April 2021 –

Dear UUFM members,

We’re living in unprecedented times.  For the past year, we’ve all been living through an era of pandemic, which has required us to reconceptualize how we gather and support each other.  In that time, we gracefully transitioned to meeting virtually, as Sunday Services helped us to meet the challenge of the moment.  We have trained our membership in how to use zoom, and taught conveners a whole new skill set while requiring an extra layer of behind-the-scenes tech support that helps our Sundays flow seamlessly.

Meanwhile, we have come together more than ever as a spiritual community.  In the fall, we passed a renewed mission for UUFM, while also affirming the UU Statement of Immediate Witness in Support of the Black Lives Matter Movement.  Our fellowship has historically taken few communal stands in its history.  The fact that we seem to be able to more easily agree on core positions taken together with the work that I know many of the great people in our fellowship are doing on social and racial justice in our fellowship gives me hope both for the future of our fellowship and the prospect for change in the greater Manhattan community.

There have also been some marked joys, including nominating and learning that our very own Rev Jonalu was chosen as one of the recipients for this year’s Spirit of Martin Luther King Community Service Award.  I believe this represents a well-deserved capstone to Rev Jonalu’s outstanding and outsized positive influence on the Manhattan community on behalf of all of us here at UUFM.

This has also been a period where we prepare ourselves for transition in anticipation of Rev Jonalu’s retirement, and the hiring of a new minister.  The [Ministerial] search committee, led by Jessica Sievers, has put together a wonderful application on behalf of our fellowship and submitted it to UUA for consideration by searching ministers.  UUA let us know that 60+ ministers were applying to just 21 positions in this settled search cycle, meaning that there will be many qualified candidates left to consider our application.  Further progress on the search is expected in the next months, so keep your eyes open for communications from the search committee.

As Dan Swenson, the current Treasurer, will cover, you’ll notice that we have stayed within budget this year thanks in part to the generous support of each of our members, as well as above average performance by the craft and bake sale, small business loan (grant) from the pandemic, and other factors [Treasurer’s Report].  We owe each of our members a debt of gratitude in helping us to get through this difficult period in UUFM’s history with financial aplomb.

As vaccinations pick up in Riley County, the UUFM Board of Directors and Sunday Services Committee is closely paying attention to important triggers that will allow us to come back and gather in community for in-person services in a phased process that ensures we remain safe, follow CDC guidelines, while continuing to provide a virtual option for those that cannot attend in person for whatever reason. We appear to be on the cusp where we may consider this in the not-too-distant future.  Another strong reason for hope as we emerge to spring sounds from our long winter.

Thanks for being a part of our community, and I hope you will join us at our Annual Meeting on April 25 at noon.  Thanks, and see you there!

Best,     Rob Morrison, UUFM Board Chair

Contact Rob at william.robert.morrison@gmail.com.