Dear Ones:
I hope you’ve had a relaxing, rejuvenating summer. I haven’t accomplished a quarter of what I hoped to accomplish, but it’s been a good summer. I’ve seen friends I haven’t seen in years. I’ve spent quality ‘down-time’ with my boys. I’ve read some good books and articles. I’ve grilled many dinners on our patio. I’ve orchestrated water balloon fights. I’ve not yet cleaned the garage, but that should happen before summer’s end.
I am very excited to begin my eighth year of ministry at UUS:E! This year feels uniquely exciting to me because it will be our first in our newly expanded, beautiful, accessible, green building. We are poised to create and grow some amazing ministries for our congregation and for the larger community. It all begins on Sunday, September 19th when we hold our Re-Dedication service at 3:00 PM. Gini Courter, the Moderator of the Unitarian Universalist Association, will be our preacher. She is amazing! I hope you can make it. It will be an awesome moment in the history of UUS:E. All our welcome!
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In September we continue our experiment with Theme-Based Ministry.Many UU congregations are adopting this practice which focuses our collective attention on a specific theological theme through the course of each month. One or two worship services will address the theme, as will children’s worship; Small Group Ministries may elect to focus their discussions on the theme. Our music will express the theme. And (once we have our act together) we will recommend resources for further study at home.
Some of you have wondered why we sometimes choose traditional Christian themes. For example, October’s theme is salvation; June’s is grace. For me, the answer lies in the fact that all the themes we explore are widely discussed in the larger culture. They have intellectual and religious histories that are linked to the history of the United States and the world. Our goal in focusing on a theme for a month is not to return to theologies and practices that many of us left behind on our path to Unitarian Universalism. Our goal is to discern what these themes mean to us as Unitarian Universalists. Our goal is to become more fluent in the various meanings of these themes so that we can participate in interfaith dialogues going on all around us. Our goal is to reclaim themes that are part of our heritage yet have been stolen or high-jacked by religious fundamentalists who have given them very narrow, sometimes oppressive meanings. These themes belong to us as much as any other religious body. Theme-based Ministry gives us an opportunity to explore them in what we hope is a systematic, nuanced and open approach. Is there a theme you’d like us to explore? Let me know!
With love,
Rev. Josh
Last updated September 2010
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