In Care Candidates Receive Ministerial Fellowship!

Friends, I just returned from an intense and wonderful week at the Unitarian Universalist Association in Boston with the Ministerial Fellowship Committee. Each year new ministers who have seen the MFC in the last year serve as a Liaison to Candidates on each of the three panels. I want to send a sincere congratulations to our Metro New York candidates-- welcome to ministerial fellowship! Their news is their own to share, but please celebrate their achievement and bless their ministries! Also, I have a lot to share about the process to help support and advise you. Looking forward to sharing.

With gratitude to serve, Lissa

February In Care In Covenant Event Update

Dear In Care In Covenant,

I'm hoping this semester is off to a great start so far! It was wonderful to be together last week. I'm looking forward to seeing you at our upcoming events! Check out the updated scheduling information about David Pettee's visit and Sarah From's Self Care and Time Management Workshop bel

ow. I hope to see you Friday Feb

ruary 10th, 1-3 pm at All Souls for our Memorials workshop! Sorry for any time confusion. As always, please RSVP for events.

Warmly,

Rev. Lissa Gundlach

UPCOMING FEBRUARY and MARCH EVENTS:

February 10th (Friday) 1-3 pm

All Souls Church

Memorial Service Workshop

Come learn about the process of planning and officiating memorial services.

February 22nd, (Wednesday) 7-9 pm

Union Theological Seminary

Fellowship and Conversation with Rev. Michael Tino of the UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester

With "Justice General Assembly" around the corner, our Association has learned a lot about witness and accountability. How can this inform our prophetic ministry? How can you develop a prophetic voice that is authentic, accountable and anti-oppressive? Why would you want to?

March 9th (Friday) 1-3 pm

Union Theological Seminary

Rev. David Pettee Visits

Visit with Rev. David Pettee director of Ministerial Credentialing at the UUA. Come ask David all of your questions about the credentialing process in UU ministry! He is here to guide and support you on this journey. If you would like to make an appointment with David after we meet let me know.

March 30th, 1-4 pm at All Souls Church

Teach us to Number Our Days:

Time Management and Self Care in Spiritual work

with Sarah B. From

of Do Your Best Work

• Identify the unique time management & self care challenges of spiritual workReframe work/life balance as a practice of presence and intention
• Unearth practical strategies for optimizing your time, energy and attention

please RSVP to Lissa by March 15th

In Care In Covenant Calendar

January In Care In Covenant Update

Happy New Year In Care In Covenant!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! It is a particularly joyful as well as busy time of the year in the ministry! To all of you seminarians-- hope you are enjoying your break! Enjoy your time off with some well earned rest and relaxation! Also, I hope you are using this time to connect with your mentors or circles of support. Take a visit to your home church or sponsoring congregation and let them know how you are doing. Perhaps you can inquire about preaching there or offering a program this summer if you are headed home at that time. I hope too you are taking this time to forge ahead with your UU ministry process paperwork and perhaps even that MFC reading list. Some of you are working on your paperwork to see the Regional Subcommittee on Candidacy in April and the Ministerial Fellowship Committee in March-- remember to reach out to those who have gone before for support and encouragement. Myself and others are here to cheer you on, help you prepare and share any resources that might be helpful. Stop by and see me here at All Souls or give me a call if it's been awhile since we've chatted.

As January begins, I think ahead to February when seminarians will be headed back to campus and beginning the spring semester. As you're thinking about your winter schedules, please consider the following opportunities for learning and growth:

“Running into a New Year"- Setting Intention and Purpose for 2012
Saturday, January 14th, 1-3 pm, All Souls Church

Beyond the language of unsustainable “New Year’s Resolutions,” how can we witness the passage of one year and renew intention as we move into another? Join me in an opportunity to creatively explore the joys and struggles of 2011 and uncover possibilities for growth and change in 2012.

Welcome Back Fellowship and Worship
Wednesday, January 31st, 6:30 pm at Union Theological Seminary (AD 116)

Roots and Wings: A Survey of Unitarian Universalist History and Theology
Thursdays, 7-9 pm
Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23 -European Roots
March 1, 8, 15, 29- American Wings
Come join a learning community to deepen your knowledge of Unitarianism, Universalism, Unitarian Universalism and faith. The month of February will focus on our Eastern and Western European roots. In March, we'll move to American soil, getting to know the Transcendentalists, humanists and beyond. Please reply to this email to reserve a spot and a reading packet. All sessions in the Ware Room at All Souls.

Friday, February 10th 3-5 pm
Rites of Passage: Memorials All Souls Church
Come join me for an opportunity to learn about the process of planning and officiating a memorial service in the Unitarian Universalist tradition. Please RSVP.

Small Group Ministry At All Souls:
Small Group Ministry is a new way of doing church that promotes connection and spiritual depth. You are welcome to join winter/ spring groups at All Souls starting in February. Joining a small group can help you to build connection with other UUs as well as learning small group facilitation skills essential for your growth in ministry. Register online here: bit.ly/allsoulssmallgroups To learn more about Small Group Ministry and its role in congregational life, an additional small groups skills-building follow up seminar will be held this spring.

Many blessings to you as you begin this new year! I know 2012 will be another year full of meaning and ministry!

As always, I'm grateful to serve as your In Care, In Covenant coordinator! Looking forward to seeing you in this new year, and don't hesitate to give me a call or stop by!

With love,

Rev. Lissa Gundlach

December News and Holiday Party

Dear In Care In Covenant,

I hope this email finds you well!! Although I haven't been in touch on this list for awhile, I've seen many of you and have followed your lives with curiosity and loving admiration for all you do for our world and our faith. With the springing forth of the "Occupy" movement for economic justice, I've been especially proud of how Metro NY seminarians have been involved in the movement in creative and meaningful ways.

As we move into December, I know it is a very busy time in the year! In seminary, I know your thoughts are turning towards the hard work of the semester's ending and the tasks of a life in ministry. Some are thinking towards finals, putting a finishing touch on projects, delivering sermons and preparing for papers and exams. In church, I know some are looking towards the winter holidays with a fair amount of both joy and stress!

Some members of In Care are preparing for major milestones in their ministry journey right now and I want to offer a special word of prayer and blessing. At this very moment, we hold several former Metro New York In Care ministry candidates in our thoughts and prayers as they prepare to go before the Ministerial Fellowship Committee. We send them our loving thoughts and prayers as they carry the flame of faith into their interviews and offer our denomination the blessing of their ministry. We hold several current In Care in our thoughts and prayers as they apply and interview for ministerial internships. To imagine a future in ministry is a challenging thing in itself, and to seek and find a meaningful place to begin that future after seminary is no small feat. We also hold members in our thoughts and prayers who are preparing CPE applications and going before career assessments.

At any moment in time, it is important to recognize and honor each of the hundreds if not thousands of small and large moments that compose a path to ministry. Each of you walk a path of particularities to your call and your life experience, but each of you too shares a common journey. At each step and each milestone, let's together honor the joy and struggle of this rich and meaningful journey we share.

I have met with many of you about your process and so enjoy getting to know you- your story and background, your hopes and gifts. These meetings are also helpful to stay accountable to your goals and help plan your seminary and field education opportunities appropriately. This December, I invite you to come check in with me about your process, whether by phone or in person. I also invite you to my home in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn on December 12th at 6 pm for a little holiday cheer.

In January, we'll start up with monthly In Care programming with worship, fellowship and guests. Beginning in February, I'll be teaching a UU history and theology class here at All Souls on Thursday evenings that you are welcome to attend. The spring will bring guest speakers on a number of different relevant topics in ministry as well as many milestones.

Last, if you're looking for a little Unitarian Universalist worship around the holidays, I'd like to welcome you again to All Souls for the holidays, especially these events:

Advent Guided Meditation series: Dec. 8 and 15th 6:00 pm in the sanctuary (I'm leading)

"The Readiness is All" Spiritual Values of Advent: Dec. 4, 11, and 18 (Rev. David Robb leads)

Christmas Eve Services (4, 7, 9, 11) and Christmas Day Services (11:15 am)

Be well and be in touch!

With gratitude to serve,

Lissa

Rev. Lissa Anne Gundlach

Assistant Minister

All Souls Church
A Unitarian Universalist Congregation

1157 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10075

September In Care In Covenant Newsletter

Hello and welcome back!!

I hope that you are settling into your year- arriving on campus, picking out classes, starting your internships, and gearing up for the beginning of the church year. I know it is a busy but exciting time at seminary and in the life of an intern. I am so glad to welcome you back and hear all of your summer stories of leading worship, adventures, and CPE!

I'm also looking forward to connecting with you soon if we have not met! Please make anappointment to connect and fill out this member form if you would like to participate in this year's program as a district seminarian or ministerial student. Forward this email along to anyone who is new and would like to connect as well.

This year's In Care, In Covenant program will have a few different focuses.

1.) Helping to motivate each seminarian or ministerial student to engage or advance in the ministerial credentialing process.

2.) Matching seminarians with district and congregational learning opportunities and ministry mentors whom can help provide guidance and accountability.

3.) Opportunities for discernment, leadership development and ministerial formation within a community of Unitarian Universalists, guided by district ministers and professional leadership staff.

4.) Experiential educational programming which focuses primarily on Unitarian Universalist Rites of Passage, Liturgy, Congregational Life and Preaching.

5.) Marking milestones such as entrance into a new phase of credentialing and graduation.

See you this fall!

Rev. Lissa Gundlach Andrea Lerner

In Care, In Covenant Coordinator District Executive

lissa@allsoulsnyc.org alerner@uua.org

Upcoming Fall Events:

Friday, Sept. 9 3:00 pm

UU Seminarian/ In Care Meet and Greet

the Pit at Union Theological Seminary

9/12, Monday 12:30 pm

UU Seminarian In Care Lunch

Union Courtyard (Bring your lunches), Rain Location, Pit

9/20 Tuesday 6:30 pm

Forrest Church Memorial Lecture

James Chapel

Meet in Chapel Lobby at 6:15 to sit together

10/5 Wednesday: 7:00-9:00 pm

Introduction to the Ministerial Credentialing Process

Union Theological Seminary, Location to be Announced

10/6 Thursday: 7-8:30 pm

2^nd Year Credentialing Conversation

Unitarian Church of All Souls, 2nd Floor Offices

10/7 Friday, 3:00-4:30 pm

3^rd Year Credentialing Conversation

Unitarian Church of All Souls, 2nd Floor Offices

Get Connected and stay informed:

Blog: In Care In Covenant on the web: http://uuicic.blogspot.com

Facebook: Friend Lissa Anne Gundlach, program coordinator. She will add you to the Metro NY District In Care In Covenant Seminarian Outreach group.

Join our Google Group: incare_incovenant@googlegroups.com

Fall In Care, In Covenant Calendar