Weekly Message from Rev. Stacey Mitchell (July 24, 2025)
Dear First Unitarian of Albuquerque,
Just about one week until I arrive. I am driving from NY beginning on 7/27 and will arrive the first week of August with my first sermon on August 10, titled “Beginnings.” I have been planning on different ways to get to know and connect with you beyond just Sunday mornings. More opportunities for connection will be shared in the future, but this is what I have so far. I am looking forward to connecting with all of you!
In faith, Rev. Stacey Mitchell, Interim Minister
1. Eight coffee gatherings with Rev. Stacey. RSVPs encouraged due to limited space, with maximum capacity of about four spots at each location. Registration will open on Sunday, July 27. Click on the dates to register. I will repeat locations with additional times if needed:
• Citizen Coffee—7518 Oakland Ave. NE; Tuesday, August 5, 9:00–10:00 am
• The Girls Coffee House—915 Yale Blvd. SE; Wednesday, August 6, 12:00–1:00 pm;
• Little Bear Coffee—2632 Pennsylvania St. NE, Thursday, August 7, 4:30–6:00 pm;
• Zendo Coffee—413 2nd St. SW, Friday, August 8, 6:00–7:00 pm.
Late August/Early September—all in the NW section of the city (the section of town I will be living in by the end of August) with exact times and dates TBD: Pinon Coffee House, Rio Grande Flying Star Café; La Luz Coffee; Cutbow Coffee.
2. Berry Street Essays series discussions with Rev. Stacey (exact time and dates tbd, but likely beginning in early September and running 2x/month for 2 months). The Berry Street Essay is an annual UU Minister Association event, where an esteemed UU Minister presents an essay to fellow ministers, and is invited by a designated panel each year at the annual UU Ministers Association. I have picked out four of these essays to discern more together:
• “If Our Secrets Define Us,” The Rev. Gail Seavey, 2016
• “Whence We Come and How, and Whither,” The Rev. Deborah Lance-Pope, 2011
• “Imagineering Soul”, The Rev. Christine Robinson, 2008
• “After Running through the Thistles, the Hard Part Begins,” The Rev. Mark Morrison-Read, 2000
3. UU Animal Ministry (UUAM) presentation and discussion of some of the UUAM’s sermon contest winners (up to four). Exact date and time tbd, but running monthly, likely beginning in late October or Early November.
4. Pop-up gentle yoga and meditation Friday mornings with Rev. Stacey (exact room location and time tbd and announced by the end of August).
5. UUA Regional staff will visit First Unitarian Albuquerque in leading a “Healthy Boundaries” workshop—all encouraged to attend. TBA sometime this fall.
6. Leading up to this gathering with regional staff, where will be three Pop-up “healthy boundaries in faith communities” workshops with Rev. Beth and Rev. Stacey, with exact time and dates tbd. Each gathering will focus on one of three articles picked out by Rev. Stacey.
