“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
—Søren Kierkegaard
What might we reflect on and understand more deeply when we look back on these coronavirus times? There is nothing like a global health crisis, a virus that spreads even among people without symptoms, tens of thousands of deaths, economic uncertainty, and weeks on end of social isolation to help us put things into perspective. In our house, we are focusing on some of the simple elements of life: preparing home cooked meals, reading daily, calling or writing to family and friends, and walking outside. I know not everyone is so lucky, and I am appreciative to have what we do and to be able to share some of our overflow blessings.
Last night, we watched the Bill Murray classic “Groundhog Day.” Scott observed that most references to us feeling like we’re living through Groundhog Day come across as negative. However, in the film, reliving the same day over and over had a positive result. Bill Murray’s character Phil evolves from someone who is callous, shallow, and self-centered to become someone who is thoughtful and caring, who pursues lifelong learning, and who is appreciative of music, poetry, and the worth of others. Many of us go through similar transformations throughout life — sometimes many times in the same day!
Church is something we may be reflecting on during this time. We may be considering what our church means to us now that we cannot gather together in person, cannot sip coffee and munch tasty snacks together, cannot chat and hug and greet each other. We may be thinking of these things with some melancholy or loneliness. Feelings of disconnection are particularly strong during this time. Hopefully, you have been able to join us by viewing a video recording of a Sunday Service. Rev. Alice and our musician Denise D’Angelo and the others working on the remote services have done an amazing job providing us with a space to center ourselves each week. It’s almost as good as being there. Almost, but not quite. Maybe you have even attended Virtual Coffee Hour on Zoom.
Different practices will continue when we resume in-person services. For example, we likely will have to observe social distancing and safety measures within our building, such as wearing face masks, staying 6 feet apart, and not touching or sharing food or beverages. The reason is that the virus still will be communicable even when there is a decline in the peak numbers we see now. As noted by UUCP member Jean Siebenaler, a retired physician, “Until we have a vaccine, the virus will still be out there.” Part of inspiring love and striving for justice means practicing love and justice in our own community to keep our members and others safe.
In terms of the health and longevity of our church community, we also have important decisions to make about our budget. We at UUCP are feeling and seeing the impact of many shifts, and our budget is one area that has been hit. Our pledges for 2020-21 are lower than expected, so we have a significant gap between our projected income and expenses. Expenses include significant items such as:
– Pay for the talented people who work for us (including our minister, office administrator, and CRE Coordinator as well as musicians and contractors who provide essential services);
– Wind Insurance to protect our church building and property;
– Maintenance, repairs, and upkeep;
– And the programs that are the heartbeat of our church, including our social justice work.
The Finance Team is full of smart and capable people, as is the Board, but the budget and all that it represents is truly in your hands as members of our congregation. Details have gone out or can be requested of our Treasurer Erin Renfroe or Finance Team Co-Leaders Laurie Winterberg and Marylee Donnelly. We are planning several small group online meetings to discuss the budget, provide information, and gather input before our Annual Congregational Meeting on June 14, when we must vote. Watch for and respond to emails that you get about the budget decisions.
Speaking of our annual meeting, it likely will be held remotely. The Board is considering the best options for distance voting. Let me know if you have suggestions. Your voice and your values are important — vital — to UUCP.
Until next time,
Lauren Anzaldo
Board President