by Rev. Dave Dunn
It is hard to believe; but we have just completed ten years of shared ministry together here at UUMAN. It seems like only yesterday that I was meeting with UUMAN’s wonderful search committee on my first trip to Roswell in early April 2016. We had dinner on that first evening together at the Creech home. (Some say that Ann Creech’s delicious blueberry cobbler was the deciding factor that convinced me to come to UUMAN….and they might be right! 😊 Linda Etheridge’s blueberry cobbler is also amazing.)
Anyway, over the last ten years, we’ve been through a lot together – most of it good. There have been some bumps in the road however: flooded basements in Fellowship Hall (several times), flooded Sanctuary due to a bursting pipe, reflooring of the upstairs of Fellowship Hall, refurbishment of Discovery Cottage…and some heartbreaking personnel changes. (I’m sure I’m forgetting others.)
But by and large, our shared ministry together has been joyful and fulfilling. Some of the highlights:
- Welcoming, Greeting, Care Circles – this congregation does an incredible job at welcoming people into the congregation; many congregations devolve into cliques – not UUMAN. We are friendly, open and caring.
- Social Justice and Earth Ministry – We were awarded a Good Trouble Congregation by the UUA in 2024; we are a dedicated Family Promise and NFCC congregation (those organizations LOVE US ….and for good reason!). We show up to clean Chattahoochee River each year. We’ve advised the city of Roswell regarding the installation of native plants
- Adult Enrichment - New people continue to rave about 2nd Hour and the Adult Enrichment opportunities. It has fostered engagement and relationships across our membership.
- Our “dedicated” Livestream & Communication Teams: - If you’ve watched our recorded services, the quality is excellent. Our Communication and Breeze teams have helped keep us all on the same page (or calendar!).
- Operations Team – Our building (and the plumbing and septic underneath, and the lighting and HVAC overhead) can be a challenge. The campus has never looked better!
- Young Adults – Have you noticed the younger people showing up at UUMAN?
And it goes without saying that our MCY and Choir have added significant vibrancy to who we are as a congregation. Both programs have more than doubled in size.
…and for the first time since I’ve been here, we now have over 200 members!
What’s truly important however is that we continue to focus on our mission and our vision for the world. With many of the values that we hold dear under attack (e.g. equity, pluralism, diversity, democracy, etc. ), it is more important than ever to continue to show up, to speak up, to fight (peacefully); to keep these front and center in our country and in our world.
…already looking forward to year 11!
Nurture our spirit. Strive for Justice. Transform the world.
(Photo by Adrian Curiel on Unsplash)
