Dec 19, 2024 | Weekly Message
Hurricane Helene’s impact on Asheville was devastating, leaving behind a trail of destruction that seemed insurmountable. Yet, amidst the fallen trees, flooded streets, and damaged homes, a remarkable spirit of resilience emerged. Our community, known for its vibrant culture and strong sense of togetherness, found itself tested in ways we never imagined.
The storm’s fury knocked us down, but it couldn’t break us. We emerged from the wreckage, battered but unbowed, ready to face the challenges ahead. The road to recovery would be long and arduous, but we knew that we would not walk it alone.
In the days and weeks following the hurricane, our community came together like never before. Neighbors helped neighbors, strangers became friends, and acts of kindness blossomed everywhere. Community centers transformed into shelters, churches opened their doors to those in need, and volunteers mobilized to clear debris and provide essential supplies.
The spirit of giving and compassion was palpable. Local businesses donated food and supplies, restaurants cooked hot meals for those without power, and individuals opened their homes to those who had lost theirs. We learned that in the face of adversity, the human spirit can shine brighter than ever.
As the days have turned into months, the initial shock and awe give way to a determination to rebuild. We roll up our sleeves and get to work, clearing debris, repairing homes, repairing our spirits, and restoring our community. We face each challenge with a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that every step is a step forward.
The journey to recovery has been arduous, but it has also been a transformative experience. We have learned the true meaning of resilience, the power of community, and the importance of human connection. We have discovered that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.
As we reflect on the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we are filled with gratitude for the countless individuals who stepped up to help. Their selfless acts of kindness have left an indelible mark on our community. We are also grateful for our UU Asheville community, a source of strength and inspiration.
Maya Angelou says, “We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” Hurricane Helene may have knocked us down, but it cannot break our spirit. We will rise stronger, we will flood back love.
Will Jernigan
UU Asheville Board
*Image credit* Craig Tracy
Dec 18, 2024 | Featured, Vespers & Wednesday Program
Join in fellowship and dinner at 6pm, followed by a short service at 7pm. While Vespers are generally held the first Wednesday of every month, we have scheduled January’s Vespers for January 8th, to accommodate the New Year’s Holiday. Please RSVP here.
Dec 12, 2024 | Weekly Message
Since the election there have been many conversations about how we move forward in justice engagement in the face of rising fascism in our country. As a minister convening our Justice Ministry Council this has been on my mind. In conversations with some of you I hear the frustration, anger, and fear that the coming administration elicits. And I ask myself, how are we going to be called to live into our values in these times? It is important we grieve and acknowledge our dismay with the outcome of the election. And we also are called to explore what our engagement will be moving forward.
I have been avoiding news and doomscrolling. Hearing about cabinet nominations from friends and the occasional perusal of the newspaper are deeply disturbing. Since the election, I have been focusing on being in community, meeting with justice partners and being open to joy and gratitude as I move through my day. Activist Brian McClaren recently shared an Advent reflection about joy as defiance, not denial. He said being constantly angry and enraged leads to exhaustion. We do not want to be exhausted when the calls to action arise.
Embracing joy alongside the harsh realities we face can support us in being defiant and not defeated. When I get caught up in the overwhelming predicament our country (and the world) face with the rise of fascism, the climate crisis, war and so on, I feel like we have no agency. And yet, we do have agency. We are all part of communities and institutions that have ideological power, relational power and tangible resources that can be a force for defiance when facing leadership that promises to enact policies that contradict basic values of equity, equality, democracy and human rights we embrace as UUs.
During these long dark, cold nights may we find ways to heal and gather strength surrounded by our loved ones, to find joy in our daily routines and to carefully ponder the commitments we will make and honor when the new administration is installed. I invite you to consider these frameworks as you explore your bandwidth and capacity for engagement. Rev. Audette and I will host conversations about our justice priorities and congregational engagement moving forward. Details will be shared in the e-news after the winter holidays. I look forward to figuring out how to live into our UU values together.
Until then, may the holiday season find you surrounded by loving community and moments of joy and delight.
With love,
Rev Claudia
Minister of Faith Formation
Dec 5, 2024 | Featured
Join us for a wide array of Holiday events at UU Asheville. Events include:
When the Holidays Hurt:
The holidays can be difficult. In this season of sparkling lights, festive songs, and our communal efforts to maintain a sense of joy, it can be hard to find a quiet place that acknowledges both our collective grief and our personal struggles. Please join UU Asheville’s Ministerial Interns and the Pastoral Care Team on December 15, 2024, at 1:30 PM.
Holiday Reader’s Theatre
December 15th, 6pm
Join us for an evening of Reader’s Theatre style production of ” The Year Kenny Loggins Ruined Christmas” & “A Child’s Christmas in Buffalo”; put on by members of the UU Avl community!
Candlelight Service and Concert: Please join us on Christmas Eve for a Mini-Concert presented by the UU Asheville Choir and Dr. Les Downs at 7:00pm, prior to the Candlelight Service. The concert will include both sacred and secular carols, some familiar and some new.
For updates on these events and more follow our UU AVL e-newsletter!
Dec 4, 2024 | Weekly Message
Over the years, I’ve had to wrestle with some difficult newsletter articles. Times of war, or heartbreaking gun violence; natural disasters and distressing political events. I’m not sure I’ve ever had to wrangle my heart and ministry quite in this way before – at least, that’s how it feels. Still, the way to begin remains the same: facing the future, together. As a community. As a family of the heart.
I am big on the power of liminal times. In the days before my birthday, or here at the end of one year, as we pause on the cusp of the turning of the calendar, I believe in the value of taking some quiet time to reflect, alone and within spiritual community. It’s a chance to remember who we are. To ask if we are living our deepest values, and if not, where to adjust. It’s that opportunity to look ahead and decide how we intend to show up: what do we need to prepare, so that we are not overtaken by habit or circumstance, easily thrown off our best intentions or unable to hear clear direction from the small, still voice within. This is a time that invites introspection, and encourages thoughtful, grounded planning for living lives of meaning and purpose.
I know, from my own experience and from conversations with many people both in and outside the congregation, that these days feel especially fraught. It’s difficult to judge how to prepare for what’s coming. Here’s the thing: our forebrains are basically prediction machines. And in times as unclear and uncertain as these, they have a really hard time predicting what’s coming next, which creates a tension that ratchets anxiety right up – which we then deal with in a variety of ways. Some people are more easily moved to tears. Some find themselves short-tempered and cranky. Others check out hard – or worse, default to addictive behaviors. In general, it’s harder to be our best selves when we are overwhelmed with uncertainty. So if you find yourself having a harder time than usual, know that you’re not alone.
There is no magic cure for what ails us. And yet, here at the end of one year, on the precipice of what feels like a seachange in our democratic experiment, we still have all the same things we did last year: a community, built on enduring values. The beauty of the world, even when it’s been transformed by climate change. The salvific power of neighbors helping neighbors, and mutual aid. Our own hearts, minds, and hands, magnified when we turn them to common purpose.
Now more than ever, please remember: you are not alone, and we, together, have the power to create sanctuary for those we love. In the days ahead, we will make manifest the power of sanctuary, as we UUs engage with Pink Haven (https://www.pinkhaven.org/) and pay close attention to what sanctuary means within the context of a hostile state, determined to inflict as much harm on those who have fled disaster in their home countries, dreaming of a safer harbor here in the US. We will contemplate sanctuary as the place of rest and recommitment that we build together each time we gather, bravely navigating the world to come – just as we have always done.
So here at the close of the year, we hope you will join us – for music, laughter at the Reader’s Theatre evening, as parents having a Night Out thanks to our youth, for grieving together at the When the Holidays Hurt service, to celebrate with joy at our family and all-ages services, and for our Christmas Eve concert and candlelight service. We will nurture our spirits, hold each other close, and holding hands, face the future together.
See you at church –
With love,
Rev. Audette
