We are coming to the end of the year and a new 2024 is about to born. We have come a long way together! This church is our church, more than any other church I’ve been in. We are here because each of us has cared enough to make it so. There are two circles I want to call out, though, that have done the yeoman’s work we all see: Soul Weaving and the Fun Circle. Everyone has done incredible things, but these two have kept all of us alive and engaged and in community. The tireless work, week after week, that Soul Weaving has done and is still doing, speaks to how deeply these folks care! The Fun Circle, Nancy Freitag and Joyce Robinson, have supported us in playing together and having time to just deepen our relationships with each other, something hard to do in these liminal times!

We have been blessed by so many folks who have given of their time, talent and treasure to make us whole. We wouldn’t be doing quite so well if it weren’t for Rev. Crystal and the past year and half she’s spent with us. Slowly we are attracting new members, and it is exciting to both see us grow and see how quickly they step up to add their gifts!

Speaking of the new 2024, we are welcoming your involvement in two new, temporary circles: the Relocation Circle, which is seeking a permanent home for us, and the Intercommunication Circle, which is a bit more geeky and is exploring better ways for us to deepen our internal communication between circles. If the whole Circle concept is new to you, you can attend any meeting (mostly online) and just watch to get the hang of it. We are working mightily to get away from the top down, colonial way of working to become much more inclusive and conscious in making sure everyone has a voice. We welcome your participation in either of these new ventures. If one lights your fire, please contact Kathryn Alexander at gc@INUUC.org.

Our Christmas Party is December 17 at Rockwood (thank you Fun Circle), so plan to be there! Come celebrate all that we have accomplished in the past four years!