On Saturday, October 11th at 1 pm our church will be hosting a community conversation on how to be a voice of nonviolence in Youngstown. I’ve been reflecting on how this is a joyful way of life: to focus on connection, humor, and what gives us joy in one another’s company. Nonviolence as a way of life is about valuing what we love more than valuing what we despise. It really is a positive force, and it has life in it: it’s full of zest, and not passive. We will explore this as a community, so definitely come and attend. 

We will open the month with Blessing the Animals on October 5th, a reminder that we are all in this together :). All of us as creatures share this beautiful earth, and this is wonderful beyond words. Come and let us celebrate this together…bring your pet if they’re comfortable with it. 

Later in the month, Melissa Smith will be hosting a conversation for us called “Starting Point,” meant for those curious about Unitarian Universalism. It’s exploratory and provocative in a good way, provoking a deeper engagement with our lives. 

We have a nice, full month ahead full of celebration. This may be the greatest October I’ve ever experienced. Every month I spend here at UUYO, my sense of compassion deepens and expands, and my hope is you might get a taste of this too during our celebrations. 

In Faith, 

Rev. Joseph Boyd