The Compass, January 21, 2026
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
A Message from the Past: Rev. Richard Kellaway, 1963
30 Days of Love 2026
Week One: Reimagining Thriving
REFLECTION
by Rachel Myslivy, UUA Climate Justice Strategist
When we ask ourselves to “Reimagine Thriving”, what does that mean? Why reimagine? Can’t we just imagine and get on with it?
Here’s why it’s important to reimagine: most of us already imagine thriving, and that usually means imagining what it means for me and people like me to thrive: for people of privilege, that means imagining thriving for people of privilege; white people for white people, Americans for Americans, global majority for global majority, and so forth.
The invitation to reimagine asks us to pause. In that sacred pause, we have the space to reflect on what it means for all communities to thrive. In that wondering, we can reorient ourselves away from individual goals and towards collective liberation. We can shift our ideas of the future to center love.
I’m going to be honest: for people who work on climate, this is hard. We know that even if we did everything right starting now, climate disruption will challenge our communities far into the future. We know that the best-case scenario is increasingly out of reach as our government is repealing the policies that keep our communities safe, opening wildlife refuges to drilling, permitting logging in pristine ecosystems, and sabotaging climate goals so corporations can line their pockets at our expense. The path to a flourishing future goes farther and farther off the map as our country rapidly accelerates in the wrong direction. We know how bad things will get, and we stuff our grief and anger and anxiety deep into our pockets and forge on. When your best hope for the future is clouded by the belching smoke of coal stacks and drenched in flood waters, it’s hard to imagine anything but doom. It’s hard. When hope is hobbled by fear and tethered to despair, we must reimagine. We must reimagine. We must reimagine.
The ability to reimagine is a superpower. It keeps us from prioritizing short-term gains and being misled by false solutions that derail our focus and distract us from long-term goals. Reimagining keeps us from prioritizing technical solutions that are out of reach for most people, from carbon tunnel-vision when we need big picture thinking, from sacrificing justice for expediency. It helps us find that unshakable true North that will always call us back to ourselves.
Reimagining asks us to realign, reconnect, to re-everything so we can dream beyond our current limitations into a place of connection and possibility. It helps us hold a mindset where hope and joy are not distractions from the work but are, in fact, how the work becomes a joy guided by hope, aligned with our most deeply held values. It’s how we drop our armor and shine forth what we know is good and true. And then, dancing in our souls, we can recalibrate ourselves to that joyful, faith-filled path over and over again.
Reimagining asks us to imagine differently than we imagined yesterday, to imagine in all directions, unfettered, unhindered, unbound. As people of faith, we are forever called to reimagine, to center love and to let it guide our way, to believe that a better world is not only possible, but that we are creating it right now, every day, in large and small ways. We can reimagine a flourishing future and hold it in our hearts, not restricted but reinforced, not for what I think can be done in my lifetime but what will live on beyond me. We have everything we need, in community, in faith, to realize a future where all communities flourish. Let’s reimagine together, beloveds, a world with love at the center.
Reflection questions:
What does the thread represent to you?
What feelings come up as you listen to this poem?
Have you ever tried dancing like this, where you move your body to reflect how a poem or song feels?
THEOLOGICAL CONVERSATION
In this opening conversation, Side With Love’s Rev. Brandan Robertson speaks with Dr. Elías Ortega about reimagining thriving through the lens of Unitarian Universalist theological education. Drawing on his work as a scholar, educator, and denominational leader, Ortega reflects on how joy, justice, and theological formation equip leaders to respond to a complex world demanding religious literacy, intercultural competency, and adaptive leadership.
Dr. Elías Ortega is an interdisciplinary scholar and serves as President of Meadville Lombard Theological School, the Unitarian Universalist seminary. He holds an M.Div. and Ph.D. in Religion and Society from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a B.A. from Calvin College. Prior to joining Meadville Lombard, he was Associate Professor of Social Theory and Religious Ethics at Drew University Theological School, where he also served in multiple governance and advisory roles. His teaching and research span sociology of religion, religious ethics, social movements, critical theory, Africana Studies, and Latinx Cultural Studies.
Dr. Ortega has taught at institutions including Princeton University, Vanderbilt Divinity School, and Princeton Theological Seminary, and has provided extensive service to the Unitarian Universalist Association, including serving on the Commission on Institutional Change and the Religious Education Credentialing Committee. His denominational and community work reflects a deep commitment to justice, equity, and compassion as central to religious leadership.
Did you miss Sunday Service? Watch it here!
Sunday Service
Guest speaker, Eldric Abreu, will join us this Sunday, January 25, with his sermon titled, The Courage to Advocate for Justice
Social Justice Committee Meetings: New Day!
Join the SJC virtually on every other MONDAY at 6:30 PM. Be part of the change you would like to see in your community and beyond. View the online calendar to view the dates.
February Thrift Shop Sale! 50% off anything RED—Stay tuned for additional sales!
The Thrift Shop is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 PM.
Thrift Shop shout out from Dartmouth Recycling on Facebook!
The Greater New Bedford Refuse Management Team worked as a community partner in the same class at UMass Dartmouth that Jess worked with during the fall semester. Not only is the class an opportunity for the students to create relationships with the Community Partners, the Community Partners make connections with each other in class, too!
Arts & Culture Nonprofit Meetings Scheduled
First Unitarian Church in New Bedford is forming an art & culture nonprofit! We will be facilitating a series of meetings to discuss details, board members, grants, and more.
Meeting One: In person, Sunday, February 8 at 2 PM in the Parish House. Anyone interested in joining the discussion, or just wants to listen in is, welcome to attend. We will be exploring the structure of the organization, by-laws, and board members.
Meeting Two: Virtual, Wednesday, February 11 at 7 PM. A Zoom link will be added to the church calendar.
Stay tuned for additional details! All interested individuals are encouraged to join the conversation.
What does it mean to be a people of Resistance?
January 25: Resisting "Monkey Mind", Breathing is My Superpower—Read Aloud by Reading Pioneers Academy
This month, we highlight our UU value of Justice, with its call to “dismantle racism and all
forms of systemic oppression.” In doing so, we celebrate and remember inspirational UU leaders like Fannie Barrier Williams, whose courage and advocacy for equity continue to inspire us today.
30 Days of Love: Reimagining Thriving
Reflection: Which of your friendships feel like good relationships, and how do those relationships help us?
Something to do together as a family
Practicing gratitude is a way to help us nurture hope and continue a lifelong practice of social justice action. It helps strengthen the foundation that inspires us to act on our values. Try one of the following practices together or come up with one that can work for you on a long-term basis. Be explicit with kids that practicing gratitude has been shown to benefit physical, emotional, and mental health.
Mealtime gratitude: Take turns, having each person share what they are feeling thankful for as you eat.
Gratitude journal: Start or end each day with writing down one or more appreciations. The act of writing (or drawing) appreciations helps embody the feelings.
Gratitude chain: Cut strips of paper, leave them in a basket. Each day, each person writes something they are grateful for on a strip of paper and adds it to the chain. Do this for every day of 30 Days of Love!
Please share these events with your family and friends, and consider attending yourself. We would love to see you!
FREE Events Happening at UUNB
Being Human takes place every Friday at 11 AM. Please use the parking lot door.
There are still 3 classes left!
We are excited to announce a FREE 4-session class on understanding US Government, taught by Fairhaven resident and local attorney Ellen Nelson, Esq.
Registration is required. See the event details by clicking on the "Register Now" button below.
This Saturday, we will be exploring the US Judicial system.
Save the date! You won't want to miss this.
if you are in need of food assistance as the month comes to a close, the Full Plate Project mobile market is this Friday, January 23, starting at 10 AM at the Gleason Family YMCA, 33 Charge Pond Road, Wareham, MA.
Our Mission is to encourage diversity and mutual acceptance and work for positive change in ourselves and our community.
"We envision a congregation in which we practice the principles of our faith. We seek to enjoy peaceful reflection and inspiration in intellectually and spiritually satisfying church services. We aim to embrace the people and efforts of our church community by supporting our children and their programs, our committees and their goals, our staff and their efforts on our behalf, and each other."
Our Promises
Each person is important.
Be kind in all you do.
We help each other learn.
We search for what is true.
Each person has a say.
Work for a peaceful world.
The web of life’s the way.
Build the beloved community, free from racism and oppression.
First Unitarian Church in New Bedford
71 8th Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 994-9686
Administrator ext. 10
Minister ext. 13
Karen cell: (508) 441-9344
Thrift Shop ext. 12
Board Members & Officers
Steve Carmel, President
Charles Morgan, Vice President
Deborah Carmel, Treasurer
Elise Rapoza, Secretary
Trustees
Camilla Brooks
Niko Tarini
Mary Rapoza
Jack Vitale
Committee Chairs
Staff
Rev. Karen Leblanc, Minister
Yasmin Fle-fleh Vincent, Director of Religious Education
Randy Fayan, Director of Music
Jessica DeCicco-Carey, Administrator
Tony, Gonsalves, Facilities Manager
John Manning, Sunday Sexton
Mari Fay-Martin, Sunday School Teacher
Sam Angelini, Sunday School Teacher
The Thrift Shop is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 PM
(508)994-9686 ext.12
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