Lives Transformed
Rev. Katie's Animas View
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Even in the midst of a pandemic - or maybe
especially
in a time of pandemic - the purpose for our coming together is to transform lives, both our own and others.
For our Annual Meeting, which we will still hold on its regularly scheduled date (Sunday, May 17 at 11am), I’d like to invite you to first read one short chapter in a book. I’m going to attach it here, so that it’ll be easy to find.
Serving With Grace
is a wonderful little book by UU minister Erik Walker Wikstrom that I believe will inspire many of us who care about this beloved community. The Board of Trustees has begun reading it together and realized that it would be so good if you would all join us.
If you enjoy the chapter, you can acquire your own copy at the
UUA bookstore
and keep on reading. I’d love to hear how you’ve infused your contribution to this fellowship with grace.
Do you have all that you can handle right now, or would you like to contribute something more? Everything is a bit topsy-turvy, so we need to know.
Let’s continue to find ways to make connections and to serve the world around us.
You are so wonderful! I am grateful to be serving you.
ALWAYS in the love,
Rev. Katie
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May Services (all services held online)
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To join a Zoom worship, look for the link on the
UUFD website
.
Thresholds: What does it mean to be a people suspended between?
May 3
Grief + Things that Feel Like It
–Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris + Worship Team
May 10
Parenting During a Pandemic
–Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris + Worship Team
Are you a parent who would like to offer a one-minute reflection on what parenting has been like during this unique time? Contact
Rev. Katie
.
May 17
A Transformed Life
–Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris + Worship Team
This abridged service (followed by the Annual Meeting) reminds us of why people come to church.
May 24
The Art of Meaning
-Rev. Kimberley Debus, pulpit guest + Worship Team
Experiencing art (both creating and observing) helps us bear what George Bernard Shaw calls “the crudeness of reality.”
May 31
Multigenerational FUN
+ Fellowship
–Sara Sautter, Dir. Faith Formation + Worship Team
We will to continue to create ways to have fun during this restricted time.
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Dandelion Lessons
Social Responsibility and Justice special feature
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“Why doesn’t constant trampling defeat the dandelion? The key to its strength is its long and sturdy root, which extends deep into the earth. The same principle applies to people. The true victors in life are those who, enduring repeated challenges and setbacks, have sent the root of their being to such a depth that nothing can shake them.” -
Daisaku Ikeda
The current worldwide crisis reveals much about the frailties and injustice of our human systems. It also brings to light the potential of the human spirit. When our spiritual roots and values are deeply set and secure, they enable us to withstand tremendous adversity. We continue to make adjustments in our social justice work and cancel or postpone numerous activities. We still cannot gather to have
White Fragility
book discussions, volunteer at
Manna
or the
Durango Food Bank
, or march in the Durango Pride Parade.
Yet, like the dandelion, we are stubborn in our commitment to keep growing and creating justice. As we have reduced team activities and expenses, we are diverting our social justice budget to help meet urgent needs in the community. We donated $1474 to
Compañeros Four Corners Immigrant Resource Center
for food boxes for immigrant families. We donated an additional $1280 to the
Durango Food Bank
to purchase food for the many in need in our community. UUFD members and friends are part of nearly 300 volunteers who have sewn over 8000 masks, gowns, headbands, and caps as personal protective equipment given at no cost to small and large healthcare facilities in Durango and our entire region. We write and call our senators and representatives to advocate for democratic and just practices.
We shall take lessons from the dandelion and remain tenacious and tough, focused on our vision of a more just world for all peoples.
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Join Finance for budget "chalk talk"
Join via Zoom on Sat., May 9 at 10 am
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All are welcome to join The Finance Committee as they host a Zoom meeting to discuss the upcoming church year’s proposed operating budget on Saturday, May 9, 2020 at 10am.
To join the meeting, click here
and use password 046601 if prompted. This budget will be recommended for adoption at UUFD’s Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 17, 2020.
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Updates from Faith Formation
Note from the Interim Director of Faith Formation, Sara Sautter
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Parents’ Happy Hour
Parents, we are still meeting online every Wednesday night at 8:30. We’ve moved to the online game platform of
Houseparty
. Load the app, then search for our May host, Marianna Valdez. Then be sure to “Be In The House” at 8:30 each Wednesday.
What’s Up in Faith Formation
After several weeks of Zoom-based Faith Formation, we have come to realize that what the children need now is fun, play and connection. They miss their friends, they miss play, and they need to feel connected outside or in their homes.
We are responding to that with, well, fun, play and connection!
After our usual rituals of chalice lighting and Roses and Thorns (joys and sorrows) we hear stories, play games, enjoy show and tell, make silly faces, sing, have dance parties and give the children a chance to enjoy what they are – children.
All our staff are still working and joining us every Sunday. Hang out with your UUFD friends at 11:00 each Sunday morning with Cara, Anna, Jeff, Kiara, Jasmine and Sara on our NEW Faith Formation Zoom Link.
Click here
.
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May "Fun Ideas" Calendar
Yeah. We know kids are tired of being at home with the family. We ALL miss our extended family and friends. Hmm. If only we had some ideas of special things to do at home…
Wait! We do have some ideas of special things to do at home. We’ve made a calendar of spring ideas!
You can find it by clicking here
. There are ideas for something special to do on that day. Awesome!
It was created by Sara’s colleague Leslie Roth and revised by Sara for our fellowship. Enjoy!
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Giving in the time of "social distancing"
All the ways you can continue your financial support of UUFD
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Have you made a pledge yet? If not, please mail your pledge card to the office at 419 San Juan Drive, Durango CO 81301.
To make pledge payment, you have two options:
- Mail a check (please write "pledge payment" in the memo field)
- Make an online payment here (If you haven't given online before, click "Create Profile" to set up an account. You can set up automatic recurring pledge payments or make a one-time payment.)
To contribute to the Sunday collection basket or make a one-time donation, you now have three options:
- Mail a check (please write "donation" in the memo field)
- Make an online donation (If you've done this before, log in and choose "online collection basket" or "all other donations." If not, click "Create Profile" to set up your account.)
- Send a text! Send a text message to the number 833-765-0135, and type the amount you want to donate as the message. Send it and you will be prompted with what to do next, which will include registering and verifying your account (a process you will only need to do once). You may want to save that phone number as "UUFD Text Giving" or something similar in your contacts. Detailed instructions here.
To those of you who have already pledged and/0r given, thank you!
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Note to committees and teams
How to handle reimbursement requests
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As the church office is mostly closed these days, Reimbursement Request forms and supporting receipts, once approved by Committee Chairs or others with spending authority, may be emailed to
Tim Miller
. Reimbursement checks will usually be mailed out within a week.
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Recital Series offers thank yous
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The artists and dates for the 2020-2021 Recital Series have now been finalized. Let us all hope that COVID-19 will not necessitate the cancellation of any of these recitals. We hope you can join us for the following:
- Sept. 25, 2020: Southwest Piano Trio with Kay Newnam, violin, Anastasia Nellos, cello, and Marilyn Garst, piano, in works by Beethoven, Brahms and Czech-American composer Tomas Svoboda.
- Oct. 30, 2020: Montage Music Society from Santa Fe. The ensemble will perform contemporary works inspired by visual art.
- Jan. 22, 2021: John O'Neal, percussion (music for marimba and various drums), assisted by Joe Nibley, trumpet.
- April 23, 2021: Andreas Tischhauser, flute, and Marilyn Garst, piano, in works by French, Russian, Czech, English and American composers.
Marilyn Garst, Artistic Director
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Contact Us
Newsletter Editor: Shanan Orndorff
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
419 San Juan Drive, Durango, CO 81301
970-247-1004
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SUNDAY SERVICE 10 AM
(online until further notice)
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Our mission at UUFD is to:
Provide a home for liberal religion, spiritual exploration and personal growth.
Provide lifespan religious education that draws on multiple sources and explores religious, spiritual, intellectual and ethical questions.
Work toward a community with peace, liberty and justice for all.
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Ministry & Staff
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris, Minister
Jeanne MacKenzie, Office Administrator
Sara Sautter, Interim Director of Faith Formation
Marilyn Garst, Classical Pianist & Artistic Director for Recital Series
Lawrence Nass, Contemporary Pianist
Elizabeth Crawford, Choir Director
José Duran, Choir Accompanist
joserobduran@gmail.com
Shannon Beaver, Connections Coordinator
Tricia Bayless, Financal Clerk
Caesar Sanchez, Sexton
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Board of Trustees
Frank Lockwood, President
Julie Jordan, Member-at-Large
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris, ex-officio
Board meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month, 4 - 6:30 PM.
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