Saturday, August 31, 2013

Social Justice Pilgrimage to Guatemala


“No journey carries one far unless,
as it extends into the world around us,
it goes an equal distance into the world within.”
~ Lillian Smith ~

With warm eyes, a smiling face and open arms, five year old Nicolasa welcomed us into the small concrete block home she shared with her mother, Magdalena, in Chuk Muk, Guatemala.  As I looked into Nicolasa’s expectant and eager face and then into the weary, prematurely aged face of her Mother, I painfully saw Nicolasa’s future.  My heart cracked open. 
~~~~~~~~

On Sunday, July 21, 2013, a team of 8 adults and 1 youth from Piedmont UU, and 1 adult from the UU Fellowship of Lake Norman (UUFLKN) left Charlotte on an exploratory trip to Guatemala for our Social Justice Council’s World Neighbors project.  Those team members were Ann Marie Alderman, Darla Davis, Emma Gardiner-Parks, Holly Summers, Mimi Davis, Pam Whistler, Rev Robin Tanner, Tim Brown, Virginia Gil-Rivas and from UUFLKN, Amy Hartman.  We were met in Guatemala by three additional team members, Lea Pellet and Lynn Thompson with the Maasai American Organization and later in the week by Rev. Nancy Allison of Holy Covenant United Church of Christ, Charlotte.

Many months of work and planning had preceded this flight.  Some of us had attended conversational Spanish classes taught by member Amanda Howard.  We’d had conference calls and done preparatory work. Lou Gardiner-Parks had exchanged our dollars for the Guatemalan currency of Quetzales.  In many ways we were prepared.  But with our feet on the ground in Guatemala we all knew we had much to learn.  And that was exactly why we were there!

We had been inspired to make this trip by the work of our late member Jodie Kacer.  For many years, Jodie had worked with the Maasai American Organization (MAO) in Guatemala and Kenya.  She frequently talked with great passion about this work.  On several occasions, Jodie brought handcrafted goods from Guatemala and Kenya to PUUC to sell in support of women in those countries.  Near the end of Jodie’s life, she expressed her hope that Piedmont UU would find a way to continue to support the women and children of Guatemala.

The PUUC Social Justice council had been talking about broadening and balancing our local social justice work with a global component.  As we watched films like “Brother Towns”, we were noticing how our laws and the actions of individuals and corporations in the US are connected to and impact people in other countries. We were noticing how what we do here flows out and then comes back to us through the interconnected web of all existence.  And so, a growing interest in learning more about those connections developed alongside the dream that Jodie had as she died.

With intentionality, we went exploring and learning. We approached this trip as a spiritual pilgrimage.  According to author Phil Cousineau in The Art of Pilgrimage: A Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred, “a pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise … a journey of risk and renewal.  For a journey without challenge has no meaning; one without purpose has no soul.”  So we set out with open and willing hearts on this journey of risk and renewal.

Our PUUC team was deeply grounded in Unitarian Universalism.  Ann Marie is a UU minister who would began serving the UU Church of Greensboro on August 1st.  Darla Davis has been a UU for over 30 years and has served PUUC as President and in many other roles.  Emma Gardiner-Parks grew up in our congregation.  Holly Summers is a new member and brought that fresh perspective to our group.  Mimi Davis is a long time UU and has been a member of several UU Congregations.  While at PUUC, Mimi has led the Fellowship Committee, the Peace Alliance and the Garden Group for many years, as well as served on the Religious Services Council and many other committees and roles.  Pam Whistler is also a long time UU, is currently a member of our board, a past Fundraising Co-chair and has served on the Southeast District board.  Tim Brown has been a member of PUUC for several years co-leading our canvas, participating in Chalice Circles and the Men’s group.  Virginia Gil-Rivas has also been a member for several years, leading Interweave and currently co-chairing  the Social Justice Council with Darla Davis.

As humans, when we see problems and suffering, our brains, of course, immediately want to formulate solutions.  It’s uncomfortable to just be with the suffering of others and so we are tempted to ease our discomfort by applying solutions.  But we had covenanted with each other to stay open and trust the local wisdom to guide us.  So while ideas were flying, we held them loosely without getting too attached to any one.

Our explorations led us to a multi-faceted program run by the Mayan Families organization; the Open Door Children’s Library and Education Center; an Elder Care Center run by Sharing the Dream: Hospitalito Atitlan, a private non-profit hospital; and Escuela Privada David LaMotte a private preschool and first grade.  We went to the villages of Chuk Muk, Chacaya, San Jorge and the towns of Santiago and Panajachel.  

At the end of our time in Guatemala we met to discuss, compare and begin to form a common direction for what might be next and with which partners. Some hearts were drawn to each program.  While individual team members may want to support efforts of one of the other organizations, the Mayan Families Organization was the one that everyone agreed offered the most promise for a sustainable program.  So as we continue our exploration and research this year, we will be looking most closely at the possibilities with Mayan Families as a potential partner.

To share more of the impact of our trip, the Guatemala exploration team will offer an evening of photos, stories and food in October.  Please watch for the announcement later in September and mark your calendar!  You won’t want to miss seeing the beautiful faces of the Guatemala people and the lush, rugged countryside. And you certainly won’t want to miss hearing how each team member was touched deeply by this transformative experience.

Nicolasa
Magdalena
Mimi Davis getting a warm welcome from Nicolasa as we entered the home she shares with her Mother, Magdelena. 
Rev. Robin and Virginia Gil-Rivas of PUUC, Amy Hartman of the UU fellowship of Lake Norman, Lea Pellet of the Maasai American Organization and our Guatemalan translator Fely Ratzán as we inspect the school building expansion in Chacaya, Guatemala. 
Tim Brown talks to the children at the school in San Jorge, Guatemala, operated by the Mayan Families Organization. 
Pam Whistler gives a Mayan boy his first look through binoculars at the Mayan Families run school in San Jorge, Guatemala.
Emma Gardiner-Parks listens as a young student explains his work at the Mayan Families Organization's school in San Jorge, Guatemala. 
Rev Ann Marie Alderman of PUUC and Lynn Thompson of Maasai American Organization discuss what the are learning about the woodworking classroom provided by the Mayan Families Organization. 
Holly Summers asks a young student about her work at the San Jorge school operated by Mayan Families Organization.
Rev Robin has the attention of a young scholar at the Mayan Families School in San Jorge, Guatemala. 
The children at the Chuk Muk school run by the Mayan Families Organization all want to be the next one Virginia Gil-Rivas picks up.
A Mayan woman gives Rev. Robin a spontaneous hug and kiss when she sees Robin on the street in traditional Mayan clothing. Tim Brown looks on with a smile. 
Rev Robin lights the chalice for our closing evening's spiritual reflection, with (l-r) Holly Summers, Virginia Gil-Rivas, Rev. Ann Marie Alderman, Tim Brown and Mimi Davis. 
Our hopes for the future work of our congregations in Guatemala are launched inside (environmentally safe) lanterns. (l-r) Tim Brown; Fely Ratzán and her Mother; Rev Ann Marie Alderman; Rev Robin; Rev Nancy Allison of Holy Covenant United Church of Christ, Charlotte; Pam Whistler, Amy Hartman of UU Fellowship of Lake Norman; and Lea Pellett of Maasai American Organization. 

Thursday, August 29, 2013

August 15 Board Meeting Highlights




At the August 15 Board meeting, your PUUC Board:

  • Approved Joan Thieda as a replacement on the Nomination Committee  
  • Approved Ministers’ titles to be Lead Minister and Minister of Education and Care
  • Decided on Board Focus:   Seeking clarity, fostering community 
  •  Decided on tentative dates for Town Hall meetings
  • Discussed book Governance and Ministry - Rethinking Board Leadership by Dan Hotchkiss
Please ask any Board member for more information about these items or other Board business.
In faith,
Karl Hesse, Lucy Neel, Melissa Avery-Weir, Sam Treadaway, Carol Scales, Evan Nash and Pam Whistler
PUUC Board of Trustees

August 10th buildings and grounds workday reflections

We had a great workday! There were nine of us who answered the call and shared the care of the grounds and each other on that really hot day.

Mowing the entire property was accomplished, weed-wacking the details was taken care of, the branches from the downed tree were chipped, and last but not least, a good dent was put in cleaning the walkways from weeds and other debris. Just the weeding took 15 women/hours to do. Seeing them at their task reminded me of the monks I saw in Japan, hand picking dropped leaves on acres of Zen garden moss, truly a meditative activity if you care to approach it that way.

For most of my 12 years at PUUC, I successfully avoided being in a leadership position. Volunteering for this or that, pitching in at all kinds of events was really as much as I wanted to give. Being in a responsible position was way beyond my comfort level, but in 2012 I reluctantly agreed to co-chair buildings and grounds with Lee Carnes. I soon remembered how I have always found group work projects interesting and rewarding.

Last year under Lee Carne’s leadership, I took on projects I felt comfortable with, sometimes alone, sometimes in a group.

This year, in a leadership position I became aware of the bigger picture of buildings and grounds, and came to understand more of the meaning of responsibility and the feelings it engendered in me. I feel so much more the commitment I made to the goals not only of buildings and grounds but to PUUC as a community.

This past Saturday morning, the 10th, I also realized the value of group work on a different level.

I would have preferred we all work together at the same task, but we had to split off to accomplish more than just attending to the most necessary tasks. Nevertheless, I completely felt supported by and in relationship with others as I attended to tasks by myself. I would even dare say that if I had stayed at home, I would surely have found some excuse to postpone those same tasks I'd have to get done sooner or later.

As I went about doing my tasks, I would catch glimpses of others, working alone or in small groups, attending to their chosen tasks and it brought me feelings of joy and gratefulness.

It is clear to me that these feelings were not egoic feelings or some kind of sentimental state.
These feelings are the inner experience of being part of something greater, a kind of subtle impression of “we are one," and “I am that."

I found that it is akin to what you experience when you do extended periods of group meditation (intensives) in the sense that the group changes, supports, enhance the personal experience because of shared intentions and goals.

I am clear that each and everyone there on Saturday had an impact not only on the grounds but on me as well on that day.

It may be that it is as simple as that I just simply enjoyed everyone’s company, and I did, but I like to think it went beyond that.

I would like to extend an invitation to all who can, to join us on second and fourth Saturday of the months to engage in intentional ground work and see if you can find something or someway to contribute to the effort.

In Consciousness and Faith,
Pierre Fraser
B&G Chairperson.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Denominational Connections

“This little light of Mine."  We love this song and sing it a lot in our UU services.  It’s one of the easy ones, we all know it, and it makes us feel good.  It helps us connect and think about our flaming chalice and the symbol of the beacon. 

I think about this song when I remember the first time our fledgling congregation looked for help from the Chalice Lighter Program of the Thomas Jefferson District of the UUA.  It was 1988 and we were full of hope that our congregation could call an Extension Minister and start on our way to becoming PUUC.  People from other UU congregations decided to shine their light and gave us the grant which started us on our journey toward the congregation we have become.  Many of us have become Chalice Lighters.  In fact, 29.1% of our congregation participate! 

In the months ahead I will be talking and writing about our Southeast District Chalice Lighter Program and keeping you informed of opportunities to connect to our sister congregations in this area and gatherings throughout the district.  Mark your calendar now for the Western Carolina's Gathering at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Asheville on September 28.  It will be informative and fun, and help you feel connected!

Sandra Woolsey, Denominational Connections

Spiritually Speaking: Want What You Have: Summer, Shoes and School


Summer is rolling by quickly. This is the time of year when many children and youth (as well as some teachers and principals I suspect) lament the last few weeks of summer and the approaching first day of school. This is the time to cram in one more day-trip, to peruse the summer reading list, and begin the anticipatory grief over teacher assignments and elapsed beach days. Routines tend to return, regardless of your age, as fall approaches.

A couple of weeks ago, I found myself with one of those “something other than this” longings. I didn’t have enough options to wear, my shoes were worn, the day was too rainy, and I really wanted more summer. Would our new house have enough room? I wasn’t missing anything of real substance but the series of small things that create the “something other than this” tug. Forrest Church once talked about the first step in a spiritual journey being to “want what you have.” This is of course fine if you have enough.
Traveling through Guatemala these past eight days, I saw plenty of not enough. Not a single pair of shoes, not three meals day (not even one), no house, no closet to put clothes in, nor clothes to place in closets. Hard to imagine proscribing to want what you have in abject poverty. I returned home struck by the similarities between Guatemala and Charlotte, as well as shocked at my recent “something other than this” syndrome.
I opened my closet as I was unpacking and my eyes fell upon the twenty pairs of shoes I own. Twenty pairs! 
Perhaps the path is not simply to want what you have, but to know what is enough. The stories and people I met in Guatemala help keep me accountable to my needs. I need more shoes is simply not a reality for me. I need less shoes is likely a truth! Discerning what is enough is deeply spiritual for each of us. When do we have enough days of summer, enough stuff, enough affirmation, enough friends, where is our enough and it is truly “something other than this?”
My enough is likely somewhere beneath the emotions of stuff and the constancy of change. Enough is somewhere in the present moment and crammed in the day-trip, between the summer pages of the reading list and the divide between the developing world and the one in which we live.
As the last few drops of summer linger, where is your enough?