I slept and dreamt
that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that
life was service.
I acted and behold,
service was joy.
-- Rabindranath Tagore
This is one of my favorite quotes. It’s not because it is
fun to say Rabindranath Tagore’s name (though it is fun to say!), it is because
it is one of the truest statements I hold dear in my life and in my ministry. I
know many of you have a fondness for this particular quote, and I also am aware
that many of you find joy in serving your communities and congregations, just
as I do.
We are on our way! Meaning we, as the Southern Region, have set sail, and are now seeing the horizon unfold before us, as the familiar territory of what was slowly fades into memory. We come to the never before
navigated, uncharted territory of what it means to be in deep interdependent, covenantal
relationship with our neighboring congregations, our Region, and our
Association. We have embarked on a long term experiment of sorts, one that will
challenge us, move us to the edges of our comfort zone, provoke
us to boldly go where no Region has gone before! Sounds exciting, right?! What
does it really mean though? For you
and your home congregation? What does the dissolution of the SED, FLD, MSD and SWUUC governing boards and covenanting as a region mean in your back yard?
It means we have swung open the doors to building
relationships with our neighboring UU congregations and Interfaith partners- we
no longer have hard boundaries keeping us siloed, but nice dash lines (like those on
the highway) to move in and out of the areas we are called to. It means we have
to be intentional about our relationships and stepping up and in to new roles
and saying “yes” when asked, or, better yet, seeing the need and pitching in
without being asked sometimes. It means being open to and available to your
neighbors when they are in need, as you hope they are for you when you are in
need. It means asking how someone is and really listening to their
response. It means we must honor the
feelings of loss some might have after being a part of their District structure
for a long time, and reminding ourselves that our regional family has grown and
we have many new friends we just haven’t met yet. It means looking outside of
our own congregations and seeing how we can influence our whole Association and
change the world, not just our own congregations. It means the change you have
been asking for is here! YOU ARE IT, and this is your opportunity to help shape
the next phase of our Faith movement!
There is great need for communication and relationship in
our modern world - that is why many found our religious homes in Unitarian
Universalism in the first place. I wish to inspire you to express your passion, and find others throughout the Region who share the same. The Regional
staff is here to help support the founding of new ‘affinity’ clusters with
tools, resources, and coaching. What are you most passionate about? What would
you like to start or be a part of? Who knows what good things this could lead
to? For example, maybe a passion of yours is knitting. I know we have many great
knitters out there! Getting together with others in your area sounds like a
grand idea, but what if you knew of several other groups around the Region with
the same interests? And then, what if you were to have a Skype session or two to
get to know one another and a plan is hatched. Your group decides to
make hats and scarves for a shelter in each city in the new cluster. Tada - the Southern Region Knitters
for a Warm Winter affinity cluster is born! It could really be that simple: meet new people, learn about them as they learn about you, and do good works for our
communities and our Faith. That sounds like a potential brick in the wall of Beloved
Community to me.
Please know all your efforts in faithful service to
Unitarian Universalism are appreciated and needed even more as we carve our new
pathways! My colleagues on your Southern Region staff team and I are so proud and
blessed to serve the congregations of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and
Arkansas! You can find your
congregations’ Primary Contact by clicking the link here- http://www.uuasouthernregion.org/staff/primarycontact.html
And remember: We are
Better Together!
With Faith and Hope for a Bright Future,
Maggie Lovins
UUA Southern Region Congregational Life Staff
