It has been quite a season for us. Since 2019, we have been working on renovating our new building. Although our overall complex is extensive, we can finally complete Heffner Hall and transform it into what we envisioned.

With construction beginning on January 3, we needed to finish our part of the renovation. This required packing up all but two of our smaller rooms, where the children will continue their religious exploration. At the last moment, we decided to suspend our final services of the year to achieve our goal. Many of you likely miss our Festival of Lights, watching the children decorate our Christmas tree and celebrating all the festivals during this darkest time of the year.

The new year will find us navigating the wilderness in our southernmost warehouse. Although we know this space has afforded us essential expansion for our more extensive services, such as Easter, it becomes our temporary place of worship. If everything goes according to plan, we expect to complete the newly renovated Heffner Hall by March. With an Easter dedication, we can all celebrate the birth of a new day for UUJXN.

Serving as your minister this past year has been a pleasure, and I look forward to another year filled with exciting spiritual adventures. Thank you to everyone who has supported UUJXN this past year, especially the volunteers who tirelessly dedicate their time and talents to sustain our congregation.

A special thank you goes out to those who contributed to our renovations by boxing, moving items, and demolishing the parts we were responsible for.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—’Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

~ Snowdancer (Rev Jim Becker)