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"A Spiritual Community of Caring Hearts and Open Minds"

 


 Rev

Rev. Barbara Meyers' Ministry

Quarterly Report to MPUUC Board of Trustees

March 2010

 

To the MPUUC Board of Trustees,

 

The following is a list of the activities I have engaged in during the last quarter as part of my affiliated community ministry.  Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

 

Yours in faith,

 

 

 

Rev. Barbara Meyers

 

Education

Classes and Seminars Given

  • Gave a workshop and worship service at the Port Townsend's UU Church on the weekend of January 31. They have active members of NAMI in their congregation who pushed for this. They also arranged for a weekend interfaith mental health training as an adjunct to my seminar. More recently, they have begun teaching the workshops to their congregation.
  • Prepared training for monthly Pastoral Associates meetings.

Classes, Conferences and Seminars Taken and Planned

  • Attended third intensive week of classes for my Spiritual Director's Certificate at the Chaplaincy Institute in Berkeley. I now am well into my practicum working with one client for 6 months under the supervision of a wonderful mentor. My fourth week of classes is in April.
  • "Trauma & Dissociation" an excellent seminar by Phyllis Lorenz, and expert on trauma. March 25, Family Resource Center, Fremont.
  • "Religious Diversity in Fremont" a seminar organized by the Family Resource Center, Fremont, February 25.
  • SAMHSA 10x10 Wellness Campaign Training, March 30. This is a SAMHSA campaign to improve the longevity of mentally ill people by 10 years within the next 10 years. This is really excellent!
  • At the request of the UUA's Mountain Desert District, made a proposal for a week-end of mental health workshops plus a worship service. This will happen April 16-18.

Healing

Reaching Across

Continued compensated job at Reaching Across organization, for quarter-time work. Attend Monday support group meetings, two Interfaith Support Groups per month, most Wednesday group activities, and Friday craft days.

Support Groups

  • Continued co-leading interfaith support group for people with depression and sadness.
  • Continued to recommend support group for families of those with mental illness.

Pastoral Associates

  • Continue to prepare training materials for Pastoral Associates at the monthly meetings. Made several calls/visits to congregational members, at home and in hospital.

Mental Health Committee

  • Renewed the license Church Video License for another year allowing us to show movies at any upcoming movie nights we might have for the next year.
  • An MPUUC team has been created for NAMI Walk 2010

Priestly

  • Worship leader on March 28 at Mt Diablo UU Congregation on the subject of "Healing the Mind"
  • Worship leader on February 21 on the subject of "Spiritual Practice"
  • Attended monthly Pastoral Associates meetings, and prepared training for each meeting.

Social Justice

Community Awareness

  • Mental Health Matters Public Access TV Show
    • Taping of shows is now back in production after a 4-month hiatus. We were not able to tape at Chabot College as the city was trying to arrange. Instead, we are taping at a professional studio in Oakland, called VJTV.
    • Shows continue to be broadcast throughout Alameda County on Comcast TV as well as being available from anywhere on the internet.
  • Mental Health pages on MPUUC web site continue to be widely accessed.

UUA Accessibility Group

  • Maintained the website for the new UU accessibility group Equual Access.
  • " Mental Health Caucus under the auspices of Equual Access. Status: Grant application to the UUA Funding program has been submitted. This would support leadership development for the caucus. There are also plans to meet at General Assembly in Minneapolis in June 2010.

Books Read

  • Alex and Me - How a Scientist and a Parrot Discovered a Hidden World of Animal Intelligence - and Formed a Deep Bond in the Process by Irene M. Pepperberg. New York: Harper, 2008. The fascinating story of how a very dedicated woman worked with a parrot to discover many reasoning capabilities in the walnut-sized brain.
  • Feel Better Now - 30 Ways to Handle Frustration in Three Minutes or Less, by Chris Schriner, Jalmar Press, 1990. Excellent collection of stress management ideas.
  • Being Nobody, Going Nowhere - Meditations on the Buddhist Path, by Ayya Khema, Wisdom Publications, 1987. Very good explanation of Buddhism for beginner.
  • Klepp Gards-Og Ættesoga Gjenom 400 År 1519-1900, by Andreas Øvergård, K.K. Kleppe, Martin Skadsem and O. Møllerop, Utgjeve ved Klepp Commune, Stavanger, 1952. Norwegian genealogy book with many of my ancestors listed.
  • Time gards- og ættesoga, by Ola Aurenes and Roald Undheim, Time Kommune, Time, 1973. Norwegian genealogy book with many of my ancestors listed.

Personal

  • " Need to continually work at life balance and stress management. Spiritual practice helps a lot.

Other

  • Met with Community Ministry Advisory Committee every quarter
  • Chaired MPUUC Mental Health Committee which meets every 6-8 weeks
  • Attended MPUUC Board meetings.
  • Elected for a third year as secretary to the Tri Cities Interfaith Council at its monthly meetings.