Pandemic: Year Three
“We’ll shut everything down for two weeks and then everything will go back to normal.” I was laughing out loud with folks the other day remembering that popular idea from two years ago. In hindsight, it seems surreal.
In a recent UU training course, the facilitator emphasized the importance of having spaces for people to share stories of their experiences of the past two years. We need to tell how we have changed and survived, even if it’s only by the skin of our teeth.
Sharing the stories of our experiences can help us to cope. It can remind us that we aren’t alone and help us gain insight and understanding as we try to make sense of it all. How has this time been for you and for your family?
For me it has been really hard in so many ways! I deeply grieve so many losses. One of the losses I am grieving is the loss of our huge and vibrant youth program to a shadow of its former self. As I Zoom with religious educators from around the country, we collaborate and commiserate together as the effects are similar everywhere.
What losses are you grieving? What is helping you cope?
One of the best places to share these stories are in Small Group Ministry Circles, at People’s Church we call them Chalice Circles. Participants in these monthly circles share that these regular connections have been meaningful and even life saving through out the pandemic. Churches with strong small group ministry programs are weathering this pandemic with deeper personal connections and resilience.
I HIGHLY recommend taking a chance and joining a chalice circle. There are openings in circles that meet at various days and times. The time investment is usually about two hours per month and the rewards are tremendous. If lack of childcare is a barrier to participation, let me know and we can discuss options. Email me today to join or ask questions at re@peopleschurch.net.
Let’s tell our stories and bear witness to one another as we keep putting one foot in front of the other, one day, at a time. As always, we are better together and in these perilous times we need one another more than ever.
Blessed Be, Diane Melvin, Religious Education Director
Stuffie Sleepover
February 25-27
Stuffed Animal Drop Off – 6:30-7:30 pm Friday
Stuffed Animal Pick Up – 11:00 am – 1:00 pm Sunday
Youth Group – 2nd Sundays 6:00-7:30pm
All high school youth are invited to join us for fun monthly youth group gatherings in the youth room. These will replace Sunday morning RE classes for high school youth. Masks required.
Elementary OWL
We are offering Sunday morning Our Whole Lives sexuality education classes for both the 1st/2nd grade and 5/6th grade classes. We have 30 kids participating in these two classes, plus another dozen in middle school OWL each week. I’m grateful our families appreciate the value of these important classes. I’m especially grateful for our amazing trained OWL facilitators leading all these classes each week.
Small Group Sharing Circle for Adults
Sunday’s 11:00-Noon, Room L-1
A facilitated circle designed to enrich our spiritual community. The practices of holding space and deep listening create mutual trust, opportunities to minister to one another and support personal and spiritual growth through bearing witness to the lives of others. Participants are welcome to join as they are able. Check it out!
