Minister's Corner

Summer will soon be here, and as we have done over the last year or so, Sunday morning services will change to being completely lay led during July and August.  The format of the services may change as well.  Our religious education program for children closes down for the summer.   This happens not only in this congregation, but in many other UU congregations across the nation, as the professional leadership goes on vacation and takes their study leaves.  This year Andrea, our new musical director will attempt to continue the musical component throughout the summer, a change from years before and a substantial contribution to the summer experience.

As is true in most churches of most denominations, attendance drops during July and August.  Many Unitarian Universalists go on vacation for these two months – not literally, mind you, but they take a “vacation” from attending services.  In part, I view this as a carryover from when UU congregations literally shut their doors over the summer months.  One thing that Athena and I have done as we have traveled cross country is to seek out UU congregations in the communities through which we are passing.  These can be researched on line via the UUA website (http://uua.org).  We find it an interesting experience to visit fellow UUs along our travel routes, and I encourage you to do the same when you travel.

I’d like to suggest you also try something else new for many of you this year, and that is while you are home,  continue attending services throughout the summer.  “Why do this you might ask.”   Because I look at attending services as one part of a spiritual discipline, a commitment to staying in community with other Unitarian Universalists in your community year round.  Admittedly, there are many different spiritual disciplines, and not everyone follows the same path. To me, continuing one’s commitment to being involved in the life of our congregation makes just as much sense in the summer as it does in the winter.

Here’s to seeing each other at the UUFP this Summer!

~ Jim