A Message from Reverend Barbara

“UU General Assembly 2023: In-Person and Virtual Outreach and Connections”

In our monthly Sunday morning Minister Town Halls in April and May, I introduced the Seven Areas of Competencies, markers which ministers must demonstrate a minimum degree of study and experience in to receive ministerial fellowship in the Unitarian Universalist Association. In the May town hall, I focused on the “competency” of “Serving the Larger Unitarian Universalist Faith.” UU ministers must maintain regular engagement with Unitarian Universalism beyond the

walls of their congregation or other ministry settings such as hospital chaplaincy. Engagement in the larger UU movement matters not only for ministers: during the Town Hall I also called UUFD congregants to connect with UU activities such as offered by the Pacific Western Region

and the national Unitarian Universalist Association. Indeed, there are many options for

connections: in-person, in print, and online.

Perhaps the single most important national activity for Unitarian Universalists is the annual General Assembly (GA). GA 2023 is coming up soon: June 21 to 25 in Pittsburgh, PA. It’s not too late for any and all in this congregation to register, for either in-person or online participation, and also to register as one of UUFD’s three credentialed delegates. (As of this writing, there is no delegate representation from UUFD other than my vote as resident minister. UUFD’s three faith formation staff members --- Sharon, Harrison, and Nikki --- will also attend GA, but cannot serve as delegates because, as staff, they do not hold membership in UUFD.)

Perhaps a brief review of some of the varied activities at GA can persuade some readers of this newsletter to register for the Assembly coming up in a few weeks.

Coming Together in Community: GA kicks off Wednesday evening, June 21, with the Banner Parade, a gala event which embodies the community-building and networking which abounds during GA. For official delegates, community-building continues during the five General Sessions, led by the UUA co-moderators to conduct official business of the Association. This year there are several important items on the national ballot, including the election of a new UUA President, and acceptance of the proposed “Article II,” a revision of the core UUA values statement. UU networking continues in several late-evening dance parties, as well as during a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game on Tuesday evening before the official opening the next day.

Program Sessions: GA also offers a wide range of informational programming: you are sure to find presentations on just about any area of UUFD’s shared ministries which you are involved in, such as building diverse multi-generational inclusive communities; expanding stewardship; developing Faith Formation for all ages; attending workshops on successful ministerial search; and much more. Also available for any registrant are nearly sixty On-Demand hour-long programs, which are already available for viewing at your convenience, through the end of GA.

Worship Services: GA includes worship services: several thousand Unitarian Universalists worshipping together is quite an experience! On Thursday evening we celebrate the Service of the Living Tradition, honoring credentialed religious leaders and recognizing the passing of departed colleagues. (I’ll be in the alto section of the ministers’ choir for this service). Friday

evening is the Synergy Bridging Service: worship which recognizes the right of passage of UU youth to young adults. Sunday morning worship on June 25 will be available to congregations: stay tuned for details in e-announcements about how and when UUFD will broadcast this service.

Featured Speakers: GA also features several distinguished speakers. This year, the long-lived Ware Lecture will be delivered by Imani Perry, professor of African American Studies and author of seven books, including South to America, named as one of President Obama’s favorite books in 2022. Previous Ware lecturers across the hundred-year history of the event have included Martin Luther King, Cornel West, and Mary Oliver.

Exhibit Hall and Marketplace: The GA marketplace includes dozens of booths, a chance for everyone who attends GA --- in person and by mail-order --- to stock up on UUA books, teaching and worship materials, information about UU organizations, UU jewelry and clothing, and much more. My contribution in the Exhibit Hall will be volunteering at the booth for the new “UU Studies Network.” (See me for more about this new group.)

Friends it’s not too late to register for General Assembly 2023, especially for online

participation. For more information, go to https://www.uua.org/ga/registration. I am available to mentor anyone on what to expect during this four-day Assembly. For UUFD members for whom financial assistance would make your attendance possible, please contact me at intmin@durangouu.org.

President's Message

Hello fellow UUFD members and friends,

This is my last President’s message for the monthly Newsletter after serving as your President of the Board for the last two years. Over the last 2 years, my guiding philosophy for the Board has been to improve communication and transparency between the Board and the Congregation as well as between each of us in the Congregation. This has included promoting many facilitated workshops on heathy communication and listening skills and initiating a monthly series of Board Town Hall meetings. The Board has also encouraged the starting of the monthly Ministerial Town Hall meetings to help promote openness and discussion between the Minister and the Congregation.

Our communication together is a work in progress. We sometimes communicate poorly

together, leading to situations such as the current misunderstanding with the MSC member selection process. We are not perfect, but the important thing is that we acknowledge our failings and strive forward for healthier communication together. It is our goal to LIVE the covenant that we made to each other as we became members of this Congregation! Let us be all be active in making right this covenant between each of us.

There have been plenty of challenges and adjustments over the last 2 years! There was the unexpected retirement of Rev Katie. There was the search and hiring of our two Targeted Ministers, Rev Gary and Rev Munro. There was the search and hiring of our Interim Minister, Rev Barbara. The Board did not navigate these transitions alone. There was a close partnership between the Board and the Congregation to make these transitions go smoothly! We did this together! There have been staff adjustments and reorganizations under the guidance of Rev Barbara to get our staff

appropriate for the size of our Congregation. There have been better systems put in place for defining employment agreements as well as the creation of an Employee Handbook that defines our expectations and employee benefits policy. We have experienced budget difficulties together and through open communication, we as a Congregation have come together to support the UUFD programs that we value so highly. The Board supported the restarting of a robust Faith Formation program including both adult and children’s program. The OWL program was restarted this year and the Board arranged funding so that the OWL program can continue well into the future.

I am grateful to the Board and the Congregation for the support and trust that you have given to me over the past two years! I welcome our new incoming President, Steve Govreau, to carry on the progress that we have made and to bring fresh new perspectives to the Board.

With gratitude to all of my fellow UU members and friends, 

John Redemske

Love courageously. Inspire spiritual growth. Work for justice.

Faith Formation News & Notes

March's theme: Creativity!

“Once we believe in ourselves, we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight, or any experience that reveals the human spirit.” E.E. Cummings

Ah! June! Usually a sign that summer is finally here. This year, it’s especially welcome with our fresh memories of winter, which can still be seen on the La Plata Mountains. It’s not too hot yet, the final frost has (hopefully) happened, and everything seems to be growing as fast as it can. Memorial Day has given us our official start to summer. It’s time to relish in all that summer has to offer.

Children and Youth

Thirteen Youth Completed OWL in May

Faith Formation is so pleased with the great feedback we’ve had from the teachers (thank you Anna Royer, Jeff Hamner, and Harrison Wendt!) , the kids who participated, and the parents. We are so grateful to the parents who make the commitment with their kids for this program.

Mark your calendars for February 2024 when we will be offering OWL for our elementary kids.

Summer Faith Formation Sunday Classes

The activities for the kids this summer will be based on the Soul Matters summer curriculum – Summer Magic. Our goal is to provide our children and families the magic to more deeply connect with our community and the delights available to us with our great summer weather. Whether being outside more or doing crafts together, the themes that tie together the activities are service to others, silence and mindfulness, sunshine and movement.

We recognize summer is a time to enjoy all the delights our area has to offer that often involve visits from family and friends and vacations that take families away. We look forward to seeing your children and youth and often as possible.

P.S. We have some especially fun things planned for Pine Song, so stay tuned!

Adult Faith Development Opportunities

Do you have an idea for a class or book study you’re especially interested in? Send Sharon Mignerey a note—she loves to hear what you’re interested in studying next.

Personal Faith Development

As you might have guessed by now, the Soul Matters Sharing Circle theme for June is delight.

If you are like me, you may have sometimes forgotten what it’s like to have that unabashed delight that toddlers embody. I want to recapture that for myself, whether it’s my own belly laugh at the antics of my dogs or the pleasure of being with good friends. I was struck by this short poem by Mary Oliver that reminds us to look for those unexpected delicious moments that can show up anywhere, any time.

“Every day, I see or hear something

that more or less kills me with delight,

that leaves me like a needle

in the haystack of light.

It was what I was born for –

to look, to listen,

to lose myself inside this soft world –

to instruct myself over and over in joy and acclamation.”

Delight Exercises for Spiritual Growth

Revisit a Delight from Childhood.

Think back to some of your favorite summertime memories

from your childhood. I bet these were the spontaneous, unplanned moments rather than the

huge, planned-for-months vacations. Reawaken to those delights.

• Make homemade ice-cream on a hot day.
• Build something huge with Legos (more fun with a child in your life)
• Lay on your back in a swimming pool while you create fantasies out of clouds
• Fly a kite
• Play hide and seek with your grands or your dog
• Dance to your favorite music from the era of your youth,

If you’re inspired, write a poem or journal about how this activity reminded you of an especially memorable time when you were a child or teen.

Ask Them about Their Delight

You know how it is – we get together with our closest friends, and too easily our conversations can turn to a lament about the poor state of things. Deliberately lead those closest to you into a delightful conversation. Conversation starters might be things like:

• What’s a word that delights you when you say it? (Personally, I like hippopotamus and canoodle)
• What summer activity delighted you most as a child?
• Has a delight helped you through an especially tough time?
• Who taught you cultivate delight (joy)?
• What’s a family tradition that brough you joy (delight)?
• What movie or television show makes you smile or laugh out loud?
• What activities and attitudes would help you have more delight in your life?

In closing

“Happiness is a gift and the trick is not to expect it, but to delight in it when it comes.” Charles Dickens

The Faith Formation Staff

Sharon Mignerey, Coordinator of Faith Formation

Harrison Wendt, Youth Programming Coordinator of Faith Formation

Nikki Bauer, Faith Formation Teacher

Meeting basic needs

Social Responsibility and Justice special feature- LGBTQIA+ Justice

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Martin Luther King

According to the American Civil Liberties Union, more than 130 bills have been introduced

nationwide this legislative session that target LGBTQIA+ rights, especially health care for

transgender patients. In 2022, the ACLU tracked a record-breaking 278 bills targeting LGBTQIA+

people, largely focused on transgender youth. Twenty became law. Politically, there are increasing efforts in some quarters to limit work toward justice, equity and diversity inclusion, affecting women, People of Color, and immigrants, as well as the LGBTQIA+ community.

Our commitment to social responsibility implies a moral obligation to contribute to the welfare of our society and environment. Our commitment to social justice concerns our devotion to impartiality and fairness, with everyone having equal access to wealth, opportunities, and privileges within society. UUFD is a certified Welcoming Congregation, a designation which represents our dedication to justice, equality and full inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people in our congregational life.

But we ask you to take one step more…and help in the fight for LGBTQIA+ justice in Durango and nationally. Positive changes are driven by community action, protest and commitment by the LGBTQIA+ community and its allies. In honor of Pride month, consider if you can take at least one action to foster more LGBTQIA+ justice.

Here are some ideas:

Social Service (render direct service)

Volunteer at the Rainbow Youth Center; serve on their Board. Take some fresh baked goods or snacks to the RYC for their sessions with youth. Help at the Pride Festival.

Social Education (learn about the issues)

Read about the issues challenging LGBTQIA+ people. Find out what is happening locally. Learn more about transgender people and their lives. Monitor what is happening in our state.

Social Witness (make public your convictions)

Write a letter to the editor about LGBTQIA+ rights. March in the Pride Parade. Hang a Pride flag at your house, put a Pride decal on your car, wear a transgender button on your shirt. Post a yard sign about rights and equality for all. Talk with a neighbor.

Social Action (influence policy and decision makers)

Contact your Senators and Representatives about legislation to protect LGBTQIA+ rights. Speak at City Council if issues affecting LGBTQIA+ rights are being discussed, or need to be discussed.

Together we fight a common enemy: discrimination, injustice, and inequality. A better more just world for all contributes to our own well-being, as well as our friends, family, neighbors, and our community. We’re each of us worth it.

Another Successful Pledge Campaign

We celebrate the conclusion of another successful pledge campaign, and the

congregation voted to adopt the Board-recommended balanced operating

budget this past Sunday. Thanks to your generosity, in both the initial

campaign and the follow up solicitation, UUFD will be able to fully fund

anticipated expenditures for the church year beginning July 1, 2023. In

addition, we were able to seed money for reserve funds to continue to offer

the OWL sexuality education program, the Music/Choir Scholarship for a FLC

music major, and the Mortgage Burning Fund. And we have already set aside

money to carry out the coming year’s ministerial search, to re-paint the

Bowman Hall exterior and to update our aging HVAC (heating, ventilation,

A/C) systems.



We should all be especially proud of the outcome of the follow up campaign.

We are a generous congregation and, frankly, we haven’t had to pull out all

the stops to fund church operations in most prior years. But this year, after

several significant supporters had moved to be closer to family, we faced a

challenging pledging gap. Our options included some combination of

reducing paid staff/hours worked and raising additional money. Needing to

raise a minimum of $21,000, you came through with over $40,000! Equally

gratifying was that we did not have to rely on our handful of major donors for

virtually any of these additional funds - our strong middle answered the call.

This extra reservoir of generosity bodes well for sustaining UUFD into the

future. Simply put, our congregants value the connection and spiritual growth

they find here.

Tim Miller, Finance Committee Chair

Information For Auto-Pay Pledgers

On behalf of all of us in the UUFD community, THANK YOU for your pledge for the coming fiscal year -STARTING JULY 1, 2023

HERE’S A REMINDER ABOUT PROGRAMMING YOUR NEW ONE-TIME OR RECURRING PAYMENT FOR THE NEW CHURCH YEAR.

You may use either a Credit card or checking account.

• You need to edit your existing donation OR start or renew your one-time or recurring payment to start July 1, 2023 – to end June 30, 2024.

Go to: www.durangouu.org

• click “Donate” tab on home page
• then click green “Donate Now”  button
• When on the “Online Donating” page log in to your account profile. If you forgot password, you can create a new one.
• Fill in the required information.
• Please consider the “Help Offset Processing Costs” option for credit cards so UUFD will receive the full amount of your pledge.

Questions? – Kathleen Adams: 970-676-1022, kadams@mcw.edu

For more details visit this page on the website: How to Set Up Electronic Payments

FROLIC Returns - Save the Date!

FROLIC is returning this fall! Save the date – Friday, September 22, 2023.

A Fabulous, Rousing, Outrageous, Lively, Ineluctable Celebration, this event is a

joyful time for us to celebrate our UUFD community and connection.

After the past couple years of Pandemic frustration and cautious return to

Life, we are revising the event this year. There will be increased opportunities to

bid on both Live Auction items and Auction Board items, starring our beloved Bob

Griffith as the evening’s auctioneer and “Mr. Entertainer”. Food and drink will be

served during the evening, which will also feature other entertainment. Keeping

with our tradition, proceeds will help to finance a project or projects not currently

in our budget.

What makes FROLIC so successful? YOU!!! We depend on your generosity to

volunteer for any of the various prep teams, attend, bid, and have a Great time!

Some of the many teams needing volunteers are Ticket Sales, Catalog Preparation,

Food/Drink Preparation, Set-up/Clean-up, Auction Dinners/Items Solicitation, and

more.

Have you sponsored an auction or board item in the past? Have you

volunteered at a past FROLIC? Even if you haven’t, would you like to this year? We

need you! If you are interested in offering a dinner or item for auction, or if you

are interested in volunteering for any part of the evening, please contact us! We’ll

answer questions too! Contact your event Co-Chairs: Aline Schwob (ph 970-946-

8877; e-mail aschwob@msn.com) and/or Sheryl Guy (ph 509-991-5640; e-mail

ptepte@hotmail.com)



Get Ready for a FROLICing, fantastic, fun evening! Stay tuned for more info –

and CONTACT US!!!