September was the beginning of our church year. It’s wonderful to see church members and church families returning to church. We are welcoming many visitors and new members to our community. It invigorating to have our sanctuary full and to participate in the many activities we offer. For many of us, UUSM provides respite from the anxious and worrisome world around us. It’s where we go to regenerate and prepare for the challenges of our daily lives.
Our search for a settled minister is well underway. The ministerial search committee is working hard at developing materials for the search and preparing us to call a settled minister.. One of the first activities offered to the congregation was the Break Barriers, Build Beliefs (B4) workshop led by staff of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). It was held on Saturday, October 11 from 10:00 am-1:30 pm by zoom. I saw many of you at this important gathering. Contact search@uusm.org fwith any questions.
I have been a member of UUSM for several decades. While it’s been long ago, I frequently think about the church community of my childhood. It was a small, evangelical, Spanish-speaking, inner-city, working-class Puerto Rican church in NYC (obviously very different from UUSM). That church provided a community that was tightly connected like family, that sheltered us from the fears of improvised urban life, and that taught me the values of being of service in a church, in my life’s work, and in my family. Much of what I bring to UUSM was planted in that childhood church. I learned that we are most fulfilled as church members when we serve, share, and lead. I am blessed to apply these lessons at UUSM.
I look forward to working with you this coming year as we move forward. We are well poised to transition to the next stages of congregational life. I’m confident that we’ll continue to grow and be of service to each other and the wider world.
