Author: Laurie Gauer
Dear Lake Fellowship Members and Friends,
Let’s take a moment to pause:
Notice, name, and feel your emotions in this moment.
Take three deep breaths. Picture someone or something that brings up what you’re needing right now: care, love, calm, joy, etc. Send those feelings to yourself . . . then out into the world.
-- my variation of HeartMath's Heart Lock technique
During Joys & Concerns last Sunday, Dan expressed gratitude for being part of a congregation that quickly adjusts to meet members’ needs. He and Vicki had called Marnie on Friday evening suggesting that we postpone the scheduled program and instead hold space for people to share their thoughts and feelings related to the killing of Renee Good by ICE on Wednesday. Thank you to Matthew for agreeing to postpone his program and to Vicki and Marnie for creating and facilitating a program that met our needs in the moment.
I too am grateful for our ability to transform to meet our members’ needs. It’s one of the benefits of being part of a small, lay-led congregation. For example, we joined when our children were very young and we were able to help create their experience in our children’s Religious Education program. (Even that program name is changing based on input from new members who feel that Religious “Education” sounds like indoctrination and prefer the name Religious “Exploration.”)
Helene recently expressed a similar sentiment: as a retiree, she is grateful for the opportunity to use her skills and talents to make a difference at LFUU as a volunteer. I want to thank Helene, and Sam, who, by example, are furthering our transformation into who we want to be in community with each other and the world. In our conversation during the program on Sunday, I noticed that although we condemned actions and words, we did not demonize or dehumanize those who think and believe differently than us.
This month’s UUA Newsletter, How do we respond to seismic changes in Unitarian Universalism?, also focuses on the need for us to evolve and meet the moment, as a faith, congregation, and member. It was written before the killing of Renee Good by Rev. Ashley Horan, Vice President for UUA Programs and Ministries, who lives in South Minneapolis.
How has LFUU evolved to meet your needs? How can you help facilitate what you want LFUU to become?
In Fellowship,
Laurie Gauer, Board Chair