[printprofilepic]I write this with the sounds of construction going on across the hall. It’s not disturbing because it means the YRUU room (formerly a closet) has been expanded. Much thanks to Janet, Elroy, Steve T, Wally, Larry, and many of the youth, who volunteered to oversee this project. The high school youth now have a larger room to meet in and connect in community.
I recently had some minor work done on my house and it occurs to me that the work is never completely finished. I personally feel that way at times. I continue to learn and grow from each experience, knowing I am a work in progress. I remind myself that I am okay, exactly as I am right now, yet still being open to new understandings about myself and my place in the world.
The new year is often the time when we take a look back on the past and forward to the future, just as the mythological god Janus represents for us as we enter the month of January.
What did we learn? What can we let go of and what do we want to carry into the future?
The song, “There Is More Love Somewhere,” #95 in our hymnal, is a favorite of mine. It inspires me as does the following quote by Cornel West:
“Justice is love on legs, spilling over into the public sphere.”
We see a lot of that in the news lately so my hope for the new year is to love, taking it into the streets, until the arc bends towards justice for all, the same one that Unitarian minister Theodore Parker spoke of.
“I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight, I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.”
May it be so,
De Anna Hoyle, DLRE
RE News
A full December leads right into a new year full of activities and plans for the future.
January 8 begins the Special Friends Program, Mission Mystery. We have signed up many willing adults to serve as special friends, to be matched with a child from our church. More Special Friends are still needed, so sign up soon at church or contact De Anna. The culmination will be a matching party on Sunday, February 12. All parents should have received a notice via email about the program and a quick questionnaire to fill out for your child. If you did not receive one, please contact DeAnna@uulosalamos.org. We don’t want anyone left out.
All children can begin checking the gray board in the Hearth Room on January 8, and throughout the month for special messages from their mystery friend. This program is not only fun, as Alicia says, it also builds intergenerational friendships and creates beloved community.
Our Chalice Chapel time continues to be under construction. We’re trying out the new name ( a change from Children’s Chapel), to see how we like it. More suggestions for a name change are being sought by those participating. This month it will take place on January 22.
The Coming of Age Group is still going strong with an upcoming full-day retreat Saturday, January 7.
On March 4 the youth will present their credo statements. This is an important service for our youth coming of age in the Unitarian Universalist tradition, so plan on supporting them with your presence.
A YRUU date to remember is Monday, January 23, the registration deadline for WINTER CON. If you plan to attend the Albuquerque CON, February 3-5, make sure your registration and payment is in. See De Anna for more information. Youth Allies are needed as well. Think about it!
An Adult RE workshop, led by Eleanor Cooley, is being planned for February – STAY TUNED!
A Parent-Adult RE online class is in the works. If you are interested in this format for meeting online, send a note to DeAnna@uulosalaomos.org, so as more information is available you will be notified.
A grand thank you to all those who participated and helped with the Do-It-Yourself Nativity Pageant: Rev. John, Alicia Solomon, Anne Marsh, Juli MacKenzie, Youth Choir, and all those who are not yet known. It would not have happened without you!
