Greetings Church Family!
Welcome to the Season of Light–a time where millions of people around the world draw meaning from Advent, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, and Kwanzaa. While these traditions vary greatly in belief and context they do have ‘light’ in common–in particular, the lighting of candles to represent life and hope in a time of sustained darkness.
We are, of course, no strangers to shadowed times, for we are living through a collective disordering that has our nerves frayed. For thousands of years wisdom has taught us that when crisis and terror descend, the ground becomes fertile for a Great Awakening–something new and creative emerges that changes the trajectory of things, including the human heart. This gives me hope!
And I love the season of Advent for this reason. It offers an invitation to quiet down in community so that we can prepare our hearts for a new way of being, doing, believing, and loving. And it’s one sacred invitation among countless–I sure do treasure the variety of ways that you cultivate spiritual depth and meaning in December! As always, I invite you to share this with one another and this church!
I also hope you will take the time to learn about the variety of offerings, rituals, and gatherings happening at FPW this month and ask yourself how you might prioritize your soul’s deep need this season. Maybe you need quiet, or you need some company; maybe you need a good laugh, or a hug; maybe you need music, or to sing; or maybe you need to engage in service to our church or larger community. Heed your need–that is my first ask of you this month.
My second ask is that you bring someone to church–a family member, a friend, a neighbor…a stranger. Why? Because we have good news to share in a world of bad news. We have love to give in a world seeped in hate. We have hope to offer in a time of serious despair. This is not something to hoard or keep secret my dear friends. I believe that our church and faith is a lifeline, and we need not be afraid to Go Tell it on the Mountain!
Mainly, I pray that peace finds its way to you and yours this month. We have so much to be grateful for here on Church Street.
With light and love,
Rev. Sophia
Reverend Sophia Lyons
Rev. Sophia is committed to radical welcome and spreading the good news that is our bold Unitarian Universalist faith. Some of her areas of interest include interfaith partnerships, addictions ministry, spiritual direction, and working towards collective liberation for all. Rev. Sophia aspires to live her life and fulfill her ministry guided by spiritual seeking, big love, and the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism.