May 25, 2022
May 25, 2022
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?
~Mary Oliver
Beloveds–
The hillside next to my office window at church has become thickly green over the last few weeks. Looking out, I can now see the sky only in very small patches, and the hawks (there seem to be three living in close proximity to our grounds) I see only when I’m outside.
Makes me wonder what’s coming next–for the hillside and my view, but also for us. What will summer bring this year? I’m sure it will be different from last year, and after the last few years, I’ve pretty much given up most of my expectations that life will be predictable!
A few things I do anticipate, and I hope you will consider remembering also:
This Saturday, at 2 p.m., we will gather to celebrate the life of Charles Sumner, along with his family and friends from the wider community. If you are planning to attend, please be sure to brush up on our COVID precautions: bring a mask (or pick one up at the door), take a quick test at home that morning, sign in when you arrive, and be sure to email me (revdenise@gnuuc.org) if you test positive for COVID within a week of attending this or any gathering here.
This Sunday we will gather, not for a worship service, but for a 5th Sunday service project: working on our own grounds. Look for more information in the Eblast.
The annual General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association (of which we are a member congregation) will meet in Portland, OR, and online starting on June 22. I plan to travel to Portland to cast my votes as your minister (and also to spend a couple of days with colleagues at the meeting of the UU Ministers Association), but there are also online registration options for our delegates and anyone else who wants to participate in the business meetings and/or workshops, worship services, and other programming. (Questions? Ask me!)
GNUUC’s famous Summer Song Series begins in June and continues through August 7. Each Sunday service will feature a different person or group of people from within the congregation, offering thoughts of their choice for the general edification of all. It’s an amazing chance to hear from each other and revel in the wisdom and breadth of experience and thought among us!
Finally, I want you to know that I will be away from GNUUC for the month of July. Some of July will be paid time-off for vacation; some will be study leave, during which I read and think in preparation for the coming church year. (Thank you for being a congregation that provides these benefits to your minister.) More information about that to come, but if you’ve been wanting to talk with me (or maybe even meet me for the first time), now is a good time to schedule that.
For now, I’m looking forward to sharing whatever the rest of the spring brings our way!
Yours in greenness and hope,
Rev. Denise
Rev. Denise Gyauch
Minister, Greater Nashville UU Congregation
RevDenise@gnuuc.org