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IN THIS ISSUE
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Rev. Katie's Animas View
One of my favorite parts of ministry is welcoming newcomers to our fellowship. UUFD is filled with warm and kind people who love to meet new folk, who know that their lives are enriched and enlarged by the appreciation of people we haven't yet met. We want to open our doors to offer the saving message of Unitarian Universalism to the world. We've enlarged our sanctuary in order to do so.
When we gather together, we realize the gifts of multigenerational community, finding deepening when we meet others who are just beginning their lives and those who are generations older than we are. When we come together, when we worship together, sing and hold silence together and share in the same covenant of "love is the doctrine of this church," we are answering an important human need to feel something greater and to respond.
But it's also human to become set in our ways. I like my particular spot on my comfy couch at home, I know how I like things to be, and sometimes "new" makes me uncomfortable.
On a Sunday, when we are expecting visitors, it's more important to step outside my own comfort. My minister pals remind me that it's one thing for me to feel comfortable and good about how we treat new people, but that that feeling can be very different for someone who has not ever been in one of our congregations, or who has not been in a church in a long time. Wisdom says to let people remain anonymous until they are ready to be known, and especially during the worship service itself, where the community is large and may feel intimidating. It could be better just to greet one or two people just nearest our seat. Or look for someone with a new nametag to greet afterward.
I want to make sure that other people feel welcome so I make sure to speak to someone I haven't yet met, and practice welcome questions that might create good conversation. Something like, "How did the service strike you today?" or "I don't think we've met. My name is Katie." Or "What brought you here today?"
I've been reviewing French philosopher Jacques Derrida's postulation of the paradoxical notion of hospitality, that there is a dilemma in our needing to set rules and boundaries and so we only can really have a conditional hospitality (as we expect things out of others). We seem to be seeing that a lot these days at our nation's borders. I hope we can counter that to a more gracious degree in challenging ourselves to welcome others, and to not hold old assumptions about what that looks like. I believe we have such a wonderful message to give and we are wonderful givers of that good news.
Blessings and love for the New Year,
Rev. Katie
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 January Services
Theme: Possibility
Spiritual Practice: The practice of intentional imagination
Song: Woyaya
January 6
Reset
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
As we kick off a new year, we'll take inventory of our gifts, let go of what we no longer value, and lift up words of mission. Come, participate in our burning off ceremony.
January 13
Fear
Rev. Christine Robinson, pulpit guest
It is an unpleasant emotion, but without it, life is even more dangerous. How do we live with the many fearful things in our world today?
January 20
The Other America
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
Just over 50 years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave this speech to make a call to action to mobilize a multiracial effort to mobilize America's poor. Let us consider where the message is still radical.
January 27
Mindful of Privileges and Responsibilities
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
Today we'll mark twenty years of ministry, considering the shifts and surprises along the way. What beliefs help ground the journey? Stay for a reception with cake and a toast.
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President's Message
Tom Miller
I've been thinking a lot about leadership recently, for a number of reasons. I admit that I have a lot of unanswered questions. As I approach the last half year of my two-year tenure as President, what are the places where I still need to learn and grow to continue to increase my and the Board's effectiveness? As we move into the season of looking for people to rotate in as others move on to other responsibilities in the Church, how do we identify them and make the new leadership opportunities attractive, or even compelling? How do we best tie these opportunities to people's level of commitment to this community, to the fulfillment of our mission, and to the talents and passions of members that match our leadership needs? How do we involve more people in the work of the Church so that our model of Shared Ministry is more widely distributed?
There are many reasons why UUFD is an alive, vital and growing community. One of the chief contributing factors for this growth, over the years, has been the willingness of members to take on traditional and emerging roles and responsibilities that keep us moving forward. I would guess that most of us aren't fully aware of all the people who perform the myriad of large and small tasks that come together to create our Beloved Community. Some of those tasks are informally taken care of by people who see a need and jump to fill it. But, increasingly as we grow, we continue to systematize our way of interdependent operating. Things need to be coordinated in the larger context of our mission. I'm sure we'll have enough people volunteer to take care of the many tasks that need doing. Where we continue to need people is to stretch into the fewer, but vitally important, leadership roles that give attention and direction to the different spheres of responsibility that move us further in making our mission real.
So, as we move into the second half of this year, I offer some questions for you to consider:
- What role would you like to take on to create, sustain and nurture the Beloved Community that is UUFD?
- Where is your best gift to support the fulfillment of our mission?
- How might your spiritual journey be enhanced by considering a new role, one that fits well with your passion, interests and skills, along with UUFD's needs for moving our mission forward?
I look forward to an exciting year of continued growth and involvement. I hope you do too.
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Social Responsibility and Justice special feature
Do you see threats to our democracy as a significant issue for UUs? You have an opportunity to vote for
Democracy Uncorrupted
to be a priority for organized work by the Unitarian Universalist Association
(UUA) and member congregations.
Through a four-year process which begins by selecting a topic for Congregational Study/Action, Democracy Uncorrupted was chosen by
General Assembly delegates in 2016. Two years of supported study have followed and will culminate in a proposal to adopt a Statement of Conscience at the June 2019 General Assembly
if 25% of all congregations participate in a vote to forward it.
If congregations vote for the SOC to be placed on the agenda, it will be discussed, amended if desired, and then voted on by the General Assembly delegates.
Why does a Statement of Conscience matter? Because an adopted SOC establishes a priority for Unitarian Universalists. Congregations and UUA staff carry out at least one year of implementation, which includes suggested actions as well as serving as a basis for public statements about the matter. This process is grounded in the belief that our united efforts help us to make a more significant impact.
As described in the UUA study process, democracy in the U.S. has always been compromised, nevertheless, we must strive toward uncorrupted democracy. "As a means to an end, democracy organizes consensus among diverse people and preserves stability while balancing competing interests. But democracy is not merely a means. It is an end in itself, an ethical ideal, a moral and spiritual way of relating to one another." While voting rights have been expanded, "our laws and systems continue to protect privilege and maintain value gaps." In recent decades things have worsened with the influence of money and efforts to limit the influence of money in politics struck down by the Supreme Court.
How should UUFD vote in this process? Click here to register your personal vote, yes or no, that the Statement of Conscience on Uncorrupted Democracy should be placed on the General Assembly agenda in June 2019. You can also vote at the SRJ table after the Sunday services on January 6 and 13.
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Grand Canyon Art Exhibit
Show opens Jan 13; Artists' reception Jan 20 at 12 noon
The Grand Canyon Art Exhibit will be on display in Bowman Hall and there will be an Artist's Reception at 12pm on January 20th at 12pm.
Light refreshments will be served. All are invited to attend. While primarily showing pieces from a recent rafting trip to the Grand Canyon by several UU's, entries are welcome from anyone having first hand experience of the Grand Canyon. Please let [email protected] now if you'd like to enter a piece of artwork. The show will be hung at 12pm on January 13th.
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Emerging Leaders program announced
 Emerging Leaders
is term you may start hearing at UUFD. The Nominating & Leadership Development Committee has been focused on leadership development within UUFD for the past two years. We've offered leadership training and opportunities to learn more about UUFD leadership. We are officially announcing our
Emerging Leaders Program.
An
Emerging Leader
is someone who is a UUFD member, regularly volunteers and/or is a key contributor. They may already have leadership experience at UUFD or have the potential and desire to be a leader at UUFD. We have already invited people we feel fit this definition and have asked them to participate in the program. If you are interested in participating, please contact anyone on our team for more information: Robert Winslow, Linda Gumper or Allison Andersen.
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Growing through gratitude
Notes & News from Faith Formation
January is the busiest time of year for the health, wellness and nutrition industries. All those resolutions have us running around literally and figuratively to shed the holiday gluttony. I'm wondering what I need to grow rather than shrink in the new year. Holding more weight than the Christmas cookie calories, is how I'm cultivating myself so my soul can grow. Gratitude promotes this widening. As my kids grow on the height chart, I continually see the seeds of this church sprouting. I, of course, do not mention this. I'm criticized in my home for being overly kind and optimistic. If that's the worst they've got on me, maybe I'm doing okay. The truth is, I often find the kids here have much to teach me about living in the moment. This moment is the only place where connection is possible. I'm grateful for the kids in this church who show me what it is to be spirited and for the adults who are doing the journey with them.
-Lisa McCorry, Lifespan Faith Formation Director
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Ministry Review Task Force meetings scheduled
Please RSVP to your team leader
The UUFD Ministry Review Task Force has completed phase one of their objective: outreach and scheduling meetings with 5 ministry team leaders and team members as follows:
- Hospitality - January 6 at 12 noon
- Worship Arts - January 9 at 10:30 am
- Caring - January 27 at 12 noon
- Social Responsibility/Justice - January 30 at 10 am
- Faith Formation - January 31 at 4:30pm
Please RSVP to your team leader if you would like to attend these meetings. During the worship service on January 6th, Task Force members will give a brief overview of our mission and how the UUFD membership can contribute.
We look forward to hearing from and working with you. Ken Rice, Tekla Miller and Allison Andersen
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