On Sunday, April 19th, the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) was pleased to announce our selected candidate to be the next settled minister at UUCH, Rev. Jaimie Dingus. Rev. Jaimie is a graduate of the Harvard Divinity School and is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist. She has most recently been an intern minister at the UU Church of Reading, MA. Rev. Jaimie has also served in several different ministerial capacities at various UU churches in the greater Boston area including student minister, hospital chaplain, prison chaplain, membership coordinator, children’s RE assistant, and communications director.
Please visit the website that Rev. Jaimie has established to introduce herself to UUCH. At this website you can become familiar with her background, listen to her introductory video, and hear examples of sermons she has given.
The announcement at last Sunday’s service contained remarks by each member of the MSC stating their perceptions of the qualifications, attributes, and gifts that Rev. Jaimie would bring to the ministry at UUCH. The each expressed their enthusiasm for the selection of Rev. Jaimie and their excitement for the congregation to meet her and learn about her exceptional gifts. If you missed last Sunday’s service, click here to view the recorded version.
The next two weeks will be a busy time at the church as each of you will have opportunities to get to know Rev. Jaimie during our virtual Candidating Weeks from April 20th through May 3rd. All the events and meetings will be held electronically due to the circumstances related to the global pandemic, but we feel confident that you will have adequate opportunities to become very familiar with her qualifications and talents. During these Candidating Weeks, the candidate will lead two Sunday services, April 26th and May 3rd, so you will have the chance to see her lead worship. On Sunday, April 26th, there will also be a town hall meeting for the congregation so we can all learn more about Rev. Jaimie together. If you would like to submit a question for Rev. Jaimie to address during the town hall meeting, please click here.
There will also be many other chances to talk with Rev. Jaimie during the Candidating Weeks. She will meet with the staff, the Board, the Council, and many of our church committees so she can learn about us and the work we are doing together. There also will be many “Coffee and Chat” Zoom meetings for congregational members who wish to virtually meet with Rev Jaimie in a smaller chat room to ask her questions and share their thoughts.
The following is the schedule for the open meetings of Candidating Weeks:
- Sunday, April 26 at 10:45 a.m. Sunday Worship led by Rev. Jaimie Dingus
- Sunday, April 26 at 12:00 p.m. Town Hall with Rev. Jaimie Dingus (If you would like to submit a question for the Town Hall, click here . )
- Tuesday, April 28 at 9:00 a.m. Coffee Chat with Congregation (led by Amanda S.)
- Wednesday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. Coffee Chat with Congregation (led by Susan C.)
- Thursday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m. Coffee Chat with Congregation (led by Betsy A.)
- Thursday, April 30 at 3:00 p.m. Coffee Chat with Congregation (led by LaDawn E.)
- Friday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m. Coffee Chat with Congregation (Led by Brad K.)
- Friday, May 1 at 5:30 p.m. Happy Hour with Congregation (led by Barbara H.)
- Sunday, May 3 at 10:45 a.m. Worship Service led by Rev. Jaimie Dingus
Coffee Chats and Happy Hours are limited to 12 participants and will require you to sign up. Please click here to select the date and time in which you would like to participate. Please take advantage of these times to get to know our candidate so you will be prepared for our final vote on May 3rd about whether to call Rev. Jaimie as our next settled minister.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the office , and we will get back with you. This is an exciting time for our congregation!