In the turn of seasons at the Equinox, we welcome the new life of spring, a time of new beginnings, hope and promise. Yet, these are very uncertain times of change with all that is going on in the world right now—the shifting sands of politics, fear, greed, chaos, and confusion. In the face of change, whether invited or not, there is an opportunity to reflect on what sustains and nourishes us, both individually and collectively.

I invite you to imagine for a moment being on campus at the Fellowship. Maybe you are there for a service on Sunday or a meeting during the week. What do you notice? What do you experience, wherever you go to share coffee/conversation, sing, pray, laugh, and listen?

In the noticing of little details, remember that every single thing at the Fellowship is made possible by acts of generosity. This place, on a physical level, was built by and is sustained by gifts of generosity. This place, as a community, is all made possible by, and sustained by, your gifts: our ability to gather together, in large and small groups; our capacity to learn and grow; and our justice actions and compassionate care. Every aspect of our shared ministry together, is made possible by acts of generosity:
• The giving of time, energy and commitment
• The sharing of talent, creativity and imagination
• The offering of treasure, tangible pledges and gifts to support the organization at all levels.

So together we create this—we choose, we take action, we own the responsibility to make this a place of welcoming and belonging in beloved community. And, in these times, we are invited to imagine what might be possible for us to create COLLECTIVELY from our hearts.

This comes back to the question of what sustains us? On the practical level we are planting with our pledges and gifts to grow what is possible for the congregation. And yes, on one level, this sustains us and allows us to live into the mission. But there is another gift that sustains this fellowship, and in some ways it is the most important gift of all: your presence. On Sundays, in-person or online. Or your presence in a classroom, covenant group, or service. Your presence teaching RE, singing in the choir, making coffee for Fellowship Hour, tending to the gardens, serving as visitor hosts, greeters, Care team, card writers, or Board members. Your presence, your participation, in so many different ways, is what creates and SUSTAINS this community.

This Fellowship is not the sanctuary or even the campus. It is the people. The relationships. Living in covenant. This is what creates a vibrant and thriving community, and what makes planting seeds and creating from our hearts possible.

Author Bell Hooks writes:
To build community, requires vigilant awareness of the work we must continually do,
to undermine all the socialization, that leads us to behave in ways, that perpetuate domination.
Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid, to make us choose safety instead of risk,
sameness instead of diversity. Moving through that fear, finding out what connects us,
reveling in our differences; this is the process that brings us closer,
that gives us a world of shared values, of meaningful community.

At the end of the day, a budget is not really about numbers, it’s about people, what it takes and who it takes for empowering the work of shared ministry. A budget is one way of communicating how a community will connect, share, serve and love. Another way is by showing up and sharing the gift of your presence. That is the gift the world needs, now more than ever.

This is How We Are Planting Seeds TOGETHER to Create the World Our Hearts Know is Possible.

May it be so.

Daniel