Although tragedies are constantly unfolding in different parts of the world, sometimes a tragedy really hits home. For me, this is true of the recent shooting at a grocery store frequented by my dad and stepmother; a grocery store which I grew up going to regularly.

When my world splits open that way, I feel urgency to deepen my spirituality and be of service in this world. And I feel boundlessly grateful to have found a community that can amplify that desire and be a force for positive change.

This quote from an article on the gratefulness.org website about a group called “TreeSisters” summarizes my feelings about UUCGV:

As the forests burn and fear rises, the choice to continue bringing all your creativity to something that builds hope and comfort, that believes in everyone and calls for their greatness, and that provides directly relevant and impactful solutions… is such a relief.
​
​~ Clare Dubois

     Each time we feel paralyzed by feelings of helplessness about the state of the world, we can choose to do some small concrete task to help UUCGV create hope and comfort. We can choose to do some small concrete task to help UUCGV create directly relevant and impactful solutions to world problems.

     As Pamela Haines writes at http://www.findingsteadyground.com/

     The goal of injustice is to breed passivity — to make us believe that things happen to us, events happen to us, policies happen to us. To counteract this, we need to stay in touch with our sense of personal power. One goal is to see ourselves as people who create, whether it’s cooking a meal, organizing a dazzling dramatic action, knitting a hat, making a sign, or playing the piano. We are more than consumers, and our humanity must be affirmed.

     The energy from our grief and anger can be channeled into energy working for good. Sometimes it will be fun and creative. Other times it may not look very exciting. It may involve tackling some unpleasant and mundane task that we have been procrastinating but which will be helpful to a larger picture goal that will benefit others.

​     Let’s support each other by believing in each other and ourselves and by drawing out that greatness that can shine forth when we set our egos aside. Let's take full advantage of the blessing of finding ourselves together in this valley, at this critical point in time in our world. 

     Our church theme for April is “Becoming”. I thought I would pose a question about becoming to several random UUCGV congregants, and include the responses in my April newsletter column. My question:

     Recently, when I am in a situation where I am uncertain, I try to remember to ask myself first of all – what do I want to come of this? What is it for? So, I thought I’d try to pass it on and ask, keeping this in mind, what would you like our church community “to be”, what do you see our church “becoming”, especially given that we’ll hopefully be returning to in-house services by the end of the summer? Pick something in particular that comes to mind and write a sentence or a few.

Here are the responses:

“I would like to see us continue to be more of an activist church, in particular reaching out and serving as a headquarters or place of refuge for vulnerable populations (those with food insecurity, POC, immigrant/latinx, LBGTQ). In other words, truly welcoming with open arms (in remembrance of Duane Carr) to all who enter our doors.” - Bill Hilty

“Somehow have a random 6 person Coffee breakout right after the service and then go visit with your friends. Just like we do online.” - Floyd Joramo

“A community in which authentic and loving relationships plant the foundation for individual growth, spiritual transformation, and service and activism in the world at large. A community which swiftly and generously welcomes newcomers into its network of loving relationships while continuing to treasure its established members.” - Elizabeth High

“More active with children and seniors.” - Kathleen Hedlund

“A sanctuary of safety and peace. A place of acceptance and love. A well of new ideas and concepts for the good of all. A platform for inspiring music and arts. A place where hugging is important!!! A magnet for persons of all colors and spiritual paths.” - Janet Hassell

“I want this congregation to become what it has always been for me, but for a wider and more diverse group of people. My name is David Miller and I joined this congregation in about 1996. Since then, this congregation has given me both safe haven from the trials of the world and inspiration to take meaningful action in that world. It provided my children with compassionate education that honored them as individuals with will and dignity, regardless their age, which contrasts with the theological abuse of my religious childhood. I want that for all children. This church has given me welcoming community when I had things to celebrate and also when I had losses to grieve. So I want this church to remain that.

I felt welcomed the first day I walked into a UU church, but I already matched their existing demographic in nearly every way. What I want this church to become, is a place where people who do not have my white, male, CIS-gendered, educated-sounding presentation will be actively invited, be warmly welcomed upon entry, and will experience genuine comfort and acceptance as they meet us. We must not only offer who we are and what we have to our community, but we must be open to being changed by their participation and engagement. We can become more than what we have been, and the more we are willing to accept the changes others will bring, the better, kinder and more loving we will all become.

​I want this church to continue on its path of growth in community outreach, in material ways, helping people who need help, and also in inspirational ways, speaking out for the power of human love and acceptance. Both are essential for us to become both that safe haven and that launching point for action that we are steadily growing to be.” - David Miller