UUFD Newsletter, May 2022

May 2022

What's your elevator speech?

Message from Rev. Munro Sickafoose, UUFD Targeted Minister

How do you explain our faith to someone in just a few short moments, knowing you may never see them again? So that – maybe, just maybe – they might want to know more and come visit their local UU church. Mine starts with just four words: One Love, All In.

Our Christian Unitarian forebears believed that God was not a trinity, but was One wholeness, One Love. Our Universalist ancestors believed that a just and loving God saved everyone, and no one went to Hell. And although many of us are not Christians, or theists, and we draw from many spiritual sources, this idea remains at the core of our faith. Love is our foundation, and that love extends to all people, and to the world itself. No one is excluded.

Which lead to the second half of my elevator speech. No world but this one, no Heaven but what we make. There may or may not be an afterlife in another realm, or reincarnation, or something beyond the material world. We don’t claim to know. What we do know is that THIS world is what we have to work with – here, now. That whatever Heaven there will be has to be made in this world. So we seek to extend that greater love to all, and to see that everyone is included in a just and loving society. This is incredibly idealistic, to say the least! In many ways, it is an impossible task. And yet this is the core vision of our faith.

We are reluctant to proselytize, but we must if we are to make that vision real. What’s your elevator speech? Do you have one? If not, feel free to use mine - as often as you like.

May Services

We are now meeting in person as well as online! We continue to use established protocols on masking, distancing and vaccination. To join a Zoom worship, look for the link on the UUFD website.

May 1

The Red and the Green

Rev. Munro Sickafoose

I’m not talking about chile! I’m talking about that suppressed and marginalized holiday, May Day. May Day represents two very subversive ways of thinking and being in the world, the red and the green. The red is for the struggles of working people to organize and have some control over their lives. The green is for life and our deep ties with the web of life on Earth. These two ways of thinking are deeply intertwined in surprising ways. Come explore the many layered meanings of May Day.

May 8

What We Talk About When We Talk About Love

Rev. Munro Sickafoose

Love is a word we use a lot in Unitarian Universalism. We “Side with Love.” We speak of Beloved Community. We sing that “Love Will Guide Us.” But “love” is an ambiguous word with many meanings in different contexts. What do we mean when we talk about love?

May 15

America In One Room

Rev. Gary Kowalski

Our nation at times seems to be tearing at the seams, but there are also glimmers of good news for our democracy if you care to look. Gary asks this morning how we can mend our social fabric and examines the special role Unitarian Universalists have to play in fostering a culture of inclusion. This morning's service will have a real live minister present!

May 22

The Question Box

Rev. Gary Kowalski

This morning Rev. Kowalski will base his sermon on questions from the congregation. Why is there evil? How can you tell right from wrong? What happens when we die? Who is the most important person in the world? What is spirituality (and how can I get some?)? Please send your questions to revgary@durangouu.org one week prior to the morning service. Gary will be zooming into our sanctuary.

May 29

The Depths of Health

Sheryl Guy, Pulpit Guest

How shall we be healed? What does it mean for us religious liberals to talk of healing in a world with so many challenges to medical/spiritual/social wellness? Sheryl Guy will discuss these questions.

Connect with the Ministers

Rev. Munro Sickafoose will be in residence from Sunday May 1 through Wednesday May 4. Email Rev Munro if you'd like to chat or go for a hike!
Lunchtime Sharing Circle with Rev. Munro: 12:30 pm on the patio after the worship service on May 1. No RSVP needed.
Rev. Kowalski and his wife Dori will be in Durango the weekend of May 14-15 and days adjacent. Please contact him at revgary@durangouu.org if you would like to connect while he's in town.

Message from John Redemske, UUFD Board President

Hello fellow UUFD members and friends,

The Board and Finance committee have worked hard to produce a balanced budget that was approved by the Board at the April 26 Board meeting. The Board thanks those that participated in the two “Town Hall” budget review meetings that were held over the last several months. All of the pledges have been counted and fellow UUFD members and friends, we achieved a 9.6% increase in pledges over last year! Thank you all for your generosity! A special thank you to Kathleen Adams for leading the pledge drive again this year.

The Board would like to thank Bonnie Miller for taking the lead in the newly reformed Faith Formation Team. The team has already begun the challenging task of searching for a UU inspired leader for our FF program within the constraints of next year’s budget. The goal is to have a Faith Formation leader in place by July 1. The team has good plans for a vibrant Faith Formation program, and having a Faith Formation leader start mid-summer will give time to get the programs set up for the fall.

An important initiative for our congregation is to grow our membership. In addition to compensating for members that move away, more members are needed to help us achieve the goals of our mission, both in terms of time dedicated to various UUFD programs as well as financially. Our Communications Committee is working on how to reach more new people and families in the region, including having a better UUFD presence on social media.

As we are meeting together again in person on Sundays, the long recognized problem of the inadequate size of Bowman Hall is being addressed. Please see the update from the Fellowship Space Task Force below.

On Saturday, May 14, the Healthy Congregation Committee is having an all day workshop for our congregation to talk about the listening circle results and develop ideas for how we would like our congregation to operate better. Please see Sherrod Beall or any other member of the HCC to sign up for this important program. This is your opportunity to contribute ideas and be part of the solution!

As always, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions about Board activity, please email me or give me a call! 603-345-2244. I really want to hear from you!

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

John Redemske

FAMILY MINISTRY AND FAITH FORMATION NEWS

May Faith Formation: Beauty!

A message from Leah Ongiri, family ministry coordinator

In Person Faith Formation on Sunday mornings:

May 1st: May Day flower crowns!

May 8th: Celebrating our power to bring beauty into this world!

May 15th: Appreciating the beauty that is us!

May 22nd: Nature and beauty scavenger hunt!

May 29th: Honoring how we share ourselves!

All children and youth are welcome. Please register at https://durangouu.org/learning/. Contact Leah Ongiri at familyministry@durangouu.org for more information.

What role could you play in Faith Formation fun?

Please don't skip reading this article!

Have you noticed that a few more of our children and youth are returning to worship services and Faith Formation classes? We are working hard to rebuild our connections and participation. But we need your help. Because we currently have minimal Faith Formation staff hours, and soon Rev. Leah, our Family Ministry Coordinator, is leaving, more help from volunteers in the congregation is needed to support our forward movement.

We have a new design for Faith Formation programming that we believe will provide a bridge during this transition time until we have a new minister and new Coordinator of Faith Formation. It relies on leadership from our Faith Formation Coordinating Team and help from volunteers. Here’s how we think it will work…we ask you to think about what part you could play.

Faith Formation Coordinating Team:

Bonnie Miller, Becca Trefry, Kathleen Adams, Steve Foster, Shannon Beaver

The team will work with the Coordinator of Faith Formation (once hired) to provide oversight and support, provide perspective and advice, and assist in decision-making. We will communicate with the Fellowship about progress in Faith Formation programming and participation and advocate for engagement and involvement of the congregation.

Faith Formation Working Groups (WGs) – Volunteers are needed to help with specific parts of FF programming. The options described should not be a big burden for those who sign up. In fact, we hope you may actually enjoy it!

Sunday Learning Support WG. Work with the Sunday Morning Learning Coordinator to provide help when needed for Sunday sessions, or help with finding materials or resources.
Playtime People WG. Supervise child play on playground after Sunday morning worship services.
Special Events WG. Organize periodic holiday/special events such as Val Pals, Halloween, family picnic, bowling game day.
Sunday Connections WG. Plan occasional activities that involve children/youth and the rest of the congregation on Sunday e.g. family breakfasts, Sunday sundaes.
Adult Learning Links WG. Identify areas of interest for learning and spiritual development among Fellowship adults and help organize offerings.

Do you want to get to know our kids better? Maybe working with Harrison, our Sunday Learning Coordinator, during a Faith Formation class is for you, or playground supervision. Like fun activities that people of all ages can join in? Maybe planning special events, or Sunday connections is for you. No special training is required, just collaboration and an attitude of fun and learning. Watch for volunteer sign-up in the Sundays ahead!

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Announcing candidates for Board of Trustees and Nominating Committee

The Board of Trustees is the governing body of our fellowship. Candidates for the Board and the Nominating Committee will be elected at the Annual Meeting of the congregation on Sunday, May 22, 2022.

Board members and Nominating Committee members serve two-year terms, and are eligible to succeed themselves only once. A person who has been appointed to office, or elected to a partial term to fill a vacancy, may serve up to two additional terms.

Those Board Members and Nominating Committee Members who will be completing the second year of their two-year term in the 2022/2023 fiscal year are:

President: John Redemske

Secretary: Carolyn Miller

Member at Large: Jill Bystydzienski

Nominating Committee Members: Kathleen Devine, Donna Nelson and Mary Sison

The following people who have generously stepped up to be elected to serve on the Board and the Nominating Committee for a two-year term are:

Vice President: Steve Govreau

Treasurer: Mark Swanson

Nominating Committee Member: Ilona Hruska

Read biographies of Steve, Mark and Ilona here.

In the election process, nominations for any office may be made from the floor, provided that the nominee is a UUFD member who meets all the qualifications for the office and has given prior consent to such nomination.

Manage your automatic pledge payment

Thanks to all who have pledged to UUFD for another year. Results will be shared at the May 22 Annual Meeting.

A quick heads up about automatic pledge payments for the upcoming fiscal year (July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023): You can set up automatic pledge payments using a credit card or checking account. Go to www.durangouu.org, click Donate, then click the green "Donate Now" button and proceed from there. If you have set up online payments in the past, you need to reset the payment for July 2022 and beyond. This can be done anytime, but preferably before July 1, 2022. Do you need help? Contact kadams@mcw.edu or 970-676-1022.

Thanks!

Kathleen Adams

Speak Truth, Hear Love workshop takes place May 14

All encouraged to attend; RSVP by May 4

Speak Truth, Hear Love is a workshop to discuss themes from the Listening Circles, learn and practice tools of nonviolent communication, and adopt the Relational Covenant. We will examine and then formulate resolutions on topics which include communication, governance, congregational relationships and shared ministry. This workshop will be fast paced and action oriented. Processes that we will use to address issues and solve problems are skills that, without practice, are difficult to recall in times of stress.

This workshop is more than a discussion about past grievances; it is about how we want to function and how we view our future as a congregation. It is also about how we relate to our greater community. Without working together, there is no guarantee that UUFD will continue to exist. Our congregation still faces rough water ahead. And how do we restore civility within the greater community of Durango and southwest Colorado when the art of respectful discourse becomes lost in political and social disagreements? What effective tools do we need to build a healthy congregation and consequently, a healthy planet?

Please join us in achieving these goals under the guidance of Sandhya Tillotson and Rachel Turiel. Sandhya (www.sagebrush.ltd) and Rachel (www.rachelturiel.com) are active members of the Durango community. Sandhya serves as a participatory facilitator, supporting groups in holding meaningful conversation, developing strategies and taking action on important issues. Rachel is a writer and educator whose mission is to inspire and support both personal and community growth by offering tools of collaboration, communication, and nonviolence.

This workshop is on May 14, from 9:00 am - 2:30 pm. Coffee is from 9 - 9:30, and lunch is provided. RSVP by May 4! We need a minimum of 45 participants! Sign up with a HCC member after church, or RSVP to Sherrod Beall at sherrodb@gmail.com or 970-903-2672.

Potluck for All to follow worship June 12

Mark your calendar now!

June 12 Potluck for All

Food, Friends, Fellowship!

Right after Sunday service

Games available for the young and young-at-heart
Food provided by you and your UUFD friends - sign-ups coming late May/early June
Lemonade provided by the Membership team

Please bring your own re-usable/non-disposable dishes and eating utensils. We are following our ecological principles and being kind to our already-stressed Earth.

Please bring lawn chairs if you have them.

UU Poetry Circle

The UU Poetry Circle meets second Tuesday evenings; contact durangofolk@frontier.net for more information.

New Fellowship Hall Task Force update

Capability and next steps for potential construction

Late last year, a Long Term Fellowship Space Task Force was charged by the Board to plan a new larger fellowship hall space to accommodate our growing congregation. Current active members of this Task Force are Frank Lockwood, John Schwob and John Redemske, with Trenton Wann and Barbara Hawn as advisors. A UUA survey to help us decide if our congregation has the capability to do such a project during a time of transition was done by some members of our church leadership. After capability ranking of 9 factors from a low of 2, medium of 5 and high of 8, the average was 6.6 indicating that we have a medium to high capability to do such a project.

After review of the previous work on facility expansion done in 2019, it was observed by the task force that the congregation overwhelmingly preferred a contiguous approach where a new larger fellowship hall was located adjacent to the sanctuary building. A new conceptual design of such a fellowship hall has been made with special attention to preserve the existing patio area and adjacent children’s grassy play area. This conceptual design is not the final design and will be used only to develop rough construction costs. Actions planned for the coming months include:

Ask a design–build company to determine a rough construction cost of the conceptual design.
Prepare an estimated financial evaluation including the substantial capital contributions already made by Ken and Lois Carpenter for this project.
Present the conceptual design, rough costs and estimated financing to the congregation.
If the congregation is in favor of proceeding to the next step, there will be a congregational vote to approve the funding from our capital account needed to develop a more detailed schematic design with substantial congregation input and get to more accurate costs.
If we decide to proceed to this next step, there would be another congregational meeting in the fall to vote for moving forward into a final design and construction phase, with a goal of occupancy before the winter of 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact any of the members of this task force.

Justice at risk

Social Responsibility and Justice (SRJ) Special Feature

No doubt you are aware through newspaper articles and social media reports that a concerted attack is being made on the hard-won rights of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. From the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation passed in Florida, to anti-trans bills barring or criminalizing healthcare for trans youth, to restrictions on trans students’ ability to fully participate in school and sports, to removing references to LGBTQ in social studies standards, to attempts to use religious exemptions to allow businesses to refuse services, and much more…efforts are skyrocketing across the country to eliminate nondiscrimination protections. Nearly 240 anti-LGBTQ bills have been filed in 2022 so far, most of them targeting trans people. Advocates label this year as “the worst year in recent history for LGBTQ state legislative attacks.”

What can we, who deeply value respect, equality, and full inclusion for all people, who see diversity of sexuality and gender as a spiritual gift, do?

Stand in solidarity and in support of the identity and expression of trans and non-binary people. Use the pronouns they use for themselves. Ask others (in public!) about their pronouns.
Be willing to publicly support the rights of LGBGTQIA+ people. Show your moral outrage.
Pay attention to proposed legislation and call senators and representatives to advocate for nondiscrimination.
Don’t support businesses who discriminate.
Support businesses – like Disney – who do take a stand for LGBTQ rights.
Support LGBTQ advocacy groups with your time, attention, and dollars.
Support banned books about LGBTQ people and issues, buy them, give them free to public libraries and to Little Libraries around town.
Keep an open mind to listening and learning about the needs and contributions of LGBTQIA+ people.

All of us need to care in order for all of us to feel safe and accepted and loved.

Final recital features percussion, trumpet, saxophone, piano

Tickets for May 20 recital available online or at the door

The final recital for this season's series will take place on Friday, May 20, at 7:00 pm. The recital will feature John O'Neal, percussion, with Joe Nibley, trumpet, on one work, and Justin Hubbard, saxophone, on one work. Marilyn Garst will also assist John at the piano in one work. John will perform on various drums, vibraphone and marimba. All the composers represented in the program were born in the 20th century.

John O'Neal is currently serving as Associate Professor of Music at Fort Lewis College, where his duties include teaching percussion and jazz studies. He has performed throughout the United States and Europe in a variety of musical settings, including the jazz, rock, pop, country and classical genres. He currently serves as Principal Timpanist with the San Juan Symphony. O'Neal holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas, and additional degrees from Florida State University and the University of Kansas. Joe Nibley and Justin Hubbard are also faculty members at Fort Lewis College.

You may purchase admission online at durangouu.org/recital-series or at the door by cash or check.