With each change of season come new possibilities! We invite you to investigate the possibilities available to congregational leaders in Prairie Star District by reading our newsletter from beginning to end. Follow the links to read it all. More details available on our web site at www.psduua.org
We always appreciate your comments and suggestions for the newsletter. Click on the "email the editor" link in the menu on the left to send us a message.
One of the big changes in the district staff this fall has been in the area of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Sherry Warren, PSD's longtime Youth and Young Adult specialist, has moved on to an exciting new chapter in her life. [Keep reading to find out more.]
We thank Sherry for all of the work she did over the last five years as our Youth and Young Adult specialist. Among other things, Sherry was instrumental in getting the Midwest Youth Leadership School up and running; she instituted a series of Social Justice gatherings for youth around the district; she worked with young adult programming in our district and beyond; she consulted with a number of congregations and religious educators on their programs, and she was involved in the creation of Camp StarTrail, where she has worked with the youth and young adults for the last three years. ...
Each year PSD honors the exceptional volunteers who keep UUism alive and well on the prairie. This year it could be someone from your congregation.
To nominate someone, check out the award criteria and print out nomination forms which are available at www.psduua.org/Awards. Nominations are due by January 31.
Who in your congregation deserves to be honored?
Small Congregation Conference
Seeds for the Sowing
Join us in Des Moines, Iowa, November 4-5, for "Seeds for the Sowing," a two-day conference specifically designed for congregations with fewer than 150 members. Featuring a keynote speaker, workshops, and networking.
The mission of the Heritage and Archives Committee is evangelical. We believe well-told stories of our regional past can attract new members and enliven the commitment of current ones.
Join us in this work! Post your congregation's history on its Web site. Research the UU past in your own locality. Create videos and other presentations. Use your imagination!
Committee members are experienced in these pursuits. We have produced video documentaries, put on plays, and conducted seminars in video production. We will be glad to help you.
Contact: Victor Urbanowicz, jvurban [at] comcast [dot] net
Great New Resources in Young Adult Ministry
by Nancy Combs-Morgan
Kayla Parker the UUA's Campus Ministry Associate in our national office has been working diligently on updating resources for a congregational guide to campus ministry. This new resource is "Being More Visible, Changing More Lives," (http://www.uuworld.org/news/article/187348.shtml).
Kayla and I have been working on a webinar for the MidAmerica "MidSize Mania" on new ideas in young adult ministry. She shared with me some of the best practices for a sustainable and engaging campus ministry outreach. Top of the list is to make sure that your congregation makes an intentional plan to support your campus ministry group over time, and, when possible, having a staff person, or talented lay leader, to make a commitment to work with your campus ministry group. ...
Prairie Star is blessed with tremendous congregational youth advisors, who have asked folks to save the dates for two youth conferences on the horizon. Youth conferences PSD is aware of are listed at http://www.psduua.org/Youth/Events.
News of PSD People and Congregations
A PSD congregation moved to a new building; congregations are working on immigration issues and adding second services and training OWL facilitators. A former PSD minister with an unusual avocation made the news.
UUAMP, a new organization, promises networking, resource and idea sharing, professional development and collegiality to UU's who are committed to the growth of their congregation.
Are you stuck? Out of ideas of how to grow and refresh your membership? There is member of UUAMP who can help you. Is your congregation growing like gangbusters, with a great approach to membership? There is a member of UUAMP who can learn from your experience.
More information, including how to get involved and a comprehensive list of membership resources is available at: http://www.uuamp.org/.
Prairie Star District is a growing community of healthy, vital congregations in covenantal relationship with one another, transforming ourselves and our world by living our Unitarian Universalist principles. One of nineteen districts of the Unitarian Universalist Association, we serve almost 70 congregations in the Upper Midwest. We have three full time staff people and three part time program and support staff members who work with many volunteers to assist congregations. To learn more about us, see our Web site.
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One of the big changes in the district staff this fall has been in the area of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Sherry Warren, PSD's longtime Youth and Young Adult specialist, has moved on to an exciting new chapter in her life. [Keep reading to find out more.]
Each year PSD honors the exceptional volunteers who keep UUism alive and well on the prairie. This year it could be someone from your congregation. 
