Dear First U Community, It seems almost trite at this point to say that our hearts are broken yet again, this time at the news of 21 murdered people (19 of whom were children) in Uvalde, TX.  Of course our hearts are broken and our minds blown, and yet it’s not entirely shocking.  In a word, it’s … Continue reading Love Note: Gun Violence and What We Can Do

Dear Ones, In response to our worship service this past Sunday, Kathie Johnson sent me some of her poems that address the issue that we explored at that service….mental health challenges. There was one that particularly sparked my attention because it seemed at first glance to be especially thematic, given that VincentVan Gogh (someone familiar … Continue reading Love Note: Our Own Canvases

Dear ones, During our Mother’s Day Celebration of Life we explored various elements of the meaning of mothering.  In a poem written by our own Kathie Johnson entitled File Me we have additional perspective, not only of motherhood, but of the complex spectrum of womanhood. . FILE ME If you were to file me away in a large gray metal cabinet, … Continue reading Love Note: A Postlude to Mother’s Day