From the Minister

I’m thinking about brave persons throughout history – people who have risked everything, including their lives, for their commitments to freedom and reason, to democracy and human rights, to peace and justice. The excesses of empires and the fall of empires are not new in human history. I remind myself of this when I find myself gob-smacked, once again, to be witnessing such unbelievable events as those in our country in the past week. It feels like another world. If we are indeed seekers of truth, as we say we are, then this is no time to turn away, even if it feels like there’s nowhere to turn. There is more to learn – there always is.

I’ve been thinking and talking with others about what it might look like to “prepare” ourselves for the election season and its aftermath. I’m making no predictions – whatever the results, I think we’ll be in for challenges. In August, I’m hoping to begin discussions with as many of you as are interested about what we can do to prepare – at least to help each other.

Also in August we’ll begin a process of planning for the Fellowship — a visioning and prioritizing process, beginning with our grounds and buildings. Conversations around climate change, trees, energy use, the sustainability of the Fellowship as a community resource and more have led to a need for such a process, which will aim to help us prepare a 3-5 year comprehensive plan. If you are interested in this project – focusing first on our buildings and grounds – please plan now to join in one of two gatherings to share ideas – on either August 24, 9 – 11 AM or on September 14, 9-11 AM.

I’m so grateful for the group of Fellowship folks who are presenting the Sunday service this week, “Imagine Peace.” Bill Glassmire gave us the starting point with his questions: “What does PEACE mean to you? no war? good relations with your neighbors? a life with enough for everyone?” It’s easy to think that peace, or perhaps world peace, is too much to aim for, too hard to even imagine. Yet we know, we do know, that we either create more peace or create obstacles to peace with every action, every step we take.

Let’s not let our imaginations wither, for if we cannot imagine peace we cannot help create it. How DO you imagine peace? practicing humility? practicing forgiveness? being other-centered?outgrowing a need to be right? being less afraid? sharing space, sharing homes, sharing money? remembering that people are more important than things, that animals are as important as people? learning to center yourself in the breath which is given each moment? Was there ever a better time than now to give our attention to creating peace? Thank-you to all of you who are joining in this conversation.

Although the beginning of “Summer Services” is a little bit arbitrary, nevertheless we do make a change in our worship formats during most of the summer months. This year we’ll begin Summer Sunday Services on July 7 and end on September 1. Some of those services will be held outside, depending on temperature and weather — that part makes planning ahead a challenge. Just check the weekly announcements each week.

People have different approaches to Fellowship life in the summer. Some travel a lot, and take breaks from Sunday attendance. Others attend every week and don’t really distinguish between summer and other seasons when it comes to Sunday services. Whatever works for you, we look forward to seeing you at the Fellowship or online as often as you are able to come.

There are other ways to gather as well. For example, a concert this Sunday evening in support of our democracy action team stamp fund; a night at the ball park on July 28; a music sharing evening on August 7; seasonal Connect Up activities and more. And there will be furniture moving to share as we begin to empty out the classroom wing in preparation for renovations there.

Summer is a great time to invite others to get together – for walks, coffee/tea, gardening, movies, meals, etc. Find someone to share in a conversation about our Congregational Covenant of Right Relations, or about the newly updated UUA values (Article 2.) Or make an appointment to get together with your minister. If not now, when?

Whatever your approach to summer, may it be a time for building new connections and strengthening the bonds of community.

We hope to see you often.

In 2001 the eminent scholar of religion Huston Smith titled one of his last books “Why Religion Matters.” From his life-long study of world religions, he offered a clear perspective: that in a world dominated by materialism, consumerism, and divisions among people, being fully human requires what has always been called religion – an understanding of our essential connectedness to all that is. My study of religion has been in no way as thorough as his was, yet the older I become, the more I agree. I define religion in this way – as the human process of understanding the nature of our connectedness, especially to Self, Others, and Life. And it’s my conviction that when the process is intentional we have a chance to achieve its best aims, which are summarized in the phrase “to live in right relations.”

Without being overly simplistic, it seems to me that the most important aspect of the religious life is how it helps us treat all other living things with respect, compassion and kindness, at the very least. It helps us recognize the effects of our lives, our choices, our actions, on everything else, and motivates us to become more other-centered. To become more other-centered is to become less judgmental.

We love to talk about spirituality, about high ideals, about creating right relations, about big ideas of “truth”, yet day by day we are mostly caught up in being judgmental. We refer to others as “they” or “those people” or “people like that,” — all of which begin with judgment and categorizing. Here’s a small exercise to try: look at whatever you consider to be your religious beliefs or spiritual practices and be curious enough to figure out whether or not they have any effect on your habits of being judgmental. I suspect you’ll find there’s room for improvement, like I do most of the time.

There is no more important reason for being part of a Unitarian Universalist congregation than this – to help each other learn to be less judgmental. May we continue to help each other!

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the death of Louise Ferrell, who died on Tuesday May 28. Louise was the last of those who were founders or earliest members of the Fellowship; she was an active member and leader for more than sixty years. The Fellowship was deeply important to her; she nurtured and supported it, she took responsibility for its well-being and for the well-being of many other members. She painted more of the building than many others combined, and so much more.

Generations are shifting at the Fellowship. This is how it should be and how it must be. If we are lucky, the Fellowship and its values and commitments will outlive most of us, and will remain a gift and a resource to many, many people who will come after us. Those of us who are here now are recipients of the gifts of so many who came before us, and our job is to pass on the gift. In order to do that, we have to be present now, active now, taking care now, helping each other now.

Many people come to the Fellowship. Some stay a short while, some stay longer, some stay for their whole lives. Those who stay find sources of sustenance and purpose primarily by giving of themselves, by having a sense of responsibility for our shared goals and values. I can think of no greater source of fulfillment in life than to have been committed to something worthy of commitment. Louise was a model person in this way, for me and for many others. May we now become the bearers of her legacy.

From your Board of Directors and from me, thank-you to everyone who helped make this year’s May 19 annual meeting a success! Of our 340 Fellowship members this year, 115 attended the Annual Meeting either in person or online, fulfilling the requirement for a quorum of voting members – 85.

Those present and voting affirmed the Board’s management of Fellowship finances, and approved three changes in the UUFC Bylaws: formalizing the Committee on Ministry as part of the bylaws (111 yes, 2 no), removing the language of “Business Manager” and replacing it with “designated staff” (110 yes, 1 no) and adding language to Article 7 on Indemnity, “except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct (113 yes).

In a straw poll to discover perspectives of Fellowship members on the proposed changes to the UUA Bylaws, Article 2, which includes changes to the current Principles and Sources, 78 of those present and voting indicated support, and 28 indicated non-support. This information will inform our delegates to the UUA General Assembly in June, where voting on this proposal will take place. The Fellowship does not instruct its delegates on how to vote, but we do provide as much information as possible for each delegate to vote in the best interests of our congregation and of the UUA.

In addition, we thanked outgoing Board members Carl English-Young, Scott Bruslind, and Jema Patterson, and outgoing nominating committee members Ann Marchant, Jed Irvine, Priscilla Galasso and Bonnie Morihara.

By voice vote the following leaders were elected for the 2024-25 year:

They join continuing directors Mary Craven, Gavin Araki, John Bailey and Jack Elder.

Nominating Committee: Heather Thomas, Kris Egan, Kimi Mayo, Jim Good

Committee on Ministry Chair: Mark Aron

Personnel Committee Chair: Elona Meyer

Financial Oversight Council Chair: Russ Karow

For all the next year will bring us, we are ready and moving forward – thanks to all of you.