Read this week’s issue of our newsletter here: The Weekly Liberal April 30

In this week’s issue, Rev. Jen Crow writes:

Some of you know that lately I’ve been playing this game to steady myself. I ask, “What’s the same?” And somehow, the answers settle me down. 
When I ask this question about our church, so many things come to mind. What’s the same about First Universalist Church?

• Our mission, grounded in racial justice, of a love so big that it will not let anyone go. 
• Our commitment to care for each other and our larger community.
• Humor, kindness, innovation, creativity.
• The carpet in the sanctuary – trust me, it’s still there. 
• Our determination to push ourselves, never settling for having done enough for justice.
• Church helps us remember who we are and what is most important. This is where we go to get grounded and supported as we live into our values. 
• We are committed to creating an inclusive church that welcomes and works for everyone. 
• We are a church that honors the wisdom and experience of the past and that lives in experimental mode – we are adaptive and responsive to the world we live in. 

These truths are helping me live with all of the change that is happening in our world. And a lot is changing. I know you’ve heard me say before that this is a marathon, not a sprint. That we are in for a long haul. And that church is a part of that changing landscape that we are all living in. 
Here’s the biggest change I see: We will be gathering online and in small groups for the foreseeable future. Large group gatherings will not be safe for everyone to participate in in-person for a long time. My colleague, Rev. Jake Morrill, explains this new future for our churches this way – it’s 4 minutes, and well worth your while.   

As we let this new reality settle in – that church will be taking place online and in small groups for more than just a few weeks or months – your church leaders are working hard to take a deep breath and settle ourselves, ground ourselves in our mission, hear all voices, and re-orient how we do church to meet this moment. Our values are clear. We are a church committed to racial justice. We are a church that welcomes everyone – young and old, sick and well, living on the margins and living with privilege sometimes all at the same time – learning and growing together into an inclusive future where all of our identities are valued. We are in this storm together, shoring up each other’s boats and holding each other close in solidarity and support.

In gratitude,
Jen