President’s Letter — December 2007

Dear Members and Friends

Who Are We?

As a liberal religion, we focus on appreciating the value of all people, seek justice and fairness in our relationships and organizations from local to global. And we encourage the continual search for truth and meaning in our lives in our work and in our spiritual growth. We want to make this a better place for ourselves, our children and everybody’s children.

As a congregation guided by a mission and set of principles, we have committed to a number of endeavors this year in support of the above.

Your Religious Education Committee and your Board of Trustees have committed to a path of introspection and transformation: Why do we have religious education? What do members and parents say about our RE program? Where do we need to improve? What is our vision? What are our expectations of the RE Committee and its leadership, the Board and its leadership, the Director of RE and the Minister? What obstacles exist and how can they be overcome? You are welcome to take part in this process by sharing your ideas and insights with Reverend Jim, Carol Zoernack, Director of Religious Education, Susan Cuccinello and Marge Grimm, Committee Co-Chairs, or any member of the RE Committee or Board of Trustees. Certainly there is room for you on the RE Committee as we make plans that follow from the questioning. This questioning is hard work, its important work and a keystone of our faith. In the process we strive to help our children become better adults, highly motivated to improve the world we have left for them. Please support our interest in bringing the religious education of our children to the forefront of our congregational life.

Your Membership Committee and your Board of Trustees have reviewed the definition of membership and will soon unveil some proposed changes to our by laws for your comment. We are also asking questions about the benefits of membership in this fellowship and concerns about pledging financial support as an expression of the value of membership in our lives. We are concerned about lost members who identified with our mission and principles. And lastly, we are questioning our welcoming environment. Blue mug or not, do we embrace visitors, members and friends with genuine interest and concern, or do we simply like to interact with a few familiar friends? If you share some of these interests, talk to Anne Sumers or any member of this committee. There is room for you.

The Fellowship voted for the creation of a new standing committee last June. A number of motivated members are challenging our lifestyles and encouraging all of us to consider the sustainability of the way we operate in this fellowship and the way we live. They challenge our use of energy, transportation,and trash disposal. Internally they question our fellowship’s use of disposable plates and utensils, the means for washing reusable plates and utensils, and the way we process waste. More important, they are explaining the science behind these concerns and the options available to all of us. They are suggesting that we do some things differently, and spend some money wisely. The Green Sanctuary Committee is engaging us individually and each of the committees that operate this church. This is important work of our faith and I encourage you to meet with Peter Calloway after services for GS information sessions and to support the Green Sanctuary issues associated with the activities of this congregation. There is certainly room for you to join in this effort.

Who are we? We are a questioning people who have an optimistic view of the potential in our lives, in our congregation and in the world. We are here to support each other and make this a better place. The opportunities are limited only by our curiosity and willingness to commit ourselves to these endeavors.

The light is on, the door is open.
Please come in; we have much warmth to share.

Eddy Fried
President of the Board of Trustee