I’m writing at the kitchen table of my friends’ home in Sandy Springs, Oklahoma. It’s the beginning of an annual gathering of seminary friends. Tomorrow, we’ll head out to a cabin on a lake almost into Arkansas and spend a few days talking about what we’ve been reading and what we’ve been preaching about. And we’ll cook for each other. And we’ll play pool. Badly. We do this once a year, the week after Valentine’s Day. It’s a welcome respite in the middle of a dreary month.

I don’t know about you, but for me February feels like such a long month for so few days. The predominant color outside is “snow.” I’m longing for leaves on the trees and some more birds for my binoculars. February is a low energy month. And then I get to spend some time away from work and be with friends in Oklahoma. Sure, we talk shop, but we also laugh a lot and learn a lot and bask in the presence of people who love one another dearly. It’s a very effective method for recharging the personal batteries.

And how are you? By the time you read this, it will be March, and the month of low ebb will be over. How have you fared? Perhaps February isn’t a low ebb month for you, but I’m sure you have times where you need an extra boost to your personal reserves. What do you do? How do you take care of yourself?

As we approach a season of renewal and rebirth, take some time to take care of yourself. The earth renews, so why shouldn’t you? Find those things that fill you and make space in your schedule for them.

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The day after I preached on “Standing on the Side of Love” and the progress of domestic partnerships in New Mexico, the state senate finance committee tabled this year’s bill indefinitely. As I said that Sunday, we’re going to have to wait for another January to come around. It seems a long way away, but it’s really a brief span of time—just enough, perhaps, to plan effective advocacy.

If you’re interested in being more active with this and other social witness issues, consider teaming up with Unitarian Universalists from across the state to combine our efforts. The New Mexico Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry is a new statewide project being spearheaded by the Rev. Liz McMaster. It’s an opportunity to engage with other UUs on local advocacy issues that affect us all. Rev. McMaster is looking for a few good UUs from Los Alamos to be contact people for the network, here. If you’re interested, please contact me. Let’s start working together to make 2011 the year that the whole state of New Mexico stands on the side of love.

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March means the annual canvass. We have a vision and a mission to guide us, and now we need the resources to make our vision a reality. I hope that you’re as moved by the final statements that came out of our “Searching for the Future” process as I was, and I can’t wait to see the kind of ministry we can do in our church community and the wider Los Alamos community with a solid mission in place. Jess and I are raising our own level of contribution for the coming year. Be kind to our stewards as they do their important work this month, and please consider a “fair share” pledge to support the continued mission of the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos.

See you in church,
Rev. John Cullinan

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”—Anonymous

More than a month has passed since the visioning weekend. I hope many of you had an opportunity to participate in what I construed as very energetic and productive process. Even though I supervised the childcare and helped in the kitchen for most of the day, I made sure I heard snippets of conversation and could feel the warmth and energy that was created.

The unveiling of the mission and vision statements and the affirmation of both signifies a commitment to the future of the congregation and its growth (perhaps in numbers but certainly in depth of purpose and intentionality). The goals that were generated by participants at the visioning day clearly indicated support for Lifespan Faith Development (LFD) or Lifespan Religious Education as it’s also called. Additionally, many ‘dots’ voted for Young Adult RE, Adult RE, and Youth Retention—all topics within LFD.

On March 21 during the forum time, 10-11 a.m., I hope to offer more definition and clarification about Lifespan Faith Development, a relatively new concept and approach within Unitarian Universalism for what we have long called Religious Education/Exploration. This is an important topic for the RE committee as it deliberates how LFD might be structured and implemented.

Deciding on this change, not just in a name, but also in philosophy will affect the job description for the settled Director of RE. It would definitely affect the committee’s work. Vision often implies and sometimes pushes for change. Lifespan Faith Development is more than children’s or youth RE, it’s more than adult RE—it’s a change in how one thinks of ‘church’ and what is expected from the experience of ‘church’.

I hope to see many of you at the forum and welcome your thoughts, concerns, or questions.

See You on Sundays,

Benette Sherman
Interim DRE

RE NEWS
March 14: No RE classes, but childcare offered
March 21: Regular RE classes
March 28: No RE classes, but childcare activities are offered for preschool-6^th grades
April 4: Easter Intergenerational Service (children in the service for the full hour)

YRUU Conferences: I hope everyone has attended the CONS this year. They are a great way to get involved and share fun and worship with peers. Scholarships are available.

MDD YAC Business & Bridging Conference
When: Apr 9-11, 2010
Where: Jefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO

My husband has taken a job in California. The boys and I will be joining him in June. Unfortunately, I will not be your youth coordinator next year. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone! You have found a place in my heart forever.

Please contact me at youthcoord@uulosalamos.org. I’m always here for you!

Sara Rose Dickens

“Love life, engage in it, give it all you’ve got. Love it with a passion because life truly does give back, many times over what you put into it.”—Maya Angelou

On January 29 almost 90 people came together to create vision and mission statements for our congregation. Everyone was engaged, giving all they’ve got, and in my opinion, loving life. The fruits of their labor are reflected in our vision:

We celebrate diversity of belief and seek unity in action. We are an inclusive, caring community that nourishes and challenges the heart and mind. People of all ages find a haven for spiritual and intellectual exploration and artistic expression. Living our Seven Principles, we bring justice and compassion to our congregation, the community, and the world. We are a beacon of hope.

And again in our mission statement:

At the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, Our minds, hearts and doors are open. Enter a community of compassion and inquiry. Venture out to shape a just, sustainable world.

As a follow up to the workshop, a task force has been established to write a condensed version of objectives and goals (end statements) from the goals that were expressed by the whole group present that day. Kathy Gursky, Rohan Loveland, TJ Ulrich, Cathy Wiget, and Andrea Determan are working on this phase of creating a strategic plan that will guide us in all that we do over the next few years. Once that plan is created we will begin to work to allocate our resources to carrying out our mission and vision. In the meantime, we want to carry on all the good work we already do.

Resources come in many forms—our time, our talents, and our dollars. The month of March is dedicated to helping us determine how we want to contribute our dollars. It takes dollars to keep our doors open as well as funding any “extras.” I hope that you have signed up for one of the small Cottage “Dinners” being held during the month of March. I always enjoy these get-togethers, as they are an opportunity to discuss our thoughts and hopes for our church as well as a time to renew our financial commitment to the future of our congregation. I find that in deciding how much to pledge, asking myself why I support the church helps me define its importance in my life and how much I can give. I support the church because when I come in the doors, I find compassionate hearts that are open to me and offer comfort and solace when needed. I am also challenged to live a responsible life, which includes asking questions the answers to which can help in making the sometimes hard decisions that life requires. Finally, I am encouraged to venture out into the world and live my principles. I can do this as boldly or subtly as I choose, but I think however I choose, I can be an example to others who may notice. I support the church to educate our children to do the same. Giving them a lasting foundation of how to live a responsible life is invaluable and whether it comes back to me personally, I believe it will give back to the world “many times over.”

On April 25,we will hold our Annual Meeting where we will vote on the budget and the new slate of officers for next year. Very soon the Nominating Committee members will contact some of you to be leaders and officers starting in July. Time is a resource for which there is competition just as our lives compete for our financial resources. We do not have unlimited funds, and similarly, volunteer hours are finite. One of our most valuable assets is our volunteers. Just as we cannot overspend our dollars, we cannot afford to over tax our volunteers. If we all do at least a small part, we can continue to maintain a balance. Please think about which position(s) you’d especially like to take, and then see if you and the committee can make a satisfactory match with your spiritual temperament. Please plan to attend the annual meeting. An agenda will go out with the call to meeting so you will know what additional decisions we need to make.

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If you plan to attend General Assembly, June 23-27 in Minneapolis, early registration begins March 1. It is a good idea to make hotel reservations as early as possible. Please contact Mike McNaughton or Reverend John if you are interested in serving as a delegate.

Rebecca Howard
2009-2010 Church President