Oct 8, 2020 | Weekly Message
It seems strange to have been away from the “Mother Ship” at 1 Edwin Place for such a long time. I, along with many others, find time in the Sanctuary to be a time of centering and calming my “fevered” mind. For me, this is second only to standing in a river, in the cathedral of trees, birds, butterflies, Brookies, and the occasional Hellbender. The Sanctuary promises us a safe space. We have a pretty good idea of how things will go through the sermon and on to coffee hour. And on those other nights, like Wednesday vespers and when we are in groups, the safe feeling surrounds us and envelops us.
I would like to consider a transition from Safe Space to Brave Space in my own life. To be less safe, less guarded, more open and vulnerable. I came across the concept of Brave Spaces several years ago while facilitating Building Bridges Racial Equity Groups and Manual. I tried to bring it into the meetings with me, asking participants to bring forward their “braver” self, to learn about and deal with their own privilege and history of interactions with People of Color. It requires a change in one’s self and a willingness to risk at a higher level than usual.
In the words of Sr. Ann Lythgoe, OP in her Blog: “This idea of brave space transforms my idea of safe space. It is a movement from being secure to vulnerable, from armored to open, from guarded to curious. I wonder if brave space might be a way to build peace, by being at peace in conversations we have (or don’t have) with people different from ourselves. Brave space calls us to look at one another with softer eyes.”
It strikes me that the Brave Space concept fits nicely with our mission and our Seven Principles.
Invitation to Brave Space
By Micky Scott Bey Jones, June 13, 2017
Together we will create brave space
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space”
We exist in the real world
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love.
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.
We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will not always be what we wish it to be.
But…
It will be our brave space together,
and
We will work on it side by side.
So we are called upon to be brave and move away from the safety of “the usual”. We need to not only announce our principles but to live those principles in our own daily life and openly in the community.
Michael Beech, UUCA Board of Trustees
Oct 5, 2020 | Vespers & Wednesday Program
Vespers 6:30 PM. Vespers Leader, Rev Claudia, invites us to consider the purpose of the church. Is our ecclesiology individual, collective or both?
Program 7PM. Program Leader Bob Gingrich, continues the conversation about the bipartisan divide and congregational bias: can we disagree in love?
October Calendar
Soul Matters Theme: Deep Listening
7
Vespers Leader: Rev Claudia
Program: Beyond the Partisan Divide II, Bob Gingrich
14
Vespers Leader: Joy McConnell
Program: You Are How You’ve Lived: Exploring Individual & Group Identity, Carol Buffum
21
Vespers Leader: Ruth Christie
Program: Spiritual Practices II: Contemplative Body Practices, Nancy Bragg
28
Vespers Leader: Anna Martin
Program: Exploring Your Multiple Identities, Mary Alm
Oct 4, 2020 | Sermons
Sunday, October 4, 2020
Rev. Mark Ward, Lead Minister
The change of seasons always offers a good reminder of the ever-evolving flow of life. How do we come to terms with the fact of impermanence?
Oct 1, 2020 | Weekly Message
A little like a fly in amber, our “UU the Vote” bulletin board, assembled earlier this year by volunteers to promote this congregational initiative, stands in Sandburg Hall unseen by anyone but the few staff who drop in in now and again to work in our largely vacant church home. But like everything else in our congregation’s life, the campaign itself is up and going great guns in the world beyond: in cyberspace, in the mail, in the community.
Voting has always been a strong priority of our religious movement – it resides at the center of our 5th principle, recognizing the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. But it is no exaggeration to say that in no year in at least my memory has it been more important that we exercise, promote, and protect this precious franchise.
It is important both as a civic exercise and a matter of faith. Voting is the machinery that makes democracy work and it is one of the places where our first principle, promoting the inherent worth and dignity of every person, is realized.
I am grateful to Minister of Faith Development Rev. Claudia Jiménez for her leadership in this campaign and for the diligent work of our UU the Vote coordinator Amy Moore. Their urging has resulted in dozens of our members – I am among them – sending out hundreds of postcards to homes of potential voters encouraging them to check their registrations and make a plan to vote. Some of you are getting trained as poll workers, others as poll watchers. Also, we plan on Worship Services both on November 1, before the election, November 8, after the election, and Vespers on November 4, the day after the election, to reflect as a community on all that we’re experiencing this season.
There are also opportunities in the UUA’s larger UU the Vote campaign. The campaign puts out weekly updates with lots of opportunities to get involved. Here’s a link where you can find it and sign up.
What part can you play? In a year when the President himself is actively seeking to undermine the electoral process it’s clear that individual citizens like us need to step up to our responsibility under the Constitution as “we, the people.”
And most important: make your plan to vote – by mail, in person – as early as possible. Let’s do it, let’s make a difference for the sake of our nation, for the sake of our future.
Rev. Mark Ward, Lead Minister
Oct 1, 2020 | Green Tips
Leaves will enrich your soil. Rake them into small, low piles and then mow over the piles. The shredded leaves can then be gathered to use as mulch.
