To my Beloved UUFM Community, SETTING THE STAGE: CREATING SAFE, WELCOMING SPACES The month of December has had particular momentum around our ongoing efforts to create safe and welcoming spaces for RE opportunities and programming. You may have seen the video update posted on our social media on December 3rd providing an overview of … Continue reading What’s Happening in RE December 2025/January 2026
Faith, wherever it develops into hope, causes not rest but unrest, not patience but impatience. It does not calm the unquiet heart, but is itself this unquiet heart in [all of us]. Those who hope… can no longer put up with reality as it is, but begin to suffer under it, to contradict it. [It] … Continue reading Choosing Hope (December 2025)
To my beautiful UUFM community, As I continue to address safety needs and create and/or update accessible and welcoming spaces for RE programming in our building, the need for resource support from the UUFM community is becoming more pronounced. We entered this fiscal year with a particularly tight budget, so – in addition to me … Continue reading What’s Happening in RE November 2025
As the days begin to shorten, the morning air becomes crisper, and my fuzzy socks have reappeared from storage, I find myself reflecting on how our congregation continues to embody our shared commitment to co-creating positive, alternative futures; futures that imagine new ways of being human together. This month, I had the opportunity to connect … Continue reading November Board Update
Welcome to Nurturing Gratitude When it comes to how we should travel through our lives, our culture and religion are clearly at odds. Culture cries, “Accumulate!” Religion counsels “Appreciate!” The mantras couldn’t be more different: The commercials surrounding us scream, “Go out and grab all you can!” The pulpits before us plea, “Learn to want … Continue reading Nurturing Gratitude (November 2025)
To My Beloved UUFM Community, RE UPDATE These first few months as your new Director of Religious Education have been an energizing whirlwind of onboarding, inventorying, orienting, networking, information gathering, assessing needs, prioritizing, experimenting, training and more. I’ve been meeting regularly with the RE Team, Community Team, Core Staff, and attending the Ritual Crafting Workshops, … Continue reading What’s Happening in RE October 2025
It’s tempting to think of this month’s theme as one of our lighter, more pleasant ones. After all, compassion sounds…well, nice. It conjures warm feelings and tender thoughts. Images come to mind of people telling each other they are holding them in their hearts. It would seem to be all about emotional connection and empathetic … Continue reading Cultivating Compassion (October 2025)
As autumn begins, we are reminded that seasons of change invite us to release what no longer serves us and to make space for new growth. The turning leaves teach us that transformation is both beautiful and necessary. In this season, UUFM has an opportunity to recommit to a shared sense of critical hope. Critical … Continue reading October Board Update
Don’t surrender your loneliness so quickly. Let it cut more deep. Let it ferment and season you as few human or even divine ingredients can. Something missing in my heart tonight has made my eyes so soft my voice so tender my need of god absolutely clear. Daniel Ladinsky, inspired by an original piece by the … Continue reading Building Belonging (September 2025)
The start of a new fiscal year began on June 1, which marked the changing season for the UUFM Board as well. I am honored to step into the role of Board Chair for UUFM this year and to walk alongside you as siblings in this vibrant, inclusive congregation we seek to be. While our … Continue reading June Board Update
