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 From Here… Where? and Why?
As our practical commitments of time and energy to our congregation lessen a bit during the summer months, let’s wrap our minds and hearts around an important consideration. UUS does great work together – we build a welcoming community, we seek truth, we work toward justice, we educate all ages, we listen deeply to one another, we struggle through difficult hours and decisions so we can grow as individuals and as a community. We do all of this and more. From here, where shall we go, and why? What is our vision for our growing and vibrant community? Why do we hold this vision – what is the mission that stirs our aspirations?
A
congregational vision is the result of a collective imagining – a dream
that will call us to our best selves. A mission is the project we
undertake with intention. A mission gives meaning to our work, it
drives our generosity, and it helps us guide our decisions. UUS is ripe
for a process of determining our vision and mission. It is work that
can be energizing and will likely sustain a congregation through change
and development.
While
flipping through a favorite collection of readings, I found this one
from Michael G. Young that I feel poetically establishes the mission of
our faith as he saw it:
“Ours
is a free church, dedicated to the nourishing of the human spirit, and
the hope of human community. Here we would venture together to seek and
do the truth, knowing that venture to be bonded only by the limits of
our own imagination. Here knowledge is trusted, and the unknown is not
feared; for it is but the growing edge of life’s creativity. Here we
would wrap our being and doing in compassion, for the voice that speaks
to us out of Life’s mystery is a challenge to create and to care, and
not to destroy.
“We
are those who would see life whole; accepting the partial character of
that vision at any moment, yet pushing always beyond the momentary
boundaries of that vision; seeking the fulfillment of our highest hopes
and our deepest needs in this community where no man (human) is
stranger.”
What
do you see as the mission of our community? What is your vision of our
future? Wax poetic – if you are called – sometimes it is only in poetry
that the deepest truths rise to the surface. Draw a picture or invite
your children to draw a picture of our community rising on the horizon
of our dreams. Write a list of those things you feel we must do, those
items that call us to our best selves. And when we gather again, ready
for another year together, you will have many occasions to consider
your work and share it with others as we construct our collective
vision and mission.
Have
a wonderful summer. Collect water from your travels (near or far) to
share at our ingathering on September 7th. And know you are never far
from the reach of community should you need.
- Rev. Anya
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