November 8, 2019
Dear ones,
Some years back, I attended the Unitarian Universalist Church of Rochester, Minnesota on the first Sunday in May. On the grounds of the church stands a maypole. After the service everyone was invited out into the spring sunshine to join in the ritual of weaving the colors of summer and new life. Amid singing and laughter, and some intense and serious (and less obvious) direction from some seasoned maypole dancers, we wove together individual strands into a beautiful monument to human spirit, creative energy and disciplined know-how.
When I imagine this interim process at its best, this is the image that I see. In September, you identified strands of story and structure, assets, challenges, and strategies. In October, you engaged in reflection and chose quality over reactivity in your consideration of an extended interim. Like the weaving of a maypole which looks so easy when the dance is happening, the grounding of a congregation in sustainable structures and relationships involves much planning and preparation.
Story, structure, assets, challenges, and strategies. These are the main strands that we will be weaving together over the rest of the interim period.
During my November visit, the Sunday services will focus on attention to story and how the stories we tell about our own lives and about the life of UCE are shaping the future. Can we maintain the truth of our old stories and also expand and deepen them to make way for a more promising future?
In our Brown Bag gatherings we will begin a conversation that attends to UCE’s Covenant of Engagement. Where do we see this covenant at work? What are the challenges to keeping the promises it makes?
In a gathering of volunteer leaders we will attend to the structures of our volunteer efforts. This is a time of high energy at UCE. What might you do to strengthen the structures that sustain that energy during times of transition or stress? What might entice new volunteers to participate and lead? How is your membership sustained?
In addition, I am available to meet with individuals by appointment or with small groups/committees/covenant groups/ etc. by invitation to discuss any aspect of the Interim Plan (see UCE Website under “Interim”) .
At the Town Hall meeting at the end of my October visit, I was acutely aware of the disappointment around the extension of the interim period. I can only hope that that disappointment might be turned into determination to make the very most of this time, to dig deep and take long looks. This is not so much about “solving problems” as “embracing challenges.”
Let us weave on!
Karen