Evan Wilson, 8th Principle Task Force At the end of January, Paula Cole Jones joined us over zoom to lead a workshop. She offered insights and led reflection on the 8th principle, which is shared below: We covenant to affirm and promote journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community … Continue reading Reflecting on the 8th Principle and Opportunities for Growth
Rev. Aaron Payson This month’s Soul Matters Theme is “vulnerability”. For my nugget on the theme, I propose to use one of the exercises suggested in the small group material shared to prompt discussion on the subject as well as engage in the kind of discipline that our 8th Principle working group has demonstrated with … Continue reading On Vulnerability – Going Deeper
Dave Schowalter, Stewardship Team This year’s pledge drive will be kicked off on Stewardship Sunday, March 5, 2023. The stewardship theme this year is Building Beloved Community with equity, inclusion and diversity. For many of us, the last three years have brought home how much work remains in our local society and wider country to … Continue reading Building Beloved Community: Pledging
Beth Posner-Waldron, Get Out the Vote Team What’s the fuss about our becoming a Good Trouble Congregation? In April 2022, JaZahn Hicks was hired to be the Campaign Director for UU the Vote, the UUA’s voting rights campaign. He challenged congregations to put our faith into action and galvanize ourselves to vote love and … Continue reading 2022 Good Trouble Congregation – We Did It!
Rev. Aaron Payson We continue our exploration of love which is the Soul Matters theme for this month. To be honest, this meditation begins with thoughts of another tragedy and the heartache that it continues to foster in so many at Michigan State University, violence that comes on the heel of the devastation witnessed following earthquakes … Continue reading What Is Necessary for Love?
Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration & Education I want to thank all who attended the All-Church Read service this past Sunday entitled, “Where is the Love?.” I especially want to recognize those of you who brought your children. I feel like, every once in a while (even peripherally), it’s healthy for our children to … Continue reading What to Do ? Our All Church Read Follow-Up
Rev. Aaron Payson Is it surprising to anyone that the Soul Matters theme for the month of February is. . .love? February with the prospect of Valentine’s Day brings a creative moment to the depth of winter which unfortunately has been co-opted by an industry of card makers and chocolatiers, not that I’m opposed to … Continue reading “Love” – A Few Love Letters to Strangers
Sheri Linn, President, Board of Management So, I know, you all have been asking yourselves, “Now that I know WHO is on the Board of Management (BOM), WHAT is it that the BOM does?” Am I right? Well beloved, that can be a rather lengthy topic to chat about all at once. Let’s review our … Continue reading Who? What?? – The Board of Management and Reviewing the Bylaws
Robin Mitzcavitch, Director of Religious Exploration & Education This year we have chosen the book: “Defund Fear: Safety Without Policing, Prisons, and Punishment” by Zach Norris, as our All-Church Read. The accompanying books for middle and young readers are “Ruby on the Outside” by Nora Raleigh Baskin and “Visiting Day” by Jaqueline Woodson. The theme … Continue reading Thinking About Our All-Church Read
Rev. Aaron Payson One of the visions of our congregation, articulated a decade ago is for “UUCW’s culture is open, welcoming, and inclusive.” And one of the ways we identified whether we were achieving this vision is to “Broaden our experience of diversity, examining patterns of oppression and bias, and celebrate our expanding community.” One … Continue reading An 8th Principle Moment
