As I write this, I have just finished a three-day retreat for commissioned lay ministers that I attended by Zoom. The sun is very distracting now, but the time with other commissioned lay ministers and candidates was well-spent. It included training on practical matters, opportunities to share about each of our ministry and congregations, and worship and reflective time.

There are about 30 commissioned lay ministers throughout the Central East region and Florida, several ministry candidates in process, and a council that includes commissioned members, active or retired ordained ministers, and staff liaisons from our Central East region and UU Association.

Among other topics, we discussed the education offered to CLM candidates and how it is best done—using an online tool was not yet becoming mainstream about ten years ago but this has changed since the pandemic. It opens opportunities for candidates to work together on readings and curricula, making for a much richer program. If you’re interested in learning more, let me know.

Through this month, I am offering discussions open to the congregation called Grounding Ourselves. Though there are numerous clever puns that can be made with the word grounding, these discussions are about the physical space church properties occupy, their impact on the environment, and what that may have to do with our values as UUs, and what we may be thinking about all of that.

There will be two Grounding Ourselves sessions by zoom and one in real life. Please check elsewhere in this month’s newsletter, the weekly updates, and the church calendar online for the times and dates. And if we need or want more any time, we can schedule them.

I am very excited for our Summer Solstice celebration on Tuesday, June 21, from 7 to 9pm on our patio (or inside if it’s raining). We will offer iced tea and coffee and whatever snacks you wish to bring. Would it be fun to make sun-themed snacks like orange slices or yellow frosted cookies or…? We will also have some brief rituals and plenty of time to be with one another on what is hopefully a pleasantly warm night.

For now, back to the Sun. I look forward to seeing you and chatting with you this month.

Gary Davenport has been a member of UUYO since 2011 and a Commissioned Lay Minister since 2020. His email is <gdavenport@uuyo.org>.