January 22, 2025

“Hope is not the absence of despair–it is the ability 
to come back to our purpose … again and again.” 
~ Alicia Garza

Dear Ones,

It’s been a challenging week for hope, and yet now is exactly the time we need to dig into whatever we can do to sustain and nourish hope, belonging, and resilience. We will need them all to come back over and over–as is and will be necessary–to who we are and the work that is ours to do. 

This Sunday, in between the worship service and lunch, we will have our bi-monthly Shared Ministries meeting. I’m hoping to take a little time to think about our congregation’s mission in the current moment, and also to engage in a bit of UUA business together.* 

One of the important ways we stay connected to our purpose is as an active member congregation of the UUA (Unitarian Universalist Association). Every year our General Assembly votes on proposed Congregational Study/Action Issues, for which the UUA will support four years of study and action in our congregations and the wider UU movement. 

In filling out our annual certification of UUA membership (which Kris & Kristin & I are working on now), we are invited to vote for, against, or abstain for each of three possible issues for 2025, which I will briefly introduce at the Shared Ministries meeting. If you want to learn more about the issues or the CSAI process, visit this link. 

I’m looking forward to being together and doing some of the important congregational business of staying connected, finding hope, and changing the world. Meanwhile, I hope you are staying warm and safe this very cold week!

Yours in hope and love,
Rev. Denise
RevDenise@gnuuc.org 

*If you have something to add to the Shared Ministries agenda, please email me.