Interim Goals:

Connect & Orient                      Honor History                              Explore Identity

Develop Leadership                 Denominational Engagement      Prepare for New Ministry

Areas of Ministry:

Worship                       Pastoral Care                     Staff Support          Committee Support

Programming               Social Justice                     Community             Self Care

Worship – On November 21st, after almost 20 months, UUCV held Sunday morning worship in person in the sanctuary and on-line. Our first truly hybrid worship service in the sanctuary! We had 68 people attend in person, all wearing their masks and staying safely distanced. We had another 28 people attend via Zoom. We even had some new folks join us for the service. By all accounts, the morning was a great success. We are still working on some of the technical issues and looking to add some more equipment to make the experience better for everyone in attendance-- but we did it! My deep gratitude to everyone who helped to make this happen. First, to all of you for taking the time and choosing safety of the community over our deep need for personal contact during this pandemic. Living our principles is not always easy. Second, to all of the staff, leaders, and volunteers who worked so hard to get us to this point, to prepare for our return, and to be open to the changes we needed to make to make this work. And finally, to everyone who showed up... in person and on-line, ready to follow the safety protocols and be prepared to forgive any inconveniences or mistakes that might happen. It was such a joy to see all of you and to worship with you in your sanctuary. As more folks get vaccinated and the pandemic risk lessens, we will be modifying some of our safety protocols and adding programming at UUCV. Stay tuned!

The ministry theme for December is Hope. Our service on December 5th will be a special service of stories of the season. And we will have a traditional service on Christmas Eve. I hope to see you at these services (in person or on-line.) The worship calendar for the Winter quarter should also be available this month, for those who like to plan ahead.

Community – One of the hardest challenges during the pandemic was maintaining our sense of connection, our bonds of community. Zoom helped, but it wasn't the same. Volunteers and staff at UUCV did their best to plan safe activities and check-ins. Now that we are moving towards a safe return to our building, there will be an increase in opportunities to gather and socialize. Some groups, committees, and teams are already choosing to meet in the UUCV building-- masked and distanced, for safety. Emily and the R.E. volunteers have put together activity bags for all of our families with a weekly focus on our principles. (I got to deliver some of them!) The Auction kick-off on Zoom was a lot of fun for those of us in attendance. (Zoom filters can be quite entertaining.) We may not have social hour after Sunday services yet, but we can still reach out to one another. We can do our part to maintain and even expand our community. We are all going to be a bit busier over the holiday season, including UUCV.

Self Care – I always list Self Care as a ministry, because it is an important part of the work we do. Our society doesn't traditionally recognize self-care as an important task. Unless it is tied to self-improvement or vacation time, we don't often focus on how we tend to our bodies, minds, and spirits. And yet, if we don't take care of ourselves, we can't care for one another-- we can't do the work of transformation and community building we are called to do. This is especially true during the holiday season. I urge you, during the holiday preparations, travel, and socializing, to remember to take the time to practice good self-care. Check-in with yourself. How goes it with your spirit? How does your body feel? Do you need to drink some water? Perhaps take a nap or go for a walk? Establish healthy habits and healthy boundaries. This can help both with your physical well-being, but also with your emotional well-being.

As I've shared with the congregation before, one of my self-care practices was to have Spirit, the pastoral pooch, travel with me to PA and to UUCV. Unfortunately, Spirit has not been feeling well-- and it appears to be a non-physical challenge. So, she is staying home in NY and taking some new meds and eating a new diet and generally living a stress-free life until she feels better. I'm sad to not have her with me when I'm down here in PA, but I'm happier knowing she is feeling better. One of the other ways I practice self-care is to try and be fully present. When I'm down here in PA (usually Saturday evening through Wednesday evening), I try to be fully present to UUCV. I call Cheryl in the morning and in the evening to check-in, but otherwise I try to focus on my ministry and life here with UUCV. When I'm in NY (usually Thursdays and Fridays), I try to be fully present for Cheryl and my life there. I do check in with Pam and Gail, but otherwise try not to bring UUCV home with me. Cheryl only gets me for two days a week, it seems fair to give her my whole self as best I can. Like all self-care practices, it is a work in progress-- and every week is different. But they are good boundaries to set and to try and maintain.

How are you practicing self-care in the coming months? What healthy goals and boundaries are you setting for yourself? More importantly, my friends, how goes it with your spirit? I hope it goes well-- for you and for all of your loved ones.

I, along with Cheryl (and Spirit, Harmony, and Opal, too), wish you a Happy Holidays.

Take care and be well!

Rev. Craig