Taryn Strauss

Director of Religious Education

December 2009

A couple of weeks ago, a DRE friend remarked to me, “Where I grew up in the Baptist church, when times got tough, the first thing people did was go to church. Now I’m Unitarian, and I’ve noticed, when times get tough, people at my church stay home. They shut in, and hide away.”

In this season of pandemic illness and economic scarcity, it’s difficult to imagine getting the family up and at em’ for yet another obligation in the week. This year especially, I’ve heard stories of collective exhaustion, stress at work or financial stress of not enough work. I’ve watched people add one or two part-time jobs on top of other jobs, or endure harsher work environments. Children feel that stress, and just want to be home, comforted by the family hearth. And yet, what greater balm for the soul is there than connection and community? What greater healing than the chance to experience loving gratitude, peaceful meditation, and holy ritual?

I know I’ve been talking about all of our needs for teachers and funding for our programs, and while those needs are real, please remember that we are here for you. We offer an abundance of warmth, caring, healing, support, and love. This church can be a refuge from the stress of life. My goal for these next few months is to simplify RE, and get back to basics. You’ll notice I’ve limited announcements in our weekly family email to you. While we have toy sales and decorating parties to look forward to at church, I want to offer sanctuary from the chaos of the holidays.

We need more teachers for next semester, this is true. But when you come to church on Sundays, I also want you to experience the gratitude and hope of this place, and to be nurtured in the arms of a safe and loving community. May you find all that here, and let me know if I can offer additional support to you and your family.