For the past several years, UUFM leadership has been transitioning to sociocracy, a peer governance system based on consent rather than majority rule. To help everyone begin to understand the basic principles and practices, we’ll be sharing “sociocracy tidbits” in each newsletter this church year. In this tidbit, we’ll introduce three ideas: the circle, aims, … Continue reading Board Note — Sept 2026
Beginning in the clouds In his book Nature’s Numbers, mathematician Ian Stewart is inspired by patterns. Not just numerical and geometric patterns, but also those “that we have only just learned to recognize—patterns that exist where we thought everything was random and formless.” His primary example is clouds. Yes, it’s true that meteorologists distinguish between … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – September 2026
As we move into election season, with our first visit to the polls concluding this Tuesday, I’ve been reviewing the work of last year’s state legislature. I am in equal measures disheartened and motivated, aggrieved and enraged, by the squelching of deliberation and dialogue. Lawmakers made uncomfortable by testimony are shutting it down by citing … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – August 2026
On our monthly theme, Collective Freedom Unlike many of our Christian neighbors, Unitarian Universalists do not have a fixed set of scripture to draw from. Our Sunday services and religious education are not built around texts from a lectionary (a sequence of Hebrew and Christian Bible readings that repeat on a three-year cycle). This freedom … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – July 2026
On our monthly theme, Flourishing Together Generosity. We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality. – from the UUA Bylaws In the introduction to our Chalice Circles’ small … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – June 2026
Falling in love with curiosity The colors and smells of spring tend to drive a surge of dopamine in our brains. According to one scientist, the flush of novelty swirling through the natural world this time of year is why “you’re prone to fall in love – and fall hard.” Despite its ubiquity, “falling in … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – May 2026
After catching a head cold over Thanksgiving from an otherwise cherubic two-year-old, I awoke at 2am on the first Sunday in December feeling rather unwell. “Oh no!” I thought, “what terrible timing!” It was to be a big day — the Board and the Community Team were meeting together for two hours after the service. … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – December 2025
Gratitude is so often the theme for November. This year, we’re practicing nourishing gratitude. What an interesting turn of phrase. I’m used to being grateful for the nourishment I receive, being nourished by the experience of giving thanks, and feeling nourished when people thank me. To nourish gratitude is to give even more life to … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – November 2025
Compassion is active There is a hierarchy of responses when we encounter suffering. Pity says, “I see your pain.” Sympathy says, “I understand your pain.” Empathy says, “I feel your pain.” Compassion says, “I am with you in your pain and I will help.” – Rabbi Esther Adler At our most recent monthly … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – October 2025
What does it mean to belong to a place or a community? And what do we want it to mean for us? We certainly do not mean it passively, treating ourselves as mere objects, the way one might say, “This shoe is one of my belongings.” No, the feeling of belonging comes when we are … Continue reading Note from Pastor Isa – September 2025
