|
|
Newsletter: August 9, 2022
Content |
|
|---|
|
|
Eastern Massachusetts is the epicenter of American Unitarianism, emerging there some two centuries after its nontrinitarian doctrine first sprouted in Poland in the mid-1500s and then migrated to Transylvania in the 1600s and England in the early 1700s. In this UUFSMA Sunday Service, the Reverend Tom Rosiello, Fellowship Minister, will outline the development in the United States of this liberalizing Christianity which became rooted in the new republic right after the American Revolution. From the pulpit of King’s Chapel, Boston, in 1784, it then radiated throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic region, spreading rejection of the harsh doctrines of Calvinist Puritanism and inspiring congregations to build a faith based in enlightened reason.
“The new religion continued to spread and expand with new thoughts,” Reverend Rosiello says. “In the early to mid-1800s a seismic shift within this new faith tradition occurred. Its new thinkers moved beyond Christianity to incorporate ideas from eastern thought and the German and English Enlightenment.”
...
|
|
|---|
|
| | |
August Board of Directors Meeting
|
|
|---|
|
The August meeting of the UUFSMA board of directors will be held at 1pm. Thursday August 11 on Zoom.
Fellowship members wishing to attend may contact Margo Johnson (margoj325@outlook.com) to receive the link and agenda. |
|
Spiritual Wellbeing of Elders
|
|
|---|
|
Attached is a summation given by Jurgen Ahlers at the commencement of the 1976 White House Conference on Aging. He referenced this in his remarks at the Sunday service this week.
|
|
|---|
|
Definition/Elaboration
Spiritual Wellbeing of Elders
1976 White House Conference on Aging
Spiritual wellbeing is the affirmation of life
in a relationship with God, self, community and environment,
that nurtures and celebrates wholeness.
Spiritual Wellbeing Is the
Affirmation of Life:
“The Spiritual” is not
one dimension among many in life; rather it permeates and gives
meaning to
all of life. The term Spiritual Wellness therefore indicates wholeness,
holiness in contrast to fragmentation and isolation. "Spiritual" connotes our dependent relationship to and with the source of life: commonly known as God, Allah, the Tao, the universal creative, sustaining life force behind the entire life cycle. This affirmation includes one’s love of beauty, music, nature, and not least, humor.
What, then
is Spiritual Wellbeing? We cannot regard wellbeing and wellness solely with physical or psychological good health. Rather, it is the distinct
affirmation of life! It is saying "Yes!" to life, even in the context of limiting circumstances. This is not blind optimism, which denies some of life's realities. Rather, it is the acknowledgement of life’s destiny, i.e., purpose. In the light of that destiny it is the
love of one's own life and its interconnectedness with others, together with concern and care/action for one's community, society, and the whole of creation, which defines the dynamic of Spiritual Wellness. A person's affirmation of life is often rooted in, but not limited to, membership and participation in a community of faith. In such a community one grows to accept the past, be aware of and
alive in the present moment, and live in hope of life’s fulfillment.
in a
relationship with God, Self, Community, and Environment
Affirmation of life occurs within the context of one's
relationship with God, one’s self, community, and environment. God is seen as "Supreme Being," "Creator of life,” the Source and Power that
wills wellness and wellbeing. All people are called upon to respond to God in trust, love and obeisance. Realizing we are God's children, we
grow toward wholeness as individuals, and are led to affirm our kinship with others in the community of faith as well as the entire human family. Under God and as members of the community of faith, we are responsibl
e for stewarding the resources of the environment to the wellness of all life systems.
that nurtures and celebrates
Wholeness
Human wholeness may never be fully attained. Throughout life it is
a
promise, a possibility in progress of becoming. As in all of the major religious traditions, e.g., in the Judeo-Christian-Muslim traditions, life derives its
significance through it’s defining
relationship with God or higher being. This relationship awakens and nourishes the progress of growth toward wholeness, crowns moments of life with meaning, and extols the spiritual fulfillment and unity of all persons everywhere, for all time.
|
|
UUFSMA COVID TaskForce Report to the Board
- July 22, 2022
|
|
|---|
|
Thoughts from the Task Force:
Our new normal is living with Covid, which will continue to vary in intensity. As
Covid changes, our scientific understanding must also change, and that takes time
and study. We will not always be able to give precise guidance about what is
risky, what is not.
We each have different risk tolerances, for a variety of medical and other
reasons. Each of us must make our own choices about exposures. We want our
UUFSMA activities to be available and reasonably safe for those who choose to
come to them in person.
We want to protect ourselves and each other, and respect each other’s choices
about risk management. We’d like to become more comfortable asking others to
use masks or maintain distance when we feel our safety/comfort level requires it.
Recommendations for Gathering:
The Covid Task Force will put its current Covid Reference Guide in the Newsletter
every week, and send it out by email also. We want it to be easy to locate and up-
to-date when people suddenly discover they need information. Contents include
when to test, what to do if exposed or testing positive, how to manage travel, and
how to obtain tests.
We have an expectation of vaccinations & boosters for participants in all UUFSMA gatherings, but will no longer attempt to monitor it. We believe that we can trust each other in this regard.
UUFSMA still has a guideline that prohibits fellowship-sponsored indoor gatherings of more than 5 people. Masks should be worn at all indoor gatherings
Aldea Service – the SSC will try offering red ribbons to those wishing to indicate “I
request distance, no contact”.
Circle Cena – an outdoor gathering, but clearly people will be in the house at least
briefly to enter, use the bathroom, etc. Each host may decide how to manage this
traffic, or may choose to postpone or cancel.
|
|
|---|
|
UUFSMA COVID Reference Guide
Last updated 7/30/2022
|
|
|---|
|
These current CDC guidelines were written before the arrival of the newest BA.5
variant, which is Highly Transmissible. Please consider being even more cautious, by wearing your mask in indoor situations and by testing more often than these guidelines suggest. You will see comments from the Task Force, in red below, suggesting the more careful steps.
COVID SYMPTOMS – mild to severe occurrence of any of these. May appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.
· Fever or chills
· Cough
· Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
· Fatigue
· Muscle or body aches
· Headache
· Sore throat
· Congestion or runny nose
· Nausea or vomiting
· Diarrhea
· New loss of taste or smell
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHEN SHOULD I TEST?
- If you have Symptoms of COVID, test immediately.
- If you have a Close Exposure (shared air) with a person who has Covid, watch for symptoms for the next 10 days. Consider your encounters with that person while they had symptoms, and for the 2 days before they had symptoms (or before they tested positive), since they were already contagious then.
After a close exposure, do I need to quarantine?
-If you are fully vaccinated and boosted, you do not need to quarantine after a close exposure.
You do need to wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 more days after the date of your last contact with the infected person (Day 0).
If you have no symptoms, test on Day 5 after your exposure. With the new variant it might be useful to test on Day 3, and again on Day 5, if you have enough tests.
You still might be brewing Covid, so keep wearing the mask through Day 10.
If you develop any possible Covid symptoms at any time, isolate at home and test immediately.
-If you had Covid within the past 90 days (proven with a positive test), you do not need to quarantine, and you do not need to test on Day 5.
You do need to wear a well-fitting mask around others for 10 more days after the date of your last contact with the infected person (Day 0).
If you develop any possible Covid symptoms at any time, isolate at home and test immediately.
-If you are not fully vaccinated and boosted: yes - you do need to quarantine.
Quarantine means stay home & away from others for 5 more days after the last date of contact (Day 0). Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others at home. Watch for possible Covid symptoms for the next 10 days; test immediately if any symptoms occur. If no symptoms, test on Day 5 after your exposure. With the new variant it might be useful to test on Day 3, and again on Day 5, if you have enough tests. If you test negative on Day 5, you can leave the house, but continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others through Days 6-10.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID:
Stay home and isolate. Avoid contact with others for at least 5 more days. Notify your doctor, and ask about Paxlovid (we expect availability in Mexico soon...).
On Day 6, if all your symptoms are improving and you have not had fever for 24 hours, you can go out – but always with a mask for the next 5 days. Some people will still be infectious after the first 5 days. You could use a home test before you venture out… if it’s negative now, you’re good to go. If it’s still positive, wait a few more days.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IF YOU DEVELOP COVID SYMPTOMS:
- Isolate immediately – That means stay home, stay away from others.
Please don’t wait to see if maybe you’ll feel better tomorrow!
Prepare your “Covid comfort kit” before you get sick – once you have symptoms, you must stay home!
- Get tested, as soon as possible. Home tests are fine for this purpose.
- Stay home until you know the results.
- Wear a well-fitted mask if you must be around others in your home.
Test Results:
When you have symptoms, and your test is positive:
Isolate = Stay Home and Avoid Contact with others for at least 5 more days.
Then, if your symptoms are improving and you have not had fever for 24 hours, you can go out – but always with a mask for the next 5 days.
When you have symptoms, but your immediate test is negative:
You may really have Covid, but not quite enough virus for the test to read positive … or you may have something else. Test again in two days, and continue to isolate until you’re double-sure it’s not Covid.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE CAN I GET TESTS, or GET TESTED?
Home Antigen tests – pack of 5, delivered to your home. $950 pesos, cash only.
Call Natan: +52 415 149 9092 (Natan speaks English and Spanish)
Testing at Cruz Roja (on the Libramiento): $499 pesos, result in 20 min.
Open Mon-Sat 9-3, Sun 11-2
Test service comes to your home: see updated SMA Covid Task Force info at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Mz-Wd3o73sjPCapOSQ16i1dzYP7xbAd/view
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TRAVEL GUIDELINES
Before you go:
- Check requirements for testing and vaccines at your destination.
- Even if no tests are required, consider doing a home antigen test shortly before you travel (no more than 3 days before).
- Carry proof of all your Covid-19 immunizations.
- Be sure to have a well-fitting mask (N95-type).
Do NOT travel if…
- You have Covid symptoms -- doesn’t matter what your vaccination status is, or if you had Covid recently. Don’t go.
- You tested positive for Covid -- wait 10 full days after symptoms started before traveling, or 10 days from positive test if you had no symptoms.
- You’re waiting for results of a Covid test. If your test comes back positive while you are at your destination, you will need to isolate and postpone your return until it’s safe for you to travel. Your travel companions may need to quarantine.
- You had close contact with a person with Covid. Do not travel until a full 5 days after your last close contact with the person with Covid, and you are symptom-free, and have a negative Day 5 test. It is best to avoid travel for a full 10 days after your last exposure. Follow the Close Exposure guidelines carefully. If you cannot properly wear a well-fitting mask during the 10-day period, don’t travel!
While you’re traveling:
Wear a well-fitting (N95-type) mask properly over your nose and mouth when indoors on public transportation and at transportation hubs. It is especially important:
- During times when public transportation or transportation hubs are crowded
- In areas that are poorly ventilated. Examples of poorly ventilated areas include:
- Small, enclosed spaces, such as airport jetways
- Public transportation during periods when the ventilation system is off and windows are closed (e.g., when the engine is turned off on an airplane)
- If you are at high risk for getting very sick from Covid, or if you live with or have social contact with someone at high risk
- During long-distance domestic travel, during international travel, and in hubs which serve international travelers.
- When the Covid Community Level in your departure city, lay-over hub cities, or arrival city is high (applies to US locations only)
- If you came into close contact with someone with Covid. Wear a well-fitting mask around others, including when traveling or using public transportation, until 10 days from the date of your last close contact.
When eating or drinking during travel, remove your mask only to take a sip or bite, then put the mask back on to chew and swallow.
After you arrive:
- Get tested for current infection with a Covid test 3-5 days after arrival. Wear a mask around others until after you receive a negative test result.
- Self-monitor for Covid symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all local recommendations or requirements after arrival.
|
|
|---|
|
UUF Men’s Breakfast: Not to be missed! |
|
|---|
|
Although participating in a men’s group has not been “my thing,” just like attending regular church services was not “my thing,” until I discovered the UUFSMA, I now can attest that this renewed effort (after COVID’s hiatus) is worth for any UUF men to give it a try. We meet every 1st and 3rd Saturday morning at 9:30 at Hotel Aldea’s outdoor patio. For those wanting to drive, parking is very convenient at no cost. You can order pretty much whatever you’d like, e.g., last Saturday I got three eggs lightly over with crisp bacon, toast, unlimited coffee, fruit with yogurt and granola and fresh juices for a round cost of 250 pesos. If you think that’s great, you should have been there for the gratifying conversation!. We adjourn at 10:30. I invite any of our UU men to give it a try. Please let me know at 1jurgenahlers@gmail.com. But, even if you don’t contact me, consider that you’d find a genuine welcome, regardless!
Jurgen Ahlers
|
|
|---|
|
|
Zoom Hosting - To continue our Zoom broadcast of Sunday Services, we are looking for several more volunteers who are available for 1 Sunday every few months. We can train anyone who has basic computer skills, and this task can be done from anywhere in the world. This requires reliable internet access and a laptop or desktop computer.
Contact: Dan Neuspiel: dneuspiel@gmail.com
Finance Committee - If you have a background and/or interest in accounting, finance, investments, banking, or a hankering to talk about money policies, please consider joining the Finance Committee that meets quarterly to make financial recommendations to the Board of Directors.
Contact: Margo Johnson: uufsma.president@gmail.com
Social Action Committee - Our Social Action Committee, which works all year to vet and monitor our Fellowship’s grantees, has a couple of vacancies available for dynamic members who like to be close to the action! We only meet once a month, typically via Zoom, and we share what each of us has learned about the nonprofits we steward. Each of us on the team feels personally enriched by the relationships we have developed with our grantees, which are prominent nonprofits that have proven themselves capable of serving those most in need. We are honored to support the wonderful things they do.
Contact: Diana Amaya: info.uufsma@gmail.com
Personnel Committee - Here’s your opportunity to get to know our wonderful staff better, help develop human resources policies and procedures, and to make sure we’re in compliance with Mexican Labor laws. Do you have a background in HR? Do you like to work with people? Interested in making a difference? If you can answer “yes” to any of these, you just might be our person. We hope to make a difference and have a good time doing it... Please consider joining our team!
|
|
|---|
|
 |
Tom’s Coffee Hour Discussion, Tuesdays (9:30am)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/442374895?pwd=NHljVm1LbHQydVBIUUkyWkIybVNHUT09
Meeting ID: 442 374 895
Passcode: 724450
Tuesday Discussion group, August 9, 2022 (11:00am)
The Tuesday Zoom discussion group will be led by Lou Marines.
Topic: Where you are in life
Are you where you are in this stage of your life more because of good decision making or good fortune? How much does free will have to do with how your life has progressed?
Thursday, August 11: Lunch and Games at La Frontera at 1pm. Rain or shine.
Friends, Family, and Neighbors are welcome to come.
Bring a game or play one that is provided.
For more information, contact Donna Shubrooks at donnashubrooks@gmail.com
Friday Buddhist Group, Sangha of the Heart (10:00am)
Regular participation is encouraged or drop-in when you want. Please email Joan at joanwolf@umich.edu if you would like to be added to the Sangha of the Heart email list and receive the Zoom link in a weekly reminder.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
There were 66 total viewers to our Online Sunday Service on August 7.t |
|
|---|
|
|
| |
|
|