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Rev. Katie's Animas View
Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.
-Socrates
The Unitarian Universalist Association declares, "We believe that faith is a journey we take together."
Through the affirmation of the principles and drawing from the six sources of our faith, learning and growing not only improves us, but adds to the number of our resources for changing the world.
At UUFD, we have a number of ongoing activities for adults. Whether you want to meditate or paint, share poetry or gather in a covenanted small group, there are places for you to expand your creativity, make deep connections, to grow in faith.
In January, we'll start the year off with more faith formation. We'll be adding a multi-week class, led by Mary Ocken,
Earth Literacy, New Cosmology. Look for dates in the E-Announcements, Sunday bulletin and my weekly Animas View. Saturday, January 9th, we'll continue our Healing Racism circle, and determine what steps we might want to take together. We'll be reading together the UUA Common Read,
Just Mercy, and books are on their way for you to purchase. You can even gather together for the new regular game night.
Later on in the spring, we've discussed holding a New UU workshop, which provides an opportunity for learning and connection for newcomers and long-timers alike. I plan to lead a class called
The Haunting Church, which will allow folks to share with each other and reflect deeply on ways your upbringing might affect your thoughts on religion today.
If you would like to lead an adult program, class, or workshop, please talk to Lisa McCorry or me. We have resources to share with you, and can help determine where the class might best fit.
As the UUA reminds us, "Religious education takes a lifetime. It happens both within and beyond a congregation's walls. We support one another as individuals, families, and communities in an ongoing search for truth and meaning. We strive to guide one another - all ages among us -in religious questioning, personal change, and discovering ways to better live in faith."
Let us kindle our flames together!
Peace,
Rev. Katie
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January Sunday Services
January 3
A Covenant of Sharing
Bonnie Miller, Dennis Aranson, Terri Reherman, pulpit guests
Our covenant groups provide a way for members to deepen their relationships, grow in spiritual depth, and provide caring outside the circles. Come, experience some of their growth.
January 10
When Things Fall Apart
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
What damage might we leave behind for this New Year? What can we burn away to better serve us in these difficult times? Come, take part in a letting go ceremony as we begin a New Year.
January 17
MLK Sunday: Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
How will you express yourself for love and justice? Let's remind ourselves of King's words in his last sermon and their current relevance.
January 24
The Future of the Church
Rev. Dr. Stephan Papa
As participation in religious communities is declining across the country, and young people seem less interested in joining, one may wonder whether the church has a future. What are people who are church shopping looking for today, what do religious communities offer, and why should you participate in the UU Fellowship of Durango?
January 31
How Can I Keep From Singing?
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
Our hymnal Singing the Living Tradition
is over 22 years old, but let's re-familiarize ourselves with some of the wonderful music that comes from it. Bring your water bottle and be ready to sing, or simply listen to the joy that comes from voices together.
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President's Message
Teresa Jordan
Remember that lovely photograph of our flaming chalice on the cover of the fall issue of UU World: The Magazine of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the feature article about being a Breakthrough Congregation? UUA was aware of our 2007 property purchase for our church home, our growth in membership over the past decade, and our efforts to extend the UU message beyond our walls into the broader community. Acquiring professional leadership by hiring our first-ever minister in 2014 was the culminating event that earned that recognition as a Breakthrough Congregation. What an exciting time to be a member of UUFD!
As exciting as all this has been, we now need to ask ourselves, "Are we ready to take the next step in the life of our congregation?" UUFD has a contractual obligation to consider calling our minister, the Reverend Katie Kandarian-Morris. Most congregations must make this decision after a brief ten-day contact with a minister. UUFD is fortunate to consider calling a minister who will have been with us for almost two years. We all know Rev. Katie and have an understanding of what she brings to the life of our congregation. Considering all the positive and exciting accomplishments we've achieved thus far, it would be wonderful to continue building that shared ministry with her professional leadership.
To better hear your thoughts on how we're doing on our shared goals and help determine our next steps, the Board of Trustees has formed a Ministerial Transition Team (MTT). The team is planning a series of "cottage conversations," small discussion groups to discern every member's readiness to call our minister with a congregational vote this spring.
Members of the MTT will soon invite each individual in our congregation to participate in one of the scheduled cottage conversations. In the meantime, please, feel free to share any questions or concerns about the call process with any of the members of the team, members of the Board of Trustees, and/or Rev. Katie.
Members of the MTT include Allison Andersen, Ron Garst, Tom Miller, and Aline Schwob. Each one brings a unique and valuable skill set to this task as well as a proven commitment to growing our beloved community:
- Allison - experience in personal financial management, leadership training, and past service on the UUFD Board;
- Ron - geographer and retired professor with experience in other UU congregations, past service on the UUFD Board and Finance Committee;
- Tom - retired psychologist and alum of the Russell Lockwood Leadership School, a Unitarian Universalist training program;
- Aline - retired nurse and master gardener with experience in other UU congregations and organizer of multiple tasks at UUFD.
All of these MTT members worked on a task force that resulted in recommending Rev. Katie as our minister, so they are steeped in an understanding of the ministerial call process. How fortunate our fellowship is to have such wonderful leaders willing to share their gifts and time to this milestone task in the life of our fellowship!
Thanks to Allison, Ron, Tom, and Aline for agreeing to do the work of the Ministerial Transition Team.
Teresa Jordan
BOT President
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News from the Social Responsibility and Justice program
"When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the pris'ner,
To rebuild the nations;
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music from the heart."
These compelling words, penned by Howard Thurman, considered one of the three greatest African-American preachers of the early 20th century, were sung by our choir at the Christmas Eve services. Captured here is the message of our UUFD mission for social justice...to carry the promise of Christmas through our commitments to those in need in all the days beyond the holidays.
We see many examples of UUFD members and friends acting as keepers of this promise. Do you notice Janice Taylor every Sunday morning manning the table of Equal Exchange products which supports a fair market for small-scale farmers that is economically just and environmentally sound? Maybe you are part of the team that John Schwob coordinates that serves food at Manna Soup Kitchen each month to those in need. Or are you one of those who joins Mo Maliscewski in actively working toward a just living wage in Durango through Thrive! La Plata County? Some write a column in our local paper highlighting social justice concerns, such as Betty Schwartz-Bozeman, Ralph Blanchard, Donna Nelson, Ron Garst and others. But perhaps your work for social justice is done quietly and confidentially and few, if any, know about it. Maybe you give sacrificially to our monthly Share-the-Plate that supports worthy local groups helping others.
Whatever your chosen way to live out our mission for social justice, thank you! Many more names could be mentioned as examples of dedicated workers toward justice. You make a difference. And if you have yet to find an avenue for working toward social justice that fits you, talk to Bonnie Miller or Betty Schwartz-Bozeman and we will help to get you connected.
Special thanks to Brooks Taylor, who can no longer lead the International Concerns team, but who was a significant contributor in successfully getting the team up and running.
Take note: 1) Our January Share-the-Plate will be on the 10th, and it is the first time that the Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center which serves LGBTQ youth 13-17 will be our recipient. We hope to have some of the Center folks at our service! 2) Visit the U
UA website section on social justice for an abundance of resources and support. 3) The first Sunday of each month, someone will be at the Social Responsibility and Justice table to answer questions, provide information, offer
Standing on the Side of Love t-shirts, or speak to other social justice activities.
-Bonnie Miller
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Youth news
Young people work together to deck the halls
 In early December, two youth groups merged at the Durango Community Shelter for an afternoon of holiday decorating. This year, the UUFD youth group invited the new Rainbow Youth Center teens to join us in this annual offering of service. In the tradition of sorting out the decorations from the shelter garage, sorting through and testing lights, the shared common space at the shelter turned into rooms of holiday cheer and celebration. New and old friends acquainted and worked together to help start the month off with lights and trimmings.
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Cuba presentation Jan. 13
Learn about the Hayes' trip
 Judy and Don Hayes will give a presentation about their recent trip to Cuba on January 13 at 7 PM in the UUFD sanctuary. All interested folks are invited. While we cannot give a detailed history after spending a week there, we shall give you our impressions in a photo presentation of both the past and the future.
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Barbara Balaguer to speak on LGBT/SOGI rights
UUFD International Human Rights Speaker Series
Please join us for the second presentation in our International Human Rights Speaker Series,
January 7th, 7:00 pm
at UUFD.
Barbara Balaguer is the former Board Chair of our local LGBT organization, Four Corners Alliance for Diversity (formerly known as 4cGLAD, Four Corners Gay and Lesbian Alliance for Diversity), now in its 15th year. In her role on The Alliance's Board of Directors, a group whose collaborative grassroots efforts provide support, outreach programs, and social opportunities for its members, from youth through seniors, the organization also spearheads advocacy initiatives that campaign to affect positive change. Important to Barbara during her time on the board, it remains important to her now that, as a group, we bring awareness and appreciation to the fact that there exist many issues of importance to the LGBT community, as well as issues of shared importance and relevance with the community-at-large. Raising awareness of these shared issues helps to raise awareness of the shared values and desires that are, in fact, defined as basic human rights. Despite busy work schedules, Barbara, along with her partner, Charlotte, remain active in our local community, volunteering with a number of nonprofits and organizations.
Barbara will invite the audience to consider the ways in which progress and change have been made regarding LGBT/SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) rights as they pertain to basic human rights, on a global level and locally in our perceived progressive-minded community of the Four Corners Region. Her talk
will discuss the process of perspective and how this affects change and brings a positive impact to the many challenges that continue to exist in what remains a heteronormative society. "Globally, and across generations, how do your experiences shape your frame of reference? How do these attitudes impact your awareness across a range of issues, e.g. housing, employment, health care, travel, estate planning, etc. How do you advocate for change regarding LGBT/SOGI rights? How do you experience change regarding LGBT/SOGI rights? How do you define 'acceptance?'"
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Moving from lay-led to "called" minister
Considering our next steps
Many of you may remember the poster that was set up Bowman Hall in 2014 that outlined the most significant steps in UUFD's evolution to that date. Some of the key points are worth highlighting as we are now at the point of considering the next step, calling Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris as our settled minister:
1967 UUFD founded - for 15 years meets in peoples' homes
1982 The Fellowship moves to the Unitarian House on 3rd Avenue
1999 To accommodate growth the Fellowship moves to the Smiley Building
2005 First paid staff (DRE)
2006 Purchase and (ongoing) renovation of the current church property
2008 Congregational survey concludes that we aren't yet ready to look for a minister
2011-12 Congregational survey indicates a priority to explore professional leadership
2012 -13 Board charges Leadership Transition Team to conduct a series of Congregational Focus groups to solicit wishes and concerns regarding what we want from professional leadership. Result of those well- attended meetings indicates widespread agreement to look for a full-time minister.
2013 Board charges Ministerial Task Force (MTF) with conducting a search for a Developmental Minister and completes successful supplemental pledge canvass to ensure prospective candidates we have the resources to fully support (at least) a 3 year cost of ministry commitment. The Board set the task of the Developmental Minster to help us:
- Develop a shared leadership approach to fellowship, governance and ministry
- Continue exploration of individual spirituality
- Develop our pastoral care capacity and practice
- Enhance our Unitarian Universalist presence in the community
- Expand our social justice efforts
For those of you who may want more detail or to be reminded about the reasons why we have a Developmental Minister, a copy of the MTF report to the Board is posted on the bulletin board in Bowman Hall and is available on our website.
2014 Ministerial Task Force completes intensive selection process with recommendation that the Board hire Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris on an annually renewable 3 year contract. Rev. Katie begins her ministry in August.
Now, we need to add the additional steps that will lead us to decide whether we are ready to call Rev. Katie as our settled minister:
December 2015 Board charges Ministerial Transition Team (MTT) to plan a set of activities to educate the Fellowship about the "Call" process and execute a series of Cottage Conversations (small discussion groups) to assess the Fellowship members' assessment of our progress toward the shared developmental goals set in Rev Katie's current contract and their readiness to call Rev. Katie as our settled minister.
January - March 2016 MTT schedules and facilitates Cottage meetings for all members and friends of UUFD, most likely in late January and early February. In late February the MTT compiles results of those meetings and reports its findings to Board. The Board also considers and proposes by-law changes needed to accommodate a settled minister position. The Finance and Stewardship Committees assess the Fellowship's ability to sustain a called minister.
March - April 2016 Board considers the results presented by the MTT, Finance and Stewardship Committees. If, through the cottage meetings, we find there to be substantial support to extend a call to Rev. Katie, the MTT will recommend to the Board to proceed with scheduling a congregational meeting for the purpose of conducting a vote to formally affirm that support.
Only people who have been members of UUFD for more than 30 days will have the opportunity to vote on the call.
-Tom Miller
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An invitation to friends of UUFD
If you have thought about becoming a member of UUFD, this is an opportune time to join. Members of the fellowship will be voting on several important decisions this year; including a vote to call our minister. You must be a member for at least 30 days prior to a congregational meeting in order to vote.
To help decide if you are ready for membership, pick up a "Path to Membership" folder from the credenza at the back of the sanctuary. Our Membership Chair K. Redford, or any of the Membership Committee, will be happy to answer your questions. You may also schedule an appointment with Rev. Katie to discuss membership.
We would be delighted to welcome you as a new member into the life of our beloved community at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango.
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Let there be light!
More
light
using less energy
The Lighting Task Force has good news to share with our fellowship. We are about to install new lights in the Sanctuary that will aesthetically complement our interior and functionally improve the lighting with increased lumens using energy efficient LEDs.
The lighting improvements will be paid for through the remaining funds from our last Frolic. As a reminder, the previous Board agreed on the following priorities, in the following order, for use of the proceeds from the last Frolic: Remodel of the bathrooms, addition of new fence section, new lighting in the Sanctuary, parking lot improvement. We did not expect all items would be affordable with the funds collected, so the plan was to do as much as was possible. After completing the bathrooms and fence, we had just over $6000 remaining and we are delighted to have been able to find new fixtures and bulbs that met our aesthetic and functional criteria within our budget. Look for the updates sometime in January!
Thanks to the following members of the Lighting Task Force for their diligent work: Ann Smith, Tim Walker, Ed Cox, Marilyn Garst, John Schiffel, K Redford, Tom Miller and Bonnie Miller.
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