Dear Friends,

"Make channels for the streams of love, where they may broadly run..."

I've been humming those words of a favorite UU hymn to myself these past few days.  The words express what we're each trying to do individually in our lives, and also our shared vision as a community at the CLF...open up what we do to allow more love to run through it. Make channels for the streams of love...how do we shape ourselves to accomplish that mission?  I think it all begins with the kindness at the heart of this community.  As the internet and social media evolve into a 'call-out culture,' where road rage seems increasingly common on the information superhighway, human kindness is no small thing.  Each week in worship, and everyday in the CLF Facebook pages, I am blown away by the kindness with which people greet one another.

The Buddhists say that three guidelines to right speech, questions to ask ourselves before we say something, are:  Is it true?  Is it kind?  Will it help?  I have found these extremely helpful as information and opinions fly thick and fast.  It's way too easy to push that send button without reflection...

To help us open our channels so that love may run more broadly, we are bringing on board some additional Learning Fellows this year whose roles will be very focused on reaching out.  Next week, Lori Stone Sirtosky  joins us to help make our online presence ever more accessible and friendly.  I know you'll join me in welcoming Lori, whose professional skills in web design and creation will be a tremendous gift to us all!

Warmly,