19:01:41 Okay. Is there any way that you could put some link to that Facebook. Yeah, in the chat, because I just realized there's no way I'm gonna be able to do that.
19:01:51 Just start recording now, please. Yes, yes, yes yeah your screen set. It is a mine gallery, or speaker view. And then you can let folks in.
19:02:01 All right. Yeah.
19:02:03 Here we go.
19:02:05 I appreciate you all.
19:02:11 Oh yeah.
19:02:11 Yeah.
19:02:11 Yes.
19:02:21 All right, hold on I opened the breakout rooms instead of the actual I let them and you work on the breakout rooms. Okay, sorry.
19:02:28 Every.
19:02:30 Greetings. Greetings.
19:02:33 Hi.
19:02:36 I'm eating my supper. I'm sorry. Oh good care of your body. Yeah, Yeah, very important. That's me too.
19:02:49 Alright, we have a about 150 people registered for tonight I've muted everybody. So if you're a co host you're able to unmute yourself. And if not, you can always send a message in the chat.
19:03:04 Thank you.
19:03:07 We're going to get going here.
19:03:11 I'm Evan Carville Zoomer the central, eastern region, and this is just an event that a team of congregational life staff put together.
19:03:20 You'll get to hear from all of us and Patricia Infante Nancy, who's Morgan any Scott relevance grace myself.
19:03:28 We're just going to each take some time to say some things that we know, or would like to observe, and then a little dividing up of topics that will take about 40 minutes, and then the, the core of tonight is going to be you in two different group experiences
19:03:47 a small group and then you're a small group will join another group, sharing with congregations of similar sizes and we'll say more about that process.
19:03:55 Later, but you'll be able to really get a sense of where other people are what what other other thoughts are out there.
19:04:02 This kind of large event while trying to get quality Breakout Room experiences is growing at trust we're getting we're getting there but be patient with us and the technology, and just ask for help and anything, anything you need help with something,
19:04:16 some cork will happen. It happens. So welcome, we're really glad that you're here, invite any to later chalice.
19:04:25 Good afternoon, evening, everyone.
19:04:27 My name is Danny Scott.
19:04:29 I live in a story Oregon, formerly the land of the Chinook people, welcome you to this evening.
19:04:38 I liked this little tiny Chalice which holds Big Love.
19:04:45 Tonight we gather on a night with big feelings.
19:04:52 This has been a day that we want to honor justice. We have seen a piece of justice.
19:05:02 There are many many more, much more work to do.
19:05:07 There is pain there is sadness there's grief.
19:05:10 There is joy there is celebration.
19:05:15 And I hope there is hope in your hearts as well.
19:05:20 May this May this Chalice evoke the hope, and the love for all people.
19:05:28 As we gather tonight, please settle into your body feel it being present.
19:05:37 This has been such a hard year.
19:05:41 Be gentle on yourself and be gentle with one another, please tonight.
19:05:46 Welcome.
19:05:52 We just wanted to let you know as we reference to the trial and conviction of a police officer of the Finally, that there's a vigil tomorrow night at 830 Eastern and 530 Pacific, and I've just put it in the chat if you'd like to know about it.
19:06:12 We felt like we should let you know.
19:06:16 Thank you. Thank you so much everyone Hello everyone, I am Nancy combs Morgan my pronouns are she her hers. And I Live in Lexington, Kentucky, and I serve the mid America and southern regions.
19:06:29 So in the last few months I've been receiving communications from religious educators, as well as other religious professionals and lay leaders, asking how to adapt to a duel platform hybrid future that is inclusive for families and multiple generations.
19:06:48 So as a result, you're experiencing this webinar, which I am blessed to be here with my dear colleagues to help provide in planning for this webinar we decided that the conversation should focus on what you all need, Yet we also named the importance of
19:07:05 having a Unitarian Universalist theological grounding as a covenant centered faith, our promise to one another, is that the theology of inclusion will not be an afterthought.
19:07:19 But instead will be an organizing principle, based on a vision of beloved community.
19:07:27 Thankfully, our shared you do values, as indicated in our practices of hope, love, joy, Justice making encourage have been evident during this time of profound adaptation and challenge as a religious leader.
19:07:44 You may have internally groaned at how this constant adaptation has called you to perpetually pivot.
19:07:53 We are putting it Leo aware of all that you all have been through this last year, so do be gentle with yourself.
19:08:02 As congregational life consultants, no matter the region are echoing refrain to congregations, is to have frequent conversations about that which is at the center, your big why the difference you're trying to make in the world which we express his mission.
19:08:19 So to go a bit deeper.
19:08:21 I am blessed to serve two regions of the association the mid America and southern regions. And I bet some of you may be familiar with the southern regions intentional work around our core understanding that faith development is all we do Unitarian Universalism
19:08:39 is the faith we teach, and that the congregation is the curriculum.
19:08:46 That is not a conditional premise for us. It truly informs every aspect of how we coach companion and connect with our congregational leaders.
19:08:58 Well, with that grounding, and perhaps for another conversation, it would be fascinating for your community to consider how each of your responses this last year, have demonstrated something about your congregations understanding of Unitarian Universalist
19:09:14 faith development.
19:09:16 I can attest that it has been deeply inspiring and moving to witness the myriad of faithful congregational responses from beautiful multi generational virtual worship services to online times of fun and fellowship, for people of all ages and moving virtual
19:09:35 experiences, which have allowed children, youth and adults to name their challenges, their joys and sorrows.
19:09:44 Yet we must name that our current context of having been virtual communities has definitely brought a distinct set of challenges.
19:09:55 Curiously, what I have observed at that said it is also brought compelling opportunities to find once again that which is central to your understanding of community.
19:10:08 So when our present reality with uncertainty still before us, what can we actually achieve and adopting and creating a whole church vision of beloved community, a whole church vision.
19:10:20 We're all ages and abilities have a voice at the table, our theology of inclusion compels us to bring this work forward, not just as a problem to programmatically fix as so many of us have heard from congregations.
19:10:38 Over the last decade and how they have approached family ministry. It is often from a place of, well, we have to get the families involved or we have to get them back, or we have to find that one magical program that will have them signing up in droves.
19:10:52 Friends, all age inclusion, a beloved whole church vision is not going to be mutually created from a mindset of a problem to be reactive Lee fixed yet.
19:11:08 If we ground ourselves in a covenant centered values, people where people of all ages can participate. We are going to find one answer at a time, and we will open up the center of our congregational experiences for you Parker the author of The Art of
19:11:26 the gathering rights of the importance for communities to collaboratively create collective meaning one event at a time.
19:11:36 There is loving power, and the potential of such mutual creation, but I bet as leaders who are directly involved in creating your virtual and potential face to face programming, you shutter, or you may shudder at the thought of trying to create a mutual
19:11:53 multi age creative collaboration. When you're simply trying to get from one week to the next, or maybe even one day to the next.
19:12:03 We hope that this webinar this evening will help you in your deeper conversations with other religious leaders, and that you will find a part of the answer.
19:12:13 Some theological sustenance, an affirmation. A galvanizing awareness that this is the time to be that voice at your planning meetings that says, Are we truly planning a dual platform opportunity where anyone of any age or ability can be fully included.
19:12:34 We want to affirm how nimble and adaptive you have been as resilient leaders, so do continue to carry that nimble adaptation forward, but hit that pause button.
19:12:45 Occasionally, and ask yourselves. Is this response true to our sense of mission. And is it theologically grounded.
19:12:53 If so, then also take the time and ask yourselves. Are we truly focusing on what matters.
19:13:02 Now with an awareness that each of you still have a full plate of adaptive responses that you're trying to manage know that as regional leaders we continue to plan and hope to provide content that will be directly helpful as an example of my beloved colleague,
19:13:16 Natalie Briscoe the CO lead in the southern region has created a platform of original content on the dimensions of Unitarian Universalist faith development.
19:13:26 We're pledging to get that information out to as many religious professionals and leaders as possible, and actually our lifespan faith engagement office has approved this to be content for Renaissance modules offered twice a year, I bring it up this evening.
19:13:40 Simply because the dimensions provide a deeper understanding how people of all ages develop in faith and across the six dimensions there's a stream of content that is always needed and I'm wanting you to really hear this.
19:13:53 No matter the age, no matter where you are in your development as a Unitarian Universalist there needs to be a sense of safety and a sense of trust. People also need to know that they're a part of a community of care that is steams relationships across
19:14:09 the lifespan.
19:14:11 And know that religious education. We understand it coming from a place of soul stirring narrative. So what will your congregations narrative be for 2020 and 2021.
19:14:23 What will your epic story, say and how you opened up your virtual circle of community of care for people of all ages. Will you be able to look back and affirm that this is something you've been holding up.
19:14:36 I bet you all already have done many many wonderful efforts in this regard. So, honor those efforts, take some time, but also know that for this moment you are in the right place, and that you were truly enough, and that answers will collectively emerge.
19:14:53 Any.
19:14:57 Thank you, Nancy.
19:14:59 So as I said, my name is Annie Scott, I serve the Pacific western region on the congregational life staff.
19:15:07 I've been a religious educator for almost 30 years and have served five congregations in various parts of the country.
19:15:15 And what I would like to do this evening is to speak on behalf of religious educators. Now that's not to say that they would all agree with what I'm going to say.
19:15:26 Nonetheless, we have, we have spoken to many many over the, over the last year.
19:15:32 And in these times when we're approaching. Another change.
19:15:36 So I just want to name that this year has been so incredibly difficult for all of us.
19:15:46 In particular, it's been extremely difficult for families so difficult for families, parents who are juggling work, some people had to resign so they could care for their children at home.
19:16:00 Some people are trying to do two full time jobs while they care for their children.
19:16:05 While they educate their children while their tutors are primary educators, trying to convince their children to stay on zoom one more hour.
19:16:15 Then there's all the loss.
19:16:19 There's all the loss.
19:16:23 And so one of the things we've heard from religious educators.
19:16:28 Many of them is that, as congregations as leadership has has been thinking about how we return, how we return to in person.
19:16:40 They religious educators have been excluded from the conversation. They have simply been told, here's what we're doing and here's when we're doing it.
19:16:49 Now, I just want to remind you that your religious educator from for the most in most congregations, is the person primarily responsible to children, youth, parents and families.
19:17:02 They are the person that is most connected to them. Most in touch with their needs, often does pastoral care for them.
19:17:11 And if you're religious educator is at the decision making table, then they can be the voice for the needs and the trials of the families, children, youth, and parents in your congregation.
19:17:25 So it's critical that they be a part of this decision making process.
19:17:31 The other thing I want to say is that for many religious educators who are parents themselves. They have had to do all, all that I was just talking about while they're trying to serve their congregations.
19:17:46 And for many it's been such a year of deep disappointment and frustration that we often count numbers, we often know we're doing a good job because so many people show up.
19:18:01 And so this year has been so challenging because so many families could not do one more hour on zoom couldn't do 10 more minutes on zoom.
19:18:11 And so, religious educators have struggled to feel successful.
19:18:17 They were like they were doing good. Good job, and often had to justify to their to their leadership and their congregations that they continue in their jobs, even though.
19:18:28 What is happening has been devastating to them as well as, as the families.
19:18:34 So, as we return to hybrid, or in person, or whatever, will be will be our future together.
19:18:45 We want you to remember that religious educators, when we're doing, what if we move to hybrid, then we're asking them to basically do two jobs.
19:18:58 We're asking them to create programming.
19:19:01 Invite and recruit teachers for in person, as well as for online.
19:19:11 And that's not that is not a simple job, and especially for so many religious educators there part time.
19:19:20 And so once you to think about the job that you're asking them to do.
19:19:25 And be gentle and kind and thoughtful and encouraging and patient, and also try to help them only do the, the, the amount of hours that that they're paid for.
19:19:40 And we want you to have an attitude that the programming that we're going to be doing and and run we'll talk about this a little more later but the programming that you're doing, how church will look like will be emerging.
19:19:57 We cannot know what our communities are going to look like in a month in three months in six months, we cannot know, children are being impacted by the variants of coven 19 in ways that are unpredictable and are dangerous.
19:20:19 One of our congregations in the Pacific Northwest has said that in the early part of the pandemic.
19:20:29 It was our elders who were most, who were most vulnerable. They were vulnerable to death, and families stayed home to help protect them.
19:20:40 And now that our elders are becoming more and more fully vaccinated.
19:20:46 It's time for them to step back stay at home to help our families, be safe.
19:20:53 It's time for all of us, all of us to remember, who are the new vulnerable people.
19:21:04 So, I will just close by saying that we have developed a saying among our little team here that we invite you to go holy holy slowly, which of course reminded me of my favorite song as as a growing up as a Methodist kid.
19:21:22 So a little revision, holy, holy slowly. Please take it slowly.
19:21:33 With that, I will hand it off to Patricia.
19:21:39 Thank you, Annie.
19:21:42 I am patrol.
19:21:46 Whoops. Am I unmuted.
19:21:50 Okay, I mysteriously muted unmuted muted unmuted there.
19:21:56 Hi there, I'm Patricia and fancy I'm part of the central East regional team. I am outside of Philadelphia, on the traditional lands of the Manabe my pronouns are she her.
19:22:12 And I'm just going to chat for a few minutes about one of those things that happens in congregations conflict.
19:22:24 We are in just in the midst of of such a challenging and transformational time, none of us have ever experienced this before.
19:22:33 And yet we know that nothing will go back to the way it was.
19:22:40 Everything has changed. Period. everything has changed.
19:22:45 Worship has changed the way we do doing music has changed when and how we gather has changed and will continue to evolve, how families engage has changed everything.
19:22:58 conflict and change are inextricably linked.
19:23:02 And there will be conflict around some of the conversations that are going to happen between leaders and families and congregants over the coming months, how we respond to the conflict is really what matters.
19:23:20 Now in some congregations, there are long established patterns of dealing with conflict. Some may be conflict reversed. We don't talk about that, everything will fix itself.
19:23:33 Some congregations love a crisis. This is when they're at their best, and all of that will impact how we move forward as we consider the reopening and re engaging strategies.
19:23:49 So as we think about our return and wrestle with the big questions.
19:23:55 There's going to be anxiety conflict, change it all makes us Get, get that little that little tremble that little shutter. It gets our brains sort of engaged in a fight or flight.
19:24:10 And that can that can lead to that can lead to conflict, that in itself can lead to conflict as individuals, maybe we know what our conflict style is, you know, maybe we bring our own you know sort of history and way of managing conflict, but we're going
19:24:29 to be in a system, and in a system. Everything that happens affects everything else.
19:24:37 So, we've been thinking, talking a little bit about where do we think we might see conflict emerge and this might be a good thing for you to kind of think about where my conflict emerge.
19:24:50 Because then you can do some, you can do some thinking about it ahead of time you can you can meditate.
19:24:56 There might be conflict between the board and the staff about some of the reopening strategies, there could be conflicts within the staff, there's a potential for conflict across generations.
19:25:09 There are different needs different needs for socialization, different needs for access different needs for connection, there's a potential for conflict, even among your families, your parents.
19:25:21 There are different needs there there are different, different things happening in the household different successes and and less than successes around how we're engaging now like in zoom world.
19:25:36 Some families are really struggling and some families are having a more successful law school year.
19:25:41 There is going to be some tension around how we prioritize accessibility, one of the, one of the gifts of our zoom days has been that we have created some, some windows of accessibility for some folks who weren't able to be physically with us.
19:26:00 In years past in times past, and now we've opened this window so there's going to be some tension about what this going back mean for people who have just just gained access to our community, there's potential for conflict when maybe the neighboring congregation
19:26:17 has a different schedule, and they're going to reopen sooner or later.
19:26:21 We're kind of all influenced by that.
19:26:25 And there can be potential of particularly with families as schools, begin to make decisions around how they're going to reopen and when they're going to reopen, and it's also complex, and it's all different.
19:26:38 So we're, you know, we're doing a national a national conversation here what's happening in Pennsylvania may be very different from what's happening in Oregon or some other places.
19:26:49 So, remembering that conflict is part of a normal process of resuming our congregational lives.
19:26:57 What can we do to minimize conflict, and make good inclusive decisions, because that's really what our what our hope is, is that we make good decisions that can be as inclusive as possible.
19:27:11 One thing that's often true about conflict in organizations, is that if we remain true to our values, we don't we don't really disagree about the why.
19:27:24 But the, the disagreement comes when we start to dig into strategies like what we plan to do, how we're going to do it when we're going to do it. That's where the tension and the friction really seems to really seems to take hold.
19:27:40 So, you know, one strategy for you as a leader is to try to enter into these conversations with the idea of letting go that, letting go with the idea that there is a right way, because we know that's not true.
19:27:54 There isn't one right way and things are going to emerge and we may go down one path and then we realize whoa whoa, wait a minute, that's not working the way we thought it might so we're going to we're going to shift and we're going to try something else.
19:28:07 so there's going to be adaptation and experimentation.
19:28:15 One of the things that may be helpful is to make sure that you lean into your existing covenants.
19:28:22 If you don't have covenants or some kind of a right relations set of policies or guidelines, you might want to think about that how can we have conversations and really healthy ways we want to, we want to watch out for what Nancy McDonald lead calls fake
19:28:38 fights.
19:28:40 We want to really focus on the authentic concerns and we want to focus on mission, and seek clarity on our common goals.
19:28:52 It's helpful if we think about prioritizing safety equity and compassion.
19:28:58 Over comfort and privilege. And those are those are some of the tensions that are going to that are going to arise.
19:29:05 All of these things are going to be different depending on where you are. Each of us individually, each of us in as a congregation has has our own history, we have a culture and we have a perspective that influences how we make decisions, and the choices
19:29:21 that we ultimately make.
19:29:23 So, you want to think about what does success look like, what would success really be for you. Success is not a metric. So how will we know when we have found the right way to move forward.
19:29:40 Work on healthy communication skills.
19:29:43 We want to do as much direct communication, as we possibly can and always try to communicate clearly.
19:29:51 Even if we can't communicate with certainty. It's always better to say, you know, we just don't know right now, then to get them to make promises that you later find that you can't keep
19:30:08 there's much to think about, it's a complex time. We all need to keep breathing. So trust your heart, lean into conflict and offer grace.
19:30:20 And with that, I invite Evan to join us.
19:30:26 Thank you. I'm Evan Carville Ziemer with central East region.
19:30:30 You can use any pronoun for me, you'll hear people using many.
19:30:34 And I want to talk about the safety right now so here Here is my demonstration of my best ability to communicate clearly, even when there's uncertainty.
19:30:44 So, Patricia was just saying you've received guidance from the UAE and you probably got an email last week saying that we expect you to start multi platform, sometime in the next year, and we are still recommending that is not yet, so I want to explain
19:31:01 to them why and the parts of that that has to do with children and families.
19:31:06 Right now the cases are still high enough that the CDC is recommending that even fully vaccinated people not gather in medium or large groups.
19:31:17 And of course, not everyone is vaccinated case numbers are still as high as the August surge.
19:31:24 Those numbers are now being driven by younger people.
19:31:27 And this is even more complicated with children.
19:31:30 Many of our congregations have asked if schools are open, how come our religious education program isn't open, lots of reasons. We actually don't know if three feet with masks is truly safe, or if it's just a risk worth taking for school, three feet apart
19:31:47 with masks is still a close contact and a quarantine. After a covert exposure.
19:31:53 There are more transmissible virus variants being passed around, and our science for schools is based on the first variant, the wild type.
19:32:01 We're seeing more cases and more serious cases with younger people, including children.
19:32:07 We're seeing covert spread through sports clusters were extracurriculars happen.
19:32:13 And we want schools to stay open we don't want our our reprogram causing a cluster that affects our local schools.
19:32:21 We're hearing that children are lower risk but not no risk.
19:32:24 And so some children are at quite high risk. And so if we were to follow the safe, the science of the what the schools are doing we would be excluding those children.
19:32:34 Why are some children and some families at higher risk.
19:32:38 Some families are comfortable taking risks right now.
19:32:45 They feel their children are at relatively low risk that's true, others can't, others can't take a risk because of serious medical issues. Some parents can't be vaccinated, or know that their body won't mount an adequate response to the virus.
19:32:57 And there are children at risk, we have religious professionals with children who, who are at risk. I know parents whose the pediatrician told them your kid could die.
19:33:06 Those are kids that if they are part of your program, need to be part of your inclusion.
19:33:12 I know that zoom isn't working for them and yet in person may be deadly.
19:33:18 The timeline is uncertain about when children can be vaccinated, we may be able to vaccinate 12 and up this summer, but we don't yet know when younger children will be vaccinated.
19:33:28 So we have this complicated inclusion matrix of zoom isn't working well for our younger people and our younger people are not vaccinated.
19:33:38 Talk to your families find out there needs. I'm not recommending a survey about what they want the surveys necessarily the way to go about this but you would probably do need to actually talk to the families who are most at risk.
19:33:50 If you, if you find a way of figuring out who they are, which could be an email, so that you can figure out how to include these children as you move forward.
19:34:01 I want to remind you that Outdoors is far, far safer than indoors. It's also going to be easier to, to make your sanctuary safer with social distancing and ventilation than your classrooms and so the outdoors maybe what's really needed for any gathering
19:34:17 with children.
19:34:19 This isn't going to be one reopening event we are with you we are not thinking that you're all going to start with a Sunday morning and our reprogram that may be really hard as your first thing to do because of all this complicated safety, you might have
19:34:35 lots of small gatherings that some online summer outdoors that meet a variety of neat.
19:34:42 So that's why we have a clear recommendation not to restart normal Sunday morning. Now, we don't have the data to reassure us it's safe nationally, and we don't have the data to say when we don't know if there's going to be another variant, or searches
19:34:56 in the months ahead, you're going to need to keep track of your local metrics, your local public health department, and our website, which will include in the follow up email has some sample policies that congregations have come up with to assess what
19:35:12 the where you are. Is it safe enough for what you're planning on doing. And of course we're always here to talk things through with you, even if you find yourself.
19:35:20 Maybe ahead of our guidance please still reach out to your congregational life stuff, because we can be part of part of supporting you.
19:35:31 When your turn.
19:35:33 Thanks, everyone.
19:35:34 My name is Ren, I serve the New England region, I'm here in western Massachusetts as she her pronouns. I know we're putting a lot of words out into the cyber sphere here.
19:35:46 And I do want to mention that we are recording this so you will be getting a follow up email you'll be able to come back to it and as Evan said come back to any of us anytime after, after you share this information with other folks in your congregation.
19:35:59 So I'm going to share a few a few ideas about content, when we do get back to the in person part of hybrid planning. But first I want to say a couple of things about trauma for us to keep in mind, as we're beginning to plan this as you're beginning to
19:36:16 plan this for your communities.
19:36:19 So living through this pandemic year has been a shared a traumatic event for all of us, traumatic events are things that disrupt our lives that pose a threat to ourselves or to others.
19:36:32 And that leaves us feeling fearful or helpless.
19:36:36 So that seems to fit living with coven 19 right it Our lives have been significantly disrupted. We learned to wear masks because there's a deadly virus out there, and yeah, we've all felt helpless, and fearful at some point in the past.
19:36:52 12 1314 months now.
19:36:57 And while we have all been in this same storm together in this country, we are not all in the same boat. So it's important to remember that some of our family and friends and colleagues and members are used to living with trauma, more than some of the
19:37:15 others of us, folks who have lived their lives with with racialized trauma, with gender based trauma.
19:37:33 Our queer and trans and other folks with marginalized identities are feeling multiple levels of trauma. And so, as we return.
19:37:38 It will be helpful for us to understand just a little bit about how trauma works. Many of you have probably already had some, some good education on this but just for the purposes of our conversation tonight I'll name a couple of trauma responses that
19:37:51 are fairly typical, just so we can notice them as we're planning for returning in our hybrid platforms, it when the time is right.
19:38:01 So trauma is something we experience in our bodies. But we process it with our brains.
19:38:08 So this might be sometimes why you could hear someone say, oh, why do I feel so tired. And then the next minute think What day is it today. Anyway, like, and by somebody.
19:38:22 I mean me, because that has been me more times than I care to admit during this pandemic. I am exhausted. And I can't keep track of it, whether it's blurs day or, or Wednesday and maybe it's happened to you too but these, these experiences the fatigue,
19:38:37 the fuzzy brain the slippery nature of time, all of that is fairly typical response to low level trauma.
19:38:45 So what that means is, it takes us more energy and time to do things that are normal, regular things that we do in our daily lives.
19:38:55 We may have to read the same email, three or four times before it finally sinks in what the information is that it's trying to convey I might need to hear the same set of instructions multiple times before, I understand what my next step is so this is
19:39:09 all going to be true for our people too. So for our volunteers our board members are religious professionals nobody's exempt so bear that in mind and as, as, Patricia said bring some grace to the conversations as you're planning for for the hybrid reopening
19:39:25 time when that time is right now our kids are also living in this through this traumatic event, and we have kind of a mythology of the resilient child in our, in our cultural context here so.
19:39:43 Yes, it is true.
19:39:44 Children can be resilient and teenagers can be resilient, but that does not mean that they are resistant to the effects of living through trauma, as well.
19:39:53 So keep that in mind, they don't have a lot of control in how the decisions are made about. they're returning to public schools.
19:40:03 However, we can give them some voice in how they returned to our congregations.
19:40:09 When the only message that our families and kids here is that kids are resilient Don't worry about the kids kids are resilient, it almost can feel like gaslighting for them when they are actually having a hard time.
19:40:22 So remember, these, these kind of trauma informed thoughts as you think about going back in person. eventually, we have a colleague who serves in central East with with Evan and Patricia name reference sunshine Wolf and they have a terrific analogy for
19:40:42 this. So imagine you're sound asleep.
19:40:46 And it's a super super sunny day and you start to wake up, imagine somebody comes into your bedroom and flips this, the window open. It's so bright, it's like, it's too much it's almost painful it's too much, all at once so sometimes says imagine just
19:41:02 taking that screen. And, and just lifted a little bit, just lifted a little, little, little bit of light in. Let your eyes get used to it. And then, you know, when you're ready, open it a little bit more.
19:41:15 This is what our process of returning to interface community is going to be like we're going to start with just a little bit. We're going to adjust to it.
19:41:23 And we're going to add a little bit more, and we're going to prioritize safety for everybody.
19:41:30 All right, and it goes back to what, and he said that holy slowly we're going to take it slowly we're not going to flip the shades up on everybody all at once.
19:41:37 Alright so hybrid dual platform future for religious education and faith formation.
19:41:44 That means we'll be still online, and returning to our building some person at some point.
19:41:49 So we're going to try and meet our folks, where they are in all of those places, we're going to bring an attitude of experiment learning where and Jenna Bush i think is on this call and I think Dan it is yeah I think you and CBl are the ones who, who
19:42:03 introduced me the concept of experiment learning it means we're going to try new things. We're going to be willing to learn from them and not get the results we thought we might get but explore with curiosity what happens and work from there and take
19:42:15 the faithful next step after that we've had some practice with this right, we, when we turn to online church last year. If pivoted like that now we have some time where we can plan for it.
19:42:29 So one of the things I want to say to you about when we get back in person is not to worry about the curriculum.
19:42:37 Don't worry about finding your teachers and staffing your classrooms and dusting off the tapestry of faith books right away.
19:42:44 They will be time for curriculum. What we need to focus on when we are back in person is going to be community, again, all of us are going to have to learn relearn what it means to be in community, and especially our youngest kids who might not have,
19:42:59 especially strong memories of the habit of church, and our community there it's going to take them time to build that habit back up again.
19:43:08 So center community and center connection, find ways to tell your families and youth and kids that you still belong to us.
19:43:17 Maybe when you do get back to impersonal person worship at one point, just set aside time for all the adults in the congregation to say, look how much you've grown, all at the same time, which will save your kids from having to hear it from 25 different
19:43:34 people at another point in the morning but it also sends the message that we see you.
19:43:39 We remember you.
19:43:41 We claim you.
19:43:43 We belong to each other.
19:43:47 When we do start talking with kids about curriculum related stuff. It will be good to start with the basics for all of us, of all ages. You know when we were kids in school, you usually had to repeat fractions fractions when you got into fifth grade in
19:44:04 September, because who could remember what we did in fourth grade in June, right, so we've had a year away so let's get back to the basics, focused on the seven principles, focus on the meaning of the chalice focus on practicing covenant, because in addition
19:44:19 to curriculum. You are also doing faith formation, when you engage community development, when you engage covenant practice. And when you engage answering the call that our faith gives us to practice justice.
19:44:34 So when you do any of those things together, you are doing faith formation.
19:44:39 People might have expectations that we're not doing religious education if we're not in Sunday school. I want you to have that information so you can say to them.
19:44:46 Yes we are. We are building community together for the sustainable future time.
19:44:56 As many of my colleagues have already mentioned, we don't really know what its gonna look like we knew that it was changing before the pandemic hit.
19:45:02 Everything is up in the air. We're going to co create what the future of faith formation looks like together.
19:45:08 One thing you can do in the interim time is to focus on your congregations gifts.
19:45:15 When people are already tired and stressed out, it's going to be really hard to find volunteers for a traditional Sunday school classroom or to staff committees.
19:45:26 I don't think that has fed, a lot of people spiritually over time.
19:45:33 So think about the gifts your congregation has to offer. What is it that you do particularly well, and think that the gifts that your members have to offer, invite people to share those gifts with people of all ages.
19:45:47 That's something that will give joy to the person who is delivering their gift. It will give joy to the community to receive that gift and it will not tire or stress anybody out, start conversations with your stakeholders now about what a vision of the
19:46:05 future, faith formation ministry might look like. We don't have to go back to Sunday school, but if it's working in your congregation you might, so you'll have to start planning how to do that how to do that in a slow holy slowly way to keep everybody
19:46:19 safe.
19:46:21 But if it doesn't serve your folks anymore.
19:46:36 Think about what it might look like. We know from the past that most kids don't go to church every Sunday anymore, so it most they get 20 hours of religious education, a year, which is not a lot.
19:46:36 And there are other ways that we can deliver both curriculum community identity covenant and answering the call to justice in in new ways. So, start those conversations and start them, let them be big and dream like conversations and then work back to
19:46:53 what your next right step is going to be, try to focus on the next one or two steps and not too far into the future because we're going to be co creating the future all together by staying connected to each other, listening and learning from each other
19:47:07 as well.
19:47:09 So be trauma conscious in identifying and planning for the next faithful step, inviting me to imagination for the long term future. And for now, center your community and connection and care and moving at the pace of holy slowly.
19:47:25 Patricia is going to explain next what the breakout conversations are going to be like for us.
19:47:30 Thank you. Thank you ran and thank you to all of our regional staff who've shared some really, really compelling stories and strategies for whatever's next.
19:47:45 So now the fun, we're going to have some fun with one another, we, we believe that you know some of the greatest teachers for our congregational leaders, our fellow leaders.
19:47:58 And so we're going to take the next hour to let you gather in small groups, it's a two step process. So we're going to start out in a small group of about five to seven people, all of the people in that room will be in a similar size congregation sometimes
19:48:18 we have to bump you up or bump it down, because we want to also mix the group's up we don't want you to be a few six people have registered from your congregation we're not going to put you all in the same room right because we want you to kind of expand,
19:48:33 expand your, your thinking around what's possible. So we're going to start with about 25 minutes
19:48:44 break out.
19:48:46 The first thing you need to do when you get into the breakout is figure out who's going to be your facilitator facilitator is not a tough role it really just means that you're going to kind of make sure that everybody has an opportunity to speak.
19:49:02 And this is based on a circle process. And so we we want you to make sure that everybody speaks with without others in dialogue that this is just an active listening exercise.
19:49:17 So first we're going to invite you to be in this small group. We also want someone to scribe in that group, and there is going to be a link to a long list of log books.
19:49:30 And I think I'm going to just share my screen for a moment here and see if we can get you a sense of what.
19:49:42 No, that's not what you want to see that's the wrong one. Let's try a different screen.
19:49:49 Here we go, think this is the right one.
19:49:53 No, it is not showing DLC purple group.
19:49:59 You do some people purple group, good, because that's not what I see. Yeah.
19:50:03 Alright, so two facilitators.
19:50:06 There's a log book down here at the bottom. So, you're going to have this first round with a question who is most on your heart. As you think about a return to in person programming.
19:50:22 Now this is an actual log book from our, our last night's offering. And you can see that somebody described and kind of captured what Judas had to say and then what Laura had to say.
19:50:33 And so you're going to capture what everyone in the group has to say. In one round that should take you about 10 minutes. There's going to be a second round.
19:50:43 What does your congregation need to consider in planning ways to meet the needs of those on your heart. So you'll do a second round, and that will take you maybe 10 or 15 because you're going to get a little bit more.
19:50:55 Get a little bit more logistical and technical here.
19:51:00 Then we're going to ask you to take a five minute break. And we're going to combine groups.
19:51:10 I don't know why I can't compete with that, we're going to be combining the two groups, and you're going to have another conversation where you kind of share some highlights.
19:51:21 And then you will have another opportunity to share.
19:51:26 Okay, so you have to keep scrolling down in that log book. Only one person needs to have the log book open but others can open it if they want to see the sausage making and see the see things as they're typed in.
19:51:38 We're going to be giving you lots of detailed instructions, when you're in the breakout rooms. So we'll tell you how much time is remaining we'll make sure you know the questions and make sure you know each step as it goes.
19:51:53 Perfection is not the goal. Try to try to think of this as a fun, a fun way of engaging and and try to do your best with it. We will come in and out of rooms if you need help I think Amy's going to tell you how you might get some help.
19:52:09 Once you're in the breakout rooms. Amy is our delightful administrative person from Central east.
19:52:16 Thanks, Pat, I am delightful. Thank you like to me.
19:52:21 Um, yes. So once you when I open the breakout rooms it'll say you're being invited to golden rod to or red one. That is your group, and that is the link you'll need to find on this the facilitator when you define.
19:52:36 If you have any problems, they'll say ask for help, they'll be a button in your bottom right hand corner and do that and one of us will come and help you.
19:52:44 And if we are ready to go. I can open the rooms.
19:52:50 Okay. Going to repost the positive a minute before opening the group so this is some of the log books are filled So should we go clean know that that up right the second while you open the open things on the wall books are filled.
19:53:06 Yeah.
19:53:07 Well the pointer, the pointer.
19:53:15 This is a six barrel learning just for the, you know, yay.
19:53:23 All right.
19:53:24 Do we need to repost the log book link.
19:53:35 Alright, I think we figured it out and if you get into your log book and it looks like it has everybody's from last night just flag us and we'll help you fix it will help you.
19:53:42 Yeah.
19:53:43 All right.
19:53:45 Hey, a lot of people are using this process there may be somebody in your room who knows who has done this before so look for the helpers.
19:53:55 And here we go.
19:54:38 Can we hope those of you who are still here Is there a problem.
19:54:41 Wellspring staff, so I can address you by your name.
19:54:50 Yeah, I'm sorry I don't know where I'm supposed to go I mean I can pull up the link but I thought you're going to tell us what.
19:54:59 Yeah, You were in a group.
19:55:01 I didn't say anything come up. Yeah, let's get let's get you and your group.
19:55:05 Sometimes things fall apart, and people fall out of groups.
19:55:11 The people do you have in your car. All right.
19:55:14 Orange
19:55:18 County. Caitlin yeah well Springer, there are some of the time I'm in a foreign five.
19:55:22 You're good. Caitlin Are you having trouble getting into your group.
19:55:26 You should be in red too It looks like.
19:55:30 Great.
19:55:34 That's some good people and read to, if you make it there.
19:55:54 Caitlin might be dealing with the child or something. Yeah, yeah.
19:55:59 I think we should send one of us, or read one of them to read.
19:56:05 to. If we just popped one of them in with Annie or Nancy around they, the role that rent said she would I'm going to put her in red, to, are you going to do it.
19:56:14 I mean in move on, move on the first show figure it out.
19:56:25 You did. I'm going to market at 755, and we're going to do 25 minutes for this, I guess, and
19:56:35 five minute break and then 25 minutes for the second yeah really talked a lot today.
19:56:42 Yes, a lot longer.
19:56:45 Yeah, but by the time we were at.
19:56:49 It was, it was 45 minutes. Yes, it was. By the time and he stopped talking we were already almost five minutes ahead of time because I had, I had time things.
19:57:01 But I don't see any writing on these except for new right.
19:57:05 Good, then any notes that read Would you join read to is that okay I do just, I was just there they were wondering if they're supposed to be just too.
19:57:24 They aren't that's why I was hoping you would help, just be another.
19:57:17 Yeah.
19:57:19 You're supposed to be three Caitlin should join them but who knows what's going on. Oh ok. Ok, so maybe Caitlin joined partway Caitlin still in the main room.
19:57:27 Yeah.
19:57:29 Um, so, there were four and each Red Room. Yes, that size seems to have had a larger portion of the not showing you that would have been nice to see Jennifer helper and tonight.
19:57:43 Yeah, yeah.
19:57:46 rents back.
19:57:49 Can somebody get a blue to blue to
19:57:55 see blue to join blue to.
19:58:00 Okay, thank you.
19:58:04 What's up, Brian.
19:58:08 Everyone's gone. Okay.
19:58:18 Go ahead and fill out maybe.
19:58:18 Hi Annie.