Minnesota Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship A liberal religious congregation  in the Minneapolis area If the Menu on the Left Hasn't Appeared

STAFF Home   || Calendar Updated March 14  2008 Minister || Religious Education Director || Minister of Music || Youth Coordinator  || Office Manager || Custodian

The Reverend Roger Jones, Interim Minister Copies of the Minister's sermons are available in the church office for a small donation. About Our Ordained Ministers The Fellowship is in a time of transition, with greater energy, anticipation, and opportunities to shape the future direction of the congregation.  Following a seven-year ministry with us, the Rev. Mary Samuels retired from professional service in 2007.  We have elected a search committee of church members to conduct a two-year process of preparing us for and then finding the ideal match for our next settled minister by the spring of 2009.  All voting members will be asked to vote on their proposed candidate. The Rev. Roger Jones is serving MVUUF as our interim minister, after having completed 10 years as a parish minister in Sunnyvale, California.  He attended Meadville Lombard Theological School, a Unitarian Universalist seminary affiliated with the University of Chicago and served as intern and student minister in Hobart, Indiana; New Bedford, Massachusetts, and South County, Rhode Island.  He is active in the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association and is a panel member of the denomination’s Fund for a Just Society. Top of Page

Office Hours - Minister More About Interim Ministry News from the Minister Roger’s Reflections: Sermon Excerpts And Other Writings From The Interim Minister

Jan Fitzgerald, Director of Religious Education (DRE) Jan Fitzgerald is in her third year as Director of Religious Education (DRE) for MVUUF. Jan received a BA from Macalester and an MA from the University of Iowa.  For ten years she taught music at the elementary and middle school levels in Edina.  From 1993 to 2000 she served as a member of the Bloomington School Board. She has been an active Unitarian Universalist since 1991, teaching religious education classes, working on curriculum, and playing with string groups at MVUUF. Jan is the wife of Dave Rosewall and mother of Carolyn, Melissa, and Dan. Top of Page

Office Hours - DRE To Religious Education Page News from the DRE

Sonja Johnston,  Minister of Music Sonja Johnston became Music Director at MVUUF in 1976.  The congregation voted in January 2004 to recognize Sonja as Minister of Music, and on May 30 the congregation celebrated this recognition. Sonja was schooled in classical music, is an accomplished pianist and a composer and arranger of a variety of music.  She is an active member of the Unitarian Universalist Musicians' Network (UUMN) attending and participating in the annual conferences, serving as a mentor to small churches, and sharing the position as UUMN liaison to Prairie Star District with another UUMN member. Sonja co-chaired the annual UUMN conference in August, 2006, in St. Paul with Ruth Palmer, Director of Music Ministries at Unity Church-Unitarian.  In October, Sonja will take over the UUMN Mentor Program which is being merged with the UUMN Liaison Group. When asked how she envisions her position, Sonja said, "I simply love my job. I like to think I bring a sense of dedication, skill, enthusiasm, passion and yes, FUN, to the music at MVUUF. My life is richer because of this position." Sonja is married with two adult children and has three grandchildren. She raises the level of our community experience with rich and varied music. Top of Page

To Music Page News from the Minister of Music What Is a Minister of Music?

Jill Carlson, Youth Coordinator Jill Carlson is a new addition to the Minnesota Valley staff as the Youth Coordinator in 2007. Jill received a BA from Hamline University and is pursuing an MA in Clinical Counseling at Adler Graduate School. During the work week Jill is the Associate Director of Career Services at the Minnesota School of Business-Richfield. The first exposure Jill had to Unitarian Universalism was in 2000 when she was a college student. She has been a member of Unity Church- Unitarian since 2005. As a resident of Burnsville, Jill appreciates the much shorter drive to Minnesota Valley. Jill was recently married in August of 2007 and she has two dogs, Murray and Willow. Top of Page

Janet Stevens, Office Manager Office Hours - Office Manager Janet Stevens has been Office Manager since September of 1998.  "After 30 years of teaching English I was ready for a change of pace and pressure. I'm enjoying the work at MVUUF, and I appreciate the people who keep things humming."  Janet and her husband George have 4 grown children and 8 grandchildren (all girls).      Top of Page

Custodian (part time) Contact Mark Clary, Operations Chair, with custodian questions.  See MVUUF printed directory or Sunday bulletin for custodian email address.  Top of Page

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