Paying Attention - Unitarian Universalist Society of Mill Creek

Posted on March 9, 2026 Posted By: Office Administrator Categories: News

A message from Rev. Christe:

Beloveds,

You may have noticed that this month’s letter is arriving a little later than usual.

The truth is simple: the world demanded my attention.

There are seasons when we believe we are paying attention — reading the headlines, keeping up with the news, staying informed about the many forces shaping our lives. And then there are moments when something breaks through in a way that reminds us we were only skimming the surface. Something happens that refuses to be ignored. Something that calls us to look more closely, more honestly, more deeply than we had been.

And suddenly we remember that paying attention is not just a habit of the mind. It is a spiritual practice.

Alice Walker once wrote that she believes it “pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it.” It is a sharp way of saying something profoundly spiritual: to move through the world without noticing — without really seeing — means we are missing the holiness that surrounds us.

But attention does more than help us notice beauty. It also makes it impossible to ignore pain. Mary Oliver reminds us that “attention is the beginning of devotion.”

This is why attention can feel risky. To pay attention is to risk being changed.

When we pay attention to the people around us, we begin to notice who is struggling. When we pay attention to our communities, we begin to notice who is missing. When we pay attention to the world, we begin to see where harm is happening — and where love is urgently needed.

This is why attention has always been at the heart of spiritual life. In prayer we practice attention. In worship we practice attention. In community we practice attention to one another’s lives. Even silence is an act of attention.

This month, I invite you to practice looking more closely — at your life, at this community, and at the world we share.

As you reflect, I also invite you to listen to this month’s music, curated to accompany our theme of Paying Attention:
Click HERE (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YcdlrUrq3ouNMtRiJWtYl?si=999886f92f6a4352&nd=1&dlsi=e0e14c516a0b4ba8) for the Spotify playlist on Paying Attention.
Click HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vma38NIYyNE&list=PLvXOKgOQVYP4QkLKnCI30RNktR6751nrL) for the YouTube playlist on Paying Attention.

So take a walk in the meadow, pay attention to the season as it changes and what brings you wonder and joy. My hope is that this practice will help us rediscover something sacred: that attention is one of the ways love becomes real in the world. And perhaps, as we practice this together, we will find that paying attention does not only make us more aware of the world’s pain — it also enlarges our capacity for wonder, connection, and devotion.

Which may be the greatest gift of all.

With gratitude for the ways you continue to show up for one another and for this community,
Rev. Christe
my pronouns are they/them and this is why they matter (https://pronouns.org/what-and-why)

To schedule an appointment click here (https://calendar.app.google/8kMRsw3EwQgZVqYQ8)
I serve UUSMC at ¾ time, and I look forward to the time we share in ministry together.
My regular office hours are:
* Mondays & Tuesdays: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
* Sundays (when I preach): 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
* Thursdays: By appointment only

Other times may be arranged by mutual agreement via email.

I joyfully join committee meetings when I am able, with particular focus on the Board, Finance, and Worship teams.

UUSMC Website (https://www.uusmc.org/)

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