Dear Friends,

As we step into December, I’m reminded once again how quickly the seasons shift here on the Gulf Coast. One week we’re reaching for sunglasses and iced tea, and the next we’re digging out sweaters we’d nearly forgotten we owned. The air grows crisper, evenings come earlier, and the scent of approaching holidays settles gently over our days. It’s a time of transition—of cooler breezes, warm gatherings, and reflection on the year that’s been.

December often brings its own kind of stillness, even amidst the bustle. It offers us space to slow down, to reconnect, and to take stock of the small acts of kindness and community that have carried us throughout the year. As a congregation, we’ve supported one another through joys and challenges, and I hope each of you feels proud of the resilient, welcoming community we continue to build together.

This month, our Sunday services will center on a theme of Unity, Care, and the Holiday Season. It feels fitting, as these values lie at the heart of both our Unitarian Universalist principles and the spirit of this time of year. We will explore how we care for ourselves and each other, how we cultivate unity in times of division, and how we can carry the light of the season—whatever traditions we each observe—into the world around us.

I hope you’ll join us for these gatherings, whether in person or in spirit. Your presence enriches our shared experience, and December always feels a little brighter when we come together.

As we move through the final weeks of the year, may you find moments of peace, connection, and joy. May the shifting weather remind us that change brings its own beauty. And may we each step into the new year with renewed warmth, intention, and hope.

With gratitude and love,

Crys Brockway

President, Unitarian Universalist Church of Pensacola