Our Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly was held this past week, starting on Wednesday and going through Sunday. While it was scheduled to be held in Milwaukee, WI (the city of my first ministerial settlement) it was held virtually on-line again this year due to the pandemic. I spent a good deal of time last week attending zoom worship services, seminars, workshops, and, of course, our general sessions. General sessions are where we conduct the business of our UU Association. This Sunday’s service will focus on some of my experiences and learnings from this year’s General Assembly. If you weren’t able to attend General Assembly, some of the major events are available on-line without registration.
Berry Street Essay
“From Bended Knee: A Theology of Shared Ministry” This annual essay presentation is technically a part of the UU Minister’s Association Ministry Days before General Assembly but it is available and worth watching. The presenters this year were co-ministers and partners, the Revs. Janne & Rob Eller-Isaacs. Responding comments delivered by Rev. Jen Crow and Rev. Mykal Slack.
Service of the Living Tradition
This annual service celebrates and honors our professional religious leaders- ministers, religious educators, and music directors. The sermon was delivered this year by the Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore. Due to several unfortunate errors during the recognition part of the service, the on-line video is being edited and may not be available yet. (Several of our ministers were recognized using their former names, a practice known as “dead naming”. The UUA staff has apologized for this painful slight and corrections are being made.)
On-Demand Videos also include the Synergy Bridging Worship service, the Sunday Morning worship service, a UUA Board Candidates Forum, and the five General Sessions.
Next year’s General Assembly will be back in Portland, Oregon. And if you can’t make the trip to the west coast, they will once again be making most of the events available on-line.
Farewell Picnic
My last Sunday in the pulpit at UUC will be next Sunday, July 11th. We’ll be trying another hybrid service test that day, so I’ll actually be in the pulpit in the UUC sanctuary. We still aren’t ready to let folks in to the sanctuary and run a hybrid service completely, so I’ll see most of you in the Zoom room. But, after the service, I’m going to hang around for a few hours to say my goodbyes. I invite you to you bring a chair or blanket and your own picnic basket to the UUC front lawn. Please wear your masks so all can attend that wish to. Picnic will start at noon. If we have inclement weather, I’ll come up with a plan B and will let everyone know.
Cooperatively,
Rev. Craig