There is so much sprouting and growing, blooming and greening all around, pushing up through last Fall’s leaves, reminding us that change is constant. If you have attended a service or program at UUSS recently, you may have also felt the springing of energy there, too.

Within our denomination, there is important work happening about articulating our values in new ways, inspired by the principles and sources that are currently in the UUA bylaws, as well as by thousands of conversations and responses. This is deep and sometimes messy work, because out of these conversations and decisions will grow language that will inform how we speak of our values in the years to come. This Sunday’s worship service will explore this process. You can learn more here: https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/article-ii-study-commission

There are also forums to meet the Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt, the candidate for UUA President:

On this April day, with so much growing, we share an excerpt of a poem from the anthology, Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry edited by Camille T. Dungy.

Fearless by Tim Seibles

Is it possible to be so glad?

The shoots rising in spite of every plot

against them. Every chemical stupidity,

every burned field, every better

home & garden finally overrun

by the green will, the green greenness

of green things growing greener.

The mad Earth publishing

Her many million murmuring

unsaids. Look

how the shade pours

from the big branches—the ground,

the good ground, pubic

and sweet. The trees—who

are they? Their stillness, that

long silence, the never

running away.

with gratitude and gladness- Rev. Lynn & Rev. Wendy