10:30 a.m. Sunday, October 11: #VoteLove, #DefeatHate: Organizing for the Long Haul - A National UU Worship Service
In the midst of a global pandemic, increasing authoritarianism, and uprisings, lives hang in the balance and the future of democracy is on the line. In response, Unitarian Universalists are answering the call of our faith, building powerful partnerships to mobilize our communities to #VoteLove and #DefeatHate in the 2020 elections. Join UUA President Susan Frederick-Gray, the UU the Vote team, and a lineup of powerful, prophetic UU voices as we explore the intersections of faith, justice, and democracy in this collective virtual service.
10:30 a.m. Sunday, October 25: "Transcendentalists: Our Faithful Departed" Rev. Kate Tucker
One week before All Souls' Day, we invoke the group of UU spiritual ancestors we call Transcendentalists (Thoreau, Emerson, Peabody sisters, Fuller, Alcott, and many more) and look at who they were and how they inhabited their mid-19th century culture. What did they value, what were their strengths, and what guidance can they offer us in these challenging times? Margaret Fuller will be a special focus.
Note: For those who have access to the Fall 2019 issue of the UU World magazine, see John Buehrens article, titled "Spiritual Friendship and Social Justice: Lessons from the Transcendentalists" (pp.32-35) This is also available at uuworld.org
October President’s Corner
by Ozzie Mayers
After reviewing the agenda for an Annual Meeting this year, the Board has decided that we do not see a need for holding such a meeting since we have fulfilled the major goals of such a meeting. We have elected our slate of Board Members as well as Committee Chairs for the coming year, have had the Committee Chairs review next year’s Budget and had it approved by the Board and, as President, I have made every attempt to provide detailed information about the Board’s decisions through my President’s Corner in our monthly Newsletters. Therefore, we will not be holding a Zoom Annual Meeting as we had originally suggested.
However, the one traditional goal of the Annual Meetings in the past has been providing the Fellowship with brief summaries of Committees’ work over the past year. Since the Board believes this is a worthwhile task, we will be asking each Committee to submit a brief (one paragraph is sufficient) summary of the Committee’s accomplishments over the past year and key plans for the coming year. Three or four such reports will be included in upcoming newsletters, starting in November. I will notify each Committee what month to submit the report.
Please continue to send me suggestions for how we might acknowledge the 60st Anniversary of the Fellowship over the coming year. So, far we have some members willing to publish photos and another who will interview a member who was part of the original establishment of the Fellowship in 1961.
The next Zoom Board meeting is on Sunday, October 18th, 9:00 p.m.
Program Committee News
by Pam Peterson
Our committee has programs planned through December. Many thanks to committee members who have made these arrangements.
I also want to thank the tech team members who have worked on our first two Zoom services...Lisa Bershok, Tom Hergert and Jim Hixson.
I would like to encourage you to have a candle or chalice in your home that you can light as the service begins and extinguish as the service ends. If you have children in your home, you might want to let each of them have his/her own small candle with a real or artificial flame.
I would like to thank Charlotte Stephens for agreeing to be a Co-Chair with me for the Program Committee.
Charlotte and I would welcome new members to our committee...just contact either of us. Or if you have a program idea or would like to help with one particular service, please let us know. We’d love to work with you.
Your October TOUCHSTONES Journal was sent as an attachment with this newsletter’s distribution via email.
Anti-Racism Work Group*
by Hanni Epp
We recently sent out a survey on the topic of white supremacy and we promised to report to you on the results. The survey was sent to seventy people and forty-three people responded. Many replied with long written answers, showing a high awareness of white supremacy issues. Most people were able to define white supremacy, and offer a point of view. People also straightforwardly identified how they personally benefitted from white supremacy.
Our respondents found it more difficult to identify specific ways in which our fellowship participates in, or perpetuates white supremacy. People were much more likely to say they weren’t sure, or to provide more general answers. The question on feelings about the Fellowship addressing white supremacy ran the spectrum from puzzlement to excitement. Positive feelings about the work seemed to prevail, along with some fears about discomfort and upset it may cause.
The question about approaches and support the Fellowship should consider resulted in an amazing array of thoughtful, creative responses. We are very grateful for all of your input into this initiative. We will use this information to determine our next steps. Thank you so much for your participation! If anyone has questions on the survey or results, please contact Hanni Epp, hanniepp@gmail.com.
*The group has changed its name to more closely reflect our mission. We were previously named Dismantling White Supremacy Group or White Supremacy Study Group.
CRE Outdoor Hike and Hello!
by Melissa Woods
Hello CRE Families! Fall is here! Jessica and I were thinking about a way CRE families could safely get together to reconnect because it’s been so long. We are organizing a hike at the St. John’s arboretum October 17th at 1:00 pm. In case of bad weather, it will be rescheduled to October 18th at 1:00 pm. Please join us if you are able! We will be outside and trying to practice social distancing, but please bring your mask if that would make you more comfortable. If you are experiencing any ill symptoms, please refrain from joining. We can’t wait to see our fellowship friends!
SCUUF Book Club News
by Marcia Neely
At our next meeting, which is scheduled for Saturday, October 17 @ 10:00 a.m., we will discuss The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andric We will meet on ZOOM again. If you are interested in joining us and do not regularly get emails about the book club or if you desire assistance getting on ZOOM or connecting with someone with whom you could participate on their computer, contact Marcia Neely at marciakgarden@gmail.com.
UU the Vote Report
byJudy Foster
Our SCUUF UU the Vote Team has finished its work. Between Aug. 10 and Sept. 9, we contacted 83 UUF members and friends; 67 contacts were successful. Of those, 66 of us are registered to vote (one member is not a citizen), 23+ were planning to vote absentee by mail, more than one were planning to drop off their absentee ballot in person, and more than two were planning to vote in person at their polling place on Nov. 3. (We didn’t have exact information from everyone regarding their plan to vote.) If you have a question about when, how, or where to vote in the Nov. 3 general election, you are welcome to contact any member of our team: Mary Ness, Linda Peck, Linda Saupe, Charlotte Stephens, and myself.
See the MN Secretary of State’s website for complete information: https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/
See also this St. Cloud Times story about candidate forums: https://www.sctimes.com/story/news/local/2020/09/16/st-cloud-area-candidate-forums-move-virtual-amid-pandemic/5798985002/
Let’s get out the vote!
UUA MidAmerica Region Needs Your Help
We are seeking fresh voices for leadership positions to strengthen the future of the MidAmerica Region! We have open positions for the Board of Trustees, Camp Unistar Foundation Board of Directors, Midwest Unitarian Universalist Conference (MUUC), and the MidAmerica Nominating Committee itself. Our region needs energetic people with diverse perspectives to fill these leadership positions. We are working to dismantle the legacy of white supremacy in our faith in order to create a collaborative environment with people from historically marginalized communities.
Some traits we value in candidates:
Willingness to collaborate with others
Ability to provide a unique perspective
Strong communication skills
Interest in leadership and stewardship
Dedication to radical inclusion
Personal investment in the future of our region and Unitarian Universalism as a faith
Contact Judy Foster if you are interested.
October Meditation Schedule (Online)
by Lucinda Hudson
October 3 Meditation: A Peaceful Pause
This meditation is about pausing—even very briefly—to restore a sense peace in our daily lives.
These meditations are offered with a low-tech approach that only involves e-mail. You can meditate for whatever amount of time you choose. Many members of the meditation group begin to meditate at 11 AM on Saturdays, but you can pick a different time if that time doesn't work well for you. The form is also flexible, and you can meditate while sitting or while walking--or while practicing any activity in a mindful way. After the meditation, anyone is welcome to share a comment or reflection. To receive meditation readings or if you would like further information, please contact Lucinda at lucindahudson9@gmail.com or 320-224-5440.
Meditation is the practice of focusing one's attention with intention and is used in many ways. For example, it can be used to be more aware in the present moment—more mindful of thoughts, words and actions. It can be used for growth and healing, as with loving kindness and self-compassion practices. Meditation can help build inner resources in a variety of ways.
Fall 2020 Directory Coming Soon - Are You In?
The Communications Committee is preparing to provide an updated Fellowship Directory to be used by members and friends wanting to contact others within the Fellowship. We need your help for the directory to be as accurate and complete as possible. We hope to include all who have been involved in recent months and/or made a pledge of financial support for the current year. We will use information from previous versions plus additions and changes that we are aware of. The directory listing for each household includes NAME of adults, ADDRESS, PHONE (Home and Cell), EMAIL ADDRESS, and FIRST NAMES of children in high school or younger who attend Fellowship programs or activities. If you have new information or if you want to opt out, contact Joel Bershok by Monday October 12th at 303-503-8964 or jebershok@gmail.com. At the end of October the directory will be sent by email to those who are listed in it, and it will serve as the calling list in the event that we need to call everyone regarding a cancelled Sunday service or other change in schedule.
The Caring Committee
The Caring Committee has been formed for the times in each of our lives when we need help from another person. The members of the Caring Committee are available to help members and friends of the St. Cloud UU Fellowship in a variety of ways. Feel free to contact any member of the committee:
Linda Saupe (Chairperson), Marge Bates, Hanni Epp, Doug Polley, Chris Smith, Charlotte Stephens, and Ron Syme.
For anyone with emergency needs, a wide range of services is available from agencies and organizations in the community. These can be accessed by calling 211 (or 800-543-7709).
Calendar Reminders
AVOID ZOOM CONFLICTS: We encourage you to use the Zoom licenses for video conferencing, but please follow the standard reservation process to ensure the Zoom “meeting room” (license) is available at the time you would like to make use of it and to allow others to see planned meetings on the calendar.
Please check the online calendar on our website for scheduled Zoom meetings at www.uufstcloud.org/calendar. A meeting event/room reservation button to submit a form for reservation requests can be found below the calendar on the website. This same button can be used to schedule any Zoom meetings. Please reach out to Jessica Beierman at calendar@uufstcloud.org if you have any questions.
Tom Hergert and Jim Hixson have agreed to be the contacts for the Zoom License and will provide a tutorial for anyone needing to learn how to host a Zoom Meeting. Their contact information can be found in the new UUF Directory.