Greetings UUCE Friends!
I hope you are doing well and enjoying the summer months.
Being recently retired from my career as a school principal, this time of year still rings true to me as the start of a ‘new year’. Having lived the school year life for the past 30 years, old habits die hard. I have always felt fortunate to have two ‘new years’ to celebrate, January 1st of course, and then whatever day school started in August. The promise of a fresh start, the excitement, smiles and hugs (and some tears, mostly from the grown ups) that filled the school, the newness and familiarity of it all- such a blessing! In all honesty, I am missing it at this moment, not so much the busy work and long hours, more so the people, the students, families and community that made the building come alive with hope, promise, love and collaboration.
I feel that same excitement as we approach the ‘official start’ of our Church year. I look forward to our Ingathering and Water Communion. Our Church will be filled with new energy, welcoming all into our community. We will share smiles and hugs, laughter, joys and concerns. Having our community together again, with love at the center, and hope, promise, acceptance and support surrounding us is an amazing blessing. Let’s start the year with open hearts and minds, reconnected with one another and the values we hold dear.
RE News
- Please keep an eye out for RE registration materials, the RE calendar, and RE programming information coming soon. Copies of the calendar will be available on the table near Fellowship Hall, outside the DRE office, and posted on the bulletin board near the DRE office.
- As an FYI, to align with many of our RE colleagues and fellow churches, we are updating our RE terminology. RE will shift from Religious Education to Religious Exploration and my new title is Director of Religious Exploration. Our RE classes will be led by facilitators (no longer called teachers) to emphasize the impact these folks have as they walk beside us as guides and partners on a lifespan of faith and spiritual growth.
Help Wanted for the 2026-2027 RE Year
If you’d like to make a difference and volunteer to support Religious Exploration at UUCE, please drop me a line and let me know how you’d like to help.
You can email me at: michele.ramsey@uuce.org. I look forward to hearing from you!
Bright Blessings!
Michele