July 26, 2024

Something For the Moment  

• Reminder of E-Update Format:
  • For the Moment: Short on time? Read This!
  • For the Journey: Have a little more time? Need spiritual sustenance? Add This!
  • Extra: Catching up on Email? Keep Reading!
  • For Formation: Especially for Aspirants, Candidates and MFN volunteers!
• Training for Good Offices People: Learning to Support Colleagues Whose Lives are Touched by Addiction, Part 2 will be held on Thursday, August 29, 12-1:30pm ET/ 11am-12:30pm CT/ 10-11:30am MT/ 9-10:30am PT. If you missed Part 1 of this program, we ask that you prepare by watching the video for Learning to Support Colleagues Whose Lives are Touched by Addiction, Part 1.

Something for the Journey
from Julica Hermann de la Fuente, Lifelong Learning Manager

I had a hard time coming up with the first sentence for this message. I considered: “What does Lifelong Learning even mean during a slow-moving apocalypse?” or “Did the pandemic break your brain too, or is it just me?”

Not the most optimistic approach to my new position as your Lifelong Learning manager!  And also, not really where my heart is – I am in fact full of joy and enthusiasm and probably too many ideas about continuing education for ministers. And also, feeling the start-over energy of this week’s political news here in the US. And also, wondering where the heck to begin, because the other truth (for me at least) is that the pandemic did indeed affect my ability to read and retain information. I have been overwhelmed by personal and community crises in consecutive waves over the past four years, and never have I used my complex PTSD coping skills more. All of it is true, and swirling around.

How are you, dear colleague? Is it just another day at the hospital, or at the non-profit you serve? Are you riding the entrepreneurial dragon of too much to do and never quite enough income? Are you enjoying a well-deserved summer break from heart-filling and heart-breaking work in the parish?

And how can I help you meet your lifelong learning needs? What do you crave to learn next? Here’s a magic wand: you can design exactly what you need and want to rekindle your calling, to give you new and fresh ideas to bring to your people and your communities. How will you use it? I want to know.

Join me for tea or coffee on zoom! I’m hosting a few drop-in and dream sessions as I contemplate the many possibilities for lifelong learning for us all, and I would love to hear from you – let’s dream and scheme together. Click the dates below to register to join me!

• Wednesday, July 31 at 12pm ET/11am CT/ 10am MT/ 9am PT
• Thursday, August 8 at 2pm ET/1pm CT/12pm MT/11am PT
• Wednesday, August 14 at 4pm ET/3pm CT/2pm MT/1pm PT

Or drop me a line! Respond to this email and share with me: what are you hungry to learn next? How can I support your ministry and your ongoing development? I’m eager to hear, and looking forward to a year of collaboration and learning.

Something Extra

Something for Formation

The Ministerial Formation Network is thrilled to partner with UU Wellspring to offer four Seminarian Cohorts for 2024-25. This has been a valuable program to support UU identity formation, discernment support and spiritual care for folks preparing for vocations in UU ministry.  Here is more information on the  content of the 13-session program: Love at the Center: UU Values and Covenants. Participation is subsidized for UUMA/MFN members, however, space is limited. For registration details please contact Favreault@UUMA.org 

As you plan your fall schedule, note that the first two groups launch in October and meet twice a month as follows: 

• A Tuesday group will meet for 2 hour sessions 10PT/11/MT/12CT/1ET starting Oct. 8, 2024 to March 18, 2025 
• A Wednesday group will meet for 2 hour sessions 3:30PT/4:30MT/5:30CT/6:30 ET starting Oct. 2, 2024 to April 9, 2025