This has been an exciting year! Most importantly, we successfully searched for a settled minister. In late April, we voted to call Rev Diana Smith. In August, we will begin a new chapter of congregational life with a settled minister.
Before turning to the future, let’s briefly look back. We are now completing our developmental ministry. We set out with important goals and achieved most of these goals. One goal in which we are still actively engaging is achieving greater financial health. Our budget for next year has a deficit; and, as those of you who have been here for a while know, we’ve had deficits for many years. Fortunately, we have financial resources to cover our deficits. These allow us to continue compensating our staff and supporting our programs in ways that are consistent with our vision. Of course, we understand that we need to move toward smaller deficits and no deficits. We are optimistic that we are moving in the right direction.
We need to increase our giving, and we need to grow our membership. Increases of about 10% on both fronts will make a large difference to our bottom line and health of our community. Of course, we cannot magically achieve these organizational goals–they take planning, time, and hard work. We are doing this work, and I’m confident we’re moving in the right direction.
Next on our agenda for next year is welcoming Rev Diana! She will start on August 7, and she will be in the pulpit toward the end of August. We anticipate having a reception on her first day in the pulpit and expect that church groups/committees will take the time to welcome her. A few months after Rev Diana has been with us, we’ll be holding an installation ceremony. This is formal service celebrating the covenantal relationship and shared ministry between a new settled minister and the congregation. It’s an important event in the life of our community so be ready for this celebration.
Most importantly, as we move into settled ministry, is anticipating and welcoming change. Every leader brings new ways of doing things–the service might start looking a little different, sermons might have a different feel, new programs will be launched, new ways of connecting and participating will emerge. Our ability to embrace change is a sign of a healthy and resilient congregation. It’s exciting to watch for what comes next and look toward to the future with curiosity and wonder.
Next year, UUSM will be 100 years old! Yes, our church officially began in 1927. For a few years prior, religious liberals were holding informal meetings in Santa Monica. The official start happened when the American Unitarian Association sent Reverend Lawrence Hayward to establish a Unitarian church in Santa Monica. The first meeting was held on February 22, 1927 at Santa Monica Bay Woman’s club. The church was originally known as All Souls Unitarian Church of Santa Monica. So, we’ll be celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the beginning of our congregation next year. Please be on the lookout for how we’ll celebrate this important milestone. It will be fun!
Our church building is similarly quite old. The congregation grew quickly following its first meeting in 1927 and subsequently purchased the lot at the corner of 18th and Arizona. The church building was designed by architect John Byers and dedicated in 1930. We have continuously held services in this building which is now 97 years old. The space was configured differently in that the sanctuary was the center of the building, the section to the left of the chancel was the social hall, the section to the right was an outdoor space. Because of its age, our church building needs consistent maintenance and specialized care. So, as we celebrate our longevity as a community that has met continuously in one place, let’s consider how we grow the financial resources needed to care for our beloved space.
This is a moment to relish the realization that our community has existed for 100 years and that we’ll be here much longer. The generations before us faced challenges: the Great Depression, World War II, the Red Scare of the 1950s, the societal shifts of the 1960s. Their resilience inspires us today. And, just as prior generations overcame the challenges of the past 100 years, we will prevail over the scary stuff happening today. Unitarian Universalism teaches us to address adversity by affirming life and taking action, by building communities based on love and mutual support, and by deepening connections to each other and to the natural world. This is the legacy that we’ve inherited and the future that we will create.
May it be so.
