Widening the Circle

Widening the Circle of Concern: Covenant and Commitment, Not Comfort

The first recommendation in the Widening the Circle of Concern Report related to Congregations and Communities is: Covenant and commitment, not comfort, should be the binding fabrics of UU congregations and other communities. We have a Covenant of Right Relations and many very committed members and friends at MDUUC. So, this month I am pondering the word “comfort” as it relates to our collective work to dismantle systemic racism and other oppressive systems.

For the purposes of this article, I am using the word “comfort” to mean emotional comfort. The white supremacy culture we live in creates many opportunities for emotional discomfort when we talk about systemic racism and anti-oppression work.

I found the Non-Violent Communication (NVC) framework helpful. The premise of NVC is that everything we do is to meet an unmet need. The most basic needs are fairly universal:

• Autonomy

• Connection

• Meaning

• Peace

• Physical Well-Being

• Play

I found the need for “connection” most relevant for our discussion of emotional comfort. Which of these descriptors of Connection resonate for you:

• Acceptance

• Authenticity

• Belonging

• Compassion

• Empathy

• Inclusion

• Mutuality

• Respect

• Support

• Security

• Being seen and heard

Principle 7: Honoring the interdependent web of life calls us to practice, not to be perfect but to practice, so we improve our skills to:

• Hold both our needs and those of others as valid, even when it makes us emotionally uncomfortable,

• Create conditions that support everyone meeting their most significant needs,

• Center historically marginalized voices and those most impacted by systemic racism and other systems of

• oppression because it conveys: “You matter, it is safe to speak,” and

• Make group decisions where we are stewards of our needs and those of each other.

With sufficient emotional comfort we will be better resourced to step away from debate that may harden positions and lean into exploring ways to meet the full range of congregational needs to feel valued, seen and heard.

We each determine our own needs for emotional comfort within the container of the MDUUC Covenant of Right Relations. As we focus on our Together We Rise values and hopes for MDUUC, I hope you will pick a question or two to ponder over the summer:

What are your descriptors for feeling Connection and emotional Comfort?

What conditions create Connection and Comfort for you?

What UU values and Principles increase your Connection and Comfort?

I would appreciate your thoughts sent to wcc@mduuc.org. Who knows what future articles might grow from your comments?

Appointed by MDUUC Board of Trustees to lead the strategic goal to implement the recommendations of the Widening the Circle of Concern report throughout the church, Lynn Baskett writes this monthly update on the process and progress.

Widening the Circle of Concern Report: For written and audio version of the Report: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/cic/widening

General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association

On , June 21-25 2023,, participants will have the option of attending GA in person in Pittsburgh, PA, or by virtual participation online. All General Assembly (GA) registrants will have access to the GA event app, which combines multiple modes of participant engagement. Registrants are able to watch and ask questions in live sessions including workshops and business sessions (mini-assemblies, hearings, etc).

To register, please visit: https://www.uua.org/ga/registration.

MDUUC will be represented by 10 delegates. Congregations and groups are encouraged to conduct watch parties for GA events that are streamed to UUA.org and the UUA’s YouTube channel. MDUUC will stream the Sunday Seervice from General Assembly on-campus and on our Livestream and Rev Rodney Lemery will organize small group conversations following the service. Video of some events from General Assembly (GA) 2023 will be live-streamed, June 21-25—no registration required!

The below services are free and open to the public via Livestream by visiting UUA.org or the UUA’s YouTube channel.

Service of the Living Tradition

Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. PST. Led by the

The Ministries and Faith Development Staff Group, this service honors fellowshipped and credentialed religious leaders; remembering those who have died, recognizing those who have completed active service, and welcoming those who have received fellowship or credentialed status in the past year.

The Synergy Bridging Service

Our annual worship at the UUA’s General Assembly to honor those transitioning from youth to young adulthood—is happening this year on Friday, June 23 at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT. Synergy is free, open to the public and online!

Sunday Morning Worship

Join us for the largest annual gathering of UUs joining in worship. This powerful, communal worship experience will stream on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 11:00 am ET / 10:00 am CT / 9:00 am MT / 8:00 am PT. Members of the public are welcome to view the service!

After our Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 4, which is being held in place of a congregational service because of an important bylaws matter that needs to be addressed, we will hold a celebration for our volunteers. We will honor our outgoing elected leaders, including members of our nominating committee, board, and legacy committee, as well as those who have served at the council and committee level. Anyone who has volunteered within the last year will be encouraged to identify themselves so that we may pay homage to their big hearts and good works. We will be serving macaroni and cheese and we invite you to bring a topping for that or a side salad or a dessert. Please participate and express your gratitude for those who have served our sacred shared community.

Summer Beacon Deadline

Please note that the Beacon deadline for the July-August issue is June 15. Because the Board has authorized the ministers and staff to have a hiatus week ending in the first Sunday of August, we will be putting out a joint issue a double issue for July and August at the Beacon. Please submit articles by the

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Our congregational forums are an opportunity for us to be a part of the process. We have our own Bylaws changes to examine. To show up, to say what we believe, engage in discourse, is not always comfortable. But our democratic process, at its strongest, invites the best from us - to openly express our concerns and then hear the concerns of others as well. When we come together to express our thoughts, including those opinions onto which we hold dearly, we always run the risk of disagreement or not being understood. But if we open ourselves to a process in which we share our ideas, and recognize that not everyone will agree, we provide a climate of honesty and integrity and the potential of shared understanding. If we choose to participate, sometimes “yes” from others means, “I agree.” Sometimes it means “I understand.” But at the very least, it means, “I hear you.”

Thomas Merton on Trust: “The beginning of love is the will to let loose, let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image. If in loving them, we do not love what they are but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them, we only love the reflection of ourselves we find in them.”

If we can only listen to those with whom we agree, we don’t evolve. The ultimate sustainability for MDUUC is us, the congregation, working with the spiritual and lay leadership, the programming and the staffing, to truly be the church we want to be, a reflection of all of us.

Please attend the Congregational Meeting on June 4 and be a part of our democratic process.

Thank you,

Linda Russell President, Board of Trustees

Devil Mountain Coffee House: Susie Glaze New Folk Ensemble

Saturday, June 17, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm in Bortin Hall

Award-winning vocalist Susie Glaze, mandolinist Steve Rankin, fiddler Mark Indictor, and bassist Fred Sanders are The Susie Glaze New Folk Ensemble, the newest version of the acclaimed Los Angeles-based Americana group, a lush new Americana “folk fusion” ensemble presenting gorgeous eclectic blends of mountain folk and exciting new grassy and Celtic-inspired originals, all with the remarkable voice of Susie Glaze. The group has been likened to the classic British bands Pentangle and Fairport Convention in that they blend classic folk music with rough-edged stories of tragedy and fate, all with orchestral arrangements sounding like chamber music gone folk! Tickets for the in-person show are $20 in advance or sliding scale at the door, and $10 to watch via Livestream. For band info, visit http://www.susieglaze.com.

To reserve tickets, visit tinyurl.com/ dmchsusieglazenewfolkensemble

Save the Date: Tapas Worship Moving Towards Collective Liberation

Sunday, July 9, from 1:00 - 2:00 pm in the Sanctuary

Join us for a multi-generational, multi-voice tapas worship featuring members from our BIPOC caucus, our LGBTQIA+ community, and our young adults, as we explore the spirituality of collective liberation and our call to lean into the work to move us closer to the idea of beloved community. All our welcome to join us and experience this reimagined worship space through the lens of these communities.

HATs OFF! Honors, Accolades, Thanks!

We encourage gratitude and appreciation throughout MDUUC. Send “short and sweet” admissions to thanks@mduuc.org.

Our Director of Religious Education, Marena McGregor offers Hats Off his month to the generous and committed volunteers who energize our RE programs:

• To Lynn Gunney for her work updating the Coming of Age curriculum pre-covid which allowed us to have some framework for the program this year.

• To the Coming of Age Advisors: Mark Chase, Mark Watanabe, Davina Smith, and Neysa Matt.

• To these middle school youth group advisors: Kevin Hsieh, Kate Newkirk, and Alison Ray.

• To OWL teachers: Jean Evans, Mary Beth Spencer, Kate Lenhardt, Julia McLeod, Lynn Gunney and Alison Ray.

• And to these great volunteers for filling in as so staff could have a Sunday off: Elsie Mills, Heather Hsieh, Diamera Bach, Jana Contreras, and Jaynese Davis.

• Finally, to all these Sunday morning helpers: Julianne Galanti, Ronan Braun, Sage Hagerstrand, Jamieson Requejo, Kiona Newkirk, Payton Barbe Yolchelson, Ananda Jallepali, Ella Borland, Keeley Sugrue, Amalia Contreras, Thomas Cryderman, Magnolia Nelson,

Need A Garden Space?

The MDUUC Peace Garden is getting reactivated! Contact michael@mduuc.org to participate in this fun summer project.

Summer Community Circles

Summer is fast-approaching and MDUUC has opportunities for you to continue expanding your spiritual understanding, while staying connected to our community.

Our revamped Community Circles now offer multiple sessions, delivered in different formats, to meet the growing needs of our congregation and community. Comprised of 4-8 friends and members of the congregation, plus two co-facilitators, Community Circles utilize a discussion format designed to promote mindful listening and speaking from the heart without interruption. Through sharing thoughts and experiences on the topics, participants, get to know each other on a deeper level and create long-lasting friendships.

Upcoming Summer Sessions:

• Sundays, in-person, from 11:30am to 1:30pm at MDUUC

• Tuesdays, in-person, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm atMDUUC

• Thursdays, in-person, from 10:00am to 12:00pm in Rossmoor

To register for any of the above offerings, please visit https://mduuc.org/connect/community-circle/