As the new year begins, I have new plans for the UU Fellowship of Central Michigan. I want to have a Thursday evening worship service once per month that has a more lively feel than our Sunday morning services – more music and less preaching, more joyful and less solemn. We’ll have worship at 6:00 and a pizza dinner at 7:00, which may appeal to college students and working families. People I’ve talked to about it are supportive. I don’t know if it will attract new people, or give established members a fresh new experience; but we’re going to try it and see what happens. Also, I want to lead a small group for discussion of ideas and sharing of personal stories, because I believe in the power of small group ministry and the connections that are formed and deepened in these groups. Several people have said they are interested. I don’t know if it will bring people closer and inspire new ideas, but we’re going to try it and see what happens.
I’m aware these days of the mix of people that make up the congregation we call UUFCM. In the past month I’ve met people who used to be a regular part of the community but haven’t come for many months; I’ve met people who are new to the area and have heard about Unitarian Universalism—and they come to us to give it a try; and I’ve met people who were already UUs somewhere else and are joining our UU fellowship because they live here now. All of these members, friends, and visitors are alongside the many people whom I see every Sunday (and at meetings during the week)—the regulars. All have something to contribute to the whole.
This thing we call a congregation is always shifting. Who knows who’s coming to stay, and who’s coming once or twice to check us out? Who knows who will move away or stop coming for some reason? As a vibrant, living congregation we are in flux and we embrace the Fellowship just as it is. We also work toward a vision for the future—as we will do in the annual retreat on Saturday, January 25 (focused this year on social justice); as we will do in discussing the budget for next year and tackling fundraising goals starting next month.
Everyone who is part of this Fellowship I see as a partner in the journey. Join me in new adventures like the Thursday evening worship service and the small group that’s forming. Tell me what else we should be doing with our time and energy to engage hearts and minds and strengthen the community. Welcome newcomers and honor long-standing members. Bring all of yourself to this joyful, messy, diverse experiment of covenantal community called the UU Fellowship of Central Michigan. I’m excited to be a part of it with you.
Prayer:
Spirit of love deep within me, felt in my breath, hear my prayer.
Spirit of love between me and every person I encounter, glimpsed in smiles and heard in music, hear my prayer.
Spirit of love beyond me in mystery, seen in the winter sky and rooted in the sleeping earth, hear my prayer.
Bless this Fellowship, all those who have been part of it and all those who have yet to be.
Bless those who have visited, stayed a while, and moved on for whatever reason.
Bless the ones who are getting involved for the first time and hoping that it will be a place of deep welcome for them.
Bless the ones who have been part of this congregation for years and sometimes wonder if they are still getting out of it what they hope for.
Bless the members of this congregation who are so dedicated that they spend hours here every week and plan to do so as long as they are capable.
May every part of this Fellowship be blessed by love: love within us, love between us, and love beyond us in mystery.
May it be so.
Andrew Frantz
I’m aware these days of the mix of people that make up the congregation we call UUFCM. In the past month I’ve met people who used to be a regular part of the community but haven’t come for many months; I’ve met people who are new to the area and have heard about Unitarian Universalism—and they come to us to give it a try; and I’ve met people who were already UUs somewhere else and are joining our UU fellowship because they live here now. All of these members, friends, and visitors are alongside the many people whom I see every Sunday (and at meetings during the week)—the regulars. All have something to contribute to the whole.
This thing we call a congregation is always shifting. Who knows who’s coming to stay, and who’s coming once or twice to check us out? Who knows who will move away or stop coming for some reason? As a vibrant, living congregation we are in flux and we embrace the Fellowship just as it is. We also work toward a vision for the future—as we will do in the annual retreat on Saturday, January 25 (focused this year on social justice); as we will do in discussing the budget for next year and tackling fundraising goals starting next month.
Everyone who is part of this Fellowship I see as a partner in the journey. Join me in new adventures like the Thursday evening worship service and the small group that’s forming. Tell me what else we should be doing with our time and energy to engage hearts and minds and strengthen the community. Welcome newcomers and honor long-standing members. Bring all of yourself to this joyful, messy, diverse experiment of covenantal community called the UU Fellowship of Central Michigan. I’m excited to be a part of it with you.
Prayer:
Spirit of love deep within me, felt in my breath, hear my prayer.
Spirit of love between me and every person I encounter, glimpsed in smiles and heard in music, hear my prayer.
Spirit of love beyond me in mystery, seen in the winter sky and rooted in the sleeping earth, hear my prayer.
Bless this Fellowship, all those who have been part of it and all those who have yet to be.
Bless those who have visited, stayed a while, and moved on for whatever reason.
Bless the ones who are getting involved for the first time and hoping that it will be a place of deep welcome for them.
Bless the ones who have been part of this congregation for years and sometimes wonder if they are still getting out of it what they hope for.
Bless the members of this congregation who are so dedicated that they spend hours here every week and plan to do so as long as they are capable.
May every part of this Fellowship be blessed by love: love within us, love between us, and love beyond us in mystery.
May it be so.
Andrew Frantz
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