Message from the Board Chair

Welcome to LFUU's 2025-26 Program Year! My first instinct was to say, “Welcome HOME!” After 35 years as a member, the beginning of our program year feels like a homecoming to me. But if you haven’t been coming to Lake Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists for very long, maybe it doesn’t yet. My second instinct was to say, “Welcome BACK!” But perhaps you’ll be visiting us for the first time . . . I’m excited for you and us!

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

This Sunday is the last before the Memorial Day weekend and, thus, our last program of 2024-2025 and the beginning of our summer break. As a lay-led congregation, our Program Committee needs this time to rest and recharge. A big thanks to Dan and Marnie for their planning, scheduling, creating, and leading of this past program year. It inspired, educated, and delighted us!

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

I attended my 35th Annual Meeting of the Members of LFUU on Sunday! I also ran it. I couldn’t have done so without lots of help. I want to thank:

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

This week I am writing my Report from the Chair and preparing for our Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, so I am not writing a Message for the newsletter. 

You should’ve received an email on Tuesday with the meeting information, agenda, and attachment. All are welcome to join us in-person or on Zoom: the Zoom link is below. Hope to see you on Sunday!

In Fellowship,

Laurie Gauer

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

Every Monday morning, I set an intention for my mind to start working on my theme for this message. To review and process what’s been popping up over the past week and find a passion, purpose, or pattern. By Tuesday a theme usually reveals itself. This week my mind suggested “needs.” Right after that, I received Matthew’s blog post that started with this  paragraph, which I decided confirmed my theme:

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

This post showed up in my Facebook feed a few days ago:

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

In this polarized political climate, I’ve been questioning our two-party system. Questioning our binary - black and white - either/or - right or wrong - thinking. Wondering if it’s possible to collectively shift to “both and” thinking. To understand that even opposites can be true at the same time: I can feel grief AND joy at the same time.

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

Every time I type “Dear” in the salutation, it sounds weird to me. Too formal. Too intimate. But “Hi” doesn’t convey the care I have for this community.  Then this popped in my head: 

Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
To get through this thing called life

 --opening lines of Prince’s Let’s Go Crazy

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

Every morning, I do a 10-minute guided meditation. On Tuesday it was about using poetry to express and feel our emotions. It reminded me that last year I used a journal with writing prompts and I instinctually wrote in verse. I loved it! It was a 3-month journal and when it was done, I was done writing poetry. I’m thankful for that meditation: I’m going to start journaling again . . . in verse.

Dear LFUU Members and Friends,

Happy first day of spring! On Saturday, our LFUU Sunshine Committee delivered a bit of spring to me! Marilyn brought me a salmon-colored begonia, which happens to be my favorite flowering plant. Thank you, Marilyn! Covid symptoms really hang on – it’s been over two weeks -- but I am feeling a bit better each day and easing into normal activities.