Mid-Week Email, 9-15-21

Sept. 15, 2021

Friends,

Knowing the right thing to do is hard, even in good times. In challenging times, knowing the right thing to do is – well – challenging. Rarely are the choices we make as easy as yes or no, right or left, black or white. Mostly we live our lives in the grey zone. The balance sheet of costs and benefits for any given choice is complex, to say the least, because our lives are – well – complex. Put people together in community and the complexity increases. Throw a global pandemic into the mix and – let’s just say that nothing is simple these days.

I follow what is happening in religious communities both locally and nationally. In response to the pandemic, Unitarian Universalist congregations are experiencing many of the same dynamics as congregations of other faith traditions. Congregational leaders are feeling pressure in every direction, to fully reopening now, to staying virtual until the pandemic is over, to holding gatherings outdoors, to doing a hybrid of both virtual and in-person. What makes this time so incredibly challenging is that there are no road signs pointing the way, only guidelines and recommendations that must be adapted to each community’s particular context and set of circumstances.

What I’m hearing from UU congregations that have resumed fully live, in-person services is that attendance has been smaller than anticipated. What this says to me is that not everyone is ready. Not everyone is eligible and/or medically able to be vaccinated. Parents with young children at home, people with compromised immune systems or high-risk conditions (and those living with them), teachers, and health care workers who may be exposed to COVID infections in the course of their work are among those who are not yet ready to be around groups of people at church.

Our UU principles call us to radical inclusion and our UU sources call us to heed the findings of science. These suggest a cautious approach, maybe more cautious than some other faith communities. Yet, the longing to be together, to touch and hug, to laugh and cry, to raise voices together in song is real.

For now, the middle way here at FUUN is to gather on Sunday morning in the social hall for some social time at 10 a.m. and to view to the recording of the Zoom worship service at 11 a.m. Fitting the sanctuary for a more hybrid type of worship service will take some time, effort, and financial resources. Other types of in-person gatherings are being considered on a case-by-case basis. I will be vetting these requests in consultation with medical experts and the Executive Committee of the Board.     

For each one of us, the calculus around the costs and benefits of semi-isolation versus being in person in community will be different. At the very least, we all have a responsibility to keep each other as safe as possible, holding each other in tender care while we navigate this complex and challenging time. It is times like these that make our shared promises and commitments as a covenantal community real.

Join other FUUN members, friends, and Silversonix for an in-person, outdoor celebration on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 19.  We’ll begin gathering on the front lawn of the Norris House at 12:30 p.m., and the music will start at 1 p.m. Bring your own picnic lunch, spread out a blanket, and enjoy being together while listening to some great music.  Masks will be encouraged while mixing and mingling, as will social distancing. Everyone will be required to register once they arrive so that contact-tracing can be implemented if needed. The event will be live streamed, so, if you are unable to attend in person, you can watch it from our FUUN Facebook page.

…Close the Gap
While we’re celebrating the slow and cautious opening of our doors, we’ll also be promoting a special fundraiser to close the gap in our budget. We need to raise another $90,000 to make up this gap, and the FUUN Trust has agreed to match all donations to this special fundraiser up to $50,000!  So that we don’t waste a penny of this generous match, we’re looking for all members and friends to make a one-time special gift to reach a total goal of $100,000.  Make a gift today by scanning the QR code, clicking here, or going to firstuunash.org, clicking on “Give” on the blue banner at the very top menu of the page or the large “Give to our Mission” button on the homepage. Be sure to select “Give to Close the Gap Fundraiser.”

If you haven’t heard Silversonix, you’re in for a treat. Band leader Tom Surface is known for putting together many iterations of classic rock bands over the years. When he invited Sheri DiGiovanna to join in on vocals in 2018, the band added pop and country tunes to its repertoire. Band members are Tom Surface (guitar, band leader), Sheri DiGiovanna (vocals), Jim Surface (guitar), James Collins (bass), Victoria Harris (drums), and Joe Warner (keys). The name Silversonix was chosen to pay tribute to the decades, not only representing the span of their music but also the age span of the band members.