By: Rev. Dr. Harold Marrero
Last Sunday stayed with me.
There was something deeply moving about welcoming a whole new slate of members into our congregation. Watching each person step forward and say yes to this community, I felt that quiet kind of gratitude that sneaks up on you. It brought me back to what makes UU Miami feel the way it does. We are made up of many personalities, many stories, many ways of being, and somehow that mix creates something alive. You can feel it in the room. It is thoughtful, warm, a little unexpected at times, and very much rooted in who we are here in Miami.
One of my favorite moments was Judy’s welcome to everyone. She has a way of making people feel seen without turning it into a performance. As she introduced each new member, drawing out the small details that made them who they are, it felt like we were part of something intimate and alive. At one point, I caught myself thinking it felt like a talk show, full of personality, curiosity, and ease. There was laughter, there was presence, and there was a real sense that each person mattered. That kind of welcome stays with people.
This Sunday invites us into a different kind of experience, one that asks us to slow down and listen in a deeper way. Luigi will be leading us through a Heart Circle, a space where we come together to breathe, to ground ourselves, and to pay attention to what is happening within and between us. There will be moments of reflection, a drawing from the Cosmic Tribe Tarot deck, and time set aside to listen for meaning in whatever rises. We will also spend time with Earth Day, holding our connection to the world around us with intention, and reflecting on the quiet agreements that hold us together as a community.
That connection to the Earth continues beyond the service in a very tangible way. Our Community Clothing Swap is a simple idea, but it carries a deeper kind of care. The fashion industry leaves a heavy mark on the planet, and this is one way we respond together. We look at what we already have, we share it, we pass it along. There is something honest about that kind of exchange. You bring what you no longer need, you take what speaks to you, and in that small act, we practice being part of something larger than ourselves.
After the service, we will also gather around food, dishes brought by many hands, each one carrying a small piece of someone’s joy. There is something grounding about that. A table filled through sharing, through generosity, through the simple act of bringing what makes you happy and offering it to others.
And as we move through all of this, there is also a sense of what is opening next. Our May series begins with a question that lingers. What if evolution is still happening through us? What if it is something we are participating in every day? This series invites us to think about growth in a way that feels close and immediate. The same unfolding that shaped life continues in how we change, how we learn, and how we become more aware of ourselves and each other. By the time we gather for our Annual Meeting at the end of the month, we will not only reflect on where we have been but also choose how we move forward together.
It is a full and meaningful stretch of time at UU Miami. There is a lot happening, but it does not feel rushed. It feels layered, as if each moment builds on the last. I find myself looking forward to all of it. I hope to see you on Sunday.