From the Chair's Chair

We are entering a new phase, undergoing a transition, a transformation. At the small group discussions during the April 12th service we set on a new course of looking outward instead of just looking in.

What does it mean for us to shift in this way? Our congregational life is based on three main pillars -- worship, community, and service. Our mission statement, which tells us what work we are here to do, has one pillar looking inward -- to nurture each other in our spiritual journeys -- one pillar looking both inward and outward -- to foster understanding and compassion within and beyond our community -- and one looking predominantly outside of our community -- to engage in service to transform ourselves and our world. Since before Meredith arrived, and up until now we have, appropriately I believe, focused inward. By strengthening our ties to one another and in working toward making our congregational life a caring and spiritual community, we have strengthened ourselves and our congregation. With worship services, with music, and with the journey groups we have successfully advanced the first two pillars of our mission. Transformation in these first two areas will continue to be forward-looking to keep us vibrant, interested, and hungry for more.

Yet it is greatly satisfying to be working toward an outward focus now. Engagement in service has been something that has lagged behind the other pillars in the last several years. It is understandable and appropriate to feel the need to "put our house in order" before looking outward to see how we can make a real difference in the world. We can now work outward from a position of strength. This is perhaps why the plans of the social action planning committee seem to have occurred just at the right moment.

At the April 12th service the sanctuary was buzzing with energy. The nine options for involvement in social action were, amazingly, all filled with a quorum of congregants exchanging ideas in conversation circles, each excited about moving forward with action on an important concern: economic reform, education, the environment, LGBT issues, helping the hungry and homeless, gender and racial injustice, crime, and interfaith collaboration. The timing was right. The Zeitgeist is here. We are ready to lift up the third pillar of our mission -- to engage in service -- and allow ourselves the privilege and honor of transforming ourselves and our world!

This new direction was brought to us by the hard work and organizational skills of the social action planning committee -- Ginny Strand, Emily Economou, Jeff Tomlinson, and Barry Litcofsky, DLRE Perry Montrose, and Rev. Meredith Garmon.

Speaking of transformation in another sense, your Board of Trustees has been hard at work putting together a budget for the upcoming year. On June 7th, at the annual congregational meeting, the congregation will vote on the annual budget, elect new members to the Board and the Nominating Committee, and vote on the name change referendum. Remember that only CUC full members can vote on the name change and the nominations. So if you have not become a member yet, and wish to vote, see Meredith before May 7. You need to have been a member for 30 days to vote. One large budgetary item for consideration will be the repair of the lower parking lot (everything below the stairs). This is estimated to cost $75,000.The potholes speak for themselves. We also periodically host rentals that bring heavy trucks on our property, another reason to get this job done right.

We will see you all at CUC soon. Enjoy the Spring that finally seems to have arrived in earnest!