Seeing the photos from the Artemis II mission this past week, it’s hard not to feel awe-struck of the amazing views of planet Earth.
We celebrate Earth Day this month, and in that spirit, the Pagosa Unitarian Universalist (UU) Fellowship will gather this Sunday, April 12, for an Earth Lament circle. This small-group ministry is held the second Sunday of each month at 10:30am. De Anna Hoyle, facilitator for this group, has training in eco spiritual care, certification in religious education and spiritual companioning. She serves as Community Engagement Coordinator for the UU Fellowship.
You may wonder, why lament? Because lament in community, and as a ritual practice, has the power to alchemize our grief – for the loss of what we’ve cherished, for the loss of what won’t be. These words, resourced from the BTS Center, which offers periodic circles of Lament with Earth, will serve as a touchstone for this gathering. Another resource to draw from is the UU Ministry for Earth (UUMFE.org) which states:
The climate crisis is an everything crisis. It is an environmental crisis, an infrastructure crisis, a political, social, and economic crisis. It’s a health crisis, and it has become an emotional and spiritual crisis… Climate anxiety is so prevalent that it will soon be named as a mental health disorder in the DSM. There is no quick fix, and yet research shows that gathering in community to companion one another is a primary strategy for addressing this distress. Churches are perfectly situated to do this. When we metabolize our feelings together, we prevent becoming paralyzed and can commit to meaningful action together.
We come together in our Going Deeper Circles to deepen our awareness and participate in community sharing as we practice deep listening and connection. This is an open, safe circle of engaging in one’s own life journey, of honoring ourselves and doing all we can to honor the Earth in all its glory.
The Pagosa UU Fellowship is located in the Greenbriar Plaza, Unit B-15, 301 N. Pagosa Blvd. on the north side facing the Pagosa Peak. We invite all to visit us for a welcoming place of love and acceptance. Visit our website, PagosaUU.org, where you will find information about upcoming services and programs. We offer space for on-going programs and events at the UU Community Hub, such as the Tara Meditation Group held Sundays, 5:30-6:30 p.m., and Qigong practice on Monday afternoons at 1:00 p.m. The Wise & Wakeful Circle, hosted by Elaine Harding and Sam Johnson, meets the fourth Saturday, April 25 at 10am. All are welcome for mindfulness practice to connect with others while building community.