Meet the Minister
Meet the Minister (and Each Other!)
Dear Beloved Community,
It is such a joy and an honor to begin serving as your minister. I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome you’ve already extended, and I’m excited to get to know you, not only as a congregation but as the remarkable individuals who make this community what it is.
One of my main hopes for these first few months is simply to listen. I want to hear what you love about CCUU, what gives you hope, and what dreams you hold for our future together. In this newsletter you’ll find an invitation to one of several small “Meet the Minister (and Each Other)” gatherings. I hope you’ll join one. Use the links below to register for one of the initial offerings:
- Thursday 8/13, 6-7:30pm in person
- Sunday 8/16, 11:30-1pm in person
- Friday, 8/21, 11:30-1pm on Zoom
- Sunday, 8/30, 11:30-1pm in person
I also hope to meet many of you one-on-one! Please don’t hesitate to send me an email. As Thich Nhat Hanh often said, “Understanding is love’s other name.” If we can understand each other more deeply, we can set the loving foundations to co-create a ministry that is robust and transformative.
I believe ministry is something we create together. My role is not simply to lead, but to help nurture a community where people know they belong, where curiosity is welcomed, where we care for one another with honesty and compassion, and where we find the courage to grow together. As we deepen relationships and build trust, I believe we’ll become even more capable of living into our mission of creating belonging, inspiring curiosity, and healing our world.
Although my first Sunday leading worship will be Ingathering on September 13, you’ll see me around before then, including at Sunday services and other gatherings. Please come say hello. I can’t wait to begin learning your names, hearing your stories, and discovering what we might create together.
With love,
Rev. Dr. Emma Farrell