UUFD Newsletter, November 2022

November 2022

November Services

Service begins at 10:00 a.m. in our sanctuary located at the corner of West Third and San Juan Drive (419 San Juan Drive) in Durango. If you are unable to attend, we stream the service on Zoom, which you can find by clicking here.

Theme for November: Change

November 6, 2022: Interim Time: Time for Change

A congregation in interim ministry is driven by two basic questions: who are we, and where do we want to go? Many of the responses to these questions are informed by two other questions: do we want to stay the same, or do we want to change? Mindsets open to change open up new vistas, new possibilities for creating Beloved Community. Change might feel risky: we may even resist change which is in our best interest. In this post-pandemic world, change seems to be a given part of life going forward. Linking worship themes for October and November, Change often asks us to summon Courage.

November 13, 2022: Always Under Construction

On this weekend that we delve deeper into our new ministry with Rev. Barbara Coeyman. Our guest preacher Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh from the UUA Pacific Western Region staff leads us in reflecting on how we are always forming, and re-forming, ourselves and our communities. In these tumultuous times we are called to live differently than our consumerist, hyper-individualist society may have taught us. Together we are called to embrace a kind of spiritual salvage work: saving one another, our planet, and ourselves; living into a deep interdependence and joyful aliveness.

November 20, 2022: Thanksgiving and Community

Guest Speaker, Edward B. Box III, Southern Ute Tribal Elder

In this season of Thanksgiving, come together at UUFD to hear from Edward Box III about his family traditions emphasizing community and harmony for Thanksgiving. In addition to offering the message for this service, he will also lead a visit with the children in a Time for All Ages.

Edward Box, of Ignacio, is Director of the Southern Ute Food Distribution Program and Planning Project Coordinator for Southern Ute Indian Tribe

November 20, 2022: “Creating a Community Gratitude Quilt”

Today is a multi-generational service; there will be no Sunday Circle for children and youth.

I know that gratitude abounds among the congregants of UUFD in realizing the many gifts we receive from this community: gifts of friendship, spiritual deepening, faith development, and more. Let us express gratitude for these gifts by crafting a community quilt. Come, see what we are up to in the “out of the box” service on this holiday weekend! There will be no Children and Youth services this Sunday. Children may remain in the sanctuary with their parents and be a vital part of creating the Gratitude Quilt.

A Message from Rev. Barbara

Dear Members and Friends of UUFD,

Start-Up Workshop: November 12 – 13, 2022

Each new ministry in the Unitarian Universalist Association is encouraged to utilize services and leadership of the UUA Congregational Life Staff to engage in a Start-Up Workshop, a series of conversations intended to ground a new ministry in mutual covenants of expectations between the congregation and the minister. As soon as feasible, the Minister, the Board, the Transitions Team, and other appropriate congregational leaders and staff will set aside time to explore the history, culture, and norms of the congregation; discuss the sharing of power, authority, and responsibilities; finalize reasonable goals for this period of ministry; and begin planning for the periodic review and renewal of the ministry of the congregation. The workshop will be led online by Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh, UUFD’s Primary Contact, and implemented at UUFD by Rev. Barbara. Below is the schedule of events during UUFD’s Start-Up. Everyone in the community is encouraged to attend the all-congregation events on Sunday November 13.

Sunday November 13: Location: UUFD Sanctuary

10:00 a.m.: Worship: “Always Under Construction:” Preacher: Rev. Sarah, online; Worship Associate: Rev. Barbara

On this weekend that we delve deeper into our new ministry with Rev. Barbara Coeyman, our guest preacher Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh from the UUA Pacific Western Region staff leads us in reflecting on how we are always forming, and re-forming, ourselves and our communities. In these tumultuous times we are called to live differently than our consumerist, hyper-individualist society may have taught us. Together we are called to embrace a kind of spiritual salvage work: saving one another, our planet, and ourselves; living into a deep interdependence and joyful aliveness.

The UUFD Choir --- the Diversitones --- will offer several selections during this service, including “Changes” by Audrey Snyder, assisted by children and youth in UUFD’s Faith Formation program.

11:00: Social Time

11:30: Light Lunch in Bowman Hall

Noon – 2:30: All-Congregation Conversation in Sanctuary

Join Rev. Sarah, Rev. Barbara, and UUFD leaders and members in a fun and interactive workshop to deepen our time of interim ministry. We’ll explore who we’ve been and where we are going, what this “interim ministry” thing is all about, and how we can all play a part in creating the always-emerging, always-changing spiritual community that is UUFSD. Our time together will include a conversation about “cultural anthropology” and a video on “trust” by Brene Brown.

This workshop will be facilitated by Rev. Sarah Gibb Millspaugh of the Pacific Western Region UUA and Rev. Barbara Coeyman in an online/in-person partnership!

Saturday November 12: Location: UUFD Conference Room

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.: An additional session, for Board, Transition Team, Minister, Staff, and Rev. Sarah to collaborate and dream together about our goals and process for interim ministry at UUFD.

See you in church!

Rev. Barbara

Retirement Notice from Choir Director, Elizabeth Crawford

November 1, 2022

Dear UUFD Friends,

I will retire from my position as UUFD music and choir director, effective January 1, 2023.

This has been a difficult decision for me - I love the choir! - but I need additional time and flexibility in my schedule to tend to family and other personal matters. While I will no longer be part of the UUFD staff, I will continue to be an active member of this congregation.

Thank you for the encouragement and support you have shown me as a staff member. I look forward to working with you as a member volunteer.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Crawford

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FAITH FORMATION NEWS

Nikki Bauer Joins Faith Formation Staff

Nikki Bauer officially joined the Faith Formation Staff on October 1. She is a wonderful addition, and she's already having a positive impact on our children and youth. When asked for an introduction, she wrote:

My name is Nikki and I moved to Durango in 2021 from northern Minnesota. I love to hike and explore the beauty this area has to offer! I'm also in school full-time pursuing my bachelors in computer science. This is my first experience with a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. I had a blast working with the kids at Pine Song. I was glad to join on Sundays. I look forward to meeting everyone!

Worship Theme for November: Change

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” Carl Rogers

Our theme for November is Change, which perfectly describes the experience most of us have this time of year. The season is changing from sweater weather and hiking to winter coats and skiing. Change. Brought on by the election, dreaded or celebrated depending upon our perspective.

Carl Rogers, the author of the opening quote was a humanistic psychologist who believed that a for a person to grow (that is, change for the better) three things are required. An environment filled with openness and honest self-discovery, acceptance , and empathy . These qualities are the underpinnings of all that we do in faith formation, whether with children and youth or adults. For anyone to thrive and change (for the better), there must be a deep sense of safety and acceptance.

Children and Youth

Speaking of Change! The Christmas pageant will be back and presented on December 11. Kids and youth are invited to think about their particular interests and skills, so the things they love to do can be exploited—er! incorporated—into the new script. The pageant is being totally rewritten and revamped. Think ugly Christmas sweaters, the holiday tropes we love to love and love to hate, campy and silly—and the retelling of the timeless story of Jesus’ birth—as we celebrate the season.

Harrison Wendt comes back from his leave on November 13, so a big shout out to him as he returns. An equally big shout out to Nikki Bauer who led the kids through the Halloween festivities, helping them learn the percussion part for the song Changes being sung by the choir on November 13, and creating the artwork to go with the Covenants.

Plans are still underway to get a youth group started right after the first of the year. Plans are also underway to offer OWL (Our Whole Lives) classes to the middle grade youth after the first of the year. Stay tuned for more information.

Adult Faith Development Opportunities

The first class for adults is currently meeting, A Short History of UU, and is being taught by Reverend Barbara. After the first of the year, she will be offering Circles of Trust, based on the work of Parker Palmer and the organization he founded, The Center for Courage and Renewal.

Some people have expressed interest in a covenant group that meets via Zoom. And, some others are interested in a covenant group that meets during the days. If you’re interested in joining either of these, please send an email to Sharon Mignerey. As soon as there are enough people to form a group (a minimum of six), one will be formed.

Personal Faith Development

Change. Sometimes we love it and sometimes we hate it. Either way, change is as inevitable as the change of seasons. Consider this wise observation from the civil rights activist and author, James Baldwin. “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” This is a good beginning to deepen connections within yourself and your family. Here are a couple of practices you might want to explore over the next month.

Mark the Chapters of Change

We go through many changes in our lives. But often we fail to notice or fully appreciate the gift that those changes gave us. This month, why not return to the changes or unique chapters of your life and reclaim the gifts, blessings, insights, or beautiful marks each period of change left you?

Soul Matters offers this as one way to begin.

1. Identify at least five major chapters of your life so far.

2. Find a photo of yourself to go with each chapter.

3. Then write a paragraph to go with each chapter/picture that captures the gift, blessing or marker of that time. Identify the impact of this period of your life by using these three prompts as ways :

· I became more/less…

· I learned…

· I left behind…

Take a moment to appreciate the gift of new insight. Use your insight as the basis of a conversation with your loved ones about these significant chapters of your life.

Explore the Differences

Changing ourselves is hard and requires we have those three things Carl Rogers identified (openness and honest self-discovery, acceptance, and empathy). A choice to change ourselves requires that we have clarity about the sometimes many differences we want to see in our lives (if we don’t want things to be different, why change?). This exercise invites us to get in touch with those deeper differences. The steps are straightforward but not easy.

1. Identify a behavioral pattern or trait you want to change. With change in mind, complete this sentence: “I want to become less/more ______” (For instance: “I want to become less judgmental.”)

2. With your desired change in mind, complete another sentence that recognizes the benefit your change will make: “When I become more/less ________, I will ________.” (For instance: “When I become less judgmental, I will be more open to new ideas.”)

Now comes the challenging and important part: Complete that “benefit sentence” another six to eight times. For example, “When I become less judgmental, I get along better with others. When I become less judgmental, I see unpleasant situations in a new light.” You may be tempted to quit after two or three. Don’t. Deeper insights come with the harder-to-think-of benefits. For example, if the eighth item were When I’m less judgmental, I love my spouse more, that’s an insight you don’t want to miss. Take your time with this. You may be able to do it in one setting but, more likely than not, this will be something you need to set aside and return to multiple times.

The goal of this exercise is to uncover the deeper need or hunger that is driving your desire to change. Before you start, give this article a read: this article contains a powerful story about the impact this exercise can have.

In closing: ““This beginning has been quietly forming, Waiting until you were ready to emerge…” John O’Donohue.

Social Responsibility and Justice

Special Feature – DEMOCRACY!

One of the principles upon which our faith rests is “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.” What is the implication of commitment to this principle? It is no easy thing, but instead deeply demanding.

In our congregation, it means we trust in each individual’s development of conscience and alignment of their actions and decisions. It means we expect each other to speak up if something is not right, not fair, not just. It means we expect each person to have a voice and to have a say. Courage over comfort.

It means we work collectively to foster democracy in our society, where everyone has access to voting and making their choices known. It means we stand against efforts that threaten voter rights, and we encourage every person to get out and vote.

As this article is being written, the outcome of the November 8 election is unknown. What is known is that the strength of our democracy is being tested. Signs of strain in our democratic system are seen in voter intimidation, distrust of the electoral system and the rule of law, and threats of violence. Whatever the election outcome, we must continue our efforts to combat voter suppression, and engage in spiritually grounded, values-based issue conversations with voters in our community. As people of faith, we cannot give up continuously striving toward uncorrupted democracy. Our future as a democratic republic is at stake.