Unitarian Universalist Church West

The Art Gallery team arranges for art shows in UUCW’s Community Room Gallery.   Contact Carol Christ Hoffmann, Art Gallery Coordinator. See more information about the art gallery.

Unitarian Universalist Church West is a democratically-run organization. Our elected Board of Trustees serves as the congregation's governing body, and according to our Bylaws, the Board administers and manages the business of the church. Board members are elected at the congregational meeting that is held annually in May. Additional congregational meetings may also be called at other times for special votes or presentations.  Read More.

The Campus Committee ensures the repair, maintenance and enhancement of all UUCW properties, including land, equipment and furnishings.  Contact Chris Zamzow for more information. See informational page written by Chris.

Missa Brevis Pro Serveto

On this page you will find resources to help you study and practice Missa Brevis Pro Serveto on your own.  Choose from the following links:

• Pronunciation

  This section contains pronunciation guides for all seven movements. Ruben reads a word or two at a time and then gives you time to repeat it before moving on.

• Live Recording

  This is a live recording of Missa Brevis Pro Serveto from the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) 2010 Annual Meeting, complete with orchestra.

• Learning Your Parts

  Here you will find, courtesy of the First Unitarian Church of Victoria, each movement listed along with your voice type. The recording contains all parts with your particular part louder than the rest.

• How to Practice Missa Brevis Pro Serveto On Your Own

  Here you'll find some tips about how to practice at home by yourself, using these online resources and your score.

• Score

  It's best to practice with the score you use for rehearsals and performances -- but, if you forget it at church, you can download the files here.

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Learning Your Parts

Click the following link to go to the First Unitarian Church of Victoria's web site, where you will find recordings by voice type to help you learn your parts:

• Missa Brevis Pro Serveto practice files (note: this link opens in a new window)

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How to Practice Missa Brevis Pro Serveto On Your Own

Main strategy for practicing with the online resources:

1. Pick one movement to work on.
2. Listen to the live recording from the CUC, following along in your score.
3. Next, listen to the pronunciation recording a couple of times. You should feel comfortable with all words before moving on.
4. Finally, listen to the recording from Victoria.  The first time you listen, do not sing.  Instead, follow along in your score to make sure you are clear about where your notes are.  Listen again, following along with the words and notes in the score.  Finally, listen a few more times, singing along.

A few other tips

• It's a good idea to review the movements we worked on in choir rehearsal once or twice in the week following the rehearsal.
• You don't need to wait to start independent study of a movement until we have first worked on it in choir.  If you start a movement before we work on it as a group, you will learn more quickly in the rehearsal since you've already worked on it.
• Make sure you have your score with you when you practice at home.  If you don't have your score, you can download it on this page. Feel free to write notes to yourself in the score -- clues on pronunciation, warning signals for unexpected melodic lines, precarious page turns -- anything that might be helpful for you.
• Set realistic goals for yourself. Some people find it helpful to practice for short amounts of time every day. Other people may want to work for a longer period of time once or twice a week. Both approaches can be fine, but studies show that repetition is best for music learning.  Even if you grab an extra 5 or 10 minutes each time you check your email or Facebook or the weather to do a mini-study session on Missa Brevis it will pay off in a big way.

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Our Coffee Team arranges for volunteers each Sunday to make and offer coffee, tea and juice after worship services.  To help with this service of generous hospitality, contact Nyama Marsh.

The Committee on Ministry is a Board-appointed committee which works with our minister to monitor the relationship between all aspects of our congregation’s ministry with the aim of cultivating high-quality ministry to fulfill the congregation’s mission.  Contact Phil Kroner for more information.

The CommUUnity Connections Committee provides a the helping hand of tangible services like meals or rides for members and friends in time of need.  Contact Julie Toman for more information or click on the menu item to the left.

Denominational Affairs links UUCW and the larger UU movement through liaisons to the Southeast Wisconsin UU Council (SEWUUC), the Central Midwest District of the UUA, and the Unitarian Universalist Association.

The Earth Ministry Committee (a subgroup of the Social Action Council) works to affirm and promote the “respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part” (the UU seventh principle), and provides ways for UUCW members and friends to live sustainably and help our wider community do so as well.  For more information, contact Amy Taivalkoski or Dennis Briley, or see the Living Our Values page.

This committee is elected by the congregation to facilitate gifts, bequests and memorials to UUCW, and to manage our Endowment Funds and disperse earnings on an annual basis.  For more information, contact Erich Zuern.

The Finance Committee works with our Treasurer to arrange for safekeeping and accounting of church funds; to propose our annual budget, and to do current and long range financial planning; as well as monitoring expenses and collection counting teams.  For more information, contact Bill Nantell.

Greeters serve at our east and west doors before each worship service on Sunday to give a warm welcome to newcomers and members alike.   If you’d like more information, or to assist in generating a sense of a warm, caring community at UUCW on Sundays as a Greeter, contact Brad Harford.

The Lay Pastoral Care team works with our minister to provide a ministry of hope and caring so that no member of the congregation need suffer or struggle alone through life’s hard times.  Positions on the team open for application on a regular basis, and training is provided.  For more information, contact Vicki Brzeski, or the Rev. Suzelle Lynch, or see the Lay Pastoral Care page.

The Library Committee maintains the collection of books, magazines and audio-visuals relating to the church and its activities and operates a book exchange cart.  For more information contact Carolyn Lawrence or Becky Steffes.

This Committee researches and updates UUCW’s long range plan to help us implement our vision and mission.  For more information, contact Lew Cadkin.

The Membership Committee works with the UUCW Membership Coordinator to lead orientation classes for newcomers, facilitates involvement of prospective and current members, supports retention of members, and maintain records of members and friends. For more information contact Anne Deahl.

The Memorial Service Assistance Team is a group of volunteers whose mission is to assist the minister and grieving families in creating a meaningful, dignified, and supportive memorial service.  The Team is called upon to help by the Minister or the Administrative Coordinator after the family has asked for support with the Memorial Assistance.  The Team provides assistance with logistics and tasks and to help find additional volunteers to serve at the service.  For more information, contact Sue Wille.

The Nominating Committee is elected by the congregation to nominate candidates for UUCW offices. For more information, contact Jerry Mayhew.

The Personnel Committee ensures that basic practices and procedures related to employed staff are established consistent with UUCW bylaws, applicable state laws, and the values of our UU faith.  For more information, contact Mike Taylor.

Assists the Director of Religious Education in guiding our religious education programs for children and youth, and our young adult ministry. Council members serve as coordinators of individual “task forces,” in which they nurture a particular area of religious education, utilizing the support of the Director of Religious Education and additional volunteers. For more information, contact Kristen Tym or Kathy Bradshaw, or Maria O’Connor, Director of Religious Education.

The Social Action Council promotes, facilitates and coordinates congregational input into UUCW’s social action agenda.  The Council has six subgroups or task forces, each with their own projects:  Earth Ministry, Economic Justice Task Force, Global Justice and Peace Task Force, Habitat for Humanity, Interweave West, and Nicaragua Brigades.   The Social Action Council also oversees the Social Action Endowment Fund, and the Split The Plate outreach giving program.  For more information, contact Becky Steffes, or see the Living Our Values  page.

The Stewardship Committee helps encourage and develop a spirit of generous giving in church our church, and assists the Board and the various committees of the church in the stewardship of resources. The Annual Operating Fund Canvass is a subset of this committee. For more information, contact Scott Coleman.

Provides technical expertise and support to the staff and other entities within the church. Opportunities for hardware and software specialists, programmers and sound system technicians are available. For more information contact Kristen L. Weber.

Our usher teams collate and distribute orders of service, help pass microphones during our time of sharing Joys and Concerns, help collect the offering, and offer assistance to congregants who need hearing devices, large-print hymnals or chair cushions.  Ushers serve on a rotating schedule (every six weeks or so).  For more information, contact Jerome or Vickie Schuh.

The UUnity Circles Coordinating Team manages our small group ministry program at UUCW.  For more information, contact Patricia D’Auria or Susan Cadkin, or see the UUnity Circles page under Adult Spirituality.

The Web Team maintains UUCW’s web site and develops new website applications.  For more information, contact Ron Trilling.

The Worship Ministry Team works creatively and collaboratively with our minister, the Rev. Suzelle Lynch to shape and sustain high-quality worship services year-round at UUCW.  Team members serve as worship coordinators for pulpit guests and lay speakers, working with them and with the UUCW professional staff to create complete and inspiring worship services.  Team members also assist in developing new worship ideas and themes.  For more information, contact Jane Browne.