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When to Call Your Minister
Rev. Katie's Animas View
The relationship you have with your minister can be, and should be, supportive, affirming, and empowering. I want to make this true for all people in our congregation, from the youngest to the oldest. Your minister should feel approachable and accessible. And, of course, there are times when I am more accessible than others. Sunday morning is often a very full and focused time, and not the best time to try to engage in a deep conversation. However, I am accessible throughout the week (Mondays are my Sabbath day, but I am available for emergencies).
Several years ago one of our ministers created a list that has been adapted over the years:
Call the Minister When:
- You don't know me, but would like to.
- You are upset with me, or would like to express appreciation.
- You have religious or spiritual questions.
- You are seeking to deepen your spiritual practices.
- You have problems with your job, children, marriage, parents, school, or anything else where a sympathetic ear might help you sort through the issues.
- You are going to the hospital, having surgery, find out you have a serious illness or condition, or know of someone else in the congregation who has any of these experiences.
- Someone close to you has died or is critically ill or you're dealing with a significant loss or transition of some kind.
- You are planning to be married, separated, or divorced.
- You would like your child dedicated in a special blessing ceremony.
- You are pregnant and glad you are, or wish you weren't
- You want to be pregnant but aren't, or you are considering adoption.
- You feel ready to join the congregation, or have questions about membership.
- You want to explore new ways to engage in congregational life.
- You have concerns or suggestions related to congregational life.
- You want to make a large donation to the church.
How to Reach the Minister:
Office: 970-247-1004 (Tuesday - Thursday)
Cell: 510-861-2914
Grateful to be your minister, sending you love,
Rev. Katie
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August Sunday Services
Part of UUFD's Summer Series:
Our Living Faith
We call Unitarian Universalism a "living tradition" in that new truths are ever being revealed to us. We'll hear from our members as to the ways they live and understand their faith.
It's been a tradition at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango to focus the summer worship on a particular topic. This summer will focus on how we, as religious liberals, live out our faith. View the full schedule here.
Aug 6
Generosity as a Spiritual Practice
-Tim Miller, pulpit guest
As we begin to consider plans for improving our overall campus plan, how might we consider this ministry of stewardship, of generosity as one of our life practices?
Aug 13
The Gathering of UUs
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
What can be gleaned from the recent gathering of Unitarian Universalists who gathered together in New Orleans? From a city of many cultures, a city of rebirth, what can we learn?
Aug 20
Book Communion
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
Our 4th principle calls for a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Bring a book today to leave at the altar and take home another to continue your search.
Aug 27
What We Choose
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
Why would the word "morality" belong only to the religious right? Come explore ethics for liberal religionists.
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President's Message
Tom Miller
I remember that things used to slow down in the summer. The Unitarian Church I attended when I was young didn't even meet in the summer. Of course, that was a while ago. Our perception of the world, our place in it, and our sense of responsibility for it are dramatically different now. The work of the UUFD faith community only slows down a bit, as calendars are spotted with times of summer travel, camping weekends, and visits from out of towners.
This summer has already seen some significant activity. Our Pinesong Retreat was again a roaring success, with record attendance, magnificent weather, stimulating workshops and a wonderful Sunday service. We had a great group of volunteers make our kids' swing area safer with secure borders and wood chips and expand the new walkway to the Columbine House to accommodate wheelchairs. The reconstruction work on setting up Columbine House to receive and support our Faith Formation activities in September is well under way and on schedule. Our 50th Anniversary Planning Committee is in full gear, putting together a great celebration weekend. Rev. Katie is on her well-deserved vacation. The bikers are biking, the hikers are hiking and the campers have had a couple good weekend outings.
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Our Pinesong Retreat was again a roaring success, with record attendance, magnificent weather, stimulating workshops and a wonderful Sunday service.
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August should be full of preparations to build on a number of significant themes for the coming year.
The Board of Trustees will have their annual planning retreat on August 24. We welcome new Board members
Elizabeth Long, Kathleen Adams, and Vanessa Self, along with returning Vice President
Susan Koonce and Treasurer
K Redford. A big part of the Board's work this year will be to prioritize and start the wheels rolling on all the goals embedded in the new plan. Already in the works is planning the work necessary to move Rev. Katie and Jeanne into the upstairs of Bowman Hall sometime in October. The Nominating and Leadership Development Committee is planning a series of workshops to help current and future congregational leaders be more effective and efficient in their roles. Also a Facilities Planning Committee is being formed to reexamine our space needs, particularly sanctuary and fellowship, and make recommendations for the changes needed to relieve crowding and support our growing congregation. And, also per the strategic plan, we expect to design some activities that will allow us to reexamine our mission and consider developing a church covenant.
The Board has set their regular meeting for the third Tuesday of each month at Noon, starting in September in Bowman Hall. If you are curious about how we go about our work, have questions or comments, you are welcome to attend. If you are interested in being a part of any of the efforts noted above, please let me or another Board member know.
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News you can use
Faith Formation News and Notes
How do we create healthy communities? In a faith that claims inclusion and diversity, how are we living out these values? Some of the best multicultural work I witness is in youth spaces. The work is hard and it imbues hope. In UU spaces across the country and especially in our Pacific Western Region (UUFD is part of the Mountain Desert District within this region) caucusing is now included at all youth events. These caucuses facilitate conversations around identities such as race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or ability (including neurological). The experiences aim to raise awareness around privilege and non-privilege, especially getting privileged groups into the discomfort zone, and creating a safe space for marginalized groups to unify. UUFD was among over 400 congregations across the nation that participated in White Supremacy Teach-Ins this past spring in our adult worship and children's Faith Formation. From the teach-ins grew a national UU network called Grow Racial and Cultural Equity (G.R.A.C.E). At UUFD the learning continues in our Healing Racism Circle; this is an open group. How can we examine, and begin to dismantle, often unconscious white supremacy culture and behavior? How willing are we to be vulnerable on this path of self-awareness? We are called as Unitarian Universalists to live our values. We are called to covenant with one another. Most importantly, we restore covenant by calling in, not calling out. I challenge the assumption that modern youth are entitled and disconnected. I am hopeful. These youth can change the world. In fact, they already are. Are we listening? How will we follow?
If you are curious to learn more about caucusing,
here is a video from our region's Multicultural Team.
Now Accepting Applications for 2017-18 Faith Formation Leaders and Assistants
Positions begin in September. This year we need over 30 people who commit themselves to our Sunday child-centered learning. We provide Faith Formation every Sunday and need a robust team. Leaders and assistants are paired up to work as co-teachers. You will be placed into a classroom with the necessary understanding and resources. Prerequisites include at least three-month attendance at UUFD and a background check. A Faith Formation representative will be in front of the pulpit on the first Sunday of each month following the services, if you are interested or contact
[email protected].
What are the benefits of getting involved in children's Faith Formation?
What other opportunities exist to deepen
faith?
Healing Racism Circle continues their deep work this fall. Stay tuned for dates and events. This is an open group. All are welcome.
Social Justice and Responsibility Team focuses on Racial Justice, Gender Justice, Basic Needs and Immigration. An environmental focus is also being considered and needs leaders and volunteers.
Deepen your connection with Spiritual Practice UUFD offers various opportunities for spiritual practice: Covenant Groups, Pastoral Care, Sage Circle, Yoga, Meditation, Painting, Covenant of UU Pagans (CUUPS), Poetry Circle, Cosmology, Game night, Outdoor Adventure Group, Circle suppers and more. See the calendar for a full list of offerings. http://durangouu.org/blog/calendar/
Complimentary kid care is offered at the Fellowship during Circle Suppers, third Saturdays. Next circle supper is Saturday, August 19. Contact Nancy Fisher to rsvp for one of these meaningful shared meals in the homes of congregants.
Childcare is generally available upon request for choir rehearsals, committee and team meetings, spiritual practice offerings and other UUFD events. Advance notice is appreciated. Contact
[email protected].
-Lisa McCorry, Faith Formation Director
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Share the Plate: What is it, and who benefits?
Social Responsibility and Justice News
One of the significant ways that our fellowship impacts local justice work is through our donations on Share the Plate Sundays. Members nominate an organization that they believe is doing important social justice work and worthy of our contributions. The Social Responsibility and Justice Coordinating Team reviews all nominations and selects those to receive our donations over the course of the coming year. This last year we had three recipients (Thrive! Living Wage, Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center, and Southwest Garden Project of Colorado) selected for a three-month donation period, and three recipients (4STAR, Real History of America, and one in the process of being identified by our Youth Group) selected for a one-month period.
Unlike our fiscal year, our Share the Plate cycle runs October through September. In the month of August we accept new nominations from members of the fellowship, with the review and selection of recipients occurring in the first part of September.
If you have a worthy organization that you would like to be considered for selection as a Share the Plate recipient, we encourage you to complete a nomination form and submit to our Coordinating Team. We will have forms available at the SRJ table after Sunday services in the month of August or you can go to the UUFD website at durangouu.org and complete the form online.
The criteria for selection includes:
- nonprofit organization
- based in the four corners area (expanded from Durango in response to the suggested strategic plan priority to increase our presence in the four corners)
- work focused on pressing social justice issue
- preference given to organizations working on UUFD current social justice priorities - basic needs, LGBTQ, healing racism, immigration
Next year, each recipient will be for a three-month period. While we were able to include additional organizations by having the summer months as one-month donations, this meant the collection amount for each of those organizations was smaller and less impactful. We decided to return to the system of one recipient per quarter.
Thank you to each person who has participated in the Share the Plate process by nominating an organization, speaking for them on a Sunday, and by donating your dollars to their work.
SRJ Coordinators: Bonnie Miller, Betty Schwartz-Bozeman
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UUFD's 50th Anniversary this fall!
Historic photos and documents needed; volunteers appreciated
A celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the UUFD
is planned for
September 22-24.
Do you have photos, artwork or other historical documents relating to the early days of UUFD? We would like to borrow them for reproduction and use as we create a display for this celebration. Please bring any photos or other documents you may have AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; we will have a table on the patio for this purpose.
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 "Children of the Same God" by Susan Ritchie now available
Dr. Susan Ritchie's book, Children of the Same God: The Historical Relationship Between Unitarianism, Judaism, and Islam
, is available at the Social Justice & Responsibility table after services. Suggested donation $15. Rev. Dr. Ritchie was our featured Pine Song Retreat presenter.
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Recital Series 2017-2018
 Since the last communication about the series for next year, the date for the second recital had to be changed, and the fourth recital date was established. The series will be on Friday evenings as follows. Please add the dates to your calendars:
- Brandon Christensen, violin, with Marilyn Garst, piano-October 13
- Erik Gustafson, tenor, with Marilyn Garst, piano-December 8
- Anne Eisfeller, harp-March 2, 2018
- Southwest Piano Trio (Kay Newnam, violin, Bonnie Mangold, cello, Marilyn Garst, piano) with Lori Lovato, clarinet-April 27, 2018
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CUUPs Corner
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
CUUPS of the Half Moon
August 10 at 6:30 pm in Bowman Hall
What is a Hedgewitch?, presented by Gwyn. As a practitioner, she will help us to understand this practice. Child care provided on request. Contact
[email protected]
.
CUUPS of the Half Moon
August 24 at 6:30 pm in Bowman Hall
Please join us for a Lesson in Drumming. Seats available on notice. Fee associated with lesson. Child care provided on request. Contact
[email protected]
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Sliabh Anam Druid Grove
August 17 at 6:30 pm in Bowman Hall
Join our study group meeting, affiliated with CUUPs. As an OBOD group, we continue to learn about the ancient Celtic spirituality of Druidry and how it is blossoming in the 21st Century. Contact
[email protected].
Ongoing Classes and Groups
CUUPs (Covenant of UU Pagans)
All are welcome for seasonal celebrations and to explore study topics. Meets two Thursdays a month from
6:30-8:30 pm
in Bowman Hall. Childcare on request.
Contact:
[email protected]
.
-Sam Foster
Steward of the Wood
CUUPS of the Half Moon
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