Rev. Matthew's May Minister's Report
Dear BUU Board of Directors,
As my ministry with BUU continues to transition to its end on June 30, 2022, I'm focusing on supporting the leaders of our church systems within our four ministries. These leaders support our Members, Friends, and Guests as well as the our church's institutional needs. These systems have successfully supported BUU since before I came in 2013, and I recommend them to you for the congregation's ongoing health. I'm also recognizing the emergence of new leadership and programs that support our ministries as well.
Gratitude
I'm grateful to all of you who have shared your happiness with me at Mountain Vista UU's calling me as their next settled minister. Your excitement and well-wishes mean a lot to me - and are important to the future Baja 4 relationship between BUU and MVUU.
I also appreciate the support you've extended to me as I heal from the trauma of a car accident I was in on April 30th. While I narrowly avoided serious physical injury, the stress of witnessing the multi vehicle accident is still with me. Your wise advice to focus on self care has lead me to seek spiritual, emotional, and medical support. Thank you.
Inreach
Barb Meshanko continues to do an amazing job leading our congregational care for one another. Working with Barb has been a blessing. She is a compassionate connection among BUU Members and our Caring Clusters communicating concerns and helping plans emerge to show BUU's care.
Over the last month and with your guidance, BUU has engaged in a listening circle process as led by the Rev. Sarah Gibb-Millspaugh. While BUU can be served in many ways through this program, this phrase from the "BUU Handbook for Facilitators" names a vital goal:
As my ministry with BUU continues to transition to its end on June 30, 2022, I'm focusing on supporting the leaders of our church systems within our four ministries. These leaders support our Members, Friends, and Guests as well as the our church's institutional needs. These systems have successfully supported BUU since before I came in 2013, and I recommend them to you for the congregation's ongoing health. I'm also recognizing the emergence of new leadership and programs that support our ministries as well.
Gratitude
I'm grateful to all of you who have shared your happiness with me at Mountain Vista UU's calling me as their next settled minister. Your excitement and well-wishes mean a lot to me - and are important to the future Baja 4 relationship between BUU and MVUU.
I also appreciate the support you've extended to me as I heal from the trauma of a car accident I was in on April 30th. While I narrowly avoided serious physical injury, the stress of witnessing the multi vehicle accident is still with me. Your wise advice to focus on self care has lead me to seek spiritual, emotional, and medical support. Thank you.
Inreach
Barb Meshanko continues to do an amazing job leading our congregational care for one another. Working with Barb has been a blessing. She is a compassionate connection among BUU Members and our Caring Clusters communicating concerns and helping plans emerge to show BUU's care.
Over the last month and with your guidance, BUU has engaged in a listening circle process as led by the Rev. Sarah Gibb-Millspaugh. While BUU can be served in many ways through this program, this phrase from the "BUU Handbook for Facilitators" names a vital goal:
These conversations lay groundwork for our congregation’s healing and growth in this year of transitional ministry and beyond.
Facilitators have been chosen, trained, and with Russ Peterson's leadership are planning on meeting on Friday, May 13 at 1pm. I've reviewed all the materials Rev. Sarah has provided and will be at the May 13th meeting to offer my support.
In response to these developing plans, I have postponed my Gratitude Gatherings that I have been planning. Until I understand the schedule for this program better, I don't wish offer gatherings that take time and energy from this healing effort.
Outreach
Since late of last year, Barb Lemmon has been gradually extending her leadership for Outreach. Barb's local connections have kept BUU linked with Casa Alitas and the Samaritans, so that BUU is recognized widely as a caring resource. Her recent collaboration with Jerry and Kristin for involving BUU in the purchase and assembly of Peace Kits for children in the care of Casa Alitas is an excellent example of this in action.
Deanna Brooks continues to keep us linked to our 50/50 partners, as well as making sure that our collection for donations for local charities are front and center on Sunday mornings. This work also makes it clear that BUU is a presence in the community supporting compassionate justice work.
Spiritual Nourishment
In addition to supporting worship and offering programing, Martha House, Nancy Murphy, Diane Farone, and Judy Harmer have been hard at work imagining a summer of engaging worship and programing for BUU. "Riding on the Soul Train" is a wonderful program utilizing films and movies as the means to explore deep spiritual issues. Additionally, they looking into continuing a Sunday morning Zoom presence to livestream worship for those Members, Friends, and Guests who are unable to come in person.
There is a Baja 4 plan to support all the Lifespan Faith Development of the four congregations through the next year. Using grant funds from this church year and planning on renewing the grant next year, Jamili Omar, UUCT's Director of Lifespan Faith Development, will be paid for her work coordinating Baja 4 Faith Development Team. The goal of the LFD team is to support programs in each congregation for launch among the Baja 4.
Institutional Stewardship
As you are aware most of our institutional systems are overseen by the Board, Finance, or Buildings & Grounds. The minister's work in this ministry is mostly with the staff. I commend both Jermain and Joe on their consistency through the start of our transition and their openness with me about their questions and concerns. We have begun talking about their roles after I leave. I will be making a recommendation to our Personnel Committee about support for each staff person beginning in July.
One system we have in place that supports both Jermain and Joe in their daily work is our online calendar. This system for viewing and scheduling space at BUU just preceded the pandemic, but didn't quite catch on during the pandemic. It is designed to give information and access to Members about availability while making the request for space and set up fluid to our staff. Here's how it works:
1) Go to our website, borderlandsuu.org. Scroll down to the BUU Calendar. There you can see all of BUU's scheduled events.
2) You can click on any event to see more details.
3) If you would like to schedule an event, scroll down below the calendar to this sentence, "We are gathering all our events here on this calendar. CLICK HERE to add your event to our BUU Calendar." Clicking on the link will take you to the scheduling page.
4) On the scheduling page there is a brief form to fill out and submit. Once this is done, an email with all the information goes to both Jermain and Joe. Jermain uses it to add the event and all the details given to the church calendar. Joe uses it to schedule his time around set up and take down requests.
We have added and improved this system over time. Please use it for all events and send us feedback to develop it further.
Finally, I would like to again express the mourning I am feeling at leaving BUU. I have shared my gratitude with many individually and on Sunday morning for all that we have shared and how I have grown as a person and a minister among you. Through the end of my ministry, I will continue to meet one-to-one with Members, Friends, and Guests as well as seek opportunities to engage in a healthy and hopefully healing goodbye with you all.
In transition with you,
Rev. Matthew Funke Crary
In response to these developing plans, I have postponed my Gratitude Gatherings that I have been planning. Until I understand the schedule for this program better, I don't wish offer gatherings that take time and energy from this healing effort.
Outreach
Since late of last year, Barb Lemmon has been gradually extending her leadership for Outreach. Barb's local connections have kept BUU linked with Casa Alitas and the Samaritans, so that BUU is recognized widely as a caring resource. Her recent collaboration with Jerry and Kristin for involving BUU in the purchase and assembly of Peace Kits for children in the care of Casa Alitas is an excellent example of this in action.
Deanna Brooks continues to keep us linked to our 50/50 partners, as well as making sure that our collection for donations for local charities are front and center on Sunday mornings. This work also makes it clear that BUU is a presence in the community supporting compassionate justice work.
Spiritual Nourishment
In addition to supporting worship and offering programing, Martha House, Nancy Murphy, Diane Farone, and Judy Harmer have been hard at work imagining a summer of engaging worship and programing for BUU. "Riding on the Soul Train" is a wonderful program utilizing films and movies as the means to explore deep spiritual issues. Additionally, they looking into continuing a Sunday morning Zoom presence to livestream worship for those Members, Friends, and Guests who are unable to come in person.
There is a Baja 4 plan to support all the Lifespan Faith Development of the four congregations through the next year. Using grant funds from this church year and planning on renewing the grant next year, Jamili Omar, UUCT's Director of Lifespan Faith Development, will be paid for her work coordinating Baja 4 Faith Development Team. The goal of the LFD team is to support programs in each congregation for launch among the Baja 4.
Institutional Stewardship
As you are aware most of our institutional systems are overseen by the Board, Finance, or Buildings & Grounds. The minister's work in this ministry is mostly with the staff. I commend both Jermain and Joe on their consistency through the start of our transition and their openness with me about their questions and concerns. We have begun talking about their roles after I leave. I will be making a recommendation to our Personnel Committee about support for each staff person beginning in July.
One system we have in place that supports both Jermain and Joe in their daily work is our online calendar. This system for viewing and scheduling space at BUU just preceded the pandemic, but didn't quite catch on during the pandemic. It is designed to give information and access to Members about availability while making the request for space and set up fluid to our staff. Here's how it works:
1) Go to our website, borderlandsuu.org. Scroll down to the BUU Calendar. There you can see all of BUU's scheduled events.
2) You can click on any event to see more details.
3) If you would like to schedule an event, scroll down below the calendar to this sentence, "We are gathering all our events here on this calendar. CLICK HERE to add your event to our BUU Calendar." Clicking on the link will take you to the scheduling page.
4) On the scheduling page there is a brief form to fill out and submit. Once this is done, an email with all the information goes to both Jermain and Joe. Jermain uses it to add the event and all the details given to the church calendar. Joe uses it to schedule his time around set up and take down requests.
We have added and improved this system over time. Please use it for all events and send us feedback to develop it further.
Finally, I would like to again express the mourning I am feeling at leaving BUU. I have shared my gratitude with many individually and on Sunday morning for all that we have shared and how I have grown as a person and a minister among you. Through the end of my ministry, I will continue to meet one-to-one with Members, Friends, and Guests as well as seek opportunities to engage in a healthy and hopefully healing goodbye with you all.
In transition with you,
Rev. Matthew Funke Crary