December 2025 is HERE! It is sometime said, time goes by so fast. However, for me, and in this political, social, spiritual and religious moment in time, things are deeply impacted by the geopolitical
historical times we find ourselves in where things feel exponentially compounded with little room for way too many to catch their breath.
When wars rage on in the Sudan, and other parts of the globe, with famine documented in Sudan, Palestine, and possibly in Ukraine, and with the political nightmare so many or enduring in this
country, alone, what is our Unitarian Universalist faith asking all of us to do to engage this moment with resilience and resistance to what is happening? I believe we are being asked to take care of
ourselves and each other, maybe as never before; to make hope become a transformed reality for more people and the planet through how we live our values. Amen???
With all that First Church is engaged in within our church walls, and in the community, we must all continue to take care of ourselves as we care for others of this community and move our values into the community in the many ways that we observably do. That is, to plan times for deep rest, also for “nothing,” drinking water, and slowly take in the seasonal changes even as they too still feel so dynamic.
I am humbled to report, our Pastoral Care Associates Team, and our Pastoral Care Providers continue to share support for members and friends of the church that have expressed needs. They are also open to receiving more requests for support as needed. Please reach out if needed. Theme Circles are underway and moving along well with deep, meaning conversations taking place within and outside of the Circles. Also, we welcomed 10 new members into the life and community of this church last month and had the startup of “Being UU: Being Male” for this church year with great success and more meetings being planned for the first Sunday of each month after services.
It is often said that most ministers preach their “one” sermon, over and over in a multitude of ways. I am not sure how true this is for me, yet, I do have a sermon topic that I have returned to many times in leading services over the years before and since I was ordained. That is on the topic of hope.
This month, for our December 28, 2025, 10:00 a.m. (only) Service, I along with Debra Klepp the Worship Associate for that day, and Tristan Strelitzer our Choral Director, will lead the Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve and January 1, 2026, service. Tristan will carry the music that day, affording the choir some well-deserved rest post the many holiday services offered here at First Church.
In closing, as always, thanks to those who continue to reach out to me to have tea, or a meal. I am open to meeting even more of you now and into the coming year.
Sincerely and in deeper Unitarian Universalist faith,
Rev. Chris Long
Acting Assistant Minister