Beginning the month of Stillness…
“I’m taking the day off.
Quiet as a feather.
I hardly move
though really I’m traveling a terrific distance.
Stillness.
One of the doors into the temple.”
-Mary Oliver
Rather than practicing stillness as a retreat from the world, our faith calls us to practice stillness as a means of leaning into what is difficult. I believe that being still is one way to digest what is painful and metabolize it as energy. We each have our own process for coming to a place of stillness, a place where we can be a witness to our body’s responses.
This morning as I woke up and began journaling, I recalled an unpleasant dream that felt deeply personal. When I spent time writing and reflecting about it, I initially noticed my jaw clench, shoulders hunch up, and even my stomach tighten. It is in that noticing that response that I might transmute those feelings. This does take effort and awareness, but it is where empowerment, wisdom, and action lie. There are many resources in our world today to find the tools that work for us to tap into this place, whether it is meditation, yoga, writing, or embodiment. It may be a matter of simply inviting mindfulness and breath into various parts of one’s day. The good news is that there are so many free or otherwise affordable ways to learn many of these techniques.
I encourage you to prioritize self-care and spiritual practice that is effective for you and your family, this month and always. I am aware of how challenging it can feel to make it happen on a consistent basis. It is sometimes helpful to begin again slowly, even if it just means 5 minutes in the morning or before falling asleep at night. As we begin this month of stillness, I invite you to begin again.
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 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/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 date will be held on Sunday, December 13th at 11:30am. We will have a comfy pajama day to celebrate these short, chilly days leading up to Winter Solstice. Our monthly theme is Stillness. More details to come.
Youth Group
Our Youth Group meets tonight, on Wednesday, December 2nd from 6:30-8pm. This meeting will be hosted by Lee and Macey. Our monthly theme for December is Stillness. After lighting our chalice together tonight, we will watch a Ted Talk, practice listening mindfully to one another as we check-in, and play a game together.