UUFD Newsletter, Nov. 2020

November 2020*

*Did you remember to "fall back"?

Daylight savings time ended Sunday, Nov. 1 at 2 am.

Make sure your clocks are set back by one hour!

Healing

Rev. Katie's Animas View

Bring your broken hallelujah here.

–Theresa I. Soto

The other day I met, online as we do these days, with about a hundred of my clergy colleagues, planning how we each might address post-election worship for Sunday, November 8. We will need to plan for any number of outcomes to our voting, any number of local results, any particular surprises in other parts of the country that will affect us, and plan for a multiplicity of feelings and reactions to all that has been on our minds and in our hearts.

I’m glad I’ve been doing this awhile. Traumatic events have been occurring since the very first days of my ministry. The attack at Columbine High School happened two days before my big meeting with the first church I served. I know that what’s important to us is to be together in community, to be reminded of the values we share, to have a space to allow for healing and expressions of cumulative grief. We’ll make room for other feelings too, like euphoria, exhaustion, relief, or shock.

Lately I have been feeling intensely grateful about my lifelong connection to Unitarian Universalism. I love our values of commitment and forgiveness, the theological importance placed on community, our connection to the founding of this nation, and our willingness to look again and do repair work. One of my colleagues called it “getting proximate with our own hurt.” This faith movement is deep and rich.

November is always a time when the veil is thin, when we remember those who have come before, how they have mentored us and taught us, through lessons of brilliance or error. The leaves will be at our feet, reminding us to pause, to gather, each in our own abodes, but with hearts open. I look forward to seeing you these coming Sundays at worship and on November 12 for the Minister’s Circle at 4pm. There will also be a gathering of UUs held on November 5 via Facebook, YouTube, Zoom, etc. Look for it on the uua.org website or on our homepage on November 4.

In these days of healing, I send you extra love for your broken hallelujah.

ALWAYS in the love,

Rev. Katie

November Services (all services held online)

To join a Zoom worship, look for the link on the UUFD website. Need help learning to use Zoom? Try this video tutorial or this FAQ.

NOVEMBER THEME: Healing

November 1

Under Every Grief and Pine

–Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris

Let us honor those who have gone on before us, with candle-lighting and naming. We will especially remember those we have lost in this past year, feeling their importance and their connection to us.

November 8

We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident

–Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris

On this Sunday following the election, we’ll consider “the politics of the brokenhearted” and where we might declare our inter-dependence. Come, let’s heal together.

November 15

Every Part of You is Beautiful

–Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris

As we honor Transgender Day of Remembrance, we’ll look in particular at the hostility that Black Trans Women face. We’ll celebrate the beauty that is each one of us, healing wounds and finding wholeness.

November 22

We Are Not Our Own

–Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris

As a multi-generational gathering today, we’ll look at the individuals featured as the Guests at Your Table. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee continues this family way to remind us we are not our own.

November 29

Healing Ourselves, Our Communities, Our Racism

–Members of Healing Racism Team

Join us in understanding the ways we can work to break down walls of racism - within ourselves, within our relationships, and within our communities.

What Next?

Message from K Redford, UUFD Board President

Given the current pandemic, politics, weather and wildfires, I am filled with concern for the future of our world. I consider the future of our fellowship with the certainty that we will once again see each other in person. In the meantime, the board of trustees has a duty of care for our human and material resources.

The safety of our minister, staff and congregation during the uncertain progress of the pandemic is our top priority. The UUA recommends that congregations plan for ongoing virtual gatherings and operations through May 2021. This applies to worship, events, rites of passage, and more. The UUFD board has approved limited small group outside gatherings while the weather permits. This policy is based on the extensive report of our Pandemic Policy Task Force.

The inventive, creative services and programs provided by Rev. Katie, the Worship Team, Faith Formation, and our marvelous musicians help us be together now. Some of these new ideas may carry over into future services with enhanced technology. Thanks to our IT Committee, all three buildings on our campus are now connected with upgraded wifi capacity.

Our Fellowship provides an opportunity to engage in the world, be a positive force for change, and find solace and hope in a loving community. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the UFD board of trustees.

Guest At Your Table

Social Responsibility and Justice special feature

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee Works For Us

What is the UUSC?

The Unitarian/Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) has represented all UUs for 80 years. With a staff of 40 and over 100 volunteers, the Service Committee provides direct service, advocacy, and collaboration with other non-gov agencies around the world.

Mission of UUSC

The mission of the UUSC advances human rights and social justice around the world, partnering with those who confront unjust power structures and mobilizing to challenge oppressive policies. UUSC advances the vision of a world free from oppression and injustice, where all can realize their full human rights by working in three broad areas — economic justice, environmental justice, and rights at risk.

How does it work?

UUSC works with the people on the margins of society — those overlooked or forgotten by larger human rights and aid agencies. The Service Committee focuses on finding the most innovative ideas, often generated by members of those communities, and giving those ideas “wings.” By being responsive in real time. And by looking at all our projects through the lenses of gender, class, race, and culture.

Where and what tools does the UUSC use?

The UUSC works in Central America with local people, in Mexico with migrants at the border, with south seas groups on climate change, hurricane victims in Texas, and victims of human rights abuse in Burma and Bangladesh. We form partnerships with grassroots groups, fund innovation, mobilize our supporters, conduct media campaigns, insist on corporate accountability, advocate for policy change, promote justice education, and more.

How can you support the UUSC?

Our UUFD congregation supports the UUSC with an annual $1000 gift from our budget and through a special campaign of giving called “Guest At Your Table” during the holiday season. This year is an especially needy year with the pandemic creating problems around the world. I encourage you to think how much you can contribute this year to keep the UUSC’s work relevant and impactful. The UUSC’s 2019 annual budget was $28.7 million. Much more is needed to address the needs around the world and here in the USA. Learn more during our November 22 Sunday service. For more information, contact Richard Butler wasbutler@gmail.com or call 303-667-1208.

Faith Formation update

How are our new programs going?

October was a month for launching our programs. With all our programs off the ground now, it’s time to let you know how things are going.

Family Chalice Lighters has had very light participation. We encourage all families, whether you are a single or a family or six, to allow us to spotlight you as you light your home chalice. No fancy chalice is needed - an inverted cup and saucer will do just fine. Sign up here.

Our adult faith formation classes have been well received. If you are interested in participating, please click here to sign up. Examining Whiteness, UU History and Caste all are open to new enrollees.

Thanks to Bonnie Miller, our Travelling Stuffys are now sporting the tiniest and cutest masks EVER! They are safely making their way to preschool and kindergarten children teaching empathy, the foundation for raising an anti-racist child. Ollie, Marshmallow and Hope have been joined by Beanie and Chichi. We hope adding additional stuffys will shorten the wait for the next friend to arrive.

Preschool and Elementary Book Boxes have been moving family-to-family all month long, bringing classic stories of Unitarian Universalism to elementary kids and anti-bias picture books to preschool children. Keep those books moving along by emailing me at faithformation@durangouu.org for a mailing label to send books to the next family. You can always hand carry books if you prefer.

Our Sunday Morning Zoom classes have been lightly attended. While we understand that some children are experiencing Zoom fatigue, we hope you will have your children attend as often as possible. So far, we have discussed skin color and melanin, slavery and segregation, and will be moving on to civil rights in early November. This is important information that most children do not receive in schools. Please join us by logging on to the worship link and then following the faith formation zoom link in the chat box following the story.

Middle School Taking Flight, our online Our Whole Lives human sexuality program for youth in grades 7-9 launched last week. This is a collaboration with four other congregations with over 20 youth between them. Coming of Age will not be launching this year.

New this month, we will be launching ChUUrchCraft. This MineCraft based program will teach world religions through the lens of our sixth source; wisdom from world religions. Open to older elementary children and youth of all ages, learn more here and send me an email to sign up your child or youth.

Stewardship Team Recruitment

A note from Kathleen Adams

This is a call for you as a church member or friend of the UUFD congregation to consider joining the 2021–2022 Stewardship Campaign team — a surprisingly spiritual opportunity! It’s time once again to build our team – a team with plenty of people to divide up the task.

In early 2016 I agreed to co-chair the UUFD Stewardship Campaign to help fill our coffers for the coming fiscal year. I’ve remained involved with Stewardship ever since. I found that this niche of service has an overriding spiritual component, as I discovered the satisfaction of helping bring to light the rich rewards of our community’s generosity. The more obvious payback is the purpose we can find in helping ensure funds that keep our fellowship healthy and active in its mission. In spite of the monumental global change of 2020, our 2020-2021 UUFD campaign pledge promises exceeded our goal — what a statement about the value of the UUFD community in so many lives.

Throughout nearly five years of service in this role, I’ve learned some important things:

Discussing money doesn’t have to be a taboo, dreaded task.
We must begin early to recruit a solid stewardship team.
Many hands make lighter work: enough enthusiastic team member support assures success.
The time commitment is relatively short, with varying levels of responsibility.
Our team can have fun together, as we work toward an important goal.

Change is on the horizon for 2021, and we are called to work on another rigorous pledge campaign. To learn more, or if you are ready to join in the journey, please contact me.

Kathleen Adams, Stewardship Chair: 970-676-1022, kadams@mcw.edu

UUFD steps up and steps out to encourage voting!

About one year ago, a small group of UUFD folx gathered to listen to a UUA webinar on UU the Vote. Despite necessary adjustments to planned activities to maximize voter registration and voter turnout due to virus safety restrictions, we did not lose sight of the critical importance of doing this work, determined to make all voices heard in this election.

What are we fighting so hard for? As Nicole Pressley, national UU the Vote organizer, says: “Together we are imagining a world where Black Lives Matter, where we live in right relationship with the earth, where our calls for peace and justice guide foreign and domestic policy, where economic justice centers universal thriving, and all bodies and folx of all abilities can move and exist freely and with dignity.” The journey may be long, but when we vote based on our values we move toward that end.

What have UUFD members done? We may not have information from everyone who has taken steps to mobilize voters, but we heard from 30 people who together have sent 1821 letters or postcards and made over 1515 phone calls to encourage people across our country to vote. Some have volunteered to be poll watchers or election judges. Creative artistry was brought to the voter effort – see the VOTE quilts on display at 558 Main Street, and watch for painted VOTE rocks placed around Durango's downtown area. We have not been passive participants in our democracy, but are fighting for the world we wish to live in.

Nationally, UU the Vote is nearing their goal of reaching 2,000,000 votes before Election Day, and Vote Forward (a partner with UU the Vote) participants have written 17,484,276 letters! These are only two of the organizations across our country who are intensely working to mobilize voters.

Thank you to each person who has voted and each person who has worked to make this the most massive turnout of voters in American history!

Workshop explores spirituality in service

All welcome to join Zoom event Nov. 14

The UUFD Nominating and Leadership Development committee invites you to a workshop that encourages you to find resilience, strength and purpose in these troubled times by connecting your spirituality with service to our community.

Connect with other members of UUFD, share tips for resilience, and ask questions about our fellowship. All are welcome.

Our Resiliency and Our Spirituality During COVID-19 Pandemic

Zoom Workshop presented by

Nominating & Leadership Development Committee

November 14, 2020

10 am – 12 noon

To register, send email to cedar31miller@gmail.com

Transgender Day of Remembrance

UUFD co-sponsors online event Nov. 20

UUFD, 4STAR (4 Corners Support for Transgender people, Allies and Relatives) and Fort Lewis College are again co-hosting this annual service to remember transgender and nonbinary lives lost to violence in the past year. Join us on Nov. 20 at 6:30 pm, via zoom, by clicking here. For more info contact Bonnie Miller.

Board Briefs

Highlights from Oct. 27, 2020 UUFD board meeting

Lit chalice, heard opening words, and read Board Covenant
Accepted minutes of September Board Meeting and reports from Membership and Faith Formation.
Reminded of processes observation practice.
Heard Minister’s Report.
Heard Treasurer’s Report.
Appointed Terri Reherman to Vice President of the Board.
Approved Lisa McCorry as Risk Management Committee Chair.
Approved Dell Manners as member of Leadership Development/Nominating Committee.
Passed motion to authorize President to sign deed conveying right-of-way to La Plata County and to sign listing agreement for church property donated by the Carpenters.
Passed motion to accept UUA Pandemic Guidelines to plan for virtual gatherings and operations through May 2021.
Reviewed copyright policy proposal to be considered at November Board Meeting.
Heard/discussed process observation report.
Heard closing words and extinguished chalice.

Our next board meeting date is not yet determined, but members and friends are welcome to attend by clicking the Zoom link on the UUFD calendar.

-Submitted by Teresa Jordan, Secretary

New COVID-19 Facility Use Policy

Within guidelines, outdoor space on UUFD campus is available

Recognizing that virtual meetings are safest, we are also aware of our strong desire to connect in person on the UUFD campus. UUFD small groups, therefore, are permitted to gather on the campus and must observe the following restrictions:

Outdoor spaces available for small group gatherings are restricted to the south end of the parking lot and the lawn behind Bowman Hall.
Capacity for the lawn is 12 persons and capacity for the south end of the parking lot is 33 persons.

UUFD small groups include groups that are within Board or Minister

categories according to the UUFD Governance/Ministry Model, such as Committees, Teams, and Faith Formation. As determined by staff, special consideration may be given to Social Justice activities or other circumstances that fall outside the stated guidelines.

To request space, please use the Facilities Use Request Form.