Hello congregational leaders. It's wonderful to see you as we start off our new congregational year. I'm Reverend Megan Foley, your Central East Regional Lead. Which means that I manage the staff team of primary contacts from the UUA who are here for you. Your questions, your wonderings, your troubles, as you do, here for you as you do the complicated and joyful work of being a part of your faith community, of our faith community. You are never alone in your work. You have all 1,000 Unitarian Universalist congregations and communities, as well as the UUA, with you always. Please remember to reach out to your primary contact when needed. You can find your congregation's contact on our website at uua.org/central-east. Through our newsletters and communications, you will learn of our regional and events and offerings and can sign up for what will help your congregation thrive. Amidst all that you do inside your walls there is so much joy and peace and comfort and connection possible when you join with your neighbors in your faith. So please make a point of including the broader community in your work. We have events happening that can enliven and Inspire your congregation, whether it's joining the Climate Justice Revival in September, whether it's coming to our UUA Anti-Racism Conference, Mosaic, here in Maryland in October. Whether it's joining in our online board foundations or our RE Kickoff learning groups, which are happening now. Whether it's diving into our UU the Vote actions up to the November election. Or whether it's the local, in-person, community learning event that our team will be bringing to your area in the spring of 2025, called Leading with Love at the Center. And please don't forget our library of essential congregational resources available all the time at LeaderLab on the UUA website. 

Fall 2024 is a complicated time for sure. But we're used to complicated by now. It's also a time where again and again, I'm feeling joyful energy emerging in and out of church life. Reverend Sophía Betancourt, our UUA president tells us that this isn't a time to do more things, despite all that I've just told you is available to do, it's not a time to do more things, but it's a time to be together in our faith. Being together, working on beloved joyful community together, is what it takes to be a faithful UU. Creating and living in beloved and joyful community is how we are a beacon of hope to this hurting world, and how we best get through complicated times. I hope your congregational year starts off with many joyful reunions and excitement about what is possible this year, complicated though it may be. We are right here when you need us, cheering you on, cheering all of us on. Happy September from your Central East Regional Staff.