Shaping our future together

This past Sunday, June 14, we celebrated the century-old Flower Ceremony created and sustained by Rev. Norbert Capek and his wife, Maja, and remembered again that the kaleidoscopic beauty and diversity of each and every one of us is wanted and needed, and with intention fully welcomed, in this community of faith. As we begin to prepare in earnest for the seasons ahead, your voice, your perspective, your longings and hopes and your participation are needed and wanted, and with intention will be fully welcomed, as we shape the direction of First Universalist together. Please take a moment now to do these three things:

• Share your input on worship times, themes, and elements here. This is a short and simple opportunity to let us know your thoughts about a possible move from two Sunday services to one in the fall, and to let the Worship Team know what you’d like to explore in the year ahead. As we shift our model of Religious Education times, we are also considering a shift in our Sunday morning worship times. This reflects our assessment of the current needs and opportunities in congregational life, and we want to know what you think. A shift to one Sunday morning worship service in the fall, at either 9:30 or 10 am, would allow us to gather as one community and opens up the possibility of sharing food and programming (small groups, social justice trainings, and more) with childcare on Sundays after church. Wednesday evening programming would continue to be a growing focus for our shared ministry. Come talk with me in person on Sunday, June 28, after the service, or join me online on Wednesday, June 24 from 6:30-7:30 pm, to learn more about this possible shift and to share your thoughts.  

• Apply, and encourage someone else to apply, to be a Worship Associate this fall. As part of the Worship Team, Worship Associates shape, create, collaborate, and lead worship with the ministers and staff, deepening their own spiritual practice and care for the congregation. Your leadership, ideas, experiences, and wisdom are welcome and wanted!

• Share the position description for our new Community Connections Coordinator with a community or individual that might match this description: You are a deeply relational person who is caring toward and curious about people. You believe that love can be a transformative power in individual and collective life. You are a skilled facilitator, able to create spaces where the experiences and identities of others are welcomed and supported, and adaptation is the norm. You actively center the needs and experiences of marginalized groups, and work to direct resources of time, energy, funding, and attention for their spiritual development. You are collaborative and oriented toward building and strengthening community. You are organized and capable at planning and managing systems and processes, often more than one at once. You are confident in assessing existing systems and creating new ones to meet the needs and hopes of the moment. 

Together, we inherit, sustain, practice, and create the Beloved Community we long for.

In gratitude,

Rev. Jen Crow