Dear Friends, 

The new church year is upon us and I am grateful to be beginning the year with my new title of Assistant Minister for Congregational Life. I have spent the last few weeks making time to rest and rejuvenate, knowing that as we transition back to being in-person there will be lots to create and recreate. Worship and many of our team meetings will be designed to be a multi-platform experience (in-person and online), hospitality teams will have new as well as familiar roles, and we will be returning to a building with several renovated spaces made possible by the funding of our capital campaign. There will also be familiar faces and traditions to reembrace. 

Some of you may have received my out of office message during the last part of June, indicating that I was away for two weeks on study leave and then vacation. I spent my vacation visiting my parents and the families of three of my six siblings. I spent quality time hiking with my mom. She took the picture above of the me hugging a giant Oak tree along one of the paths at Sugar Grove Nature Center in McLean, IL. I got to hug 7 of my 9 nieces and nephews, who I haven’t seen in-person since Christmas Day of 2019. When I checked-in with their parents about mask wearing and physical contact in the form of hugs, I received their appreciation for my taking time to ask before my visit instead of assuming. We established a clear understanding of these guidelines beforehand, so that when I arrived at their homes, we could just flow into the visit without awkward greetings. And during my various visits, I got to jump on a trampoline, hike along the Mackinaw River, play Sorry, and sniff daisies in a pasture. All things that brought me joy, and some body shaking laughter.  

These visits reminded me how much this in-person love and laughter fills me up and grounds me and gives me energy to share my joy with others. My visits also reminded me of how parents with children under the age of 12 are having to negotiate life as those of us who are vaccinated are emerging from the pandemic lockdown. This vaccine phase we are living in, with some people still getting vaccinated and children under 12 being ineligible for any vaccine, is a complicated phase. As a community, we will need to move forward with clarity in our communication and with compassion. 

During my week of study leave, I also found some moments of joy. I ordered the 11-foot blow-up rainbow arch featured in the photo above. The Rainbow Alliance decorated the UCE yard along Ridge to be one of the stationary floats in the Evanston Pride Car Parade. I attended General Assembly and was filled up by the music in the various worship services. I also learned how to draw a labyrinth. I practiced drawing it in chalk on the cement patio at the bottom of my porch. The two children who live in my building found it the next day and I could hear from my 2nd floor porch how much joy it also brought them. I hope some of you are able to join me and the Faith Formation Force on Wednesday, July 21st at 5:30 pm at UCE to walk the chalk labyrinth I will be drawing in the parking lot!

Where are you finding joy right now? In learning something new? In the successes at your job? In seeing someone you haven’t in many months or having a conversation with your child? In trying out a new recipe or making an old favorite? In digging in your garden or taking a walk? We each experience joy in different ways and in different moments. I hope for you, that in these remaining warm, and lately often rainy, summer days, that you find something that brings you joy. And if life is too difficult right now for joy, I hope that you find what you need. Something that fills you up. Something that grounds you. Something that gives you enough energy to share your life with others.

In faith,  

Rev. Susan