Our Bay Area Unitarian Universalist Church community in the southeast suburbs of Houston is remaining connected, hopeful, helpful and resilient in these times of staying at home and physical distancing. Our Minister, Care Team and Membership Team have been making phone calls to every member of the church on a regular basis to check-in and identify those in need. We are sending email messages out to our members and friends every day with information about online gatherings, inspirational music and videos, and opportunities to support those in crisis in our local communities. We have also increased our presence on Facebook and social media.
Bay Area UU Church is now presenting Sunday services and Wednesday night services on video every week. These video services include all our familiar rituals, inspirational messages from our minister, and wonderful music, stories and readings from numerous members of the church. Rev. Bruce Beisner is presenting short weekly “Friday Meditation Moment” videos and leading online discussions on Sunday afternoons, Tuesday mornings and Wednesday nights. Our Religious Education programs for children and youth include weekly Zoom gatherings for children and parents with stories, learning and sharing.
Most of our church groups are now meeting online on a regular basis and participation in these Zoom gatherings has been good. On Saturday April 18, we held a “Virtual Church Camp Out” with our members coming together on Zoom from tents and campfires in their backyards and living rooms. We are also moving forward with several social justice projects including public advocacy for sensible gun law reform and efforts to address the Climate Crisis by initiating several bold new initiatives within our church community.
Our church is actively working to support those in financial need in our part of Houston. Generous donations to our Bay Area Church Minister’s Discretionary Fund have been pouring in and Rev. Bruce Beisner is using these contributions to offer direct assistance to our members and others in the local community to pay rent, utility bills, medical expenses and to purchase food and other necessities. We are also encouraging our members to donate to the Clear Lake Food Bank, Interfaith Caring Ministries, and the Bay Area Turning Point domestic abuse shelter.
We have been pleased to be sharing our video services and much of our other online programming with the members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Galveston as a way of working in partnership during these challenging times. Our church is also connecting regularly with the Interfaith Council of Greater Clear Lake to offer support and share resources with other religious communities in our area.
Our church staff is working harder than ever these days and we are very thankful for all their efforts. We are grateful for the new opportunities this time has given to us to become even more intentional about the ways we connect and care for each other. We are holding in our hearts all those who are sick, mourning loss and feeling isolated.