Our monthly theme for December is “Stillness.” Even in stillness, much activity is possible and very present. This is certainly true in our church. Linda Mohn and many other members of the hospitality team had the brilliant idea of putting together gift bags for each household, totaling 138, and delivering them to each person’s doorstep following proper safety protocols. It’s very heart warming, and a great example of finding ways we can encourage each other and bring joy to our community during this time. It feels good to be able to do something good for another.

Thanks to Lisbet and the stewardship team, we have the final numbers in, and our pledges have exceeded our pledge income from last year – quite a wonderful thing. We have so much to be grateful for, and I’m moved by the generosity of the congregation, especially by those who were able and willing to pledge more than they previously had to support those enduring joblessness and loss of income.

Melissa Smith received official approval to begin the Commissioned Lay Minister process by our regional committee, and she has a mentor, Rev. Steven Protzman, who is the Minister of the Kent congregation. Melissa has already been underway helping support new voices during the chalice lighting, and being a consistent presence in worship services. Her committee on ministry should be meeting within the next couple months to assist and give feedback on her path.

On a personal note, in case you missed the email, I was granted full fellowship as a Unitarian Universalist minister. I’m so grateful for all those who gave feedback and supported me as we navigated the paperwork and benchmarks together. The committee in my final assessment was very moved by the way the congregation and myself have grown together in tandem, and this is as much an accomplishment on your part as on mine.

I am grateful for those who have been exemplary board members, and are now ending their term: Dianna Shaheen and Marguerite Felice. We have been a creative and effective board navigating one of the most challenging times this congregation has experienced in its 125 year history. Thanks to your leadership we are not only surviving this time, but thriving, growing, finding new ways to give life to one another. It’s really quite amazing. On the near horizon will be a transition of the presidency from Andy Crabb to Lisbet White, a transition I have great confidence in. I am personally grateful for Andy Crabb, and his steady, calm, skillful leadership. His willingness to step in and learn completely new skills to meet this moment for our congregation frankly astounds and inspires me. Andy has been a great president. I look forward to allowing Andy to transition into other leadership roles as we welcome the energy and strengths of Lisbet as our new president. I have learned through my time in this church that the role of the president works well when the work of the congregation is shared among many others and this delegation is respected and welcomed. I think we have a good model for continuing this practice, and room to keep growing.

Gary Davenport, our Lay Minister, has been leading thoughtful conversations about the upcoming vote on the 8th principle at our Annual Meeting. He has asked when the date of our Annual Meeting will be, and if we will be having a board retreat this year. The latter is a question I have too. Given the virtual nature of our gatherings, perhaps it is good to discuss amongst ourselves what kind of retreat will best serve us during this time. I’m not sure a full day in Zoom would be most effective, but perhaps we can come up with some good ideas to onboard new board members and discuss the coming year in a way that makes sense. I look forward to 2021 encouraged and inspired by all of you.

We have many accomplishments to celebrate this year. CityScape recently awarded the church a Youngstown Beautification Award for our cupola and building and grounds. Thanks to all of you, the freshly paved driveway adds to the overall beauty (and is very nice to park on). We are on our way to a memorable and wonderful Christmas Eve Service. Beth Etter, a Pittsburgh based and world class pianist/harpsichordist has already recorded a number of solo pieces as well as accompaniment for our virtual choir. We will have three choir pieces that are being recorded at home individually within the week, and then put together in the editing room -again, new skills! So far everyone has been game, and it’s going well. During the Winter Months, I am looking along with other members for ways we can nourish the congregation virtually. It looks likely we will offer a staged reading in February through Zoom using readers in our congregation as well as actors coast-to-coast from NYC to Portland, OR. If you have some ideas or something you would like to suggest offering and participating in this Winter, please be in touch. I plan to have a meeting in January for anyone to offer their ideas and passion for what we can offer together during these Winter months.

Due to the Covid-19 surge, Sarah King has requested to work remotely from home until the cases subside a bit, and I’ve granted her request. She has a better internet connection at home now, and though there are some delays working with the office computer remotely, she has been able to find ways around this. She is also using her hours to check the office e-mail during the week, and post events on our Facebook and Website. RE in general has been consistent due to the partnership with the Kent congregation. I know at least a few of our children attend regularly. It will be good to start looking ahead to when we transition to in-person gatherings, and imagine what RE may look like in our congregation going forward. But for now I think we made a wise decision to allow the Kent DRE to do much of that work for us during this virtual period.