Volunteer
Our congregation runs through the work of our amazing staff and the work of several teams of collaborators. Below you can find lots of opportunities. From leading teams that make decisions for the congregation to helping with laundry and dishes, there are lots of important jobs that make our congregation run!
Sunday Mornings
Ushers/Greeters provide a friendly welcome on Sunday mornings and serve during worship. Contact Trevor Johnson for more information, or sign up to help on Sundays here.
Our Choir and Music enhances and inspires our worship experience. Rehearsals for the choir are Thursday evenings, 7pm. For choir and guest musician questions, contact our Music Director, Dr. Les Downs. Look for more information on the Music page for more information.
Our Faith Formation Classroom Collaborators work with children and youth in the Faith Formation program on Sunday mornings during the 11:15 worship service. There are many opportunities including: teaching K-12 children and youth, helping with our nursery, serving as a Coming-of-Age mentor, or helping with special events. Contact our RE Coordinators, Kim Collins or Jen Johnson, or visit the Family Ministry page for more information.
The Hospitality Team ensures that there is coffee and tea is available for every Sunday after both services. They also help clean up afterwards. Contact Trevor Johnson for more information, or sign up to help on Sundays here.
Kitchen Elves pick up used towels and tablecloths from the kitchens of the main building and 23 Edwin Place and return them cleaned and folded. There is no sign-up for this. Just pick up and drop off when the buildings are open.
Worship Associates assist our ministers and guest ministers with worship on Sunday mornings. They coordinate ahead of time and occasionally offer reflections. Contact Rev. Audette for more information.
The Safety Team keeps a working knowledge of all of our emergency procedures and maintains a presence during services on Sunday and other large events to ensure the security and safety of our congregation. The Chair of the team is Joe Penno. The staff contact is Donald Post.
Events and Fundraising
Our Annual Budget Drive is led by an amazing team that plans the focus of the drive, encourages our congregation to pledge, and manages the incoming pledges every year. Contact Will Jernigan or Susan Andrew.*
The UU Asheville Auction is our biggest fundraiser of the year. One opportunity is to join the planning committee and meet throughout the year to plan, book, advertise, solicit, create, etc. The other opportunity is to volunteer at the event doing set-up and clean-up. Either way, contact Auction Chair, Margaret MacAlister.*
The FUNraising Team plans events that reach beyond our walls into the community while helping to raise funds for the congregation. This team is organized by our board. Reach out to the Leadership Development Committee if you are interested. Often they need extra volunteers on the day of the event.
The Holiday Craft Fair is an opportunity for our congregations artists and craftspeople to sell their wares in the run up to the holiday season. A portion of each sale goes to the congregation. It is organized by Sammy Fong.*
The Legacy Circle Committee meets with members of the congregation to encourage them to include UU Asheville in their estate planning. Every 2-3 years we host a reception to recognize and thank members of the Legacy Circle. In addition, every 2-3 years we host an estate planning workshop. Contact Gene Lambirth for more information.*
Faith Formation
There are many opportunities to help with our Faith Formation programs for adults, children, and youth.
Opportunities to work with Adult Faith Formation include facilitating Soul Matters Groups, leading classes, and being part of the Adult Faith Formation Team which makes decisions about the direction of programming and plans classes. Contact Rev. Claudia for more information.
Our Faith Formation Classroom Collaborators work with children and youth in the Faith Formation program on Sunday mornings during the 11:15 worship service. There are many opportunities including: teaching K-12 children and youth, helping with our nursery, serving as a Coming-of-Age mentor, or helping with special events. Contact our RE Coordinators, Kim Collins or Jen Johnson, or visit the Family Ministry page for more information.
Justice Ministries
Our social justice focused programs have lots of opportunities to help make our congregation more just and ways to engage the wider community through service and action. Find more information on the Justice Ministries page about all of our amazing teams.
Facilities
Facilities and Maintenance Team members do minor repair work around campus. They save the congregation quite a bit of money each year by helping us avoid service calls. Contact the Director of Administration, Donald Post, if you’d like to participate.
The Landscape and Grounds Team works to improve the physical campus of the congregation as well as offer educational insight into native landscaping. They work to eradicate invasive species and incorporate pollinators, native plants, and food plants as suggested by the Green Sanctuary certification program. They are moving toward our goal of turning the campus from an intensively managed landscape with high input into a sustainable landscape with low input. They intend to become a resource to educate the congregation and community while beautifying the campus. They meet the first and third Saturdays of the month, 9-11 am, March-October. Contact Kate Jerome or Venny Zachritz.*
The Memorial Garden is a place members can inter the ashes of deceased loved ones. No urn is used, ashes go directly in the ground. Families often create their own service with guidance from our ministers. Our Memorial Garden Team keeps the garden and surrounding area clean and growing. They also locate and prepare the interment site. Contact Jody Watts.*
Leadership
Our Leadership Development Team (LDT) provides training opportunities for leaders as well as connects individuals with leadership opportunities in our congregation. Contact any member of the Leadership Development Team if you are interested in other leadership opportunities or training sessions at UU Asheville. Members are Venny Zachritz, “Graham” Graham, Wilma Oman, and Deanna Banks.*
The UU Asheville Board of Trustees serves the congregation by acting on behalf of the congregation in-between congregational meetings. The members are elected and meet monthly to meet the needs of our congregation. Contact the LDT if you are interested in board service.
The Financial Advisory Committee meets several times throughout the year to review financial reports, advise the Executive, and ensure compliance. Contact the LDT if you are interested in serving on this important committee. More information can be found here.
The Pastoral Care Team is a group of trained and caring individuals that look after the well-being of our congregation in conjunction with our lead minister, Rev. Audette. If you’d like to serve on this team, contact Rev. Audette or Jill Preyer.*
The Care and Connect Team works closely with our staff and other teams of our congregation to reach out to congregants who have lost touch with our community, to engage newcomers, to work on retainment of our members, and to connect those that live in retirement communities, nursing homes, or other care facilities. This team also organizes some special activities to foster connection across the congregation. Contact Trevor Johnson or Tory Schmitz.*