Sunday, February 5, 2023 11am
Rev. Cathy Harrington, Interim Lead Minister
This is an exciting time for UU Asheville as you move closer to calling your new settled minister. There is evidence from your previous ministries that this is a congregation that knows how to love a minister. But, what does that mean? What can you do to cultivate a mutually healthy, meaningful, and collaborative relationship with your new minister?
This month as I prepared to facilitate the Soul Matters UU writers group I chose to reflect on the prompt about unconditional love. I felt deep gratitude as I thought about the people in my life who have been there for me through not only the joys but also the times of struggle. You know, those beloveds who are there for us no matter what. The writing activity that captured my attention was writing a thank you note to one of those people who have loved me unconditionally. I wrote a letter to my parents (OK, so I didn’t follow directions), the abuelitos, who have always been there for me and made many sacrifices so that all their children would be able to thrive and live into their gifts. I wrote the letter during my morning journaling practice, and was so appreciative to be reminded to let the people I love and appreciate know how I feel now, not at some later date. I will be transcribing that letter and placing it in the mail soon. Who in your life has offered unconditional love? Have you thanked them lately?
Below are a few more questions to ponder during this month of reflecting on the path of love. And, consider attending worship February 19 when I will invite an exploration of the “theology of love.” What do we mean by the word love? Can there be a theology of love?
Join Revs. Cathy and Claudia for an opportunity to discuss books that invite us into conversations about challenging issues.
We will meet at noon in Sandburg Hall (bring a bagged lunch) or join us via Zoom at 7:00 PM. Contact Rev. Claudia for the link faithdev@uuasheville.org
When? Thursday, March 2
What? “Embracing Discomfort” Book Study: Sing, Unburied, Sing, by Jesmyn Ward
Future Meetings
May 4
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous: A Novel by Ocean Vuong
Fall Dates TBA
Mistakes and Miracles by Nancy Palmer Jones and Karin Lin
Four session discussion series
New to UU Asheville? Learn about our on-going Anti-Racism Initiative
Dear Ones,
I imagine that you, like me are deeply saddened and disturbed by the murder of yet another innocent Black man at the hands of the police. As Tyre was being brutally beaten, he called out for his mother. He was on his way home which was nearby. All five of these officers were Black men. The assumption that white supremacy is the underlying problem in policing can no longer be argued. The American Bar Association has confirmed that evidence of injustice is overwhelming and is urging lawyers to help fight for equitable justice. America has a systemic problem in a judicial system that is historically rooted in a deeply ingrained, pervasive and ongoing racism.
George Floyd’s death at the hands of the police was a wake-up call and seemed to be a transformative moment, but perhaps the weight of the trauma, grief, and anxiety of the past three years has numbed us into complacency. It is incomprehensible to imagine a white man being beaten to death during a traffic stop, but for Blacks a traffic stop is terrifying.
Charles Blow addresses this issue in his NY Times article, titled “Tyre Nichols’ Death Is America’s Shame” in which he argues that we have become desensitized to the violence done to Black people because of “its sheer volume.” He points out “police killings of American citizens didn’t decrease after the killing of George Floyd; they increased.” It’s a powerful and compelling call to action.
Unitarian Universalists, along with other people of many other faith traditions showed up during the Civil Rights Movement. In 1965, UU minister, Rev. James Reeb was beaten to death by segregationists in Selma, Alabama, and the men tried for his murder were acquitted by an all-white jury. UU layperson, Viola Liuzzo joined the movement after Bloody Sunday and three weeks later was shot twice in the head near Selma by members of the Ku Klux Klan. We can honor their legacy by standing up and fighting racial injustice, and we can begin by doing our own work of educating ourselves about the root causes of this pervasive ongoing structural racism.
UUA President Susan Frederick Gray said this about Tyre Nichols murder, “As UUs, we believe in justice, equity, and inclusion as a matter of faith and Principle. As such, we are compelled to work towards a society where these Principles are more than concepts but lived realities. This Sunday, February 5 at 9:30 and 12:30, there will be 8th Principle discussion groups and is an opportunity to learn about why adopting the 8th Principle is an important step towards this goal. UU Asheville will be voting to adopt it at the annual meeting. We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote; journeying toward spiritual wholeness by working to build a diverse multicultural Beloved Community by our actions that accountably dismantle racism and other oppressions in ourselves and our institutions.”
See you in church,
Rev. Cathy Harrington, Interim Lead Minister