Autumn Observations & Ways to Connect - by Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
I have paid more attention to the shifts in the natural world during my second autumn in Bloomington. Gloomy gray skies are somewhat nostalgic of my childhood in Seattle, reminding me both of the profound joys of camping–oftentimes a gray event, regardless of the season–and also of the general feeling of dreariness pervading society around me. In my limited experience, the shift to a gray sky is more noticeable here. The great splashes of yellows, oranges, and reds in the landscape, providing forests of shining gold to immerse in during sunset, have been spectacular. What a captivating shift; an experience contrasting the yearlong familiarity of soft floors of moss and pine needles, sweet-smelling fir and cedar trees, and lush ferns filling the forest with a deep green. Both rhythms of nature feel beautiful to me in their distinct ways.
If you’re looking for new activities to plug into as the season shifts and weather gets colder, our UUCB community is ever the more vibrant with your engagement! Should you need a space to muse over involvement areas that align most with your needs, please reach out to plan a Connections Chat. I would love to connect with you over tea or coffee and help you find where you might feel most fulfilled and engaged according to your skills and needs (and those needs of the community!). A few areas I am currently cultivating that have particular need:
- Membership Anniversary Calls: each month, a team calls folks to congratulate them for joining membership in that month of a previous year. This experience can provide meaningful connection, gratitude for community and our faith, and spread smiles to those who keep our church running. If you feel you would make a great new team member, please reach out!
- The ‘Exploring UUCB’ Course: formerly termed the “membership class,” this four hour course (divided into two days) allows those newer to the community or looking for deeper immersion in UUCB and Unitarian Universalism as a whole a chance to get to know others, ask questions, and become more oriented to UU history and values, what it means to be a member, our church operations, an understanding of ministry, and many more topics allowing deeper engagement both here and in our larger faith. If you are interested in facilitating this course in January or March (with co-facilitators and ample preparation time), please reach out for more details! If you would love to become a member or more deeply involved, please reach out about this course!
- Young Adult Ministry Events and Promotion: I am assisting, alongside Hans Kelson and community volunteers, with the offering of UU activities for self-identifying Young Adults aged 18-35. Since the beginning of 2023, we have gathered for several lunches, a service project collaboration with Spencer Pride Community Organization, bowling, a pizza event, and hope to continue these offerings (stay tuned for YA board game nights and join us for a Pizza Gathering and meeting with the Ministerial Search Committee on Nov. 12!). If you are available to hang up posters around town for the YA pizza event on Nov 12, please reach out or come into the office to pick some up! If you want to assist in another way, or simply join in as a participant, please also reach out!
- Sunday Morning Volunteering: each week I send out reminder emails to all those subscribed to notifications on Java Crew, Flame Keeping, and Greeting (click to join each group). We can always use help in these areas; I love when new folks join these lists to be aware of the upcoming need on any given Sunday. If you are looking for a way to help make Sundays more welcoming and lively, to have something tangible to do, to support the community and meet others, or simply to have some time to reflect on the familiar traditions we share each week, please join one of these lists! I am available to answer any of your questions.
These are just some of the ways you can deepen your involvement in this new season. Of course, we have many other activities to participate in from social justice volunteering to lifespan religious education courses, to choir, and so much more.
With all of this in mind, the staff recently discussed a need to let folks more clearly know which staff member does what. As mentioned in my bio on our website, I endeavor to grow connections within the UU Bloomington community through connecting congregants with activities, resources, and each other. I also accompany and orient folks through the journey of meaningful self-discovery as they seek to embrace the UU tradition through membership and exploratory courses. My role consists of 24 hours of work per week. In more concrete terms, I tend to regularly spend time on:
- Coordinating and facilitating Exploring UUCB as well as the monthly New to UU class.
- Connecting congregants with groups and activities within the church community.
- Maintaining our membership records and facilitating Book Signings and Covenanting Ceremonies with the lead Minister.
- Sundays: welcoming newcomers, answering engagement questions, coordinating volunteers, giving the welcome and announcements during the service, assisting with community hour refreshments, occasionally participating in the service.
- Facilitating the Membership Anniversary Call Team.
- Organizing the Welcoming Team, assisting with Young Adult Ministry, and acting as a staff member of the Leadership Cultivation Committee.
- Coordinating or co-coordinating engagement events occurring less frequently.
If you have a question that relates to one of the above areas, I am likely someone to contact! I am reachable via email, in-person on Sundays, and happy to schedule a phone call or virtual or in-person Connections Chat for another time.
Thank you for being a part of this community; thank you for any time and effort you put into this community; thank you for sharing in this incredible existence of which we are all a part.
Gratefully,
Anabel
Anabel Watson, Connections Coordinator
