Category Archives: Announcements

Dawnland Signals

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Dawnland Signals
at https://archives.weru.org/?s=dawnland+signals is a live monthly talk show holding space for critical conversations of Truth, Healing, and Change in the Dawnland. Highlighting indigenous topics not immediately represented in mainstream media, the show features guests involved in various aspects of decolonization in an effort to share, inspire, and inform. This program airs on the third Thursday of the month from 4-5 pm with hosts Executive Director Maria Girouard and board member Esther Anne. Shows are archived and April’s program is “The Power of Talking Circles.”

Note from the CUF Officers and Ministers

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In the time of Covid19, the ministers and Chairs of Deacons and Trustees work together closely to decide needed adaptations for our church life. This month we met and decided to keep holding worship online through the summer, at 10:00 am each Sunday using Zoom. As a backup to online and phone options, look in your email for Sunday morning worship materials this summer. 
The church building remains closed to the public. Open-air healthy activities include Gratitude Grams outside the CUF front doors, and flower appreciation in the front beds. (The “Hallelujah!” seeds sprouted into zinnias which have now been planted.) Risks to gathering indoors continue, including risks involved with singing and group respiration. In mid-August we will meet again to review options and plan for the fall. 
The upcoming WIND newsletter will share more details on programs and activities for all ages. Meanwhile the Facebook group ‘CUF Connections’ is a great place to interact and post pictures of your summer vacation! 

News from Malawi (one of the African charities we support)

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Dear friends of Othakarhaka,

Although Malawi has no reported cases of Covid19 yet, it is only a matter of time and I worry a great deal.  I doubly worry about the thought of the impact of Covid on this population, which already suffers such a disease burden and with limited means of protecting themselves.

However! Having opened with those sad words, I can say that Ida and the Board of Directors are working to educate people about what the disease is, and the safeguards they can take. They use a public address system to go among the villages. They use a public address system to emphasize the need to avoid close contact.

We always hear about washing our hands. Soap is an expensive commodity in Malawi and now merchants have much increased its price. I found some straightforward information from the US CDC on using diluted chlorine bleach with which to wash surfaces; diluted 10 fold greater, it can be used to wash hands. It’s not as good as soap and water, but will (I hope) mostly do the job.

Don Lightfoot (who lives in Spokane) sent patterns from which to make masks, which our Tailoring School people could do. Also, we spoke to such safeguards, especially distancing; that’s often hard to accomplish in village settings.

Also, Don explained the system of taking temperatures throughout the villages on a daily basis and tracking temperatures as a means to predict fairly well what the virus is doing, will be doing in the communities. If you are interested, I’ll send you Don’s full explanation  [or, if you have watched Rachel each evening on MSNBC, you may already know the full story]

We’d be happy to hear additional ideas. That will be on my mind a great deal from here on out.

I had just finally finished writing the 4th edition of my textbook and was ready to start planning a trip to Malawi for later this Spring. Sadly, that almost certainly won’t happen this year. Possibly it can next year unless the virus recurs, which is more than possible.

May you all be well and taking care of yourselves. I’ll not overwhelm you w information, but will write when it seems important to do so.

Meanwhile, your support (moral as much as financial!) is much appreciated.

Marquita