Belated happy holidays to you all, and a happy new year! So much is going on in my life that I didn’t have time to write a column last month. You are all never far from my thoughts, and so I hope that all of you had a lovely and peaceful holiday with those you love.
There is so much happening at the U these days that I have trouble NOT being excited! I have spoken in earlier columns about a few of our initiatives for this year, many of which have gained traction. We now have a Technology Committee! Technology is a fundamental need in any organization, one of those core functions that help us to function much more efficiently. We are also beginning our Pledge Campaign this month, which will allow us to return to our roots by renewing our commitment to being a teaching congregation as well as a Green Sanctuary congregation (more on that in the weeks to come). We are contemplating something that hasn’t been done much before in Unitarian Universalism – a merger with another congregation. If you participated in our recent discussions, you know I am a strong advocate of the idea of expanding our reach into urban ministry. I see this as an opportunity for us to grow spiritually, both as individuals and as a community, as we explore worship in new and different ways. Lastly, in the coming months, we will begin a conversation about embarking on a more deliberate path to membership.
So what is the one word that comes to me as we explore these different areas of congregational life? Possibilities. I have been a member of this congregation for 9 years. I see more opportunities for us now, than I have ever seen before, to make a profound difference in our community as well and in the world. We have the ability to reach new heights in Unitarian Universalism, to lead the way and be a model for other congregations to grow and expand our faith. It involves risk, it but can also be profoundly rewarding and enlightening. It gives me personal satisfaction that we are truly living our UU values.
I am also now in the last six months of my presidency. Rather than think of it as an ending, I look at it as a beginning as I explore ways to transition myself to stay involved and help bring UUCM to the next level.
Teresa DeSousa
President, Board of Trustees