Five Ways the UCH Transitions Group is Taking Care of Ourselves and Our Communities During These Challenging Times
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Our UCH Transitions Group met this week and had a great conversation about how we are all managing our stress during these challenging times. Rev. Jeanne took some notes, and we decided at the end of our time together; we would like to share our conversation with the rest of the UCH Beloved Community because we thought it might be helpful. We also want to make sure you‘all know you are invited to join us on the first Thursday of the month from 10:30 -11:30 am on Zoom. Our next meeting is on November 6. Please take care of yourselves and of each other.
-The UCH Transitions Group (and Rev. Jeanne)
Being in Community/Avoiding Isolation: Staying in touch with family, and friends. Spending time with family and friends in person or on Facetime, phone, or zoom. Attending church Zooms and being engaged in conversation. Going to women’s groups such as PEO or connecting with sorority sisters. Making a commitment to be in Transitions Group and coming to Bible Study and Worship on Sunday morning. Checking in more often on our neighbors and friends. Sending cards and notes. Listening to Podcasts and learning new things. Making sure I include diverse views in those podcasts. Checking in on neighbors. Finding out what is going on in the community and learning how to help those who are struggling and suffering with time, talent, and treasure.
Finding Our Voices: Learning to articulate our feelings about what is going on in the world. Pushing back when people around us say harmful (homophobic, racist, xenophobic things). Realizing that we are upset and angry because we are “rooted in the values of Jesus” (what Rev. Jeanne always says), And that is a good thing. Posting positive things on social media as a counter to negative things. Interacting with folkx in our community in positive ways. Smiling. Being kind. Making eye contact. Being involved in groups such as EAIC, Comida Para Cherryland, or the Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity. Not being silent but speaking out about injustices. Attending rallies (Such as the Union City “No Kings” Rally on October 18). Listening to our church podcasts, sharing, following, and liking what we are doing online because we are offering Christianity and Community that are rooted in the values of Jesus. Folkx in the US need to know there are alternatives to “White Christian Nationalism” which is one of our superpowers at UCH.
Doing What Gives Us Life (and Letting Go of What Doesn’t): knitting, doing artwork, gardening, singing, playing music, listening to an audiobook, walking, reading, sitting in the yard, watching a show I enjoy, working a crossword puzzle, praying for the others; especially the congregation, and the Council and Rev. Jeanne, noticing flowers and wildlife, being outside in nature, noticing the changing seasons and cycles in nature. Journaling, practicing gratitude, Caring for our pets, or even wild animals or birds in the yard. Doing what gives us energy, and limiting what makes us feel overwhelmed and tired where we can. Spending time with friends and family, volunteering in the community. (See #1, and #2). Setting good boundaries with others and for ourselves.
Limiting News and Social Media and Watching and Listening to Things that are More Positive : Find out what is going on in the world and then turning off the computer, radio, or television. Listening to Heather Cox Richardson who always gives positive things we can all do at the end of clearly and understandably explaining things that are happening and talking about historical and political context. Listening to podcasts that are positive and that teach us new things (Including UCH Rebuild on Apple and Spotify). Watching shows that we enjoy. Not watching violence.
Being Aware of our Strengths and Limitations: Do what you can. Not everyone can march and protest, but we can support those who can and do. Call our representatives and stand up for our values and the values of Jesus in the ways we can. Put hearts on posts that you love. Post something that supports immigrants or Transfolkx. Ask yourself who you support with your time, talent, and treasure? Even the poor woman, who we talked about in bible study who put her coins in the temple treasury was praised by Jesus because she was doing what she could to make a difference. Tend to your piece of the puzzle (and your community’s piece of the puzzle) not the whole puzzle (See Jane Goodall’s quote above.). That can get really overwhelming.
