March 17 E-Announcements

Weekly E-Announcements - March 17, 2023

Love courageously. Inspire spiritual growth. Work for justice.

Women’s History Month: Celebrating Women Who Came Before Us

Unitarian Universalists enjoy a proud heritage of women who, inspired by their liberal faith, broke social, political, cultural, and religious boundaries. During this month when we recognize Women’s History, let us also meet several courageous women in our liberal religious history.

During Reflection time, 11:30 – noon, Rev. Barbara will explain her current book project on the first Universalist woman ordained to ministry, Rev. Lydia Jenkins, and in response to questions some brief tips about visiting Yellowstone Park.

Sunday Worship

March 19, 2023

10:00 a.m.

Service Leader:

Rev. Barbara Coeyman

Worship Associate:

Mary Ocken

Pianist:

Jill Waterman

Chalice Lighter:

Nancy Fisher

The Worship Theme for March is Vulnerability

Zoom Link for 10:00 am Sunday Worship!

Notes from Rev. Barbara Coeyman

Schedule:

Friends, a reminder that I aim to take Friday as my day off, but will re-arrange to another day as ministry requires. (I am always available for pastoral emergencies, regardless of day off or not!) Please be reminded that on my day off I do not read UUFD email, but will reply within 24 hours after concluding my day off.

Please note that I will be away from Durango from Thursday March 23 to Wednesday March 29: first to attend the Convocation of the UU Studies Network at Meadville Lombard Seminary in Chicago, then for my semi-annual visit to Austin, Texas for appointments with my “support services” (medical, taxes, dental, etc.), who I retain in my former residence of Austin for consistency of coverage since I move frequently as an accredited interim minister. I will be available by email (intmin@durangouu.org) and phone while out of town. For pastoral emergencies, contact Susan Koonce, chair of UUFD Caring Committee: Susan will contact me as needed.

Yours in Community!

Rev. Barbara

General Announcements

Your Nomination for the Ministerial Search Committee

On Monday March 20 the Transition Team (TT) will begin making calls to gather members' nominations to staff the Ministerial Search Committee (MSC) . Every member of the congregation (not households) will be asked to nominate three UUFD members to serve on the MSC. A Board or TT member can serve, but not on both. If on the final nomination list provided to the Board, they would have to choose. These three documents contain the information you need to make your best informed nomination.

The MSC search process

The duties of the MSC

The list of current members available to be nominated

This is one of the most important actions members can take to support the ongoing life and future of our beloved community. Please be ready to respond to the call with your well-considered nominations.

We Want You to Join Our Summer Worship Series!

When our minister is on vacation and study leave time during the summer, we host a speaker series with members and friends of UUFD filling the pulpit. The theme for our summer series this year will be Article II (part of the UUA ByLaws), first adopted by the UUA during the Unitarian / Universalist merger in 1961. Article II defines the Principles that guide our actions and priorities, encouraging us to “affirm and promote” core values.

Because ours is a living tradition, from the beginning, Article II was structured to be adapted as needed. The first major rewrite came in 1984. Because it is a special study topic this year, we have chosen it as our theme for this year’s Summer Worship Series. To read more, click here!

If you recall the wonderful graphic on Rev. Barbara’s handout (shown above) that describes the proposed values. These same subjects will become our topics for the summer worship services, and include: Love, Interdependence, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Generosity, and Justice.

Would you like to immerse yourself in understanding how these values express in our UU lives? Might you be a speaker for one of those services? Interested in knowing more? Please contact Mary Ocken at blueboathome@yahoo.com.

Special Congregational Meeting- Bylaw Changes

A Special Congregational Meeting will be held on Sunday, March 26, 2023, following the Sunday service to approve these Bylaws change s and these Secretary and Treasurer position changes.

Members may represent one other member (who cannot attend) by written proxy. A proxy is a simple statement by a member giving their permission to another member to vote on their behalf. It may be done in writing or by email to Vice President Steve Govreau at vicepresident@durangouu.org. Please see this example of a proxy form.

Ladies Dance Night

Friday, March 31st from 6:00-9:30pm in Bowman Hall. Join us for potluck hors d’ouerves, stretching, movement and merriment as we dance through the decades. Wear comfortable clothing that makes you feel amazing! Scarves and hats welcome. Contact Portia Sykes for more details at (505) 793-1430.

Faith Formation announcements

The Eggs-tra, Eggs-tra Special Hunt on Easter Sunday

When our kids learned that Fort Lewis College students experience homelessness and food insecurity, they wanted to know how to help. Instead of a traditional Easter egg hunt, they want to do a food drive that benefits Grub Hub. Since these donations are for college students, their food needs include the kind of thing that would be easy for them to prepare and would be single-servings rather than for a family. We are asking for donations of non-perishable foods. Noodles (regular, gluten free, Ramin), ready rice, dried fruit, mixed nuts, fruit cups, canned soups (regular and vegan), canned veggies, quick cook grains, mac and cheese, granola / protein bars. Watch for the donation boxes at the back of the sanctuary and Bowman Hall!

Open Letter from LREDA

LREDA (Liberal Religious Educators Association) which is made up of UU religious educators, this week published an open letter to the UUA requesting that congregations mobilize against the wave of hate legislation targeting trans youth especially, but also the broader LGBTQIA+ community. Today, a letter of support from UUA President, Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray was sent out along with links for more information and practical steps individuals can take. The staff of Faith Formation and LGBTQIA+ Team of UUFD hope you will join us in reading the open letter from LREDA, agreeing we each need to stand in favor of love and inclusion, and sign this letter in support of its position and goals. Together we can make a positive difference.

Social Responsibility and Justice announcements

From the Environmental Justice Team

One of the key goals of the EJT is to provide awareness and educational opportunities

about the essential and threatened biodiversity of our planet. The recent UN Report on

Species Extinction brings this starkly into focus. As we offer this article, we wonder if

you enjoy articles of this type. Please share your thoughts with our team at

rkuhnert55@gmail.com.

Share the Plate

Grub Hub is a student-led organization committed to helping students stay in school by

assisting with food and housing insecurity issues. Our donations to date of $5,920

significantly supports Grub Hub’s work with college students in our community. Your

generosity is deeply appreciated.

From UUFD Anti-Racism Team

Did You Know? Many famous Black people in the United States have Irish

heritage Black Irish Identity:

and from The Irish Times: “Where are you really from?” Growing up black in

Ireland

Dig Deeper: Films with Black directors: Moonlight (Hulu, Prime), Woman King

(Netflix), 13th (Netflix)

Show Up! Walk for Justice and Peace (WJP) Potluck. Sunday, March 19,

4:00pm-6:00pm, St. Barnabas' Mary Blake Hall (North St in Cortez,

CO) walkjusticepeace@gmail.com

Masks are optional at UUFD Gatherings

In response to the CDC Covid Community Level being LOW in LaPlata county and the current Colorado influenza level being no worse than in previous years, the Board has agreed to continue to follow our Covid Policy which states that at the CDC LOW community level, masking will be optional in all UUFD buildings, effective immediately. Here is a link to our current COVID Policy. The mezzanine is reserved for those who prefer to be masked. For further information, go to the San Juan Basin Public Health Covid-19 Data Dashboard.