Hope in the Time of Coronavirus
Rev. Katie's Animas View
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Where we know desolation, how do we call forth hope?
When our hearts buried, sunken down, how do we dig out? rise up?
What healing touch do we long for?
What balm might we take and share?
-Rev. Paul Beedle
Connection is so important right now. Being part of this community, I’ve almost taken our connection for granted. I’ve heard from so many of you already that it makes me feel grateful.
Our Caring Team is making phone calls to members to check in and see how you’re doing. If you haven’t received a call, please reach out to me and let me know. I would like to hear from you, and make sure that Caring Team has your correct info. What do you need?
I have hope that we will see each other again—and not via a screen, soon. But in the meantime, I have hope that our fellowship offers a measure of resiliency, and aid when things are really tough.
We are ALWAYS in the love. And I love you.
Rev. Katie
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April Services (all services held online)
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To join a Zoom worship, look for the link on the
UUFD website
.
April 5
Virtual Worship Via Zoom – Palm Sunday
Can you find a branch or a piece of wood on your local walk? Carry it home and bring it to our Zoom Worship.
April 12
Virtual Worship Via Zoom – Easter Sunday
Let’s have fun “to adorne this happy day” as the hymn tune goes. Please find a hat/Easter Bonnet and wear it to our Zoom worship.
April 19
Virtual Worship Via Zoom – Earth Day
Find something that represents the Earth and create your own altar for today’s worship.
April 26
Virtual Worship Via Zoom - What Do You Need?
How are you holding up? Let’s connect via Zoom worship.
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President's Message
Letter from Frank Lockwood
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On March 22 UUFD held its first Virtual Church Service via Zoom. It went flawlessly! Thanks so much to Rev. Katie and Shannon Beaver for setting this up and making it easy to log on. I estimated at least 70 families signed on, a few with their cameras off (perhaps experiencing a bad hair day) but many others not really concerned about how they looked on camera. I saw parents hugging kids, along with dogs and fireplaces. Mostly I saw faces of people I have come to love in such a short period of time. It made sense to mute the mics of everyone until there was sharing of joys and concerns, and then at “coffee hour.” That worked great!
For me, it was an immediate shot of joy seeing everyone. It was a whole new experience of community in a completely different form. And, based upon the projections I read about, we are going to be using this mode for some time to come. “Social distancing” is absolutely the secret to outrunning the virus and ultimately stopping its spread.
Just a few weeks ago I could not have imagined this type of coming together as a replacement for the real thing. I have long been a proponent for face-to-face communication in many situations as truly the best way to generate creativity and solve problems. I always thought “virtual” meetings were a poor substitute.
Now there is a “new normal.”
Like clear skies in China or clearer canals in Venice, there are areas in our lives that hold the possibility of value in new dimensions. Think of the possibility of slowing climate change by just slowing down the world just a bit. Perhaps employers no longer need to build huge infrastructure and millions of employees don’t need to commute as often as before. All of this saves huge amounts of resources and perhaps even begins to heal our planet.
For me, being the social person that I am, I can tell you that I am already looking forward to the next service just to see everyone’s faces again. Seeing everyone in their own home environment, huddled together so you can all be on screen, was also a new dimension of connection we don’t usually get, even in person. Some, like the Unsickers and Sykes, were saved the long weekly commute, a small silver lining!
I look forward to seeing you all again come Sunday.
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Giving in the time of "social distancing"
All the ways you can continue your financial support of UUFD
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Have you made a pledge yet? If not, please mail your pledge card to the office at 419 San Juan Drive, Durango CO 81301.
To make pledge payment, you have two options:
- Mail a check (please write "pledge payment" in the memo field)
- Make an online payment here (If you haven't given online before, click "Create Profile" to set up an account. You can set up automatic recurring pledge payments or make a one-time payment.)
To contribute to the Sunday collection basket or make a one-time donation, you now have three options:
- Mail a check (please write "donation" in the memo field)
- Make an online donation (If you've done this before, log in and choose "online collection basket" or "all other donations." If not, click "Create Profile" to set up your account.)
- Send a text! Send a text message to the number 833-765-0135, and type the amount you want to donate as the message. Send it and you will be prompted with what to do next, which will include registering and verifying your account (a process you will only need to do once). You may want to save that phone number as "UUFD Text Giving" or something similar in your contacts. Detailed instructions here.
To those of you who have already pledged and/0r given, thank you!
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Turn the World Around
Social Responsibility and Justice special feature
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Our world is turned upside down as we face the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic. UUs everywhere have lived by the principle of ‘respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part,’ in good times and in bad times. As we face these hard times, we recognize that we do it together, depending on and supporting upon each other.
Our social justice activities and events have changed significantly as we act to protect each other. These are the current changes for the month of April:
- Earth Day march and activities are cancelled
- Manna and Durango Food Bank volunteer teams do not report
- White Fragility second book discussion is postponed
- Days for Girls sewing will not meet in person
While we must make these changes to our social justice work, our work has not stopped. As the song
Turn the World Around
says “We are of the spirit, truly of the spirit, only can the spirit turn the world around.” And our spirit for seeking justice for all is as strong as ever.
Here’s what we are doing in April
:
- Advocating for and supporting the increasing numbers of people in our community who face food insecurity. We held a drive for donations to the Durango Food Bank that resulted in $2975 in cash to help them purchase food. In addition, we donated $1000 to the food bank from our Disaster Relief and Development Fund.
- Joining community efforts to mitigate the harmful impact on individuals and families as businesses have had to close by donating $1000 to the Community Emergency Relief Fund set up by the Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado.
- Converting the time and skills of sewers who are part of the Days for Girls project, and additional volunteers, to working on making face masks for the community and for medical workers. We are also donating $500 from our social justice team budget to help purchase materials for the masks.
- We expect the installation of the solar panels for Bowman Hall and the Sanctuary, along with the heat water pump in Bowman, to continue as scheduled in April. This is part of our work to become more environmentally responsible as a congregation.
- As we celebrate the success, energy and enthusiasm of the first White Fragility book discussion, team leaders are considering modifications that were suggested by participants to make the sessions even more meaningful and valuable. The complexities of our global pandemic present an opportunity to explore in a different way the impact of racism. We are asked to consider “How do you see racism related to the impact of COVID-19?” If you can, journal your thoughts, save an article, create a poem or a scrapbook, make a picture or something that captures your observations, and we will make an opportunity to share these with each other when we are able to meet in person again.
Hopefully as you read this you see that we may have our physical doors closed, but not our hearts or our spirit. We continue our work to turn the world toward more justice for all.
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Interested in a Covenant Group?
An opportunity for deep connection
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WHAT IS A COVENANT GROUP?
In Covenant Groups we listen to one another, learn about mystery and our spiritual paths, and build new and deeper personal connections. We practice deep listening to reflect on and discuss significant life topics.
Covenant Groups are "closed groups." That means members covenant to stay together for a period of time and get to know each other deeply.
WHAT DO COVENANT GROUPS TALK ABOUT?
Covenant groups talk about life topics and themes of spiritual and contemporary significance. Our upcoming Covenant Group will talk about
Coping and Resilience
during these trying times.
HOW OFTEN DO COVENANT GROUPS MEET?
This depends upon the group. Most meet monthly, though some may choose to meet more often. Your group members and your group leader will decide what is best for your group.
HOW DO GROUPS MEET?
While traditional Covenant Groups meet in person, we will be meeting on the Zoom platform for the next few months. If you are new to Zoom, just click
here
to learn how to use this video conferencing technology. And don't worry, it's super easy!
SOUNDS GREAT! HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?
Just contact Sara Sautter
here
.
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Update from the Caring Team
We're here for you!
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The Caring Team, and those of you who volunteered to make a phone call, have been hard at work ‘caring and dialing,’ checking in with many of you to see what your needs might be or just to offer a friendly hello and send a virtual hug during this time during which we need connection more than ever.
We also want to thank all of you who signed up to be Caring Team volunteers and have served and will serve in the way that fits with what you do best.
Please take care of yourselves, and feel free to reach out to any of us on the Caring Team at any time:
caringteam@durangouu.org
Additionally, if there’s someone within the fellowship that you feel might need a phone call, we encourage you to do so. It really is good medicine.
Sincerely,
The Caring Team
Lynn, Susan, Rollie, Liza, Bert, Sue
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Please let us know what you need
Note from the Interim Director of Faith Formation, Sara Sautter
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This is a remarkable time. For many of your children, they will remember this time as we remember 9/11.
We learned a lot about supporting our children and families during that horrible crisis. And we are adding to that learning during this one. I would love to hear from you about what YOU and YOUR KIDS need now.
You can read here about some of the things we are offering including Zoom based Sunday faith formation, Youth Group, Children’s Book Clubs, new Covenant Circles, and Parents' Happy Hour.
What else do you need? That’s what a fellowship is for, to help you through the tough times.
Please click here
and let us know what I can organize to help you and your family during this time of isolation and anxiety. Be honest, be thorough, be vulnerable.
Our connections will get us through.
And on another note, I have agreed to extend my Interim contract through 2021. As I said at the start, this is a remarkable time. And not one that supports big changes. We hope that extending my interim role for another year will help the fellowship make it through this time and get you ready to call a settled religious educator next spring.
Children and Youth Book Clubs Forming
Book clubs for children at all levels are forming now. Kids will read a selected book and meet online to discuss it, enjoy themed parties, dress up, activities and games based on the selected book. Who wants to play? Adults, are you interested in helping with the planning and supervision of a book club? Send an email to Sara Sautter
here
to sign up or volunteer to help.
Faith Formation Continues on Zoom
Faith formation for children continues but we have moved to Zoom. Your children will see the familiar faces of teachers Kiara and Anna as well as live music with Cara and Jasmine. Log on at 11:00 each Sunday
here
.
We’ll be experimenting with how best to organize the sessions to make it fun and engaging in an online format. Keep an eye out for a Care Package in the mail this month. It contains some Secret Ingredients to help us through our isolation. When it arrives, practice patience and don’t touch it for 24 hours. Then open and enjoy!
Parents' Happy Hour
Need some time to let off steam? Enjoy the company of your UUFD friends? Tell stories, jokes, whine? With wine? Put the kids to bed, grab an adult beverage or a cup of tea and log on
here
for Parents' Happy Hour at 8:30 on Wednesday nights.
And yup. Wednesday night is a change from our original time and day. Because…what’s a weekend anymore? 😊
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"Stop, drop and roll" pledging event held
Pledge campaign rolls on despite cancellation
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Despite the planned Celebration Feast being cancelled, annual pledging "rolls on"! A special drive-by (or bike-by!) pledging event was held on March 21 and 22, complete with the "Floozies" providing entertainment.
Thanks to all of you who stopped by, and if you have not yet made your pledge, see the article in this newsletter about your options.
A big thank you to the Stewardship Team for the work and creativity they've put into keeping our pledge campaign moving forward!
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Solar power coming to UUFD
Made possible by LPEA grant and individual donation
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Solar panels are coming to UUFD! Our project will include putting panels on both the Sanctuary and Bowman Hall. The peak of the south sanctuary roof will contain 15 south-facing solar panels, with room for an additional three, should we decide to expand the project in the future. This will produce approximately 3.6 KW of electricity to offset 100-120% of current electrical use.
Bowman Hall will have three rows, 18 total panels located high on the main roof, producing approximately 5.4 KW to offset current electrical use. There will also be two Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations outside Bowman Hall, for use by members or friends attending services or other meetings at UUFD.
The full funding of the system has been provided by a member donation, along with an $18,000 LPEA grant; there will be no budget impact for UUFD for the project. According to last year's power consumption, the electrical costs for the buildings should be reduced approximately $1,850 annually.
The company completing the project is SolarWorks of Durango.
There is an urgency to the climate crisis that compels all individuals and organizations to do as much as they can to reduce carbon emissions. Converting electrical consumption from LPEA-provided carbon-sourced power to solar-provided power is one effective strategy that will immediately reduce UUFD's carbon footprint, align with our values, and be an example for our community of our conscientious efforts to live those values and to encourage others to do so.
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Recital Series offers thank yous
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The last recital in the 2019-20 season featuring the Montage Music Society from Santa Fe, scheduled for April 24, has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 rampage. The ensemble will be rescheduled during the 2020-21 season. If anyone who already paid admission would like to be reimbursed, please contact Ron Garst by calling 970-385-8668 or
by email
.
It does take a village to put on four recitals (or three in this case). Many thanks to those in the congregation who assisted with the 2019-20 season. They are:
- Brochures, fliers and programs--Shanan Orndorff
- Finances--Ron Garst
- Publicity--Lynn Griffith, Teresa Jordan and Tricia Bayless
- Page turning--Tricia Bayless
- Sound engineers--Burt Coleman, Jorie McCann and Dennis McClure
- Reception coordinators--Kathy Devine, Ilona Hruska and Susan Peabody
- Food, beverages, set-up and clean-up for receptions--Nancy Fisher, Elizabeth Crawford, Bonnie Miller, Carolyn Miller, Susan Koonce, Elizabeth Long, Aline Schwob, Connie Jacobs, Hal and Beverly Jackson, Sue Loweree, Donna Nelson and Syl Allred, Kathy and Barry Devine, K Redford, Julie Jordan, Marta Snow, Susan Peabody, Sheryl Guy
- Financial contributions--Ron Garst, John and Aline Schwob, Anita Cohen, Dwight and Katherine Burgess, Ken and Lois Carpenter, Elizabeth Crawford, Hal and Beverly Jackson, Connie Jacobs, Tom and Bonnie Miller, Tricia Bayless, Stephen and Sheryl Guy, John Lyons and Susan Koonce, Brooks and Janice Taylor, Susan Brown, Leigh Nelson
The financial contributions have made it possible over the years to pay for some special church projects and needs. The latest project was some much needed maintenance work on our grand piano at the end of February. I am sorry if you missed my public "thank you" with a candle of joy on March 8.
-Marilyn Garst, Artistic Director
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Contact Us
Newsletter Editor: Shanan Orndorff
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
419 San Juan Drive, Durango, CO 81301
970-247-1004
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SUNDAY SERVICE 10 AM
(online until further notice)
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Our mission at UUFD is to:
Provide a home for liberal religion, spiritual exploration and personal growth.
Provide lifespan religious education that draws on multiple sources and explores religious, spiritual, intellectual and ethical questions.
Work toward a community with peace, liberty and justice for all.
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Ministry & Staff
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris, Minister
Jeanne MacKenzie, Office Administrator
Sara Sautter, Interim Director of Faith Formation
Marilyn Garst, Classical Pianist & Artistic Director for Recital Series
Lawrence Nass, Contemporary Pianist
Elizabeth Crawford, Acting Choir Director
José Duran, Choir Accompanist
joserobduran@gmail.com
Shannon Beaver, Connections Coordinator
Tricia Bayless, Financal Clerk
Caesar Sanchez, Sexton
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Board of Trustees
Frank Lockwood, President
Julie Jordan, Member-at-Large
Rev. Katie Kandarian-Morris, ex-officio
Board meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month, 4 - 6:30 PM.
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