February Services
Services begin 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.
The Worship Theme for February is “Love”
-Rev. Barbara Coeyman
Unitarian Universalism is grounded on common values, not common beliefs --values defined in Article II of the UUA Bylaws, last revised in 1985. All UUs are encouraged to learn about the proposed revision of Article II. The revision statement places Love as the central, core value on which the other six values (pluralism, interdependence, equity, generosity, justice, and evolution) are built. What does a community with love as its center look like? How can this denominational revision inspire congregations to define love as their core value? How is Love the Doctrine of this church, especially during the annual stewardship campaign?
Continuing reflections from last Sunday, let’s deepen our understanding of the commitment to anti-racism and anti-oppression promoted in the revision to Article II of the UUA Bylaws. Here during Black History Month, let’s consider a recent book, Centering, by UU minister of color; or the recently formed Commission on Institutional Change and its important publication “Widening the Circle of Concern"; or by the commitment of many UUs to dismantle white supremacy. Through Widening our Circles, we gain perspective on oppression and power which we unconsciously perpetuate. Through Widening our Circles, we open doors to letting more love in.
February 19
“Universalism: A Love that Will Not Let Us Go”
Rev. Barbara Coeyman
Many UUs are more acquainted with the Unitarian than Universalist origins of this denomination, even as Universalism was one of the most popular American denominations in the early nineteenth century. Countering Calvinism’s threat of a “hellfire and brimstone” God, our Universalist ancestors understood God as Love. Today, how can we live out our Universalist roots of Love, a love that never lets us go?
February 26
“Embracing Possibility in Times of Change”
Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, Preacher, UUA President
What does it mean for Unitarian Universalists to live as a people of hope and imagination—especially during liminal times, times of change? How can we challenge ourselves (and each other) to learn and grow in uncertain times? We know from these last several years the challenge, the loss, and the creativity and possibility of these transitional times. In liminal times, there's always a risk that fear and anxiety will dominate and lead people to cling more tightly to what has been. The UUA created today’s video worship materials especially for congregations in ministerial transition. UUFD’s service will be a combination of pre-recordings and in-person leadership by Worship Associate Tim Miller and UUFD musicians.
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A Message from Rev. Barbara
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“Covenant and Accountability”
“No single concept is more central to our faith understanding than being in covenant. It is at the core of our identity. It is how we…build and sustain the Beloved Community. It is the foundation of our governance structures at all levels. ...The very existence of Unitarian Universalism may very well depend on how UU members, congregations, and the [denomination] understand, practice, and celebrate our covenants.” (Unlocking the Power of Covenant, UUA, 2021)
I talked about covenant early on in this interim ministry. I want to return to this important concept, in part to remind readers what covenant is, and in part to ask, are you creating covenants in your groups, committees, and activities here at UUFD?
Covenant is central to liberal religion. Covenants are promises we make for our common actions, not our common beliefs, for how we live together in mutual respect and love, how we walk together. As I expressed it earlier, Unitarian Universalism is a faith of “Deeds, not Creeds.” Covenant is the binding glue that cultivates strong relationships, as in marriage and life partnerships. Perhaps some readers of this newsletter are members of homeowners associations which include covenants about use of the grounds where they live. Covenants cultivate positive, productive relationships, central to UUFD’s going forward in transitioning ministry.
In covenantal religion, with actions as core, relationships are defined by those living under the covenant. This does not mean that in covenantal religion we don’t believe in anything. Quite the contrary: each of us is called to have beliefs which help guide our lives. However, each person is free to choose her or his or their own beliefs, which may change tomorrow, and to respect the belief choices of others. Do you see how covenants help us strike a balance between the individual and community, one of the themes which emerged in a recent Town Hall Conversation?
Still, the words of a covenant don’t mean much in the long run if we don’t live by the actions the covenant calls us to. Covenant requires accountability so that we move from a collection of individuals saying and doing whatever we want, to a community truly living by common norms and expectations. Covenant requires that we accept responsibility for both intentions and impacts of our actions. One of the beauties of covenant is that if our actions do stray from our covenants, we can repair and renew and reaffirm broken covenants.
Accountability gives covenants their strength and durability. Perhaps we don’t think about accountability much when we are living well in covenant. In contrast, it’s when our actions or the actions of others go against the meaning of the covenant that accountability is called for. If we think of covenant as walking together on the same path of right relations, at roughly the same speed and in the same direction, should one party begin to veer off the path toward unhealthy or hurtful habits, it is the obligation of the one on the path to pull the other back in, gently, easily, with love. Sometimes we think of accountability as “calling out” the actions of another. Instead, thinking of accountability as “calling in” the other does so much more to restore connections. Because accountability may feel risky to you, it is important for a covenanted community to have commonly understood policies and procedures in place to create safe, brave spaces so that the act of calling another back in doesn’t backfire and result in ostracism or retribution of the truth-teller.
To develop trusting habits of accountability, a few suggestions: If you see an action which goes against a covenant, first, do a reality check: confirm that what you think you see is really what is going on: sometimes we can misinterpret the words and actions of others. If indeed some action is out of covenant, first ask yourself if you have any role in this, and what can you do to help restore the covenant. Then ask who else might have contributed to deviating from the covenant and call others back in, graciously, lovingly, with curiosity.
Creating covenants, we affirm values. Promoting accountability, we live those values and cultivate creative and loving relationships. I look forward to conversations about creating an All-Congregation covenant statement at UUFD.
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President's Message
Hello fellow UUFD members and friends,
As we go through the interim process, we have work to do as a congregation to prepare for our settled minister search. This work will include discernment on various topics including, but not limited to:
- Who are we as a congregation?
- Where do we want to go as a congregation?
- What do we want in a settled minister?
- Why are we together and what is important to us (spiritual growth, social justice activity or social/UU community interactions)?
- What style of congregation do we want to move toward? Family style or Pastoral style?
All this will require a lot of communication and conversation between us. To assist this conversation, a new mid-month Town Hall meeting series, starting on Sunday February 12 after the service, will be dedicated to this activity. I encourage the whole congregation to attend this Town Hall meeting, at which the Transition Team will present a roadmap for going forward. The work that we need to do to prepare for a settled minister search is very important, and the faster we can do this discernment, the sooner we can reach the point of starting our settled minister search. There will likely be other large and small group meetings needed to accomplish this discernment as well.
There will be lots of important and interesting discussions regarding the future of our congregation over the coming months, and I encourage everyone to set aside the time and energy to participate in the conversations. This is an important time for our congregation, and if we all listen and discern together, we will achieve a common vision for what we want our congregation to be like in the future!
As always, if you have any questions, comments or suggestions about Board activity, please email me, 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
Love courageously. Inspire spiritual growth. Work for justice.
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Online Event:
Repairing the UUA'S Approach to Racial Justice
A Convocation of the UU Multiracial Unity Action Council
UUMUAC.org
Saturday, February 18, 2023, 10:00 am Mountain Time
To register send an email to UUMUAC@gmail.com;
Zoom codes will be sent the day before
Session 1. Is Racism Really "as bad as ever"?
Rev. Richard Trudeau
conversation
Session 2. Is UU Culture "White Supremacist"?
Steven Myles
conversation
Session 3. Policy-Oriented Antiracism vs. Consciousness- Oriented Antiracism: What Works Best?
Dr. Kenneth Christiansen
conversation
--- Break / Music ---
Session 4. Seven Principles: Beyond Segregation & Hierarchy
Rev. Craig Moro
conversation
Session 5. MLK and the First Principle
Rev. Richard Trudeau
conversation
Session 6. What's so Wrong with the 8th Principle?
Rev. Jack Reich
conversation
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Rising To The Peak Together: UUFD Annual Pledge Drive
It’s hard to imagine climbing a mountain in the middle of our cold and snowy January. But it’s already time to start thinking about “rising to the peak” with the kick off of our 2023 pledge drive. Our goal this year is to see everyone on the trail - whether you’re an experienced hiker or just starting out. Summiting a peak is an apt metaphor for stewardship in our congregation, as we aim for ever higher peaks. Our fellowship is sustained by everyone working together, putting one foot in front of the other.
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Pledge packets will be available at the back of the sanctuary from now until the end of February, when they will be mailed to those who did not pick theirs up. Also, plan to attend Celebration Sunday on March 12 at 10 am. Special entertainment and a reception will follow the service.
Think about what our fellowship means to you. How far are you willing and able to climb? Contact Allison Anderson or Nancy Fisher with questions.
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Faith Formation News & Notes
It's all love in February!
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“Love invites us home. If we listen, it is doing so, even today.” -Rev. Scott Taylor
Ah, February. The month of love. Also, the month of wondering about the climate news revealed by Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhogs Day and hoping our Valentines expectations are met. As you might have guessed, the theme from Soul Matters for this month is love. It’s worth taking a moment to consider the differences and similarities of love between siblings, parent and child, or new lovers. It’s also a chance to consider that deeper feeling we also call love when our hearts are opened to the mysteries of life, whether a new birth or being in nature. All of it—love expressing itself in and through each one of us—is worth acknowledging and celebrating.
Children and Youth
Val Pals is back, and the big reveal will be on February 12 immediately after service, when kids and their adult Val Pals will get a chance to meet each other. A big thanks to the participants. Plan to join Faith Formation during social time after service for cookies and conversation.
The children and youth will be participating in a variety of activities centered on the theme of love during February. The basis for planned activities is the affirmation we recite each Sunday that begins with “Love is the doctrine of this church.”
- February 5: love yourself spiritual ceremony
- February 12: Valentine’s celebration
- February 19: loving our community through service
- February 26: show and tell—what you really love
Adult Faith Development Opportunities
Trusting Change Book Study Begins January 4
Geography of Grace (Circles of Trust) Coming February 4
There’s limited time left to register for this six-session class that begins the first Saturday in February. Click here to register.
Soul Matters Monthly Meetings Begin in February
If you want to be involved in a small group ministry whose organization is similar to a covenant group, Soul Matters may be just for you. Soul Matters explores a different theme each month, accompanied by readings and activities designed to allow participants to experience the ideas through spiritual practice and exploration. Meetings will be once a month via Zoom; if there is enough interest, there may also be an in-person group. Faith Formation Coordinator Sharon Mignerey will lead this group of fellow travelers who are looking for a way to develop a deeper connection with their own faith. An organizational meeting will be held on February 15, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. If you’re interested, click here to sign up.
Personal Faith Development
Nothing has been written about more than love. It’s the subject of poetry, novels, and movies. We each want it, whether from a life partner or with family and friends. It’s the driver for great acts of courage and kindness. To explore your own ideas about love and what it means to you, here are a couple of ideas.
- Imagine love as a metaphor or simile (love is a loyal dog or love is a mountain vista; or love is like fine wine or love is like a fragrant rose). Imagine your own metaphors or similes. Play with these over a number of days, writing them down as they come to you. Then, consider the feelings these different images, and probably different kinds of love, evoked within you. As an example, the love you express about chocolate is clearly not the same as the love you express to your child or grandchild.
- For a deeper dive, write a love letter to some aspect of your life that is under-appreciated or perhaps unappreciated. This could be something as silly as a love letter to that condiment that’s been sitting at the back of your refrigerator for a year or as poignant as that straggly bush on the back fence or as nostalgic as your second-grade teacher. Include in your letter how you first felt, some associated memory, how you were changed, or what you learned. This is an opportunity to explore this idea from Wayne Dyer: “Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change.”
Enjoy this month of celebrating love. May yours be returned ten-fold to you. In closing, “Your task is not to seek for Love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” -Rumi
Sharon Mignerey, Coordinator of Faith Formation
Harrison Wendt, Coordinator of Youth Faith Formation
Nikki Bauer, Faith Formation Teacher
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Why good things happen to good people
Social Responsibility and Justice special feature
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This article is a repeat of one written about a year ago. Given the stress of our times, a reminder about lifting our own spirits may be just the thing to read again:
If you read any of the social justice UUFD newsletter articles, you know that the work of our congregation to seek and create justice in our community is noticed and appreciated. We are acting to make lives better for others through generosity and caring with our time and our money. Do you know that in doing so, you are creating a longer, happier, and healthier life for yourself?
In their book Why Good Things Happen to Good People, Dr. Stephen Post, professor of bioethics at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine, and Jill Neimark, journalist, novelist and former features editor of Psychology Today, share research from the nation’s top universities about the life-enhancing benefits of caring, kindness, and compassion. Here are some highlights about acts of caring and kindness that not only help others, but also ourselves, summarized by Eric Barker, an author who presents science-based answers and expert insight on how to be awesome in life.
Gratitude – not just the typical gratitude journal. Show gratitude to others. Write them a letter of gratitude, say what they’ve done for you and what it meant (or call or zoom). Research says this doesn’t just make you happier in the moment, but increases happiness for both parties for months.
Give – give support to someone else. Volunteer, offer help, listen, show compassion and offer emotional support to someone. Use your skills to empower others. Data show that those who give support to others improve their own mental health even more than those receiving it.
Forgiveness – you don’t have to condone someone’s bad behavior, but you can stop letting it torture you by forgiving them. It takes empathy and courage, but it ultimately puts you back in control of your own life and you get back your power and self-esteem and sense of hope. Forgiveness replaces pain with peace.
Laugh – shared laughter creates bonds between people and heals relationships. Keep a playful perspective and share it with others. You’ll feel better.
There’s an astonishing connection between caring, generosity and health, and you can read more in the book. But let’s celebrate together that we as a congregation are doing good for ourselves as well as for others as we continue our commitment to love courageously and work for justice.
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The Snowdown Parade is Friday, Feb. 3 and UUFD will be there with our "Not All That Glitters is Gold" float! If you'd like to hop on with us, meet at the float on 5th St (the street by the Gaslight theatre) no later than 5:30 pm. Please RSVP to John Redemske. The float holds 12-15 people. The Parade starts promptly at 6 pm, and afterwards we'll unload riders on Main Street just north of Buckley Park.
Sunday February 5th at 1 pm we will have a float deconstruction party at the home of John Redemske, 989 CR 252, Durango. It would be good to have at least 3 adults to help and children are also welcome. It will probably take 1-2 hours to deconstruct the float. Please RSVP to John Redemske if you can help with the deconstruction.
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Transition Update
The roles and goals of our transition work
We are now almost into the sixth month of our transitional ministry. The Transition Team and the Board have been working closely with Rev. Barbara to manage the many steps we need to take to get us ready to call a settled minister. Much of this work has been behind the scenes, examining our infrastructure, staffing, governance, membership and financial situation. Many of you have participated in the more public events that address the need for our collective participation in the transition process. These include Rev. Barbara’s several sermons on the aspects of the transition, the meet-and-greets at the beginning of her ministry here, the Start-up Workshop (notes and slides can be accessed at our shared Google Drive here) and the Personal History Wall, which is currently being populated.
As a reminder, the Five Focus Points of our transition include:
- Claiming and honoring our past and engaging and honoring our griefs and conflicts
- Recognizing our unique identity and strengths, needs, and challenges
- Clarifying the appropriate leadership roles of minister(s), church staff, and lay leaders and navigating the shifts in leadership that may accompany times of transition
- Making appropriate use of District, UUA, and other outside resources
- Proudly coming into possession of a renewed vision and strong stewardship, prepared for new growth and new professional leadership, ready to embrace the future with anticipation and zest
Rev. Barbara’s role is to coach us (primarily the Board, Transition Team, and congregational leaders) through these processes. We are the eighth congregation she has mentored through the transition process so we have a great resource to draw from.
The role of the Transition Team is multi-faceted as well and includes these objectives:
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Become a safe, trusting and open group where members can share their disappointments and concerns. We encourage you to bring us your thoughts as you experience the various aspects of the transition period.
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Customize the Intentional Interim Ministry process and activities to fit our congregation’s needs. We will be designing a number of opportunities for your engagement as we look at our needs and desires for the future. We hope for enthusiastic participation.
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Lead the interim process while other leaders continue the ongoing leadership functions of “running” the faith community. We will continue to work in close collaboration with the Board to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.
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The Team facilitates the congregation’s engagement of the transition work rather than the interim minister doing the work for the congregation. With Rev. Barbara as a guide, we will continue to create a number of opportunities for your input over the coming year designed to bring us to clarity on what characteristics we need to ask for in our next minister and what we can present of us that will be attractive to potential candidates.
The Transition Team members are Sherrod Beall, Judy Hayes, Mike Trefry, Becky Malecki, and Tom Miller.
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The Caring Team
How can we help? How can YOU help?
The Caring Team reminds you that we are here to offer assistance to this congregation! We are currently a team of six: Rollie Butler, Lynn Griffith, Connie Jacobs, Susan Koonce, Terry McLaughlin, and Liza Tregillus. Do you need a ride to an appointment? A meal or two? Someone to talk with? Would you enjoy receiving a card or note? Some help locating community resources? We can help!
Look for us at a Sunday service. Several of us are usually there and wearing a special Caring Team button. We are happy to listen to your questions or concerns. Or you can contact us via email at caringteam@durangouu.org.
If you want to be an active part of the Caring Community here at UUFD, we’d love to have you. You will find on your chairs Sunday, February 12 a Caring Team Contributor form. Please take a look, fill it out if you wish, and we will collect it. Or fill out the form online here.
We all need each other to do the work of this Caring Community!
We can all help!
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Contact Us
Please submit items for this newsletter by the 25th of each month to faithformation@durangouu.org
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
419 San Juan Drive, Durango, CO 81301
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Sunday Service 10 AM
In-person and online
Our mission
Love courageously.
Inspire spiritual growth.
Work for justice.
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Ministry & Staff
Rev. Barbara Coeyman, Interim Minister
intmin@durangouu.org
Office Administrator
Joe Sykes, Tech Director
Tricia Bayless, Financial Clerk
Sharon Mignerey,
Coordinator of Faith Formation
Harrison Wendt,
Youth Programming Coordinator
Marilyn Garst, Classical Pianist
Lawrence Nass, Contemporary Pianist
Music Coordinator/Choir Director
José Duran, Choir Accompanist
Caesar Sanchez, Sexton
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Board of Trustees
John Redemske, President
Steve Govreau, Vice President
Mark Swanson, Treasurer
Carolyn Miller, Secretary
Jill Bystydzeinski
Member-at-Large
Vacant member-at-large
Rev. Barbara Coeyman, ex-officio
intmin@durangouu.org
Board meetings are held the
third and fourth Tuesday of each month
6:00 - 8:00 PM
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