I always think of this time of the year as one of transitions. We are moving from the routine of the school year to the more relaxing schedule of summer. Our kids are moving up to the next grade, the next school, and the next adventure. Lifespan Religious Education is also in transition from our wonderful interim DRE, Erin Rogers to myself, as your newly hired Director of Lifespan Religious Education.

I would like to thank you for this opportunity to serve you in fostering our faith development. Through faith development we deepen our sense of being at home in the universe. We are given a space for thoughtful reflection on our life stories and experiences, illuminated by Unitarian Universalist values and traditions. We grow the ability to carry our UU faith into everyday living and into compassionate action in the wider world.

There are monumental differences between hearing someone say, “I go to a Unitarian Universalist church” and “I am a Unitarian Universalist and this is my church.” This holds true for all of us. We are not a building, but a faith, and religious education is the cornerstone upon which we stand. Together, we build an environment of love, respect, and acceptance that moves far beyond the simple walls of our church.

So, as we flow through this transitional time and plans are being created for our 2018-2019 Faith Development year, I invite you to think or pray or meditate on what developing your faith means to you.  What does it look like? How does it feel? Prepare the way for opening your mind and your schedule for new opportunities in learning.

Love & Peace
Chris Jarman
Director of Lifespan Religious Education
dre@bbuuc.org