Come, come, whoever you are / wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving
Ours is no caravan of despair / come, yet again, come
– Come, Come Whoever You Are, #188 in Singing the Living Tradition

So far, I’ve been to six congregations in the Pacific Northwest, mostly in Oregon: First Unitarian Church of Portland for Rev. Bill Sinkford’s last Sunday service and the reception which followed; Wy’east UU Congregation, where a pulpit guest preached on the legacies of racial injustice in Oregon; West Hills UU Fellowship, where members reflected on the gifts and opportunities of aging, including a presentation by the “Raging Grannies”; Vancouver, Washington for a service on the importance of rest; Eastrose as it reflected on adapting to the changing times, and: the UU Congregation of Willamette Falls, as Rev. Marcia Stannard was returning from her summer break.

I have appreciated all the encounters I’ve had at these communities of faith. Thank you for showing me your buildings and telling me about your history and your challenges. There’s a perspective on what’s happening in Unitarian Universalism that’s accessed by coming through doors, meeting members, being the service and connecting during coffee hour. There’s also a different experience being in the congregation on Sunday rather than being a guest speaker. I value them both. As a guest speaker, my attention is on the details of the service, whereas when I’m a guest in the pews, I can take in the service as other newcomers might, without being responsible for the service itself.

Sometimes a member or friend of a congregation will jokingly ask if they “passed”, as if I were there to do some inspection on behalf of the Pacific Western Region or our UUA. That is never the case! I come in kinship, as another person in this radically inclusive faith tradition. While I am interested in what’s happening at each congregation, I’m wondering how I (and Regional staff more broadly) can be of support. I’m curious about patterns between congregations as well.

Some of the consistencies I’ve noticed among the congregations I’ve visited:
– Skill with multi-platform worship. Our congregations have incorporated ways to remain engaged with members and friends who continue to worship from home. Though technology doesn’t always cooperate as we might have planned, we still deliver on our commitment to serve the gathered community.
– Rebuilding programs for children and youth. Even though we are getting further away from the gathering restrictions of the Covid lockdown, we are still in the process of discerning the future of our programs for children and youth. With smaller budgets and fewer families, our smaller congregations are especially challenged in this regard.
– Mutual support through the Chalice Lighters program. It’s been especially touching to see funds from the Chalice Lighters program at work. At Eastrose, they have beautiful audio/visual equipment at the back of the sanctuary. At Willamette Falls, their elevator installation and their kitchen renovation was funded with donations from Chalice Lighters. To all those who’ve engaged in the program: Thank you! The Pacific Northwest Chalice Lighters program is now operated by the Cascadia Chalice Lighters program, and the plan for the Chalice Lighters in the rest of the Region is forthcoming.
– Meaningful connection for senior members and friends. Like many other “mainline” communities of faith in the U.S. these days, Unitarian Universalist congregations are largely sustained and led by dedicated people in the 50+ age range. Our congregations are especially well-suited to serve the needs of people nearing or already in their retirement years, as they are places where deep friendships and mutual aid have thrived for many years.

As we enter this season of in-gathering, new beginnings and transitions, may we celebrate the ties that bind us to each other and create welcoming spaces for the wanderers, worshipers, and lovers of leaving who hope for a place to belong. May we be those communities of connection and accountability that so many seek.

I have chosen an unconventional way of being in the region over the next two years. Because I am a family of one – free of spouses, children, adult dependents, pets, and houseplants – I have the ability to relocate easily. With that in mind, I’m moving through the different parts of the region in this timeframe: Pacific Northwest June-November 2022; Pacific Central, December 2022-May 2023; Mountain Desert, June-November 2023, and; Pacific Southwest, December 2023-May 2024. With my time in the Pacific Northwest at the halfway point as I begin to plan for my time in other parts of the region, let me know if your congregation has events coming up that I should be aware of. I might not be able to make it to every occasion, but knowing about them in advance will at least help!

In faith,
Carlton

P.S. For suggestions on how to help newcomers feel right at home, check out “Make ‘A Warm Welcome’ Part of Your ‘New Normal’” by Rev. Sharon Dittmar on LeaderLab.