Usually my July column is written at, or even en route to, General Assembly. This year, other activities and expenses took priority, and I am not able to get to GA. So I decided to try watching the opening celebration as it was streamed over the Internet.

It worked – after a fashion. The event speakers came across just fine, as did the song-leaders and musicians. But the banner parade...

There is nothing like being in the midst of thousands of singing, clapping, cheering UUs, watching hundreds of bright congregational banners paraded through the convention center. Invariably, I will spot someone I haven’t seen in years carrying their congregation’s banner. Not infrequently, I am overwhelmed with emotion – when I am actually there, that is.

Joe Cleveland, who has just completed his first year of study at Andover Newton Theological School, is in Minnesota. I thought of Joe as the evening’s featured musician performed. Peter Mayer, a UU and folk singer/songwriter. The first song he sang, "(Everything is) Holy Now,” captivated me. The last song he led, another of his own, was “Blue Boat Home” – one of our favorites from the turquoise hymnal.

I will be watching more GA events – plenaries and worship and the Saturday Ware lecture. Delegates will vote on the final “Creating Peace” statement of conscience, on whether to boycott Arizona for the 2012 GA, and many more-mundane matters. There will be a lot of “belt tightening” and restructuring at the UUA. We are not by any means the only congregation to pledge less than our apportioned Fair Share this year.

Mundane or not, this is our reality. But so, too, is our spirit, and our joy in community.

~ Summer Blessings, Jean