church outreach gifts totaled over $44,600
 * Fair Share gifts to our denomination total $26,180
 * CROP Walk raised over $3,800 with 23 Walkers
 * Share the Plate – added as regular program on selected Sundays –greatly exceeded giving expectations
 * Schools Supplies Project greatly exceeded our goals
 * Moncure workers strikers supported by congregation ended strike with contract which included concessions from owners

CONNECTING WITH OUR DENOMINATION
 * Grief and support for our two sister churches in Knoxville expressed in many ways after 7/26/08 tragic shooting in Tennessee Valley UU Congregation sanctuary
 * Thomas Jefferson District 2008 Fall Leadership Conference held at our church –we hosted 85 people from 27 congregations
 * UU Community of Central NC new cluster organization formed – we were founding members
 * Environmental Action Taskforce initiated collaboration with ERUUF's Green Earth Ministry
 * Association Sunday service held for the second time (as did half of our District's congregations)


 * MOVING AHEAD AS A CONGREGATION**

OUR STAFF
 * Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson completes her first year as our settled minister
 * Staff retreat held in January with our District Executive, Annette Marquis
 * Tifani Henke (our Membership Coordinator) attended Facilitator Training at the Dispute Settlement Center
 * Al Zaranka joined as church pianist and active member
 * Wren Davison joined us as RE Assistant

OUR SPACES
 * Building Team finished their work; resolved flooding/mold problem in Commons
 * Refurbished Manse now used for religious education, meetings and rental space
 * Buildings and Grounds Team fixed numerous "little problems" remaining from the renovation project

OUR GOVERNANCE
 * Start-up Ministry Workshop led by Eunice Benton (Mid-South District Executive) attended by Maj-Britt, the Board, and other leaders
 * The Board approved Committee Charters for most committees
 * Governance Study Taskforce inviting members into process to rewrite our Statement of Purpose

OUR TECHNOLOGY
 * New projector purchased -- usable in daylight in the Sanctuary and other rooms. It's already been part of at least a dozen group presentations
 * New PCs installed for our DRE and Office Administrator. Maj-Britt's laptop was upgraded for video and for a dedicated confidential backup device.
 * New network attached storage installed to replace two 6 year old and nearly 5 year old servers. The new device uses less than 1/10 the power of the old devices and provides much better backup/recovery and file sharing capabilities.
 * The preferred vendor final for our church management software was chosen after a lot of work by many people, IconCMO. Staff and ITS group members attended Church Management Software training sessions live and via teleconference (using the Planar DLP projector). Our test data has been loaded on the IconCMO service for testing.

OUR FINANCES
 * “Sharing A New Beginning” the 2009 Annual Stewardship Drive resulted in increased, balanced 2010 budget
 * Autumn Elegance services auction community event raised over $12,000
 * Bylaws amendment passed to establish an endowment fund and appoint a committee to manage and nurture it