Dear UUCSW,

And just like that, a new church year begins. I, like so many of you, went into summer hoping we’d start the year in person, and became increasingly concerned as the summer wore on. I’ve been thinking about all the children and parents, teachers and school staff who have been trying to make sense of how to enter a new school year safely. And, ultimately, the UUCSW leadership was in agreement that our core commitments to safety and inclusivity mean that we will keep doing Sunday services on Zoom through September and October.

At the annual meeting in June, we talked about how we’re working on making the shift to “Living our Principles” in all arenas of church life, instead of treating social justice as one independent committee. This means that we’re looking at how we do everything through a justice lens and using our principles to guide our actions. With children and immunocompromised people at such high risk as new Covid variants emerge, the choice to stay virtual is grounded in affirming the inherent worth and dignity of all people, grounded in affirming our interdependence.

No matter how the pandemic continues to unfold, we will find our way together. We know that we are a resilient community. We know that we are adaptable and creative and committed to living our principles together. And what a blessing that is. Let the new church year begin!

Blessings,
Rev. Laurel

*Please note that my days off are typically Friday and Saturday. I try to respond to emails within 48 hours, but that is not always possible. I appreciate your patience.