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What We All Do
Rev. Katie's Animas View
Less than two years ago, long time and greatly respected minister, Rev. Gordon B. McKeeman, "Bucky" as he was sometimes called, died. He was a Universalist, later a Unitarian Universalist parish minister from 1944 until 1983, then President of Starr King School for the Ministry in Berkeley, California from 1983 until 1988, when he finally retired from active ministry. Among his many gifts, he had a strong dedication to the importance of strong lay leadership and the need for leadership that emerges from within congregations. I love these words he wrote:
Ministry is all that we do-together.
Ministry is that quality of being in community that
affirms human dignity-beckons forth hidden
possibilities, invites us into deeper, more constant,
reverent relationships, and carries forward our
heritage of hope and liberation.
Ministry is what we do together as we celebrate
triumphs of our human spirit
Miracles of birth and life
Wonders of devotion and sacrifice.
Ministry is what we do together-with one another-
in terror and torment-in grief, in misery
and pain,
enabling us in the presence of death to
say yes to life.
We who minister speak and live the best we know
with full knowledge that it is never quite enough
And yet are reassured
by lostness found,
fragments reunited, wounds healed
and joy shared.
Ministry is what we all do-together.
I am so glad to be doing this ministry with you.
In faith,
Rev. Katie
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September Sunday Services
September Re-framing: "Return Again"
As we move toward autumn, a familiar scent fills the air, reminding us of the movement toward the turning season. We feel the chill in the air, a return to school or routine, and the "teshuvah" of Judaism that literally means to return again to who you are.
(Themes for the month are: returning, forgiveness, renewal, and home.)
September 6
A Theology of Labor for the 21st Century -James Galasinski
We'll reflect on the meaning of work and the difficulties of living in a world with strict divisions of labor. With the globalization of labor, working poor, and income inequality it is time to rethink and find a new grounding for how we UU's think and act about these very important topics.
September 13
Shall We Gather at The River? -Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
MULTIGENERATIONAL
On this traditional day of ingathering, let us each offer a bit of healing water to remind ourselves of the power of community. Especially after the tarnishing of our natural resources, let us offer ourselves once again to our fellowship, and to this beloved part of the world.
September 20
We Begin Again in Love -Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
The High Holy Days of Judaism are upon us. How might we use this season, this practice to refresh ourselves to begin a new year by becoming "at one" with what matters most?
September 27
Andean Cosmology: Tales from Peru -Alane Brown
Experience a photo essay on the many traditional ceremonies in which this recently returned Peace Corp Volunteer participated while stationed high in the Andes. Learn about indigenous ritual practices and their inner meanings through stories, songs and images.
UPCOMING WORSHIP THEMES: For a printable list of upcoming worship themes through June of 2016, click
here.
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President's Message
Teresa Jordan
Did you recognize the beautiful photo on the cover of the latest
UU World as our own chalice? Look closely, and you will see the colors of our stained glass window reflected on the pedestal cover beneath our flaming chalice. It's a lovely visual introduction to the Life Story about UUFD's designation as a Breakthrough Congregation by the Unitarian Universalist Association for hiring our first minister, The Rev. Katie Kandarian Morris. What an honor for our congregation!
And the honors continue to pour into UUFD with the receipt of $4000 last month from the Wilkinson Ministry Extension Fund of the UUA. The accompanying letter from Tandi Rogers, Innovation & Network Specialist at UUA, explained that UUFD was chosen among other congregations who are calling their first minister. She wrote: "
You all are such a fine investment. We're proud of the bold decisions
you've made this year. May this financial support help you make the
impact you envision in your community. Blessings on your shared ministry."
Speaking of shared ministry, the BOT recently met with Rev. Katie for a day-long retreat. Thanks to Anna Royer for facilitating our morning session. And thanks to Ken and Lois Carpenter for sharing their picnic pavilion at Pine Song for our meeting. The Rev. Pallas Stanford will return to UUFD this month to do some additional training on shared ministry with the BOT. That learning will be disseminated at the next Leadership Council on Tuesday, September 15 at 5:30 p.m. in Bowman Hall.
Committee chairs and team captains, be sure to mark your calendars for this first Leadership Council meeting of our new church year.
At our last meeting, the board voted to include cost of living adjustments to the wages for our non-ministerial staff. The approved budget had overlooked cost of living adjustments, but the board felt it important to maintain UUFD as a Fair Wage Employer. Increases in pledges and plate collections or available reserve funds will be used for these additional expenses. Thanks to Tim Miller, Finance Chair, for his assistance in budget adjustments.
Please, contact the board with questions or concerns. The BOT meets in the sanctuary at 9:30 on the second Tuesday every month. If you are unable to join us for the meetings, read the minutes that are posted on our website
www.durangouu.org. And feel free to talk with me or any of your board members:
Tom McCampbell, Vice President
Donna Nelson, Secretary
Graham Smith, Treasurer
Jim Dahlberg, Assistant Treasurer
Susan Koonce, Member At-Large
As exciting as it was to read about our UUFD history in UU World, I'm even more excited to work toward our UUFD goals with the BOT, Rev. Katie, Leadership Council, and the congregation. Maybe that's the next UUFD story we'll read in our UUA magazine...
Teresa Jordan, BOT President
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Social Responsibility and Justice News
Meet the new Share the Plate recipients
In an effort to promote social health and justice in our world, our new Social Responsibility and Justice program (SJR) is seeking to support diverse organizations aligned with our social justice priorities. Current SRJ teams and the fellowship at large were asked to recommend new recipients for our monthly Share the Plate offering. We are pleased to announce the following agencies as our next recipients:
October-December Community Emergency Assistance Coalition
January-March The Rainbow Youth Center
April-June Cropwalk
July-September Durango Adult Education Center Scholarship Fund
At the beginning of each recipient's time to receive our Share-the-Plate offering, we will share something about them and their work during the Sunday service.
Remember that if you have any questions or comments about our Social Responsibility and Justice program, or would like to know how you can be helpful in our work, talk with any of the three coordinators: Bonnie Miller, Betty Schwartz-Bozeman, Brooks Taylor.
-Bonnie Miller
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Thrive! thanks UUFD
Donations and volunteers made much work possible
Dear Friends,
 I am so grateful for your support of La Plata County Thrive! Living Wage Coalition over the past year. Through monthly Share-the-Plate donations, UUFD has donated over $6000 to Thrive! We literally would not have been able to accomplish what we have without this support.
In the last year we started Thrive! Employer Recognition Program (TERP) which has certified 45 employers who are paying, or aspiring to pay, the living wage rate (currently $12.40) to their employees (including UUFD). Along with other individual donations and grant funds, the
Share-the-Plate donations have allowed us to pay a living wage to our part time TERP Coordinator and bring Jeff Furman, Chair of the Board of Directors of Ben & Jerry's, to Durango as the keynote speaker at our major 2015 educational program.
About 20 UUFD members have given generously of their time volunteering with Thrive! in many ways, such as serving on the Steering Committee, designing posters, publicizing, posting posters, stuffing envelopes, working on grant applications, brainstorming, accounting, writing editorials, taking photos and thinking critically about Thrive!'s purpose and process.
Since Thrive! began, following Ron Garst's Sunday presentation at UUFD in 2012 on growing economic inequality in the U.S., we have focused on 3 of our 4 stated activities to improve wages in La Plata County: building a diverse coalition, educating the community about the importance of a living wage and the employer recognition program. We are now starting to work with other organizations to increase the minimum wage in Colorado and repeal the state law which prohibits municipalities from setting minimum wages according to local living costs.
Many thanks for the tremendous support you have provided. There is still much work to be done before we realize the goal of all workers being paid a living wage. Please call me if you would like more information about Thrive! or if you might like to get involved.
With Gratitude,
Mo
Maureen Maliszewski, Director
La Plata County Thrive! Living Wage Coalition
970-903-0957
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Youth News
Youth participate in "Love Out Loud"
In June the First United Methodist Church of Durango led the charge of "Love Out Loud" - a full day and a half devoted to hands-on work around our community. The UUFD youth group signed up to work outside at the Community Shelter - but we were rained out 2 weekends in a row. Fortunately we chose a sunny day in August to take care of the job. We "de-constructed" a dangerous short-cut trail on the shelter property - saws, clippers, and plenty of muscle. This was yet another project to continue our long term relationship with the shelter. It was good to get it done!
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This month in Choir
 On
September 27
, the multigenerational choir will share three songs from Peru. Alane Brown, choir director, will also be the pulpit guest that day, talking about the traditional ceremonies she participated in while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Peru 2012-2014. The choir will perform songs from those ceremonies. Inti Yai is a simple chant in the Quechu language that invokes the sun god Inti and the earth goddess Pachamama. Somos la Luna LLena is a gentle song used in women's ceremonies to connect with Kilya, goddess of the moon. The choir will also sing a song that is popular among indigenous people throughout the western hemisphere. In North America, the words are "may we all fly like eagles", whereas in South America, where the condor is the most sacred bird, the words are "volamos como cóndores". As the choir alternates singing in English and Spanish, it will honor both traditions and the connection between them.
You are welcome to join the multigenerational choir in singing on
September 27
. Don't worry if you missed the first meeting; it's not too late to jump in. Rehearsals are Thursdays September 10 and September 17, in the sanctuary
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
, then Sunday, September 20th from
noon to 1:30
. Be sure to get on the mailing list to receive updates and links to recordings of the music for practicing with. Contact Alane:
choir@durangouu.org
or call
970-238-1323
. Come out, come out, whoever you are...and sing with us!
The UUFD Multigenerational Choir is a new format this year that includes adults, youth and children ages 10 and older. Participants learn primarily by ear and we do not require music-reading experience. This is a great opportunity for people to get a start as choir singers. Experienced choristers are very much welcomed, too. Families might enjoy participating together. Rehearsals will include some voice and music instruction as well as lots of fun and diverse music.
The UUFD Adult choir sings in 4-part harmony, learning and singing from sheet music. The singers enrich
Sunday
services with their musical skills, enjoy the uplifting experience of singing songs of spirit, and have a good time making music together. The Adult Choir's next performance will be
Sunday, October 25th
. Contact Alane (choir@durangouu.org) for further information.
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UUFD to show award-winning Temple Grandin documentary
Tie in with Fort Lewis College's "Common Reading Experience"
In anticipation of Dr. Temple Grandin's visit to Durango on
September 30
, UUFD will host a showing of the HBO special (starring Claire Danes) about her life at no cost and open to the public.
"Temple Grandin" film
September 29 at 7 pm, UUFD
The 9th annual Common Reading Experience at Fort Lewis College and in the Durango community features Dr. Grandin's book, Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism. Dr. Grandin is a gifted animal scientist who has designed one-third of all the livestock-handling facilities in the U.S. She also lectures widely on autism, because Grandin herself is autistic, thinking, feeling and experiencing the world in ways that are incomprehensible to many of the rest of us. There will be a variety of programs held before and after Dr. Grandin's visit - for details, see https://www.fortlewis.edu/common-reading-experience or click on the links below.
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| The FLC Common Reading Experience flyer. Click here for full sized version. |
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| Click here for a full sized version of this flyer with more information about Temple Grandin. |
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CUUPS Corner
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
"Looking back
On the memory of
The dance we shared
Neath the stars above
For a moment
All the world was right
How could I have known
That we'd ever say goodbye
And now
I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end
The way it all would go
Our lives
Are better left to chance
I could have missed the pain
but I'd of had to miss the dance." Garth Brooks
CUUPS Study group meets on September 10th for a Rites of Passage ceremony. Study group also meets Sept 24th to celebrate The Second Harvest - Mabon in Bowman Hall at 6:30. Contact Linda Gumper for more information at CUUPSDurango@gmail.com.
New to CUUPS - We are starting a Druid Study Group. The first meeting is Thursday the 17th at Bowman Hall - 6:30. This is an organizational meeting to identify people's interests and determine a schedule.
This is my last CUUPS Corner. - Dawenwalker
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UUFD Fall campout and picnic
Join us for the BEST EVER campout and picnic near Havilland Lake!
 Best ever campout, picnic, group fun, food, and camaraderie. We have
reserved Group Camp Site # 3 at Chris Park (next to beautiful Havilland Lake
and just 18 miles from Durango) for Friday and Saturday nights, Sept. 11
th
and 12
th
. All friends and members are welcome and it's close enough that
sissies who don't like to sleep on rocks can go home at night to their cushy,
warm beds.
The facilities include a large picnic shelter with electricity and tables, fire
rings, grills, accessible vault toilets, drinking water, horse shoe pits,
volleyball courts, hiking trails, and of course boating and fishing at the lake.
Electricity is available for RVs for $5 per night.
All meals will be on your
own except Saturday night, which will be a group feast. Saturday evening
will include "happy hour" at 5PM, and a group dinner about 6PM, which will
be followed by dancing to music and moonlight provided by our own
professional DJ and Mother Nature.
Well-behaved dogs and kids are welcome but must be on a leash while in
the campground.
 Bring your own beverages, and for the group dinner bring your own meat
to grill,or other main dish,
and a dish to share in accordance with the list below:
A-F Appetizer
G-P Side or Salad
Q-Z Dessert
You don't have to RSVP, but it might be helpful (johnschwob@msn.com).
Please note:
ALL CAMPERS ARE EXPECTED AT THE
10:00 AM
WATER SERVICE SUNDAY AT THE FELLOWSHIP.
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Recital Series 2015-2016
Attention: Beautiful music ahead
 The 2015-16 Recital Series will feature four faculty members of the Music Department at Fort Lewis College, two string players from New Mexico, and Marilyn Garst, Music Director and pianist at the Fellowship. The first recital on
Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m. will present a husband and wife duo-Dr. Mark A. Walters, clarinet, and Dr. Lisa Campi Walters, piano-in a program of classical and jazz works. The first half will include the beautiful Sonata in E-flat Major by Brahms for the two instruments and Le Tombeau de Couperin, a significant piano solo suite by Ravel. The second half will open with the Romanian Folk Dances by Bartok, arranged for clarinet and piano, followed by Three Preludes for solo piano by Gershwin and an original piece for the duo by Dr. Campi Walters. The recital will conclude with two jazz pieces by Miles Davis and Gershwin. As Professor of Music, Mark serves as Director of Bands and teaches applied woodwinds, music education, Blues, Jazz and Rock. Lisa is Associate Professor at the college where she teaches piano and theory and performs solo and chamber music recitals plus accompanying. She is the pianist in the Red Shoe Piano Trio. Both are also members of the San Juan Symphony. The brochures are in the mail; please see that document for specific information about the programs and ticket purchase.
Thanks,
Marilyn M. Garst
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"Good-to-Go" meets monthly
Addressing end-of-life issues
The Good to Go group meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 12:00 noon to 1:30 pm in Bowman Hall. This group focuses on issues related to the end of life. If interested in joining this group, please contact Juanita at juanita.ainsley@aol.com or (970) 884-7309.
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| The hearty crew paints the Bowman porch on August 14. |
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Pause for Poetry
The Poetry Circle welcomes guests at its monthly sessions. Our next session is
Monday, September 14
,
6-8pm
. Refreshments served. RSVP to
durangofolk@frontier.net
.
Alane Brown (UUFD Choir Director) is a member of a small pagan group called the Crow Women. Some years ago, the Crows did ceremony to discover local spirits of the land, and named our goddess of water "Ooshbala." A few days after the toxic spill on the Animas, the group did ceremony to grieve ecological damage, and wrote the following poem as a group.
Ooshbala, Goddess of the Animas River
Ooshbala, river sister, know my love
Ooshbala, my tears flow with your mourning waters.
Your river is our blood.
River of Lost Souls
Rio de las Animas Perdidas,
may you connect to all other rivers.
May they hold you and help you heal.
Nurturing Animas,
you live in my soul.
I cry for you.
Creatures of Ooshbala-hang on, hang on
May you endure, then thrive.
Animas river, soul of Ooshbala,
run clear and strong.
You are the life blood of our community.
You will be replenished.
The Crow Women & friends, August 7, 2015
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