Each year, it feels summer goes too fast. Then the last two weeks of August arrive, and time for another swim, another visitor, another picnic, and all those fresh veggies at farmer’s markets—and, it’s not too much, not too little; it’s just enough. As the Chequamegon Unitarian Universalist Fellowship enters its annual cycle of services, which begins with a communion with water in September and concludes in a celebration of flowers in May, I look forward to re-gathering with you all in the coming season!

Over the summer, I worked on deepening into Unitarian Universalist history and polity (organizational structure and governance). From religious tolerance in Transylvania to the Transcendental movement to movement building today, there are a lot of stories that can guide and inspire, so some of these themes may show up in messages I share. Also, for the past year, your CUUF Worship Committee has been working to engage speakers and topics related to disability justice. This movement promotes the ways our unique bodies are part of expressions of diversity and brings awareness to the often-unconscious bias referred to as ableism. This is where able bodies are perceived as good and disabled are seen as lesser. As I’ve learned more about the disability justice movement, I’ve been reflecting on how the physical spaces where we gather, the songs and liturgy we use, and the philosophies we express contribute to or deter from creating beloved space for the diversity of our embodied existence. If you have feedback, ideas, or concerns related to accessibility in any way, please reach out to me or your CUUF Board members.

I have completed the final requirements for UU Fellowship—the UU equivalent for ordination—and I will present to their panel on September 30. Positive thoughts and prayers appreciated on that day! After wrapping up my work with Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth in May, I learned that another UU community on the shores of Lake Superior was looking for ministry support. It all fell into place and for the coming year, I’ll continue as half-time minister of our fellowship and begin as a quarter-time minister for the Keweenaw Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. There will be some opportunities to learn with and from this fellowship in similar ways as we did with Duluth last year. I spend the first weekend of each month in Houghton and am looking forward to continuing to connect and explore watershed ministry.

As we sang at the All-Poetry Service in August:

Deep peace of the rolling waves to you, deep peace of the shining stars.
Deep peace of the blowing air to you, deep peace of the quiet earth.

In community, Stacy Craig