Minister's Column

May 2012

What would it be like for you to really invest yourself in a regular spiritual practice and to reflect with others about what you are learning along the way? What would it be like to read about the lives and thoughts of some of our Unitarian and Universalist forbearers and to ask yourself how your own ideas match those of our shared UU history? What would it be like to consider Buddhism, Humanism, Transcendentalism, etc., and see where your ideas fit in the great stew of theologies that symbolize the human yearning for meaning? What would it be like? It would be Wellspring!

Since 2009 more than 40 of your fellow church members and friends have participated in Wellspring, a facilitated small group experience that acknowledges (and celebrates!) that each of us is on a unique journey of the spirit. They have traveled with up to eight other companions, making their way through 20 sessions over 10 months, sharing homework assignments and conversations designed to engage their heads and hearts, and to help them better understand our Unitarian Universalist heritage and what it may be asking of us today.

If you are seeking a deeper connection to our congregation, to Unitarian Universalism, and to your own spiritual journey, I hope you will consider enrolling in the next ten-month session of Wellspring, and committing to the discipline of attending twice monthly 2-hour meetings, keeping up with the outside reading, journaling, and spiritual practice discipline, and a maintaining a required monthly meeting with a spiritual director/mentor of your choosing. Make no mistake: Wellspring asks a lot. But the return on the investment has been significant for those who have already been through the program, and I trust it will be for you, as well.

Throughout the month of May, we will be enrolling folks for the September 2012 - June 2013 Wellspring groups. Groups will meet the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays from 6:30-8:30 pm. You can read more about Wellspring on our website, but if you want to know more before you decide, don’t miss the Wellspring orientation session scheduled for Wednesday, May 9 from 6:45 - 8 pm, or contact me or any of the past facilitators (Sally Boeckholt, Barb Royal, Ann Rezarch, Caesar Smith, Ellen Taylor, Todd Lackmann, Scott Clair, Diane Ford, Jo Fitz). Registration is available on-line this year, but there is still the option of filling out a form at the Wellspring Table in the Gathering Space during the month of May.

I do hope you’ll consider participating. Our experience suggests you’ll be glad you did.

Would you like to have your child dedicated?

As part of the June 9th services, we will have an opportunity to share in a ritual of dedication for some of the children in our church community. During this simple ceremony we will acknowledge the children’s given names, bless (or honor) them with the four elements, and declare our responsibility to them as parents and as a community. Contact Rev. Stringer as soon as possible if you wish to have your child dedicated or if you’d like to know more about the ceremony.

See you in church!
 

Visit the Rev. Mark Stringer on his Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/RevMark.Stringer