May 17, 2024

Something For the Moment 

Upcoming Events: Don’t forget about these coming events. Register today to receive a reminder and Zoom link. 

• Community Ministers Pre-Retreat #3: Sunday, May 19. Please note time: 5-7pm ET/ 4-6pm CT/ 3-5pm MT/ 2-4pm PT Please note: this event is only open to those who have already registered for the Community Ministers Retreat in July

• Introduction to the New Good Office Handbook: Thursday, May 23 at 12pm/ 11am CT/ 10am MT/ 9am PT or Wednesday, May 29 at 8pm ET/ 7pm CT/ 6pm MT/ 5pm PT/ 2pm HT
• Board Dialogue Session: Monday, May 20, 8-9pm ET / 7-8pm CT / 6-7pm MT / 5-6pm PT This session is in danger of being cancelled for low registration please register today and let us know you’ll be joining us!

Watch Parties at Ministry Days: Are you one of the over 500 of you have registered for Ministry Days?  Were you unsure of your plans when you registered and are now thinking you might like to join (or host) a watch party?   Plans change!  Check out the Watch Party and Pop-up Party pages and let us know if you plan to be at an onsite event.   Are you procrastinating on your registration?  Register Here, Now!

Something for the Journey
from Janette M. Lallier, Director of Operations and Finance

This time of year I like to clear out the hidden corners of my home. I usually only have energy (and time) to pick one neglected spot. This year, diving into the “not sure where to put this stuff” shelf in a corner kitchen cabinet, I discovered a small zip lock bag with a few neglected flower bulbs. The result of a 2023 Easter plant harvested and saved in my “not sure what to do” dark place, I hadn’t wanted to just throw them away (I am a city girl with good intentions but a somewhat “wilted” thumb). To my surprise as I took out the bag, prepared to head to the compost, there were new green spouts! My thumbs, encouraged by the growth, found an empty pot and now I have the daily joy of seeing the plants take root. I have no idea what kind of flowers will result, or if it will blossom at all, but the small shoots remind me daily that sometimes growth happens in forgotten spaces, spaces we might have created but in ways we never imagined. 

In one of his song monologues, American Folk Musician and StoryTeller David Wilcox left me with the gift of “paying attention when something bothers me on a metaphorical level.” While not exactly bothered, I can’t help but wonder what else has been growing in forgotten spaces. I think many of the gifts I have received from my time working for the UUMA are like this. The UUMA and my continuing growth in the area of Organization Health is one example. Similar to the hopeful bulbs I am not sure what will blossom from this growth, but I am grateful for those who had the care and thoughtfulness to stick in there through the “not sure” places of the journey. Soon we will gather for the UUMA Annual Meeting and Ministry Days and have an opportunity to check on our growth. At the Annual Meeting we will hear reports, discuss a bylaw amendment, and gather for collegial conversations. At Ministry Days we will engage with ever new ways of gathering. I hope to see you at both as we engage in tending to the growth of our association!

If you are looking for the song that follows David’s monologue it is “That’s what the Lonely is For” from Live Songs & Stories

Something Extra

Annual Meeting:

• Register: Click here to register for the 2024 Annual Meeting on June 4 and 6, 2024.

• Read: Please review the annual meeting packet in advance. You can find the PDF version here and the audio version here. And here is an article from Board Member Wendy Bartel about the Bylaw revision. 

• Respond: If you have any questions or concerns regarding the meeting agenda or annual reports please consider attending the May 20 Board Dialogue Session or email board@uuma.org. Having questions and concerns ahead of time not only lets us prepare but, knowing if one person has a question it is likely shared by someone else, we will adjust our spoken reports accordingly. 

Ministry Days: Announcing Music Director for Opening Worship and Milestones

We are happy to announce that Camille Hatton will be joining Soren Austenfeld in creating music for our time together in June. While Soren has been busy working with the planning teams for the Celebration of Ministry and the Service of the Living Tradition (Including working with our choir), Camille will be bringing musical talents to our opening worship and Milestones services. 

About Camille: Camille Hatton (no preferred pronouns) is the Consulting Project Manager of the UUA’s Virtual Hymnal Task Force. Camille is an active AUUMM member and a volunteer music coordinator for the Cape Town Unitarians in South Africa. Camille is also studying inclusive music education techniques by applying Universal Design for Learning practices to collegiate-level music theory curriculum through the University of Cape Town.

Something for Formation

Ministerial Formation Network: New Credentialing Resources Launch Party on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 7:00-8:00 ET/6:00-7:00 CT/5:00-6:00 MT/4:00-5:00 PT 

Rev. Michelle Favreault, UUMA Ministerial Formation Network Manager and Rev. Darrick Jackson, UUA Ministerial Credentialing Director will host a joyful celebration of aspirant and candidate ministry and share new resources for folks preparing for a visit with the Ministerial Fellowship Committee! We’ll take a virtual tour of the new MCO website pages explaining the new MFC approach to the reading list and the eighth competency in Theology. We’ll have answers, you bring questions and a beverage to raise a toast to the growth and learning of the (academic) year that was! Register Now!