Friday July 15, Sat., July 16 & Sun., July 17
The Search Committee has exciting news to share: we’re ready to present a candidate for Minister for Youth, Young Adults, and Emerging Ministries – Hannah Turner! Hannah has a business undergraduate degree and a seminary degree from Fuller, experience with social media and web design, and a warm, inviting presence that we know will nurture great community among youth and young adults in our congregation!
What is Candidating?
Candidating is the process by which a congregation calls a new settled pastor. The search committee recommends a person they feel is best suited to the role from among the applicants, but they’re not “hired” until the congregation votes to call them as a pastor. The candidating weekend is a schedule of events offering opportunities for the congregation to get to know the candidate prior to the congregational vote. For Hannah, we will have a zoom social hour on Friday, July 15; a lunch and Q&A for the congregation on Saturday, July 16, along with an afternoon youth and families event and an evening young adult event; she’ll preach during the service on July 17, and we’ll hold the congregational meeting immediately following the service to vote on calling her to the role.
Schedule of events
Zoom Social Hour – Friday, July 15 – 4:30-5:30 Pacific
Jeanne Strauss, the chair of the search committee, will host a Zoom social hour to meet Hannah and her fiance Bailey. This is an opportunity for those who live elsewhere, those with compromised immune systems, those travelling, and anyone else who won’t be able to join in-person events during the weekend to get to know Hannah and her fiance Bailey in a casual setting.
All Church Lunch and Q&A – Saturday, July 16 – 11am-1pm
Everyone is invited for Poulet boxed lunches and a chance to get to know Hannah out on the church lawn. We’ll host a Q&A (with microphones) so you can ask any questions you might have, share your hopes and ideas for youth and young adult ministry, and get excited for the congregational meeting on Sunday. All ages are welcome to this event—if you know you’re coming, please let Louise ([email protected]) know so we can plan for the right number of lunches, but if you don’t RSVP, please do come anyway!
Youth Ice Cream & Popsicle Social – Saturday, July 16 – 4-5:30pm
Middle and high school youth and their families, along with youth mentors and leaders, are invited to Rev. Kelly’s backyard for a special chance to meet Hannah in a smaller, youth-focused setting. Bring yourself and your curiosity, share your ideas for what you’d like youth group to be, ask your questions about Hannah’s story, and start building community.
Pro tip to youth who’ve been confirmed: you can vote in the congregational meeting on Sunday!
Rev. Kelly’s address is 1408 Carleton St in Berkeley, near Dwight and Sacramento. It’s a dark blue house with white trim—you can come straight up the driveway and into the yard by walking past the detached garage. Masks are optional outdoors but please bring one in case you need to go inside to use the bathroom. If you have dietary restrictions please let me know so I can have the right treats! Parents: you’re welcome to come along and meet Hannah, and you’re also welcome to drop your youth off and come back at 5:30 for pickup, either way. If you’re dropping a youth off, please either walk them in or text Rev. Kelly to make sure we connect!
Young Adult Campfire and S’Mores – Saturday, July 16 – 7-8:30pm
Young adults are invited for a campfire in Rev. Kelly’s yard to get to know Hannah in a smaller setting on Saturday evening! We’ll have a campfire and s’mores, including homemade marshmallows, and we’ll have both non-alcoholic drinks and some ciders. BYO if there’s something you are really excited about sharing. (Under-21 crowd will stick to non-alcoholic as per usual!) Bring your questions, share your ideas for young adult ministry in Berkeley, help get Hannah up to speed on the history of young adult community, and dream big about what’s coming next!
Please also come on Sunday to vote in the congregational meeting!
Rev. Kelly’s address is 1408 Carleton St in Berkeley, near Dwight and Sacramento. It’s a dark blue house with white trim—you can come straight up the driveway and into the yard by walking past the detached garage. Masks are optional outdoors but please bring one in case you need to go inside to use the bathroom. If you have dietary restrictions please let me know so I can have the right treats!
Sunday Worship – Sunday, July 17 – 10-11ish am
Hannah will preach during Sunday worship to give us one more chance to get to know her and a little more of her own faith and commitments. Rev. Kelly will be there to lead the service as well. Plus, the service will feature special guests during the children’s time—two adults and two birds!
Congregational Meeting – Sunday, July 17 – 11:15am
Led by our congregation’s moderator and the chair of the search committee, this meeting is for the purpose of voting to call Hannah Turner as our new Minister of Youth, Young Adults, and Emerging Ministries. They’ll present Hannah formally to the congregation, take any further questions (although hopefully folks will have already asked most of them earlier in the weekend), then send Hannah out of the room for discussion and voting. Anyone who has joined the congregation formally as a member or associate member can vote in this meeting, and non-members are very warmly welcomed to attend and participate in questions and discussion. This is a very important part of the life of our congregation, so please attend if you are able!
Voting will take place in person, so unfortunately those who are not able to come in person will not be able to vote. However, if you wish to vote outdoors, provision will be made for that to be possible. Simply come to the lawn at 11:15 to participate by voting outdoors.