Rev. Diana Smith - August 16, 2026
The Day You Begin — The Backpack Blessing
Beginning something new is often both wonderful and scary - whether you're beginning in a new school, classroom, job, home, relationship, or something else. What are the gifts of beginning? How can we help make good beginnings for ourselves and others? Join Rev. Diana Smith and RE Lead Maddie Van Beek to explore "The Day You Begin" by Jacqueline Woodson and to bless backpacks and school/work bags. Members of all ages are invited to bring their backpacks, saddle bags, knitting bags, lunch bags - whatever kind of bag you carry on your daily adventures! Rev. Diana Smith and Maddie Van Beek, preaching; Judith Martin-Straw, worship associate. Order of Service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dXE3laafBqu_EPd-CwS6l03yX6XnfM34H9HG4c5DWP8/edit?usp=sharing
From Monthly: "Creativity and Connection"
Our congregation this month is joined by our new minister, the Rev. Diana Smith! And our theme for August is Creativity and Connection. In the Northern Hemisphere it's summertime, with that illusion of "the living' is easy," but millions of people continue struggling for rights and freedoms, for economic justice, for basic safety, food, and shelter for all. Here's a few ideas about keeping on with this work while taking care of ourselves and each other.