Dear Companions,

Please Come to the District Assembly!
The Arc of a Moral Universe … Bends Toward Justice
Unitarian Universalist Church of Sarasota
March 20-22, 2009
See: http://www.floridadistrict.org/ for Program Details & Registration

As the above notice suggests, your District is moving ever more toward a paperless approach to our work. As with most organizations and congregations these days, we’re reviewing every ex-penditure through new eyes. I’ve said elsewhere this economy calls for something more creative than tweaking budgets. It leads us to ask: How else can we do things.

Your feedback tells us that the Monthly Packet is a helpful tool for coordinating and publicizing District and congregational events. So, we’re going to keep it. However, this month is the last time you will see it in your US Post Box. In April, we will send the monthly packet link directly to Congregational Officers, Administrators, Ministers, and Denominational Connections Chairs as soon as it has been posted to the District website. We hope your leaders will post items most relevant to your congregation so others can be informed.

Over 1200 of you already know about Florida District Connections, our twice monthly e-news. This tool is proving most helpful for building relationships among our District Unitarian Universal-ists and the congregations. If you would like to subscribe, it’s free. Just send a note with your e-mail address to the District Office.

We’ve also reviewed how we deliver our services with the goal of reducing our carbon footprint. The District Board, for example, has decided to hold one of its quarterly meetings virtually. We’ll see how it goes.

Further, we’re increasing our use of conference calling for consultations. The 3rd Thursday we-binar has had as many as 60 people participating in this monthly “church basics” program. We hope also to do a better job of coordinating our District’s offerings with the area Clusters. So that may happen well, each Cluster is asked to appoint a representative this spring to our District’s Leadership Council. This group works with me to develop and coordinate our District’s work-shops and other educational activities.

Interdependence is a many splendored thing, although we’re seeing some of the shadow side in the international economy. But for us, it is our way of commitment: to work together to strengthen our congregations, individually and as part of our larger faith.

May you ministries be blessed with joy and deepening, Rev Kenn

By Connie Goodbread

What is a faithful response to this economic crisis?

Now is the time that we need our faith community more than ever.
People are loosing their jobs or homes and might feel ashamed. How do we make sure they feel safe enough to tell us they are having such trouble and sorrow?
How do we deal with the guilt from those who still have paid employment when others are desperate?

“Stay committed to your vision but stay flexible in your approach.” – Tom Robbins

Recently in a phone conversation about the way we are all dealing with the economy Karen Brammer, the Small Church Consultant for the Northeast District asked the very question above. “What is the faithful response to this economic crisis? What is the Unitarian Universalist faithful response to this economic crisis?” She said she had been asking that question everywhere. While talking with Unitarian Universalists all over her District and asking that question she came away feeling up-lifted because of the amazing responses. She was overwhelmed by the potential present in UU faith communities to respond to this crisis with love and generosity.

Karen talked with congregations in her District and more than one had put money aside to help out other congregations during economic hard times. They were in dialogue with one another and in deep enough relationship that each congregation knew of the other’s need and struggle. This is such a wonderful practice of our full polity and an example of generosity and relationship. This is a faithful response.

It is the hard times that define us, not the easy times. It is easy to be good, kind and generous in times of ease and prosperity. What makes us truly good, kind and generous are when it is hard. When we must give up something so that others might have a little.

There is also the question -are our congregations safe enough for people to tell us of their personal tragedies, their real sorrows? Or would they leave, out of shame? Do we say to each other aloud and with depth of feeling that we are all facing issues that terrify and unite us? And that the congregation is the place to share our burdens as well as our joys? We are not country clubs that will not be affected by all that is happening around us. We are communities of faithful Unitarian Universalists. How will we respond?

I am sure there are people reading this right now who have personal tragedies. I am also sure that there are people and congregations responding to members with great love and generosity. I hope and pray that for most of you the congregation, your congregation, is a safe and faithful community that is a support to you in times of need and empowers you to do what must be done. But I think very few congregations have planned into their budgets the generosity of sharing money with other congregations that are having it even tougher.

So I will ask again, “What is the faithful response to this economic crisis?” Do we hunker down and get small and defensive? Or do we respond with love and generosity?