Greetings fellow congregants, 

There is always a lot going on in our church community and this year feels especially active likely due to the increased contact we’ve been able to have with one another. It’s been nice to physically see, hear, and be in the presence of long familiar faces. And to see long time leaders, folks just becoming more active within church committees, and even long time visitors. 

Shout out to the Tech Team, and the Right Relations Team, and the Physicians Committee, who have been so helpful in guiding us safely back to in-person community. Remember, just like our covenant and our worship service, our collective safety is something we all hold together. We are still masking together during worship when indoors and only eating and drinking outdoors during coffee hour. 

As we’re coming back together it’s helpful to recognize what many in the mental health community aree pointing out, coming back together can be hard. Let’s do our best to be patient with one another, do our best to respond rather than react, and be open when others inform us they’ve been harmed. We all make mistakes, what we do after is the measure of our commitment to community. 

Finally, just as we collectively hold the well being of one another, we all hold the collective future of our church. One of the ways we express our loyalty to that ideal is through pledging our financial support. For me, loyalty isn’t dependent on agreeing with every decision by leadership or liking every single sermon. 

My loyalty is to the power of our shared principles and the consistent, life saving work I’ve witnessed those shared principles accomplish. It’s to the ways we support one another through crisis, and the laughter, dancing, and growth we share.

Pledging allows us to make a budget consistent with our values (“budgets are moral documents”), sustains our ministries, and represents our commitment to the future of this congregation. If you haven’t made a pledge yet, I invite you to make one today. And as always…

Take good care of yourselves, and each other, 

• Cir L’Bert, Jr. 

President, UU Church of Akron, Board of Trustees