Dear Ones,

It was so good to be back in the virtual pulpit last week!

Can you believe we’ve been holding worship services and committee meetings for nearly five months? This has become the new normal for most, if not all, Unitarian Universalist congregations. As I’ve mentioned to many, the UUA has recommended that we plan to remain virtual through this 2020-2021 program year.

What this means for us is that we need to get more creative about maintaining our connections with one another, and with our larger community. Here are some ideas, AND I’m interested in yours as well:

• A book group to read either Waking Up White or White Fragility. This would be good prep work for then studying Me and White Supremacy. It’s possible that some members may be reading Me and White Supremacy, and others reading Waking Up White – and that’s okay.
• A Soul Matters small group. We’ve had a small group of members working with the Soul Matters small group packets for a couple of years now. The packets go a little deeper into the monthly themes, offering exercises and provocative questions for individuals to ponder.
• More opportunities to view movies and discuss afterward via Zoom.
• A weekly drop-in writing group – no previous experience necessary, just a desire to take some time to write!
  A discussion group on ethics based on episodes of The Good Place, which is available on Netflix, Hulu, and on DVDs via the library system.

On Aug. 23rd, I’m offering the annual Question Box service, postponed from June. Think about your questions, and send them in ahead of time! You can also submit them in the chat at the beginning of the service.

Thank you for being here, for being part of this Fellowship, and for staying connected! I love you. We will get through this. Keep breathing and stay safe, everyone.

Blessings,
Rev. Lori Hlaban