Dear friends,
We completed the formal “work” of the church program year on Sunday in our Annual Meeting, where you unanimously passed the fiscal year 2027 budget and elected your congregational leaders. We also remembered the (too many) members of A2U2 who died since our last Annual Meeting.
We find ourselves now in that liminal space between ending and beginning. Many committees and groups have wound down and had their final gatherings. But we have a few more regular Sundays remaining; summer is not quite here. Instead of rushing to summer, I am trying to savor this final stretch of the program year. I’m working from my back porch more so I can listen to birds while writing and emailing; I’m winnowing piles and files in my office to make space for next year and in doing so appreciating the beauty of that space– a window facing the dawn redwood, art and notes on the walls (many are gifts from you!). There is so much beauty to appreciate and be inspired by.
Around this time last year, we were beginning to make plans with a local mural artist to have our A2U2 sign painted with the progressive pride flag as a visible expression of our values. On Sunday, a year later, we’ll gather in worship to celebrate art and the ways in which art of all kinds can express our values, act as an agent for social change, and inspire justice. We’ll meet and hear from the artist who worked with us on our sign project, Chel. And we’ll hear from a leader of Portland’s Singing Resistance, too: Andrea Cole. Andrea will speak about the Singing Resistance movement and even lead us in some contemporary protest songs. This is an all-ages service and we hope you and your families will join us in reflection and song!
Until we’re together, may beauty find and uplift you.
In faith,
Rev. Tara