Dear UUSS~

This month’s theme is “Living ‘Neath the Great Big Dipper,” from a line in Pat Humphries’ song, Swimming to the Other Side, that we sang in last Sunday’s service. As we have met with Staff, the Board, and various Ministry Teams this month, we’ve included this theme in some of our check-in questions, by asking, “what is something that you appreciate about the night sky?”

The answers have been thoughtful, interesting, and delightful: “I appreciate the vastness of it all.” “When I can be somewhere with no other lights, it is incredible how many stars there are!” “It reminds me of how small I am, and also how connected.”

“It is amazing to think that we are seeing light from stars that are light-years away… and that have been viewed by millions of people before me, and will likely be seen by millions after me.” “Seeing the moon and the stars helps me feel connected to people I love who are far away, able to see the same moon, and the same stars at some time during the night.”

“The sky is beautiful when I wake up before dawn.” “Looking at the night sky is one time that I experience a sense of the holy.” “When I sit by a campfire and look up, it is as though I am breathing in the Infinite.”

How about you? What do you appreciate about the night sky? Whatever it is, we hope that you get some time in the coming weeks to enjoy it… outside, on a warm summer evening, and that it supports you living with more compassion, making choices for more justice, and sharing joy!

We are grateful that we got to see some of you on Saturday in the church gardens, and we are very much hoping that we are able to be back in the buildings for worship and religious education in late September!

Next week we will be attending Ministry Days, followed by General Assembly. We value these opportunities to serve and connect with our colleagues, and to join with others to do the work of our denomination.

In faith~

Rev. Lynn & Rev. Wendy