It was wonderful to welcome the Amity Choir back into the sanctuary last Sunday. Though we are proceeding with caution, it feels like we are moving back toward the church we knew before COVID. Attendance at in-person worship is growing and we hope to welcome vaccinated children back to RE in the new year.
The evolution of the traditions we love at First Unitarian continues with an in-person and virtual celebration of the winter solstice on December 21, a virtual family worship service at 4:00 PM Christmas Eve, followed by an in-person and virtual candlelight service at 8:00.
Our annual giving campaign to support the work of the church is at 91% of goal. These are the funds that bring us worship services, music, religious education for our children and our social justice work. If you have pledged, we thank you for your generosity. The Board has been calling congregants to thank them for their gifts and it has been wonderful to connect and catch up with kindred hearts and minds. If you haven’t yet made your pledge, there is still time. Every gift is appreciated.
Thank you to the approximately 20 people who participated in our November Board Forum on Church Goals. The goals have now been formally adopted. The commitment to build our church community as it re-emerges from pandemic restrictions, and the desire to live into the 8th principle were expressed at the workshop. Multiple opportunities to participate in working to build the beloved community and live into the 8th Principle will occur over the coming months.
In January, a new series of learning circles will begin. The Board is engaging in ongoing conversations as we seek to fully live into the 8th Principle at First Unitarian. New book discussion groups on several different topics will be starting, as well as workshops exploring how to be an antiracist congregation. These activities are the springboard for “walking our talk” and we encourage you to take part in them.
One resource that can be accessed any time (and that was requested during the forum) are the scenarios discussed in the Beyond Categorical Thinking workshop led by the UUA and our Ministerial Search Committee in early November. The workshop materials may be found here
Very best wishes for a warm and wonderful holiday season,
Mindy Clark
Moderator