| Members and friends of EqUUal Access,
They say it’s an ill wind that blows no good. The COVID-19 pandemic touches everyone, though in different ways; I’m choosing to frame it as an opportunity to enhance our connections as a community. We have advocated together for many years to shift attitudes about disability across the larger UU universe. Now is a time to pay attention to our own community.
We know that lots of us have a lot of experience with creative problem solving, unpredictability, and isolation. In many ways, we are equipped for the current chaotic situation. And, many of us are more susceptible to the virus, have lives that depend on physical contacts, or find our essential supplies are suddenly unavailable. Added to that, society’s ableism is running rampant in the way the virus is talked about, in the media or even among those we know. If you are experiencing extra stress, you are not alone.
However well connected we are to our congregations, families, and friends, sometimes it can be good to have a faith-full space where disability is the norm and there’s a whole lot less to explain.
We invite all Disabled Unitarian Universalists to join EqUUal Access for online Worship and Connection. Here are our initial gatherings:
Craft and chat: Wednesday, March 18, at 3:30pm Eastern, 12:30pm Pacific with Rev. Suzanne Fast. Let’s make a chalice from found objects around the house, or decorate some, while we tell stories about how we think about the chalice. (Then bring your chalice to Thursday night’s online worship!) If you would like, you can download and print a chalice to color thanks to Rev. Cynthia Landrum from her Facebook page RevCyn. Connect at: https://zoom.us/j/370342537
Worship: Thursday, March 19, at 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific. We invite all Disabled Unitarian Universalists to “Oasis”, a time of worship, intentional connection and reflection. Take a break, come to the well of nurture and spiritual sustenance. Join Rev. Helen McFadyen and Rev. Suzanne Fast via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/706823723
Drop in Connection: Friday, March 20, at 1pm Eastern, 10am Pacific, with Rev. Suzanne Fast. Bring a snack, your lunch, a beverage – your choice – as we chat around the zoom table. Question of the day: where do you find strength? Connect at: https://zoom.us/j/343509917
Upcoming gatherings: In the works for next week and beyond:
* Hot Chalice Buns: Bring your lunch or a beverage and gather round the Zoom screen to share favorite recipes, cooking & shopping tips, and special UU- themed food ideas! with Rev. Helen McFadyen (formerly a certified marine industry chef)
*starting a book discussion of Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, new from Beacon Press and available on Kindle.
*and more! Announcements coming soon, or check EA News on our website or our Facebook page.
If you have technical skills (like zoom, WordPress, social media, etc.), accessibility skills (like captioning, ASL, etc), or ideas for more ways we can connect as a community, please let us know. We can’t do everything at once, or respond to every suggestion at once; we also can’t do everything without more help!
Wishing you well in these challenging times, and hoping to connect with you soon.
Regards,
Suzanne
Rev. Suzanne Fast
Community Minister
Accessibility note: Before the virus, we had planned to launch online worship in April, and other online gatherings later in the Spring. The most difficult part has always been how to be accessible in as many ways as possible with no budget. We will do our best this week, and we are committed to improving access as quickly as we can. Please, bear with us.
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