In this space we publish the Minister’s Musings for the current month, September, which is also published in our newsletter. Please enjoy.
Dear Channing Members and Friends,
This is my first column to you since beginning my summer leave! It was nourishing to have time away, and it is a delight to be back. After a time of introspection, travel, and study, I look forward to reconnecting and journeying together in our shared values and faith.
As fall approaches, I look forward to seeing all that lies ahead of us this year. This year, we will work diligently on governance—the sacred work needed to sustain the structure of our church. It is far more than words on paper; it is an embodiment of who we are as a faith community. Governance allows us to live our values, share responsibility, and ensure that our decisions reflect our mission and vision. I look forward to this important work.
Furthermore, as always, we work to fulfill our mission:
Invite seekers into spiritual community,
Connect souls in mystery and wonder, and
Ignite compassion into action.
So, invite! We are now in a wonderful position to welcome little ones into our midst! Thanks to dedicated volunteer work, we are offering monthly Religious Education classes. We can now fully welcome and embrace an intergenerational religious community. As a Unitarian Universalist faith community, we continue to do the work of welcoming, celebrating, and embracing people of every identity. We can listen deeply, make room for different experiences and perspectives, reach beyond our comfort zones, challenge our own assumptions, and create space for those who may not always feel seen or heard. Let’s be intentional about creating a community where everyone feels valued and welcomed. My next reflection is a challenge to you: Invite friends and family to worship, to game night, to a small spiritual group. I first entered a Unitarian Universalist church when a mere acquaintance invited me in. Church growth and invitation begins with us.
May we continue to Connect. Our spirits and minds are nourished and fulfilled in meaningful and substantial ways when we do this work together, as a community. So may we join for worship as we reflect upon courage, healing, and awe. I invite you to attend a small group as we journey together through theological reflection, explore the spirituality of poetry, meditate, or reflect upon the text of a book. We can connect with one another within our walls through deep, intentional conversation and meaningful reflection, and we can connect beyond these walls by bringing our mission and vision into the wider community.
Which leads us to our vision to ignite. This October, we will once again be a welcoming, inclusive, and spiritual presence at Howard County Pride. This is an opportunity to celebrate authenticity and joy in a truly profound way. We have the blessed opportunity to embody our shared values of justice and equity. We also continue our work with People Acting Together in Howard. We have a small team working to keep us connected to and active within this local, multi-faith, justice-oriented organization. We will also continue to rally for immigrant justice. We – together – will make a difference.
So, as we begin to lean into September, anticipating orange fall leaves and the scent of pumpkin spice, I carry hopes and prayers for our beloved church community: May we know well-being of body, spirit, and mind. May we experience spiritual depth and renewal. May we live our shared values in the world. May it be so.
With love,
Rev. Jane