- President Ruth Milledge
- Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon
- Jamila Batchelder, Director of Religious Education
- Violet Vonder Haar, Director of Music Ministry
President’s Perspective – President Ruth Milledge
Dear UUCC,
I love our Mission and Vision Statement. Whenever I approach the front of our church, my spirit is touched by the words I see there: “In the spirit of courageous love, we forge a community of radical welcome and deep connection that moves us together to heal the world.” Eleven years ago, these words let me know that I had found my spiritual home. However, as Jeremy Milarsky wrote in his President’s message in the December 2016 Searchlight, “If the mission of our community is more than words on a window, every decision we make should be in support of it.”
As much as the statement speaks to me, our congregation, like all congregations, changes. These times that our congregation finds itself in are not exactly like any other time. We must have a Mission Statement that reflects the present congregation in the present time. We definitely want you and your ideas to be included as we discern what our next Mission Statement will be. There have been a number of cottage meetings at which congregants and friends shared their thoughts. Another round will be held after the first of next year.
If you haven’t participated in a cottage meeting, please consider being involved in one. It is my hope that, with the engagement of many of you, the result will be a new Mission Statement that touches the spirits of all of us.
Rev. Dr. Molly Housh Gordon
Well, November has really been a long year, hasn’t it?
The thing I know most profoundly in this moment is that solidarity is the only way toward the world we dream about, and it always was. The other thing I know is that practicing solidarity requires deep spiritual grounding in a world full of injustices. We need to be in touch with this life’s beauty as well as its brutality if we are to be good partners and stewards in growing beloved community.
And that is why it is more important than ever that we care for each other’s spirits – and our own. We are in the Love business long haul, and that means tending to our hearts so that they can stay open and tender and whole.
This month in worship we’ll explore a number of ways to care for the spirit, from spiritual practices to creativity and play to pastoral care principles for the lay person.
I wonder if you could make a commitment for your daily or weekly life as well. What is one way that you could tend to the well-being of your spirit this month? A five-minute meditation break over lunch? A ritual of lighting candles and sharing gratitude at dinner? A song before bed? A weekly phone call with a soul friend? Journaling right after you wake? What other ideas do you have to begin? Or what longtime practices have you nurtured? I’d love to hear about them.
However you practice, I hope to see you in church!
Jamila Batchelder, Director of Religious Education
As we head into the holidays, we are reflecting on caring for our spirits. Children and parents are in need of a good deal of care for their spirits amid all the holiday hustle and bustle (and stress and chaos!).
When I remember my own childhood, what most nurtured my spirit and kept me grounded, were family traditions, those things we did year after year. Not big grand traditions, but the very small ones, that served as little anchor points in the whirl of activities: Watching a favorite holiday movie; unpacking and setting up the menorah in the window; that night where my mom would finally lose her patience with us bouncing off the walls and send us out with my dad to look at holiday lights in the neighborhood – and he would sing the two Christmas songs he knew in an infinite loop while we drove.
Why did these moments matter so much? Why are they what I look back on most fondly of holiday memories? I think because they gave me such a sense of familiarity and belonging.
The holidays, despite our best efforts of joy-making, are often a time of big emotions and complicated family dynamics. As we try (and sometimes fail) at all the big joyful memories we want to make for our kids, remember that these small memories of family traditions are what might care best for their spirits.
Violet Vonder Haar, Director of Music Ministry
UUCC Choir is back! All members of our church community are invited to join us on Wednesday evenings at 7 for rehearsals. Whether you’re an experienced singer or just starting out, all voices are welcome, and no prior experience is necessary.
Our inclusive and supportive environment is designed to help you grow as a singer and be part of a wonderful musical community. Come and be a part of something special as we share the joy of music together. I look forward to seeing you there!
Join us on Sunday, Dec. 22 for special music by the UUCC choir.