We just wanted to wish you and your family a joyous season, whatever holidays you celebrate at this time of year. We celebrate many of them!

We are honored to be the ministers of this congregation. It has been a tough few years to carry forward the ministry in this liminal time of constant change and pivoting so often, it’s a wonder we are not dizzy. We know that we have had to make some very difficult decisions with no clear path available. We know that not everyone has agreed with those decisions. We also know that those decisions have always, always been based in prioritizing the well-being of those often most marginalized in our church and in the wider community. We have made those decisions, thankfully, with the support of the Covid Prevention and Response Team with particular medical expertise from Dr. David Pratt and Dr. Kim Kilby.

While these many (hundreds) of decisions have been our responsibility to make as the Co-ministers, they are never made alone. Many of you as lay leaders have been part of those decisions, bringing your knowledge and perspective to conversations. We are connected with nearly a 1000 other congregations and ministers who are also facing tough decisions in their various contexts and coming to the conclusions that make the most sense to them. We keep in touch with the Rev. Evin Carvill-Ziemer who is this congregation’s Regional Staff person. We

also continue to seek input from your Board of Trustees, and the fantastic Staff here at UUSS.

We are also immensely grateful to so many of you who volunteer to serve this Congregation in so many ways. We have all had to learn how to do so many things differently. We know it’s been tough on all of you, too. May you find some time in this holiday season to simply pause, for a minute or a day to offer yourself some gratitude, some kindness, and do some small thing (or several) that bring you joy!

A Blessed Winter Solstice, a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, a Blessed Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year to all!

Love, Rev. Lynn and Rev. Wendy