Notes from the Director
Welcome to the Month of Thresholds!
I would like to begin this month’s series of updates with a poem written by Cleo Wade:
how to breathe when you want to give up
today I am breathing through fatigue, fear, and feeling overwhelmed.
I breathe because when I breathe, I am reminded that I am alive.
I am reminded that to be able to fill my body with air means that I have the ability to keep going.
I am reminded that my time on earth may be short but it can be powerful if I dedicate it to love and fairness.
when I breathe
I am reminded of Mary Oliver when she wrote,
“tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
so I breathe
and let my breath
turn into a smile that says back to her,
“as much as I can.”
“Love a UUFM Elder”
Keep an eye on emails from Rev. Rita and Macey about outreach to the elders of our UUFM community! We will be nominating an elder each week and inviting families to write to them. Perhaps if your family doesn’t find time to write much, you can encourage your child to pick some artwork they have made to send! If you need stamps and envelopes or if you need to have an envelope picked up and delivered, Rev. Rita or Macey can help with that. We offer this opportunity as another way to keep our community connecting while we are away from each other. We hope that this will be a fun way to brighten the days of our elders, especially those who are living alone.
Dear Friends,
As I continue to keep you all in my hearts and thoughts, please know that I am 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. My typical workdays are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. 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.
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
Virtual Children’s Chapel
Our next Children’s Chapel will be Sunday, May 17th at 11:30am (after worship). A separate Zoom link will be sent out to families via email and posted on our private Facebook group. Dedicated facilitator, Deb Fitzloff, will be joining CFD Director, Macey Forsyth, for our next virtual Children’s Chapel.
Youth Group:
We want the youth to be able to have their own platform to connect face-to-face with one another. Lee, Barb, and I agreed that between the three of us, we will make sure that Zoom Meetings be held each upcoming Wednesday from 6:30-8pm. This Wednesday, as usual, we plan to check-in, spend a little time chatting, and try some games. These weekly virtual meetings will run through the end of May.