An Invitation to Gather in Joy and Community

A message from Tony Bianca, Director of Spiritual Exploration and Worship Arts.
Watch the video or read the transcript below!

As many of you know, we will hold a Congregational Meeting on Sunday, February 8 at 11:30 am at our Hillcrest campus. At this meeting, we will decide together whether to call Rev. Kristen as a settled minister at First UU.
According to our bylaws, decisions of this significance require a quorum of 35 percent of our voting members. For our congregation, that means 144 voting members must be present, either in person or live online, for the vote to take place. In the coming weeks, you will likely receive several reminders encouraging participation so that we can meet this requirement.
I would like to extend a slightly different kind of invitation. Rather than focusing on 144 as a minimum number to reach, imagine what it would feel like if everyone who is able to vote chose to participate. Picture the meeting house filled with 350 or even 400 people, gathered as a community committed to spiritual growth and to making important decisions together through our democratic process. Imagine the joy, the energy, and the shared sense of purpose in that moment.
This meeting is not only about meeting a requirement. It is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as a congregation, to be together in joy, and to affirm our commitment to one another and to our shared future.
I hope you will join us on February 8 at 11:30 am at Hillcrest, bringing a spirit of joy, connection, and community as we make this important decision together and continue our journey toward becoming a beloved community.