Posted Apr. 8, 2020.
These are tender times and life often seems surreal these days. Together we are facing the first global pandemic in more than 100 years. How and who do we want to be as we move through this? As we practice physical distancing, we also want to live out our values, to remember that we belong to each other and to find ways to stay connected and care for each other in these times.
When we realized that we would be closing UUCF for in-person gatherings and that folks in our community may have needs that they themselves could not meet, we wanted to find ways to help people remain (or even begin to be) connected.
With that in mind, we launched a new Circles of Care program. The program aims to connect congregants in neighborhood groups during the COVID-19 outbreak. Situating these circles in neighborhoods should make it easier for folks to reach out, connect, offer support and help each other navigate the stresses of these unprecedented times.
With much help from staff member Mary Foster and volunteer Kendra Niehaus (who found and learned an entire mapping program), 84 different neighborhood zones were created, and each team/zone has a leader that helps bring folks together virtually and checks in with folks on a regular basis. Thank you to all of you who said “Yes” to our request to serve in this way. Each zone has between six and 14 people and you are encouraged to reach out to each other. Connecting with each other may be more essential to our well-being now than ever before.
We are still seeking leaders for some zones, so please contact Mary Foster if you have not heard from your zone leader and you would be willing to lead your zone.
You can see your zone and zone leader if you log in to the UUCF Realm member database, click on Groups and scroll through your groups to the one titled Pastoral Care – Circles of Care. If you have any questions about your zone or logging into Realm, please contact Mary Foster.
Thank you to Mary and Kendra and to Director of Religious Exploration Diana Tycer for brainstorming initial ideas, and to the Pastoral Care Team, which organizes and manages other pastoral care needs in the meantime.
Please reach out to Acting Pastoral Minister Rev. Alice King with any questions or concerns.
