Dear UMA Members and Friends,
Jim said to me this week that he moved to this area to be closer to family. But his family hasn’t been all that interested or welcoming. He said instead he found a new family, a church family, a family who cares about him and who supports him. He said he truly feels loved in new ways.
That is what I also love so much about UMA, the sense of belonging, being loved and accepted regardless of faults, the ability to agree that disagreeing is all part of the process of getting things done, the sharing of our gifts and the care we have for the greater community and the world.
When I attend clergy meetings, I am sometimes reluctant to speak up about how wonderful UMA is and how blessed I feel as I listen to many of them lamenting about disagreements in their churches, how difficult it is to get people motivated, the criticisms, how the time spent arguing about church protocol hinders the ministry, and how burned out they feel. I, on the other hand, am so energized by you all and the love that is so abundantly shared, I am so blessed I feel that I am bragging!
We have accomplished so much these past four years, more people feeling welcomed in the church, being involved in and a major force in the community, having lots of kids and families connecting with us and finding a place where they can also feel the love, presentations and events that bring new people to the church and also educates and feeds our minds, hearts and souls, and community members donating and feeling that we are also their church.
We come to be nourished and fed on Sunday morning, to be together and strengthened, to find comfort, and from there to go out and be Christ’s eyes, ears, hands and feet in this heartbreaking and yet magnificently beautiful world as best we can..
Love to you all!