Dear Friends,

I spoke in my weekly video about a meeting I’ve been attending with local clergy and faith leaders and shared a question that we contemplated today.

Here’s the question:

Some have made reference to the city of Venice, Italy where the canals appear clean and free of pollution because the lack of travel on the waterways has allowed the silt to settle to the bottom. The water is clear and some claim they have actually seen fish for the first time in many years. So here’s the question, “What moments of clarity have you discovered over the past few weeks as you allow the murky, cloudy silt of every-day life to drain away? What do you now see more clearly? What daily complications have been removed that allow you to think and respond to others with greater insight?”

I would love to hear your responses! Reach me by email at cyncain@gnuuc.org or text me at 859 221 3034.

A group of us have been reading and discussing short stories. It started with the women’s covenant group, and let me tell you, there are some wise and thoughtful women in that group! I am learning as much as I’m teaching (but that’s nearly always the way).

Would you like to join in? We meet for about 45 minutes on Friday at noon CT. If you send me a text or an email, I will send you this week’s story, which is called Short Friday, and was written by Isaac Bashevis Singer. We welcome all GNUUC members who’d like to join!

This Sunday, I will begin by sharing some philosophical ideas about education. Even though I have aversion to much of what’s called “public education,” all four of my kids went to public school and I myself taught in a public high school for 5 years, and in a community college for about 3 years. In Kentucky I served on a “No Child Left Behind” initiative for years, and worked closely with statewide educators and superintendents… Please don’t think this is a reflection upon teachers! It is indeed the brilliant and devoted teachers who made public education worthwhile for my kids, two of whom were aces at that type of learning, and the oldest and youngest who are atypical. (Casey was never diagnosed, but he hated to read and couldn’t spell, and had anxiety about tests, so I suspect some learning disability was there.) It’s really the philosophy that undergirds the American education system that I find harmful. I believe kids can benefit from public school so long as they are also homeschooled and unschooled. I’ll say more about that on Sunday, as well as a bit about education in the time of pandemic.

Then I will move to how this philosophy can apply to our situation today. What can be learned and how best can we learn?

One thing I deeply believe in is that being part of a congregation, especially a UU congregation, is vital for kids. The ability to interact across generations, and the way our RE programs encourage questioning and individuality have made all the difference in so many lives. I’ll say more about that, too.

I also want to tell you how much your leaders at GNUUC are doing! From getting the Sunday service online to taking care of the financial business to helping one another to stay in contact and have needs met, these folks are keeping the spirit and the presence of your congregation alive and well. You know who they are! Thank them and reward them by attending the service so they can see your face and hear your concerns. You can also make their hard work a bit lighter by contacting Jesse Spencer-Smith to renew and maybe even increase your annual pledge. We are entering the annual pledge campaign and it will be a bit more challenging than usual!

One thing I see clearly in these translucent waters i how incredibly fortunate I am to be serving this congregation.

Thank You & Love,

Cynthia

April 15, 2020