We are a caring, inclusive Fellowship dedicated to spiritual growth, justice

and serving the needs of our larger community.

As a Welcoming Congregation, we invite everyone to share in our faith community. We cherish diversity and foster a safe environment for all.

July 1 Report from General Assembly

with Joan Ward, Phyl Daleske, and Pauline Benetti What is GA? Annually, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) gathers its members together to conduct the business and embody the values of the organization. This year that gathering will be in Kansas City, MO from June 21-24 and the Pagosa Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (PUUF) will be represented by three of our members: Joan Ward, Phyl Daleske and Pauline Benetti. As delegates they will vote in the election for Board of Trustees of the UUA, the Nominating Committee and for a co-moderator. Then during the 4 days of the assembly, along with the other 3500 attendees, PUUF delegates will consider some very weighty matters. Consider just two: The first, a Congregational Study/Action Issue (CSAI) will be crafted for four years of study, reflection and action by the individual congregations/fellowships. This year it will have something to do with understanding and dismantling the underlying mechanisms that support white privilege. The second, Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW), involve advocates who arrive impassioned about a wide range of social justice issues, engage one another in conversations, craft proposed statements, sign petitions, debate the issues, vote and bring to life the values of UUism all within the span of one General Assembly. An AIW expresses the conscience and carries the authority of the delegates at the GA at which it is passed, whereas the CSAI carries the full authority of the UUA through the 4 years of study.

July 2018 Sunday Programs

July 8 The Baha’I Faith with Ernie and Barbara Bruss

Throughout history, God has sent to humanity a series of divine Educators—known as Manifestations of God—whose teachings have provided the basis for the advancement of civilization. These Manifestations have included Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Bahá’u’lláh, the latest of these Messengers, explained that the religions of the world come from the same divine Source and are in essence successive chapters of one religion from God. Bahá’í’s believe the crucial need facing humanity is to embrace a unifying vision of the future of society and of the nature and purpose of life. Such a vision unfolds in the writings of Baha’u’llah, the Prophet founder of the Baha’i Faith. The central theme of Baha'u'llah's message is that humanity is one single race and that the day has come for its unification in one global society. God, Baha'u'llah said, has set in motion historical forces that are breaking down traditional barriers of race, class, creed, and nation and that will, in time, give birth to a universal civilization. The principal challenge facing the peoples of the earth is to realize their interdependence and to contribute toward the development of a just, peaceful, and prosperous society. The purpose of the Baha'i Faith is to help make this possible. A worldwide community of Baha'is, representative of most of the nations, races and cultures on earth, is working to give Baha'u'llah's teachings practical effect, including:

• recognition that true religion is in harmony with reason and the pursuit of scientific knowledge • the abandonment of all forms of prejudice • the equality of women and men • recognition of the unity and relativity of religious truth • the elimination of extremes of poverty and wealth • the realization of universal education • the responsibility of each person to independently search for truth

“Let your vision be world embracing…” — Bahá’u’lláh

Our PUUF delegates see their function as twofold: 1) participating in all aspects of the GA beginning with business matters through workshops on values/mission/vision discernment to a variety of spiritual practice experiences, including inspirational speakers and music, and 2) bringing some of that home so that our Fellowship has a broader understanding of the parent organization that PUUF belongs to. Today’s service will attempt to accomplish this second function.

Ernest and Barbara Bruss joined the Baha’i Faith in 1969 in Hawaii. They travelled with their four sons around the world for one year promoting the Faith; pioneered in the Portuguese Island of Madeira; served extensively on Baha’i institutions; developed programs illustrating the diversity of the Baha’i world family. Ernest is a native of Arizona and the Southwest, attended the University of New Mexico and the Thunderbird School of Global Management. He has owned and managed companies in business brokerage, landscaping, equipment manufacturing and large agricultural irrigation systems. He is a Certified Business Appraiser (CBA), Certified Business Counselor (CBC), and Certified Business Intermediary (CBI). Barbara, born in Louisiana, attended Stephens College, the University of New Mexico and National University with Bachelor and Masters degrees in Education. She is a Certified Montessori Teacher from London and owned and operated a Montessori School in New Mexico. Ernie and Barbara have been married for 62 years and have four sons, ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren. July 15 Hallucinogenic Healing with Avalon Haykus, MA, CHT Ecstasy, Psilocybin, LSD, Ayahuasca. Millions of people have ingested these mind-altering substances and found them to be a potent force for expanded consciousness. However, since they first became well known in the United States in the 1960’s, they have also been the subject of substantive research into the healing of emotional trauma and psychological dis-ease. Early pioneers in the field of psychedelic therapy, such as Richard Alpert Ph.D. (aka Ram Dass) and Timothy Leary Ph.D., working at Harvard University, and modern researchers, like Rick Doblin Ph.D., give hope to those suffering from PTSD, depression and addictions through the use of these powerful agents for change. Unitarian Universalism affirms and promotes respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person and a free and responsible search for truth and meaning. Join us this Sunday as we explore the scientific research into hallucinogenic healing and share personal stories of the spiritual transformation afforded by such substances. Villainized by the federal government’s “War on Drugs” such substances may, in the future, be an important (and legal) tool for promoting health and wellness.

Also on this date: The 4 Corners UU Retreat at Pine Song in Vallecito. For details, go to: http://durangouu.org/events/5987/

Avalon Haykus MA, CHT received her Masters Degree in Psychology from Antioch University. As a psychotherapist in private practice, she specialized in the use of hypnosis to help clients heal emotional trauma and access higher states of consciousness. She owned, and taught state-approved professional certification trainings in hypnotherapy, through the Alchemy Institute in Denver, Colorado and Turning Point Hypnotherapy Academy in Pagosa Springs, until retiring in 2012. Avalon is a past president of PUUF. She has also served as lay minister, youth religious exploration teacher and worship committee chair. She feels grateful to be a part of the progressive and inclusive religious community that is the Pagosa UU Fellowship.

July 22 & 29

Pastor’s Invitation

From Pastor Dean Cerny dean.cerny@gmail.com

This month I will begin another year of pastoral service to the Fellowship. At the June 17th worship service, we looked back at our past year together as well as glanced forward at the promise that the new year might hold. As part of that review, I defined the four cardinal directions that would shape my ministerial service to this Fellowship. The suggestion was made that I reiterate these points of direction in this month’s newsletter. I am happy to oblige. What follows is an excerpt from that talk. When someone asks me why UU, I love to quote Richard Thurman, who said “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” UU is a place where people can openly seek and pursue what makes them truly become alive. UUism is a place where people who have come alive can belong. UUism is a community where together we can “go do it,” we can make a mark in a world that so desperately needs to be alive with the spirit of passion. You have given me the unique opportunity to come alive by allowing me to be your Pastor. As your minister, my ministry for being alive to you this coming year will be comprised of four cardinal directions of service: My first ministry to you will be to teach. I will teach you how to ask questions rather than find answers. I will teach you to be more curious about anything and hopefully less judgmental about everything. My second ministry will be to heal; to enter into the sometimes-messy chaos of your lives, to be present with you in your worst as well as your best moments, and I will listen with compassion as you struggle to find order, to make sense and meaning of your chaos. My third ministry will be to help you celebrate this unique gift of life and death in all of its fullness. My fourth ministry will be to prophetically preach us into a greater awareness of what makes us alive and what hinders us from coming alive. I will not hesitate to confront racism, classism, sexism or speak to any form of oppression that stifles the human soul, yours or others, from achieving their inherent worth and dignity. When and where necessary, with compassion, I will courageously and boldly redirect your attention to the harm we perpetrate upon ourselves and one another. In performing my ministerial service to you I will at times

The services on July 22 and July 29 will be led by Pastor Dean. Please check the Preview section of the Pagosa Sun or on-line at pagosadailypost.com under the Community tab the week prior to the Sunday service for details.

offend and take offense, as well as cajole, delight, and inspire us into community; a community where often through the pain of discovering our human shortcomings we will also discover the gift of our human spirituality; that which makes us alive. Sandwich Social Last month 20 people enjoyed the picnic in the park! This month we continue our Wednesday Sandwich in the park. You bring your own sandwich, drink, utensils, lawn chairs and anything else you would like to share with others (cookies, fruit, etc.). We’ll provide chips (and we have a sign-up sheet for potato salad or coleslaw). Meet at Town Park on Wed, July 25 at 6:00 p.m. In case of rain, we will convene the picnic at the Fellowship. Bring friends, children, dogs etc. Pastor Availability I invite everyone and anyone for casual conversation and fellowship over lunch at the Pagosa Senior Center (450 Hot Springs Boulevard) on Tuesday, July 24. Let’s plan to meet there around 11:30 a.m. Please call the Senior Center (264-2167) on the day before (leave a message), or by 9 a.m. on Tuesday to let them know who you are and that you will be there for lunch on Tuesday. Lunch is $4 for folks over 55. If you desire to meet with me one on one, please call or text me at 435-819-0206, or e-mail me at dean.cerny@gmail.com in order to set up a time to visit. In an emergency, please, feel free to call me at the same number listed above.

Your New Steering Committee

Announcements

August 26 Please mark your calendars for our annual picnic potluck at the home of Pat and Dick Richardson on Sunday, August 26 at 10:30. Details will follow in next month’s newsletter.

Your Steering Committee for FY18-19: Julie Loar, President Joan Ward, Treasurer Leah Ballard, Secretary Judy James Dave Pettus Karen LeCour (not official yet!) Please feel free to contact any of these individuals with ideas you have for the fellowship!

Fundraising

Announcing the Bob and Karen LeCour $500 Ministerial Fund Challenge

Bob and Karen will match your donations up to $500 to insure that Pastor Dean has a home with PUUF for a long time to come! Please consider giving what you can; even $10 or $20 from enough people can get us to our goal! Let’s do it by August 15. Yes we can!

The annual Rummage Sale netted $760! Thanks everyone for the donations without which this event wouldn’t be possible, and special thanks to those of you who helped orchestrate it. You can still pay on your pledge from FY 2017-2018 even though it’s after June 30. If you’re not sure whether or not you’ve completed your pledge, please contact Joan Ward at joanyward@gmail.com or at 970-382-1925.

Notes From The Treasurer – Joan Ward

Life of the Fellowship

All are invited to participate in the following learning, sharing and caring opportunities

**Unless otherwise noted, all events are held in the Fellowship Hall at Greenbriar Plaza**

Full Moon Program – July 26

Meditation Sangha – July 14, 28

A Course in Miracles – July 11, 18, 25

PUUF offers group meditations on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month. A donation is appreciated, but not mandatory, to support the Fellowship. For more info, contact Merlin Wheeler at 970-903-1931.

There are ~1500 ACIM study groups meeting across 65 countries and we’re one of them! Join us for study and conversation. Reclaim the truth of your eternal self, forever joined in Oneness with all that is. It is only our dreams of separation that obscure this reality from us. Experience the power of forgiveness and love’s ability to dispel fear. A miracle is a shift of perception, from fear to love, and the recognition that there are only two forms of expression: love or calls for love. Contact Bob or Karen LeCour at 264-0111 for more information.

Julie Loar leads this program each month on the evening before the full moon. Typically she speaks for 20-30 minutes on the planetary cycles of the month and the time and the astrological nature of the Full Moon chart. There is music to set a tone and sometimes people share as they are led. For more information, contact Julie Loar at 731-4744.

July2018

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 10:30 am - 12 pm Sunday Service

2 3 4 Independence Day

5 6 7

8 10:30 am - 12 pm Sunday Service

9 10 11 9 am - 10:30 am Course in Miracles

12 13 14 10 am - 12 pm Buddhist Sangha Meditation

15 10:30 am - 12 pm Sunday Service

16 17 18 9 am - 10:30 am Course in Miracles

19 20 21

22 Parents' Day

10:30 am - 12 pm Sunday Service

12:15 pm - 2:15 pm Steering Committee Meeting

23 24 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Senior Center Lunch

2 pm - 4 pm Worship Committee Meeting

25 9 am - 10:30 am Course in Miracles

6 pm - 8 pm Sandwich Social in the Park

26 7 pm - 9 pm Full Moon Meditation

27 28 10 am - 12 pm Buddhist Sangha Meditation

29 10:30 am - 12 pm Sunday Service

30 31 1 9 am - 10:30 am Course in Miracles

2 3 4

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PUUF Leadership Teams:

Worship Committee Merlin Wheeler Pauline Benetti Phyl Daleske Bob LeCour Diane Davis Bonni DeMarco Membership Committee Phyl Daleske Kathy Schultz Children’s Religious Exploration Anna Ramirez

Steering Committee Julie Loar, President Joan Ward, Treasurer Leah Ballard, Secretary Judy James Dave Pettus Music Karen LeCour, Music Director John Ehlert Dave Pettus

Caring Committee Phyl Daleske Joan Ward Sheryl Scheller Newsletter Editor Karen LeCour Web Mistress Barbara Asprey

301N.PagosaBlvd,GreenbriarPlaza,UnitB15 VoiceMail:970-731-7900P.O.Box5984,PagosaSprings,CO81147 www.pagosauu.org

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FOR SALE

WELCOME TO THE MEMBER’S MARKETPLACE! This is a service for all PUUF members and pledging friends. Do you have something to sell, something you want to buy, a service to offer or a service you’re in need of? This online bulletin board will allow your ad to be seen by over 130 people on PUUF’s proprietary mailing list. Ads will run for 60 days and can re-run after a 30-day period. Send your ad content, including photos, to the newsletter editor, Karen LeCour, at k2whatisis@yahoo.com. Ads will be accepted on a space-available basis and editor reserves the right to judge the appropriateness of content.

Two Oriental rugs, one green (shown), one blue, both 8’X11’. They are hand tied, all wool, cleaned and not used for the past several years. Like new. $800 each. Kathy Schultz 970-731-1583

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FOR SALE Two 20” farm jacks, $40 each or both for $70. Tarp 30’ x 60’, new, $130. Call Deni at 970-903-0958 or Merlin at 970-903-1931. Deni has graciously offered to donate a percentage of the sales to the Pagosa Outreach Connection! FOR SALE Hi Lift Heavy Duty Jack, Model HL484, Black Cast and Steel Jack, 48”, 7000 lb rating, rarely used, kept in 4X4 for emergencies. $80 retail. Will sell for $55. Next best thing to a mounted winch. Call Bob LeCour at 264-0111. SERVICES

Heart 2 Heart Mobile Massage – Deni Blaisch Looking for an elegant approach to massage? Enjoy a massage in Esmeralda, a lovingly handcrafted 1964 Airstream. There are 2 choices available, you come to us or we come to you. We are currently parking next to Choke Cherry and Bank of Colorado, 56 Talisman Drive (North side). An hour massage is $65! Check out my web page for more information at 2Umobilemassage.com.