Message from the Board Chair

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

How are you doing? My mind is often swirling and my body buzzing. I want to stay informed, but the news has caused me a lot of worry. Worry leaves me muddled and unable to act. I’m using this technique to stop worrying and transform it into calm:

When you notice worry, pause, then,

1. Note the mental image in your mind. 

2. Note the story you're telling yourself about it.

3. Note the sensations in your body caused by stress hormones.

Take 3 deep breaths to clear those hormones, then,

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

I’m so proud and excited to tell my story about Lake Fellowship living our UU values!

Last week, Lake Fellowship members turned out in force at the state capitol to be a voice for justice and equity, side with the vulnerable, and show our elected officials we’re paying attention! Four of our members attended the ERA Rally and seven bundled up for the People’s March. At each of those, we had more members than any other UU congregation!!! And we’re one of the smallest! Let’s celebrate!

LFUU Members and Friends,

This Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day coincides with the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Let that sink in for a moment . . . or two . . . or even three . . .

Are you wanting a way to acknowledge and/or act at this defining moment? Here are a few options:

The Message from the Board chair is now posted on the new LFUU Blog on our website! Other notices, such as from our Social Action committee, are also there. When Matthew, our website expert, suggested it, I said yes right away. It will give visitors to the website a good feel for what we’re about and stand for. So, Matthew added the code to make it so. Check out our LFUU Blog.

It’s a New Year! A time to reflect on and learn from the past year. To be grateful for what’s working in the present and let go of what’s not. To dream for the coming year and commit to actions that will help make those dreams come true.

At last Sunday’s program we were in three small groups talking about how the spiritual practice of Presence, this month’s theme, can help us live our new UU values. We chose between three of the values: Love, Transformation, and Generosity. When our group discussed what we’re already doing to practice Presence to live Transformation, I said that as a congregation we’re constantly Transforming what and how we do things to fit our members’ Transforming needs and wants. Because we are small and don’t have one leader, we’re able to be more Present to those and Transform relatively quickly.

Our monthly themes this program year all start with “Living Love through the Practice of (Invitation, Deep Listening, Repair, Presence, etc.).” The intent is that by practicing the theme we will live out our core UU value of Love. When I first saw that, I thought, “That’s great! I want to do that!” But so far, I have not been practicing the themes, probably because I don’t like to
practice things, possibly because I didn’t commit to using a specific tool to, and perhaps because I wasn’t accountable to anyone.

We’re trying something new for an upcoming program and need your questions! We are having a speaker on neurodiversity in February for our theme of The Practice of Inclusion. He has autism and is a night owl. He asked if he could prerecord his program. We said sure. Because we like to ask questions, we’re soliciting those ahead of time from you so he can answer them in his talk. So, please submit questions about:

1. Neurodiversity in general and/or
2. Inclusion of those who are neurodivergent

Do you find traditions reassuring in an always changing world? Like our Annual Thanksgiving Potluck Feast last Sunday? My family and I joined LFUU 35 years ago and I think I’ve attended every feast since. It’s always wonderful to share good food and conversation with old and new friends!

This Sunday is our annual Fellowship Thanksgiving Feast! It’s a time for us to share what we’re grateful for and our favorite food. The Larsons are bringing a turkey, and we'll also have cranberries, onion tarts, and pumpkin pie. If you didn’t sign up to bring a specific food, just bring what you want, or just your appetite and your willingness to help set-up and clean-up. Everyone is welcome!