President’s Letter — February 2008

Spirituality, Community and Action

On Sundays we gather together. On our best Sundays the words of our Minister or a guest speaker and the music in our services and in our hearts bring us closer to the divine. Our spiritual focus helps us to define and redefine our reason for being on this planet!and the best ways to live our many roles in life.

Our coffee hour provides sustenance beyond the obvious nutrition. (Aren’t coffee and bagels a basic food group?) This is the time when we can begin to become a community by asking each other about joys and concerns of the past week.

In our Fellowship we have much more opportunity to participate in this community, to nurture it and become nurtured individually in the process. One such opportunity is to be active in one of our committees. A natural reaction might be that it is “work” and my life is sufficiently exhausting without being on a committee. One member told me today that she does not like committees. And I believe her. Committees don’t always work well, and there are many reasons why this occurs. The first is that we humans can be difficult. Or we can be too easy going, and not accomplish goals and tasks. Some committees are a delight, being both fun to attend and highly effective. Regardless, each “committee” of this Fellowship is an opportunity for some of our members to get to know other UUs better and use our special gifts to advance the interests of this Community. Each has potential for being both fun and productive. Providing service is one of the requirements for membership in the Fellowship. More than that, it is a way to make a meaningful impact on this Community. Please ask others during the coffee hour which committee they are on and what joys are associated with committee membership. It is the action that comes from our committees that sustains this spiritual home.

UUs have been accused of being too cerebral, too intellectual. While this can be true, we are at our best when we survey the facts and decide to take action. Facts can reveal disrespect, injustice, opportunities for deeper spirituality, need for democratic processes in our deliberations, or greater respect for the environment, to name just some.

We have the opportunity to do more than talk about making this a better place. We can actually make a difference. We can take action.

The Social Concerns Committee wants to be called the Social Action Committee. They are addressing issues of race relations, hunger, highway cleanup, support for GLBT’s, in our community and beyond. Most important, they are committed to action. Let’s hear a motion at our June 1st annual meeting to officially change their name. Watch for announcements about a film series, an inspiring speaker on April 27th, and ongoing service opportunities.

Last month I told you about opportunities to deepen our spiritual experience through a formal music ministry. Some members took action and set up the free concert on February 3rd, Sunday at 3:30 pm. We can experience and learn and enjoy and maybe commit to implement our own Music Ministry.

Green Sanctuary is all about education leading to action. Between newsletter articles, after service education and projects under development!we can all appreciate the perils of our lifestyles!and commit to change!
Religious Education works to provide meaningful content with inspiration and passion to facilitate the development of our next generation. (Ask the Senior Youth Group about the Midnight Run.) Is there any action more important than that? Sign up to assure that we continue to develop the best adult UU’s.

Fundraising has planned a series of UU on the Road events from wine tasting to a poker party to Hungarian and Italian dinners. Social Events has arranged five events to join members and have a great time. You have got to read the weekly announcements. So many great activities planned! So much action to be part of!

Our Membership Committee gets the word out and helps visitors to learn and decide to join and encourages us to be radically welcoming to visitors, members and friends.

Buildings and Grounds works to maintain and improve our religious home. Projects need those with vision and/or skill and/or interest.
Learn about these and the rest of the committees on pages 22 and 23 of the Directory. Program, Sharing and Caring, Arts, and Stewardship! All are inviting you to join in, not so much as an obligation but rather as an opportunity to put your values into action.

Sundays we gather together and become inspired. And then, “the service begins!”

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

Eddy Fried
President of the Board of Trustees