From Rev. Karen Mooney: March 27, 2020

There is an old saying that has been floating through my conversations of late – “may you live in interesting times.” Oft ascribed to Chinese origin, this innocuous saying is offered as a curse. A curse, because interesting times are those when we find ourselves devoid of peace and embattled by a calamity which demands some change. It can feel accursed to experience the change that has claimed the lives of beloved friends and family; to know the fierce accounting of how we show compassion and care as we struggle to keep everyone safe. This change has asked communities to be still. We do live in interesting times but we know that calamity can be also a source of transformative opportunity.  A positive amidst this change is the the space that has been bought for our earth to breath, with the carbon emissions down world wide.

I invite us all to reflect on how, what we do and how we respond, will impact the transformation occurring around us. If things are going to change, let’s embrace that change and make the losses bend toward being worthy of what we can gain. What if we take this calamity to reach out and rebuild relationships that were soured? What if we grasp hold of this change and demand the web include those on the margins within our sights for care? What if we see the bonds built by our grief and anxiety as an opportunity to build a resilient community within our midst. While not replacing beloved people or familiar patterns of behavior, we can hold onto those things which do not serve us.

What will come of this time of silent calamity? Maybe generosity, compassion, a greater sense of the whole that has been we can now see and observe clearly? Looking outside my window the world appears so, well, normal(ish). But it is different. Though the flowers are finding their way to the sun, we each have a choice in how we respond. Let us respond with the generosity of spirit that will change this world and bend the arc toward justice. In this newsletter you will find an article by Susan Carlton talking about a new grouping of folks based on location (proximity partners). Click here for ways UCE has responded with compassion and how you can respond in turn during this time.  Join me, won’t you, join me in bringing a new world into being?

Rev. Karen Mooney, Congregational Life Director

Proximity Partners
In this bewildering and anxious time we are witnessing and experiencing an amazing pulling together and reaching out to connect and sustain one another. Going forward we can use the lessons we are learning about how to stay connected to inform our future planning and to strengthen our web of connection and caring.

One idea our ministers and church leadership have been exploring for some time is the formation of neighborhood groups – proximity partners. These groups would be composed of members who live close to one another geographically and would be an ongoing source of support, connection and mutual care for one another. A few “test” groups had already been formed well before the spread of COVID-19 (novel Coronavirus).

Please click on the button below and take a few minutes to complete a brief survey designed to gauge the interest of the  congregation in forming neighborhood groups.