July 2020 Newsletter
Leading Comments from the Regional Lead
It is summertime in New England. We are coming out of the winter of discontent of the pandemic into the full flush of an uncertain future. But we know that we have faced the challenge, and while some of us may have flinched, we stand proud and resolute in the face of the unknowing. But that does not generate fear as a result. Rather it creates an awareness that makes each day, each hour, each moment an exercise in mindfulness. How do we hold those we hold dear during a time when six feet of separation is advised? We hold them in our heart with compassion. We hold them in our heads with memories. And we hold them in our hands with each action we take or do not take.

Hard on the heels of the novel virus arose a familiar virus, racism. This virus lays dormant coiled in law, tradition, and social practice so accepted and ubiquitous that we don’t really notice. When it does emerge we wonder why is this happening in this day and age? We protest that this is not us? We proclaim enough, this time it will be different. During these times how do we manage the splinter in our finger while reaching out to our sibling with the stake driven through their heart? We hold them in our hearts with a compassion that compels us to action. We hold them in our heads with a commitment to justice that is manifest in our behavior. We hold them with our hands whether putting up a banner on the church or hoisting a sign in the air during a protest.

We are our sibling’s keeper. We are also kept by our siblings. We can never do enough but we can all do something. The congregational responses to both viruses highlight creativity and genuine concern. Please share your novel responses or ongoing programs that may help other congregations contribute to a healthy society and vibrant, vital Unitarian Universalism. Blessed be.

Woullard Lett
New England Regional Lead
News
BREAKING NEWS!

The  Report of the UUA Commission on Institutional Change  is the result of an in-depth three-year process. It analyzes structural and systemic racism and white supremacy culture within Unitarian Universalism and makes recommendations to advance long-term change.

You can download a PDF and a copy will be mailed to each congregation. Read and get ready for action!



Aisha Hauser, Christina Rivera, and Rev. Michael Tino have taken up Rev. Meg Riley's mantle and will share the leadership of the Church of the Larger Fellowship!
Don't Do OWL Online

You can keep your participants engaged through online check-ins, social gatherings, games, or even group home study time, but please do not offer OWL online. It wasn't created for or tested for efficacy online. Its in-person interactions and experiential learning cannot be replicated on an online platform. More importantly, potential for harm exists online. All OWL trainings have been postponed.


Meadville Lombard Theological School is thrilled to announce a call for sermons written by Unitarian Universalist women and femmes of color. These contributions are for the Sankofa Special Collection, recorded for posterity.
Stay up-to-date with our
Post-President's Call

Thank you to the over 70 of you who participated in our Zoom gatherings for presidents at the beginning of June! We have heard a number of you say that you would like regular opportunities to gather with each other, and we are considering how best to meet that need. Look for more information in early fall.
Upcoming Ministers' Call

We have heard the request for gatherings for ministers to connect and discuss approaches to the many challenges facing our congregations as conditions continue to shift. We will be convening these discussions in late August, so you can have space with your colleagues to prepare for the congregational year ahead. Stay tuned for details as it gets closer!
Throughout July and into August, UU religious professionals who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color ( BIPoC ) are invited to a 5-session series for deep connection with the self as well as opportunities for reflection and renewal.


While this era has many challenges, it also brings opportunities for us to realize just how interconnected we really are.

UUs from all over the country are now live-streaming worship! If you are among them, you can add your congregation to this list.

Consider dropping in on congregations you might never have a chance to visit otherwise!
Resources
Resource Spotlight:

As cases of COVID-19 illness and death continue to climb, as demands for justice intensify, as the time of keeping distance from each other lengthens, more and more individuals are in need of spiritual care.

Even in the best of times, ministers often cannot attend to all the pastoral care needs of their congregations. Now, maybe more than ever, congregations are called to make spiritual care a shared ministry between religious professionals and lay people.

If your congregation has identified this need and seeks to strengthen and grow this ministry, we invite you to consider “ Lay Spiritual Care Training ,” a training program for non-ordained congregational leaders who feel called to such ministry offered through the Unitarian Universalist Leadership Institute.

Part I is free and is intended to help people consider whether or not they are called to this ministry. Part II, for those who discern a call and receive endorsement from congregational leadership, is $30 and offers robust training to increase knowledge and skills in spiritual care generally and in the areas of mental health, trauma history, inner work, spiritual leadership, loss and grief specifically.

This program is brought to you by a collaboration between several UUA departments and includes contributions from our own Meck Groot, Hilary Allen, and Erica Baron!

"For Pride this year, show your support of LGBTQ communities with a gift to Gay For Good, the nation’s leading LGBTQ volunteer service organization. Now serving sixteen cities across the USA, our all-volunteer board is rising to the challenge of non-profit board service by hiring a governance coach. Your gift will help us build on recent successes and strengthen the work we do in service to our communities."
Faith Lab (July 10th-31st) is an engaging online summer program for Unitarian Universalist youth who’ve completed grads 9-12 (or homeschool equivalent).

It's a chance to explore spiritual leadership, learn alongside UU spiritual teachers, and experiment with mystery, faith and wonder. Youth will discern their unique gifts, explore spiritual practices and build community together
UU Stewardship Support

For ongoing support of stewardship efforts all congregations are highly encouraged to sign up for the Stewardship For Us (s4us) blog . By doing so you will be invited to s4us' weekly Open Forums on Zoom as well as early notification of their regular blog posts.

Stewardship For Us has been providing expert stewardship consulting support to UU congregations for over 20 years. They work closely with UUA's Congregational Stewardship Network and UUA Congregational Life field staff. Over the years they have provided direct consulting support to many New England congregations.

Also, consider signing up for the UUA Compensation and Staffing Newsletter.
List of Resources for COVID-19
About the New England Region
We thank all congregations whose  generous contributions to the Region
and to our UUA Annual Program Fund make all of our work possible.

We offer  learning opportunities  throughout the New England Region for congregational members, lay leaders, and religious professionals.

Regional staff  services and support  are available to UU congregations year-round.

Know someone at church who would like to subscribe? 
Send them this link:  http://tinyurl.com/NERemail

Contact us!
(617) 948-6415
newengland@uua.org
Website:  uua.org/new-england