June 30: The official last day of the 24-25 church year!

What does that mean? It means we wrap up finances for the past church year and begin the new budget we voted on at our Annual Meeting in May. It means employment contracts begin anew and we say goodbye to Helen as our Administrator (but not as a member!) and we welcome Isaiah as our Music Director. It means new board terms start, along with new terms for the Nominating Committee, Endowment Committee, and the Right Relations Team. I’m probably leaving something out, but this should give you an idea of the structure and rhythm of our church year which is based on how we (past we’s, past members, it’s been this way for years!) set up our fiscal year.

But that is just the business side of things. And while church business is vitally important, there is a spiritual rhythm to our year that can enrich our community when we tune into it and are intentional about listening to and acting upon what calls to us.

Summer, especially July, is a time to slow down, rest, and just feel the joy of our community. It is a time to refuel and to have a little fun! (However, I will urge you to not stop doing what you need to do to keep resisting authoritarianism and Christian Nationalism—go to the protests, write the letters, make the phone calls, create the art that inspires, and take care of one another!) So, what can fun, joy, and relaxing look like at UUCL when it’s all centered in Love and a living of our values?

Here’s my easy summer guide to stay in covenant and to keep being the fantastic community that you are:

Center yourself in Love: Love is a spiritual discipline. Ask yourself each day, or each morning before you go to UUCL—What is the best way for me to stay centered in Love today? What loving mantra can I use when I feel I might be going astray?

Interdependence: Is there a relationship between me and someone else in the congregation that needs repair? How can I begin that healing this month?

Pluralism: How will I stay out of judgment and remain curious so that I learn from others this month? What did I learn from others that was surprising and brought joy to my life?

Justice: When making decisions at church, have I included everyone that my decision may affect? Have I asked others for their thoughts? How can I notice the joyful feeling that including others brings to me?

Equity: Do I see the inherent dignity and worthiness in the person right in front of me? How can I feel that deeply and spiritually within my heart?

Generosity: Am I showing gratitude for the contributions of others? How can I let them know they brought me joy? Am I contributing my time and attention to UUCL to keep our community joyful, hopeful, and loving during the summer months?

Transformation: Am I open to the changes that are arising before me at UUCL this month? Can I simply just relax and accept them? Try them out? How can I cocreate with those changes to bring more joy?

I look forward to hearing about your summer at UUCL when I return in August. You should also know—while July is my totally work-free vacation time, I will also be taking the first couple weeks of August as a study and planning sabbatical. The board will be working with me to focus my topic of study so as best to support the continued spiritual growth of UUCL.

Have a wonderful July!

In Faith,

Heather