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IN THIS ISSUE
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 Welcome families!
Rev. Katie's Animas View
You may have noticed in recent Sundays an increase in younger families with children. While our elders bring wisdom and longevity, young people and children enliven our fellowship and provide an assurance that we will go on. We are thrilled to have an influx of new families.
I have heard you tell me that your family has been attracted because you often want to develop deeper connections in community and want to build multigenerational relationships. You have made me aware that you look to be making meaning, to be anchored in a place where you can teach our liberal religious values to your children, as well as to rid yourself of the isolation that is so prevalent these days.
One of our goals at UUFD is to get families connected, finding places where your gifts are utilized to meet our mission, while at the same time allowing you to find fellowship opportunities where your children are welcomed.
Faith Formation offers a Family Breakfast, 9am - 10am on the first Sunday of each month. It's an early hour to get all ready to go, but you can show up and have a lovely breakfast with other families. It's a casual way to connect with others.
We're working on shifting our Circle Supper so that at least one home will be family-friendly. We'll be planning family events (like bowling and picnics) and I'd love to hear your ideas for more ways we can connect.
As sad as I am to see her go, Lisa McCorry will be with us through June, and she will be coordinating the Four Corners Retreat activities for children and youth. Lisa will remain at UUFD as a member, but not engaged in faith formation leadership. We're currently in search for a person to take on the role of Director of Faith Formation.
I feel fortunate to be a part of this congregation as it explores ways to become more welcoming and inclusive. YOU are valued here. Together, let us welcome the next folx to come through our doors.
With love and faith,
Rev. Katie
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May Services
Theme: Curiosity
Spiritual Practice: Moving from fear to openheartedness
May 5
My Story
-Members of UUFD, pulpit guests
A few of our members will share their
spiritual
autobiographies with the congregation. How might we develop our own by
hearing
others?
Community and Its Generations
On this Mother's Day, we'll consider all the different ways of mothering. We'll also dedicate our youngest ones, and bridge one who is becoming an adult.
May 19 * Followed by Annual Meeting
Giving Our Time
In this abbreviated service, we'll listen to the choir, and celebrate the importance of the gifts of service. After fellowship and snacks together, we'll hold the annual meeting to elect new Board officers and approve a budget.
May 26
For Those Who Serve
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President's Message
Tom Miller
I'm writing this article today with two hats on... one as President and the other as member (ex-officio) of the Facility Planning Task Force (FPTF). At the request of the Board and with the agreement of the Task Force members, I want to clear up what seems to be a fairly common misunderstanding about where we are with regard to the decision about campus improvements and expansion.
Based on our growth predictions (hopes?), the goal of the Task Force as stated in our Strategic Plan was to work with an architect to design two conceptual plans that could expand our capacity, one for a contiguous facility and the other for a non-contiguous facility. Very carefully, over the last year, the FPTF has, based on input from teams, committees and a large number of individuals, refined initial drawings into the two plans currently on display in Bowman. Each of these plans substantially meets, in different ways, the key space requirements people have identified. The completion of the Task Force's work will be to conclude, based on as much input as we can get from you, which plan is best suited to our needs going forward. We hope this decision will be made by the end of June.
THERE HAS BEEN NO DECISION ABOUT BUILDING, OR EVEN ABOUT BEGINNING A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
In fact, I believe we are at least a year away from even starting the conversation about "Should we build?" A lot has changed in the past couple years since we started this process at our Strategic Summit. We have continued to grow. We have also expanded the Sanctuary, created great new office space, improved Bowman some more, and acquired Columbine House. While we still have crowding in Bowman, a congested and busy Sanctuary entrance, and parking lot issues, we are fully able to operate for a while with what we have.
We also, for the first time in my experience here, have hit a plateau on pledge contributions. With the proposed operating budget for next year stretched thin, the Board believes it is not fiscally responsible to begin consideration of a capital campaign. We do believe that the money and time we have spent to get to this point was well worth it. Once we have a decision on which concept best serves us, we will have a very solid foundation to build on if/when we get to the point that it makes sense to proceed. To get to that point, we will need to continue in multiple ways, over time to dialog, explore, and feel the effects of our growth. I believe we will know when the time is right to go forward with building. I know it is not now.
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UUFD establishes Legacy Fund
Church endowment to be created through members' bequests
UUFD is in the process of establishing and rolling out its Legacy Fund. The Legacy Fund is our name for the church endowment. The purpose of the Legacy Fund is simple: help ensure the long-term financial viability of Unitarian Universalism in the Four Corners Region by providing a means for members and friends to name UUFD as a beneficiary in their wills/estate plans. While our congregation has been in existence for over fifty years now, the first significant bequest was received just last spring from the estate of member Dave Rich.
To learn more,
check out our new brochure here, where you can find out about the UUFD Legacy Fund in more detail, including how to get more information. You can also pick up a copy at the back of the Sanctuary.
Later this year, we will schedule an informal estate planning "chalk talk" on a Sunday after the worship service. At this forum, one or two local estate planning attorneys will guide us through types of legacy gifts and the basics of creating or updating estate planning documents.
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Love Out Loud
Social Responsibility and Justice special feature
Love Out Loud i
s an interfaith collaborative effort begun 10 years ago by First United Methodist Church. LOL is about extending love to the community through service projects to help nonprofit organizations and identified individuals in need. This collaboration has grown to involve seven local churches, including UUFD for the last several years. This year, the dates for projects are June 1 through June 9, with a Celebration lunch for ALL volunteers on June 9 at First United Methodist Church at 1:30 pm.
Brochures describing community service projects will be available after May 10 at the SRJ table. Individuals and families can choose from nearly 50 different projects and register for areas of interest. Online registration (preferred) will also be available on our UUFD website. UUFD is specifically supporting these projects: Café au Play deep cleaning on June 2; writing Thrive thank you notes to businesses on June 7 and 8 in Bowman Hall; Days for Girls assembly of feminine hygiene kits destined for Africa on June 5 in Bowman Hall; and notecard making and writing notes of encouragement to residents of local convalescent homes on June 9 in Bowman Hall.
UUFD members Kathy Devine and Sheryl Guy are part of the interfaith steering committee organizing LOL this year. A particular need is people to serve as LOL Coordinators for projects. This job involves serving as the liaison between the project and volunteers, with the responsibility to meet with the person in charge of a specific project, find out who signed up, and then contact those volunteers to remind them of the time and place to meet for the project. Coordinators are also asked to take a few photos of the project team at work. If you are interested and able to help as a Coordinator, contact Sheryl Guy
[email protected]
. You can also contact Sheryl with any questions you have about Love Out Loud. This is a great opportunity to join with neighbors and friends to benefit our community and make new connections!
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Save the date for potluck/picnic/BBQ
Please plan to join us on June 23, after Sunday Service, for a potluck/picnic/BBQ on the patio and grounds. This is a multi-generational event and open to all. A great opportunity to make connections and have fun together! This event replaces the June Circle Supper. More information to come. The organizer, Nancy Fisher, can be reached at
[email protected]
.
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Gather Round
Notes & News from Faith Formation
One of the meanings of church community is, well, just that: community. For me, one of the greatest values of this faith community is multigenerational relationships in the life of my kids, especially living far from family. This value is likely lost in eyes of adolescents. It is one of the many seeds we plant that may not sprout for years or decades. We do it anyway. Gathering together. Friday of Easter weekend we gathered with a span of over 70 years in age to dye eggs and decorate cookies (pictures below). Encouraging spaces of belonging is where faith community can uniquely infuse our lives. Gather round as we continue to offer new ways to connect and care.
New Class: Mindfulness Meditation on the first Wednesday mornings of the month at 8 am, and second Wednesday evenings at 5 pm.
New Group: Common Threads Knitting and Fibers Group, meeting monthly on first Wednesday afternoons at 4:30.
Child Dedication and Bridging Ceremony: Mother's Day Sunday,
contact Lisa McCorry to include your children.
All Church BBQ Potluck: Sun, June 23 after church.
4 Corners UU Retreat: A multigenerational weekend of camping on the Pine River.
Click here for more information.
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Board member nominees announced
Plan to vote at Annual Meeting May 19 or submit a proxy
The Nominating & Development committee is nominating the following members for our 2019/20 Board of Trustees:
President - Tom McCampbell
Vice President - Frank Lockwood
Secretary - Nancy Burpee
All members will have an opportunity to vote on the nominees at our Annual Meeting after the Sunday Service on May 19, 2019.
To help us ensure a quorum, if you will not be able to attend the annual meeting on May 19, please consider asking another member who will be there to carry your proxy, as outlined in our bylaws (see below). Your proxy must be in writing and include your name and the name of your proxy, as well as your votes on the meeting agenda items.
Section 7. Proxy Voting
Any member present may serve as a proxy for another member not in attendance at a fellowship business meeting. The presiding officer shall ask for proxy votes after the votes of members present are tallied. The proxy shall state the name of the member they are representing. Proxy votes must be specific to the items contained on the annual meeting agenda. Proxy votes can be used to produce a quorum. Each member present is allowed to represent only one absent member in proxy voting by presenting written authorization from the absent member prior to the meeting.
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Considering joining our Fellowship?
Spring is springing all around us! This is a time of transformation and perhaps a season in your life that you'd like to make the transition to becoming a member at UUFD. If so, please stop by the Welcome podium on Sunday morning and see Shannon Beaver, our Connections Coordinator (
[email protected]) or a member of the Membership Team, who can help you take the next step to membership at UUFD.
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CUUPS Corner
Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans
All activities take place at UUFD in Bowman Hall.
Thursday, May 2, 6:30 pm. Our big annual BELTANE RITUAL. With Maypole and everything!
Thursday, May 16, 6:30 pm. Sliabh Anam Druid Grove meeting.
Thursday, May 23, 6:30 CUUPS meeting.
We will be learning the ancient Chinese art of Q Quang by practice.
Willow
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Caring Team need
A UUFD member, Mollie Hanson (the daughter of Kathleen Adams) is looking for independent living support, part time in Durango. If you know of someone interested, please talk with Kathleen for details. Call 970-676-1022 or email [email protected].
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