Thursday, January 9, 2025

Something For the Moment 

Collegial Conversation: 50 Years in Ministry Panel and Q&A: Please join us for a screening of the complete reflections from our colleagues celebrating 50 years in ministry followed by time for questions. Click the date to register and receive Zoom information: Thursday, January 16, 2025 2:30pm ET/ 1:30pm CT/ 12:30pm MT/ 11:30am PT
 

Skill Building for Social Transformation: Join Rev. Nathan Hollister for this 7-session program to build our collective capacity for change. Explore how we can increase our power to defend democracy and the impact of our anti-oppression work. You will leave this course with concrete activities and tactics to move your people forward, as well as more sermon material than you will need for the rest of the year. Choose the program dates/times that work best for you. Registration fee is $250 for the 7 sessions. Finances should not be a barrier to participation. You can apply for a scholarship here. 

• Tuesday Afternoons, January 21-March 4 at 3-4:30pm ET/ 2-3:30pm CT/ 1-2:30pm MT/ 12-1:30pm PT
• Wednesday Afternoons, January 22-March 5 at 3-4:30pm ET/ 2-3:30pm CT/ 1-2:30pm MT/ 12-1:30pm PT
• Wednesday Evenings, January 22-March 5 at 7-8:30pm ET/ 6-7:30pm CT/ 5-6:30pm MT/ 4-5:30pm PT

Something for the Journey

Julica Hermann de la Fuente, Lifelong Learning Manager

You are invited to a new learning experiment that starts next week. On Tuesday afternoons and Thursday evenings, I will be hosting a co-learning community; we will discuss a different topic each week. I’ve selected these topics based on your responses to our post-election survey; if you have another topic you’d like to propose please reply to this email; I’m eager to incorporate your learning needs into our calendar.

What is a co-learning community?

It’s a learning environment where we are all teachers and learners. There is no expert in the front of the room, and no powerpoint. We will start with a short video that sets the stage and the tone for the discussion, and then we will learn together.

Sometimes we will co-learn in breakout groups, sometimes in caucus spaces. Sometimes we will take a moment to reflect and journal or doodle. Your crochet and knitting projects are always welcome.

As your learning facilitator, I will lean into the Popular Education model, captured by this graphic:

How will it work?

We will have a new topic each week. This is a drop-in learning environment, so come every week or once a month or when the Spirit moves you. Choose Tuesday afternoon or Thursday evening according to what works best for you.

Upcoming Topics:

• 1/14 & 1/16 – mutual aid
• 1/21 & 1/23  – congregations as sanctuaries
• 1/28 & 1/30 – anti-racism scaffoldings
• 2/4 & 2/6 – organizing skills

Something for Formation

Chaplaincy Innovation Lab Meet and Greet: All colleagues are invited to this special gathering sponsored by the Ministerial Formation Network. Join a time of connection and conversation with Michael Skaggs, Director of Programs at The Chaplaincy Innovation Lab. The Lab launched in October 2018 to bring chaplains, theological educators, clinical educators and social scientists into conversation about the work of chaplaincy and spiritual care. As religious and spiritual life continues to change, the CIL sparks practical innovations that enable chaplains to nurture the spirits of those they serve and reduce human suffering. Whether you are considering a vocation or already serve in community ministry, chaplaincy, or in the parish, this is a great chance to learn about trends, resources and networks to support your growth and learning. We’ll round out the session with time for collegial check in and fellowship. Click the date to register and recieve Zoom information: Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 7-8:30pm ET/6-7:30pm CT/5-6:30pm MT/4-5:30 PT.

Something Extra: A Message from DRUUMM

Happy New Year! 

As we prepare to amplify DRUUMM’s 2025 Public Worship (open to all), featuring guest preacher Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, we are inviting Unitarian Universalist religious professionals to show their support by signing on to an Open Letter started by supporters of DRUUMM. We currently have 90 signatures and are aiming to reach at least 100 before making the letter public next week.

This is a concrete opportunity to raise the visibility of DRUUMM by inviting religious professionals in your circles—whether they are administrators, music directors, membership coordinators, religious educators, or ministers—to sign-on in support of our vital ministry. Our goal is to amplify our major event and fundraiser to each and every Unitarian Universalist community.

If you have a trusted religious professional in your life, or you are one yourself, please share the link to the letter with potential supporters and ask them to sign on themselves by the deadline on January 10th. They can do so directly in the document.

• Link to the Dear Colleague Open Letter for Religious Professionals

Take good care,
Rev. Joseph Santos-Lyons
Community Minister