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IN THIS ISSUE
(click link to go directly to the article)
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 I'm INvested!
Rev. Katie's Animas View
Love will guide us, through the hard night. -Sally Rogers
According to philosopher Jacob Needleman, "Money is the most important thing in our lives. It costs us our time, health, prestige, and power. Yet, it is the last thing we want to discuss. It has been said that people will talk about almost anything rather than money."
But people shy away from talking about religion too, right? And here we are doing both! Last spring, I taught a class I've offered previously called, "The Haunting Church" or "Owning Your Religious Past." Sometimes, that fear of politics, religion and money comes from a childhood that has left some of us with a jumble of pain and shame. I love the class because it's designed to help our people examine their religious past, sorting out what to leave, what to bring into the present, and what to redefine.
We could use another class series devoted to healing our "haunting" views of money. As we say on Sundays in worship, "the offering is a sacrament of the free church." We believe it is a sacred thing that we are able to govern ourselves, to choose our ministry and our programs, and to lift up our values right here in this congregation.
This is exactly how we do it for the year ahead. So that our leadership knows what we are able to offer, how we can serve the growing needs and numbers of people we are attracting, how we can make our facility more attractive and welcoming for those who use it now, and in the future.
I invite you to take a serious look at the importance the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango plays in your life, the importance it might play and what you want to create and become.
For as Needleman asks us, "what is the role of money in the search for meaning? Is our relationship to it one of the chief factors that keeps us in our prision, or could it also be a tool for breaking out, for awakening to a life filled with intensity of purpose?"
I invite you to consider how your giving and your stewardship to this beautiful faith community can make a difference: in your life and in the lives of so many we may transform.
Love,
Rev. Katie
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March Sunday Services
Monthly theme:
Love Will Guide Us
(Concepts of women's voices, choice)
March 4
Prophetic Sisterhood
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
Our tradition carries an important history of 19th century liberal women who broke through the boundaries of gender into ordained ministry. What might we learn from their bold and gentle lives?
March 11
Do You Hear?
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
We'll be joined today by our stewardship leaders, Elizabeth Crawford and Lynn Griffith, to consider the importance we place in ourselves and those who come after us, "all the dreams, all the dares." Together, we'll participate in a ritual of giving and receiving. We'll make our financial pledges and follow our service with a celebratory, shared potluck.
March 18
This is Her Body
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris & The Diversitones
We are the inheritors of a 50-year history of reproductive rights advocacy. We also share a firm commitment to racial and social justice. At the convergence of these interests, let us widen our understanding and appreciation of reproductive justice. Our choir will affirm this vision.
March 25
Love & Connection: Bringing Back the Healthy Masculine
-Derek Van Atta, pulpit guest
What does the healthy masculine look like? How does it manifest? Our pulpit guest is a long-time local member of the ManKind project.
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President's Message
Tom Miller
I am gratified as I reflect on how many things from the past year we have to celebrate, even though we're just a bit more than halfway into our fiscal year. Our new Strategic Plan gives a solid organizing structure to our ambitions for the next five years. And we have taken several clear steps already to address our top level goals. UUFD's membership continues to grow, now pushing the 150 mark. Our facilities have been significantly enhanced with the donation/renovation of Columbine house and the renovation of the upstairs offices. Participation and impact in Social Responsibility and Justice activities have increased significantly as the SRJ team has further defined our focus. We regularly host folks visiting us for the first time, an indication that others are hearing of our presence and our mission and are curious to find out more. Maybe some of this is due to the enhanced, attractive and engaging website that is often the first place people will look to check us out. We're seeing more children and youth in our Faith Formation classes. We have several active covenant groups. Our Circle Suppers are drawing more than ever.
Wheew! This is just a partial list. What seems most important about all this is that these activities, this growth, this visible energy, is a direct result of the time and commitment of our members and staff...and the high expectations we have to continue to expand our mission of living and delivering the message of our faith in the Four Corners region.
Our Staff, Board, Team Leaders and Committee Chairs have begun to look forward to what we want to accomplish in the next fiscal year in their various areas of responsibility. They are currently putting the numbers together for what it will take to support that effort. It has become obvious, early on, that our budget will need to expand in order to be what we say we hope to be. Our growth in numbers should help some with the added giving units. Those of us who have been giving for a while can look at where we stand on the Fair Share continuum.
Celebration Sunday is right around the corner on March 11, when we acknowledge the many things that make this Fellowship special and ask ourselves to make a monetary pledge of support for its ongoing operation. In anticipation of that event, we look at the many needs, as well as desires, of our Fellowship, and the opportunities available to us as our growth continues. We reflect on not just what UUFD means to us, what we receive from our membership and participation, but also on how far we want to extend our reach. Thank you in advance for expressing your hopes through your pledge to our work together.
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Faith Formation News You Can Use
Faith Formation is all around us. Nearly everything we do is forming our faith. It's not just the
A Is For Activist book in the nursery room but the comfort that our youngest humans slowly develop over months of feeling cared for. It's not just the cookies offered by hospitality but welcoming people into the space and connecting in ways both mundane and meaningful. It's not just the art supplies in the classrooms but the minds that come alive through those mediums. It's not just coffee but the stories that are shared as the coffee is consumed. It's not just the chaos of the classroom but the sense of authenticity that comes from belonging. It's not just the common read, but the unified learning that pushes us forward. It's not just the Story For All Ages but an opportunity for multigenerational religious exploration. It's not just volunteering but offering one's heart and mind, and most importantly one's time to serve the mission. It's not just a building with grounds but a sacred place of love and belonging.
"Leadership Development is a kind of Faith Formation. We want each leader to develop self-awareness and find ways to cultivate and improve their full, authentic selves, especially in ways that make them better leaders."
"Unitarian Universalism affirms all families, of origin and of choice. Our faith supports parents and caregivers to live intentionally and faithfully into your role as the primary religious educators of your children."
"At its core, UU family faith development is a journey of relationships among parents and children, religious professionals, and multigenerational members of your faith community. Your bond with one another and with the universe itself supports a family to discover and rediscover a seeking, active faith."
"You will find ways to open authentic conversations with children about difficult topics and ways to grow in faith together through religious practices, truth-seeking, justice work, service projects, and more."
"In the field of Unitarian Universalist religious education and faith development, justice-making can be a primary pedagogical tool and spiritual practice for children and youth in our Unitarian Universalist congregations."
--Lisa McCorry, Director of Faith Formation |
Social Responsibility & Justice: Broadening our Views
What do you know about the Community Foundation? The Community Foundation is committed to increasing philanthropy in SW Colorado and building the capacity and impact of nonprofits. They do this by acquiring, investing, managing and distributing funds to nonprofits in our 5-county community. Their intent is to bring economic stability, professional development and collaboration to the nonprofit sector so that they are more able to sustain their efforts in doing good work. UUFD, UUA and UUSC have all been recipients of Foundation grant funds. The Community Emergency Relief Fund, Boys and Girls Club of La Plata County, Thrive! Living Wage Coalition, Trails 2000, Alzheimer's Association, Durango School District 9R and Volunteers of America are a few of the 73 different recipients of funds. In 2016 $1,167,860 in grants were awarded to nonprofits.
In the last couple of years, UUFD social justice has partnered with the Foundation in their newest community event, Making a Difference Speaker Series. This annual event seeks to inspire with examples of philanthropic work, and to raise funds for the Foundation's grant program. As many of you know first hand, Nicholas Kristof was the inaugural, sell-out speaker in 2017. For 2018, on April 25 at 6:30 pm at FLC Community Concert Hall, humanitarian Jenna Bush Hager, a contributing correspondent on NBC's Today, editor at-large for Southern Living magazine, and chair of UNICEF Next Generation initiative, will speak about early childhood education and literacy. UUFD has a block of tickets available for sale at the SRJ table each Sunday. Join us for a stirring presentation and contribute to our community!
What's happening with our Common Read plan for this year? Two books were selected for this year's UUA Common Read: Centering, edited by Mitra Rahnema, and Daring Democracy, Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen. Sponsored by our Healing Racism social justice team, the discussion will be led by three facilitators, including John Lyons and Rev. Katie, on March 17 from 10:00-12:00 in the Chalice room in Columbine House. Both books speak to challenges being experienced to our values and sense of power to live out those values in our world. Centering "explores how racial identity is made both visible and invisible in Unitarian Universalist ministries." Our faith calls us to embrace diversity, but we are recognizing the gaps in our practice. In the book Daring Democracy, the authors "offer proof that courage is contagious in the daring fight for democracy." Despite the fear that our democracy is in danger, the book creates a 'canopy of hope' through the Democracy Movement. Join us for a lively and enlightening discussion! Books available at the SRJ table each Sunday.
UPCOMING EVENTS
March 17: Common Read book discussion, 10:00-12:00, Chalice Room
March 24: National March for our Lives (student led, gun safety) Washington DC. Simultaneous
Durango March
- info coming
April 22: People's Climate March & Rally, Durango, info coming
April 25: Community Foundation Speaker Series - Jenna Bush Hager - 6:30 @ the Concert Hall
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Welcoming visitors
What your Membership Committee does
 Let's give a warm welcome to every visitor every Sunday! Your Membership Committee invites all church members to be part of welcoming our visitors. We often have 5 to 10 guests join us for worship, and sometimes many more. Every Sunday, we have two Membership Committee folks at the Welcome Station to greet visitors and provide temporary name tags. Visitors receive a Welcome Envelope with information about our congregation and Unitarian Universalism. When visitors fill out a card with their contact information, our Congregational Life Coordinator, Tara Frazer, sends a thank you note, with an invitation to return. They also receive a permanent name tag.
Greeting and welcoming work best when all members do it
, not just our staff at the Welcome Station. Consider spending the first 10 minutes of your social time intentionally seeking out visitors before socializing with other members. Introduce visitors to other members. We don't want visitors standing alone, trying to figure out where they might join a conversation. As you learn more about new people, take the opportunity to invite them to one of our social events or one of our many small group activities - where they can learn more about what UUFD has to offer.
Thank you for your friendliness, and look for more about our fun and active committee in future newsletters.
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March 11 is Celebration Sunday!
Will you be INvested?
 During worship on March 11 we will receive and complete our pledge cards for the 2018/2019 fiscal year beginning in July. If you haven't done so yet, there is still time to pick up your pledge packet at the stewardship table on Sundays. We will celebrate our investment on March 11 by coming forward to place our pledge cards in the community basket during worship, and with a "Fingerfood Feast" potluck immediately after worship (see below). If you can't attend worship on March 11, you can get your mail-in pledge card by
contacting
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
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All-Church Fingerfood Feast Potluck
Please bring your food contributions (requiring no eating utensils) to Bowman Hall by 9:30 AM on Sunday, March 11. Thank you for labeling ingredients.
Last name beginning with: A - F Main (ex. meat/cheese platter, deviled eggs, tea sandwiches, etc.)
G - M Dessert - bars/cookies
N - R Side dish - get creative
S - Z Fruit and/or vegetables
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Two new board members being sought
Are you our next Treasurer or Board Member at Large?
The Nominating & Leadership Development Committee is actively recruiting members to serve on the board in these positions. Both require a 2-year commitment.
- Treasurer
- Board Member at Large
In April we will submit a slate of candidates to the fellowship and in May at the annual members meeting UUFD will vote. The board practices a Shared Ministry approach and works on behalf of UUFD embracing courageous leadership, consensus building and constructive feedback. Use these links to learn more about Shared Ministry and Board Policies:
Do you have e
xperience working on a board, experience with finances or a passion to learn new skills? Does this sound like something you'd like to be a part of?
Please contact Nominating & Leadership Development Committee members Allison Andersen, Dennis Aronson or Susie Francis for more information or to answer any questions you may have.
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Each one of us builds this fellowship
Long-Range Facility Planning update
"In order to meet the challenges of our time, we are called to renew the covenant that connects us..." UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray said it well, "I ask you to prioritize your support for one another and this collective faith... Only together can we amplify the best of Unitarian Universalism."
On Tuesday Feb. 20th, we were showing that "we are INvested in sustaining and growing this church community." BOT president Tom Miller opened with a reflection on the charge set forth in the Strategic Plan. With that backdrop, members and friends of the fellowship came together at the Facilities Planning Kickoff, to begin our collective dialogue with the architect selected to complete our architectural programming process (begun 2 years ago, with sustained member effort). This process is open to all who are interested, as well as those who are already investing their time and talent in the various aspects of our ever expanding fellowship-system. Listen to the Feb. 20 session here. More information along with a comment form is available here.
The Bauen Group is represented by their chief architect, Tom Umbhau and his wife Karen, who came in support. Tom is of "brown-skin" as he pointed out (Hawaiian), and he has an open, welcoming and engaged demeanor. With an ability to articulate conceptual skills, Umbhau presented a bit of how he will approach our problem, and we shared the process, now underway to gather information. Questions were raise and clarified, others we are still growing into. Considerations were debated on how to involve a more diverse populace, to invite people of color, gender and economic diversity to engage with us in this discernment process, to better define what will help them feel that they too have a spiritual home here. This could include participants of the organizations supported by our Share the Plate Sunday's, and include conversations as we engage with the larger community. We are encouraged to gather a sense of what we might need to consider as we reimagine our spiritual home, where we join with others to work toward creating a better world.
Rev. Katie also said it well, "We have such a special mission here in the Four Corners! Our values, overflowing with justice and compassion, make this a place mandated to flourish. Each one of us, together, builds this fellowship of beauty and transformation." Please join us, by offering your feedback and ideas... Indeed: "I'm IN!"
Mary Ocken, Facilities Planning Task Force
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Dancing on the Side of Love Slideshow
Click here for a quick slideshow of UUFD's recent Valentine's party!
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Recital series features harpist Anne Eisfeller
Performance on Friday, March 2 at 7pm
 The third recital for this year will take place on Friday, March 2, at 7:00 p.m. It will feature Anne Eisfeller in works for solo harp by eight different composers from seven different countries, spanning five centuries. The composers to be represented are Antonio del Cabezon (1510-1566), Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738), Giovanni Battista Pescetti (1704-1766), John Thomas (1826-1913), Marcel Tournier (1879-1951), Jesus Guridi (1886-1961), Alfredo Rolando Ortiz (b. 1946) and Michael Mauldin (b. 1947).
Anne Eisfeller is familiar to Durango audiences as the harpist for Music in the Mountains and a frequent performer with the San Juan Symphony. A New Mexico resident, she is the principal harpist of the New Mexico Philharmonic and Santa Fe Symphony as well as adjunct instructor of harp at the University of New Mexico. She has played with the National Symphony of El Salvador and the orchestras of San Antonio, Hartford, Springfield (MA) and El Paso. Her summer festivals include Assisi Performing Arts in Italy, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, Aspen, Des Moines Metro Opera and Four Corners Opera. For twenty-five years she traveled to Oregon to play with the Coast, Britt, Cascade and Sunriver Festivals. She is a harpist with Arts in Medicine, UNM's innovative integrated medicine program.
Admission may be purchased at the door or online at DurangoUU.org.
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CUUPS Corner
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
CUUPS Schedule for March
March 8, 6:30 PM Columbine House
Linda will be conducting a class in Tarot cards. If you have ever been interested in tarot, here is a great chance to learn more.
March 15, 6:30 PM Columbine House
Silabh Anam Druid Grove meeting
March 22, 6:30 PM Columbine House OSTERA RITUAL. Please come join us as we celebrate the coming of spring. Pot Luck afterwards.
CUUPS of the Half Moon
Visit us on Facebook at CUUPS of the Half Moon
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