Nurture the Changes we Hope to see…

Dear Beloved Community,

As September arrives, we begin to feel the first hints of change in the air. The long days of summer gradually give way to cooler mornings and earlier evenings, reminding us that seasons are always in motion. Here on the Gulf Coast, we balance the beauty of this transition with the reality that hurricane season is still upon us. May we hold one another in care and preparedness, knowing that our community is a source of strength no matter what the weather brings.

This month, our Sunday services will focus on themes that are deeply relevant to who we are as Unitarian Universalists and how we live our values in the wider world. We will be reflecting on our local immigration crisis—recognizing the struggles of individuals and families in our own community who face uncertainty, hardship, and displacement. As a congregation committed to justice, equity, and compassion, we are called to listen, to learn, and to discern how best to respond with both courage and kindness.

Alongside this, we will also explore what it means to be a truly welcoming congregation. Not just in words, but in action—opening our doors, our hearts, and our minds to all who come seeking a place of belonging. Whether someone is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist or walking through our doors for the very first time, may they feel the warmth of acceptance and the affirmation that they are enough, just as they are.

I encourage you to join us each Sunday as we deepen these conversations together. Let us take this September as an opportunity not only to notice the changes in the world around us, but to nurture the changes we hope to see within ourselves and our wider community.

With gratitude and hope,

Crys Brockway

President, Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola