There seems to be a running theme this month at the Pagosa Unitarian Universalist (UU) Fellowship — social change and action.
We offer Sunday worship services the first and third Sundays beginning at 10:30 a.m. As UUs, we hold love at the center, along with justice, equity, transformation, pluralism, interdependence and generosity as our shared values, in a covenantal faith tradition. Our monthly schedule is included here, and we welcome all to this community of open minds, loving hearts and helping hands.
Join us this week, March 1, as our presenter, Dr. David Smith, shares his experience and reflections titled “So Children May Thrive.”
Research shows that children are more likely to succeed in life when they have well-developed social, emotional and academic skills. Research also shows that these essential skills are learned most effectively by children in the first five years of life. Although some parents have the skills and time required to prepare their children for success in K-12 and beyond, most parents must rely on high-quality early childhood care and education programs available at licensed child care centers.
Smith will review some of this research and discuss challenges faced by our local child care centers.
Smith retired from the University of Nebraska in 2002 and moved to Pagosa with his wife, Jean. Both are emeritus professors of chemistry.
In 2015, he helped to prepare a report for Seeds of Learning on the value and cost of preschool. This led to his appointment to the Early Care and Education Workgroup established by the town and county to determine the need for early childhood care and education in Archuleta County. He is a member of the group that founded Wings Early Childhood Center and currently serves on its board of directors.
On March 8, the Going Deeper Sharing Circle will meet from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
This is a small-group setting where we practice deep listening and sharing from our hearts.
The final session for the series on hope from the “On Being” podcast will feature poet Ross Gay.
“As a community gardener, and teacher he brings us another way of wisdom, to the conviction that we have to know what we love and what delights us,” the “On Being” website and host Krista Tippet state. From this place, we gather in reflection and sharing from our own experience as we practice the art of listening with and to others. We explore a muscular hope, “which is something we can practice moment to moment, Gay teaches, through every ordinary day.”
On March 15, the Sunday service at 10:30 a.m. will be “Rooted in Solidarity.”
During this service, offered from the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA.org) and the Side With Love Minnesota Resource Kit, we will hear stories from our Unitarian, Universalist and UU histories: stories about how ordinary people showed up, in very different ways and in particular contexts, to side with love and show up for justice. Through readings, shared reflection and music, we will be moved to act in solidarity with others.
March 22 will be Action Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Join us the fourth Sunday to continue the UUA Common Read Book, “Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection” by Deepa Iyer.
We will finish this book the fourth Sunday in March, focusing on the section “For Now, and For the Long Haul.” Join us any time, as this reflection and discussion group will provide enough content to be meaningful even if you were unable to read the book.
March 29 will be a rest Sunday. We take fifth Sundays to practice rest as an act of joy and resistance to a cultural norm that continually tells us not to.
The fellowship is located at 301 N. Pagosa Blvd. Unit B-15 in Greenbriar Plaza, on the north side facing Pagosa Peak. Find us online at PagosaUU.org for current newsletter and programs.
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