Welcome to a new month! I say “welcome” intentionally because the Soul Matters theme for September is WELCOME! Welcome is more than a greeting; it is an affirmation of our shared humanity. It is a testament to our commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person. It is an expression of our belief in the transformative power of love and acceptance. And it’s also a challenge that we can strive to do as well as we possibly can.
In our congregation, we aspire to create a welcoming space for all – a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. This commitment to hospitality can be one of our greatest strengths but doesn’t always mean that we UUs succeed at it. It’s that aspiration word at work again. The journey towards true welcome is not without its challenges. It requires us to confront our biases, to question our assumptions, and to continually strive to broaden our circle of inclusion. It requires us to create a space where everyone not only feels welcome but also feels that they belong.
As your Interim Minister and as someone who feels that the welcoming work we do is a core mission of our faith, one of my roles is to facilitate this journey. Together, we will explore what it means to be a truly welcoming congregation. We will celebrate our successes, learn from our challenges, and work towards a future where everyone feels at home in our community.
This journey does require some… humility. It means that sometimes you may need to appreciate that while your wishes may not be met at that moment that someone else’s needs may be exactly what are getting spoken to. And that’s not something that UUs are used to living with! But it is in welcoming others that we ourselves are transformed. It is in opening our hearts to others that we discover our shared humanity. It is in extending our circle of inclusion that we strive to live out our highest values.
As we navigate this journey together, let us remember that welcome is not a destination, but a journey. It is a journey marked by love, compassion, and a deep commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person. It is a journey that we undertake together, as a community, guided by our shared faith and our shared commitment to one another.
With blessings for our journey,
Rev. Michelle