Upon behalf of my partners in this ministry, UUA FLD Lifespan Program Consultant Connie Goodbread, UUA FLD Administrator Jessica Curren, UUA Trustee Joan Lund, UUA Annual Program Fund Chair Bertha Perez, UUA Ministerial Settlement Representative Rev. Katy Korb, and our UUA Florida District Board- Jennifer Carver, Rachel Christensen, Rev. LoraKim Joyner, Frank Wells, Ginger Abraham, Betty Brantley, Ila Klion, Judy Lehman, Bill Scott, Kayli Carter & Taylor Gibson – here are wishes for a blessed set of winter holy days.

May your oil not run out as you light one more candle to drive the dark of tyranny away.
May you build a fire to drive away the cold demons of the winter’s night.
May you glow with radiant peace on a silent night of beloved memory and fondest hope.
May you give yourself and others a spiritual manumission, setting all free of past wounds, injuries and injustices.
And may you ring in a new year with renewed commitment to learn and to teach how to love more steadfastly in your daily life.

Twenty-Ten (or will you say two-o-one-o) is an arbitrary notation in our blue green earth’s sojourn around the sun. Nonetheless, it gives us a marker by which to take stock of our lives. I learn anew a simple lesson every year:

• When you have a “stop” goal, tell everyone you know who might care. As in: “I’m going to lose those 10 pounds.” You will find willing checkers on your progress, have no doubt.
• With “start” goals, tell only your trusted companions. As in: “I’m going to learn Italian this year.” We all need cheerleaders and there is nothing more debilitating to a new adventure than sharing your excitement only to have some negative type take the wind out of your sales with a caustic, “Why would you want to do that!”

May you know you are precious in this life. May you commit anew to your ideals. And may you bless this new year with your daily witness for peace and justice, love and compassion. Start now!

In hope, Rev. Kenn

Growing Souls
By Connie Goodbread

Are we growing souls? Feeding the people? Giving them the tools they might need to become more fully human?

Do we make Unitarian Universalism a spiritual discipline that could be a lifelong path?

Do we make a difference in the individual lives of our members?

Do we make a difference in the communities we serve?

Are we building the world we dream about?

William Ellery Channing: The great end in religious instruction is not to stamp our minds upon the young, but to stir up their own; Not to make them see with our eyes, but to look inquiringly and steadily with their own; Not to give them a definite amount of knowledge, but to inspire a fervent love of truth; Not to form an outward regularity, but to touch inward springs; Not to bind them by ineradicable prejudices to our particular sect or peculiar notions, but to prepare them for impartial, conscientious judging of whatever subjects may be offered to their decision; Not to burden the memory, but to quicken and strengthen the power of thought; Not to impose religion upon them in the form of arbitrary rules, but to awaken the conscience, the moral discernment. In a word, the great end is to awaken the soul, to excite and cherish the spiritual life.

I love this Channing quote and I have heard some people use it as a reason not to teach Unitarian Universalism. That interpretation implies that Unitarian Universalism has no center from which we can teach without indoctrination or coercion. That is not my interpretation.

It isn’t that every individual who comes into our faith communities (by birth or through exploration) must remain always and forever a member, but rather that when we are together we urge our selves and others toward being the best that we can be. Always becoming and becoming and becoming yet again, more fully human.

Our job in not to stamp our minds upon the young, however, our job is to share freely that which we find most valuable. Our job is to be in genuine relationship with one another in covenant. Our job is to be deeply Unitarian Universalists who can articulate our faith. Our job is to love one another and the world to the end that people will see this faith, this religion, this spiritual discipline as a viable lifelong path. If they need to explore their depths in another faith after having shared with us the depths of this faith, that is fine. We will leave the door unlocked and a light in the window in case they need to come home.