A Passionate and Engaged Community
by Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
As the season calls us to dive inward and convene with community, I realize that these needs exist yearlong. These chilly months challenge me, with the added drear of bare branches and dulled colors. Yet, I am committed to bundling up and gathering with folks outdoors and continuing to build community both within my role as UUCB’s Connections Coordinator and in my personal life. I deeply feel that community sustains us throughout the many changes of the year.
I have been leaning into the creative and initiative-based elements of community. I have been organizing a community walk in my neighborhood and networking with organizers of an upcoming wellness initiative in Bloomington. I have also been practicing the grounding art of “showing up.” I am so deeply grateful for the folks around me who bring their visions to reality and invite consistent gatherings of those interested. For me, participation in the choral ensemble Cloud 7 and meditation group Open Mind Zen Indiana have offered the opportunity to actively engage and find grounding within UUCB-affiliated communities.
While considering what to share this month, the saying “by the people, for the people” – which turns out to be attributed to Unitarian minister and abolitionist, Theodore Parker – kept playing through my mind. Our UU community is strong due to our collective action, our passion, our joy, and our engagement (just contemplate the wonderful feat that is our annual Bazaar). I hope that, if you love an offering or activity at UUCB, you feel empowered to continue showing up and consider taking initiative to help keep that activity thriving. And, if you aren’t quite sure what is needed, what would be helpful, or need a refresher on how things work, just ask. UUCB staff are here and more than happy to help you help the community!
My column in last month’s newsletter mentions several areas that would benefit from the active engagement of more community members: the Membership Anniversary Call Team, Exploring UUCB facilitation, Young Adult Ministry events, and Sunday morning hospitality roles. Please reach out to me if you are available to help!
Notably, we need volunteers to help with food prep and cleanup on Sundays. Providing something to eat along with coffee, tea, and juice on Sunday mornings makes a real difference for many people in their ability to stay for meetings, classes, and events; in other words, it enables people to participate more fully in our community. However, it is taking too much staff time on most weeks, so more volunteers are sorely needed! If you are a leader of a group in our church, consider the possibility of your group adopting a Java Crew shift on a regular basis, i.e. once a month or quarterly, or sponsoring a lunch - it’s a great opportunity for team-building as well as promoting your group’s activities. To help with coffee, sign up for a Java Crew shift here! To help with lunches, email me or Stephanie Kimball for details and scheduling.
On a separate note, the staff recently discussed gathering and sharing resources from our collective community to help make our space as welcoming and accessible as possible to every individual who walks through our doors. Are you fluent in American Sign Language (ASL)? Do you live with or support others navigating vision or hearing loss? Do you know of a local resource that could improve the experience of folks across the spectrum of neurodiversity, or benefit those with mobility needs? (Check out the local Mobility Aids Lending Library if you are in need of a cane, walker, or other aid!) Have you engaged with our local Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Service? (You can visit alzresourceindiana.org for more info, and also view a recording of our recent congregational training with Dayna Thompson of IU Health.) If you are knowledgeable in any of these areas, please do reach out to let the staff know. This will help us maintain a record of our resources and will also help us provide accurate representation to prospective ministers. Thank you for your engagement!
I feel that this has been a month full of interconnection and community. I look forward to continuing to show up, to pool our resources, and to actively create a thriving space as diverse as we are together.
With gratitude,
Anabel
Anabel Watson
Connections Coordinator
connect@uubloomington.org