Time for Thinking Like an Ancestor
by Joe Sullivan
Many are eager to move beyond the past year. It’s hard to find fault with that. Spring has arrived along with ramped up distributions of COVID vaccines. We can’t help but leap to reclaim our lost past for a new future.
Ever anxious to move forward, we find ourselves in acute tension between an insatiable desire for a new normal beyond the pandemic and restorative nostalgia for a “before” time based on memories of the ways things were 13 months and more ago. In practical terms for congregational leaders, this tension presents as fixations on return to church buildings and Sunday experiences that capture memories of pre-pandemic ways as well as new accessibilities and innovations acquired over the past year. Understandably, we find ourselves confused, struggling over how to move with surety into a desired new normal that incorporates before-times memories and new learned qualities.
Wisely, many faith leaders, writers, and activists have offered a more reflective third dimension between the tensions of before-times nostalgia and new world futures. They invite us to seek and reflect on insights and lessons wrought from a year of altered time.
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Now Online!
We are delighted to share that a version of the workshop we hosted last year is now accessible nationwide as an online training through the UU Leadership Institute.
Click here for more information and the course structure. Register today and gather a team from your congregation to engage together!
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"Happy Administrators Professional Day (April 21) to our New England Region Congregational Administrators!
Your work is so important. This past year has been a wild one, for sure. I have listened to many of you share stories on the AUUA listserv and Facebook page and am so thankful there are ways you have been able to stay connected through this challenging time...
Congregational Leaders! If you are not supporting your administrative professional with an AUUA membership (Association of UU Administrators), please strongly consider it...
Thank you, and remember to let your Congregational Administrator know how much you value them and their work!"
Joy Blanchette, NER Administration & Finance Manager.
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General Assembly Updates! |
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Registration for virtual GA 2021 is $200 per person. General Assembly registrants will receive access to the 2021 Online Participation Portal, including live, simu-live, and on-demand video content, the virtual exhibit hall, chat features, support, and a ( new!) GA mobile app. Register Now!
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Introducing Saunder Choi,
GA 2021 Music Coordinator!
The Office of General Assembly and Conference Services, in collaboration with the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries, is pleased to announce that Saunder Choi has been named Music Coordinator for our virtual GA this year. Saunder is a Los Angeles-based composer and choral artist who has composed and conducted a variety of instrumental, vocal, and choral works along with jazz charts and popular music. He is currently Director of Music at Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica. Born in Manila, Philippines, Saunder holds degrees from De La Salle University – Manila, Berklee College of Music, and the USC Thornton School of Music. Read more about Saunder at www.saunderchoi.com.
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Did you miss the New Day Rising training in February? More than 1200 participants shared and learned about ways to work against white supremacy culture during this day long event. You can access all the workshop recordings and resources at the UU Leadership Institute. Cost is $30. You will need to create an account on the site to access the files.
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Stay home and travel the UU world!
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April 10, 12pm-6pm
In this workshop, a multi-regional team will talk about:
- Theological and ethical underpinning of covenant
- The upside and down sides of covenant
- Appropriate accountability in congregations – where and how to set the boundaries
- How to create and design both a covenant of right relationship and policies and procedures for dealing with destructive behavior
- Special situations involving staff, youth, and limited access agreements
- And answer your questions.
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UU Mass Action Advocacy Day!
April 13, 11am-4pm
Crucial changes are needed in Massachusetts. Let’s put our faith into action as we fight for Immigrant Justice, Climate & Environmental Justice, Economic Justice, Indigenous Justice and Decarceration & Ending Solitary Confinement. There will be an online community gathering to kick us off, and then participants will have virtual meetings with their Reps and Senators.
There is a lot of training and preparation that goes into UU Advocacy Day! We ask that you help the organizers by registering early! Deadline to Register: April 6.
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Planning for the Post-Pandemic World:
Part 1: Decision Making About Worship
April 15, 7pm-9pm
April 17, 10am-12pm
Lots of congregations are considering hybrid or multi-platform worship post-pandemic. Before we can get to the questions of HOW, we need to think about WHAT to do and WHY. These conversations will help you to focus on the specific needs of your congregation as you consider your options and make initial decisions.
This program is free and we are offering two sessions of it. They are the same material, so attend either one. Please note, this event is for worship leaders and those with responsibility for making decisions about post-pandemic worship and programs in congregations in the New England Region.
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April 22, 7pm
Join Shannon Harper and Eric Bliss to learn about ways to enhance your youth programming by joining with other congregations. Registration is open. If you missed the first two webinars on Worship and Staff Sharing, you can find recordings of both of them in the UUA LeaderLab Library.
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Gathering(s) for COIC Group Leaders
April 29, 7-8:30pm
This online gathering is for those who have already led, are currently leading, or are thinking about leading a group through the Widening the Circle of Concern Congregational Study/Action Guide. It will be an opportunity for people to share their experience, questions, challenges and learnings with people from different congregations/groups at various points on the journey.
Topics and design will be based on answers received through the registration process — including responses to the question “What would make this gathering worthwhile/beneficial to you?” Registration Deadline: two days before the event or until we reach capacity.
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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!
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List of Resources for COVID-19 |
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About the New England Region |
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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.
Know someone at church who would like to subscribe?
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Contact us!
(617) 948-6415
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