March 20, 2025

Something For the Moment 

Something for the Journey

Hannah Franco-Isaacs, Membership Administrator 

This week we opened Ministry Days registration. No matter how many years I do this work it is always a steep learning curve because we never do anything quite the exact same way twice. The logistical pieces fall into place, as they always do, the what, when and where. The how and why are harder to figure out.

The theme this year is On the Path of Love. As we move along this path together one of the core questions for our team is, “What do you need to feel beloved?” What will make you feel held and supported during our time together either in Baltimore or virtually?

As with all UUMA staff, I work from home and my house is almost always filled with living creatures – a husband, two kids, three (yes, three) dogs, and a cat. Quiet isn’t something I get a lot of so I turn on music while I am working. 

The song that is playing in my mind as I do this Ministry Days work is Crowded Table by the Highwomen. Years ago a colleague asked on facebook what this song meant to people. The answers were as varied as our colleagues. Some people felt the radical inclusion, for some it brought up anxiety of not enough space. When I think about Ministry Days some of these same feelings come up. We want it to be a place where there is a place by the fire for everyone… The door is always open/ Your picture’s on my wall/ Everyone’s a little broken/ And everyone belongs /Yeah, everyone belongs. And we know there is work to be done. 

We hope that Ministry Days is a place that reminds you that you belong, where you can bring your brokenness and your wholeness and be exactly where and who you need to be. The path of love may be bumpy but we will keep going, together.

Something for Formation

MFN Formation Conversation: Guidelines and Ethics for Your Consideration: Wednesday, April 16 at 6:30-8:00pm ET/5:30-7:00pm CT/4:30-6:00pm MT/3:30-5:00pm PT A special invitation to Aspirants, Candidates, their mentors and internship supervisors! Meet with members of the UUMA Right Relations Good Offices team to explore how our code of conduct helps hold the ethical and spiritual care of colleagues and how recent changes create deep opportunities for repair, health and healing in relationships after times of conflict, rupture and harm.

MFN Formation Conversation: Love at the Center with UU Wellspring: Thursday May 22 at 6:00-7:30pm ET/5:00-6:30pm CT/4:30-6:00pm MT/3:30-5:00pm PT UU Wellspring is offering a special intensive version of Love at the Center this summer, designed specifically for seminarians, aspirants, and candidates for UU ministry. This 9-week program, held on Sunday evenings at 4 PM Pacific (7 PM Eastern) from July 6 through August 31, provides a deep exploration of Unitarian Universalist identity, theology, and spiritual practice. On May 22 we will preview this program with a session to introduce the UU Wellspring experience to MFN participants. The Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) recommends Love at the Center as a valuable resource for understanding the changes to Article II of the UUA Bylaws, which redefine the core values and commitments of our faith. Rev. Dr. Jason Cook and members of the UU Wellspring team will guide a time of reflection, discussion and spiritual grounding. 

Something Extra

This webinar will be recorded and shared out to the registration list within 48-hours of webinar conclusion.