“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote: journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.” So reads the proposed 8th Principle.  The first part (through the word “promote”) … Continue reading Jonalu’s Journal – May 2021

Developmental Minister Annual ReportUU Fellowship of Manhattan, KansasApril 15, 2021Rev. Jonalu Johnstone The COVID pandemic tremendously shaped the year for UUFM, as it did for everyone.  We have conducted virtual services throughout the year, held two congregational meetings on Zoom, conducted our annual holiday sale on Facebook Marketplace, and moved almost everything on-line.  Our only … Continue reading Developmental Minister Annual Report 2021

Across cultures, religions and traditions, human beings celebrate. We have seen many holiday opportunities pass without our traditional celebrations in the last year.  As vaccinations increase, we may be peaking out and trying to do it a little differently, with small, safe family groupings.  Still not what we are used to–but improving. This month, three … Continue reading Jonalu’s Journal – April 2021

As I write, we are coming out of the deepest freeze I have been through since I moved away from Wisconsin in 2000.  The sun is shining, and I am ready to believe that spring is coming. In the sunshine, we can imagine springtime returning to our lives.  Many of you have received vaccinations.  Our … Continue reading Jonalu’s Journal – March 2021

Of all the places that we exist–in our neighborhoods, our city, our nation, even our families–the groups we may have highest expectations of may be our religious communities.  This is only natural because it is in religious community that we proclaim our highest values, that we describe how we think the world really ought to … Continue reading Jonalu’s Journal – Feb 2021

Here is a link to the video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/g4ffprjhc6ogodm/Reaction%20to%20the%20insurrection.mov?dl=0   What a time we live in!   I speak to you today as minister of the UUF.  I speak to you as my friends, as my Beloveds, as a community striving to be both a force for social justice and a safe haven.    Today, we … Continue reading Reaction to the Insurrection

Never, ever has there been a year I was more ready to say good-bye to than 2020! There’s no need to review all that has been wrong about the last year as we welcome 2021.  Still, we have to recognize that these divisions into years are human created and somewhat arbitrary.  Cultural trends continue across … Continue reading Jonalu’s Journal – Jan 2021

As this year moves into its final month, we face a holiday season unlike any we have ever known.  We had a warm-up with Thanksgiving, setting aside family gatherings, or limiting them, or risking them with a combination of testing and quarantining and whatever other accommodations you figured out. These shifts and changes in how … Continue reading Jonalu’s Journal – Dec 2020

Only a few more days until the election is over! Except, probably, not really.  Our nation is so deeply divided that it’s a good bet that there will be recounts and court appeals and who knows what else.  Remarkably, the idea of a peaceful transition of power has been rejected by one side.  We may … Continue reading Jonalu’s Journal – Nov 2020

German religious philosopher, Martin Buber, reminds us:  “Humans are a promise-making, promise-keeping, promise-breaking, promise-renewing people.”  We can look at ancient promises like the rainbow in the sky, which according to the story of Noah was God’s promise not to flood the world again.  We can recall contemporary promises like the “I do” in a wedding … Continue reading Jonalu’s Journal – Oct 2020