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.
SUMMER SERIES: Coping with the Climate Crisis Continues
Our summer series runs July 3 through August 14 and features seven thoughtful and environmentally involved members of UUFD and the Durango community who will offer their thoughts and suggestions for how we can cope.
August 7
Deep Time-Deep Presence
-Mary Ocken
Join us as our Pulpit Guest Mary Ocken helps us navigate all the many changes in our ever changing world. Thich Naht Hahn was a profound spiritual guide. We honor his contributions in our time and explore his ideas around climate change.
August 14
Can you address all the complexities of climate change without making yourself miserable and depressed in the process?
-Darcy Hitchcock
For over twenty years, Darcy led a sustainability consulting firm, published books on the topic and helped start two nonprofits in the field. She currently publishes a good news blog on environmental topics. She will share her inspired journey from depression and anger to optimism and effective, systemic action.
August 21
Reflections on the Summer Series: Staying Sane in the Climate Crisis
-Tom Miller
|
|
Message from John Redemske, UUFD Board President |
|
Hello fellow UUFD members and friends,
The New Fellowship Hall Task Force has presented us with a conceptual design for a new Fellowship Hall. A basic question that many of you may have is: Why do we need a new Fellowship Hall? As we think about this, it is important for us to consider how a new Fellowship Hall would facilitate UUFD in achieving our mission: Love courageously. Inspire spiritual growth. Work for justice.
We were getting very cramped in Bowman Hall already before COVID. Now that we are meeting in-person again, our attendance is increasing and we are seeing new visitors joining us most Sundays. On Sunday, June 17th, our attendance was 77 in-person and 20 on Zoom. We have invested heavily in staffing to restart a vigorous Faith Formation program in the Fall, both for children as well as for adults. Many of these programs will appeal to others within our community, and this will naturally lead to more membership. These programs and the growth in our congregation will Inspire spiritual growth in our congregation and the community.
Growth is also important to provide the people needed for us to effectively Work for justice. We are already thinking about how we can maintain closeness and cohesiveness within our congregation as we grow. The re-start of various programs put on hold during COVID as well as new programs will help us achieve this.
The New Fellowship Hall Task Force has built on the extensive work that the congregation did 3 years ago, visioning what kind of facility we would need in the future. The current scope was narrowed to just a new Fellowship Hall as shown in the conceptual design sketches that you have probably seen. Below is a list including aspects that this new Fellowship Hall would enable. It is important to realize that this enabling would extend for many years into the future!
· After service fellowship room to accommodate us now and well into the future
· Ability to walk from the Sanctuary into the new Fellowship Hall without traveling outside.
· Frolic and other events like a valentine party or community dances Inspire spiritual growth
· UUFD and community dinners (the space can seat 250 at tables) Inspire spiritual growth
· Reception area for weddings or concerts.
· Rental of the commercial kitchen for culinary startups
· Rental of the hall to outside organizations for larger meetings Work for justice
· Move offices to Bowman Hall to allow for easy handicap access. Work for justice
· Return the 2nd floor to a 3 BR apartment for low cost rental or immigrant resettling use. Work for justice
15 years ago, between the Sanctuary and Bowman Hall buildings and the subsequent renovations, the congregation of only about 50 members invested about $1.25 million into the facility that we all enjoy now! For perspective, that is equal to about $1.75 million in today’s dollars! They invested in the future. They invested in us! This was truly an act of Loving courageously. They did not need such a facility for 50 members, but they knew we would grow, and grow we did!
There will be a series of future “Town Hall” meetings, held after the Sunday service reflection time to discuss all the various considerations of a New Fellowship Hall with the congregation.
As always, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions about Board activity, please Email me or give me a call or attend a Town Hall meeting. 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 |
|
Summer Faith Formation
A message from Sharon & Harrison, Faith Formation Coordinating Team
|
|
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” –Socrates
As we come out of this isolating period brought on by the COVID pandemic to a period of re-engagement, we are provided the opportunity to re-imagine, renew, and re-invent. As you all may know, Harrison Wendt and Sharon Mignerey are new in their roles in Faith Formation. They are at work imagining faith formation in our upcoming era of face-to-face connection. A number of things are in the works.
As a launch that looks toward autumn and the routines that come with going back to school, Faith Formation will be leading the worship on August 28. Harrison will give the homily, entitled Embracing Possibilities.
A youth group is being formed that will meet outside of Sunday services, which includes Grades 6 and up. Harrison is leading this effort with plans to begin after the first of September. Watch for a survey from him to find out interest levels, best days and times to meet, and so on. In the meantime, feel free to reach out to Harrison at harrisonuufd@gmail.com.
Since covenant groups are in transition where some have dissolved, some people are seeking a new group to join. Watch for a survey about the formation of a new group(s). In the meantime, feel free to reach out to Sharon at faithformation@durangouu.org to let her know of your interest.
Since it has been a while since OWL (Our Whole Lives) has been offered for middle school children and since this effort requires certified trainers, we are planning for a January class. After we have trained staff committed for this important effort, we will announce the dates.
Another interest expressed by congregant members is adult learning opportunities. Watch for a survey about this. In the meantime, feel free to express your interest and ideas to Sharon at faithformation@durangouu.org.
This is an exciting time for those of us involved with faith formation as we come out of era of only internet connection and back into interpersonal connection, which creates its own strong web of growing faith and friendship within our community of like minds and hearts. In the words of Yeats, “There are no strangers here, only friends we have not yet met.” If we have not already met you, we look forward to doing so soon.
Submitted,
Sharon Mignerey and Harrison Wendt
|
|
Shannon Beaver Is UUFD’S New Office Administrator
|
|
The Board of Trustees, acting on the recommendation of the OA Transition/Search Team, is pleased to announce that Shannon Beaver is the church’s new Office Administrator, replacing Jeanne MacKenzie, who elected to pursue other opportunities in early June. Shannon actually started helping Rev. Kowalski and the Board of Trustees with administrative work in the first half of June and formally commenced her Office Administrator job in early July. In addition, she will continue as Connections Coordinator, making this combination of duties a full-time position.
In 2018, she joined the church’s staff as Connections Coordinator and has been an important contributor ever since. She brings extensive administrative experience to her expanded role, having served as administrative assistant to pastors at her former church for 14 years. In addition to administrative experience she also brings experience in managing a Community Food Bank and church volunteer roster management.
Special thanks to members of the OA Transition/Search Team (Allison Andersen, Donna Nelson, and Trenton Wann), whose timely and successful work facilitated a relatively smooth transition.
|
|
The UUFD COVID-19 Advisory Team Needs New Members
|
|
1. Need: The COVID-19 Advisory Team (“Team”) is seeking one or two new members to replace anticipated resignations.
2. Charge: The Team keeps the Board and other key leaders up to date on the risk of COVID-19 transmission related to gatherings in indoor Church spaces. The Team reviews community epidemic activity weekly and recommends measures to hold transmission risk below pre-defined thresholds. The Team also considers the risk of bad COVID-19 outcomes for our people, such as severe disease and prolonged debilitation (“long COVID”). The Team meets weekly to stay abreast of the rapidly changing COVID landscape. The Board draws heavily on Team updates in generating COVID-19 Policy as a part of its risk management responsibility.
3. Qualifications:
a. Background in science and/or health care, including comfort with evaluating data.
b. Interest in the subject.
c. Ability to stay focused on data rather than sentiment.
d. Awareness and respect for Unitarian Universalist values.
e. Availability.
i. The weekly meeting schedule and volume of source material can be challenging.
ii. We usually report at monthly UUFD Board meetings.
4. If you are interested or need more information, contact Graham Smith (505-320-5928; smigr001@gmail.com) or Nancy Fisher (541-326-6255; nfisher48@gmail.com).
|
|
Days For Girls
Sundays for Undies
|
|
Days for girls is a non profit organization that helps girls stay in school and retain dignity, giving back important days of their lives.
Most girls in developing countries miss school during their periods; many eventually drop out. We can do something about that by empowering girls, women and communities through providing sustainable feminine hygiene, as well as health management training.
Sunday for Undies
You can help by bringing a pack of girls underwear to church. The underwear will serve as a component of the reusable menstrual kits made by Days for Girls. We will be collecting girls underwear during services on August 21st and 28th.
- NEW underwear only
- briefs, hipsters or bikini style underwear
- bright colors are best, NO white (if there are a few white/cream in a package we will dye them)
- no words on the underwear
|
|
Environmental Justice Team Update |
|
The Summer Series sponsored by the EJT is off to a great start. The discussions generated by the different presenters so far – and those yet to come – provide stimulation and focus for our collective efforts to build a more sustainable planet. All these conversations will feed into the EJT planning for the next year’s programming focus.
There is a great deal of support and information we can get from UUA resources as well. The EJT would like to point specifically to a recent article from Create Climate Justice entitled “Bold Climate Actions for you, your congregation, and your Congresspeople.” The EJT will be talking about all these potential actions in the coming months to see which of these make sense for us to pursue as a Team and as a whole congregation. But there are several avenues for individual action in this article that, should you share the same sense of urgency and desire for action as do we, you might want to consider doing on your own. It’s never too late to start doing something more. You can access the article here:
If the focus of the Summer Series has stimulated you to consider getting more involved, the EJT meets monthly on the first Tuesday from 5:30-7:30pm. Contact Tom Miller if you are interested in joining our work on behalf of the congregation, community and the planet.
|
|
Social Responsibility and Justice Special Feature
– Share the Plate – Nominate!
Do you know a nonprofit based in the Four Corners area that is doing important social justice work? Might they be in need of financial support?
August is the month when the Social Responsibility and Justice Coordinating Team accepts nominations from the congregation for new recipients of our Share the Plate collections. In September the Coordinating Team reviews received nominations and selects four recipients. Each selected recipient will be given donations for a three-month period in a year-long cycle which begins in October.
In the process of selection, the Coordinating Team reviews information provided by the nominator about the organization, with special attention to the following criteria:
*Is the organization a nonprofit based in the Four Corners area?
*Is its work focused on pressing social justice issues?
*How strongly does its work align with current UUFD social justice teams and priorities (Basic Needs, LGBTQIA+, Healing Racism, Environmental Justice)?
To nominate a nonprofit to receive Share the Plate funds, complete a nomination form and return to the SRJ Coordinating Team care of Bonnie Miller by August 31. Forms are available during social time after each Sunday service in August, or by clicking here to download a form. Or go to the UUFD website (durangouu.org), click on “Justice” in the menu bar, then “Share the Plate,” where you can complete an online nomination form which will be sent directly to the SRJ Team.
Our congregation is persistently generous in donations to Share the Plate, with a monthly average near $1000 or more in recent times. We hear from organizations that have received our donations that our funds make a significant impact in their ability to fulfill their mission in our community. Show your love for your favorite nonprofit and nominate!
|
|
Camping with Outdoor Adventures
Barring forest fires, blizzards, and floods, Outdoor Adventures will sponsor a group campout for UUFD members and friends (kids and dogs welcome) on August 21, 22 & 23 (3 nights) at lovely Lake Isabel. We have reserved the Ponderosa Group Campground which will accommodate 60 guests, has a group pavilion, vault toilets, potable water, trash receptacles, fire pits, and charcoal grilles. Activities include hiking, biking, fishing, birding, volleyball, horseshoes, boating, reading, snoozing, potluck dinner on the 22nd, and camaraderie. Bishops Castle is nearby and worth a visit. Approx. 260 mi- 5 hr drive-August weather 73/49 degrees and 9 days with some rain-8600 ft. elevation. Google recreation.com/ponderosa campground.
Contact johnschwob@msn.com if you are going to join in. Camp fees will run $20-$25/person.
|
|
Contact Us
Newsletter Editor: Shanan Orndorff
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
419 San Juan Drive, Durango, CO 81301
|
|
SUNDAY SERVICE 10 AM
In-person and online
__
Our mission:
Love courageously.
Inspire spiritual growth.
Work for justice.
|
|
|
Ministry & Staff
Office Administrator
Joe Sykes, Tech Director
Shannon Beaver, Connections Coordinator
Tricia Bayless, Financial Clerk
Sharon Mignerey,
Coordinator of Faith Formation
Harrison Wendt,
Youth Programming Coordinator
Marilyn Garst, Classical Pianist
Lawrence Nass, Contemporary Pianist
Elizabeth Crawford, Music Coordinator/
Choir Director
José Duran, Choir Accompanist
Caesar Sanchez, Sexton
|
|
Board of Trustees
John Redemske, President
Steve Govreau, Vice President
Carolyn Miller, Secretary
Jill Bystydzeinski and
Steve Govreau,
Members-at-Large
Rev. Gary Kowalski, ex-officio
Board meetings are held the
third or fourth Tuesday of each month
4:00 - 5:30 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
