Rev. Matthew's July Board Report
July 9, 2021
Dear BUU Board of Directors,
I’m on the verge of beginning my month of study leave, when I take a step back from congregational life and concentrate on learning in preparation for the new church year. I wanted to share what I’m studying along with plans for the fall when I return. I have four areas that I’ve gathered resources for that tie into BUU's next steps.
But first, I wanted to share how our July 4th Open House went! We had 18 people come to BUU to gather for the first time in 15 months. It felt great to be together in the Sanctuary, on the veranda, and in the garden. We enjoyed lemonade, the bean bag game “cornhole,” and even some Independence Day trivia (as Paul Taylor used to treat us to). Our biggest treat was just catching up in person.
Dear BUU Board of Directors,
I’m on the verge of beginning my month of study leave, when I take a step back from congregational life and concentrate on learning in preparation for the new church year. I wanted to share what I’m studying along with plans for the fall when I return. I have four areas that I’ve gathered resources for that tie into BUU's next steps.
But first, I wanted to share how our July 4th Open House went! We had 18 people come to BUU to gather for the first time in 15 months. It felt great to be together in the Sanctuary, on the veranda, and in the garden. We enjoyed lemonade, the bean bag game “cornhole,” and even some Independence Day trivia (as Paul Taylor used to treat us to). Our biggest treat was just catching up in person.
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Multiplatform Worship
Also called “hybrid worship” this is learning about the logistical and technology necessities for our worship services starting in September. During that month we will be starting in-person worship every other week with small groups in our Sanctuary. Even though we will continue to be supported by worship content developed by the Baja 4, we must craft an approach to worship to suit our own in-person needs.
Also called “hybrid worship” this is learning about the logistical and technology necessities for our worship services starting in September. During that month we will be starting in-person worship every other week with small groups in our Sanctuary. Even though we will continue to be supported by worship content developed by the Baja 4, we must craft an approach to worship to suit our own in-person needs.
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Martha, Kristin, Larry, and Ernie have all responded that they are interested in learning more. Our primary resource for learning is the Rev. Kimberly Debus’ webinar “The Art of Hybrid Worship.” This three hour intensive class offers the scope to get started and more detailed resources to continue to develop worship that is comparable for those in-person and those participating online.
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Rev. Kimberley Debus |
Transitional Resilience
It is being broadly recognized that the global pandemic has had an emotional and spiritual impact on everyone. As we begin to come back to church, our people are going to feel this impact in large and small ways. Some people at our July 4 Open House felt anxious and tentative just being at BUU for an event - even as they were glad they had come. As we transition to more in-person events, then, we need to be prepared to identify and address the needs of our Members, Friends, and Guests.
Our Program Council has discussed this and with Sonya Edward’s leadership we’ve made a webpage with resources for people to read up about. CLICK HERE to view that page. Nancy’s excellent Monday Mediation for July 5 is the tone and focus that we need to cultivate. I’ve listed my study resources on that webpage.
On August 13-15, the Baja 4 will be hosting the Rev. Dr. Robin Tanner in Tucson. She is the consultant to the Baja 4 from Launchpad. She will be holding virtual and in-person events to assist in the development of both transitional resilience and multiplatform worship.
Social Justice
I’m not a fan of “cancel culture.” It undermines the importance of our relationships, even if those relationships are challenging. I’ll be studying adrienne maree brown’s book, We Will Not Cancel Us: And Other Dreams of Transformation Justice. I’ve long enjoyed her work and look forward to coming to know more about her perspective.
I am a fan of truth. I’ll be reading The Death of Truth by Michiko Kakutani. The focus of this work is our current polarized political culture, growing distrust in facts, and popular acceptance of conspiracies. I’ll be bringing what I learn to the August 22 Baja 4 worship service that I am leading.
Finally, I have long wanted to get into In Search of Soul: Hip-hop, Literature, and Religion by University of Arizona professor Alejandro Nava. I’ve only gotten into the first chapter before, but am deeply interested in the intersections of justice that impact our souls.
It is being broadly recognized that the global pandemic has had an emotional and spiritual impact on everyone. As we begin to come back to church, our people are going to feel this impact in large and small ways. Some people at our July 4 Open House felt anxious and tentative just being at BUU for an event - even as they were glad they had come. As we transition to more in-person events, then, we need to be prepared to identify and address the needs of our Members, Friends, and Guests.
Our Program Council has discussed this and with Sonya Edward’s leadership we’ve made a webpage with resources for people to read up about. CLICK HERE to view that page. Nancy’s excellent Monday Mediation for July 5 is the tone and focus that we need to cultivate. I’ve listed my study resources on that webpage.
On August 13-15, the Baja 4 will be hosting the Rev. Dr. Robin Tanner in Tucson. She is the consultant to the Baja 4 from Launchpad. She will be holding virtual and in-person events to assist in the development of both transitional resilience and multiplatform worship.
Social Justice
I’m not a fan of “cancel culture.” It undermines the importance of our relationships, even if those relationships are challenging. I’ll be studying adrienne maree brown’s book, We Will Not Cancel Us: And Other Dreams of Transformation Justice. I’ve long enjoyed her work and look forward to coming to know more about her perspective.
I am a fan of truth. I’ll be reading The Death of Truth by Michiko Kakutani. The focus of this work is our current polarized political culture, growing distrust in facts, and popular acceptance of conspiracies. I’ll be bringing what I learn to the August 22 Baja 4 worship service that I am leading.
Finally, I have long wanted to get into In Search of Soul: Hip-hop, Literature, and Religion by University of Arizona professor Alejandro Nava. I’ve only gotten into the first chapter before, but am deeply interested in the intersections of justice that impact our souls.
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Lifespan Learning
Nancy and I are actively participating in the Baja 4 Lifespan Learning team. We have agreed to help develop programming for the upper end of the age spectrum, from 46 and up. Nancy is working with Jean Richon to develop her Life Review program to share with the three other congregations. I’m developing a program of storytelling directed at our end of the age spectrum. Based on the worship themes for the fall months, I’ll be selecting stories that children in the Baja 4 will be reading to adults. Once recorded these stories can be the basis of discussion groups or even used in multiplatform worship.
My resources for this project include:
Gray Heroes: Elder Tales from Around the World, Jane Yolen, editor
In the Ever After: Fairy Tales and the Second Half of Life, Allen B. Chinen
Elder Tales: Stories of Wisdom and Courage from Around the World, Dan Keding, editor
Nancy and I are actively participating in the Baja 4 Lifespan Learning team. We have agreed to help develop programming for the upper end of the age spectrum, from 46 and up. Nancy is working with Jean Richon to develop her Life Review program to share with the three other congregations. I’m developing a program of storytelling directed at our end of the age spectrum. Based on the worship themes for the fall months, I’ll be selecting stories that children in the Baja 4 will be reading to adults. Once recorded these stories can be the basis of discussion groups or even used in multiplatform worship.
My resources for this project include:
Gray Heroes: Elder Tales from Around the World, Jane Yolen, editor
In the Ever After: Fairy Tales and the Second Half of Life, Allen B. Chinen
Elder Tales: Stories of Wisdom and Courage from Around the World, Dan Keding, editor
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As I conclude this report, I can see more threads coming together than I had noticed before. I’m excited to get started and see where these initial resources take me! I wish us all rest and renewal over the next month, so that we are all energized for our work in the coming year.
See you for our July Board meeting,
Rev. Matthew Funke Crary
Minister Borderlands UU
PS - As you may have gathered, I’m going to post all my reports to the Board online this year. I hope that this allows for more access and interest in what is developing at BUU. MFC
See you for our July Board meeting,
Rev. Matthew Funke Crary
Minister Borderlands UU
PS - As you may have gathered, I’m going to post all my reports to the Board online this year. I hope that this allows for more access and interest in what is developing at BUU. MFC