To My Beloved UUFM Community, 

So many of us are not just aware of injustices occurring at the state, national and global level right now, but feel them very deeply, know or are people that are directly affected, and are struggling with overwhelmed nervous systems and burn out. Balancing activism, self-care and regulation, functioning in daily life, and capacity for creativity and hope is especially challenging right now. In many check-ins and conversations I’ve had with members of our community in recent weeks, there’s a sense of depletion and a hunger for sources of rest, energy and inspiration in these challenging times. 

As Director of Religious Education, I see this as an opportunity to explore how we as a community can create more opportunities to be that source of rest, energy and inspiration for each other. In what other ways (beyond Sunday Services) can we show up for ourselves and each other in a life-affirming and sustaining way? How can we help refill each other’s cups? How can we help tend the flames of each other’s chalices? 

On Saturday, February 28th, the RE Team hosted a Cheesecake, Coffee and Conversation event where we aimed to engage more of our community in exploring and developing such opportunities. I am excited to share more about what came out of this event in next month’s newsletter. 

I’m reminded of the Pathway that our Co-Parent (Board and Community Team) chose for UUFM to take in navigating this time of collapse: building Positive, Alternative Futures. This pathway asks us to focus our shared ministry around creating spaces for storytelling and visioning, celebrating and teaching alternative values, and empowering artists, elders and culture-builders. What kinds of RE opportunities would nurture and harness your creativity, your voice as a story teller, your vision for the future? What kind of RE opportunities would help us hold, teach and practice our values together? What kind of RE opportunities would empower the artist, the culture builder, the wise elder within you? 

I know many of us are also struggling with feeling uncertain and unsafe. Establishing a baseline of safety for our community is an important foundation upon which to build the kind of RE programming we want to have. As DRE, I have begun evaluating our safety needs in collaboration with others, and we will be doing an All Ages Sunday Service this month on March 22nd updating the membership on Safety at UUFM – from First Aid Kits to our Policy around ICE. Everything we do is Religious Education, including how we prepare for (and prevent) emergencies, and how we organize to protect each other’s well-being. 

We are not alone. We have each other. 

Grounded in Love,

Emily Fraser (She/They)

Director of Religious Education

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Manhattan

RE@uufm.net

(785) 370-6141