We are a caring, inclusive Fellowship dedicated to spiritual growth, justice and serving the needs of our larger community.

Transcription

1 We are a caring, inclusive Fellowship dedicated to spiritual growth, justice and serving the needs of our larger community. As a Welcoming Congregation, we invite everyone to share in our faith community. We cherish diversity and foster a safe environment for all. December 2016 Sunday Programs December 4 Using Archetypal Language to Foster Kindness with Stacey Couch Archetypes are cosmic designs that describe human nature, the universal templates from which we are made. There are hundreds of archetypes. Examples are angel, child, mother, saboteur, victim, and healer. We are always reading other peoples archetypes unconsciously and instantaneously to form opinions about them. This is how we stereotype and fall into prejudice. In an attempt to be more accepting, we suppress criticism only to have it erupt unexpectedly. Or, we run ourselves ragged trying to undo the automatic judgments that run through our minds. 1

2 By learning to consciously use archetypal language we break free from intolerance and find a swift path to kindness. Knowing archetypes helps us understand our fellow humans more fully and come into a balanced relationship. If you are feeling the intense rift in our country right now and want to help, you can practice with archetypal language to be a force for peace. Stacey L. L. Couch is a Spiritual Director who specializes in Archetypal Consulting and Shamanic Healing. As a consultant for best selling author Caroline Myss s Education (CMED) Institute, Stacey mentors clients from around the world in learning archetypes. Her healing practice, Wild Gratitude, offers spiritual support for soul pioneers. December 11 Perception: Do You See What I See? with Karen LeCour In this talk, we'll ask "Does the world we see exist in objective reality or is it merely in the mind of the perceiver?" How much of what's there do we actually even notice in the first place? What role do prior experiences, beliefs and attitudes play in determining what and how we see? We'll look at Freud's theory of psychological projection in which inner states are projected outward further distorting what we think we see. And lastly, we'll look at the claims that the world of separation is itself a misperception and that unity is the underlying reality. Karen LeCour is a relatively recent arrival to Pagosa and has been a member of the UU Fellowship since relocating here. Her career was devoted to the computer field, but her love is the spiritual quest, with a particular interest in the intersection of science and spirituality. Karen and her husband Bob are facilitators of a local Course in Miracles study group. Karen loves having her hands in the dirt, nurturing plants, caring for her Nigerian Dwarf goats, hiking, cooking, cheese-making, writing, and playing the piano. December 18 The Annual Celebration of Light service with Anna Ramirez Here is an opportunity to honor the celebration of Light that happens all over the world and to enjoy some holiday music and food together. Following the service, we will have a pot luck meal so please bring your favorite dish to share. Instead of a white 2

3 elephant gift exchange like we did last year, we will collect any donation you would like to give and send it on to the UU Service Committee. They organize Guest at Your Table, etc., and specialize in getting resources to UUA-supported causes. December 25 No Service Today! Have a very Merry Christmas! President s Letter December 2016 We are a caring, inclusive fellowship dedicated to: spiritual growth, justice, and serving the needs of our larger community. December is the darkest time in the northern hemisphere. As Winter Solstice, the longest night, approaches we light candles to banish the darkness. For millennia, numerous ancient traditions have had festivals of light at this time of year, and these timeless practices have morphed into the modern technology of twinkling lights and artificial trees. The origin of our Unitarian Universalist chalice symbol began as a candle in the window, a beacon of hope, and a symbol of safety for those trying to escape the Nazi threat in Europe. Hans Deutsch, an Austrian artist, first combined the chalice and the flame as a Unitarian symbol during his work with the Unitarian Service Committee during World War II. To Deutsch, the image had connotations of both sacrifice and love. Unitarian Universalists today have many different interpretations of the flaming chalice, including the light of reason, the warmth of community, and the flame of hope. This year our UU Fellowship adopted a new Mission Statement, and we will now turn our focus to our Vision. This will be framed by the questionnaire responses our fellowship members gave when they imagined our future. From the emphasis of those answers we will craft and build a vision and plan to carry us into the next few years. An aspect of that exploration will be moving toward some form of ministry, which emerged as a strong desire. 3

4 We may wonder individually, and as a fellowship, how we can be beacons of hope and safety in a world that seems increasingly confusing and even perilous. At times when our values, and everything we stand for, seems to be challenged in some way, more than ever we are called to stand on the side of love and embody our Mission. We cannot take progress for granted and we must be strong, risking becoming targets of misplaced anger. We must stand in our truth. I believe this requires courage, vigilance, and the supporting power of community. I have always hoped that if I had lived in the time Hitler and the Nazis I would have worked to help people escape instead of hiding in my home, pretending not to see. I feel the same way now, and I believe our Fellowship can be a safe haven in dark times. Let s light the flames of reason and hope, hold our torches high, and carry them into the dark places. Julie Loar PUUF Steering Committee Announcements Community Food Bank by Pauline Benetti 'Tis the season, now and every day. Giving is something we always like to do; it feels good and now in response to the season we really feel a need to give; I know I do. I have an idea that will help us all feel better. The Community United Methodist Church food bank is open Tuesday-Thursday from 8 to 4 and distributes bags of groceries a week. Each bag will feed four people for four days. During a month they will see about 800 people, some more than once. The 4

5 bill for the month is about $3000. Can you imagine what it must feel like to depend on these groceries to put food on the table for your family? Pretty rough! We can help and feel good about it. We can make a real effort to bring something (even one nonperishable item) to church every Sunday... and we don't have to stop just because the season ends, do we? New Year s Day Visioning Workshop What better day than New Year s to open the discussion about the future direction of the Fellowship? Mark this on your calendars and stay tuned for details. John Graves Coffee House The annual John Graves Coffee House has been moved to Feb. 19, which just so happens to be John s birthday. Cumbres-Toltec Narrow Gauge Railroad The Cumbres-Toltec out of Chama, NM, is having its 3rd annual free ride with Santa! Anna Ramirez has 11 tickets for the 2:30 pm train on Saturday, Dec. 17 and would love to have any of you join her and her family. Please let Anna know so she can hold a ticket for you ( , or afrancis_@hotmail.com). It is also a food drive, so please bring a canned good. PUUF Facebook Page PUUF has a private "secret" facebook" page that is open to all of us at PUUF. It is a great way to keep in touch with friends here at PUUF. If you would like to be part of the group, please contact Anna Ramirez at or afrancis_@hotmail.com. 5

6 Phyl Daleske celebrates her 90th with friends, food, music and dancing! Photo by Deni Blaisch 6

7 The Fellowship celebrates a Thanksgiving Day feast! 7

8 Life of the Fellowship All are invited to participate in the following learning, sharing and caring opportunities **Unless otherwise noted, all events are held in the Fellowship Hall at Greenbriar Plaza** A Course in Miracles Dec 18 th There are ~1500 ACIM study groups meeting across 65 countries and we re one of them! Join us for study and conversation. Reclaim the truth of your eternal self, forever joined in Oneness with all that is. It is only our dreams of separation that obscure this reality from us. Experience the power of forgiveness and love s ability to dispel fear. A miracle is a shift of perception, from fear to love, and the recognition that there are only two forms of expression: love or calls for love. Contact Bob or Karen LeCour at for more information. Meditation Sangha Dec 10 th PUUF offers group meditations on the 2 nd and 4 th Saturdays of each month. There will not be a meditation on Christmas Eve. A donation is appreciated, but not mandatory, to support the Fellowship. For more info, contact Merlin Wheeler, , or (cell). 8

9 Book Club Dec 12 th The book club will meet on Monday, December 12 th at 1:00 PM to discuss the book Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse. For more info, contact Kay Kaylor at In the novel, Siddhartha, a young man, leaves his family for a contemplative life, then, restless, discards it for one of the flesh. He conceives a son, but bored and sickened by lust and greed, moves on again. Near despair, Siddhartha comes to a river where he hears a unique sound. This sound signals the true beginning of his life the beginning of suffering, rejection, peace, and, finally, wisdom. (from goodreads.com) Full Moon Program Dec 12 th Julie Loar leads this program each month on the evening before the full moon. Typically she speaks for minutes on the planetary cycles of the month and the time and the astrological nature of the Full Moon chart. There is music to set a tone and sometimes people share as they are led. For more information, contact Julie Loar at

10 Calendar of Events Sunday Service is held at 301 N. Pagosa Blvd, Greenbriar Plaza, Unit B 15 at 10:30 AM All events are held at the Fellowship Hall unless otherwise noted Date: Time: Event: Contact: Thur Dec 1 st 3:30 PM Worship Committee Meeting Avalon Haykus Sat Dec 10 th 10:00 12:00 Meditation Sangha with Jim Baldwin Merlin Wheeler Sun Dec 11 th 12:30 PM Steering Committee Meeting Julie Loar Mon Dec 12 th 1:00 PM Book Club Kay Kaylor Mon Dec 12 th 7:00 PM Full Moon Program Julie Loar Sun Dec 18 th 1:00 PM A Course in Miracles Karen LeCour Worship Committee Avalon Haykus Pauline Benetti Merlin Wheeler Phyl Daleske Bob LeCour Diane Davis Membership Committee Phyl Daleske Kathy Schultz Steering Committee Julie Loar, President Mary Willcox, Vice President Joan Ward, Treasurer Devina St Claire, Secretary Gary Frierdich, at large Bonnie O Connor, at large Caring Network Phyl Daleske Joan Ward Bonnie O Connor Newsletter Editor Karen LeCour Web Mistress Barbara Asprey 301 N. Pagosa Blvd, Greenbriar Plaza, Unit B 15 Voice Mail: P.O. Box 5984, Pagosa Springs, CO