by Reverend Dan Lillie | Aug 30, 2018 | Minister Blog
September is a liminal time of the year when seasons shift and the patterns of our lives change. Similarly, Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church is in a transitional time as a congregation. Liminal, transitional and interim times – times when one thing is shifting into another – are often confusing but they bring many gifts as we reflect on who we have been, what our gifts are, and begin to create a new vision of what we might want to become.
As the days get shorter I’ve been reflecting on what our September theme of Vision might mean for WUUC now. As a I’ve been meeting members and friends of the congregation over the past month I’ve been hearing many visions – visions of what WUUC could be in the future and visions of what people see in WUUC now.
One thing I’ve heard is that many people have more than one vision of WUUC and that those visions build on things that people see at WUUC now. There are compelling reasons that all of us are here, and there are visions we have for where we hope WUUC might be going. I’ve also heard a desire and need to strengthen the covenantal connections in the congregation as we move into the work of reflecting on who WUUC is, your heritage and where you’re heading.
And so, during the month of September I invite you to join me and the rest of the congregation as we create a community art project about Vision!
Every Sunday after the 10 a.m. worship service there will be tables in the back of the sanctuary or out in the lobby for you to draw a picture of your vision of WUUC. On Sept. 2 and 9, when we’re enjoying full community worship, tables will be set up in the sanctuary throughout the service so that children and others can work on pictures during the service. Here’s how to participate:
- Grab a piece of paper and some crayons or markers.
- Reflect on one or more of these questions:
o When do you feel most alive, most joyful, most spiritually connected at WUUC?
o What is your vision for the coming year or two at WUUC?
o What do you hope the legacy of WUUC is in 50 years?
o Are there moments at WUUC now where you experience your vision for WUUC? What are those moments?
- Draw a picture or doodle of your vision. You can make more than one picture over the month of September.
- Hang your picture up in the lobby with the blue tape provided or we’ll hang your picture for you.
- Look at everyone else’s pictures of their vision! Ask people about their vision and tell them what you drew and why!
As you think about your vision and others’ visions of and for WUUC, I invite you to remember that no vision is perfect and that the congregation’s vision is made up of many visions. What are you curious about when you see other people’s visions?
As we begin a new church year, may we enter this liminal time with curiosity, joy and holding space for each other.
Blessings,
Rev. Diana
by Reverend Dan Lillie | Aug 29, 2018 | Minister Blog
Greetings! In August I joined WUUC as your interim minister. I’ve greatly enjoyed getting to meet many congregants, including meeting one-to-one with many congregants and lay leaders. As we go forward in the coming several months I’m looking forward to continuing to meet many more of you, building relationships, and working with you to strengthen the trust, relationships and communication that help make the covenantal community that is WUUC.
During the two years I’ll be with you, I’ll be ministering to and with your congregation and doing specific transitions ministry work with you. Each month I’ll be writing an “In the Interim” article to update the congregation on what’s happening with the transitions process. Here are a few things I’d like everyone to know as we begin our time together:
Communication and Feedback
It’s important to me to keep healthy, direct communication open generally – and especially in times of transition or change. If you have questions about what the transitional time is, please ask me or a member of WUUC’s Transition Team: Alaine Davis, Chick Sweeney, Chuck Bean, Cora Goss-Grubbs, Leslie Morton or Robin Heffelman.
Please contact me directly if you have concerns, feedback or more detailed questions about things that are happening at WUUC during the interim, or if you’d like to have a more in-depth conversation with me about WUUC.
In the interest of direct and open communication, I do not accept anonymous feedback. This means I don’t read unsigned letters or notes, nor will I listen to feedback that doesn’t come from an identified source. If you have questions about this, please get in touch with me.
Children and Youth
Some of you have noticed a small chair in my office. That’s because I love having children and youth come in to talk with me or for pastoral care. In the interest of keeping a safer congregation, I do ask that children tell their adult that they’re coming to see me. I will observe confidentiality except in cases where there is risk to the child or others. Please let the children and youth in your life know this. I’ll also be talking with our children and youth about this when I visit religious education classes and youth groups during September.
How to Contact Me
If you’d like to schedule a time to meet me or you want to share some thoughts or questions with me, please email me at revdiana@wuuc.org. You can also call me at the WUUC office (425) 788-6044 ext. 2. If you leave a voicemail I’ll be able to pick it up. For urgent matters you can also call me on my cell phone at (360) 705-2243.
I’m generally in the WUUC office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On Thursdays I come in as needed or work from home. Fridays are my sermon writing days so I try not to make appointments then. Some Saturdays you’ll find me at a retreat or meeting, or attending an event in the community, but I try to take Saturdays off. Sundays you’ll almost always find me at WUUC.
Mondays are my Sabbath day. Keeping a Sabbath day is important to me as part of nurturing a healthy spiritual life, so I don’t make appointments on Mondays and I don’t read emails. If there’s an emergency on a Monday, you can call me on my cell phone with the understanding that depending on where I am I may not get the message until the evening.
If you have a pastoral need, please either contact me or the lay pastoral associates. You can find more information here: http://gtest.wuuc.org/pastoral-care/ or contact Jean or Chuck Fowler at fernhaven@comcast.net.
Nametags help me! Please keep wearing them and telling me your name. Also, please consider sending your photo to office@wuuc.org for the WUUC Directory.
Blessings,
Rev. Diana
by Reverend Dan Lillie | Jul 26, 2018 | Minister Blog
I’m so happy to finally be with you as your interim minister.
This summer I moved back to WA from Boston, MA. I actually left from Maine, where I attended a close friend’s ordination, so I really did drive from one edge of the country to the other. On the way out here I attended Ministry Days and General Assembly in St. Louis, visited family in Iowa, and camped with my mother, my sisters, and their children in Iowa, Grand Teton National Park, and Craters of the Moon.
The transitions the past few years have come one after another. It’s been important to take the transition time I needed and to accept and be present with all the feelings and lack of clarity that come with transition. I’ve needed to remind myself that it’s by embracing not-knowing and continuing my spiritual practices that I’d come to the still place in my spirit, which I did. It’s also been important to me that I’ve been with people I love throughout this process. Since arriving in the area I’ve gotten settled into my new home, reconnected with friends out here, and adopted a new doggy companion. There’s a lot of joy in all the beginnings, and with that also come memories and loss that’s sometimes associated with them.
Perhaps you’ve been experiencing some of the same mix of feelings as you think about the coming two years at WUUC and me joining you this month. This past year has brought many changes, which have affected each of you in their own way. I’m thankful to Interim Search Team and the new Transition Team for sharing your journey with me.
The Transition Team and Lori have helped set up dozens of meetings with church committee chairs, board members, and other leaders during the month of August. This will help me get to know WUUC as quickly as possible. While my schedule will be packed, I’m happy to meet with others, too. You can email me at RevDiana@wuuc.org or by calling the church office, 425-788-6044.
I’ll be at the Sunday worship service on Aug. 5 and then preaching on Aug. 12 and 19. I’ll be sharing more about myself and interim ministry then and over the next few months, but if you want to read a bit about me and what I’ll be working on with you, here’s my June newsletter article.
Regarding my schedule, I’ll be available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. I’m working out what my hours will be for appointments on those days. Fridays will be my sermon-writing and worship prep day (usually with no appointments), and Mondays will be my Sabbath day (no appointments or phone contact). And on Sundays I’ll see you in church!
In Faith,
Rev. Diana
