Our Soul Matters overarching concept for our 2016-2017 themes will be: “A Community of…” 

UU religious community is a precious gift. Within it, we find values and questions that are rarely encountered elsewhere in our lives. Values and questions that push us, ground us, and remind us who we most deeply are. This program year our themes honor this gift of community and its role as caretaker of values. Together we will ask,
“What is it we find when we gather? And what is it we are asked to share with the world?”

Our themes for 2016-2017 will be:
A Community of… 
September: Covenant
October: Healing
November: Story
December: Presence
January: Prophecy
February: Identity
March: Risk
April: Transformation
May: Embodiment
June: Zest

Our Chalice Circles that use these Soul Matters themes meet once per month for two hours in a group of deep listening with about ten other people. The Chalice Circles are scheduled to meet on a weeknight from 7:00-9:00 p.m., or following a worship service on Sunday.

We have two Chalice Circle choices for you, one with no homework and one with homework.

• Chalice Circles that will use the Soul Matters materials during the circle meetings – this is the same format that we followed last year. There is no homework or preparation required, but you can have access to the full packet of material it you want. A shorter two or three-page guide will be distributed at the meeting.

• Chalice Circles that will have homework required prior to the meeting. You will spend lots of time during the month reading the complete eight-page packet, journaling the study questions, reading suggested articles, and watching videos on the topic, among other things.

You can choose whichever type of Chalice Circle that works best for you. To sign up, email me at Dir.ARE@TahomaUU.com and let me know (1) what day of the month works well for you, and (2) whether you want to be in a Chalice Circle with or without homework. You can also talk with me about Chalice Circles and sign up with me on most Sundays after worship service

Theologian Frederick Buechner wrote that vocation is where our greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need. I like to substitute the word “service” to say, service is where our greatest joy meets the world’s greatest need. If you would like to be of service, please consider facilitating one of our Chalice Circles this year. Also, please bear in mind that being a participant in a Chalice Circle is also a service to our community, as well as benefitting you. When I meet new folks on Sunday mornings, and I invite them to join a Chalice Circles, I always tell them what a fantastic way it is to meet new people on a deeper level than coffee hour can afford. We need long-term members to attend the circles to be there to greet the new members. Our community needs you to avail yourselves to participate and be known on a deeper level. This is one way we build community. Here is the good news, not only do you get to do what brings you joy — discussing thought-provoking concepts, having people listen to you without interruption so that you can really feel heard, meeting new and interesting people, sharing a variety of viewpoints and perspectives, opening your hearts and minds, the list of joys goes on and on — but you also get to feel good about meeting the world’s greatest needs at the same time. This is a win-win situation.

With last week’s unimaginable horrific racial insanity, let us remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. that “hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” Building community is an act of love. Let us be the change we want to see in the world.

Namaste,

Susie

Susie Maharry

Director of Adult Religious Exploration