Mission Peak UU Congregation

M i s s i o n P e a k U n i t a r i a n U n i v e r s a l i s t C o n g r e g a t i o n

A Nickel's Worth of Ministry, Our Minister's Monthly Newsletter Column

by our minister, Rev. Jeremy Nickel

Lord knows growing up is hard to do. For me it was at times a struggle that appeared insurmountable. But the one thing I always held onto was that whatever it was that had me down, it would change. Whether it was social or educational, sports related or just my own unique set of anxieties, I knew that nothing, even those mortifying moments that lurk in far too many corners of junior high and high school, would last forever. And all these years later, when life is admittedly in a much-improved chapter, I still remind myself of this truth: this too will change; nothing lasts forever. To some it is a noble truth, to others it is something they have glimpsed but found elusive, and to many, it remains a terrifying thought. Nothing is constant except for change. Our routines, our lives, our jobs, our very bodies are constantly undergoing processes of transformation.

My personal theology, which has been largely shaped by Process Thought, teaches me that although I can do nothing to prevent this constant change, I can choose to be more and less in partnership with it. More or less aware of its causes and implications. More or less a voice in choosing how this change is expressed.

Just as this is true in human life, it is also true for the life of larger human systems like a congregation. As we have discussed this fall in our congregational conversations, Mission Peak is changing. Right now that change is defined by growth in participation on Sunday mornings and at many of our non-Sunday activities. I began our discussion of how to respond to this growth with a vision: Let us grow our capacity to create opportunities for people to live the values we stand for. I also included one idea of how we could accomplish this vision, which I called the 1-2-3 plan.

Over the fall we have had many opportunities to gather and discuss this plan and larger vision, and you have been heard. The Committee on Ministry has now synthesized what was shared at those meetings and will be making specific recommendations to the Board on areas they think should be explored further. The Board will then in turn create a specific process for exploring and evaluating these ideas. I want to stress that no major change will be made without Congregational consent; I am merely talking about exploration, which is the next phase of our healthy growth.

This is a very exciting time in Mission Peak’s life cycle. We are a healthy, vibrant congregation; aware of our growth and working to be an active participant in the ways in which we are changing. I am so excited to be your Minister at such a moment, and look forward to continuing to unfold these possibilities with you!

Peace,
Rev. Jeremy D. Nickel

Jeremy's Office Hours

Jeremy is in the office from 1 to 6 pm each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. If you know that you want to make some time to talk, please email him at minister at mpuuc.org or call 510.936.1632 and set up a specific time during those hours to meet.

M i s s i o n P e a k U n i t a r i a n U n i v e r s a l i s t C o n g r e g a t i o n