CARING FOR EACH OTHER AT UUCE
Caring times
"Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief.
Do justly, now.
Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly, now.
You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it."
- Rabbi Tarfon,
The Talmud
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Every day there are many opportunities for you to give or receive acts of caring, for example:
• When there are joys and happiness to share, such as marriage, birth, birthday, or adoption of a child
• At times of transition in job, finances or personal experiences
• When you, or someone you know, need a friend or just need to talk
• If you, or someone you know, are home bound, hospitalized, lonely, depressed or grieving
• When someone is entering a nursing home or assisted living home
• When someone is new to the church
• When someone is in the process of separation or divorce
• When you, or a family member or friend, are terminally ill
• When someone is in need of a professional referral
• For no special reason.
Some long range reasons to look for opportunities
- To create a more caring culture within UUCE and beyond
- To be able to express our own joy in our connections with each other
- To build the world we want to live in
- To ensure that those in the church know that they are loved and important to us
Creating a dynamic caring culture at UUCE
At UUCE, caring for each other is everyone's responsibility. The church's Caring Committee is informally charged with maintaining and coordinating contact with members and friends, especially those unable to participate in UUCE activities, in order to provide them with comfort and attention.The goal is to foster a dynamic caring culture. Ideas include:
- • Keeping each other informed about members and friends who are disabled, ill or bereaved
• Determining appropriate forms of attention, such as cards, phone calls, visits, casseroles, or assistance with shopping/errands
• Keeping the Minister and rest of the Caring Committee involved and informed
• Keeping a current call list of the names and numbers of members and friends needing help and attention
• Arranging for rides to Sunday services and other church activities for members and friends who need it.
• Facilitating small, informal gatherings to help people get to know each other. This can include caroling during the holidays, open houses, cocktail parties, pitch-in dinners, service projects, picnics or other social activities.
• Assisting with the Joys and Concerns during church services by writing personal notes or personally contacting members who have expressed a joy or concern
• Providing cards, envelopes, addresses for members and friends to send for older members and/or shut-ins, or for those celebrating birthdays during that month (The Valentine's Day project was one of these).
• Coordinating goals and activities with the Minister to further enhance managed UUCE growth.
What can YOU do to help show that UUCE cares?
Small gestures can matter more than you know. To support and enhance UUCE's caring culture you can:
- E-mail or send a card to a friend or new member
- Strike up a coffee hour conversation
- Provide a casserole or some cookies in times of need or grief
- Offer a ride to the doctor's office or grocery store
- Provide occasional transportation to church or a church function
- Offer child care to allow a UUCE member to attend a church activity
- Phone someone just to say hello
- Lead an effort to take May Baskets or Valentine Cards to members we don't see as often as we'd like
- Create a "Remember-Ship" committee - more info here
- Visit a shut-in
- Help with yard work or other chores
- Visit UUCE neighbors who may be hospitalized
- Call a new member and welcome him/her to UUCE
- Serve as a new member's "buddy".
Join the Caring Committee Listserv here
contact Nisco or Marilyn at
UUCEInterweave@comcast.net