News: July 24, 2026
Hello Beloved Community!
A tapestry of love. That was the title of our (now former) intern’s sermon this past Sunday. Nina had no idea that Tapestry is my all-time favorite song (Carole King, 1971). And it is a metaphor I have used at various times in my life to describe changing, leaving, ending, and keeping. In the song, Carole King tells us about “a wonderous woven fabric in bits of blue and gold, a tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold.” Our covenant includes the metaphor: we weave a tapestry of love and action. Nina spoke about how our tapestry of love holds us in care and accountability.
When I think of the work of the Board for this new church year, I can extend the tapestry metaphor in many other ways. We have wonderful new board members that will push our tapestry designs in new directions. We have the responsibility of holding dear the parts of the tapestry woven by others and of mending places where there may be some fraying. You have the expectations that the board will meet whatever new challenges come our way so that we continue to weave together as a community, growing and strengthening our church.
But my goal for this newsletter is not to speak in metaphors – there is lots to share about the Board’s recent work.
At our June Board meeting, we voted to adopt a budget for the congregation that was $60,000 lower than the budget presented at the Annual Meeting. Thanks to those of you at the annual meeting who asked hard questions and thanks to the staff for sharpening their pencils. Along these lines, our Finance Committee has begun forward-thinking conversations about how to move us towards a more stable financial situation. Stay tuned for more about that in coming newsletters.
Also at the June meeting, we discussed the results of the Board’s annual self-assessment. Of note, we as a board have work to do to move FUUCH further in the direction of the 8th Principle (i.e., dismantling racism) and we should be more transparent with you. You’ll recall that last November, the Board adopted the new Strategic Plan, which, among other things, sets us on a course to grow as a multi-cultural, multi-generational church. After November, we launched the Outreach Committee and the Living Our Mission Committee, whose charters are aimed at achieving many of the Strategic Plan’s goals, including moving in the direction of the 8th Principle. This year, we as a Board aim to support and nurture the new committees’ efforts so that we can progress in the direction we desire. And, of course, that means also supporting and nurturing the other committees and teams that are already working to weave that tapestry of love and action.
At our July meeting, among other things, we approved a charter for a new Preparedness Committee. This work was discussed in the letter each household received in April from Rev. Colin and past Board President Ruth Hoffman-Lach. The committee will develop a Preparedness Plan which is flexible and scalable for the church so that whatever comes our way (hurricane, flood, fleas, etc…) there will be a defined plan to follow that will lead to resuming normal operations as quickly as possible. The plan will also set forth communications protocols so that the congregation, local officials, emergency responders, etc. are engaged in a timely manner. Many congregations / denominations have these plans and several are posted online, so we needn’t start from scratch. This type of plan may be familiar to some of you. If you’d like to help FUUCH in this endeavor, please contact me directly via president@firstuu.org.
Finally, I have some basic housekeeping items to share. First, starting on August 20, we are shifting our board meetings to the 3rd Thursday of each month. This shift accommodates members’ other obligations. Members and friends continue to be welcome to attend, just make sure you come on the right night! Next, a reminder that feedback is always welcome and the way to do that is to connect with the Healthy Communications Team either in person on Sundays or hct@firstuu.org. It is through feedback that we learn and grow. Finally, to provide another avenue to connect with the Board, I will be scheduling quarterly chats to take place at the church between services and after second service. I’ll come prepared to share more about the recent work of the Board and will try to answer specific questions that you may have. I do, however, reserve the right to phone a friend and get back to you at a later time with the answer.
In closing, I thank you for the many good wishes I have received as I assume the Board presidency. We have an exciting church year in front of us; let’s approach the future in a way that Nina recommended – acknowledging that our tapestry of love is made from all of us and contains the best of us.
In community,
Carolyn
A tapestry of love. That was the title of our (now former) intern’s sermon this past Sunday. Nina had no idea that Tapestry is my all-time favorite song (Carole King, 1971). And it is a metaphor I have used at various times in my life to describe changing, leaving, ending, and keeping. In the song, Carole King tells us about “a wonderous woven fabric in bits of blue and gold, a tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold.” Our covenant includes the metaphor: we weave a tapestry of love and action. Nina spoke about how our tapestry of love holds us in care and accountability.
When I think of the work of the Board for this new church year, I can extend the tapestry metaphor in many other ways. We have wonderful new board members that will push our tapestry designs in new directions. We have the responsibility of holding dear the parts of the tapestry woven by others and of mending places where there may be some fraying. You have the expectations that the board will meet whatever new challenges come our way so that we continue to weave together as a community, growing and strengthening our church.
But my goal for this newsletter is not to speak in metaphors – there is lots to share about the Board’s recent work.
At our June Board meeting, we voted to adopt a budget for the congregation that was $60,000 lower than the budget presented at the Annual Meeting. Thanks to those of you at the annual meeting who asked hard questions and thanks to the staff for sharpening their pencils. Along these lines, our Finance Committee has begun forward-thinking conversations about how to move us towards a more stable financial situation. Stay tuned for more about that in coming newsletters.
Also at the June meeting, we discussed the results of the Board’s annual self-assessment. Of note, we as a board have work to do to move FUUCH further in the direction of the 8th Principle (i.e., dismantling racism) and we should be more transparent with you. You’ll recall that last November, the Board adopted the new Strategic Plan, which, among other things, sets us on a course to grow as a multi-cultural, multi-generational church. After November, we launched the Outreach Committee and the Living Our Mission Committee, whose charters are aimed at achieving many of the Strategic Plan’s goals, including moving in the direction of the 8th Principle. This year, we as a Board aim to support and nurture the new committees’ efforts so that we can progress in the direction we desire. And, of course, that means also supporting and nurturing the other committees and teams that are already working to weave that tapestry of love and action.
At our July meeting, among other things, we approved a charter for a new Preparedness Committee. This work was discussed in the letter each household received in April from Rev. Colin and past Board President Ruth Hoffman-Lach. The committee will develop a Preparedness Plan which is flexible and scalable for the church so that whatever comes our way (hurricane, flood, fleas, etc…) there will be a defined plan to follow that will lead to resuming normal operations as quickly as possible. The plan will also set forth communications protocols so that the congregation, local officials, emergency responders, etc. are engaged in a timely manner. Many congregations / denominations have these plans and several are posted online, so we needn’t start from scratch. This type of plan may be familiar to some of you. If you’d like to help FUUCH in this endeavor, please contact me directly via president@firstuu.org.
Finally, I have some basic housekeeping items to share. First, starting on August 20, we are shifting our board meetings to the 3rd Thursday of each month. This shift accommodates members’ other obligations. Members and friends continue to be welcome to attend, just make sure you come on the right night! Next, a reminder that feedback is always welcome and the way to do that is to connect with the Healthy Communications Team either in person on Sundays or hct@firstuu.org. It is through feedback that we learn and grow. Finally, to provide another avenue to connect with the Board, I will be scheduling quarterly chats to take place at the church between services and after second service. I’ll come prepared to share more about the recent work of the Board and will try to answer specific questions that you may have. I do, however, reserve the right to phone a friend and get back to you at a later time with the answer.
In closing, I thank you for the many good wishes I have received as I assume the Board presidency. We have an exciting church year in front of us; let’s approach the future in a way that Nina recommended – acknowledging that our tapestry of love is made from all of us and contains the best of us.
In community,
Carolyn
