Seven Reasons Why UUs Take Summer Off
Rev. Ted Tollefson
©June 22, 2008 @ UU Society of River Falls
- It's hot in New England where many of our congregations began. Those
who could went to Maine for the summer. Those who couldn't took weekend
trips.
- Many of our members are tied to the academic calendar.Summer is the time for travel, study and professional development.
- Many of our full-time clergy get a month of vacation and a month of being 'on call'.
- The absence of clergy in summer created opportunities for lively
experiments: more lay-led services, outdoor worship, less formality,
more fun.
- By summer's end, even the crankiest among us begin to miss their
friends and neighbors. When we start up again in the fall, it's a
genuine home-coming.
- Many UU's feel a sacred connection to Nature. It feels natural to do
something different in the summer: to tend a garden, work on our golf
or tennis, bike, walk, run, swim...
- When pressed by born-again family and friends, I say "we let God take care of everything over the summer...without our help".
Blessed are the peace-makers