Wow! It is hard to believe we have almost completed another calendar year. It is nice that this time of year is filled with hope and celebration for many of us, but for some it can be a time of sorrow due to loss or loneliness. I think this is a good time to explore the fourth pillar of stewardship – “LOVE”. 

Love should be viewed as an essential spiritual and moral value. Susan Frederick-Gray gives us a full and meaningful definition of love that should be practiced by each of us: “Love is a core foundation of our religious understanding, but it is not a love that is simply an emotion, a feeling, or an expression of the bonds of loyalty felt within a group. In personal relationships, when we love someone, we wish for them the fullest unfolding and development of who they are. We wish for them freedom, safety, joy, and life. Love as a religious practice extends our compassion, solidarity, and care beyond the personal to seeking the liberation and wholeness of every person. It reminds us of our fundamental interdependence with all of life.”

We owe it to our fellow UUs and friends to be mindful of this expansive view of Love. If we can find it in our hearts to practice some aspects of this kind of love in every encounter it could bring a whole new meaning to life for each of us whether in our church or in our community.

As we move through this holiday season and into the new year, let’s practice the core values of stewardship: (1) Identity, (2) Trust, (3) Gratitude and (4) Love. Let’s begin the new year by celebrating     A Year of Stewardship – A Way of Life to bring an all-new outlook for BBUUC.

Peace and Love.

Chuck