Sustaining the Resistance
I’m finding it challenging to remain a well informed citizen in the world these days. I am experiencing much emotional turmoil trying to keep up with the massive horrendous political changes happening so rapidly.
I now have to monitor how much news I take in and when. Then I need to allow some conscious time to be present with the range of emotions that arises. Everything from disbelief to fear, anger, sadness, and grief, back to outrage, through terror, and always back around to grief.
We are living in very difficult times. We must be very gentle with ourselves and each other. There is so much generalized fear and anxiety everywhere.
I find myself vacillating between feeling helpless and overwhelmed to feeling determined to be a part of the resistance in all the ways I can.
I need to allot extra time to process all the sadness and grief I feel – especially sorrow for those most marginalized and hurt by thoughtless policies and orders. I also deeply grieve the harm to our earth and her countless species who will suffer even more due to unchecked greed.
What has become imperative for me is to lean into my spiritual and somatic practices so that I can metabolize the intensity of emotions that are rolling through me. This helps me to maintain my capacity to show up as my best self in the resistance and so I can sustain my energy and commitment for the long haul.
I hope you have some practices that help you to process and cope with these difficult times and you are able to make time to regularly lean into them.
I am grateful for this community to lean into as well, so that we aren’t trying to go it alone! May we find our way through these dark times with support from one another.
Blessed Be, Diane Melvin Religious Education Director
2nd Sunday Room for Rest – 10:00-10:30 AM
Feb. 9, Mar 8, April 12, & May 10
Craving time for stillness to rest? All are invited to head to room 9 on the 2nd Sunday of each month to rest. Sit on a chair, a meditation cushion, yoga mat or back jack. Grab a cup of tea from the kitchen. Drop the kids off with the childcare providers. Relax and take time to do whatever you most need. Rest resources provided in the room. Including resources to help us dismantle systems of white supremacy and grind culture.
Sunday Childcare offered 9:45-12:30
RE late pick up location change
In order to give parents the opportunity to enjoy coffee hour in the foyer, we are providing childcare
until 12:30pm on Sundays after church. After12:10, kids can be picked up in the Kid’s Room (room 12). Please pick children up before our childcare providers leave at 12:30.
Game Night, Potluck & Sleep Over
March 22, 2025 6:00pm
Bring your favorite game and a potluck dish to share. Families who register in advance are invited to bring your sleeping bags and stay overnight at the church together. Or if just your 1st-6th grader wants to sleep over, then you can register them as well. All are invited to just show up for the evenings games and potluck. Those families and kids planning to spend the night, please register here: https://forms.gle/QkWNRU6bXpba75ue6
Youth Church Visits
Our 7-12th graders continue to experience fascinating visits to other houses of worship in their continued study of World Religions. We had 27 youth and their families who enjoyed worship at the Friends Quaker Meetinghouse. We will visit the SokukoJi Buddhist Temple Monastery on March 16 in Battle Creek.