The staff (Susie Maharry, Nancy Slocum, Libby Ball and I) gathered one July afternoon to do some planning for the year. There are some exciting opportunities for gathering and connecting coming up this year. Watch the weekly E-news to find out what’s coming up! In particular, there will be monthly all ages game nights starting in October on Second Fridays (ask Nancy to get the insider info), and the launch of the new SpiritUUality Cafe in September (Susie can fill you in!).
Have you thought about being a Celebrant for worship? There’ll be a Celebrant Training for people who wish to learn how to co-lead worship. Meet with Linda and others on Saturday, September 22 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to explore how to take part in services. Contact me for more information.
What about music? Keep an eye out for an announcement about a gathering to make a plan about how to enhance the music experience in our congregation on Sunday mornings and beyond.
There’s more, too. I’ll be leading a monthly reading group on Racial Justice/White Fragility starting in September. We’ll read and discuss a book a month and there will be optional activities and action opportunities as we learn. The reading list includes:
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- Waking Up White by Debby Irving
- White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
- Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
- Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The first session is on Wednesday, September 26 at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited to take part in reading and exploring, though it will be particularly focused on understanding white experiences and coming to terms with white supremacy culture.
Coming up in the winter will be a Lay Preaching course. If you’ve thought you might like to try your hand at preaching, this is for you.
The first Collaboration Gathering of the year will be held on Saturday, October 6 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Again, watch this space and the E-news and Sunday announcements for more information on all of these upcoming activities!