Happy fall Thursday –

 

As I write this note, my partner is in the kitchen chopping up a pumpkin for cooking. We are in the thick of fall! I hope you are finding some space in your life to enjoy it–the fresh apples, root vegetables, colors, and cool but not yet cold temperatures. 

 

I have found myself so busy these past weeks that I only just realized if I don’t slow down to notice and enjoy it, I will miss fall entirely! So I enjoyed watching the sunrise from the gym parking lot and bought a tote of local apples from the grocery store on my way home (no time for picking this year, sadly). Stopping to appreciate and feel grateful and present can be as small as that… and still a practice that nourishes the spirit in this wild world. 

 

I hope you’ll join us for some of the coming weekend’s events. On Saturday afternoon we will gather at the No Kings Protest at Deering Oaks Park from 1:30-3pm (info about ride-sharing in Friday’s ENews). Then on Saturday night millennial and gen-x folks and their families are invited to join us at A2U2 for the monthly Middle Generations Potluck (sign up to bring a dish here) from 5-7pm (childcare is provided). This is a family friendly event with childcare provided. We always have a lot of fun!

 

Sunday morning brings worship, this week a service led by our lay Worship Committee, “Thinking About Groups.” And Sunday afternoon, at 4pm, those identifying under the broad LGBTQIA+ umbrella are invited to Queer Community Conversations in the Gathering Room at church and by Zoom. Though I am out of the pulpit on Sunday morning, I hope to see you at one of the other events. There are so many opportunities to plug into the life of our beloved community. 

 

May you appreciate these beautiful fall days and stay well until we are together again.