Dear First Parishers,
I hope that everyone has been enjoying the summer, especially these last couple of weeks of lovely weather. It feels more like September than August. I feel like I am living in two worlds at the same time. The larger one of a country and a world troubled and troubling, where terrible things are happening every day and there seems no stopping the downward spiral. I find myself grieving for my country, for the individuals and families impacted by cruel laws and unabashed power grabs and for those abroad living in the shadow of war, violence, and forced starvation.
My other world is the one I live in day-to-day: with my family and friends, my neighbors, and with all of you. The one of too many tomatoes growing in the garden, a disorganized desk, and a todo list that I cannot keep up with. Of daily walks, sometimes on my own, sometimes with my mom, sometimes with my neighbors. Of weekly trivia games with our team at the local pub. Of planning for a new church year with Dolores, Erica, Brian, the Standing Committee and other lay leaders. Of trying not to go the local ice cream place that is in walking distance every evening. Same with the local bookstore. Of occasionally checking in with Sam. Of sharing my daily life with Henry, Josh, Fave and my parents. This world inspires gratitude for all that I have been given even as I am anxious about the future for those I love, given that other larger world in which we are embedded.
We are living with such cognitive dissonance. Human beings are meaning-making creatures, and we do so through the stories we tell about what we experience happening around us. When we ground our stories in lies and falsehoods that deny the humanity of others, well, we are truly walking a dangerous path. That people can deny and lie to themselves with such ease, that they cannot see what is happening to their neighbors or their planet is stunning to me. And yet, I imagine, they would argue that I am the one out of touch with reality. There are realities that people live with that I do not experience or understand.
Our Soul Matters worship theme for September is “Building Belonging.” If there is a spiritual practice, a spiritual task, a spiritual protest needed for these times, I believe this is it. Not just in our sanctuary, but in our communities, our country, our world. With so many polarizing messages out there of who doesn’t belong—on all sides—discerning what this means and how to do this feels essential. It is also at the heart of our Universalist heritage—if we trust that God or the Spirit of Love or the sacred in our humanity embraces everyone, what does that mean for how we live in the world? How do we share that joy?
A quick update on the music director: we are still in search for a permanent replacement. The search team has been working very hard over the summer: posting and sharing the job description everywhere we can think of; getting feedback from other religious and musical professionals; and rethinking and rewriting the position based on this feedback. This is a congregation that loves music, so I trust that we will find someone who understands and shares that love. In the interim, Brian Snow will ensure that we have music to listen to and sing each week. The senior and bell choirs are figuring out what is possible for them. Knowing this congregation, people will step up (as they already have) and we will make it work. It may even be fun!
A quick invitation: my spiritual writing mentor and friend, Michael McGregor, published a book, “An Island to Myself: The Place of Solitude in an Active Life.” It is a spiritual memoir about making room to listen to one’s soul. I have been reading it slowly over the summer, savoring its message amidst the chaos of our times. Michael will be coming for an author meet and greet at the Silver Unicorn in Acton in October 7 at 7 pm and has asked me to interview him. So, I am inviting EVERYONE I know, since I would love to share Michael with you and you with him.
Finally, September 7th will be our opening worship service for the new church. We will be back in the sanctuary at 10 am to celebrate with our annual water communion. If you wish to bring some water from your summer place—whether home or on the road—please do. We will pour it in our common bowl as we reflect on what it means to Build Belonging.
In faith,
Rev. Ellen
