Concluding the month of Renewing Faith and beginning the month of Awakening…
The ground and waters surrounding us are in the process of thawing, and it feels like UUFM is going through a similar process after two long years. It has been so pleasant smelling the coffee brewing in the Fellowship Hall again for the last couple of weeks while I prepare on Sunday mornings now that we have fully reopened, and it’s been even sweeter getting to connect with more of you face-to-face. Each person and family, of course, continues to practice their own sense of what is safe and makes the most sense personally. Whether that’s continuing remotely, coming masked, or participating more fully, we honor it all, and I have encouraged people to consider grabbing a mug and inviting others to chat outside, if that feels like the right option for you at this time of easing back in. Please do let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding how we might best welcome you back.
While the first weekend of April will be an all-generation service, meaning the children are invited to stay with the adults during worship, the remainder of the month will include the option to participate in Children’s Chapel (for kids ages K-6) on Sundays. We now welcome the kids downstairs at the beginning of service. You’re welcome to bring them to the CFD Room as early as 10:15am, and we will generally reconvene with parents and guardians around 11:10am, to enjoy the last few minutes of worship together. The nursery is not yet staffed and reopened, but I will keep everyone informed on what progress we make with that in the coming weeks and months. If any of you are interested in helping with that process, I would love to hear from you. Staffing properly, the way we had in the past, may be taking place following my maternity leave. In the meantime, however, I do want those of you with young children to feel supported and am open to talking with you about what options we can come up with through folks that might offer volunteer-based support.
In-person planning for April is still in-process (keep an eye on next week’s update for a full schedule), but what I can say is that I am excited to organize a Seven Principles-inspired egg hunt for those of you who are planning on making it for Easter Sunday. Worship is shaping up to be a month focused on both the goodness of life through connection with the community and the land, which I imagine will translate beautifully in the children’s programming. I am wishing you all renewed energy, wellness, joy, and insight, in addition to a renewed sense of community – one that I deeply hope we can help cultivate.
…I am here for you, just an email or a phone call away. I am now currently holding office hours in-person at UUFM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11am-3pm. 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/groups/1404655806251029/). This group is intended for families and congregants who are involved in Children’s Faith Development. My approval of new members’ access to the information there is what makes the group a safe space for sharing. I will be sharing our weekly stories as Facebook videos on my personal page publicly and sharing them in the group, as well as short prayers and meditations.
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/channel/UCNwWkbABO6HpDlw5Po2TdQA?view_as=subscriber