ISSUE 86

AUGUST 2023

As August arrives, two of our members (Kerri West and Alex Wilder) have already offered their reflections on belonging. Did you hear a piece of your story in theirs? What did you learn about belonging?

My questions about belonging are unending. Really. I wonder about it all the time. I used to believe that belonging was a feeling. A felt sense of connecting - of home - of finding your people. Something you found (or didn’t) amongst others. That grew stale and inadequate to me. How could it be that such an essential human yearning be such a matter of happenstance? How could finding belonging come down to luck? Was there nothing else to it?

On the eve of leaving for a spiritual retreat, I came face to face with my hope and fear. It was an email from the facilitator. Well meaning. Welcoming. Give yourself the gift of preparedness, she wrote. Review the handouts and particularly the touchstones.

As I looked at the touchstones, one leapt off the page: Be ready to give and receive hospitality.

Simple. Friendly. Soul crushing.

In seven words, I was confronted with a reality I wasn’t prepared to look it. My introversion and anti-social family always left me feeling ill-equipped to give hospitality. And somewhat tearfully, I had to admit that I had rarely been open to receiving hospitality because I had spent my lifetime casting myself out of a group before anyone could tell me or show me that I didn’t fit in.

Ouch. It was a humbling recognition for someone well into their adulthood. It’s tough to find your people, to experience belonging, when you don’t welcome others or receive their welcome.

Over the years since then, I have come to realize that I’m not the only one who has gotten in my own way when it comes to belonging. In a church like ours, in which so many of us cite community as the thing we love most, it seems we are called to grow into people who are ready to give and receive hospitality. As a church, we are called to foster belonging. And as people our role is to choose every day to belong to ourselves, and to be part of a community. It is the work of doing what it takes to find safety, comfort, and peace in your own authentic identities. That means confronting fear and finding supportive companions. It means building relationships.

It also means we must be willing to invest in, take ownership of, and assume responsibility in the community to which we belong. You have to have some skin in the game of maintaining the ecosystem that is our shared community.

So join us this summer at worship as we hear stories of belonging. Come to the picnic. Try singing in the choir this year to see what a new music director asks of you. Plan on attending a Golden Circle Tea. Stay tuned for all of the ways our church is reaching out to invite you, yes you, in. We belong together.

Often we are told that we live in the loneliest time in human history. Many of us don’t have more than one person to share our sorrows or our secrets. Some of us don’t even have that.

This month I invite you to create for yourself a safety net. By that I mean, name for yourself the people who you would turn to in a hard time. List them. Then call them or write or schedule a time to get together and ask them.

Of course, it’s hard. It’s awkward. And it is the highest praise to say to someone, I realize if something hard happened, if I needed help, if I wanted someone to listen to me, I would want to turn to you. Are you willing to be a part of my safety net?

The answer could be no. Yet, far better to hear that response when you’re not in crisis.

The answer could be yes. I never knew you felt that way. I feel just the same.

Whatever the case, how lovely to go through our days knowing that we have had the important conversations and know that we have people ready to receive our call. Surely, that is a sense of belonging.

Transitions

Rosalie Bole passed away July 1.

Richard Radow passed away in July.

Jerry Halladay passed away July 21.

Board of Trustees July Meeting Summary

The Board approved the addition of Katie Wheeler as EMGT Trustee.

Laura Park joined us to explore how we will continue focusing on our values, mission, and ends now that our Making Room decision has been finalized. We also continued the discussion in recognition of the close vote and feelings present within the congregation.

Member chalice lightings will return to Sunday worship beginning with Board members in September.

The EMGT grant for the funds needed to bring Julica Hermann de la Fuente back to JUC has been granted and the Board Members in-person retreat will take place in October.

Belonging and Planned Giving

Belonging with the addition of an “s” switches meaning from a person being a meaningful part of something else to a person’s possessions. The “s” might signify authentic sharing. Estate planning allows a person to dispose of their belongings to those to whom they have truly belonged. Belonging generates gratitude which in turn leads to generosity. Including JUC as a beneficiary in your estate plan will help JUC remain a cherished place for future generations to belong.

Contact our Planned Giving team: Bud & B.J. Meadows or Carol Wilsey

Writing my newsletter article in late July I can scarcely imagine that Fall is right around the corner. A school-year start in mid-August always seems to interrupt summer. Now that I am working full time at JUC and am no longer on a school schedule I can revel in the fact that our church Faith Exploration (FE) programming does not resume until after Labor Day. However, many parents need to plan far ahead of time so I want to give you a preview of what is happening in FE this fall!

First, I want to invite EVERYONE to church on Sunday, September 10. We will have a joyful, inspiring and fun Multigenerational Celebration Service. We will be returning to two services that day so please plan to join us at 9 or 11 am.

Our regular Faith Exploration classes for children and youth will begin on Sunday, September 17. Registration will open the first week of August.

Our offerings for Fall:

Birth-3 year olds - Nursery care (both services)

3-5 year olds - Chalice Children (both services)

K-2nd grade - Spirit Play (both services)

3rd-5th grade - Spirit Journey (both services)

6th grade - Neighboring Faiths (2nd service)

7th grade OWL (Our Whole Lives sexuality education) (2nd service)

8th grade COA (Coming of Age) (2nd service)

9th-12 grade HSYG (High School Youth Group) (2nd service)

In addition we will be offering 1st and 2nd grade OWL from September 17 - November 12 and 4th and 5th grade OWL from January 7 - March 3. *Parents of 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th graders interested in OWL can learn about our programs at our parent info zoom on Wednesday, August 23 at 6:30 pm.

We are in search of a few FE teachers at all levels for the upcoming church year. If you are interested please reach out to Laura or to me!

Family Ministry Team has many great opportunities planned this year. Of course we will hold our annual Halloween Party and will continue to hold our We Are Parents (+kids!) dinner/connection time each month. There will be a variety of other opportunities for connection - both purely social and also for going deeper. Our Moms Retreat will be held November 3 - 5 and we are in the process of determining dates for the Dads retreat. Parents are also encouraged to join a Circles of Connection group.

In adult Faith Exploration we have many exciting opportunities on the horizon! Circles of Connection will be returning in October. We will have a re-imagined series of classes and events that will take the place of our former Reflections on Race program. We will be hosting a monthly exploration of our theme that will take many different forms - field trips and opportunities for deeper conversations at church. In addition to UU Wellspring Sources, we will be offering two shorter wellspring opportunities, Wellspring Sacred Earth this Fall and a deep dive into Article II in the Spring. We will also be hosting classes about planning a memorial service, about aging, prayer, and a class on spiritual practices among others.

And before we get too focused on the future - don't forget about the many events we have planned for August! Reflection on Race Summer Read on Wednesday, August 2, Sundae Sunday on August 6 and We Are Parents (+kids!) on Tuesday, August 8.

I hope to see you at many of these events! I wish you a very happy end of summer!

Holy cow, is it that time already? It seems like summer just started; yet here we are, ready to jump into another exciting church year! As we start to wrap up our JUC Summer of Belonging, I’m excited to present a few opportunities to further our welcome and aid belonging in our congregation.

Deda Nelson wrote a lovely article last month inviting folks to consider being on the Pastoral Care Team, and I’d like to reiterate that invitation! Our Pastoral Care Team provides support to our congregation by arranging assistance during an illness or challenging time, planning memorial receptions, offering workshops, and sending cards celebrating joys and soothing sorrows.

I’d especially like you to consider joining our Pastoral Care Connectors Team! Connectors serve for a month at a time, and they coordinate between members with a short-term need (for instance, for a ride to a doctor or a couple days’ meals after surgery) and our pool of JUCehelpers volunteers willing to provide for that need. This task can be done from your home, with somewhat flexible timing, and training and support will be provided.

If you might like to serve as a connector, or you would like to be put on the JUCehelpers list to provide rides, meals, or other short-term needs for JUC members, please let me know!

We also have room on our pastoral care leadership team! The team helps by providing pastoral care programming and workshops and by keeping its hand on the pulse of the congregation for pastoral care needs. If you have a heart for pastoral care and are interested in the shaping of our pastoral care ministry at JUC, this may be for you! Please let me know if you’re interested at jen@jeffersonunitarian.org.

These are, of course, not the only ways you can help further belonging at JUC. I’d also like to let you know that there will be a number of opportunities for learning about and participating in racial justice at JUC.

We continue our learning about dismantling white supremacy culture in and out of our congregation with a book group on Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed’s, Black Pioneers in a White Denomination, an upcoming “Racial Justice without Shame” workshop, and numerous other opportunities for learning that will be offered through our revamped Reflections on Race program throughout the year. Please watch your Weekly Connection for these opportunities!

It has been a pleasure this Summer to hear how deeply tied our congregants feel to this community and to the work it does. I’m excited to see how we continue to draw our circle of belonging ever wider this year!

Music Transition

As has been shared with the Jefferson Unitarian Church community earlier this month, I will soon be heading off for a year to All Souls Church Unitarian in Washington, DC, as Acting Director of Music and Arts. Many folks have asked me about the rest of the family - and so I’ll share that David and our dog Benny are staying in Colorado during this time. During the year in DC, I will be learning about what it means to serve in a multiracial church, and will take to them the many learnings I have made over the years at JUC about music and congregational life. The good folks in DC will hear repertoire that has been sung by the JUC Choir, will experience me leading one of their children’s choirs, and will feel the spirit of Evensong services as developed at JUC.

During that year, All Souls will be completing a search for their long-term Director of Music and Arts, a position for which - by design and agreement from them and from me - I am not eligible.

You may have already read the announcement of JUC’s new Acting Director of Music Ministry: Leah Tracy. I first met Leah over a year ago in a meeting of Colorado UU Music Leaders, and I have had occasion to observe her working with choirs and to sing under her direction. Leah will be coming to JUC from her position at Columbine Unitarian Universalist Church, where she worked with JUC’s previous Intern Minister, Jenny Amstutz (formerly Jenny McCready). In conversations with Leah during the interview process, it was clear that she and I have compatible understandings of the role of music in UU worship, and she has experience with UU songs and hymns. Leah recently conducted a piece of music at a Voices of Light Chamber Choir concert, and her singing voice is delightful to hear!

Leah will be on staff as of August 1 (attending her first staff meeting), and will be introduced in worship on Sunday, August 6. When you see her, please welcome her warmly!

As you may know, during a staff member’s extended time away, it is important for the new staff person to be the one who is communicated with regarding all items in their purview. And so I’ll remind you of something you probably already are aware of: from August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024, I will be completely away from JUC, so do reach out to Leah for guidance in all things musical.

In addition to the things I’ve already named, I’m taking a few tangible items with me from our church, to remind me of home and give me support should any time be trying in the upcoming year:

- the stole given to me by JUC at my ordination in 2001

- a musical quilt that hangs in my office, created by Dea Brayden

- a wooden oil lamp chalice, created by Jim Matera

These items, plus all of the music that we have made together, will be present for a time in a new home.

I hope you have a beautiful year, and that you all and Leah, along with band leader Adam Revell, our former music but now faith exploration staff Sarah Billerbeck and Laura Lizut, and all of our ministers, staff, and musicians - everyone - that you make some new music with one another. Whether in singing in the congregation, or in participating in children’s choirs, handbells, adult choir, in the band, on First Fridays, or any other way - let there be music con spirito - with spirit.

This summer, we’ve been exploring in our services and our programming what it means to belong. Because working with volunteers is such an important part of my job as Membership Coordinator, I’ve been considering the relationship between belonging at church and the act of volunteering. One volunteer encouraged me to consider volunteering as a spiritual pathway, and to explore the spiritual reasons why people choose to volunteer. This thought intrigued me; what is the nature of the relationship between spirituality and volunteering, and can I use this relationship to improve volunteer work at JUC?

When I was in high school, I volunteered at my local library every Sunday. In a way, this was my version of going to church, having grown up in a non-religious and non-spiritual family. At the library, I could connect with the community, provide a service to patrons, and try my best to brighten people’s days—which, in turn, brightened mine. I volunteered a lot during the summer, when libraries often have special programming for kids who are out of school. Kids would chart the books they read each week, and come to my desk for treats and rewards for their reading. The rewards were most often small plastic toys, but seeing the look on those kids’ faces, it was as if they were the first toys they’d ever been gifted. I came to understand that this was because they had earned the toys, because they were proud of their effort, and because they then got to share this achievement and joy with others. It seemed to me like an almost spiritual experience for them; I know it was for me.

Belonging means something different to everyone. From interacting with our regular volunteers, I have encountered many ways people feel fulfilled by acts of service. Linda Horn, who regularly signs up to be Commons Coordinator, seems to find meaning in knowing everything that happens behind the scenes, and answering people’s questions—in other words, being at the helm (I sometimes call her Captain Linda). Pam Bond loves to spend time between services walking the campus, ensuring that nothing strange is going on, that everyone is safe. She seems to find fulfillment in caring for others, being a protector and a guardian. Sue Caruthers, who volunteers to be a Greeter multiple times a month, seems to love connecting with the congregation, ensuring that everyone who enters feels seen. I could go on and on for hours about the ways each of our volunteers find meaning in helping out on Sundays. Though each of us has our own reasons for signing up to volunteer, they are all branches of the same tree. Thinking about our volunteers, I have come to understand that belonging is a circle: when we show up to make other people feel like they belong, we foster this same sense in ourselves. It is a generous and generative impulse, and very indicative of our values as Unitarian Universalists.

Engaging in acts of service can enrich one's inner world and foster a deeper connection with oneself, others, and the universe. At its core, volunteering involves dedicating time, skills, and resources to aid others without the expectation of personal gain or reward. While the act may manifest in numerous forms, from community service to humanitarian aid, it shares a common thread of compassion and empathy. This giving disposition is a fundamental aspect of Unitarian Universalism, emphasizing the importance of generosity and kindness towards all living beings.

I like to end my articles with a prompt. If you would, think about the ways that volunteering is tied to your personal and spiritual growth, as well as your sense of belonging. What have your most valuable, fulfilling experiences been as a volunteer, and why did they mean so much to you? The next time you sign up to volunteer–whether at JUC or elsewhere–pay attention to how you feel and what ignites your fire, so to speak. And if you have any ideas about ways to foster a sense of belonging in our volunteers at JUC, I would absolutely love to hear them.

Systemic Change Takes Time

JUC CAN

Quoting from the UUA 2017 Statement of Conscience (Escalating Economic Inequity), “Challenging extreme inequity locally and globally is a moral imperative. As a pragmatic faith we are committed to working to change economic and social systems with a goal of equitable outcomes of life, dignity, and well-being experienced by all.”

For the past seven years, our JUC CAN (Community Action Network) group has been advocating for affordable housing and other community efforts that assist those who are oppressed, marginalized, or disadvantaged. From 2019 to 2022 JUC CAN focused on manufactured home communities (aka, mobile home parks) in Jeffco, which are the largest source of naturally occurring, unsubsidized affordable housing. These communities typically have a unique business model in that most residents own their homes but lease the land (lot) under their homes. About two-thirds of Colorado’s manufactured home communities are now controlled by out-of-state or multi-state corporations. Lot rents in the Golden area are now over $1,000 per month! These lot rents are in addition to the home owners paying for mortgages, insurance, home maintenance, and upkeep. Often, their homes aren't "mobile,” so residents are stuck where they are, which makes them economically vulnerable and subject to displacement with rising lot rent prices.

Many of you in our congregation pitched in to distribute flyers at Jeffco manufactured home communities and to write emails in support of statewide legislation (A Big Thank You!). Since 2019 there have been several incremental “wins” in our efforts to help manufactured home communities and to promote changes in “the system” (e.g., systemic change).

And now, a Jeffco manufactured home community has taken a huge step towards systemic change. The Golden Hills Manufactured Home Community in Golden recently became a resident owned community (ROC). It took the Golden Hills home owners nearly 2.5 years and four attempts to achieve their goal of buying their own community. Golden Hills is the first ROC in Jeffco and the eighth in Colorado. These residents helped push for new statewide legislation and now have paved the way for more ROCs in Jeffco and in our state.

What is a ROC? In a resident owned community (ROC), households are a member of a self-governing Cooperative that owns the land and manages the community. Members continue to own their own homes individually and own an equal share of the land beneath the entire neighborhood. The community has control of monthly lot rent, which is reinvested into their community rather than being sent to an out-of-state corporation. In ROCs, lot rents stabilize over time compared to for-profit lot rents. ROC members are not subject to unfair eviction or the predatory practices often experienced under corporate ownership. As a ROC, residents can have stable affordable housing, raise their families, and age in place.

With your continued help, we can promote systemic change, and more success stories, in Jefferson County and in Colorado. If you have questions and/or would like to be added to the JUC CAN Action Alert list to receive occasional important alerts and updates about housing issues and legislation, please send an email to communityaction@jeffersonunitarian.org.