Note from Pastor Isa

Circle ‘round for challenging conversations

    Circle ‘round for freedom, circle ‘round for peace,

    for all of us imprisoned, circle for release,

    circle for the planet, circle for each soul,

    for the children of our children, keep the circle whole.

At times like these, when our values are … read more.

Over the holidays, I received a loaf of homemade gluten-free bread as a gift. Taped to the bag was the note, “You are loved and appreciated.” I’m gonna hang onto the note to help me remember not just the tasty bread, but also the connection … read more.

I will never forget the moment. It was the third and final Wednesday Vespers for Peace and Justice service, crafted to support the UUFM community through the election. The previous vespers service, just the day after the election, had been essential for those who came, … read more.

Regardless of the outcomes of the elections this month, our body politic needs healing. No doubt this is why our collaborators at Soul Matters chose Repair for the November 2024 theme, and indeed our Community Team voted for this selection when asked for input last … read more.

The mutuality of deep listening

Most mornings, I spend about 15 minutes on the phone with my Seattle friend Erin. This rhythm of mutual listening gives us compassionate accountability for setting intentions each day – and keeping them. Over the past few months, Erin has been … read more.

“meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in”

As I sat down to reflect on our monthly theme of Invitation, I immediately thought of the poem Guest House. Coleman Barks wrote the poem in the 1960s, inspired by a much longer text by the … read more.

Notes from Pastor Isa

 
Our minister, Pastor Isabel, is away on study leave for the month of July. In lieu of a newsletter column, she suggested we share this poem from Worship Web, inspired by Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen’s chapter, “Our Work for Social … read more.

I emailed the following letter out on July 4th and received beautiful responses. I share people’s response below.

Dear hearts,

I’ve heard from several of you that the state of our nation and the world weighs heavily on you. I’ve heard the word despair. I … read more.

All Kinds of Justice

The 18th century Rabbi Elijah of Vilna wrote that “What we create becomes meaningful to us only once we stop creating it and start to think about why we did so.” In addition to thinking, let’s also feel the impact of our … read more.

Renewal

As a community, we were renewed on May 4th at the Initiation of Called Ministry and Installation of Yours Truly. It was an afternoon like no other: a ritual and a party, profound and playful. Many UUFM members have told me it truly “felt like … read more.