Holes in the fabric- tears and unraveling- What can be mended? What is rent for good?

I asked those questions of colleagues last fall feeling anger, mistrust, conflict – over multiple areas of congregational life intensifying around the edges of East Shore- I had been aware of this since my arrival- and I attributed it to normal levels of anxiety when change is being initiated… It was clear to me that whatever I was doing, or focusing on was not helping so I sought outside help to see what I/we could do.

Last Sunday, East Shore got to hear the summary of our consultation from regional staff, Rev’s Christine Robinson and Jonipher Kwong- members and friends.

From their month with us, they concluded that the highly anxious times that we live in, and the transitions here created a “perfect storm” within ESUC- they recommended:

Christine and Jonipher believe in your potential for transformation as you work through this conflict. And they departed, offering us their blessings on your journey.

When I went on the website to read the report, I found a report from 2015 from Mark Euwert-

So what now?

Our busy needles will do no good until we sit- in the uncertainty- in the moment and feel that futurelessness that surrounds us here, in the nation- in the world.

I have always been a fiercely independent sort “I can do it myself” has been my motto since about the age of two. I was born to charge through obstacles- bulldozing my way through obstacles to get to my objective… until January 4, 2003.

I went to my doctor for my routine physical… I had been without health insurance since September and I was just waiting for the church’s insurance coverage to begin Jan 1st. I had a little stich in my side that had been nagging me but other than that- I was feeling pretty normal. My doctor was also a friend- and the routine exam changed when I heard Penny say soberly “This does not look good.” From that day until January 16th, when I awoke from surgery to learn that they had removed three grapefruit size ovarian tumors- and a lot more of my inards… I found myself in the unique state of futurelessness that only a life facing death can create. Sometimes it takes an extreme directive from the universe to get our attention… and the very real possibility of a fatal disease is one of life’s richest opportunities to let go and simply be.

I had to gather my spirit…. Minute to minute- exam to exam- breath-to-breath present for the moment of now until a new breath marks the step to the next moment. The absence of a future gave me the precious space and motivation to make peace with all that was unfinished in my heart and mind- time to find acceptance for all that is my life. The truths of who I am, who I have been, and who I might never become. In the peace of that acceptance I surrendered and allowed my self to be cared for- mended.

From the m

Unitarians and Universalists have always been movements challenging the relevance of institutions and faith. Institutions protect and secure structures and foundations for posterity. We need both in balance. We need something to hold onto if we are ever going to grow through the inevitability of change.

In a world threatened by nationalism, xenophobia and trade wars, it is sometimes difficult to maintain a global perspective. Our UU faith upholds the principle of “world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.” This service will renew your faith in humanity. Experience the joy of East Shore’s personal connection with our beloved Unitarian partners in Transylvania Romania, and the Khasi Hills of India. We also invite you to join in a conversation following the service.

Homily

by John Chmaj

How do we build connections in the world as it is today?  Our toys, tools and technologies segment and distance us – we often drive miles to be in community, we stare into computer screens to interact with each other, text instead of talk, we watch as our default mode of participation in television and broadcast media.  The pace of life itself often reduces our time to be and bond with each other to slices of a sequenced schedule. We try to cram more into every day, leaving little time to reflect, respond and renew each other in more natural rhythms of relationship. The Dalai Lama summarizes this most succinctly:

“We have bigger houses but smaller families; more conveniences, but less time; We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, but more problems; more medicines, but less healthiness; We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor. We’ve built more computers to hold more information to produce more copies than ever, but have less communications; We have become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These times are times of fast foods; but slow digestion; Tall man but short character; Steep profits but shallow relationships. It is time when there is much in the window, but nothing in the room.” – The Dalai Lama

And yet we crave connection – deep in ourselves we know we are at our largest, at our best, in community, as connected, compassionate creatures, not as islands of self-satisfying, egoistic ‘consumers of experience’.  In short, the best experiences of our lives are shared ones:  times when we are truly and deeply SEEN, when we participate in a larger circle of human connection, where our tissues of thought and feeling connect and resonate in harmonious action.  Whether it’s in family, in teams, in groups of shared values and action, the outcome of any community is enhanced and evolved CONNECTION.  The essence of our church vision includes Practicing Love and Building Community – it’s why we are here, not just in this room, but on this planet, here, now.

And so it is a supreme irony that one of the movements within our UU church traditions, that of the Partner Church program, helps us build some of the strongest community connections in our fragmented world by LEAVING our families, friends and homes.  This occurs through reaching out and across to others in churches and communities thousands of miles away – people who speak different languages, have completely different social and economic environments, may share little common understanding of history or the world, and yet…and yet, somehow we find deep common ground and connection as Unitarians.

As UNITARIANS – what’s up with that?  Aren’t we all rugged spiritual individualists, intent on preserving the uniqueness and integrity of our own religious experience?  Don’t we live to question, to challenge, to adhere to principles, not shared doctrines, stories and myths?  Well, it turns out it is precisely these principles which bond not only Unitarian theology but our Unitarian views of the world, in ways so fundamental that they can transcend cultural, linguistic and geographical distance.  In contemplating these fundamental commonalities, we can start to see how they form the seeds of common purpose and perspective that do indeed “Unify” us as Unitarian

The Rev. Christine Robinson, who has been getting to know us as a part of the conflict consultation, will talk about what’s so critically important about a church that we belong, support, and work for its health, and what our nation is missing as fewer and fewer people can find a congregation to belong to.

The roots of our Unitarian and Universalist faith traditions are the theme for this week’s worship service. We explore the historic markers of our religious past and the relevance of that history to us today as we move our faith into the future.

Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal religion. East Shore is working to develop a covenant of right relations. Today we explore the history and the impact of covenants on religion, communications and individual relationships.

SERMON

A covenant for all time-

Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal faith- East shore Unitarian Church is a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.

“We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, do covenant to affirm and promote:

When this congregation was formed over 60 years ago, it mattered that the founding members declared themselves a member congregation of the UUA- there was a promise, a belief that the principles and purposes of this covenantal tradition meant something- would hold East Shore Unitarian Church to some greater purpose- and connection

Conrad Wright, a Unitarian Universalist historian and theologian wrote, “Our faith holds that we are responsible for the quality and vitality of our human community and the web of all life with which we are connected. Further the community assessment process seeks to work toward the development of a covenant for community action built upon mutual understanding and commitment. Our liberal religious community is grounded in covenant (not rule or law or creed).”

In 1550, Robert Brown, inspired by the reformation, drew on the Biblical image of promise-making between Yahweh and Hebre

Technology will be our focus this Sunday. 3-D printers and other technological advances are bringing change to our lives at a rate more rapidly than our spirit and moral development. The ethical questions are not “can we print a heart?” The question is “should we?” What are the human and social implications of our rapidly changing technological capacity?

The day before the commemoration of the life and work of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we will celebrate the current intersection of the civil rights movement and the “Me Too” movement. The stories of African American women, leaders in both feminist and civil rights movements, will lead us in this new understanding of our history and appreciation for what is possible as Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream continues to unfold.

Michael Foster joins us to reflect on his upcoming incarceration for civil disobedience. Michael is the Seattle climate activist who turned off the North Dakota Keystone Pipeline and gave up his livelihood, his family, and his freedom. Michael will inspire our thoughts on service to something greater than self, the costs, and the considerations. As we step into our own new years, we are defining meaning and purpose for our own lives.

Michael Foster, M.Ed. in Counseling Psych helped individuals and families since 1995, beginning with adolescents in the Oregon Desert. Now he speaks in schools and churches, and volunteers with families who take action to restore their future, with grassroots organizations Plant-for-the-Planet, Our Children’s Trust, 350Seattle, Climate Change for Families and The Climate Reality Project. He stood trial in October for shutting down the Keystone 1 pipeline and is awaiting sentencing, now scheduled for February 6.

On Christmas Eve, we will have a 10:00 a.m. Intergenerational service. Then, we will host two traditional Unitarian Universalist Candle light services, one at 4:00 p.m. (family friendly) and one at 7:00 p.m. (with our East Shore Choir!)

The origins of this traditional Unitarian Universalist candle lighting service can be traced to the early 1900s in New England and to much earlier antecedents in Europe. Dana Greeley, former president of the UUA, brought this service to First Parish in Concord during the 1970s. Jim Robinson, Dana’s ministerial intern, brought it from Concord to First Parish in Brewster, MA where Elaine was Jim’s ministerial intern. She has carried the tradition to each congregation she has served since 1991.

Our chalice, “The light of the Ages,” represents divine light, The Spirit of Love, which animates all of life and the universe, is an understanding foundational to our Universalist heritage. The Light of Love shone brightly in the life of Jesus, inspiring people everywhere to allow this same light to shine brightly in their lives. The understanding of Jesus as a human being who demonstrated the fullness of human potential, is at the heart of our Unitarian heritage.

The light from the chalice is passed to the first candle representing the baby Jesus, traditionally lit by the youngest child in the congregation.

From the Jesus candle, the light is passed to a row of candles representing his disciples and followers. Usually ministers and individuals studying for the ministry light these candles. The light is then passed to a row of candles representing teachers and parents who continue to pass the light of wisdom and compassion to succeeding generation; volunteers and staff in the Religious Education programs traditionally light these candles.

The light is then passed to a row of candles representing the children of the world, our hope for the future. Youth carry the Light to the four corners of the congregation where it is spread candle by candle, hand by hand, and heart by heart throughout the sanctuary. When the entire sanctuary is filled with light, the candles are raised illuminating the sanctuary with The Light of Love.