Today, after a couple of days of feeling sick, I am reflecting on how difficult it is for me to allow myself to fully rest without feeling a tinge of guilt. How impossible it feels for many of us to allow ourselves to rest, particularly those marginalized and oppressed, in a culture that so often expects productivity and perpetrates injustices. I am fortunate and privileged to be doing work that is flexible, among compassionate individuals. So, while I do not have a lengthy reflection to offer today, I have a lovely photo and an excerpt from a powerful prayer, written by author, Pixie Lighthorse, from her book Prayers of Honoring Voice. I hope it is something that you can revisit the next time you need a quiet moment (or many moments) of rest. Please know that worth is inherent and never determined by productivity. Please, take care.
Honoring Restoration
“…Commit me to the ceremony of fasting from language.
Press pause on my thoughts and concerns. Help me tune out all but the radiant resonance of my being. Connect me to my breath and ease the chatter of my mind. Give me a quiet place to lie down and indulge the sacred.
Dismiss my desire to work things out, jump up to write something down, and tend the many loose ends. Let everything drain out of me and into the Earth…
When I emerge, give me the time to communicate my fresh understanding through the soul of my new eyes. Remind me that sound isn’t the only way to share the news.
Help those close to me be comforted by my renewed presence and help me make it possible for them to retreat for needed reset, too.”
…I am here for you, just an email or a phone call away. While I am no longer holding virtual “office hours”, you can reach me on my personal phone at 507-995-7929 or by email at cfddirector@uumankato.org . If I do not answer, I encourage you to send a text or leave a voicemail. Currently, I am available for daytime meetings on Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. I also do have availability most other weekday evenings. I will continue to do my best to serve as a resource to our community, through connecting you to one another and of course, directly. Being a light in the lives of others is as important as ever, and I hope you will stay connected.
Macey Forsyth
Please consider joining our private Facebook group: UUFM Children’s Faith Development (https://www.facebook.com/
Link to the stories: Our virtual Stories for All Ages are now available on the UUFM YouTube Channel. At least one new story will be available by Sunday, each week.
https://www.youtube.com/
Youth Group: Youth Group meets tonight, Wednesday, May 19th from 6:30-8pm. This will be our last regular night on Zoom before we transition to a new schedule for the summer. We will celebrate with a game night. As always, more information will be posted to our private Facebook group and sent out via email.
This Sunday, May 23rd, we also plan to honor our graduating seniors during worship!
Virtual Children’s Chapel: Our next Children’s Chapel will be held this Sunday, May 23rd, from 11:30am-12:30pm via Zoom with Danielle and Macey. We will be considering the way that joy is shared and felt through story. As always, more information will be posted to our private Facebook group and sent out via email.
Kiva Last week, I received an email that, Kiva, the website we have been subscribed to for lending out micro-loans around the world would be receiving $2 from Ebay for every $1 donated. So, we decided to donate $135 that had been circulating in our account to the platform itself (…meaning over $400 for Kiva!) This sustains the work that they are doing and was only a fraction of the money we have invested into our account. If you have feedback on how your family would like to see our congregation’s Kiva funds loaned, please contact me! Causes range from agriculture, arts, clothing, to education, and more. Taking part in these choices serves as a sweet reminder of our interconnected web and the impact of our care.