Dear Friends.
Our Installation Ceremony was beautiful and deeply moving. May the love and joy we shared last Sunday move us to greater and deeper ministry amongst both us attending our Fellowship and those with whom we seek to partner for the work of justice in a hurting world.
Among the many meaningful moments of the service, the presence of and the Charge from our youth and children stands out for me. They made some promises to me and to all of the adults (to behave in church, to keep church clean, to give back, to give thanks, to serve, and to explore). And it is up to all of us adults, especially me, to notice, to recognize, and to acknowledge that the youngest and younger among us are part of us, part of our web of relationship. They are not some future of the Fellowship. They are making their contributions in the here and now.
And they have requests, especially of me. I am not sure about planning fun activities or giving stuffed animals to sick kids. But I trust our Fellowship will locate a gifted Director of Children’s Faith Development to continue the beautiful work that Carrie Rice has done to foster a religious sensibility through play and fun and to offer pastoral care to our youngest. We owe it to our families and our Fellowship to attend to the spiritual needs and longing of our children and young people. And so, I pledge to them to link them to justice work and to UUs and Unitarian Universalism. I pledge to visit Children’s Chapel regularly. I pledge to provide a suggestion box, just for them. I pledge to keep them present to the Fellowship, even when they are worshipping and learning and exploring in places other than the sanctuary.
My pledge to the children will help to make the Fellowship more loving and more vital for all of us. Thank you so much for all your efforts and your presence, the living and loving embodiment of our Fellowship. May you remember, today and every day, you are loved, you are worthy, you are welcome, and you are needed. May you feel it so.
Blessings and best wishes, Rev. Rita