“It is really wonderful how much resilience there is in human nature. Let any obstructing cause, no matter what, be removed in any way, even by death, and we fly back to first principles of hope and enjoyment.”
Bram Stoker, Dracula
Dear UUFJC Members and Friends,
Part of the defined duties of the Board President is to write a message of some kind to include in our monthly newsletter, and I plan to do a better job of that. I see the main purpose of this message as being to reflect on recent events in our Fellowship and to share news on upcoming events and efforts, and to a certain extent to reflect on how events in our larger community and world affect our Fellowship.
First of all, on behalf of the whole congregation, I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to Joan Kurtzeborn for leading the Social Action Committee since last May. After a long period of dormancy, Joan has done a lot to get the SAC off the ground again during times that are challenging, to say the least. Under her leadership, the SAC has been a presence at several peaceful rallies at the Capitol, and gathered a great deal of food for donation during a time of uncertainty for SNAP, just for example. Unfortunately, Joan is stepping down as SAC chair for health reasons, but she assures me that she will remain an active member of UUFJC, and if possible, of the SAC.
I am working with our current Nominating Committee (Katharine Connor, Kim Connor, Betty Cooper) to find a replacement. Since the SAC Chair is now a Board member, they will require election by the congregation as a whole to be seated. It is possible that someone may serve just in an interim capacity until the Annual Meeting in May. (The regular Board elections are scheduled for March 22.)
Also, we are looking into the possibility of offering Our Whole Lives (OWL) classes to our young students. This is the sexuality education curriculum offered by UUA, and a sorely needed resource in our community. Interest among our parents is very strong, which is very encouraging. However, I’ve discovered that most of our potential students fall neatly into an age gap in the curriculum. So it looks as though we will take a year or so to get acquainted with the curriculum, identify and train our facilitators, and generally plan things out. By that time, our students should fit more comfortably into the intended age range for the curriculum. Because OWL was jointly developed by UUA and the United Church of Christ, we are also exploring the possibility of collaboration with the local Oasis UCC. We would only want to do this in a way that is completely comfortable for everyone concerned, and there appears to be no reason that we couldn’t go forward with classes on our own if necessary.
I’m sure that’s enough for now. Stay warm and safe. Take care of yourselves and each other.
Rich Burdge
UUFJC Board President
10 Resilience Skills
- Problem-solving Problem-solving is the ability to identify, analyze, and break down problems and generate potential solutions. The most effective ones are then chosen and implemented.
- Goal setting Goal setting involves setting well-defined and achievable goals and then taking small steps toward achieving them. Working toward goals builds confidence and a sense of accomplishment, which can contribute to resilience.
- Effective communication This involves learning to express needs and feelings clearly and assertively and actively listening to others.
- Emotional regulation and stress management Since emotional regulation is the ability to control and manage one’s emotions in a healthy way, specific approaches can manage emotions and stress. These include practicing relaxation techniques (including mindfulness and deep breathing), cognitively re-framing challenges and pressures as opportunities, and engaging in physical activity.
- Building a social support network This involves developing and maintaining a solid network of supportive relationships with friends, family, and other trusted individuals.
- Practicing self-care Self-care activities should promote physical, emotional, and mental well-being, including getting adequate sleep, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and finding time for relaxation and hobbies.
- Developing meaning and purpose in life This involves finding purpose and meaning in life, whether in work, relationships, or other personally fulfilling activities.
- Adopting a positive outlook Cultivating a positive outlook and a growth mindset might include practicing gratitude, focusing on the good things in life, re-framing negative thoughts, and seeing setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth, while maintaining a hopeful outlook.Improving self-awareness.
- Developing self-awareness Developing self-awareness includes learning to understand thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to improve responses to stress and adversity and recognizing when to seek support.
- Adopting effective coping strategies
Healthy coping mechanisms might include positive self-talk, visualization, exercise, goal focus, social support, mindfulness, and relaxation techniques.
Welcoming?
By Frank Rycyk
Do we want to be a “welcoming congregation”? Different people have different ideas. Present UUA guidelines specify a certain group. How about we try to be welcoming to everybody? It is our job to expand the concept of “welcoming”. It is our job to guide UUA
If you are thinking about becoming a member of UUFJC, understand that it’s a very simple and painless process. See a board member to witness you signing the book on the altar and pledge an amount you think you can give. See Bob Antweiler for pledge information.
UUFJC Board of Directors
President: Rich Burdge
Vice President: Lisa Sanning
Secretary: Amanda Landrum
Treasurer: Bob Antweiler
Director of Religious Education: Dr Samantha Porter
Administrator/Membership/Caring: Mary Jo LaCorte
Social Action: Joan Kurtzeborn