Two cool things happened in January: One thing was that I tuned in to a powerful press conference presented by the Poor People’s Campaign of Florida, a multicultural, interfaith group of leaders and concerned citizens who addressed the bill proposed by Governor DeSantis in response to the demonstrations this summer against racist police. The other cool thing was that I participated with you all in our Midyear Congregational Meeting. Oh, and there was a historic inauguration this month, too.
The inauguration of Joe Biden as president with Kamala Harris as our first female vice president underscored the resilient endurance of our democracy. Still, our foundational democratic rights are threatened on many fronts. The reactionary bill in the Florida Legislature is one example of an effort to criminalize protest and silence dissent. The virtual press conference on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day decried this effort by the Florida governor, which will be taken up during this legislative session. The involvement of UUA President Rev. Dr. Susan Frederick-Gray with the Poor People’s Campaign underscores the alignment of this coalition’s work with our UU values.
I felt touched to join with our UUCP Members and Friends on Jan 24 to share updates on church activities and business during the midyear meeting. We have been impacted by the global pandemic and political turmoil, no doubt, yet we have so much to be thankful for. We remain vibrant and vital during these challenging times. Rev. Alice has been such an asset to our congregation. She has worked with the Sunday Services team to provide consistent, moving, and relevant messages over the past year since we were rocked by COVID-19. As a part-time Consulting Minister under contract with UUCP, Rev. Alice has gone above and far beyond what we have asked of her. In addition to leading and coordinating most weekly services, she provides much-needed pastoral care to our congregants. Her involvement with us has been a real blessing, and we are thankful and pleased.
Likewise, we have benefited from the volunteer work of our leaders and our Members and Friends who tend the hearth fires of our beloved community. These unsung heroes include our CRE Ministry Team, our Building and Grounds gurus like Gerry and Arnie, the Fun & Fellowship folks, our Caring Ministry Team, our dedicated Office Assistant, and our amazing Treasurer.
We continue to need each other. Scientific research underscores the importance of the presence of caring individuals in our lives, especially during a time when we are more isolated from others due to health concerns and physical distancing. Membership in and identification with a community and a sense of pur-pose is psychologically strengthening. As we witness the very fabric of our democracy seem to be ripped and tattered in parts, with many Americans still angry and oppositional after the inauguration, we find comfort and strength in a supportive network of people like UUCP.
We are also getting closer to a time when we can be together in person. As discussed during the Midyear Congregational Meeting, the Board is considering plans for an outdoor social event in the spring for us to fellowship safely. The date remains to be determined. With an eye to COVID infection rates and immunization statistics, we are hoping for the first event to be on a Sunday in April. Whenever it is, what a beautiful day it will be!
Until then,
Lauren Anzaldo, Board President