This week, I attended the North Atlantic chapter of LREDA (the Liberal Religious Educators Association) retreat. We learned together, conversed on hot topics and of course joined in worship. I always learn so much at these gatherings, but the chance to attend worship- to attend to my own spiritual needs is very welcome.
This year, we enjoyed two music rich offerings of worship whose themes meshed beautifully.

Wednesday evening, the theme of Roots and Wings made me think about how our faith roots us to reality and connection with others in an increasingly virtual world. How we are sometimes in free fall and need to remember the wings of our faith to guide us when we are doing something new.

Thursday morning, Robin Barraza expanded on her timely and popular blog post, musing on how Unitarian Universalism is poised for great relevance in this time of change in American religion.

So many of us are unable to describe what Unitarian Universalism is - even if we have attended RE classes and services for years. We are so concerned with casting a wide net, of not alienating anyone, that we lose sight of what binds us together. Barraza challenges us to find our common theology, the beliefs which unite us.

What is the central message we want for our children, youth, and adults at Channing? It is a discussion worth having, and one to have soon since we are witnessing a migration away from the traditional Sunday School model, and organized religion becomes a less important cultural focus.

Let's look our common Unitarian Universalist beliefs, articulate an inclusive message that, "says something about life, death, creation, human unity, interconnectedness, God, suffering, Love." (Barraza) Let's create a message that engages our bodies as well as our minds. A message of action. A message of hope. This sort of message will inform our choices and direction as a religious education program, congregation, and Association.

It’s March, which for most folks means the days are longer, the first flowers are peeping up, and the snows are receding.


But for many of us who either work for churches or are congregational leaders, March is a time of money. Yes, it is Stewardship Month, or “Canvass Month”, or “All Hands Month”-whatever you call it, the time when we gather pledges from the congregation that finance the budget for the next year. It can be a little stressful, because a lot is riding on this one month. Also because people don’t really like talking about money.

But is this time really just about the money?

Being at church is not a fee for service equation. Church is not like going to the coffee shop, where you hand over a few bucks and get a frothy beverage. Being part of a congregation is having an impact. It is like exponentially magnifying your ability to make more good in the world than you could do on your own. Stewardship is caring for ourselves, our community, our earth and our faith. It is a big responsibility, and that’s why we join together to realize the amazing future possible.

Being plugged in to the congregation at this deep level is fitting yourself into a wonderful cycle of Receiving, Nurturing, Sharing, and Returning. That is what Stewardship is all about. A back and forth rhythm of connection, love, fullness, caring, action, healing, learning, and inspiration all in this so lovely a dance that we aren’t concerned with who is at any moment the giver and who the receiver. This is partnership based on shared purpose, shared values, and shared vision.

Yes, money is one of the instruments needed to create this rhythm. Money is the beat that determines the pace and expression of our dance. Just as the beat is nothing without the dancers, though, our congregation is more than pledges. What gives us purpose are the lives, stories, actions, and love of our people.

Seeing Stewardship in this light makes this an exciting month- a month of hope and excitement. Happy March!