With the “reopening” of businesses and the economy and the continued loss from COVID-19, the way we live our lives is shifting again. Some will go back to work, some will remain at home, and others will have to make tough decisions on how to proceed. UUCL’s Board of Trustees will be making decisions about how to proceed with church life, whether to open for small gatherings and when. With so much still unknown, it can be difficult to know the best way forward.

One of the best ways to help us focus and make the right decisions is to have a mission statement- the “why” of our existence, a statement that envelops our values. When we make decisions, we ask ourselves, “does this serve our mission?” Everything we do as a community should serve our mission. We started on developing a new mission over a year ago now, when we first met to share stories of the holy and discern our shared values. (Connection, Love, Transformation) For one reason or another, the process has been delayed- especially by this pandemic. But I don’t want to delay anymore. We still have important work to do!

So, I am including here some of the statements that the Board came up with by using our shared values and applying them to a statement that truly characterizes who we are and what we want to do. Take a look at them. Does one of them particularly call to you? Can you edit and improve one? Email me and tell me what you think. I am hoping that we will also have time to discuss this on Sunday at our Annual Meeting. Just FYI, our current mission statement is “Uniting in Diversity, Advocating for Love and Justice”. Where can we go from here? Check these out:

Building (or creating?) a transformative community through love and justice for ourselves and the world around us.

Uniting in Diversity, Advocating for Love and Justice, Transforming Ourselves and the World.

Transforming lives through connections and community by advocating for love and justice.

Amplifying love through the power of connection for the transformation of ourselves, our city, and our world.

Empowering love through connection so that love can transform us, our city, and our world.

Connect through unity and diversity, love by affirming and with grace, transform ourselves and the world.

Growing a community built on love to support and transform ourselves, and carry our values of love and justice out into the world.

Stay well and I look forward to hearing from you!