Minister’s Message

Dear Ones,

I am excited to be with you this Sunday, as we come together as a community for our “gathering of the waters” ceremony and backpack blessing. For me, this service marks the beginning of a new church year, when we start to settle into the routines and rhythms that will carry us through the next few seasons. We gather the waters to symbolize our coming together as a community. We bless the backpacks so that those returning to school this year know that our love goes with them. How sweet is that?

Lately I have seen several blogs and articles about prolonging that summer feeling throughout August. That’s not easy, amidst all the back-to-school bustle and the Halloween decorations that remind us that the holidays are just around the corner. Whether you can hardly wait for autumn to arrive or want to hold onto summer as long as you can, I hope you find moments to relish the blessings of THIS month. What comes to mind for me are fresh fruits and veggies, long warm days and cool nights, and outdoor theater productions. And maybe a new “back-to-school” outfit, for old times’ sake.

I hope to see you all this Sunday. Please bring your school backpack and some water that is from a significant source – or that represents something significant for you. It could be from your home, your backyard, a place you visited during the summer. Or it could represent abundance or persistence or whatever is meaningful for you. The most important element, of course, is you – gifts, struggles, and all. Come, let us create the Beloved Community together!

In faith,
Rev. Susan