Dear Friends,

April has arrived, and with it, some of the most holy times in the religious calendar as well as the longer, warmer days of Spring. Our Soul Matters theme for April is emergence: the process of coming into being or coming into view. This theme is an invitation to be open to what in our lives and at RVUUF is becoming.

One thing I am noticing is that there seems to be a lot of joy and excitement in the congregation right now. There are a LOT of ideas for projects, programs, services, classes, and new ways of doing things at the Fellowship. There is an eagerness for growth and renewed hopefulness about the future. All of that is wonderful and risky.

The congregation is, in some ways, a bit like a new plant just beginning to emerge. You look at the tiny leaves and tendrils and imagine all the things you can cook once the tomatoes or pumpkins or hot peppers or (thousands of) zuchinni are ready to harvest. Even though there are only two tiny leaves and a stem, you begin to plan the meals you’ll share with friends and the bounty you will be able to donate to the food bank.

All this dreaming is good, but if you pull the little sprout and try to make it into a pumpkin pie, you’ll be disappointed. There is still so much the little plant needs to flourish: water, sun, and nutrients; protection from wild weather and all the critters that would like to eat it before it even gets a chance to set; the support it needs to grow, be that a stake, tomato cage, or trellis; someone to help free it from weeds that compete for the things it needs to thrive. There is a lot to be done between its emergence and the harvest.

We at RVUUF have work ahead too. As we spend the next year finishing up and evaluating our progress on the Developmental Goals, we will also be looking ahead–planning our garden, if you will. We’ll have to decide what we’d like to grow, and design, build, and tend it. We’ll have to make choices about what we have the resources to do and what may wait a season or two. And we’ll have to continue to build our capacity to work together in ways that help not just our goals, but our community flourish.

We will need to be hard-working and committed, but also gentle, patient, and caring, as we see what beautiful things are going to emerge among us. I am grateful beyond measure for this satisfying and creative work and thankful to be doing it with you.

Love will guide us,

Rev. Sean

P.S. A reminder: If you’d like to find a time to meet with me, the best way is to go to calendly.com/seanden. If you’re not the type to use online tools, you can call the office during the week, when a RVUUF builder (office volunteer) can help you make an appointment. My regular office hours are Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. to noon and Wednesday 3 to 7 p.m. I’m available other times by appointment as well. You can reach me at minister@rvuuf.org.