A Message from Rev. Barbara and the Transition Team

Repentance and Repair: Courage to Covenant

Join UUFD for small-group conversations around UUA's Common Read, "On Repentance and Repair," by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg

Have you ever become tangled in different viewpoints or conflict with someone else and wished for better tools to work out differences? Perhaps you’ve walked away from conflicted situations without reaching resolution? Even as people of faith, even when we wish to make amends, we often get stuck on how to make things better. As people of faith, even when our relationships and teams are working well, we may want to gain new skills or have a touchstone to ensure we remain on the path.  In short, how do we get in and remain in covenant with one another?

A core practice for living in positive relationships among Unitarian Universalists is “covenant,” which is deep in our roots dating back to the seventeenth century.  Covenants are our promises for how we walk together to create compassionate, respectful, trusting relationships. We say that UU is a covenantal, not a creedal, faith. We are bound together by our commitment to common values and actions, connected by “deeds, not creeds.”  Our promises—covenants—for how we are together go beyond congregational life to our families, neighborhoods, places of employment, and volunteer organizations. One important aspect of covenant is being accountable to one another, especially when there are conflicts. As UUs who are committed to “righting the wrongs” in the public square, we may forget this same work sometimes needs to be done at home—in our own congregation—so we may be in covenant with one another. Being clear about our congregational covenant is especially important during this ministerial search, when we at UUFD are discerning our core identity and vision for our fellowship.  

To explore these important themes of covenant and accountability, we have a wonderful opportunity to be guided by an important new book, the UUA “Common Read” for 2023-24. On Repentance and Repair by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg is described as “a fresh, transformative perspective on how we make ourselves accountable to others.” Rabbi Ruttenberg guides us through a five-step process for accountability, beginning with owning harms we have done others, culminating in making different life choices as we go forward. She guides us through “repentance and repair” in our personal lives, in congregational life, and in the public square.

Rev. Barbara and the UUFD Transition Team (Tom Miller, Mike Trefry, Judy Hayes, Teresa Jordan, Kathleen Adams) have scheduled small-group conversations to explore these important themes during four weeks this fall: the weeks of September 10, October 1, October 22, and November 12.  We will be using the guides created by UUA for the exploration of Ruttenberg’s book.  

We recognize you all have different schedules and busy lives.  The schedule below is our attempt to recognize that and offer these conversations during a variety of times so as many of you as possible have the opportunity to participate.  All conversations will be held in Bowman Hall.

All materials will be provided, but if you would like to purchase the book, here are the links: the hardcover can be purchased from the InSpirit Book Store, and the ebook can be purchased as a Kindle ebook.  

Please register (click here) for the set of conversations you would like to attend so we may correctly plan space and handouts.  Each small group conversation will be facilitated by Rev. Barbara and a member of the Transition Team. At the end of the series, we will schedule a make-up conversation for any topics you may have missed. 

We realize this scheduling may seem complicated on first reading. For any questions, please contact Rev. Barbara at intmin@durangouu.org.  We look forward to spending time with you during your choice of conversations.

President's Message

Hello fellow UUFD members and friends,

How often does someone thank you for something you’ve done for them? Do you find that their thanks, even when unexpected - maybe especially when unexpected - puts a smile on your face and lifts your spirits? Why would it be any different for any of us? These days as we’re all pulled and stretched as never before we need to remember to make the effort to show our gratitude and appreciation for all the things, big and little, that are done for us or on our behalf.

In our congregation, we have so many wonderful members who step forward and whose efforts serve all of us, whether it’s the cup of coffee we enjoy after a service, a special musical piece by our choir, or a special message from one of our lay leaders at worship. We need and I need to remember to say thank you.

I especially need to remember to thank those who are striving to make a difference for us and our community, whether it’s by serving on one of our committees and teams, or one of our staff striving to serve all of us to the best of their ability. I am seriously in awe of everyone’s energy and accomplishments. I thank all of those who give of their time and treasure to ensure our congregation can have an uplifting place to meet and a positive impact on the community outside our doors.

My gratitude extends to our Interim Minister, Reverend Barbara, who in my opinion has one of the most difficult jobs of any of us. It’s her job – no, her mission - to show us how we can grow, not necessarily in size, but in maturity. Through her eyes, we see what we need to do to better support each other and our spiritual mission. Through her experience, we are learning how we can be better organized. Through her care, we are discovering our potential. Regardless of whether I agree with some of those recommendations or not, I need to remember to express my gratitude for her obvious care and concern for our community. I want her to know how much I value her as our primary navigator through this transitional time. I need to remember to say, “Thank you, Reverend Barbara!” every time I see her.

With gratitude and respect,

Steve Govreau

Love courageously. Inspire spiritual growth. Work for justice.

Important updates from the Ministerial Search Committee

What's on the horizon? Upcoming activities

UUFD members and friends make a difference in our Ministerial Search process. During September and October, please participate in the following upcoming opportunities, to ensure your voice has been heard:

CONGREGATIONAL SURVEY: This live survey asks questions about who we are, our congregational values, and our opinions about ministerial qualities and challenges. It takes just 10-12 minutes and we're aiming for 80% participation. Three ways to complete the survey:



A.   Online: Click here.

B.    Hard copy surveys will be available at Sunday services.

C.    There may be opportunities to complete the online survey with computers provided after services.

With a goal of collecting all surveys by Sunday, Sept. 10, the Search team will use the survey results to develop questions for the next step in our Process, Focus Groups (composed of participants with specific functions, such as Board, Staff, Worship Team, etc.) and Cottage Meetings (open to all who are not already attending a Focus Group).

FOCUS GROUPS/COTTAGE MEETINGS

You will be encouraged to share more deeply your thoughts related to selecting our new Settled Minister.  The Focus Group/Cottage Meeting schedule is as follows: 

• Saturday, 9/16, 10 am – Worship Arts Focus Group. 
• Sunday, 9/17, 8:45 am – Cottage Meeting; 11:15am – Cottage Meeting. 
• Sunday, 9/24, 8:45 am – Social Justice Focus Group; 11:15am – Cottage Meeting. 
• Tuesday, 9/26, 5:30 pm – Board and Finance Focus Group. 
• Wednesday, 9/27, 1 pm – Staff Focus Group.
• Thursday, 9/28, noon – Cottage Meeting. 
• Saturday, 9/30, 4 pm – Cottage Meeting. 
• Sunday, 10/1, 8:45 am – Parents Focus Group; 10:30am – Children and Focus Groups during FF classes.

All Focus Groups and Cottage Meetings will last one hour and will be located in Bowman Hall. Cottage Meeting sign-ups will be available after Sunday services.

OCTOBER OPPORTUNITY/HEADS UP

We will be hosting a workshop facilitated by a UUA trainer - either “Beyond Categorical Thinking” (BCT) or “Breaking Barriers, Building Beliefs” – to be scheduled one of the final two October weekends. Issues around race/ethnicity, gender/gender identity, disabilities and health concerns, and sexual orientation will be addressed. The whole congregation is encouraged to participate; MSC members are expected to attend; and congregational leaders are strongly encouraged to attend. Hosting the workshop signals to members and potential ministers alike our commitment to full equality and ongoing learning about anti-racism and anti-oppression. 

We are committed to this thorough process with transparency throughout, in covenant and with confidentiality when necessary. We take this mission seriously and look forward to sharing this continuing sacred journey.

Your MSC members: Allison Andersen, Bonnie Miller, Connie Jacobs, Lisa McCorry, Liz Volz, Sheryl Guy, and Tim Miller 

Focus on Homelessness

Social Responsibility and Justice Team Special Feature

It’s hard to miss the rising population of homeless people in our country, whether you never leave Durango or travel throughout the nation. A recent study by the National Alliance to End Homelessness reports the following facts:

• Homelessness has been on the rise since 2017, experiencing an overall increase of 6 percent.
• In 2022, counts of individuals (421,392 people) and chronically homeless individuals (127,768) reached record highs in the history of data collection.
• Unsheltered rates are also trending upward, impacting most racial, ethnic, and gender subgroups.
• Homeless services systems continued to expand the availability of both temporary and permanent beds in 2022, but these resources still fall short of reaching everyone in need.
• Homelessness rose by a modest 0.3 percent from 2020 to 2022, a period marked by both pandemic-related economic disruptions and robust investments of federal resources into human services.

So, who are these homeless people?  The Alliance offers the following demographic information:

• 22 percent are chronically homeless individuals (or people with disabilities who have experienced long-term or repeated incidents of homelessness).
• 6 percent are veterans (distinguished due to their service to the country).
• 5 percent are unaccompanied youth under 25 (considered vulnerable due to their age).

If you find these numbers disgraceful, you’re not alone. Marilyn Leftwich, who leads the UUFD’s Basic Needs Team, recently took part in an Interfaith Focus Group led by NINA (Neighbors in Need Alliance). The focus group agreed on two primary issues.  First, the increased visibility of our unhoused neighbors is a direct result of lack of available, affordable housing.  Second, due to the complexity of the housing issue, there are some misinformed judgements within the community about how one becomes unhoused or housing insecure, which can be cruel and dismissive. 

Local religious congregations who take part in the Interfaith Alliance feel siloed in their efforts to provide services and overwhelmed by the scope of the need. Yet, they continue to move forward with compiling resource lists, providing educational presentations, providing advocacy for the unhoused, developing and supporting a consistent and reliable location for care, and offering space, and even land, for temporary and/or permanent solutions.

Marilyn suggests that we host a presentation at UUFD about homelessness/unhoused issues in LaPlata County this fall.  Stay tuned for more information and contact Marilyn if you’re interested in helping with the Basic Needs Team.  

News from Faith Formation

“All people of good will are welcome here: that's the really good news! If you've been away, you can come back; if you've been living in darkness, you can come to the light.”

This quote of welcome sings to me and is one I found in so many places, it’s impossible to know who originally said this.  Welcome!  In some ways, this is a word that is difficult to pin down, but the feeling is one we all know.  That wide smile and open arms extended toward us by someone we care about that says, “Yes! I see you. Yes! I accept you.”  That sense of “ahh! I’m glad to be here!” when we enter our home or some other place (like, perhaps, the UUFD sanctuary) where we feel welcomed. In another word, belonging. It’s something we all want, especially when embarking on new endeavors, like we often do at the beginning of September. A new school or new grade.  Maybe a new job. Maybe new friends and relationships. Definitely a new season, which may have arrived long before we’re ready.  So…from those of us on the Faith Formation staff, welcome to September.  May this be a time filled with joy, new discoveries, and a sense of anticipation that Good is on the way.  

Children and Youth

Toddlers Want You! The Children’s Program for Faith Formation is growing, something we all wanted and hoped for during this Post Pandemic Era.  We have three separate groups right now – middle schoolers, elementary schoolers, and toddlers. We have teachers for the two older groups. Where we need help is with the toddlers, and there is nothing in the budget this year to hire teachers.  

We need volunteers. Right now, we have three to five children regularly attending, with more on the horizon. We are hoping to recruit enough (of you!) to serve only once every three or four weeks. We hope to have all this in place by mid-September, which is just around the corner.

These children need care and nurturing during Sunday Services, who will be gathering in the room at the back of the sanctuary across from the restrooms. The time commitment will be from about 9:45 to 11:20 while parents attend services. Our aspiration is to have enough volunteers to serve only one Sunday per month. If you feel called to help or want more information, please reach out to Sharon Mignerey.  

It’s Registration Time! If you have not already done so, please fill out the  new registration form for your children, our first since the pandemic began. We want to make sure we have the most up-to-date and accurate information about your kids so we can provide them with the richest experience possible and so we can keep them safe and well-cared-for (which includes things like food restrictions, permission to share their photograph on the UUFD website, who is authorized to pick them up, and so on).  I can almost hear you – yes, you’re busy. Yes, you’re going to get to this. Just click on the link and then, like that other dreaded homework, it’s done! Thank you.

Pride Parade, Saturday Sept 9 at 10:30 a.m. The Four Corners Alliance for Diversity has invited the community to march with them in the 2023 Pride Parade.  UUFD youth and adults will meet at the train station at 10:30 a.m. on September 9.  Bring your signs, pride gear, and smiles!

The Fall Festival Coming October 8. The Fall Festival will be held at John Redemske’s home on October 8 immediately following church service (noon to 4 p.m.). All the UUFD children and their parents/grandparents are invited.  There will be food, pumpkin decorating, face painting, games of all sorts, and all the other fun associated with the word Festival. Parents, grandparents, and caregivers, please click here to let us know how many from your family plan to attend so we have adequate supplies and food.  

Questions?  Please reach out to Sharon Mignerey

Adult Faith Development Opportunities

The Soul Matters group that meets via Zoom the first Monday of the month at 3:30 pm reconvenes after a summer hiatus on September 5 (You’re right. That’s a Tuesday—in deference to Labor Day). The group is accepting new members. If you’d like to join, send an email to Sharon Mignerey, Coordinator of Faith Formation.  

If you’ve been longing for a deeper connection with self-development, creativity, or your own sense of spirituality, check out UU Writers or Creativity Matters.  You can participate right here at UUFD, which provides the opportunity to be with like-minded people and to share in the joy of creating.  An organizational meeting was held on August 31, but it’s not too late to join.  

To indicate your interest in UU Writers, click here.

To indicate your interest in Creativity Matters, click here.  

In Closing

I invite you to invest six and a half minutes to watch this lovely little film about gratitude from Louie Schwartzberg.  My personal experience is that gratitude is the gateway to that feeling of welcome that we each long for.  Take this out for a road test to see if this is true for you.  

“Welcome out of the cave, my friend.  It’s a bit colder out here, but the stars are beautiful.”  -Plato

In Love and Light,

The Faith Formation Staff: Sharon Mignerey, Harrison Wendt & Nikki Bauer

Urgent request: Seeking pledge campaign co-chairs

I think everyone would agree UUFD is buzzing with activity – even more than usual. We recognize that we are experiencing “leadership dilution” due to volunteers committing time to the search committee and transition team, along with normal ongoing activities.

Nevertheless, we are urgently seeking co-chairs to oversee the late-winter-to-early-spring annual pledge campaign, an essential and hugely important task for our fellowship's health and effectiveness.

Important facts:

• high foundational importance
• task is time-limited, mostly January through the end of March
• only 1 organizing meeting
• model of organized sub-tasks is already in place
• experienced consultant will be involved

Questions, thoughts, offers to participate? Please contact me at 970-676-1022 or kadams@mcw.edu.

--Kathleen Adams

Come FROLIC with us!

What

Fabulous, Rousing, Outrageous, Lively, Ineluctable Celebration 

(a night to celebrate our beloved community and to fundraise!) 

When

Friday, September 22, 4:30 – 8pm 

Where

UUFD Sanctuary 

Cost

• $10 per person gets you in the door; free food and drink with your ticket. 
• Children ages 14 and under free. Free childcare/food provided. 

(Parents, PLEASE buy your tickets early so we know how many childcare slots to plan.) 

Auctions

• Bid Board: dinners or fun activities/adventures for 6-10 people. Most bid items will also have 2 available slots for raffle winners. 
• Live Auction, featuring our beloved emcee Bob Griffith: Quality, unique items not found at your everyday rummage sale! 

Entertainment

• The FROLIC Floozies return! – AND --
• A “special” surprise performance 

Event Proceeds

• The first $10,000 profit will be earmarked for a Memorial Garden Fund, which has been discussed for years. 
• Any remaining profit above the MG Fund will go toward the new UUFD HVAC system, which will replace our current aging heating and cooling system. 

Co-Chairs Contact Info: Aline Schwob ph 970-946-8877 e-mail aschwob@msn.com 

Or Sheryl Guy ph 509-991-5640 e-mail ptepte@hotmail.com 

Some climate thoughts from the Environmental Justice Team

"Are we going to be okay?

The following appeared in Jessica Craven’s blog “Chop Wood, Carry Water” recently. We thought it was worth sharing.

"ARE WE GOING TO BE OKAY?"

Against an ever-expanding backdrop of record-breaking floods, heatwaves, and fires, this question was asked by a listener in the final episode of the 2023 season of Outrage + Optimism, [a podcast] hosted by three veterans of the climate movement. [The] co-hosts rushed to offer reassurances. One, Tom Rivett-Carnac, related what he tells his children when they ask that question:

"You have the biggest opportunity in all of human history to live an incredibly meaningful life. And the actions that you take, because of the accident of the time of your birth, are of an order of magnitude in importance compared to most people who have lived before, because you are going to affect the future of life on Earth in 50, 500, and 500,000 years by what you do in the next couple of decades. So, no one is asking for an easy life, but really, deep down, we are asking for a meaningful life. And living now is an incredible gift towards that end because we have this incredible chance to turn things around and be the generation that does that. Are we going to be OK? Uncertainty is always difficult to live with, and we're just going to have to get used to that and do what we can do to try and make that turn out in a positive way. But for ourselves and our children that's going to have to be enough certainty for us to keep moving."

I thought this was so beautiful—and so perfect, honestly—that it needed to be shared. We have the biggest opportunity in all of human history to live a meaningful life. What a stunning assessment. Especially because it’s true. No one, ever, has lived at a time when human existence itself was so imperiled while, simultaneously, the democratic structures that uphold it were under such heavy attack. It’s a lot. Add rampant disinformation, escalating violence, and an overwhelming amount of just information coming in all the time and it’s no wonder that we’re stressed out and exhausted.

But we also stand at a moment of unparalleled historical moment. Us. Our cohort, as it were. We—and no one else—have been born into a time where every one of us, and the work we do or do not do, is stunningly important. Determinative. Pivotal.

So, if we’ve longed for a meaningful life—heck, even if we haven’t—we’ve got one. Perhaps the most meaningful ever. So, let’s make it count. We are up to this task. Together we will meet this moment.

We already are.

A new year of "Soul Matters" themes

New liturgical year starts Sept. 1 with "The Gift of Welcome"

Welcome to a new year of "Soul Matters"! Our fellowship uses "Soul Matters," a theme-based ministry program that offers resources around different monthly themes, in our faith formation, worship and social media. We thought you might enjoy a preview of the upcoming year's themes, which kick off with the beginning of our liturgical (worship) year on Sept. 1.

This year’s overarching frame is The Gifts of Our Faith. We'll focus on ten beloved UU values and explore their potential to shape us and in turn shape the world. 

How do these values offer us both challenge and comfort? What might it mean to place them at the center of our living and loving? What promise do they hold for us individually as well as collectively? These are some of the questions that will guide and bless our journey in the year ahead.

Here is the list of our 2023-24 themes:

The Gift of...

September: Welcome

October: Heritage

November: Generosity

December: Mystery

January: Liberating Love

February: Justice & Equity

March: Transformation

April: Interdependence

May: Pluralism

June: Renewal

We look forward to diving into these themes with you!

Recital Series news from Artistic Director Marilyn Garst

Recitals kick off Oct 6

For various personal reasons, I failed to keep records of all those who assisted me with the 2022-23 Recital Series. I apologize for this but greatly appreciate the help I received with the brochure, flyers, programs, finance, publicity, ticket sales, page turning, sound engineering, receptions (organization, food donations, beverages), and the additional financial contributions that we received.  

For a time, it was doubtful that there would be another Recital Series, but I am happy to say that another series has been scheduled for 2023-2024. Nicolò Spera, guitarist, will open the series on Oct. 6, 2023, and perform works on the ten-string guitar. He has sustained a performance career in the USA and in Europe and performed previously on our series in 2016. He currently serves as Professor of Classical Guitar at the University of Colorado Boulder where he also received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree.

The second recital will take place on Nov. 17, 2023 and will include piano duets performed by Cynthia Bauhof-Williams and Marilyn Garst. Cynthia has had a successful career as a soloist, collaborative pianist and faculty member at Pasadena City College in California. She received the D.M.A. degree at the University of Southern California where Marilyn received her B.M. degree.

The third recital is scheduled for February 16, 2024, and will feature Justin Hubbard, saxophone, who is Assistant Professor and Director of Bands at Fort Lewis College. He will be assisted by two pianists on the faculty, Lisa Campi-Walters and Holly Quist.  

The series will close on April 26, 2024 with a varied program of songs to be performed by Drea Pressley, mezzo-soprano, and accompanied at the piano by Marilyn Garst. Drea has performed in the USA and in Europe, is a Hollywood studio musician, and has performed on this series previously.

Please add these dates to your calendars. Details are posted on our website, and brochures with more detailed information will be mailed shortly.

Marilyn Garst, Recital Series Artistic Director