Rev. Bringelson will visit Peoples Church from May 7-14.

Keep an eye out for updates and a schedule of opportunities to meet with her during the week.

And make sure to mark your calendar to attend our Congregational Meeting on May 14 after Sunday service to vote on calling her as our Settled Minister!

In the meantime, check out her introduction and video below.

Warmly,
Charles, Kathleen, Laura, Robyn, and Susan

Dear Peoples People,

What an honor it is to be your Candidate for Settled Ministry!

My name is Rev. Carin Bringelson and my pronouns are she/her/hers. (One tip on how to say my first name is to remember that it sounds like “CAR in the garage.”)

Since the first time I read the Congregational Record created by your fantastic Search Team, I’ve been impressed by the self-awareness that shines through—and the willingness to dig deeper into what may be next.

Peoples Church sparked my imagination with your:

• multigenerational services and faith formation program
• engagement in the hard work of racial justice
• clarity around your governance
• Covenant of Right Relations
• fair share contributions to the greater Unitarian Universalist faith of which we are a part

I was especially smitten by your congregation’s Mission Statement: Leading compassionate lives through spiritual growth and just actions.

In it, I felt a resonance with my own personal mission statement: Grounding in Love. Growing in Faith. Engaging for Justice.

All of the above — and so much more – make me so excited to join you on your journey!

My path into ministry has always included a vibrant congregational life. I grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska, spent time in Iowa (at Grinnell College) and Washington, DC — and then lived for decades in Madison, Wisconsin. With a background working with marginalized people (in education and by supporting people with disabilities) and promoting access to information (as a
librarian committed to Intellectual Freedom), I entered into ministry with a keen curiosity about how communities of faith can weave together justice-work with rich spiritual lives.

With my wife Bev’s support and encouragement, I answered my call to ministry — graduating from Meadville Lombard Theological School in 2020 and serving our Unitarian Universalist congregation in Hartland, WI ever since.

You can learn even more about me at my website and by watching an introductory video I created just for you!

I look forward to meeting you during Candidating Week, May 7 – 14, 2023. May we enjoy a meaningful and rewarding exploration together.

Until we meet in person, keep on being AWESOME!

Warmly,
Rev. Carin Bringelson

Robyn Miessler-Kubanek: I have been a member since 2007 and participated in many teams from worship to finance to serving on the board. I decided to step back into leadership after a pandemic hiatus because times of organizational transition require a great deal of support to navigate smoothly. I want to be a part of finding a great fit for our church’s next ministerial partner. When I’m not hanging out with Peoples people, I play games, work on my garden, knit, and entertain my husband with my antics (he says I’m never boring.)

Laura McGraw: Hello fellow congregants! I’ve been a member of Peoples Church for 25 years. My husband, Gary, grew up in Peoples and suggested we attend when we moved here from Los Angeles. As a person who never belonged to any religious institution, I was truly surprised by the immediate connection I felt. When our daughters were young, I chaired the Religious Education Committee, and more recently I have become involved with the Social Justice Council and the 8th Principle Task Force. I can’t think of a more important task than choosing a new leader to guide us through the next phase of our growth and am excited to be serving the congregation in this capacity for the next year.

Kathleen Mavity: I joined Peoples Church in January 2013, as soon as I relocated from the Twin Cities to be nearer to my two big sisters. Over the last 8+ years, I have: • Served on the Board of Trustees as both member and president, my term as president being primarily focused on the sexy work of policies and bylaws. • Acted as a Worship Associate dedicated to the premise that screw-ups are just a way of demonstrating authenticity. • Sung and directed the choir back in the good ol’ days of inperson worship. • Painted, scrubbed, stripped wallpaper, and generally futzed with housekeeping as needed. My current goal is to decide what I want to be when I grow up.