Warm Season and Community of Warm Hearts

UUCP members and friends,

As we enter the heart of summer here in Northwest Florida, the sun shines brightly upon us, reminding us of the warmth and energy that surrounds our vibrant community. August brings with it a mix of reflection on the joys of summer and anticipation for the new beginnings ahead.

During the sweltering heat, as we reflect on the dangers of a warming planet, we find ourselves seeking shade and cool breezes while celebrating the beauty of our natural surroundings. Whether you’re enjoying lazy days on the beach or finding solace in the shade of a quiet garden, I encourage you to embrace these moments of connection with nature — “the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”

Later this month, many of our UUCP families will prepare for the upcoming school year, filled with the excitement of new classrooms, teachers, and friends. It’s a time of transition, not only for the children in our congregation, but for our college students and lifelong learners. With that in mind, CRE coordinator Honor Bell will lead the August 11 service with the UUCP youth, talking about the back-to-school hopes and concerns and honoring our congregation’s recent grads.

I also want to acknowledge the passing of longtime UUCP member J.J. Jackson on July 4. J.J. was a warm and generous person who served his country as a Naval Aviator and served our congregation over the years, almost always sitting up front with his wife Evelyn. He will be sorely missed by his many UU friends, and our hearts go out to his family.

Our congregation thrives when draw our circle wider. If you have a friend, coworker, or neighbor you think might be at home in UUCP, please invite them to join us one Sunday or share a YouTube link to a past service video.

We will host a Newcomer Orientation on August 18 for recent UUCP members and friends, and prospective members are welcome to attend as well.

As we embrace the final weeks of summer and prepare for the changing seasons ahead, let us hold onto the values of compassion, justice, and love that define our Unitarian Universalist community. Together, we can make a positive impact in our own lives and in the world around us.

Wishing you a joyful and fulfilling August,

Joe Vinson

President, UUCP Board of Directors