Children are included in the first session, to send the message that Barnstable is a family church. During another session the children have their own class, making chalices of modeling clay while learning the story of the flaming chalice. Then they come back to the adult session and share the story with their parents. In addition to UU history and the history of our church, we discuss church activities, social action, and the openness and inclusiveness of our theology. We stress the commitment of time and money by church members, which makes our church successful.
Several members talk about their own involvement and why they do what they do.
A representative of the canvass or finance committees talks about money, including the range of pledges and average pledge. Savage discusses giving as a spiritual exercise. At the close of the last class, participants are invited to sign the membership book. The first class session starts by sharing religious pasts. The 10 Unitarian congregations in British Columbia have organized a council that expects to meet regularly, not as another level of bureaucracy, but to permit its congregations to share resources and ideas.