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IN THIS ISSUE
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Rev. Katie's Animas View
When our UUFD Board of Trustees met last August, we together came up with our first annual "vision for ministry" to point us toward a direction of increased depth and health.
Dan Hotchkiss, UU consultant and developer of our congregation's form of governance explains how this works:
"The board is not concerned primarily with finances or buildings - important as those are. Its primary focus is religious. It aims to spend as much time as it can discerning and interpreting the congregation's mission and translating that into an annual vision of ministry to guide the staff. It spends smaller amounts of time monitoring and evaluating the work as a whole, including money, buildings, and the work of the staff. It does all this in close collaboration with the head of staff, its main partner in fulfilling the congregation's purpose."
This is the first year we have adopted an annual vision for ministry, which is:
- Explore many ways of inviting intimate circles
In this fellowship, we already do this in ways both formal and informal, with worship greetings, in new programs, in affinity groups where our people congregate to get to know each other and share an activity. And we are experiencing an awareness that our growth not only brings us new friends and acquaintances, but also brings an increased challenge that we may not know each other as we thought we did.
I invite you to explore where you are a part of an intimate circle, either at Circle Supper, at one of the small stand up tables at coffee, or on a Committee or Team in which you begin by lighting a chalice. Is there a way that you may discover intimacy (and ultimacy) with people you are just meeting? Or those you have known, but not well?
As we get comfortable with the winter darkness, let's huddle in, exploring many ways of inviting welcoming, hospitable, and intimate circles of fellowship and trust.
Always in the love,
Rev. Katie
Please join me in expressing your gratitude to Tom McCampbell, who, as a decision for good health, has resigned as President of the Board of Trustees. Welcome Frank Lockwood, voted in as our new President.
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 December Services
Theme: Awe
Spiritual Practice:
The practice of noticing the sacred in all.
December 1
An Open Question
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
As we think about closing a year and beginning a new one, might we consider together "how we develop a stronger sense of community?" Let's point toward our future together.
December 8
Becalming All Anxiety
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
At this time of year we might need an antidote to anxiety. Might the ability to wonder be just the thing?Our Spirit Movers (movement choir) will be a treat to your eyes.
December 15
Christmas in the Barn
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris & Sara Sautter
ALL COMMUNITY WORSHIP
What part do you play in the celebration of community as two people who lost their way come together in a big warm barn? The choir will preview Christmas offerings. Stay afterwards for cookies, caroling and tree decorating.
December 22
A Celebration of Winter Solstice
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
Experience the darkness as we cross the threshold into winter cold. What positive gifts might winter bring?
December 24
And Heaven & Nature Sing
-Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris
4pm and 6pm services with candle lighting. Join the choir and all ages for a Christmas Eve service of beauty and celebration of what we hold dear.
December 29
My Story
-UUFD member
Come, find yourself in the spiritual odyssey of another member of this congregation.
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President's Message
Frank Lockwood
 I was elected President of the UUFD Board of Trustees at this past Tuesday's monthly Board of Trustees meeting. I will be replacing our former President, Tom McCampbell, who has just resigned due to health concerns. Tom brought a wonderful sense of respect and cooperation to our board. We will miss him and wish him healing and wellness going forward.
I look forward to this opportunity as our fellowship is a growing, vital community. We are positively impacting our community, both for our members as well as throughout the larger Durango and Southwestern Colorado community. These are exciting times!
I come to you with a background as an attorney, mediator and political activist. I practiced law in Hawaii for 30 years and moved to Durango in 2011 with my wife, June Russell, who is a CPA and owns a tax and business consulting practice. Since arriving in Durango, I have published a book on law practice, lectured around the country, managed several political campaigns, and even ran the Durango tourism office for a couple of years. I bring to your Board of Trustees experience in being president of many non-profit organizations where I (hopefully) assisted each in moving forward to achieve their mission.
In January, I will be attending the UUA PWR (Pacific Western Region)
Leadership Experience R
etreat,
which will better equip me to recognize and address the challenges of an expanding fellowship such as ours.
I am grateful for this opportunity to serve our fellowship and I ask for your support.
Frank Lockwood
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Big news month for Faith Formation
Holiday Market, Coming of Age, new class for parents, and Val Pal
Children's Holiday Market is December 8
A beloved and traditional holiday event at UFFD, the Holiday Market, will take place on Sunday, December 9 in Columbine House. Children will be able to shop for or make gifts for their families during the event.
Donations of gently used or new gifts for both adults and children need to be received before Saturday, December 8. Gift bags and tissue paper are also needed.
Coming of Age? What's That!?
Coming of Age, a new program for middle school youth, will begin at UUFD in January 2020. An important program at many UU congregations, this program provides a starting point for a lifelong search for truth and meaning.
Is there a God? Does it matter to me? What happens after death? What is my responsibility in the world? Youth will explore these large topics, perhaps for the first time, with their peer group and with an assigned and trained adult mentor.
Mentors are members of the congregation with a good understanding of Unitarian Universalism and their own personal theology.
A pilgrimage to Boston, where our faith was first practiced, may be an option at the end of the program.
An orientation meeting for parents and middle school youth will take place on Sunday, January 5 at 12:30 in Bowman Hall. Please plan to attend and learn more about the program.
Hey Mom? Am I going to Hell? Oh...and what IS Hell?
A new class for parents will begin on Sunday, January 12 at 12:30. Expressing Your Faith: Parents as Primary Religious Educators will provide real-life scenarios where parents will practice formulating and practicing their responses to the faith questions children ask.
Val Pal is Coming!
 A new Valentine program for children between the ages of 4 and 12 will begin in January. The program pairs participating children with an adult member of the congregation in the hope that new friendships will form!
Once enrolled, an adult pal will send their child Val Pal notes, riddles, jokes and other fun things through the US mail, between January 5 and February 7.
The fun will culminate on Sunday, February 9 at a Val Pal lunch when the two will meet and enjoy a light meal and a few games together.
You won't want to miss the fun!
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Reflections from Behind the Coffee Urn
A note of gratitude from Ilona Hruska
A recent reading of a UUA article, "Assess Your Hospitality Using Secret Seekers", led me to consider how our Sunday Fellowship Hour might look to a first-time visitor. One of the article's survey questions asked visitors to evaluate if "the indoor areas [were] clean and neat, as if they [were] 'expecting company'". Clean and neat, yes, that's important, but it was the words "expecting company" that caught my attention. That phrase, "expecting company", fits perfectly with UUFD's Coffee Wranglers, who setup and serve coffee each and every Sunday. They arrive early to start the coffee and to set up Bowman Hall to be a welcoming space. They truly do this as if company were expected. I am deeply grateful for and appreciative of the Coffee Wranglers and their commitment to serve all who come into Bowman Hall.
Thank yous also go to Kathy Devine, now helping to co-coordinate Hospitality, and to Tekla Miller, our stalwart backup. The energy that Kathy and Tekla bring to Hospitality is deeply appreciated. There are always openings for Coffee Wranglers, so if you want to try it out, please sign up for an upcoming Sunday (signup sheet in Bowman). We promise fun, the satisfaction that comes with serving, a chance to meet folks, and no meetings.
 A thank you also goes to John Redemske (pictured here) who thought a new cupboard for the Bowman kitchen would be useful, and he was so right. Now that John Redemske, with John Schiffel's help, have installed the cupboard, navigating in our small kitchen is much easier. It also looks fabulous.
And finally, a thank you goes out to all in our community--members and friends--who bring food to share, pitch in to wash dishes, come early to set up for events, stay late to clean up from events, and are consistently there to make UUFD's Bowman Hall a gracious, welcoming space.
With gratitude,
Ilona Hruska
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Social Responsibility and Justice special feature
The Healing Racism Team is re-forming with exciting ideas for learning and involvement of all ages! The first meeting with new team leaders, Emily Thompson and Nicci Unsicker, will be January 5
th
, 11:00-11:30 am, in the Comfort Room at the back of the Sanctuary. This will be a brief meeting to see who is interested in joining the team. Many of the meetings held for this team will be via Zoom, which means if in-person attendance has held you back from volunteering, this may be the team for you!
Healing Racism Team Leaders
Emily Thompson and her family began attending UUFD in March of 2019. Emily grew up in Durango and went to college in Washington and Oregon. She studied postcolonial literature and psychology and teaches intercultural rhetoric online at Purdue University Global. Her husband, Joey, moved to Durango for the FLC cycling team and now works at Purgatory Sports. They have two kids, Sowah (10) and Ellie (5).
Nicci Unsicker and Warren Unsicker began attending UUFD in January of 2017 and moved to Aztec, NM in 2017. Nicci is an attorney and focused on Indigenous people's history and law throughout college and law school. Along with several state jurisdictions, Nicci is licensed to practice on the Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The Unsickers have two children, Henry (9) and Aurora (6).
Learning Together
 The first Group Read is the best-seller White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. This book explores the complexity of talking about race with white people and identifies different defense mechanisms that impede progress and productive cross-racial dialogue. DiAngelo offers strategies for overcoming those defenses and actively working against racial inequality. Discussion dates are March 8, April 19, May 31, June 14 from 12:00-2:00. Each gathering will start with a potluck followed by a short all-ages discussion time where children are included. After the all-ages time, childcare will be provided while adults continue in deeper conversation. Books will be available for sale at the SRJ table on Sundays.
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New Environmental Justice Team formed
How might our Fellowship respond to climate change?
Changes to our Earth's environment are happening at an astounding and frightening rate that will affect our lifetime and future generations. Individually, many, if not most of us, are doing what we can to reduce our climate impact. It is important for us as a committed religious body (note our 6
th
and 7
th
Principles) to do as much as we can.
Our new Environmental Justice Team has been created to help define and focus the areas in which we as a Fellowship might expand our individual contributions. We intend to bring increased environmental awareness and provide the tools and education for UUFD members and our communities, without duplication of other agencies' efforts, to reduce the harmful effects of the rapidly warming planet and the causes of climate change. We will be working to create programs and initiatives to help our congregation make sense of this complicated issue and become more able to make sustainable
and just choices that support healing our planet. You can contact either Laurie Dickson or SueB Earl, Team co-leaders, for more information or to join the Team.
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Service Opportunity! Fresh air! Exercise! Immediate satisfaction!
Does clearing snow sound like a way you could serve UUFD?
 UUFD Buildings & Grounds Committee offers you this opportunity to get outside in the glorious snow and enjoy the immediate satisfaction of a job well done!
Help clear snow from the campus walkways this winter. Slots available for all snow clearing specialties:
- snow blower operators
- snow shovelers, pushers, sweepers
- ice-melt pitchers, spreaders, broadcasters, tossers
- ice chippers
Find the master UUFD SNOW MOVERS SCHEDULE posted in Bowman Hall and sign up now while slots are still available.
Campus-wide, spontaneous snow angel flash mobs also encouraged. Questions? Contact
John Schiffel.
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Chancel expansion: before and after
Many thanks to the volunteers who put in literally hundreds of hours to create this beautiful transformation.
BEFORE
AFTER
Photo credit: John Redemske
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