Happy New Year’s Church Family!
I pray that you found good ways this past week to recalibrate after the holidays and have stepped into 2025 well.
I’m not much of a New Year’s Eve person, but I love New Year’s Day–mainly because I get to hang up all my new calendars.
Yes, I’m a passionate and highly discerning calendar collector. I begin sniffing around the calendar sections of bookstores, museum gift shops and stationary stores come September. Calendars that track the moon and planets are a favorite, as are those that depict beautiful illustrations of medicinal plants, tarot cards, or nature scenes. That said, calendars that are somewhat ridiculous are must haves–i.e. psychedelic Grateful Dead art, goat-themed anything, or depictions of 1980’s roller rinks…These serve as good daily reminders to not take life too seriously. My home office calendar is the one I pour the most time and care into choosing. This year, I went with a beautiful Andy Goldsworthy calendar–with monthly depictions of his marvelous land art creations, focusing on spirals, a symbol that means a lot to me. I can’t think of a better way to capture the story of a life than through a spiral.
The story that these calendars tell throughout the year is what means the most to me. They remind me about who I am, who I want to be, and what I choose to carry forward from years past. They remind me about beauty, and joy, and especially, the preciousness that is the passage of time.
Story is our worship theme this month. Just like my calendars, Story is one of those themes that shines light on where we come from, where we are now, and where we are going, all at the same time. What we choose to carry, strive for, or let go of is also a part of the relationship we have with Story. I am really looking forward to swimming in this rich theme with you over the coming weeks.
Of course, it’s the greatest blessing to receive and hold close your stories–both tender and joyous; to share mine with you; and to learn and dream about the new stories–ones we didn’t know about, and of those who are not yet here!
Thank you for sharing your lives and stories with me, and for all the gifts and good you bring to this community and world.
With deep 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.