Collegial Care and Mutual Support💜 You Are Beloved 💜
November 8, 2024
Something for Us All
In this week of disruption, there are things that are constant. The outpouring of collegial care and mutual support is a constant that uplifts and inspires us when times are tough. The needs for resources and skill building strategies will carry forth. Thank you for your faithful leadership in this hard moment and in the times to come. Together, we make meaning and continue to offer knowledge, experience, care, and courage. As you tend to your ministry, our prayers, practical support, and mission hold you in your service of this faith. We are here to support you in leading in love toward collective liberation.
With gratitude, the UUMA Staff
Something for the Moment: Just Checking In: How Are You? from Rev. Carol Thomas Cissel, Treasurer UUMA Board of Trustees
Just Checking In: How Are You? That’s the title of this piece, but it is also a question worth repeating: How Are You? As I sat writing this, honestly…I was afraid to ask. Part of me wanted to know how you were feeling, but was scared of your answers. As much as I want to tune in, listen, stay aware, and help others, I am deeply aware that on most days, I’m skating very close to exceeding my Capacity to Care. But, I decided to ask the question anyway. So, How Are You?
Friends, we are living through bumpy, sticky, yucky, challenging times. My week has been a doozy. Harris lost. A precious friend caught Covid-19. We had a hugely successful coat drive at church and then an uber volunteer mistakenly took ALL THE COATS without telling me. I panicked (because they were promised to several Social Justice partners) and wrote an email that led to hurt feelings, more confusion — and apology, on top of apology. Sigh ☹. Wait, there’s more. This morning my dear friend of 25+ years told me she has breast cancer. I’m also prepping for foot surgery next week. It will take me away from Church for 2-3 weeks minimum. Sheesh. It feels like too much.
I know your life is too much, too. Too much to do. Too many disappointments. Too many folks to care for. Too much energy turned outward and too little selfcare. We are individually and collectively: Tired. Spent. Weary. Sad. And Angry.
Still, I’m asking you to hold on. Stop. Breathe. Pray. Meditate. Walk. Swim. Phone a friend. Sing in the shower or in the car. Please, do what you must to find your center. Because the world needs you. It needs all of us, now, more than ever. It needs our integrity, empathy, values and plain old good sense. It needs our humor, kindness and love. It needs our resilience, tenacity and willingness to “speak truth to power.” It needs us to stand up for immigration, reproductive and transgender rights.
Please hold on. Yes, the world feels like too much, but friends, it needs us now, more than ever.
A Prayer from the UUMA from Rev. Dr. Robin Tanner, President-Designate UUMA Board of Trustees
Go outside if you can—
Feel the wind push back despair.
Earth, whether she be soft leaf-laden yard or hard cold concrete,
Hold you here.
Know that sometimes the repair comes before the rupture.
Whatever argument or distance was between us
Small dissonance now-
Mere mirage of self-sufficiency.
For we are now the sanctuary.
I brush back this baby’s hair,
Who is now a young boy.
I make promises I cannot keep in this night.
I remember the rhyme:
Here is the church, here is the steeple,
Open the doors…
My child is ours.
You who choose love.
It is late
Neither yesterday nor quite tomorrow.
And the wind pushing back my despair
Has just come from your broken heart too.
Open the doors.
We are the sanctuary.
May we find some comfort and courage together in the coming days.
Something for Formation
The following UU seminarian gatherings are a chance for folks in formation to connect for supplemental education and collegiality.
Pastoral Presence in Moments of Mental Health Crisis: November 14, 1pm ET/12pm CT/11am MT/10am PT; hosted by Rev. Amy Bertschausen, Interim Director of Contextual Education at Meadville Lombard. Zoom Link for event
Seminarian Salon Live: Issues in UUism and leadership for these times: November 18, 6pm ET/5pm CT/4pm MT/3pm PT; Hosted by the Rev. Dr. Meg Richardson at Starr King School for the Ministry. Zoom Link for event.
Something Extra
Some of these items would normally be in the first section of this newsletter. It does not feel like normal is how to move through the world right now. Please pay extra attention to our Latest News page in the coming weeks to stay up to date on the happenings at the UUMA.
Board Dialogue Session: Please join our board for a dialogue session on November 22 at 3:00-4:00pm ET/ 2:00-3:00pm CT/ 1:00-2:00pm MT/ 12:00-1:00pm PT. These sessions need you to be a strong conversation please register to join us today.
Support for Underserved Non-Geographic Chapters: As more non-geographic chapters have formed in the UUMA, it has become clear that some non-geographic chapters may require additional resources to be the flourishing source of connection and support that so many of our colleagues yearn for. Click here to learn more: Support for non-geographic chapters.
Chapter Leader Gatherings: Resources, Programs, Support, and Connection: We are offering four opportunities at a range of times for Chapter Leaders to gather in November. We ask that at least one elected leader from each chapter attend one of these calls for updates, discussion, and collegiality. (Please note: Sending at least one leader of your chapter to one of these calls is required to request a chapter subsidy.)
Click on a date below to register for a different date:
You can view our calendar events here. Please make sure you are logged into uuma.org to see our full calendar as some events are available for members only.
Just Checking In: How Are You? That’s the title of this piece, but it is also a question worth repeating: How Are You? As I sat writing this, honestly…I was afraid to ask. Part of me wanted to know how you were feeling, but was scared of your answers. As much as I want to tune in, listen, stay aware, and help others, I am deeply aware that on most days, I’m skating very close to exceeding my Capacity to Care. But, I decided to ask the question anyway. So, How Are You? 
