There is something stirring at First Universalist Church these days. We are beginning to build a new way! We’re
getting focused and clearer about where Love is calling us.
Simply put, we’re on
fire with the Universalist spirit of Love and Hope that is alive here.
We're on fire about our “House that Love Built”
project. Thanks to a fabulous leadership team and their thoughtful work, our
entire faith community – people of all ages - can be involved in the “House
that Love Built” project, as we raise $60,000 to be the lead-sponsor on Habitat
for Humanity house, and build it from the foundation up. More than that, this
project invites us to re-evaluate our relationship to the often crazy making,
over consuming, frenetic holiday season. This year, we’re inviting everyone to
cut their holiday spending in half, and to give the half not spent to this
project. As a pastor once said, “Christmas isn’t your birthday! It’s about
celebrating the birth of hope and possibility.” This project invites us to create
a new understanding of the holidays.
We're on fire about our racial justice commitment. We've had hundreds of people show up to the workshops on September
29th, Oct 20th, and Nov. 17th. And we’ve added a workshop for Dec 15th, at 1
p.m.
In January, we’ll launch a number of Circles committed with Racial
Justice learning as the core content. This is deeply spiritual work, as we
begin to see clearly how race, racism, and whiteness work in our lives, church,
and wider world, and then begin to work for racially just policies and
practices within the church and beyond its walls. This is about waking up to
the ways that racism damages, destroys, and harms all of us. (If you missed the
sermon from September 29th, catch it here: http://tinyurl.com/o7dr3sz)
We're on fire about our Community Circles
(Circles with a particular content)? Nearly 250 friends and members of the church are participating in
some kind of Circle, as we engage in the spiritual practice of deep listening
and open hearted reflection.
We are building a new way: a way that is focused and
grounded as we give, receive, and grow more fully into Love’s people.
I’ll see you in church,
Justin
