CFD Director’s Message March 2, 2022

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Welcoming the month of Renewing Faith…

I have to admit, it’s felt like a heavy week to be beginning this monthly theme. Yet, that is part of the reason why it feels important to me.

So many of the people in proximity to me and around the globe are feeling the weight of deep loss and devastating war, layered upon the effects and complications that we continue to feel from the pandemic. This week, I am remembering the one year anniversary of the loss of a friend, and we learned of another who may not make it, following an overdose just a few days ago. Meanwhile, I recognize that many of you are going through deeply personal challenges and trauma, too. It is difficult news to share about and even harder, at times, to be with the experience of feeling it all.

Yet, allowing ourselves to be supported by our community and being present with difficult emotions is the most sustainable way through it. While I do not discount the value of casual connection through all of the “in-between” times, to have a faith community to lean on and learn from, to me, feels most meaningful through those most significant joys and sorrows we share. To know that our shared faith allows for greater care, connection, and trust in those moments truly is at the heart of this community.

Today, I leave you with a reminder from surgeon general Vivek H. Murthy, written in his beautiful book Together. While I believe I shared it here once before, I find it powerful to return to in times like these:

“Right now, the world you are inheriting is locked in a struggle between love and fear. Fear manifests as anger, insecurity, and loneliness. Fear eats away at our society, leaving all of us less whole, so we teach you that every healthy relationship inspires love, not fear. Love shows up as kindness, generosity, and compassion. It is healing. It makes us more whole. The greatest gift to ever receive will come through these relationships. The most meaningful connections may last for a few moments, or for a lifetime, but each will be a reminder that we were meant to be a part of one another’s lives, to lift one another up, to reach heights together, greater than any of us could reach on our own. Our hope is that you will always have friends in your lives who love and remind you of your innate beauty, strength, and compassion. Equally as important, we hope you will do the same for others. It pains us that we won’t always be there for you when you feel lonely and sad, but we offer this simple prescription to remind you, you are loved. When those moments of loneliness and suffering arise, take both your hands and place them on your heart and close your eyes. Think about the friends and family who have been there for you throughout your life, in moments of joy, and also in the depths of disappointment, the people who have listened to you when you were sad, the people who believed in you, even when you lost faith in yourself, the people who have held you up, lifted you, and seeing you for who you really are. Feel their warmth and their kindness washing over you, filling you with happiness. Now, open your eyes.”

I hope and pray that you all feel a sense of love and connection in your lives today and always.

…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

March Schedule:

*Please note that the Wednesday Youth Group dates for this month have shifted slightly due to the availability of facilitators (third and fourth Wednesday instead of the second and third Wednesday of the month). Children’s Faith Development:

Youth Group:

  • Youth Group, Wednesday, March 16th, 6:30-8pm (format and co-facilitator to be determined) https://uufm.breezechms.com/form/4a39e3
  • Youth Group, Sunday, March 20th, 11:30am-12:30pm, in-person with Lee and Macey https://uufm.breezechms.com/form/0433ad
  • Youth Group, Wednesday, March 23rd, 6:30-8pm, (format and co-facilitator to be determined) https://uufm.breezechms.com/form/cb397f I am continuing to ask that you please consider making use of our Breeze forms to RSVP. This simply gives us an idea of what to expect, and we may still sometimes cancel dates that lack RSVPs. I will be sure to make it as clear as possible when that is the case though. Thanks for understanding.