DLFF Newsletter – May  24, 2024

The Jetpig Dilemma

A couple of Sundays ago, I led a worship service about Faith Formation and the process leading to the upcoming vote at General Assembly to accept the new changes to Article II of the UUA bylaws. The proposed changes describe our Unitarian Universalist values that we aspire to live by: justice, equity, transformation, pluralism, interdependence, generosity, and love. You can watch a short summary of these values here.

While many of you have participated in the conversations around this over the past year, many have not, and so I approached this worship service as an opportunity to be informative to the latter in a fun and creative way. Thus, the introduction of Jetpig and J. Piglet – which are mnemonics/acronyms for the proposed values of Article II.

Like most things in life, not everyone is going to like or agree on some things. While many people appreciated the fun and creative angle in my approach, a few did not. Interestingly, there has been similar conversation amongst my colleagues this past week which I will share a bit here.

First is the concern that the order of the letters in the acronym may be seen as some values being more important than others. It is thought that by having "J" for justice first that it reflects a sense of community before individualism. Our current Principles begin with the "inherent worth and dignity of every human being" and focuses on the individual. By putting justice in the front, we are challenging our history of white supremacy thinking. Our faith is a living tradition, always evolving and changing, and this shifts our thinking to community-focused values from self-focused values. It is good to know that the UUA has said that no single value should be considered more important than another.

One more concern is about having a pig as a mnemonic, especially for those who identify as Jewish or Muslim, where pigs are seen as unclean. There are other options that could represent the "P" for pluralism: penguin, platypus, parrot, panda. Or perhaps a Guinea pig? Some feel that a pig works because of the saying "when pigs fly". It tells us that these values can help us live into a world that doesn't yet exist, and that impossible things can happen when we love each other, the world, and ourselves. Another colleague suggested changing the acronym to Pet Jig and having all kinds of animals dancing!

There is yet another option to the mnemic concern, which is to use the phrase, "Trees of Justice Grow Everywhere Love is Present (or Planted)". As a tree lover myself, I'm finding this to be endearing. While it doesn't address the concern about the order of the values, it certainly changes the mnemonic of Jetpig. And this new phrase really centers love, which hits home for me, as I'm pretty sure most people would agree on.

Of course we must wait for the final vote at General Assembly next month to know if the proposed values will be accepted or even adapted somehow. And if they are accepted, we can decide on the tools to use to help us remember these values. In the spirit of our living tradition, I welcome any creative ideas you may have in this effort.

DLFF Newsletter – April 26, 2024

As spring continues to tease us with occasional warm, sunny, days, it is a time in the church year to reflect on the past year and begin planting new seeds for future hopes and dreams. I hope you will read the annual reports that will be coming out next month in preparation for the annual congregational meeting on May 19. It is a manuscript of our endeavors and plans for the coming year to be celebrated!

For now, I will focus on recent happenings and upcoming events though. We had a joyful Easter Sunday with a beautiful worship service that embraced the Trans Day of Visibility while celebrating Easter and spring. Our 1^st Annual Peeps Show was a fun and wonderful event that led to conversations while waiting in line for the nourishing food at the potluck. So many of you expressed such joy at seeing the creative displays that I think we will be continuing the tradition next year.

This past Sunday, the Heads, Hearts, and Hands group (1^st-6^th grades) heard a true story, Sitti's Bird, about a girl who lived in Gaza and discovered that art helped her find hope during a time of conflict. We had some thoughtful conversation about the current strife and despair in Gaza and how having a caring community can help people in such times. While sharing our thoughts and feelings about all of this, we did some art of our own with inspiration from a UK-led project, Birds of Gaza. Young people all over the world are invited to create a paper bird in memory of a child killed in Gaza since October 7. You can post your picture to a specific child and see the thousands of birds created by others. It is very moving, to say the least.

We'll be starting a wonderful weekend with our Family-Friendly Passover Seder this Friday, 5:30-7p. You are invited to experience aspects of this Jewish celebration, taste the foods, sing the songs, hear the stories and prayers, and search for the afikomen. Feel free to bring a side dish to share that doesn't contain yeast (such as bread/rolls) or pork. Beef brisket, matzah, boiled eggs, and flourless cake will be served too.

And on Sunday, our awesome youth will be leading the worship service on widening our circle of welcome to include folks who are challenged for shelter and a place to call home, especially considering the struggles of homeless teens. I'm sure we will not only learn something new but will be transformed by their sharing of themselves.

On May 5, we'll have a special guest, Jetpig, a creation by some religious educators to help us navigate the proposed revisions of Article II of our UUA bylaws. How does Article II inform and inspire our faith and spiritual formation as a whole, faith community? What challenges does it bring? In what ways can we be engaged with it and find pride and joy in embracing it?

We'll be following this with a child dedication and a bridging ceremony on Mother's Day, May 12. It is a time to celebrate our young people and our graduating youth. It's a time of joy and hope!

Our Young Adult group (ages 18-35) is gathering at Skokie Lagoon on May 11 at 11a for a nature walk. Hopefully some of those returning from college will be able to join us too.

Mark your calendars now for our next Family Friday event on May 17 when we'll be doing some planting and weeding in one of our gardens and enjoying some refreshments out on the lawn afterwards. More details will be forthcoming.

I am also making plans for our summer program, which will be based on the Australian animated show, Bluey. It is one of those shows that adults seem to enjoy even more than kids do! I would love to have older youth and young adults to help me too, so let me know if you're interested in making some summertime magic.

Before we know it, we'll be meeting again for summer concerts in the park and afternoons at the beach. Until then…

In Faith,

Kathy

March 22, 2024

Photo by Artem Meletov:

Spring Teasings

March is always a teaser with short bursts of warm temperatures and sunshine between cold and cloudy days mixed with rain and snow. You so desperately want to pack away the winter clothes and yet you know if you do, you'll end up pulling them out again.

Life is like this. I often feel the need for a change – usually in my surroundings, which I accomplish by setting out mementos and decorations that reflect the change in the seasons. This can also be accomplished by traveling away for a weekend camping or to visit a new state on my bucket list (I've made it to 37 states so far). These are simple things I can do to scratch my itch. But at times, the itch returns, even deeper than before.

It is at these times that I realize that I'm more wary of change than I like to think I am. Those of you who know me a bit know that I am a planner – I take on a task and can envision the process and do what needs to be done to finish it. I am good at anticipating issues that may arise, and they inevitably do. But I'm also good at changing course on the fly when something goes amok. I can roll with the changes, go with the flow. With these skills, why do I still find excuses to change the harder things in life, to scratch the deeper itches?

My need for change appears in my work life as well, although the itch gets scratched more frequently and is satisfied more easily. While the pandemic was frustrating, among other things, it gave me a chance to try some new things in faith formation. Some of these worked and some didn't, but the spirit behind it continues on. I am still exploring new ideas to bring people together here at UCE, between generations, between families, between peers, and between UCE and the larger community.

Hopefully, you have heard about my latest effort: the 1st Annual Peeps Art Show! All ages are invited to transform Peeps marshmallow treats into a small diorama using miscellaneous objects. These will then be displayed in the sanctuary on Easter Sunday, March 31. You can pick up some materials this Sunday at the program table in the café area to take home to create your diorama or use items from your household. You can watch a tour of last year's International Peeps Art Show at the Racine Art Museum here to give you some inspiration! You can also see this year's exhibit at the museum March 21-April 13.

Also on Easter Sunday, we will have a traditional egg hunt on the South Lawn, weather permitting. Families will gather at the Nest area after worship for instructions. There will also be a potluck, so feel free to bring an eggy dish or springtime dish to share.

And as you anticipate the arrival of spring next week, I welcome you to join me by sharing your ideas on ways we can scratch the occasional itch, the one that reminds us that change is indeed good for us.

In Faith,

Kathy

DLFF Newsletter – February 16, 2024

Valentine (Re)Engagement

With Valentine's Day this week, I have been giving some thought to love and the many types of love there are. The obvious one is romantic love, and yet there are many others, such as friendship and platonic love, love for a hobby or sport, love for a pet. My attention, however, has been more along the lines of love for community. We are all part of many communities, such as our neighborhoods, families, circle of friends, clubs, and of course, UCE.

Since we re-opened our doors after the height of the pandemic, we have been striving towards reconnecting with each other and exploring new ways of doing so. We continue working towards Beloved Community. Like life and love, it has had its challenges and successes.

As people felt more comfortable returning to in-person worship, we saw mostly older adults attending and a few steadfast families. The mantra, "things will return to normal soon" was often heard and felt. Now another year later, it does feel more "normal" on Sunday mornings as we continue to seek a "new normal". We are seeing more and more families as is evident by the growing Nest area in the front of the sanctuary. What a blessing this is!

And yet we haven't experienced the same with adult programming, in particular, faith formation programs. As we slowly returned to more in-person programs, we had even fewer people participating. Those who helped me plan these programs were confused, and to be honest, had hurt feelings when only 2-4 people would attend. We tried some programs with a virtual option to no avail. Perhaps the topics were not of interest, or they were on a date they couldn't attend? Perhaps with some time off, we would discover what we wanted that was missing. And that is what we did – took some time to sit back and reflect.

Over the last few months, I have been collecting thoughts from various groups about what they would like to explore and participate in. What yearnings for learning do they have? How can they deepen their UU faith? What life events and challenges are they facing?

And so I offer an invitation for re-engagement. I invite and encourage you to think about your love for this community and what it is that keeps you engaged here. Is there something that would enhance this? Is there something you wish to delve into with others? I took the suggestions I have been collecting this year and assembled them into a short survey to get your feedback and thoughts on what would re-engage you in the coming months. Please take 3-5 minutes to complete it this weekend. It would be such a joy to know what you want and need to continue building Beloved Community.

In Faith, Kathy

DLFF Newsletter – January 26, 2024

To New Beginnings!

Another year has rung in, and UCE is buzzing with activity. Have you felt the warm energy lately? Despite the Arctic cold recently, people have been showing up for worship, faith formation, conversations, committees, and special events. It is such a joy!

Our young people returned to their Faith Formation programs on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, and have been exploring his legacy. Our Chalice Children group (pre/k) read the story Martin's Big Words and created their own "big words" murals (see the pictures below).

Our Heads, Hearts, and Hands group (1st-6th) has been exploring race, racism, and stereotypes. They tried mixing paints to match their skin color and discovered that they all needed some amount of brown. They looked at a world map showing how skin color is affected by geography and located where their ancestors came from on the map to verify why their skin color was the way it was. They also pondered why we call people "white" when no one has purely white skin. From here, the group will explore the concept of oppression and equality.

Our youth group (7th-12th) had the opportunity to go to their first Youth "CON" (conference) since the pandemic. The last one in our area was back in 2019 that UCE hosted, so this was a big step! We had six youth attend the one-night conference at 1st Unitarian in Milwaukee. They played some fun games to get started and broke into small groups for conversation. They watched the movie Black Panther and enjoyed pizza and snacks. Then on MLK Day, they watched the famous "I have a dream" speech in a short worship service, then created a group art project. This involved the youth decorating and writing on concentric paper circles the things they dream for our future, which were then attached to a canvass of the Milwaukee skyline. Seeing our UU youth gathering with others brings me so much hope!

As if this isn't enough, the Family Ministry Team coordinated a pizza dinner and game night last weekend where we had 22 people of all ages participate! We got to play new games and enjoy a lot of fun and laughter! If you have an idea for an event or program, you can fill out a Program Proposal Form or talk to myself or anyone on the Family Ministry Team: Wendy Drake, Gillian Lawrence, Janice Milanovich, and Norell Liddell.

In Faith,

Kathy

Welcoming Winter – December 8, 2023

The winter holiday season is upon us! This past Sunday, we had our Ornament Sunday – a UCE tradition that has continued post-pandemic. We had a nice assortment of ornaments to create: upcycled cardboard, paper straws, beads, foam, pinecones, cards for prison ministry, and more. Be sure to take a peek at the tree in the sanctuary, with all its hand-crafted charm.

Last month I wrote about ways we can uplift others who may be struggling during the holidays, such as staying in touch with a phone call, card, or letter, or meeting for a cup of coffee or tea, or going for a brisk walk along the lakefront or around the block. Inviting someone to join you at one of the many events at UCE this month is another way to help lift someone's spirits. The winter months are also a time for introspection and reflection, and there are several opportunities to do so in community with others.

In looking at the UCE calendar, here are some coming up to enjoy:

Yoga online – every Wednesday morning at 9:30a

Meditation via Zoom on the 7^th at 5:30p. Email Lisa Solomon for the Zoom link.

Carols, Cocoa, and Community on the 8^th at 6p – All ages are welcome to wrap gifts for the Mitten Tree and sing some holiday songs while sipping on hot cocoa. This is a simple way to give to others, and this is the season of giving! Feel free to bring a snack or treat to share.

Virtual Pilates and Tai Chi– on the 9^th and every Saturday morning. Pilates at 9:30a, Tai Chi at 9:45a for beginners and 11a for intermediate level.

Music Sunday on the 10^th – enjoy beautiful music during this worship service!

Christmas Pageant on the 17^th – an audience participation in the retelling of the Christmas story. You can pick up a costume or prop before worship, or sign up here if you wish to claim a specific character or animal. (insert link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044BABAB2EA4F85-45793877-christmas )

Peg Heads – come learn how to play Cribbage on the 19^th at 6:30p.

Light for All Winter Solstice Celebration – the UU Ministry for Earth is welcoming all to this celebration via Zoom. Register here for the link. (insert link: https://www.uumfe.org/support-for-activists/light-for-all/ )

Meditation on Zoom on the 21^st at 5:30p. Email Lisa Solomon for the Zoom link.

Christmas Eve Services – this year, we will have morning and evening services. The candle lighting at the evening service brings such awe and beauty to the celebration.

New Year's Eve – sing out 2023 in community in the worship service!

Fire Communion – January 7 during worship.

May we embrace the coming winter months with the warmth of this community.

In Faith,

Kathy

November 3, 2023

DLFF Newsletter –November 2023

As I write this on Halloween with blowing snow outside my window, I'm reminded that we are entering the time of year when we tend to hibernate and not venture out of our cozy dens as much as we did in warmer weather. For me, it is a welcome respite, as I cherish listening to quiet music and reading, or doing needlework in front of the fireplace – things that I don't make time for in the warmer months. However, I know for many people, it is not as welcoming of a time. The darkness gets wearisome at best and the cold is constant.

This leads me to wonder what I, and we collectively, can do to lift the spirits of those who need it in the coming months? One thing that comes to mind is simply to stay in touch – whether that's a quick email or text, a phone call, or a cup of coffee or tea. For those with younger kids, it might be an offer to watch the kids for an hour or two while mom or dad run errands or go for a walk, or to take the kids on a short excursion and let mom or dad have some time to themselves.

Of course, there are also many events coming up at UCE and the greater community to help stay connected with others. Some offer a time for reflection and grieving and resilience, some offer joy and gratitude and the spirit of the holidays.

This month:

• Membership Engagement Fair – this Sunday during Kinship time
• Evanston Children's Theater: 13 the Musical – come support a few of our young people who are in this production November 17-19! Click here for tickets. (insert link: https://apps.cityofevanston.org/webtrac/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/search.html?display=detail&module=PST )
• The Serendipity Auction on the 18^th – bid on events, gatherings, and goods!
• Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil on the 20^th at UCE and online
• Interfaith Thanksgiving Service on the 22^nd at UCE and online

And in December:

• Ornament Sunday on the 3^rd during Kinship time – make holiday decorations for your tree and decorate UCE's tree too! Sign up here if you wish to host a table craft. (insert link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044BABAB2EA4F85-45662186-ornament )
• Carols, Cocoa, and Community on the 8^th at 6p – All ages are welcome to wrap gifts for the Mitten Tree and sing some holiday songs while sipping on hot cocoa.
• Music Sunday on the 10^th – enjoy beautiful music during this worship service!
• Christmas Pageant on the 17^th – an audience participation in the retelling of the Christmas story. Sign up here if you wish to claim a specific character or animal. (insert link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044BABAB2EA4F85-45793877-christmas )
• Christmas Eve Services – this year, we will have morning and evening services.
• New Year's Eve – sing out 2023 in community in the worship service!

May we embrace the coming winter months with the warmth of this community.

In Faith,

Kathy

Everything we do is Faith Formation.

Everything we teach is Unitarian Universalism.

The Congregation is the Curriculum.

These words have formed my beliefs and practices of my professional life and work as a religious educator. I see my role as being a guide to help support the congregation to this realization – EVERYTHING we do is Faith Formation. EVERYTHING we teach is UUism. And YOU are the curriculum!

Whether or not you volunteer with our young people, you are still a part of our curriculum. What we say and do, individually as well as collectively, is witnessed by each other, including our youngest. We teach and lead by example – through our words and actions – during worship, kinship time, protests and social action, and even when we're just hanging out and having some fun.

And while everything we do is considered faith formation, there are just certain aspects that fall under my umbrella here at UCE, which is primarily educational and social programming for all ages and stages of life. With this in mind, I wanted to share the many events coming up this month that fall under my umbrella. There is a lot of excitement and energy at UCE right now!

This month, we have many events for adults, youth, children, and families. Be sure to scroll all the way down!

All Ages Events

Animal Blessing – October 1 Worship Service Bring your leashed/caged pet for a special blessing!

Halloween Campfire – October 27, 6:30-8:30p on the South Lawn  All ages are invited to hear some not-so-scary stories, enjoy s'mores, and show off costumes.

Halloween Party – October 29 during Kinship Time after worship No explanation needed here! Costumes are encouraged, but not necessary for some fun.

Intergenerational Events

Banned Books Club – Noon-1:30p

Join this new group of bibliophiles for ages 12 and older – youth, young adults, and older adults to discuss our first selection, the graphic novel, Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe. We'll have some light refreshments too. Future gatherings will be on the first Sunday of the month. Robb Geiger and Carla Williams are facilitating.

Parents and Grandparents

Our Whole Lives Sex Ed (OWL) for 4^th-6^th Grades – Parent Orientation – October 8, 12:30-1:30p in room 3. Parents interested in having their child participate will meet to learn about the program.

Parent's Perk – October 15 at 9:30a in room 13 – Whether you're a parent or grandparent, you're invited! This month, we'll be sharing our expectations for our youngsters as it connects to our UCE community. What do we want them to learn, experience, and share? Bring your favorite morning beverage and enjoy some sweets and company!

TransParentsy Group – October 15 at 12:30-2p in room 2 – Parents and grandparents who have trans children of any age in their lives are welcome to share experiences and resources in a safe space.

Adults

The Journey Series – Join Rev. Susan Frances for this series offered twice yearly to learn about Unitarian Universalism. All sessions are 7-8p on Zoom.

• Journeying in Covenant – October 5
• A Journey Through UU History – October 12
• Spiritual Journeys & Inspirations – October 25

Non-Fiction Book Group – October 22 – 2p Via Zoom – The group is discussing David Treuer's books about Native America. Participants may choose to read Treuer's 512 page book entitled The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native American from 1890 to the Present, or his shorter, 275 page young adult book entitled The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Life in Native America, published in 2022.

Children and Youth

This month, our Chalice Children for pre/k and Heads, Hearts, and Hands group for 1^st-6^th grades will be exploring our new theme, The Gift of Heritage, and creating their covenant.

Our Youth Group for 7^th-12^th grades will continue their Coming of Age journey. This is a two-year exploration of their beliefs, reflecting on their childhood, exploring anti-racism/oppression, and doing social action work.

On a personal note, I will be out of the office October 11-14 for the Liberal Religious Educators' Association annual Fall Conference in  Milwaukee. This will be my first in-person conference since 2019! We are fortunate to have the newly elected UUA president, Rev. Dr. Sophia Betancourt speaking at our conference.

I look forward to seeing you at some of the many events and gatherings this month!

In Faith,

Kathy

Something Possible

Here we are once again, ready to start a new church year. It is a time of anticipation and excitement, with a bit of anxiety thrown in. So many ideas to try, experiences to share, and new learnings to be had, and yet so many unknowns. Will my friends be there? What will worship be like? Has anything changed over the summer? What will we be doing this year?

Rev. Eileen preached on August 20 about how we can live hopefully despite the unknowns and the knowns that worry or scare us. We can still keep the faith by knowing that there is possibility in our world, that something is always possible no matter what is currently happening, and that we need to allow these new possibilities to emerge. It is an action to take, not just a feeling. And so I am embracing this as I start the new church year and invite you to join in on Something Possible by taking a backpack/bag tag that was blessed on the 20th from the basket at the Welcome Center in the lobby. Let it help us to remember that this year something is always possible.

As I prepared the tags for our annual blessing, I thought about some of the possibles. Okay, there are actually quite a few! These are some topics as well as general ideas that have crossed my mind:

• For adults: spiritual journeys/development as we age; Our Whole Lives (OWL) Sex Ed for young adult and older adults; health – physical and mental health and finding meaning, balance, and joy in life; game nights with adult games and beverages; nature retreat – camp out in the great outdoors and connect with Mother Earth; Civil Rights tour in Alabama, perhaps as an interfaith effort; have small groups meet at local coffeeshops or cafes to chat about current events and our UU values; have an interfaith group from local houses of worship to share their faith journeys, meeting at each one.
• Young people: summer day camp; Churchcraft group based on Minecraft; a middle school youth group; more social action opportunities in the area; sleepovers at UCE; paint a mural; fun outings like bowling, skating, hiking, etc., class for teens on life strategies, such as money management.
• Families and Multigenerational: Dungeons & Dragons group; visit other UU churches in a smaller group; nature hikes on local trails; Sunday brunch before or after worship; gardening; adults share a favorite childhood story with kids, perhaps around a campfire; indoor and outdoor game nights; a multigenerational choir.
• Parents: share resources on bringing UUism into daily life; weekend retreat without kids; spiritual parenting; any of the ideas above for adults too.

As you can see, the something possibles are endless! I wonder, what would be your top three choices? Or perhaps something else has been missing in your life and you'd love to explore and do it with others?

As we returned to more in-person gatherings this past year, our needs and desires have changed. We are finding that less is more now, in that we want fewer things to fill our time but with more meat and meaning in them. We struggle at times to interact with others in person after being virtual so much. And yet the virtual opportunities allow many to connect with UCE groups and worship. All of this is true for adults and our young people, and families of all shapes and sizes.

And so we continue in the spirit of adventure as we try new ideas to discover what "less" will mean "more" to each of us individually, and to UCE as a whole. If any of my musings have struck your creativity and you'd like to share an idea, feel free to email me, or fill out the Program or Group Proposal Form.

Let's explore those something possibles!

In Faith,

Kathy

A Pandemic and an Epidemic: Covid-19 and Alternative Facts

Tuesday, January 4, 2022 at 7-8:30 pm | Virtual Sessions on Zoom | Facilitated by Howard Jarvis, MD

Dr. Jarvis will speak about how a large regional health system in rural America confronted the medical and cultural realities of Covid, and what unique steps were taken initially. They eventually became the epicenter of the delta wave pandemic, and are now dealing with another peak. The crisis continues to be exacerbated by a low vaccination rate in Springfield, and dismal vaccination rates in the more rural areas. There will be some discussion of the politics of downplaying the effectiveness of masks, social distancing, and vaccines. 

Howard Jarvis, MD, FAAEM, has been interviewed by CNN and the Kansas City star because he has been on the front lines of the battle with Covid and “alternative facts.”  

He is Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine and Medical Director of the Emergency Department at CoxHealth in Springfield, MO—an area with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the country. He graduated from Washington University School of Medicine and trained at MetroHealth- Case Western Reserve and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where he was Chief Resident in Emergency Medicine.  

Prior to medical school he was in the Graceland University Honors Program directed by UCE Members Bob and Barbara Mesle. He took Bob’s Medical Ethics class, as well as Barbara’s British Literature class, the latter of which was his favorite college course. This Kansas City Star interview with Dr. Jarvis offers a good look at him and his situation.