President’s Letter — March 2008

Why do we come to our Fellowship?

There will likely be as many answers to this question as there are members. I hear people say they come to hear Reverend Jim’s sermons which help us to reflect and refocus our week and our lives. The music deepens our religious experience. The religious education program anchors our children in our values and principles and they are becoming impressive adults. Coffee hour and other activities gather together people of similar values and we have the opportunity to become an extended family!people who care about and support each other.

We also have the opportunity to become personally involved in righting the wrongs in our community. Our Green Sanctuary activities offer the opportunity to learn about the environmental impact of our lifestyles!and the opportunity to change our practices. Starting with our personal practices at home, continue with the use of resources at our fellowship, and move on to the activities in Westchester and beyond. We provide this opportunity at UUFBCO because it is an essential element of our faith–Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. The Green Sanctuary activities are just one example of how our participation is part of a transformational process. I wrote about transformation last November. Briefly, being committed to transformation suggests that it is not enough to attend our Sunday Services, educational programs and other activities to be entertained or gain insight or make friends.

I suggest that an import reason we come to our Fellowship is to change ourselves into the persons we want to be, and to change our community. “We are committed to reaching out to help build a more just and compassionate world.” This is from our Mission Statement.

Our Social Action Committee has taken recent strides to increase its programs to address this commitment to transformation. We are very pleased with the early reports from that committee. Do mark your calendar for the worship services on April 27th. The Social Action Committee has arranged for David Diamond, Faculty Advisor to the Gay – Straight Alliance of Lakeland and Walter Panas High Schools to speak on support for young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning. “Mom and Dad, I have something to tell you! How to be an ally for youth today.” It will address the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and guidance for dealing with the private struggles and public hate that continues unabated in our local community. We hope to draw visitors who will find a safe place in our congregation, and a welcoming environment with a commitment to transformation.

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