Dear Ones,

This has been a month of mixed emotion in our congregation. Congratulations to our Stewardship Team- and to the whole congregation- for a successful campaign! This is a great accomplishment and a testament to your commitment and investment in this community, particularly at a time of so much transition and challenge. I look forward to continuing to serve as your minister in the year ahead, as we work to grow this congregation. More than numbers, growth means deepening in spirit and relationship, and strengthening our outreach to the larger community. I was heartened by your response to my recent talk about Unitarian Unversalism’s 8th Principle, with several expressing interest in a task force to adopt and implement anti-racist, anti-oppressive action to build the beloved community here at UUC. We have work to do.

We are also growing by strengthening our connections with the larger community. This Sunday offers us several invitations to do that. You can read about some fun invitations to bless animals and hear choral music below. On a more somber, but necessary note, we are also invited at 6:00 PM by Rev. Winton Hill of the Coalition of Concerned Congregations to an outdoors interfaith gathering at Stamford’s Old Town Hall in response to the Buffalo shooting. I will be attending and invite you to join in calling for an end to white supremacy and hate in our nation.

This is a pivotal time in our congregational life as we are called both inward and outward. At the same time, we are in the process of letting go of some of the greatest joys and gifts we have received this past year. Our pianist this past year, Paul Mariconda, has had to move on due to a personal scheduling conflict. We are grateful to Paul for the gifts he shared with us this past year which helped us to come back together into our sacred space. Be assured: Music will continue at UUC. We have pianists lined up to help us through the next several weeks, along with our own members who offer cello, guitar, and vocals to enliven our services.

We are also saddened by the news that our wonderful Director of Religious Education, Darlene Anderson-Alexander, will be leaving UUC at the end of June. Over the next few weeks we will be saying goodbye and offering Darlene our best wishes for her next ventures. I know our children and families will miss her greatly in Religious Education. And we will all miss her creativity, generosity, hard work, and caring presence that she has brought to this community the past four years.  Of course, Religious Education for our children and youth will continue at UUC. Our Religious Education Ministry Team is making plans for next year, and a DRE Search Team has been formed to interview and hire our next great RE Director.

Life has shown us over and over these two truths: Change is constant. And we are resilient together.  Please reach out if you want to talk about any of these changes, or have questions.

In faith,
Rev. Terri