LESLIE’S LOGOS – DECEMBER 2025

2025—a year to remember, indeed. 

As we end this year, I am making room in my heart for gratitude. I say that because for all the times this year when we have seen humanity at its worst, we have also seen it at its the best again and again and again. People living out their values, rising up in resistance to corruption and greed, practicing the sin of innovation again and again. So many in this congregation have shown such dedication to creating a community with Love at the center, reaffirming our commitments to equity and pluralism, recognizing interdependence and doing the work of justice. 

The generosity of the community brings gratitude. I’m grateful for the ways that people supported one another in so many different ways: by giving to the Minister’s Discretionary Fund so that people could continue to have shelter and food, by giving time to ensure an abundance of caring companionship, and by giving the talents which make this such an interesting community. 

And what witnessing occurred! How many signs were made, markers exhausted, steps marched, calls made, groceries bought for our community food pantry? And not just “one and done”: people showed up week after week after week, demanding that the democratic principles so inherent to our faith be protected. 

I am grateful for those to have stepped forward to help make this congregation work. Though we still need more volunteers, this year we saw more people than we’ve seen since pre-Covid times stepping forward to make regular commitments and fuel this community. Special gratitude for our Board, led by Linda Russell. Despite myriad daily challenges, we still have launched a process keeping us focused on the future. 

Finally, I want to end by saying how grateful I am to be able to serve this congregation with other capable ministers, including Rev. Rodney Lemery, two amazing interns, and our affiliated minsters. We are also fortunate to have Jen Marsh, Marena McGregor, Ging Lee and the abundant talents of the rest of the staff step up to meet the unique challenges of this year. And 2025 brought us Jyvonne Haskin! 

We could end this year focusing on what has not gone as we would wish or we can end this year aware of all the seeds which have been planted. I believe with all my heart that we will see some of them sprout in 2026. 

In faith and perseverance, 

Rev. Leslie Takahashi

Leslie serves as the community’s Lead Minister. She shares her thoughts on Substack and hopes you will join her on BlueSky where she is leslietakahashi@bsky.social Her email is not a team player so feel free to follow up in another way.

Schedule an appointment with Revl Leslie at https://calendly.com/revlesliemeet