Who We Are

The Joan Lynch Memorial Bell in front of our building

We are a caring community of diverse individuals who come together to provide an environment that nurtures and educates our children, stimulates the study and practice of ethical and liberal religious thought, supports the creative spirit in us all, and demonstrates concern for the environment and the broader community.

UUFA Mission Statement

The Membership

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames (UUFA) has 273 members (as of October 2004), with a wide variety of religious backgrounds and theological philosophies. We welcome anyone interested in joining our community, including

Single people, couples, families
Children, college students, adults, seniors
Members of all ethnic groups
Heterosexual, bi-sexual, gay, lesbian and transgendered individuals and partners
Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Wiccans, humanists, atheists, and many others

Rainbow chalice The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames is a Welcoming Congregation. The Welcoming Congregation Program is a voluntary program for congregations, consisting of a series of workshops developed by the UUA. The goal of the workshops is to reduce prejudice by increasing understanding and acceptance among people of different sexual orientations.
See pictures of the wedding of Mark Kassis and Terry Lowman on September 2, 2007.

Sunday Services

Inspiration, intellectual stimulation, and fellowship are the cornerstones of our services. Readings and sermons draw from a variety of sources, including the world's religions and the humanities. Services offer a sense of fellowship through membership participation, singing, and dialogue.

Our minister, Rev. Brian Eslinger, generally leads three services each month; members lead the fourth.

Services are held at 9:00 and 11:00 am on Sunday mornings. The sermon topic is the same for both services. The hour between services allows time for socializing. From June through August, only one service is held at 10:00 am. Check the Sunday service schedule for details.

Children and Youth

We nurture and educate our children via

Infant and toddler care during services and special events
Religious education classes (preschool through high school)
Youth Groups (middle school and high school)
Coming-of-Age program for teenagers
A curriculum that covers UU history beliefs, world religions, Judeo-Christian heritage, peace and justice, and the interdependent web of life
Support for each child in his or her individual spiritual growth; no single theology is promoted
Youth outings and social groups

Infant and toddler care (up to age 3) is always provided during services, including during summer. Religious education for older children is available at one of the two Sunday morning services or both, depending on the age group, from September to May. During the summer, activities for older children may also be provided during Sunday service.

Check out the RE web pages, or contact our Director of Religious Education (292-5960) for more information.

The Campus Group (ISUUU)

There is an ISU Campus Group ISUUU which meets regularly. Contact the UUFA office or Rev. Eslinger for more information.

Activities

There is a wide variety of activities available to interested members, such as

Adult religious education
Men's and women's groups
Book discussion groups
Choir, children's choir, and folk music group
Social action group
Fundraising for local, national and international causes
Small potlucks in peoples' homes
Fellowship Circles
Providing Tuesday night meals for the Emergency Residence Project (the Ames homeless shelter)

(not to mention all the individuals and committees that keep our finances straight, maintain the grounds, repair the building, set up chairs for Sunday services, etc.).

Take a look at the groups web page for more information on many of these activities.

Pastoral Care

Our minister, the Reverend Brian Eslinger, is available for consultation about pastoral and spiritual concerns. Our Caring Committee also helps members in times of crisis or need.

This year we've revamped how we care for our UUFA community by introducing a caring network. A survey allowed everyone in the Fellowship to sign on for a role in our caring ministry. If you didn't get one of these surveys it is available here. Bring it in to the office and we'll add you to the database of helpers.

Caring for the larger community is another calling for our congregation. In this, too, we are trying to provide opportunities for everyone who would like to be involved. A second survey lists opportunities and contacts for a variety of activities.

Joining the Fellowship

Is Membership Required?

No. If you find yourself attending Sunday services or other activities at the Fellowship on a regular basis, we hope that you will consider becoming a member, but membership is not required for anything (except the office of Fellowship president, I would assume, but I am not even 100% sure of that).

How Does One Become a Member?

Membership is open to anyone 14 years or older who supports our Fellowship's activities. One becomes a voting member by signing the Membership Book, subject to recognition by the Board of Directors.

An introductory class for new members or prospective members is held every few months. Check the calendar, or contact Cindy Scholten for information.

What Does Membership Entail?

There are no legal obligations connected to membership. You gain voting rights for the larger issues that are put to a congregational vote, and you accept the moral obligation to support the Ames Fellowship and Unitarian Universalist Association.

The Fellowship pays annual dues for each member to our district and national association. This includes a subscription to the monthly magazine UU World.

Like all Unitarian Universalist congregations, the UUFA is completely self-supporting. Members donate their time and money to keep us going. Financial contributions from the members pay for salaries, mortgage, building upkeep, and everything else. Time contributions provide religious education, leadership, minor repairs and upkeep of building and grounds, office help, and much more (including this web site).

Thinking About Membership?

Whether you've been regularly attending the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames (UUFA) for a few months or a few years, you may feel it might be time to deepen your commitment to the UUFA by becoming a member. If you've decided that the UUFA is your spiritual home and you're ready to deepen your understanding of Unitarian Universalism, then you should consider our membership class.

What is the membership class?

Designed for people considering membership at the UUFA and information seekers, this class is offered on a weeknight over three consecutive weeks, or on a marathon Saturday session. During the class, you will:

Share personal religious or spiritual journeys
Learn about the history and traditions of Unitarian Universalism and the UUFA
Hear how you can become involved at the UUFA
Expand your circle of friends at the UUFA

What else is necessary to join?

Make a commitment to support the UUFA financially (a pledge)
Sign the membership book on New Member Sunday
Be formally voted into membership by the Board of Directors

For information about the dates of the next membership class, or to sign-up, please phone the Fellowship office 292-5960, or sign-up at the Visitors' Table on Sunday morning.

last updated: January 4, 2008
webmaster@uufames.org.