Happy New Year friends! We begin this year together with the exploration of one of my favorite themes: Story as a Practice of Love! As an avid reader and lover of words, I am excited to hear stories, tell stories, and share stories with all of you. There are also stories we need to let go of– false and self-harming narratives we tell ourselves about who we are, as individuals and as a community. What stories will you let go of as we enter the new year? What new stories might we create together for the year ahead? I invite you to join me in this conversation throughout the month of January.

Our Story as a community holds the lives of all who have passed through our doors, and we tell stories about the ones who we have lost to remember and honor their lives. On Christmas Eve we lost a longtime friend, our groundskeeper William Fleming. Our hearts go out to William’s wife, Phyllis, and to his sisters. We will be holding a Memorial Service for William on Saturday, January 18th at 11AM. The service will be followed by a reception in the Community Room. All are welcome.

Join us this month as we share stories with one another, and create new ones through our worship and celebration, our small group conversations and learning together, our caring ministries, and our outreach to the community beyond our doors. I wish you all peace, love, and joy in 2025. May we offer these gifts to ourselves and to our world.

Rev. Terri