The activities and programs of Countryside Church UU (CCUU) are organized into five Ministries. Each Ministry encompasses events, committees, groups, councils, and is supported by staff and lay leadership. Ministries help people become involved in activities of interest and create connections among our many programs. Ministries support the work of CCUU and ensure that all our work is aligned with the mission, covenant, and principles & sources of Unitarian Universalism. Our Ministries are named to represent our congregational covenant, “we unite to strengthen the bonds of Kinship” and to promote our vision through Worship, Study, and Service. The Ministries exist to make that covenant live.
Each ministry has a staff lead to help represent and support the committees within that ministry. The committee chairs meet several times a year to share plans as the Ministry Council. The Vice President of the Board and the Minister co-chair the council and facilitate the meetings.
The current committee chairs are shown in parentheses next to each committee.
Spirit, Mind
The mission of the worship ministry is to provide a worshipful environment that provides opportunities to deepen the spiritual lives of all individuals and that strengthens the religious community at CCUU. The worship experience is enhanced by providing sermons, music, performance arts, and visual images throughout our worship services and in other settings within the church, such as meetings and events. The Sunday service is the weekly touchstone of our spiritual life. This ministry works with the direction of our called minister and professional music director and encourages all CCUU members to share their gifts and talents to expand and enrich the worship life for all.
Staff Lead: Minister
- Sunday Services (worship council and the minister)
- Choir/Music (Music Director Alison Vernon)
- Worship Council (Lois Phillips and the minister)
- Affirmations/Spiritual Journeys (Christine Organ)
- Vespers (worship council)
- Earth Rhythms Drum Circle (Nancy Frenk & Cindy Thornton)
Spirit, Mind, Body
The mission of Study Ministry is to create opportunities for the congregation and community to engage in meaningful lifespan learning experiences and to nurture, challenge and inspire people on their journey of personal development and spiritual growth.
Staff Lead: Minister
- Children’s RE (Rev. Karen Mooney, Interim RE Manager)
- Family Ministry
- Coming of Age
- Sr High Youth Group
- Young Adult Group
- Adult Faith Development (Susan Auld & Jeannie Cormier Scown)
- Open Forum Discussion (Vid Axel)
- AHA: Atheist, Humanist, Agnostic Discussion Group (Andrew Cranberg)
- Buddhist Study Group (Melanie Terbovic)
- Haiku Garden (Susan Auld)
- Journaling Circle (Juli Cicarelli)
- Book Discussion groups
- Book Circle: Gail Wisniewski
- Last Mondays: Barb Braje
- Reading Roundtable: Barbara Griggs
Countryside’s covenant includes our aspiration as a congregation to “unite… to promote human dignity… through service.” The Service Ministry is the home for committees and groups who are dedicated to living our UU values, through support of our members and through action beyond our four walls. There are opportunities to engage in congregational projects, programs and events that support the life of our congregation. We also actively seek to reach beyond the walls of Countryside through work in the areas of human rights and social, economic and environmental justice.
It is the vision of the Service Ministry that every member of Countryside Church will engage in meaningful service projects or activities, both within the church and reaching outside our four walls.
Staff Lead: Minister
- Justice Matters Committee (Bill Scown & Wendy Wittkamp)
- Green Sanctuary (open)
- Living the Welcoming Congregation (Dan Yokas & Nancy Frenk)
- Lay and Care Ministry (Ken Bobbe)
- Service Partner Fundraising Committee (Nancy Dempsey & Mari Van Meter)
- PADS meals (Karen Epps)
- Fair Trade Coffee Sundays (Yvette Johnson)
Community and Congregation
The mission of the kinship ministry is to ensure Countryside Church grows and has increasing impact on religious and social life in the Northwest suburbs by developing an atmosphere that is inclusive, welcoming, connecting, compassionate and respectful.
Staff Lead: Minister
- Membership (Tom MacTavish)
- Intro to CCUU & Path to Membership Classes (Siri Laurin, Tom MacTavish)
- Soul Connections Small Group Ministry (Rick Rayborn)
- Transitions (Kathy & George Motto)
- 40+ Kinship Group (Mary Beth Van Wijk), 40plus[at]ccuu[dot]org
- Sunday Hospitality – sign up online or contact the church office for more info
- Circle Suppers (Jeanie & Karl Michalec, Sue Montgomery)
- Feminine Divine Group (Barbara Griggs)
The mission of Foundations is to cultivate a vital future for the congregation and community through thoughtful stewardship of our financial resources, our personnel, and our environment.
Staff Lead: Congregational Administrator Laurie Lantz
Operations Committees/Programs:
- Building Facilities (Steve Black)
- Grounds Working Group (Siri Laurin)
- Memorials & Weddings Coordinator (Mari Van Meter)
- Calendar, Bldg Use (church office)
- Aesthetics (Lois Phillips)
- Audio-Visual (Jeff Phillips)
- IT/Tech Committee (Mike Gilley)
- Historian
- Communications (church office)
Board Committees/Programs:
- Finance & Budget (Board Treasurer)
- Endowment Committee (Ed Monson, Craig Wydell, Bob Anders, Kevin Christensen, Linda Segall)
- Nominating Committee, Nominations[at]ccuu[dot]org
- Personnel (Linda Berry)
- Stewardship (Board Treasurer)