This entry is part 1 of 8 in the series From your Minister
If you were there, I hope you were as moved as I was. From my seat on the second pew, I was not able to see who all was among the five to six hundred people who filled the sanctuary at Faith Presbyterian, for the City-Wide Thanksgiving Service. From the welcome to the benediction, the atmosphere was fully charged with hope and celebration. The service, planned jointly by the Southeast Clergy Group and the Greater Huntsville Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship, was a powerful blend of traditions and religious culture.
[...]From your Minister
Woody Allen said 80% of success is showing up. My kids heard that quote whenever they woke up and told me they didn’t need to go to school, because nothing important was happening that day. Nothing important meant there wasn’t going to be a test, nor did they believe material to be covered on the next test would be divulged.
I used to wonder if people in other religions went to church every Sunday because they thought there would be a test for admittance into heaven. I thought that might be what a gentleman in another UU church was referring to,
[...]From Your Minister
A faith community is constantly at work to balance the needs of reaching in and reaching out. As we have begun to articulate our hopes and dreams for the future, this balance is well represented by the emerging voice calling for a church home that is safe, attractive, accessible to all, with space available for a variety of multi-generational activities and programs, including those that promote a visible, active presence for outreach in the larger community.
A few Sundays ago we celebrated our reaching deep within, as our work together calls forth the best we have to offer one another in
[...]From Your Minister
Great energy, commitment and promise were the spirit of the day on Saturday as so many of you gathered for the training offered by our UUA Consultant, Larry Wheeler. With a solid base of knowledge, and years of experience, Larry communicated not only the details of the work at hand, but the overarching goal, as well. At the heart of everything we do as a congregation lies the goal of building community. Every interaction is about nurturing relationships.
Thinking of this, I realize that probably the greatest challenge to spiritual growth in all the religious traditions is relating to each and
[...]From Your Minister
The Minister is IN!
Would you like to chat with the minister? Do you have questions about the church or Unitarian Universalism that you would like answered? Do you have thoughts you’d like to share? Is life getting to be a bit much for you and you think a listening ear might be helpful? Are you dealing with a loss, or a significant transition and trying to sort through the confusion or options?
Any, or all of these, plus many other reasons are justification for picking up the phone, or sending an E mail, and asking for an
[...]From Your Minister
If the month of April had a spirit, it would be a restless one, I am sure. Spring Fever hits and our thoughts are of all the activities we were denied over the cold winter months. If the academic calendar rules your life, you are sensing a change of routine. And UU congregations have historically honored the rhythm of the school calendar, and the changing season.
As you read through this newsletter, though, and those to come over the next few weeks, you will see a great deal more activity than is typical for spring and summer in our churches. We are
[...]From Your Minister
I’ve decided, as I contemplate the end of another church calendar year, that this was a very fast year. Perhaps it feels that way because we were all so busy planning and working through the steps required to make monumental decisions about our future. While it sometimes feels that the summer months are a little more relaxed, I know that projects related to fulfilling our new mission and vision will be keeping many of our volunteers busy. The dots on the newsprint that adorned the sanctuary walls for several weeks will help us focus energy in areas of greatest interest
[...]From Your Minister
From Your Minister
The controversy surrounding the proposal to build the Cordoba Center in New York city is the source of escalating hateful and threatening speech aimed at the American Islamic community. I imagine that the climate of fear and suspicion sweeping the country is distressing, if not terrifying for our brothers and sisters of the Islamic faith. As a Unitarian Universalist congregation that strives to promote understanding and harmony amidst diversity, I imagine many of you share my concern for our friends and neighbors who may feel under attack. At this time, when emotions are beginning to override reason,
[...]From Your Minister
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