Some news! I am so excited to introduce you all to our new Coordinator of Religious Education, Cara Craig! The search committee was highly impressed with Cara’s experience working with children and in an administrative capacity, her dedication to her own children, and her love of spiritual growth and learning. We are so excited for you to get to know her better.
Here’s another small update: Have you heard violin music around Pacific Unitarian? We have a new renter! Her name is Bianca, and she teaches violin and viola. If you are on campus during the week, she tends to teach in the afternoons in the library. Please welcome her!
We are in the holiday season. Are you a mix of emotions, just like me? I love Christmas and Yule. I love the music and the food. I also miss my family in Virginia and my grandfather, who died in February. I am sad to see another year come to an end.
I’ve been enjoying the poetry of Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. In a recent video, she shared several poems and the writing practice that has sustained her through joy and grief. The holiday season can be a time of grieving, especially as we miss those who may not be with us anymore. We will honor that grief as a congregation with a special service on Wednesday, December 13. Please join us if quiet time with music, candlelight, and reflection would help you during this season.
It is also a time of great joy. I look forward to spending Christmas Eve Morning caroling with you all. Then, there will be a sacred and beautiful Christmas Eve night celebrating with candlelight and our choruses of Silent Night.
I’ve been talking about spiritual practices a lot lately. We did gratitude practices in church this last week. We went for a labyrinth walk with the Seekers group two weeks ago. I’m enjoying a Christian Advent Devotional from Dr. Kate Bowler this month. She’s a professor, podcaster, and writer, and I especially like her frank and authentic take on life. Here is a link to her devotional if a daily practice this December might speak to you!
Sending tenderness for the holidays,
Rev. Chloë
