Between Sundays

Good, Patient, Persistent, Resilient People,
 
Yes, it’s March 2021, and we approach the anniversary of the days that our lives flipped upside down. 
In one of my first missives about the shutdown, I shared that the Board had ‘decided to cancel all gatherings and meetings for up to 3 weeks, or until Sunday, April 5th.’ Oh, how little we knew.  And how well we have weathered this year, which had so much more in store for us.

Our theme for March is Commitment, which is fitting both when we look back and as we look forward. It is our commitment to each other and to the church itself that has kept us going, deepened our relationships in the paradoxical ways of Covid Time. Moving forward, our continued commitment to one another is needed to persevere to the other side of this long shutdown. We will be changed, in some ways transformed, perhaps with a greater understanding of the place of UU Ventura in our hearts and in the community.

March is also Generosity Month. Last March we were one week away from Celebration Sunday in which we would make our pledges for the next year when the doors slammed shut. The Board and Generosity Team decided to postpone our annual stewardship drive in the face of so much uncertainty.
 
We’ve made it through financially because of the continuing gifts from members and friends, and the assistance of a PPP grant and other UU sources. This year we have been approved for another PPP grant which gives us more breathing room to look ahead. We can begin now to rebuild a solid financial footing for the years ahead.
 
Here is a preview of the Month of March in Worship:

• On March 7, I will be speaking about Meeting the Moment. Our church and our faith tradition are practically designed for evolving, changing, adapting to what each new moment reveals. We support the church because it helps us meet what each moment requires.
• March 14 is another collaborative service with our cluster congregations, combining resources to bring anti-racism trainer Shelly Tochluck who will speak on Solidarity and Racial Justice: How Do We Stand Together if We are not All Together?  Another moment we met this year was uncovering the deep and systemic racism in our country. Though we were all at least aware of it, the murder of George Floyd revealed it as an inescapable and horrific reality. And yes, many among us lived that reality every day. So we are, together as UUs in our cluster and across the continent, meeting this new moment with Commitment.
• On March 21, we will join worship with UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray leading a service on generosity and giving, Loved into Being.  In anticipation of this service, pledging members and friends should be on the lookout for a mystery gift bag delivered to your home beginning on March 7.
• From the end of March into April we will celebrate Passover, Easter, and then the beginning of the month of Ramadan, exploring the traditions of the People of the Book – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam – all of which still inform our Living, Flexible, Adaptable Tradition.