It is wonderful to be meeting with you shortly before the first day of Spring 2021. It certainly does feel like an opening up toward newness, life and promise. Our theme this month is “Commitment,” and I’m excited to see what we’ve learned and thought about opening up the church to an in-person experience once again. I’ve been following the vaccine roll out dates in Ohio, and it is anticipated that anyone over age 16 will be able to get an appointment by the end of March. Given this timing, I think it’s reasonable to assume that sometime this Summer the vaccine will be available widely to anyone who wishes to get it. As a police chaplain, I had my first dose, and plan to get my second dose in April. It seems to me then, that as the board we are in the wonderful position of imagining what church may look like with both an in-person and virtual presence. I’m curious to see what opportunities may emerge, and how the in-person gatherings will feel to us. My hope is that together we can help facilitate an experience that is safe, as well as pleasing, even sacred. I would like it to feel personal and welcoming, and not merely medical/sterile, and finding our way there I think will take thoughtfulness and experimentation. That is my intention and commitment as we discuss during this meeting.
I was recently offered the opportunity to teach a World Religions course as an Adjunct at Youngstown State University this Fall. If I accept, they would like me to teach two sections, which amounts to 8-12 hours per week including prep and grading. It’s a significant time commitment, and I’m still discerning if I want to accept, and I would like your input. I can see the advantage of having a consistent presence at the University, blocks away from our church, but I know it’s also a significant time commitment. I’d appreciate your honest feedback, if you think taking this position would align with our mission as a church, and be of benefit to us.
As you may have heard, we are preparing for a play reading during Easter weekend of the “The Last Days of Judas Iscariot” over Zoom. Lisbet White initially sparked the energy to look into this seriously, and since then Jennifer and I have connected to a director who has a Master’s degree from Yale in Drama and Public Health. With a mix of members from our congregation and professional actors, we will have a two part reading on Friday April 2 and Saturday April 3 with a brief talkback about the themes of the play facilitated by myself. Again this is a great example of using this time and technology to connect us to people of similar interests and sensibilities who live afar.
Speaking of people who live afar, I had a great meeting with members of the church who are interested in exploring the possibility of a partnership with an international Unitarian/Unitarian Universalist congregation. At that meeting we formed a steering committee that includes: Ellen Satre, Lindsay Sinkovich, Matt and Lenore Jones, Karen Lapidus, and Judy DeJenova. They are tasked with researching and exploring the possibilities with the Partnership Church Council (U.S. branch) and report back to me by our next board meeting in April.
At the beginning of March I invited all the ministry leaders of the church – those who are leads of committees to join me once a month to evaluate the ministry of the church and support one another in our specific ministries including membership, hospitality, social justice, care team, meditation, worship and adult faith development, etc. I’m thinking of opening up the group to anyone interested in starting or joining a particular ministry in April. I thought this would be helpful now that my Committee on Ministry is finished with evaluating me for full fellowship with the UUA. I’m open to suggestions if you have other thoughts of how we can better evaluate the ministries of the church, and support one another in living out our mission. I’d be curious to learn
if there was anything that has worked well in the past to keep our ministries active, accountable, and supported. I’m open to trying different things.
Most of the other items I could mention in this report are on the agenda for ongoing business, so I can save that information for the appointed time. I hope you all are doing well, and able to enjoy the coming Spring with a combination of joy and commitment to what is worthwhile and beautiful about being alive.
One closing note is that I recently spoke with Randy Cox, who offered the Yacht club to our church for a picnic on pretty much any Friday between now and Labor Day. I don’t know if we’re in a position yet to make a reservation, but I wanted to let you know that is an option. I believe we went to the Yacht Club on a Friday afternoon on the July 4th weekend and had a great time. I’m hopeful we will be in a position to do something outdoors together by the beginning of July, but time will tell.