Happy Friday! I was deeply touched when Rev. Terasa suggested that I write the message for this week’s Friday News. As I shared at the Annual Meeting, I am taking a church sabbatical this year. I love you all deeply. And, after serving as Treasurer for 12 of the past 22 years of membership, I … Continue reading Friday News – June 27, 2025
Happy Friday! I write this note from Baltimore where I am attending our General Assembly – the gathering of Unitarian Universalists from around the world that happens yearly. It now happens in person only every other year (virtually the other year) so it’s wonderful to see people we haven’t seen for several years. I relish … Continue reading Friday News – June 20, 2025
Happy Friday! It was quite the celebration last Sunday! We celebrated the success of the rummage sale (around $15K at last count!) We celebrated the work of the staff and the Board and Nominating Committee and so many others at the Annual Meeting. What really struck me in this was how appreciative this congregation can … Continue reading Friday News – June 13, 2025
Dear First UU, As our church year comes to a close and your board and staff are reporting back to you the congregation at our annual meeting this Sunday, there is some big news I want to share with you. I am so grateful for you! I could not have asked for a better community … Continue reading Friday News – June 6, 2025
It’s that time of year when we wind down our regular programming and go to one service at 10am. But that doesn’t mean we aren’t still offering great worship and programs! Summertime gives us a chance to experiment with different styles of worship like we did last Sunday, and with different approaches to our ‘usual’ … Continue reading Friday News – May 30, 2025
Summer Schedule is here! Summer is a time that First UU staff uses to try new ideas and prepare for the coming church year, so you may notice some changes in our programming and communications. Beginning this week, you can come to the church at 9:00 for a continental breakfast, participate in “Summer Shorts” – … Continue reading Friday News – May 23, 2025
Last Friday we hosted a wonderful public listening project Sidewalk Talk. The founder led us in a two hour training about effective listening. As a minister and someone who specializes in healthy communication, you would think I would know all there is to know about listening! But I still learned some new techniques. We are … Continue reading Friday News – May 16, 2025
One of the things I admire so much about this congregation is the ongoing commitment to social change through the BREAD organization. Working with other congregations across the city to understand the changes that are most needed for our community, and then to meet as a powerful group with city leaders to demand change is … Continue reading Friday News – May 9, 2025
Spring has finally sprung, and summer is just around the corner! I am excited to see everyone again this Sunday. Our church’s Youth Group will be presenting the 11am service, and together we are celebrating our congregation’s graduating high school seniors! There will be no classes during the service – both so that younger siblings … Continue reading Friday News – May 2, 2025
From Monday Noon to Wednesday evening, I attended, via Zoom, a conference of retired UU ministers, well over 200 of us from all parts of the US and Canada. I served with several local ministers on the Worship Planning Team, including our own Rev. Kathleen Fowler. We worked up at our congregation in Lewis Center, using their … Continue reading Friday News – April 25, 2025
