WellSprings News (Page 2)
Farewell to our Ministerial Intern, Nick Sanchez
Our Ministerial Intern, Nick Sanchez, has been a steady, centered, and grounding presence within our community since his arrival in September 2023. Nick’s time with us has been a true gift, and we’ve all witnessed his growth as a preacher and a pastor in his two years serving, and learning, alongside all of us at WellSprings. Nick joined us for a two-year internship as part of his training for Unitarian Universalist ministry – and now, his time with us is…
Don’t Miss Belonging Sunday, This Weekend!
This Sunday will be an exciting one as we observe two big events at WellSprings: the welcoming of new members and the final day of our 2025 Pledge Drive. It all happens during a special, annual service we call “Belonging Sunday” – a celebration of our WellSprings community, where we also recognize and welcome all the new members who have joined in the previous year. Belonging Sunday is an all-ages service, so the Big Blue Rug will be out on…
Your invitation to “The Time Machine” – Our All-Ages Message Series for May!
A few years ago we started a new tradition at WellSprings: all of our Sunday services in May are “all-ages” services. That means instead of heading off to YouthSpirit, our younger friends stay with the adults for the whole morning – and together, we create a worship experience that is more participatory, engaging, and accessible to our friends at every age and stage of life. This May, we are hoping to create as many opportunities as possible for younger WellSpringers…
Rev. Lee Returns from Sabbatical on April 1st
Dear WellSpringers, I have missed you so much – and I’m thrilled to be back in ministry with you all, beginning again today, Tuesday, April 1. For the past four months, whenever anyone asked how my sabbatical was going, I found myself repeating the same refrain: “It’s incredible. What a ridiculous privilege this is: to have four months all to myself… to rest and learn, to spend my time exactly as I choose… to have the freedom to say ‘yes’…
Together We Can: A Message From the Stewardship Ministry
Greetings WellSprings! The Stewardship Ministry is kicking off our annual pledge campaign for the fiscal year July 2025 through June 2026. We are inspired by our congregation’s generosity and sincerely thank everyone who supported WellSprings with a pledge commitment for the current fiscal year July 2024 to June 2025. Our pledge campaign theme this year is: Together We Can! The pledge drive begins now and concludes on April 27th. Our FY25-26 stewardship goal is: $250,000 in pledges to cover…
Bring A Friend on January 5th
With the start of a new year upon us, we would like to invite you to “Bring a Friend” to our first ever “Bring a Friend” Sunday on January 5th. Our message during this service, provided by our Ministerial Intern, Nick Sanchez, will focus on the history of Unitarian Universalism and will be geared towards newer visitors. The band will be performing some audience favorites to keep the energy flowing. This service will be an all-ages service which means it’s a little…
Our Guest Preaching Schedule
Our settled Minister, Rev. Lee Paczulla, is currently taking a four-month sabbatical – returning to our congregation on Tuesday, April 1st. While she’s away, we’ll hear from a variety of voices on Sunday mornings, including our Ministerial Intern, Nick Sanchez, and a whole host of WellSprings members from our volunteer Worship Leaders Team. We’re also fortunate to be welcoming some of Rev. Lee’s colleagues to our pulpit, as a number of guest ministers from local congregations join us in these…
Rev. Lee on Sabbatical Until April 1st
Dear members, friends, & visitors to WellSprings, The day is here: my four-month sabbatical begins this Sunday, December 1st. As I said in my most recent message, I love you all, and I will miss you during this time away. A sabbatical is a wonderful privilege of serving in ministry, and I do not take this gift lightly. After all the challenges of the past few years, it means so much to me that you are offering me four entire…
Announcing Our New “Future Fund”
At our Installation service in September, our former ministerial intern – the Rev. Beth Monhollen – announced the creation of a new fund at WellSprings. The Future Fund is an investment in WellSprings’ future, created on the occasion of our first ministerial Installation, and intended to honor our congregation’s founding era by planning for the era to come. Gifts given to the Future Fund will not be used for our normal operating budget, but for future-oriented projects that help sustain…
WellSprings Installs Rev. Lee As Settled Minister
The charge of the soul was powerfully felt on Sunday afternoon, as we formally Installed the Rev. Lee Paczulla as our settled minister at WellSprings! More than a dozen guest speakers – from our local community, and from across the denomination – joined our musicians and worship leaders to create a joyful and celebratory service. We’re not kidding when we say that each moment, each speaker, and each song was a highlight… but the Rev. Cheryl M. Walker preached a…
This Year, At WellSprings…
We’re busy planning for the year ahead at WellSprings! Our Fall message series begins in September – but you can scroll down to get a taste of the conversations we’ll be having (on Sunday mornings, in YouthSpirit, in our small groups, etc.) all throughout the year… Breathing Together our Fall Message Series The results are in, and living through history is exhausting. We feel overwhelmed by what’s happening in the big world beyond us, and also by the busy pace of…
All About our “Neighbors & Helpers” Message Series for August
Our summertime tradition at WellSprings returns… our annual “Neighbors & Helpers” message series is back, starting August 4th! We see the world through our own eyes – and sometimes we assume that’s just “the way it is” for everyone. But when we engage with our neighbors, we start to realize how much our own limited perspectives never showed us. There are so many shades and colors of what it means to be “us” – to live in Chester County, or…