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Our church theme for April is Openness to Awe. Like many people, when I think about feeling a sense of awe, I often recall experiences I have had in nature. One of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life occurred on an extremely cold January morning at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. Because we went very early in the morning, Rob and I had the rare opportunity to be the only people in that part of the park. We were able to experience a breathtakingly beautiful winter landscape that was almost surreal in its beauty. When we hiked to a particular spot in the park, I remember feeling an almost bewildering sense of awe at the scene that was before me. I remember staring in disbelief at the scene before my eyes. That feeling of absolute wonder and amazement has stuck with me over the years. When I think back to this experience, I am once again filled with these emotions. Mammoth Hot Springs on a cold January morning was truly an awe-inspiring experience.
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A breathtaking natural scene, though, is not required to experience awe. Interacting with our congregants and staff here at JUC often fills me with awe. When I think about the fullness of the lives of our congregants - people balancing multiple caregiving roles, or working extra hours at their job (or jobs), or managing multiple volunteer obligations - I am awestruck by the fact that so many JUC members still give their time to support our church. I not only feel inspired by so many of you, my feelings move toward awe as I ask the question: “How are you able to give so much to us when you are already so busy?” I think the presence of this type of question is an essential ingredient in determining if an experience is truly awe-inspiring. I like this definition of awe:
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"Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something incredible that challenges our understanding of the world, like a full moon brimming over the horizon, crashing waves in front of an endless sea, or someone’s extraordinary creativity, courage, or kindness." (From the Greater Good Science Center).
Whether it is found in nature, among people with whom you feel a connection, or in some other way, I hope this month you will be present to the feeling of awe, however it may come.
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Filling Our Cup - Do you have questions?
The Board of Trustees has just launched a pledge increase campaign: Filling Our Cup. Do you have questions about your pledge, such as:
What month is my pledge month?
How much is my pledge?
Should I use Electronic Funds Transfer?
Are there tax-advantaged methods of paying my pledge?
Is my pledge paid yet? How much do I owe?
Guess what!!?? I have the answers. Call me at 303-279-5282 x 708 or email
carol@jeffersonunitarian.org. I can help you. If you are ready to make a pledge increase for the campaign, you can do that right here. Or, stop by the table on Sundays in April to talk with a Board member. At the table, you will be able to see how your pledge month is stacking up to other months as far as the number of increases. The goal is 200 pledge increases! Which month will have the most?
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Greetings people of JUC! My name is Ray, and I joined the JUC team as the Communications Manager in late February. My first month here has been marvelous. Never have I felt so warmly welcomed in a workplace (for my icebreaker fun fact - I love alliterations). In the short and sweet time that has passed, I have seen the remarkable ways that this community is working towards a more equitable future. For the past month I have been making graphics, scheduling events, sending newsletters - and in doing so, I have witnessed the magnificent ways that y’all are faithfully resisting the regression of our rights. I am so jazzed that I get to contribute my skills and passions to that work, even if in some small way.
Recently, it’s been quite difficult to be ‘open’ to any new inputs. In the mornings, Leila Fadel and Steve Inskeep break my brain with bad news before I’ve had my morning brew. And with every new day, the latest incitement of violence is less and less of a surprise. For me, and perhaps for some of you, this often results in shutting down, in numbing, in closing myself off. I tell myself, it’s natural. My reptilian brain is kicking in to protect me from further pain. (This is how I justify watching copious amounts of reality TV).
It’s really hard to be ‘open’ to awe, sometimes. And yet sometimes, awe finds me anyways. It finds me when I’m awake early enough to watch the sun rise. It finds me in beautiful books, in warm evenings, and while watching a children’s musical. As I remember these things, I can feel my heart softening and my mind opening to all the places where I might find awe. So this month, I will be counting all the ways that awe has found me, whether I have been open to it or not. And people of JUC, in all of your awesome-ness - you are at the top of my list!
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by Amy Stasch
Awe, the internet has reminded me, is defined as "a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder." For most of my life, I've pretty easily found awe. Indoors, I've found awe through books and our mysterious minds. As a child, I thought I'd become a doctor, mainly because I was so darn fascinated that our amalgamations of muscles and bones and cells existed. And as someone who clambered around in the nearby wilderness on a regular basis - the deep blue lakes, granite bowls, bright stars - what else could you feel or express, other than awe? I've been without words, in a state of awe, in the wilderness, more times than I can count.
And in the last month my perspective on awe has shifted. I've had roughly a dozen understated moments of awe and communion, surrounded by fellow JUCers. Yes, I've had the usual moments amidst music and wise sermon. But this feeling has also come into rooms as we've discussed how to resist, how to stand up for our neighbors, and how to find joy. In this time of uncertainty, when it could be easy to slide into despair, I've often found myself in a place of awe (and in awe that I'm in a place of awe)!
And I've been struck by the awe of how we (metaphorically) sit in a long line of folks who have also sat in basements, in pairs, trios, and small groups and strategized the way forward. In the month of March - Women's History Month - I've been startled to realize the names I don't know, the history that I don't know. But I still see how far we've come. My grandmother was a teenager before women had the right to vote…a right advocated by (Unitarian) abolitionist and suffragist Frances Ellen Watkins Harper in her intersectional activism. My mom was a teenager when birth control became widely available for women. The UUA was the first denomination to formally support a woman's right to choose in 1963 - a decision that I'm sure involved many person-to-person conversations, dialogue, and engagement. I also carry multiple credit cards in my wallet, and a mortgage in my name. These are other resources that weren't available for women until the passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in 1974, which was fiercely advocated for by a stubborn and persistent legislative fellow, Emily Card.
And I felt awe in our recent town hall, as at least a dozen folks spoke passionately and respectfully, from their hearts, as we have intentional dialogue about the power of our church name.
I am in awe of the tenacity of the generations who have held onto the faith that individual conversations and individual actions can contribute something. I am in awe of my fellow JUCers that are sitting in rooms today, on Zoom calls, calling national representatives, and advocating in communities. I am in awe of all of us standing together, engaging in good trouble and holding the faith that we can, and will, get through these times and continue bending this arc towards justice.
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What is a House Meeting?
The March community organizing training sessions through Together Colorado laid the groundwork for effective community engagement both locally and at the statewide level. One key tool introduced during the training is the concept of House Meetings.
A House Meeting is a powerful community organizing tool designed to foster meaningful conversations. It typically involves a small group of 4 to 10 participants, gathering for
about an hour to share personal stories and experiences. While the meeting doesn’t necessarily have to take place in a home, it offers a safe space to identify shared concerns, connect on a personal level, and encourage collective action around a specific issue. House Meetings are an excellent way to build relationships, understand
diverse perspectives, and ignite grassroots movements. We want to hear from YOU!
Want to Learn More About House Meetings?
For a deeper dive into the concept of House Meetings, we recommend listening to the
Listen, Organize, Act! Podcast, offered through Duke University’s Kenan Institute for
Ethics. Please scroll about halfway down the webpage, past Season 2, to get to
Season 1, Episode 3—The Other Basic Tool of Democratic Organizing: House
Meetings. The hosts discuss House Meetings in detail, explaining their purpose and
how to facilitate them. The episode is about an hour long, and is an invaluable resource
for anyone looking to understand the importance and impact of House Meetings.
Want to Attend or Host a House Meeting?
We invite you to both attend and host a House Meeting! This is your opportunity to
share the local issues that matter most to you and explore your personal stakes
involved in taking action. If you are interested in participating in or hosting a House
Meeting, or if you would like more information and support, please feel free to reach out
to us via email at communityaction@jeffersonunitarian.org. There also will be opportunities to attend “pop-up” House Meetings at JUC…please stay
tuned.
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, including your city
of residence, to communityaction@jeffersonunitarian.org.
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