The Unitarian Church of Marlborough & Hudson will ordain Alice Fredericksen Anacheka-Nasemann to the Unitarian Universalitst Ministry.

The ordination begins at 4 p.m. Clergy, please arrive at 3:30 p.m. to robe and process.

A reception will follow in the parish hall.

Alice Fredericksen Anacheka-Nasemann

On Sunday, May 21, 2006 at 4:00PM, the ordination of our Relligious Education Director will ceremoniously take place. All are invited.

Ordinations are filled with pomp and circumstance. Numerous ministers will be processing and recessing into the sanctuary wearing their robes. Ministers from the Clara Barton District, area ministers and theological students have all been invited. Steve Cook and David Boyer will both be there as participants. Steve is doing the “charge to the minister”. Andy Backus (Rev. Dr. Andrew C. Backus), Alice’s mentor who inspired and encouraged her to follow the ministerial path some 13 years ago, will preach the sermon.

Hilary Green, as UCMH Executive Board President, will lead the Act Of Ordination, during which members of the UCMH congregation will stand and ordain Alice. This is the moment when Alice becomes a minister and earns the title of “Reverend”.

So what does it take to become a minister?

1. Go to school and get a Masters of Divinity degree. Alice’s last class toward this goal is May 5th and she gets officially awarded her degree on May 20th. from Andover Newton Theological School. Yes, that’s the day before her ordination. Wow, what a fabulous weekend for her.
2. Meet with the Ministerial Fellowship Committee. Alice did this in the Fall of 2004 and obtained denominational approval which means she is in preliminary fellowship with the UUA. It’s sort of like our denomination’s way of screening out unqualified candidates. This does not have anything to do with whether or not a church can call Alice. We operate on “congregational polity”, which means churches can call whom ever they wish.
3. Ordination. With congregational polity, a church may ordain anyone they wish to. This is the moment of officially becoming a minister. It is THE ACT by which one may enter into an official ministerial relationship with a congregation. Official in the sense that one is no longer part of a sub-category like student minister or intern minister. Completing school and entering into fellowship are certainly great mile stones, but Alice is not a Reverend until after ordination.

Some ordination planning details.

Hilary Green is the ordination committee coordinator.

Children are welcome at the service. Search-a-word type games will be provided. Childcare will be provided for those who find it difficult to remain through the ordination. Note: the event will take about 1½ hours.

Erica Krenis-Peck is coordinating reception food. She has a list of needs. Please contact her directly to sign up.

Ted Green is in charge of decorations and will need helpers.