It's time to let our light shine a little. As we all ease out of pandemic isolation people everywhere are clearly hungry for depth, meaning, and purpose. Folks need spiritual community. They may not articulate it that way, but that doesn't mean the need isn't there.

They need us. And quite frankly, we need them. We need the influx of perspective and energy. And the world needs all of us together.

This is a unique moment in both the history of the world and the history of NSUC. Let us rise to it. Let us not hide our light under a bushel. That said, we UU's are not often proselytizers. It can be an awkward invitation. It need not be. Think of it as asking someone to go to a wonderful new exhibit at the museum. You could even say, "Hey, there's a new thing going on at church. Do you want to go with me on the 13th?"

Your friend may then have some questions. What is UU? What do you believe? What do you do? This is where the invitation to them turns into a spiritual reflection for you. What a wonderful opportunity for you to reflect on these questions yourself! What do we believe? I'd say a we believe all kinds of things, including that what we do is really important. So what do we do? I invite you to come up with your own answers to that.

When it comes to Sunday Services though, I'll let you know what I would say. It's captured in the call to all souls I started a service with recently (which I will likely run with for a while).

If you value honest ritual…
Then come, let us make it.
If you find ease in trusted relationship…
If you unfurl in reflective space…
If you delight in beautiful sound…
If you strive for earnest justice...
And if you sparkle in abundant fun…
and who does not?

Then come, one and all,
To this care home and carnival of the soul
This service of the North Shore Unitarians.

To partake in honest ritual, and indulge the opportunity to be reflective, to hear beautiful music, and engage in earnest justice and abundant fun, all of which cultivate depth, meaning, and purpose; that is what we do! Oh.. and soup! We also do soup on the 13th! Invite your friend to lunch (with a little church first)!

Let's invite our friends to partake of this bounty. Let's make this world a better place. Let's reflect on why we gather. Let's eat!

~ Rev. Ron Phares