share your time - volunteer at firstu
It takes everyone to keep a church going! If you're a parent with an hour or two to spare while your teen is at Coming of Age, a recent retiree excited to have time to share, a new friend with a driver's license, a high school student with volunteer hours to fill, or someone who's handy with a hammer, a spreadsheet, a trowel, or a talking point, we want your input! If you want to get more involved in the day-to-day running of your church, but you're not sure if you have the necessary skills, don't worry, as long as you've got curiosity and commitment, you can learn everything you need on the job.
Below, you'll find events, campaigns, and committees who need YOUR time, skills and solutions!
Check them out, and email renewal@firstunitarianottawa.ca if you're interested in taking part, or have questions about a specific posting! Remember to include the full title of the listing, along with your contact information, in your email. The Renewal Task Force will facilitate contact. Please allow us a few days.
Below, you'll find events, campaigns, and committees who need YOUR time, skills and solutions!
Check them out, and email renewal@firstunitarianottawa.ca if you're interested in taking part, or have questions about a specific posting! Remember to include the full title of the listing, along with your contact information, in your email. The Renewal Task Force will facilitate contact. Please allow us a few days.
Sunday Mornings
Ushers and Greeters Wanted
Do you like running into old friends, and making new ones? We're looking for a few more people to act as Sunday morning greeters and ushers. You would need to be available one Sunday every several weeks, depending on numbers. The only skill needed is a welcoming smile. We will teach you how to operate the elevator. Childcare is available before the service if you need it.
Do you like running into old friends, and making new ones? We're looking for a few more people to act as Sunday morning greeters and ushers. You would need to be available one Sunday every several weeks, depending on numbers. The only skill needed is a welcoming smile. We will teach you how to operate the elevator. Childcare is available before the service if you need it.
Help with Hospitality Hour
Now that we're offering coffee and tea after services again, our team would like a few more people to (a) help with set-up before each Sunday service (b) help serve tea/coffee and assist with clean-up afterwards. Volunteers traditionally sign-up about once a month (on a rotation basis). It's a great way to meet people. Childcare is available before the service if you need it while doing set-up.
Now that we're offering coffee and tea after services again, our team would like a few more people to (a) help with set-up before each Sunday service (b) help serve tea/coffee and assist with clean-up afterwards. Volunteers traditionally sign-up about once a month (on a rotation basis). It's a great way to meet people. Childcare is available before the service if you need it while doing set-up.
Snack Provider for Messy Church
Help prepare, serve and tidy up snacks for children under 8 at Messy Church (typically on the fourth Sunday morning of each month).
Snacks can be prepped before the service, and clean-up done after the service.
Help prepare, serve and tidy up snacks for children under 8 at Messy Church (typically on the fourth Sunday morning of each month).
Snacks can be prepped before the service, and clean-up done after the service.
Elevator/Lift Operators Needed
We would like to set up a group of Designated Elevator Operators for Sunday morning services. You must be willing to be trained, or already trained, in proper operation of the elevator and care of the keys. Hours are from 10am to approximately 12 noon, i.e., until the last congregant needing help with the elevator has left. You would be required once every several weeks, depending on number of volunteers.
We would like to set up a group of Designated Elevator Operators for Sunday morning services. You must be willing to be trained, or already trained, in proper operation of the elevator and care of the keys. Hours are from 10am to approximately 12 noon, i.e., until the last congregant needing help with the elevator has left. You would be required once every several weeks, depending on number of volunteers.
committees and teams
Join the Property Team
Do you have an eye for detail? The property committee wants you! We monitor the condition of our campus and building, identifying necessary mid- and large-sized repairs and upgrades, setting priorities among them, and working with staff to obtain price quotes. Our team meets every two months, or as necessary, normally during the day. A little experience going to Canadian Tire or Home Depot is all you need.
Finance Committee Members Needed
You don't need a finance degree, or deep skills with Excel, to join the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee recommends financial policies to the board, and develops the annual budget for their approval, plus we're responsible for FirstU's investment policy, and work with the Financial Manager to monitor the annual audit and keep track of FirstU's spending. If you've enjoyed attending the extra budget sessions before our AGMs, and want to get deeper into the nitty-gritty of FirstU's finances, we'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed high school math, you have the skills you need. We typically meet one evening per month, but there will be a task or two that need to get done between meetings.
Social Justice Action Network
Our group oversees many of First U Ottawa's social justice activities, such as work with refugees, the environment, mental health, poverty, global justice and more. We are looking for people who are interested in joining us in these activities; or in helping with the coordination of these groups.
It takes a few hours a month. Dates of meetings and events to be set.
Do you have an eye for detail? The property committee wants you! We monitor the condition of our campus and building, identifying necessary mid- and large-sized repairs and upgrades, setting priorities among them, and working with staff to obtain price quotes. Our team meets every two months, or as necessary, normally during the day. A little experience going to Canadian Tire or Home Depot is all you need.
Finance Committee Members Needed
You don't need a finance degree, or deep skills with Excel, to join the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee recommends financial policies to the board, and develops the annual budget for their approval, plus we're responsible for FirstU's investment policy, and work with the Financial Manager to monitor the annual audit and keep track of FirstU's spending. If you've enjoyed attending the extra budget sessions before our AGMs, and want to get deeper into the nitty-gritty of FirstU's finances, we'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed high school math, you have the skills you need. We typically meet one evening per month, but there will be a task or two that need to get done between meetings.
Social Justice Action Network
Our group oversees many of First U Ottawa's social justice activities, such as work with refugees, the environment, mental health, poverty, global justice and more. We are looking for people who are interested in joining us in these activities; or in helping with the coordination of these groups.
It takes a few hours a month. Dates of meetings and events to be set.
ADMIN OFFICE
We would like to bring back the Office Assistant Volunteers! If you are free one day a week from 10-2 and are interested in greeting visitors, answering phones, and assisting the staff with small tasks, then we want you! You will need basic computer literacy and experience with Microsoft Office, specifically Word.
Bottomless coffee and tea are available, as is a collegial and fun atmosphere. You'll enjoy working in the newly remodeled Main Office.
Bottomless coffee and tea are available, as is a collegial and fun atmosphere. You'll enjoy working in the newly remodeled Main Office.
occasional opportunities
Memorial Receptions Need Volunteers.
Memorial Receptions for First Unitarian members are held when requested. Most are on Saturday, Sunday or Friday. Our volunteers can choose to help with the set-up in Fellowship Hall before the service, or serve tea/coffee, or help with clean-up afterwards. Others may prefer to donate foods specifically requested such as squares, fruit or sandwiches. Family and friends appreciate the reception and the volunteers meet new people while working as a team with the goals of caring and giving. Join us! Commitment is 1 to 2.5 hours. Lead time is 10 days to 2-3 weeks in advance. Days & times vary with chosen date & time of a memorial service.
Memorial Receptions for First Unitarian members are held when requested. Most are on Saturday, Sunday or Friday. Our volunteers can choose to help with the set-up in Fellowship Hall before the service, or serve tea/coffee, or help with clean-up afterwards. Others may prefer to donate foods specifically requested such as squares, fruit or sandwiches. Family and friends appreciate the reception and the volunteers meet new people while working as a team with the goals of caring and giving. Join us! Commitment is 1 to 2.5 hours. Lead time is 10 days to 2-3 weeks in advance. Days & times vary with chosen date & time of a memorial service.
one-time opportunities
Kitchen Help - May Long Weekend
FirstU is hosting a youth conference and OWL (Our Whole Lives) training in conjunction with the CUC (Canadian Unitarian Conference) symposium on and beyond the May long weekend (Saturday May 20 to Tuesday May 23.) Do you like working on a team and having fun? Can you help with serving and clean up in main church kitchen for various meals during the national youth conference?
For the youth: Saturday and Sunday , three meals, Monday, breakfast, lunch. For the OWL trainees, lunch and dinner, Monday and Tuesday.
Overnight Supervisors
People who can stay awake are needed for the May long weekend. Are you a Night OWL? Or a chipper early morning CHIPMUNK? Ever wondered what it would be like to wander around the church in the middle of the night? We are hosting about 50 youth from across Canada on the May long weekend for 3 nights (Fri / Sat / Sun), and they will be sleeping at the church. We are required to have two people who walk around the church once every hour to make sure everyone is ok. Can you help? Shifts are midnight to 4 am OR 4 am to 8 am, that is, Saturday, Sunday and Monday early morning. A police record check is required, payable by the church.
FirstU is hosting a youth conference and OWL (Our Whole Lives) training in conjunction with the CUC (Canadian Unitarian Conference) symposium on and beyond the May long weekend (Saturday May 20 to Tuesday May 23.) Do you like working on a team and having fun? Can you help with serving and clean up in main church kitchen for various meals during the national youth conference?
For the youth: Saturday and Sunday , three meals, Monday, breakfast, lunch. For the OWL trainees, lunch and dinner, Monday and Tuesday.
Overnight Supervisors
People who can stay awake are needed for the May long weekend. Are you a Night OWL? Or a chipper early morning CHIPMUNK? Ever wondered what it would be like to wander around the church in the middle of the night? We are hosting about 50 youth from across Canada on the May long weekend for 3 nights (Fri / Sat / Sun), and they will be sleeping at the church. We are required to have two people who walk around the church once every hour to make sure everyone is ok. Can you help? Shifts are midnight to 4 am OR 4 am to 8 am, that is, Saturday, Sunday and Monday early morning. A police record check is required, payable by the church.
