HUUF WEEKLY

Rev. Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson (she/her/hers) is honored to serve the First Unitarian Society of Milwaukee as the minister of religious education. Kimberlee lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin with her beloved partner Erik, kiddo, cats, kiln, and a whole lotta clay.

Emergence
By Rev. Kimberlee Tomczak Carlson
June 30, 2021

“[T]ales of natural emergence [are] far more magical than traditional miracles. Emergence is inherent in everything that is alive, allowing our yearning for supernatural miracles to be subsumed by our joy in the countless miracles that surround us.”
—Ursula Goodenough, scientist and religious naturalist

The words “witness butterfly metamorphosis at home” leapt off the educational catalog into my imagination in April. We had begun homeschooling, and I impulsively decided we should get a butterfly garden. It was the end of a long winter; our house felt small as three of us occupied the space twenty-four hours a day.

My partner was not thrilled about adding caterpillars to our household: “You want to raise insects?” I replied that it would be educational, and there would be butterflies.

I wanted to watch something grow, become something new, and then be joyfully released. I needed a reminder of predictable life cycles. I was convinced my child needed this too. One of the great joys of having children in your life is witnessing them explore their intention of becoming. The world is wide open to them and everything is possible. As we get older, our unfolding is not always visible or recognized. Perhaps becoming is just more internal during adulthood.

Anyway, how hard could it be to raise butterflies?

Each night we would place the butterfly garden, angled just so in the window, to catch the morning light. It turned out that becoming a butterfly required sunlight. We did get to “witness metamorphosis at home.” Sometimes it was really gross: chrysalis can be gooey. Once it was almost tragic, as the cat’s fascination took flight and the chrysalis got knocked around. The experience was filled with unexpected drama and fear of failure—yet ultimately, magical and absolutely worth it. The daily shared experience of observing the transformation was salve for our nature-loving souls. Each chrysalis that hatched felt like a miracle.

Emergence, becoming, is inherent in each of us. Often, we forget how miraculous we are. The sheer improbability of our existence escapes us, and we need butterfly garden-shaped reminders. Thank goodness there are small miracles surrounding us.

Playscape Project
seeks a Project Manager!

If you’ve been following the progress of our Nature-based Playscape project, you’ve seen some exciting new developments take place over the past few months. We’ve recently become the very grateful and blessed recipients of a sizable donation toward this project, and now have the ability to hire a professional to oversee this work!
If you know anyone – a landscape architect or designer with experience in this type of work – please let us know.  We have a dedicated team of volunteers who are diligently working to see this come to fruition, and would love to have a skilled Team Leader to help coordinate and mobilize our efforts. If you have a name or contact to recommend, please drop Amy Day a note @ comm@huuf.org

Volunteer Opportunities: Intergenerational Spring Seminar

April 22-24, 2022 | New York City | Climate Justice & Displacement

Are you or is a fellow congregant passionate about climate action?
The UU@UN is accepting applications for youth (age 14-18) and adults to help plan our 2022 Seminar! The team will convene virtually starting in September to prepare for the April 2022 event expected to take place in NYC.
Youth Deans (application deadline extended!) serve as leaders of programming during the Seminar, working with the Planning Committee to create programs that are safe and inclusive for all. Youth Dean is a two-year position.
Youth and Adult Chaplains (apply by August 9) help create a caring environment rooted in UU faith through spiritual grounding opportunities and support for attendees.
Planning Committee Members (all ages: apply by August 9) craft the Seminar’s educational arc, plan worship and workshops, coordinate logistics, and more!

For information on assistance with registration, travel, and housing costs for youth and adults interested in attending the Intergenerational Spring Seminar on Climate Justice and Displacement in NYC in April, 2022, contact Sue Lee Mossman, Chair of Climate Action Campaign

Here’s a FUN way to help our new minister get to know you! Be a part of a Fellowship Community Video Diary. We are creating a montage of video clips to present to our new minister, Rev. Peter Farriday, when he arrives Please contact HUUF’s Tech wizard, Scarlett Trippsmith ASAP, to FIND OUT HOW – it@huuf.org