What's Next?

Steven Mead

Steven provides Program Ministry services to UU Santa Fe―learning, small group ministry, connecting, and justice-making support. He has served congregations large and small in the East, Midwest, and now here at UU Santa Fe.

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“Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change.”―Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, Frankenstein

I don't need to spill much ink about how different things are than they were pre-pandemic. To paraphrase John Green, "this experience may not change us, but it will reveal us." What we do at UU Santa Fe hasn't changed much, how we do it is evolving day by day.

​No Change
But, Steven, how can you say that!? Everything has changed! Hasn't it? Well, let's just look at my role here as an example. I still work my 32 hours per week from my campus office. No change. I still connect you to the things here that will nourish you. No change. I still help manage our communications and technology platforms here to keep you informed and connected. No change. I still tell stories on Sunday. No change. I still keep our Soul Matters resource materials flowing toward worship, small group, and family program teams. No change. I still facilitate our Justice-making initiatives. No change.

Right Relationship
UU Santa Fe's reason for existence has not changed.

• Being. We still gather in meaning-making ways that lead us to an understanding that we are part of something greater than ourselves—right relationship with the sacred
• Becoming. We still actively commit to lifelong learning and spiritual practice that informs our growing into the people we are called to be—right relationship with the self
• Belonging. We still give and receive the experience of being deeply known and loved in this Special Place—right relationship with others
• Engaging. We still practice justice-making and blessing the world with our gifts—right relationship with the world

Let this anchor you. Let this center you. Let this empower you.

Big Change
So, maybe the ground we plow is not new but the way we do it and how we will do it in the future has changed. Big change. What ways and hows have changed? Here is a recap of the obvious.

• Worship. Livestream Sunday worship gatherings are recorded in various sessions throughout the week, then stitched together and integrated with real-time Sunday content to present a seamless worship experience. This is the work of many hands.
• Digital Gatherings.  Our campus closed March 15. Within four weeks, 75% of our groups, teams, and committees pivoted to online video conference gatherings. This is fantastic! You're willingness astounds! We fortified our online presence with new social media platforms, Facebook--UUSF Together, Instagram--UU Treehouse, and Meetup, Justice Makers and UU Treehouse.
• Reaching Out to One Another. Led by Rev. Gail, leadership called and connected with every one in our directory to ask How are you coping?
• Governance. Our Board of Trustees made accommodations in the annual pledge drive and annual meeting, developing multiple financial scenarios and proceeded with selling our Rabbit Road property.

What's Next?
Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet (who I still claim as my president) from the show West Wing, always asked that question—​What's Next? Well, that's a really good question. And whereas nothing has changed around UU Santa Fe's purpose, everything has changed in how we pursue community, right now, and in the future. Leadership is just beginning to gather and consider how we will reopen our campus and return to new—not normal—ways of being in community. How will we do outreach in socially isolated environment?—our neighbors need us more than ever. What will this be like? How will we make and hold a space for all that emerges?

Much of what we do will be informed by New Mexico state leadership.  I can tell you at this point, that we will pursue a very gradual opening, led by very small group gatherings, our smaller recurring rentals returning, and an evolving "studio audience" for worship during the summer months. Livestream worship will continue. Family programming of some kind will return. And much more, yet to be determined.

So, what is shifting in you? What is revealed? Be safe. Be well.

See you at Coffee Hour! [​Sunday, 11:30 am via Zoom. See your Sunday morning eNewsletter for the Zoom Meeting ID link.]

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