Sept. 23, 2026

“We all feel scared sometimes, but courage is when 
you feel scared but you still help others.” 
~Elmo, at Climate Week

Dear Ones,

I was in Memphis last weekend for the TUUCAN Solidarity Summit sponsored by UU the Vote. (TUUCAN = TN UU Community Action Network, of which GNUUC is a founding member.) Several of us from GNUUC enjoyed time with UU siblings from all across the state: we learned from Memphis partners in justice work, practiced new skills, enjoyed each other’s company, worshiped together, solved problems as they arose, and did a thing (which included Justin Pearson!) that got coverage on the local evening news. I had a good time and came home energized and equipped with new tools. 

You may or may not know that public protest does not come naturally to me. I almost always would prefer to be somewhere other than in a crowd, and not having a firm plan for whatever I’m doing in that crowd is not my favorite setup for an afternoon. However, this TUUCAN weekend was energizing and empowering as well as informative. We learned together, solved problems as they emerged, enjoyed each other’s company, and gathered ideas and energy to bring home to our congregations. And oh, what a joy it was to spend not just an hour on Zoom, but a few days in person with UU siblings and colleagues from around the state! It was so worth pushing through my reluctance and the anxiety of packing. 

Yours in the happy outcome of balancing a little fear with a little courage,
Rev. Denise
RevDenise@gnuuc.org

P.S. I’m happily anticipating seeing y’all twice this weekend: on Saturday at 2 p.m. for my Installation as your settled minister, and on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. for worship!