Hi all,
April was a rainy but productive month! Here’s the info I jotted down during each of our CK sessions.
Astoria: we talked about the upcoming presentation by Dr. Terri Daniel, which is scheduled for May. It will include a service and workshop, with catered lunch (yay!). The topic will be trauma and recovering from its effects. Our annual pledge dinner will be May 21st in the fellowship hall and plans are underway. We talked a bit about the candidates up for elected office, including Pam Wev, for county councilor, and the many candidates for OR governor. We also spent some time talking about the racism seen in jobs like logging, farm labor, fishing, and canneries. Next meeting at Street 14: May 7, 10 a.m.
Peninsula: What a laundry list of topics: insurance, dental care, local politics, the war against Ukraine, eagles/whales/corpses (don’t ask), dogs (Madelyn may need help!), helping hands projects, gardening with raised beds, pets in general, the election, Putin, and on and on! Our next meeting will be at Colleen’s in Ocean Park, 10 a.m. May 14!
Tillamook County: this group likes to talk about “the olden days” of UUism in Oregon as several members have very fond memories of those times, when their family members were involved in setting up new congregations in and around Portland. We also talked theology: belief or not in God; evolution, early Christianity and how far it has gone downhill from Jesus’ teachings. And, of course, politics, Ukraine, Putin, etc. Next meeting: May 21, 10 a.m. in that popular Manzanita hangout—June’s Garage.
South County: We have a new member, Robert A., who joined us from Corvallis, so we went around the room introducing ourselves and talking about local issues like homelessness in Seaside and others. One thing we talked about in depth was my intent to use the CKs as sounding boards (starting in the fall) for dealing with the trauma inflicted on the nation, globe, and individuals during the past 6 years by the events of Trump’s election and the damage done by his administration, the effects of the pandemic, economic struggles, the war against Ukraine, climate change, and the dangers to democracy by the far right governors and others in the US. We talked about the problems associated with the failed search for a new minister a couple of years ago and how it affected the congregation. The group is eager to undertake some of the local social justice issues and are already working as individuals in several areas. Next meeting: May 28, 10 a.m., probably at Nancy Holmes’ house.
I’m looking forward to starting the sounding board project in the fall, starting with our Water Ceremony on 9/11, a homily about the trauma related to the events of the past several years, how it has affected us as individuals and as a congregation, what we have learned from the losses and the gifts of that learning, as well as the pain. It will be a new creative endeavor for me and I’m excited about it!
Love you all,
Kit