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Love Is Something, If You Give It Away
Rev. Katie's Animas View
Love is something, if you give it away, you'll end up having more. -Malvina Reynolds
I am a member of the Unitarian Universalist Funding Program, which is a grant making program of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The funds have been generously provided by the UU Veatch Program at Shelter Rock, and the Program has a number of panels for both UU and non-UU projects.
The panels are:
- Fund for Unitarian Universalism (makes grants to strengthen UU institutions and community life)
- Fund for UU Social Responsibility (makes grants that increase involvement in social justice)
- Fund for International UUism (grants to strengthen Unitarian/Universalist organizations or projects internationally)
- Fund for a Just Society (makes grants to non-profit organizations that address social justice)
I go to Boston twice a year to meet with my panel. Beforehand, we need to read and consider all the grant applications we've received. I am assigned a number of applications to present, so I reach out to the representative to learn more about their project.
This work has been deeply inspiring, both to see what people around the country and the world are doing to bring justice to the world, and to discern the best ways to use our resources. One of the non-profits that has received funds is our local Thrive!
I invite you to look at the website (uufunding.org) and get creative about our own plans and programs. How might UUFD be a recipient for funding? Who might write our grant?
How can our grant writing invite more creativity and partnership in our ministries?
I am grateful to be serving Unitarian Universalism, and YOU, during this exciting time.
Love and blessings,
Rev. Katie
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May Sunday Services
Theme: All Creatures of the Earth and Sky
Concepts: Embodiment, memory
May 7
Born With a Box of Matches Inside
-Rev.Katie Kandarian-Morris
Over 500 UU congregations have committed to participating in a teach in to explore white supremacy and to help us commit to resisting it. What are our own contributions to white supremacy culture? How do we make a conscious shift?
May 14
May Our Lives Bloom Like the Flowers
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
On this Mother's Day Sunday, we'll celebrate the 95th Flower Communion ceremony. Bring with you a flower to share and plan to take home another as we'll experience individuality and community together.
May 21
The Spirituality of Service
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
How might we re-conceptualize the purpose of lay leadership so that it becomes a spiritual practice? Come celebrate those who have offered themselves to UUFD.
May 28
The Jewel in the Garbage Can: The Risky Business of Intention
-Rev. Robert Latham, pulpit guest
We seek to live with nobility hoping that our life will contribute to human good. However, history may seem indifferent to our intentions. The smaller lesson is that we don't have complete control over the outcome of our intentions. The larger lesson is that either good or evil can become each other through the magic of social transformation.
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President's Message
Teresa Jordan
The busy work of the monastery provides as much of a pathway as the time of prayer.
-from Serving with Grace by Erik Walker Wikstrom
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Durango (UUFD) has many pathways of service available to members. Some members find their service path working on ministry teams or committees. Others prefer the shorter-term commitments of volunteering on a task force. A few accept the call of service by serving on the board. One of the greatest privileges of service for all members, however, is voting in congregational meetings.
Annual Congregational Meeting. Mark you calendar and plan to participate in the Annual Congregational Meeting, which will be held in the sanctuary at UUFD immediately following worship service on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Those who have been members for at least 30-days prior to the meeting are eligible to vote on two important pieces of business: FY18 Proposed Budget and candidates for upcoming vacancies on the Board of Trustees and the Leadership Development/Nominating Committee. If you are unable to attend, please identify another member with a simple written statement to be your proxy so your vote can be counted.
FY18 Proposed Budget. Read Finance Chair Tim Miller's article in this newsletter for more information on the FY18 Proposed Budget, and plan to attend one of the budget question-and-answer sessions prior to the Annual Meeting.
Slate of Candidates - Board. The following is the slate of candidates for upcoming vacancies on the Board of Trustees. If elected, each will serve for two-year terms beginning July 1, 2017 and ending June 30, 2019. See article below for brief bios of each.
Vice President - Susan Koonce
Secretary - Vanessa Self
Associate Treasurer - vacant
(staff to manage accounts receivable)
Member-At-Large - Kathleen Adams
Member-At-Large - Elizabeth Long
Member-At-Large - vacant
Continuing in board service for one more year are Tom Miller as President and K Redford as Treasurer. Each was elected last year to these positions and terms. Their terms of service will end June 30, 2018.
Slate of Candidates - Leadership Development/Nominating Committee. The slate of candidates for Leadership Development/Nominating Committee, who will serve two-year terms from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2019, include:
Allison Andersen - second consecutive term
Nominations will be taken from the floor to fill the committee vacancy created by the resignation of Maureen Maliszewski.
Our gratitude for Mo's service goes with her and Paul as they relocate out of state for the next year.
 BYO Box Luncheon.
Plan to bring your own box lunch and beverage and join the group that gathers on the patio immediately following the Annual Congregational Meeting. Because we appreciate the Hospitality Team that sets-up and cleans-up every Sunday for our coffee social time, we will honor their work and allow them a sabbath break by packing-in and packing-out our own lunches on May 21.
Columbine House. The board plans to lease the property adjacent to UUFD on Columbine Drive for Faith Formation activities and meetings. For more details, see Vice President Tom Miller's article in this newsletter.
More information on Board activities. Your Board of Trustees meets at 3pm on the second Tuesday each month in Bowman Hall. Board meetings are open, and members are encouraged to attend. Meeting agendas are posted on the UUFD website the weekend prior to each meeting. Minutes of the previous meetings are also posted on the website. Find the latest agenda and minutes by going to durangouu.org and clicking on About>Our Governance>Meeting Agendas/Minutes.
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Each Sunday the congregation recites our affirmation, which begins, "Love is the doctrine of this church, and service is its prayer." May we each find our pathway to serve within and beyond our church community.
Keeping faith,
Teresa Jordan
President, Board of Trustees
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Slate of Candidates 2017-18
The Nominating & Development Committee is pleased to announce the Slate of Candidates for 2017/2018 Fiscal Year. They are:
Tom Miller - President
Susan Koonce - Vice President (new)
K Redford - Treasurer
Vanessa Self - Secretary
(new)
Allison Andersen - Leadership Development/Nominating Committee
Kathleen Adams - Member at Large
(new)
Elizabeth Long - Member at Large
(new)
Please click here for photos and brief biographies of the new candidates.
A member wide vote will occur at our Annual Meeting on May 21st to approve the new nominees. In addition, the board has opened up a third Member at Large position. Please contact Allison Andersen at 970.779.0607 or allisonindurango@aol.com if you are interested or have any questions.
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UUFD joins UUSC to fight persecution in Burma
Social Responsibility and Justice News
"Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public. " -Cornel West
This quote never gets old because it speaks so directly to the heart of social justice work...showing the love we have for our fellow beings and our earth through the choices we make to act. Our Fellowship continues to stand on the side of love in the commitments we make individually and as a faith community.
Recently we received an urgent plea from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) for donations to help their efforts in responding to the crisis in Burma. The letter from UUSC explained that they have "been on the ground in Burma for many years, both helping to build pro-democracy reform groups as the country began its transition away from a brutal military dictatorship and defending the rights of the
Rohingya." The
Rohingya are a Muslim minority population living along the west coast of Burma (also know as Myanmar).
However, this year persecution of the
Rohingya by both the government and extremist Buddhist nationalists dramatically escalated. In retaliation for an insurgent attack, Burma's military "swept through
Rohingya villages, killing hundreds, raping women and girls, burning civilians alive in their homes, driving tens of thousands into neighboring Bangledesh." A report from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights documented systematic crimes against humanity and a calculated campaign of terror. The makings of genocide are at work. The UUSC is partnering with other organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International and leaders of the Rohingya community to contain this crisis.
In response, on behalf of the Fellowship we sent a check for $1000 from our Disaster Relief and Development Fund to UUSC to contribute to their work. Each year UUFD commits $5000 to this fund so that we can reach out and support urgent local, national, or international needs. This fiscal year we contributed to flood work in Baton Rouge ($2500), and Haiti relief ($1000), prior to this check for work in Burma. We have $500 remaining to assist with other urgent needs this year. We are proud of our Fellowship's work for justice by committing some of our resources to helping others in great need.
We have the opportunity to make a difference in the Durango community this June as we have chosen to again join several other churches in participating in
Love Out Loud projects. Through this annual program, people celebrate their faith by lending a hand in service at non-profits across town. Projects in need of doing are being identified now and will be printed in a flyer to be distributed. Volunteers pick their strongest project interests and sign up. A Project Coordinator organizes work teams based on interests and contacts volunteers about which project team they are assigned. You, your family and friends are encouraged to pitch in and show our appreciation and love for our community workers!
Social Responsibility and Justice Coordinators: Bonnie Miller, Betty Schwartz-Bozeman, Charlie Clements
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Strategic Planning Update
Action Planning Groups to present recommendations
Key directions and actions that will drive UUFS's mission work for the next several years are coming together. The Action Planning Groups formed in the Strategic Planning Summit have been working diligently to build recommendations in each of the areas of strategic interest identified at the Summit. As you may remember, these are:
- Expand Faith Formation
- Sustain and increase our Financial Health
- Live our Environmental values
- Expand our community presence and outreach
- Plan appropriately for growth and expansion
- Preserve and deepen relationships among the congregation
- Foster Social Justice
- Grow diversity within the congregation
The Action Planning Groups are on track to craft an integrated summary of their recommendations to be presented by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee to the Board of Trustees at their
May 8 meeting (
3:00pm in Bowman - all are welcome). The Board eagerly anticipates the completion of the strategic plan and sharing it with the Fellowship to continue our work together.
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Columbine House & Bowman Hall update
Upstairs Bowman to become offices and work space; Columbine for Faith Formation and meeting rooms
UUFD will soon have the use of two new spaces to serve the needs of our growing membership. You may have heard, or read in the last newsletter that, due to the generosity of two of our members, we now have leased access to the house next door, on Columbine. The Board had already voted to repurpose the upstairs of Bowman. The best uses for each of those spaces have now been determined by the Board and Ministerial staff. When the lease is up, upstairs Bowman will be adapted into offices for all staff and additional volunteer work spaces. Our Building and Grounds Committee, led by John Redemske, has conducted multiple consultations with the City Planning and Zoning folks and the Fire Department, among others with regard to the use of Columbine. They have given us a clear understanding of what is needed to allow us to use Columbine to support our growing Faith Formation program as well additional meeting rooms.
Work on Columbine has already started. Recently, a cadre of volunteers (Thank you all!) removed several sections of the fence between the two properties, but the combination of the two properties still remains fully fenced for safety. One large section of the rear of the fence was left intact to leave a private space in the rear of Columbine for various activities, most especially CUUPS ceremonies. The work group also did some tree and shrub trimming, and constructed a short walkway that joins the UUFD patio with the rear of the Columbine house. The new walk will become the major link between the two properties and provide easy access for the kids
on Sunday morning. Other minor renovation work will be ongoing until all the required work is done, some of which we hope to be able to do with additional volunteer labor. Please take note of any requests that may come from the B&G group and help us grow into our new facilities.
If you have nice furniture that you think might be useful for either storage or work areas, please contact either Lisa McCorry or Rev. Katie.
The addition of both of these spaces will immediately reduce some of the space/facility pressures that were identified at the Strategic Summit. The hope that both new facilities will be in use by this Fall. This also gives us some breathing room to thoughtfully consider how we can most appropriately determine what our longer term facility needs are and build a whole campus concept to take us into the longer term future.
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Proposed Budget FY 2018
At our Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 21, 2017, members will be asked to approve and adopt a new Operating Budget for the church year beginning July 1, 2017. A summary of the proposed budget is presented below. Members and friends are encouraged to familiarize themselves with this information and are invited to attend informal budget Q&A sessions prior to the Annual Meeting. Two such sessions will be held in the front room of Columbine House: the first session was last Sunday, April 30, and the next will take place Sunday, May 7, at 11:00am (grab a cup of coffee and come on over).
Some highlights:
Current pledges are up over 20% - thanks to all who have pledged so far. And we hope to receive pledges from a few more members and friends in the coming weeks.
The second floor of Bowman Hall will be converted into improved office space for Rev. Katie and other staff members, much-needed work areas for volunteers, and expanded meeting space for church committees and groups. As such, we will no longer receive apartment rental income, partially offset by no longer having to pay property taxes on this space once it is used for church purposes.
On the expense side, our focus will be on non-ministerial staff compensation in response to increased programming and the expanded footprint of our facilities.
 Tim Miller
Finance Committee Chair
Please join us!
Budget Q&A Session:
Sunday, May 7, 11 am
Columbine House, front room
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Discussion of UUA Common Read
Saturday, May 6, 10 am - Noon
Join us for this review and action planning gathering for The Third Reconstruction on
Saturday, May 6th
, from
10am-12noon
. Folks will be gathering in Bowman Hall to dialogue about what struck them from their reading and consider what UUFD might do to take a moral stance. Contact Melissa Stacy at mjstacy.india@yahoo.com with any questions.
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Equal Exchange products available Sundays after worship
Your purchases support a more sustainable planet
Our Equal Exchange product sales are almost every Sunday morning after the service, during "coffee time" in Bowman Hall or on the outside patio adjacent to the Sanctuary. Equal Exchange products are fairly traded and organic. Income passes through the church to purchase a continuous flow of products. This allows us to provide all of the coffee for "coffee time."
Please consider supporting our Equal Exchange sales every Sunday. We thank Susana Jones, A J Swenk and Paul Maliszewski for helping with sales. If you are interested in staffing the table during coffee time, please contact Janice Taylor at
970-382-0165 or durangofolk@frontier.net.
Janice Taylor
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UUFD at the People's Climate March April 29
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Above: Tricia Bayless,Christa Turnell, and Bonnie Miller
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** Do you like seeing pictures like this? Make sure to like UUFD's Facebook page! Also, if you take pictures of a UUFD event you'd like to share, you can email them to Shanan Orndorff at shananyo@gmail.com for possible sharing on our Facebook page or newsletter.
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CUUPs Corner
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
CUUPS of the Half Moon
May 11 at 6:30 pm in Bowman Hall
Jade will lead us in discussion on styles and purpose of Dance in Celebration and Ritual. Child care provided on request. Contact
cuupsdurango@gmail.com.
Sliabh Anam Druid Grove
May 18 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
sliabhanam@gmail.com.
CUUPS of the Half Moon
May 25 at 6:30 pm in Bowman Hall
Please join us for the Dedication Ceremony and Rite of Passage as we mark a milestone for two cherished members of our Group. Child care provided on request. Contact
cuupsdurango@gmail.com.
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:
cuupsdurango@gmail.com.
-Sam Foster
Steward of the Wood
CUUPS of the Half Moon
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Pause for Poetry
The UU Poetry Circle will meet next on
Monday, May 8, 2017, 6-8 pm in Bowman Hall. Visitors welcome to read and listen to personal offerings and favorites. Light refreshments served. Questions:
durangofolk@frontier.net.
Middle Passage
The sea breathes
Her breast heaves
The brown boy with the blue eyes walking slowly down to the water's edge while you speak,
The one to whom you are so softly deliberately speaking
Makes no sound
You tell him about the black men shoved along in leg-irons
The black men in shackles stumbling on the ship's deck
Their feet shuffling back and forth, back and forth
The black men lying on wooden shelves stacked in the ship's belly
Their heads shifting back and forth, back and forth with the sea's motion
You tell him there are black women also
You tell him about the black people retching and dying
Their black bodies pitched, living and dead over the edge
Their black bodies make no sound falling into the water
Falling
Falling
The brown boy with the blue eyes sees their mouths open
He knows they are screaming shouting crying moaning
But he hears no sound
Only your voice
Softly deliberately telling the story that has no end
"We are dying; we will be reborn.
We are dying; we will be reborn."
The brown boy with the blue eyes listens for the fiddle and the drums
Listens for the shouts and the slap of the whip
But they make no sound under the waves
Even the creaking of the ship rising falling
Is overwhelmed
By the sea.
This the boy hears
The brown boy with the blue eyes hears the sea breathing
His body becomes a vessel full of the breathing sea
His body becomes an immense bowl full of the sea full of the bodies of black men and women
Soundlessly endlessly
Falling
Falling
The brown boy with the blue eyes hears the ceaseless roar
And the hush of the sea breathing
Hush
Hush
And your voice
"We are dying; we will be reborn.
We are dying; we will be reborn"
The sea breathes
Her breast heaves
Hush
Hush
January Kiefer, Feb 13, 2017 (reworked, April 13, 2017)
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