>> >> >> >> >> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING. IF WE ARE WISE THIS BEAUTIFUL
SUNDAY MORNING, WE WILL EXCHANGE TO
THE PRIVILEGE OF NEW BREATH. WE WELL EXCHANGE A SONG AND OFFER
UNTO THE WORLD THE BLESSING FOR OUR
VOICES. IT'S MY PLEASURE TO SAY THAT YOU AND YOU AND YOUR VOICES ARE VERY WELCOME HERE.
LET'S SING. >> GOOD MORNING.
AND WELCOME. WHAT A JOY TO THE WORSHIP WITH
YOU THIS MORNING.
SUNDAY MORNING AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY
IS ALWAYS ONE OF THE SPECIAL WORSHIP EXPERIENCED OF THE YEAR.
IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FEATURE SOME OF THE POWERFUL VOICES OF
OUR FAITH.
THIS YEAR'S SERVICE IS AN EXAMPLE
OF HOW COLLABORATION CAN CREATE SOMETHING THAT ONE PERSON COULD
DO ALONE OF THE REVEREND NANCY Mc
McDONALD LADD AND DR. GLEN THOMAS
RIDEOUT HAVE WORKED TOGETHER CLOSELY.
I'VE LOST CONTROL. SHAPE THE WORDS AND MUSIC TO
TOUCH OUR HEARTS AND MINDS AND THEY'RE OFF TO A GOOD START.
NANCY SERVES AS SENIOR MINISTER AT
THE RIVER ROAD UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION IN
BETHESDA, MARYLAND. SHE IS KNOWN HAS AN ADVOCATE FOR RACIAL JUSTICE AND TODAY WE WILL SPEAK ABOUT HOW WE BECOME OUR
BEST AND TRUEST SELVES IN AND THROUGH OUR RELATIONSHIPS.
, EVEN WHEN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH DIFFICULT.
YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT FAKE FIGHTS AND
REAL FIGHTS. VERY MUCH IN KEEPING WITH A
THEME THAT LAST NIGHT'S WARE LECTURE
TALKED ABOUT. GLEN THOMAS CONDUCTING OUR 180
VOICE CHOIR THIS MORNING. SERVES THE FIRST UU CONGREGATION
OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, AS DIRECTOR
OF MUSIC.
WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THE SERVICE, IS DIRECTOR OF MUSIC AND WORSHIP
. BEYOND HIS WORK WITH THE
CONGREGATION, HE'S DEEPLY INVOLVED
WITH THE COMMUNITY AND HE SOMEHOW
FINDS TIME AND ENERGY WHICH TIME ALSO
ALSO, AS YOU'VE JUST HEARD, AS A THIS MORNING'S WORSHIP INCLUDES
NOT ONLY ATTENDEES TO THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY, BUT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
PUBLIC. IF YOU'RE A 50 THIS MORNING, LET
ME HE CAN TEND A WARM WELCOME.
WHETHER YOU COME FROM ACROSS THE >> THE OPPORTUNITY HAS COME TO US
AGAIN TO WEAVE A SINGULAR TAPESTRY
OF LIFE FROM COUNTLESS STRANDS OF
DAZZLING DIFFERENCE, AND A RENEWED
QUEST FOR COMMON PURPOSE. >> THE TIME HAS COME AGAIN FOR
YOUR HAND AND YOUR HAND AND MY HAND
TO CHOOSE EACH OTHER'S COMPANY FOR
OUR CONNECTED EMBRACE TO GUIDE US
TOWARD DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER.
>> THE OPPORTUNITY HAS COME FOR YOUR
VOICE AND YOUR VOICE AND MY VOICE
TO ASSEMBLE OUR VOICE. AND FOR OUR VOICE TO AWAKEN
MELODIES OF UNMITIGATED HOPE TO
LIFT UP SONGS THAT CHASE AFTER JUSTICE.
>> WITH A WOVEN WILL, WE CAN MAKE
SACRED WORK OUT OF THIS MOMENT. WITH A GATHERED SPIRIT, WE CAN
BUILD COMMUNITY I DON'T KNOW, EVEN
IN THE MOST CONVENTIONAL SPACE . >> SO COME, WHOEVER YOU ARE.
LET US TAKE UP THE CHALLENGE AND WITH EACH OTHER. >> AND LET US LEARN ONCE AGAIN
WHAT LOVE CAN DO WHEN THERE TRULY IS
A WE.
>> AND LET THE EVIDENCE OF OUR DECISION GIVE STRENGTH TO EACH
OF OUR LIVES FOR ALL OUR LIVING. WITH YOUR BODY, WITH YOUR MIND,
WITH YOUR VOICE, RISE AND LET OUR
VOICE GAB THEY HAD. OUR HYMN IS GATHER THE SPIRIT,
HARVEST THE POWER. TRULYLY OUR SEPARATE FIRES CAN
KINDLE ONE FLAME. LET'S SING. JOIN YOUR VOICES WITH MINE AND
LET US BE GATHERED. SO MAY IT BE WITH US.
PLEASE HAVE A SEAT IF YOU LIKE. OH, I MEAN THAT.
[LAUGHTER] >> ONLY IF YOU WANNA.
>> YEAH. >> THERE IS MORE LOVE SOMEWHERE. THERE IS MORE LOVE SOMEWHERE .
AND I'M GONNA KEEP ON 'TIL I FIND
IT .
THERE IS MORE LOVE SOMEWHERE. SING WITH ME.
>> THERE IS MORE LOVE SOMEWHERE AND I'M GONNA KEEP ON 'TIL I FIND
IT. THERE IS IS MORE LOVE SOMEWHERE >>
IN THE MIDST OF SO MUCH HURT IN THE
WORLD, SO MUCH THAT LIES HEAVY ON
OUR HEARTS, TODAY IS A DAY OF BLESSING FOR THE WORK AHEAD.
SO I INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN THE
SHARED BLESSING OF PRAYERFUL PRESENCE.
SPIRIT OF LIFE , SOURCE OF HOPE, GOD
BEYOND OUR NAMING, WE GATHER TOGETHER TODAY, BOTH EXPANSIVELY HOPEFUL AND RESTRICTIVE CONFINED MEET
A NEW DAY NO THOSE WHO SEEK AND WHO
SEVER THE SPIRIT, HOPEFUL THAT EVEN
AND EVERY ONE OF US MIGHT ENCOUNTER
THE SACRED WITHIN, AMONG, AND BEYOND EVERY HUMAN SOUL AND
HOPEFUL THAT SUCH AN HE KNOW COUNTER
MIGHT WORK THROUGH US TO TOPPLE THE
IDOLATRYS OF OUR AGE. AND YET WE ALSO GATHER AS A
PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT YET FREE, A PEOPLE
CONFINED, UNFREE, CONTAINED. WE ARE CONFINED, UNFREE,
CONTAINED, EVEN ON THIS DAY OF CELEBRATION
AND BLESSING, BECAUSE IN THIS
CULTURE OF DIVISION BUILT UPON THE PAIN
OF THE PEOPLE AT THE MARGINS, EVEN
THE DECENT PEOPLE HOLD THEIR LOVE TOO
TIGHTLY, PUTTING IT IN BOXES, PREFACEING IT WITH
QUALIFICATIONS. I WILL YOU OF.
I WILL SEE YOU IF. I WILL BARE WITNESS TO THE TRUTH
OF MY SOUL ALONGSIDE YOU IF AND
ONLY IF YOU AGREE WITH ME, YOU LOOK
LIKE ME, YOU STAND LIKE ME, YOU THINK LIKE ME, YOU ACT LIKE ME, YOU
THINK LIKE ME.
YOU WEAR YOUR GENDER ON YOUR SLEEVE
AND PRODUCE IT UPON DEMAND .
I WILL LOVE YOU AND I WILL MEET YOU
IN THE SANCTUARY OF OUR HEARTS, IF
AND ONLY IF YOU GIVE ME EVIDENCE OF
YOUR GOOD LIBERAL VIRTUES. IF AND ONLY IF YOU NEVER FAIL TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF THE
MOVEMENT AND NEVER WEEP UPON A STREET
CORNER OUT OF GRIEF FOR YOUR SHEER
INADEQUACY AND THE VASTNESS OF THE
STRUGGLE YOU CANNOT EVEN NAME. ER IMPRISONED BY THESE IFS AND
THESE IF ONLYS. WE ARE CONFINED BY THE SMALLNESS
OF OUR LOVING, EVEN AS OUR SOULS
REMIND US THAT WE CAN ONLY GET FREE
IF WE ALL GET FREE TOGETHER. AND SO TODAY, TODAY, DEAR SPIRIT
OF LIFE MOVING IN THIS PLACE,
MOVING IN US TODAY AT THE END OF THIS
WEEK OF INTERSECTION, LET OUR HOPEFUL
HOPEFULNESS MINGLE WITH OUR CONVICTION.
LET OUR WILLINGNESS TO LOVE BEYOND
OUR EXPECTATIONS OR EXPERIENCE BREAK DOWN OUR LONG-HELD
BARRIERS. LET OUR WILLINGNESS TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE HARDEST QUESTIONS OPUS
TO NEW TRUTHS.
MAY THERE TRULY BE MORE LOVE, WITH
NO LABELS AND NO BINARY AND NO PREFACE AND NO QUALIFICATION AND
NO ARITHMETIC AND NO LIMIT.
LET THERE BE MORE LOVE TO LIBERATE
US ALL AND MAY WE KEEP ON, TODAY AND
SHARE IT, INCH BY PRECIOUS INCH, >> THERE IS MORE LOVE SOMEWHERE.
THERE IS MORE LOVE SOMEWHERE .
AND I'M GONNA KEEP ON 'TIL I FIND
IT. THERE IS MORE LOVE SOMEWHERE. >> IN THIS LARGER LOVE, WE ARE
INVITED INTO AN ENCOUNTER WITH HOLINESS BEYOND ALL OF OUR
CATEGORIES, BEYOND ALL OF OUR FALSE
BINARYS OF GENDER, OF BELIEF, OF LOVE
LOVE. WE ENCOUNTER THAT WHICH WE
CANNOT EXPERIENCE WITH OPEN HEARTS AND
DEEP, DEEP HUMILITY. AN ACTIVE SOURCE OF CONNECTION
WE MAY, ON SOME DAYS, CALL GOD. >> I OFFER A POEM FROM MY OWN
MEDITATIONS .
I SHARE A BIT OF WHAT IS TRUE IN MY
HEART, PRAYING THAT IT WILL COMMUNE
WITH WHAT IS TRUE IN YOURS. I CALL HYPO 'EM AFTER ALL.
MY POEM, AFTER ALL.
GOD IS NO NOUN. AND CERTAINLY NOT AN ADJECTIVE.
GOD IS AT LEAST A VERB, AND EVEN SHRINKS HER. GLAD YOU IS NOT SO MUCH A WOMAN
AS HOPE
OF BROWN MOTHERS. GOD IS NOT SO MUCH A MAN AS HE
IS AT WORK IN THE MEMORY OF MY
GRANDFATHER 'S LAUGH.
GOD IS NOT TRANS. GOD SWIMS IN THE TEARS OF THE ONE
WHO IS SEEING HER REAL SELF AT LONG
LAST IN THE BATHROOM MIRROR. GOD IS NOT BLACK/NEITHER IS HE
WHITE. GOD IS WADING IN THE
CONTRADICTION SLAVE SHACKS.
AND I HAVE SEEN GOD IN THE ALABASTER SMILES OF CHILDREN AT
PLAY. WE'RE GETTING MICHELANGELO ALL
WRONG. GOD IS NOT THE BEARDED ONE,
SURROUNDED BY ANGELS FLOATING OVER OVER OVER OVER
THE SISTINE. HE IS NOT ADAM, WITH HIS MUSCLED BACK PRESSING THE EARTH.
NO. GOD IS THE CLOSING INCH OF SPACE BETWEEN THEIR REACHING FINGERS. DON'T BELIEVE FOR A MOMENT THAT
GOD IS CATHOLIC.
[LAUGHTER] FOR GOD'S SAKE, HE ISN'T EVEN
HUMAN. HAVE YOU HEARD THE WOOD THRUSH
WHEN THE SUN GLISTEN THE HURON?
CAN YOU SEE THE FLOWERS, HOW THEY
SPEAK TO BEES WITHOUT A WORD? STILL, GOD IS NO SPRING BLOSSOM,
NO WOOD THRUS,; GOD IS NEITHER THE
SUN NOR THE BEE.
GOD IS WHAT YOU SEE IN THE BLOSSOM.
GOD IS WHEN YOU HEAR THE RIVER AND
SUDDENLY DISCOVER HOW MUCH OF IT IS
PART OF YOU. TO BE CLEAR, GOD IS NOT YOU. [LAUGHTER]
GOD IS SOMEWHERE IN THE 14 BILLION
YEARS WHICH HAVE COME TO MEAN THAT
YOU ARE GOD IS, AFTER ALL, AT LEAST
A VERB. SHE IS NEITHER PHARAOH'S ROD NOR MOSES' STAFF.
WE MUST BE THE ONCE TO CEASE OUR SHE IS NOT INTERESTED IN BLAME;
NEITHER DOES SHE OFFER PRAISE. TRUTH, GRATITUDE ARE OURS TO
BREATHE. SHE WILL NOT HAVE YOUR ANSWERS. SHE IS TOO LARGE FOR ANSWERS.
SHE DANCES TOO WILDLY TO BE FASTEN
FASTENED TO THEM AND ANSWERS ARE GOD IS AT LEAST A VERB.
TWIRLING IN THE RADIANT REDS OF SPRING BLOSSOMS, SINGING IN THE
RARE SILENCES BETWEEN RAPID
OPINIONS, ATTENDING THE TEARS OF
DARK-SKINNED DEATHS, LEARNING IN SMILES.
GOD IS WAITING IN THE SPACE BETWEEN
FINGERS THAT MIGHT CONNECT. HE IS WAITING FOR US TO STOP NAMING
HER. SHE IS WAITING FOR US TO SEE ALL
OF HIM .
GOD IS WAITING TO BE UNSHRUNK >> AS THE LYRICS OF OUR
TREASURED HYMN PROCLAIM, FROM THE DREAMS OF YOUTHFUL VISION
COMES A NEW PROPHETIC VOICE WHICH DEMANDS A DEEPER JUSTICE
BUILT BY OUR COURAGEOUS CHOICE. AND SO WE ARE CALLED TO
GENEROSITY IN THIS TIME OF OFFERING BY THE
VOICES OF YOUNG LEADERS WHO, WITH
EVERY CHOICE THEY MAKE, TRANSFORM
ALL THE POETRY AND ALL THE SINGING
AND ALL THE PRAISE OF OUR TRADITION
INTO THE TANGIBLE WORK OF THEIR OWN
HANDS. >> UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM
CONNECTS ONE HAND TO ANOTHER, ONE LIFE TO ANOTHER, ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE TO
ANOTHER FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE. CONGREGATIONS ARE ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING INSTITUTIONS THAT
REALLY CHALLENGE THE NOTION THAT
DIFFERENCES OF GENERATION, AGE, BACKGROUND STORY, AND IDENTITY
SHOULD SEPARATE US INTO FACTIONS.
AND SO THIS IS A COLLECTION OF OUR
MONEY, BUT IT IS ALSO A CONNECTION
TO PARTNERS IN MINISTRY, WITH WHOM
WE ARE SO HONORED TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP. >> THE PRISON SYSTEM IN THE
UNITED STATES IS BROKEN.
THE COMMON HUMANITY OF EACH AND EVERY SOUL IS DE-EMPHASIZEED AND PRECIOUS LOVED ONES BECOME
NUMBERS, BECOME STATISTICS, SO MANY
FIGURES ON A SCREEN.
BUT LIKE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS ,
THE HORIZON PRISON INITIATIVE BELIEVES THAT HONOR, RESPECT,
AND DIGNITY ARE DUE TO EACH AND
EVERY HUMAN BEING, NOT BECAUSE OF THE
GREATNESS OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS NOR
HOW THEY HAVE BEHAVED, BUT BECAUSE
THEY ARE HOME TO A SOUL THAT IS INHERENTLY HOLY.
THE HORIZON PRISON INITIATIVE SEEKS
TO MEET EACH INMATE IN THAT HOLY OWN
STORY, WITH SPIRITUALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY , RESPECT, AND
COMMUNITY .
PRISONERS EMERGE TRANSFORMED INTO
BETTER PARTNERS, PARENTS, CHAMPIONS
OF JUSTICE, AND AGENTS OF CHANGE IN
THE WORLD. NOW, YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE MOST
IMPORTANT THINGS ARE OFTEN THREATENED FOR THE MOST
PREVENTABLE OF REASONS.
AND DUE TO RECENT FUNDING CUTS IN
THE STATE OF OHIO, MANY OF THE VITAL MINISTRIES OF HORIZON
PRISON INITIATIVE, THE REGIP SENT OF
OUR COLLECTION TODAY, ARE AT RISK OF BEING CUT IN NOT AT ALL TRIVIAL
WAYS AND YET LEADERS ACROSS THIS TO
KEEP THE WORK ALIVE. AND AT THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WE LEARNED THAT THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF THE STATE OF OHIO, MIGHT
DEWINE, HAS AGREED TO MATCH THE FUNDS WE COLLECT THIS MORNING RIGHT THIS
MINUTE DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR. [APPLAUSE] THAT IS HOW IMPORTANT AND VITAL
THIS WORK IS, AND THAT MONEY IS DESIGNATED TO SUPPORT HORIZONS
PLANNED EXPANSION FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER INTO A WHIP'S PRISON
BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU ARE GENEROUS, IF YOU ARE
BOLD, IF YOU ARE BRAVE ENOUGH, AN
INITIAL GROUP OF 72 WOMEN WILL ENTER A YEAR LONG PROGRAM OF
PERSONAL AND INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION, AND SO WHAT YOU
GIVE TODAY, IT ISN'T JUST DOUBLED,
IT IS THE GRACE OF YOUR GENEROSITY
BEING COMPOUND AND HAD MULTIPLIED
BY THE CAPACITY OF THOSE WHO TAKE
UP THIS WORK. AND SO I INVITE YOU TO BE BOLDER THAN YOU IMAGINED TODAY, DIG
DEEPER AND REACH FURTHER, BECAUSE THIS
GIFT DOES NOT CHANGE LIVES. IT SAVES THEM. IT BUILDS PRISONERS INTO LEADERS WHO SAVE THE WORLD, AND YOU GET
TO BE A PART OF IT.
JUST AS THE CHOIR TURNS MANY VOICES
INTO ONE SONG, SO MIGHT WE BUILD WILFUL, INTENTIONAL POWER TO
SHAPE THE WORLD, AND SO WRITE YOUR
CHECK. PUT THE MONEY IN THE ENVELOPE.
TEXT IT IN. ALL OF YOU AT HOME, RIVER ROAD
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION
IS LIVESTREAMING. ALL OF Y'ALL, ALL OF YOU DIG
DEEP SENSE A
SONG. ONE VOICE GATHERED TOGETHER AND
TOGETHER, BUT THE SUBSTANCE OF OUR
TOGETHERNESS IS A DEEP POTENTIAL ,
BOTH FOR PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION *
MISSION AND SERVICE TO THE WORLD AND SO LET US GIVE OF OUR MANY
GIFTS. THIS MORNING'S OFFERING WILL NOW
BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. SING ME A REQUIEM. SING ME TO HEAVEN. TOUCH IN ME ALL LOVE AND PASSION
, PAIN AND PLEASURE .
TOUCH IN ME GRIEF AND COMFORT, LOVE
AND PASSION , PAIN AND PLEASURE. SING ME A LULLABY, A LOVE SONG, A
REQUIEM , LOVE ME, COMFORT ME, BRING
ME TO GOD. SING ME A LOVE SONG. SING ME TO HEAVEN. >> AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
HORIZON PRISON INITIATIVE, WE ARE
DELIGHTED TO ACCEPT THESE GIFTS. >> TOGETHER, OUR MISSION IS TO
TRANSFORM PRISONERS WHO TRANSFORM
PRISONS AND COMMUNITIES. SO THIS OFFERING IS LIFTED UP IN SERVICE TO THAT ESSENTIAL
SPIRITUAL AND EMOTIONAL WORK. >> TO THE WORK OF HUMAN CARE,
WHICH CALLS US TO WEAVE A TAPESTRY OF
LOVE AND ACTION, OF RESTORATION AND
FAITHFULNESS TO THE AN DONE WANT SPIRIT.
WE DEDICATE THESE OFFERINGS AND OUR
CONTINUED EFFORTS TO HELP TRANSFORM
INMATES WHO ARE TRANSFORMING PRISONS AND COMMUNITIES. [APPLAUSE] >> ENTERING MORE
DEEPLY NOW INTO THE WORSHIP HOUR HOUR, WE OFFER TWO READINGS.
WE MAKE SPACE TO ENGAGE ANCIENT AND
YOUNG WISDOM WITH EQUALLY-OPEN EARS MIGHT GUIDE OUR HEARTS
TOWARD GREATER LOVE OF OURSELVES BETWEEN US. >> OUR FIRST READING IS FROM
PROVERBS FOUR, VERSES 1 THROUGH 9.
HEAR, YE CHILDREN, THE INSTRUCTION
OF A PARENT, AND ATTEND TO KNOW UNDERSTANDING.
FOR I WAS MY FATHER'S SON, TENDER
AND ONLY BELOVED IN THE SIGHT OF MY
MOTHER. HE TAUGHT ME ALSO, AND SAID UNTO
ME ME, NET LYON THAT'S RIGHT RETAIN
MY WORDS: KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS,
AND BE STRONG. GET WISDOM, GET UNDERSTANDING:
FORGET IT NOT; NEITHER DECLINE FROM
THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH. FORSAKE HER NOT, AND SHE SHALL
PRESERVE THEE: LOVE HER AND SHE WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING;
THEREFORE, GET WISDOM A AND WITH
ALL OF THY GETTING, GET UNDERSTANDING.
>> OUR SECOND READING IS THE PLACE
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT BY YEHUDA-AMI CHA
YEHUDA-AMICHA. FROM THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE
RIGHT, FLOWERS WILL NEVER GROW IN THE
SPRING. THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT IS
HARD AND TRAMPLED, LIKE A YARD. BUT DOUBTS AND LOVES DIG UP THE
WORLD LIKE A MOLE, A PLOW, AND A
WHISPER WILL BE HEARD IN THE PLACE
WHERE THE RUINED HOUSE ONCE STOOD. >> WHAT A BEAUTIFUL THING IT IS
WHEN WE CREATE WORSHIP TOGETHER THAT MAKES THE MICROPHONE EVEN
WANT TO SING.
[LAUGHTER] ACTUALLY, ITS SINGING REMINDS ME OF
THE MANY HANDS AND THE MANY MINDS
THAT GO INTO BUILDING THIS WORSHIP
HOUR. THERE ARE FOLKS ALL AROUND THIS
ROOM WHO ARE HOLDING YOU AND YOU .
SO LET US NOTICE THE HOLY MOMENT IT
WAS TAKEN CARE OF. WE ARE WELL SERVED. THE ANCIENT CATHOLIC CHANT
OFFERS US THIS WISDOM: LET US ATTEND.
UBI CARITAS ET AMOR, DEUS IBI EST .
WHERE THERE IS LOVE AND COMPASSION,
THERE IS THE LOCATION OF GOD. >> UBI CARITAS ET AMOR, DEUS IBI
EST . CONGREGAVIT NOS IN UNUM CHRISTI
AMOR, UBI CARITAS ET AMOR, DEUS IBI
EST . CONGREGAVIT NOS IN UNUM CHRISTI
AMOR EXSULTEMULS ET IN IPSO
JUCUNDEMUR TIMEAMUS ET AMEMUS DEUM VIVUM. TIMEAMUS ET AMEMUS DEUM VIVUM ET EX
CORDER DILIGAMUS NO SINCERO . ET EX CORDER DILIGAMUS NO
SINCERO. ET EX CORDE DILIGAMUS NO SINCERO
. UBI CARITAS ET AMOR, DEUS IBI
EST . AMEN. >> I HAVE RECEIVED RELATIVELY
FEW HONORS OR NOTEWORTHY
DISTINCTIONS IN MY LIFE THUS FAR.
THERE IS THE ONE-TIME GUINNESS RECORD HOLDING WORLD'S LARGEST
KAZOO BAND IN WHICH I WAS A DECIDED
DECIDEDLY FAWN-FEATUREED PLAYER. THERE IS THE FACT THAT I AM
STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY. AND THERE IS THE SINGULAR HONOR
I WILL NEVER FORGET OF HAVING BEEN THE VERY FIRST FEMALE ALTAR
SERVER AT SAINT MATTHEW'S CATHOLIC
CHURCH IN POSEY COUNTY, INDIANA.
[APPLAUSE] I REMEMBER THE MUSTY YEASTY
WHINY SMELLS OF THE SACRISTY, THE LINEN ALB COOL UPON MY
SHOULDERS, THE HEAVY BIBLE RESTING IN THE CROOK OF MY
ELBOWS, ALL 70 POUNDS OF ME HELD OF THAT HOLY BOOK.
THICK WITH GOLD AND BRIGHT RED RIBBONS, I REMEMBER THE LIB
LUCRATIVE -- LIBERATIVE STORY OF BELLS AND THE GLORY AND THE
MONOTONY OF IT WOVEN TOGETHER. I LOVED IT ALL.
AND IN TIME, BEING PROPERLY TRAINED
TRAINED, I WAS SET UP ON THE USUAL
ALTAR SERVER ROTATION. LET'S SAY THIRD SUNDAYS AND I
LEARNED THAT ON THIRD SUNDAYS I WOULD BE SERVING AT MASS NOT
WITH OUR REGULAR PRIEST, BUT WITH THE ONCE-A, MONTH GUEST PRIEST WHO
FILLED IN WHEN THE REGULAR GUY WAS
OUT OF TOWN. WE WILL CALL HIM FATHER BEHME, AND
HE AND I, WE WERE ESSENTIALLY THE B
TEAM AT SAINT MATTHEW'S CHURCH. WITH WE WERE THE BACKUP
LITURGICAL ACTORS, THE NEW KID, A GIRL, NO
LESS, WITH PINK SPARKLY GLASSES AND
A HOME PERM AND THE SECOND STRING
PRIEST WHO WAS ALL TOGETHER C RANKIE
AND MORE BOREING THAN THE REGULAR
HIP GUY. WHAT A PAIR WE WERE ON THIRD
SUNDAYS. WHO CAN SAY HOW THE WHOLE THING
WENT IN THE BEGINNING OF THAT FIRST
SERVICES, WHEN WHICHEVER GODDESS OF
CHURCH ADMINISTRATION SET THE ALTAR
SERVER SCHEDULE AT SAINT MATTHEW'S
CATHOLIC CHURCH, THRUST US INTO CONTACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE BEGINNING OF
THAT FIRST SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE
AT ALL, BUT I REMEMBER THE END. YOU SEE, IN THE PIVOTAL MOMENT
AFTER COMMUNION AT SAINT MATTHEW'S,
THERE WAS THIS RITUAL WHERE THE PRIEST CLEANED THE CHALICE AND
THE PATEN FREE FROM THE LAST HOLY
DROPS AND CRUMBS OF THE ZACHARY --
SACRAMENT. AND I WAS TRAINED THAT IT WAS MY JOB TO POUR JUST A LITTLE BIT OF WATER FROM A TINY CUT GLASS
PITCHER INTO THE CHALICE, WHEREUPON THE
PRIEST WOULD SWITCH IT AROUND A LITTLE BIT, DRINK THE WATER AND
SWIPE THE WHOLE THING CLEAN WITH A
LITTLE EMBROIDERED CLOTH, ALL OF LIKE
A WATER AT A FANCY RESTAURANT. WHEN WE GOT TO THE SERVICE I WAS ALL SET WITH MY LITTLE CLOTH.
ILL ALL SET WITH MY WATER. MY HANDSOME HOW LOOKED MORE
SANCTIFIED BY HOLDING THAT LITTLE
VESSEL. AND I REMEMBER WALKING UP TO
FATHER BEHME ALL FULL OF EAGERNESS, ALL READY TO POUR IT IN AND
BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF THE SAY CENT AND
ANCIENT ABLUTIONS. BUT AS MY HANDS ROSE UP TO MEET
HIM HIM, INEXPLICABLY, INSTEAD OF
HOLDING OUT THE CUP FOR ME TO FILL,
HE RAISED HIS HAND UP, TOO. STILL HOLDING THAT CHALICE AND
LOOKING ME RIGHT IN THE EYE, HE RAISED HIS HANDS HIGH, HIGH
ABOVE MY HEAD.
SO I REACHED HIGHER WITH THAT LITTLE JUG OF WATER.
AND THEN HE REACHED HIGHER WITH THE
CUP. AND I WENT UP ON MY TIPPY-TOE
WITH HIS THAT WATER AND HE RAISE THAT HAD CUP SO HIGH THAT VICK TROY
MY PART WHO HAVE REQUIRED ME TO GO
BACK TO THE SACRISTY, LOCATE A TRAMPOLINE, AND JUMP WITH ALL OF
MY LIFE AND SLAM DUNK THAT HOLY
WATER IN THE CHALICE, WHICH I'M PRETTY SURE I WOULD HAVE DONE IF I'D
HAVE THOUGHT OF IT.
FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, SURELY I WAS
DOING IT WRONG. SURELY THERE WAS SOMETHING I HAD FORGOTTEN.
SURELY IF I JUST KEPT TRYING, HIS
HANDS WOULD COME TOWN AND MY HANDS
WOULD GO UP AND THEY WOULD MEET IN
THE MIDDLE, LIKE THEY WERE SUPPOSED
TO, AND THE HOLY WATER WOULD POUR,
AND SURELY, SURELY, I THOUGHT, I THAT IS THE SUM TOTAL OF MY
MEMORY OF THAT DAY.
I DO NOT ACTUALLY KNOW HOW THE SITUATION RESOLVED ITSELF, BUT
MY MOTHER, OUT IN THE PEWS, SO
PROUD, SO DEAR AND SO FEROCIOUSLY
DEVOTED TO ME, SHE WATCHED THAT WHOLE
DRAMA FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
FROM HER ANGLE, THE CUP WENT UP. MY HANDS WENT UP, THE CUP WENT
UP, MY HANDS WENT UP, AND IN THE
MOMENT WHEN I WENT UP ON MY TIPTOES SO
DESPERATELY FRIGHT END TO THE BONE
THAT I WAS DOING IT WRONG, SHE HEARD AND SHE FELT THE ENTIRE
CONGREGATION AS THEY GASPED, AS ONE
BODY, ONE GREAT INTAKE OF
COLLECTIVELY BREATH. BECAUSE THE CONGREGATION, AND
ESPECIALLY MY MOTHER, THEY KNEW WHAT I CANNOT KNOW.
NAMELY, THAT FATHER BEHME REACHED
THE SACRAMENT SO FAR ABOVE ME, STRETCHING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN
HIS HANDS AND MINE, FOR ONE REASON
ONLY ONLY.
BECAUSE I WAS A GIRL. AND THE WHOLE CONGREGATION SAVE
ME COULD SURMISE, HE DIDN'T THINK I BELONGED IN THE CHANCEL.
SO HE MADE HIS POINT. AND I SUPPOSE WE ALL WENT HOME.
MOM INCENSED. ME JUST CONFUSED.
AND YET THE NEXT TIME THE THIRD SUNDAY OF THE MONTH ROLLED
AROUND AGAIN, GUESS WHERE WE ALL WERE?
RIGHT THERE IN THAT CHANCEL DOING
WHAT YOU DO ON SUNDAY MORNING. WITH MY MOM IN THE FRONT ROW
FIERCE FIERCELY WATCHING, THE PLAYERS
IN THE DRAMA OF HUMAN INTERACTION
MET ONCE AGAIN, ON THE STAGE OF
SOCIAL CHANGE.
AND WE DIDN'T DO IT, BECAUSE ANY OF
US WERE HEROES. WE DID IT BECAUSE THE GODDESS OF THE SAINT MATTHEW'S CATHOLIC
CHURCH ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE CANNOT SEE FIT TO PUT US ANYWHERE ELSE.
WE WERE RIGHT THERE AND WE STAYED
THERE. ON EVERY THIRD SUNDAY FROM THEN
ON I HELD OUT THE WATER AND HE HELD OUT THE CUP AND OUR HANDS MET
AND THE LITURGY HAPPENED SUNDAY
AFTER SUNDAY, MONTH AFTER MONTH, AND
IN AND OUT OF YEARS.
WE WERE STUCK WITH EACH OTHER, SHOWING UP FOR THE MAGIC LONG
ENOUGH THAT THE MAGIC ACTUALLY HAPPENED. ONE SUNDAY I ARRIVED IN THE SA
CRIST SACRISTY BEFORE SERVICES.
I PULLED MY ALB OUT OF THE CHA NCEL
CLOSET AND I SAW THERE ON THE DOOR
A LITTLE TINY NEWSPAPER CLIPPING OF
ME FROM THE HOMETOWN PAPER. IT WAS A PICTURE OF ME IN A HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING RACE, GASPING
FOR BREATH UNDER THESE GIANT PURPLE
GOOGLES. FATHER BEHME HAD CLIPPED IT AND
HE'D TAPED IT THERE. IN THE SAME MINUTE HANDWRITING
HE USED TO LABEL THE LITTLE DRAWERS
OF OIL AND WHATNOTS IN THE SACRI
STY, UNDERNEATH THAT CLIPPING IN HIS
BLACK PEN HE HAD WRITTEN ONE LINE:
OUR NANCY, IT SAID. HE EVEN UNDERLINED THE OUR PART.
OUR NANCY. AND AFTER THAT, WHENEVER I HAD
SOME MODEST OR NERDY TRIUMPH WHICH
ONLY A SMALL TOWN PAPER REPORTS ON,
ATTENDING THE NATIONAL CONVENTION
OF STUDENTS OF CLASSICAL LANGUAGES,
PERHAPS, BECAUSE I WAS COOL , HE
WOULD CLIP THOSE THINGS AND HE WOULD DISPLAY THEM WITH PRIDE ON THAT SACRISTY DOOR, BECAUSE BY
THEN I BELONGED NOT ONLY ON THE C
HANCEL, BUT IN THE CHURCH, AND IN SOME
SMALL BAY, IN HIS NEW HEART. TODAY I AM A PREACHER WOMAN IN
PART BECAUSE OF THAT SENSE OF BEING
KNOWN AND CLAIMED AND EVEN UNDERSTOOD BY THAT CRANKY OLD
MAN. AND TODAY, FATHER BEHME NOT ONLY SERVES AMONG A WHOLE SLEW OF
FEMALE ARREST MATERIAL SERVERS.
HE'S EVEN GONE SO FAR AS TO SPEAK
FAVORABLY ABOUT THE ORDINATION OF
WOMEN IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY, BABY.
AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, I SAY THAT SEA
CHANGE OF POSSIBILITY WAS REALIZED
NOT BECAUSE WE WERE THE HEROES OF
OUR OWN STORY, NOR BECAUSE WE EARNED THE GRACE OF OUR
ENCOUNTER, BUT BECAUSE WE WERE STUCK WITH
EACH OTHER. [APPLAUSE]
I WAS NOT WHAT FATHER BEHME WAS LOOKING FOR ON THE THIRD SUNDAY
OF EVERY MONTH AND HE WAS NOT WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR IN A
PRIEST. NEITHER OF US PARTICULARLY GOT
WHAT WE WANTED FROM THE GODDESS WHO
MASTERMINDED THE ALTAR SERVER SCHEDULE, AND AS IT TURNED OUT,
NOT GETTING WHAT WE WANTED, BEING
STUCK WITH ONE ANOTHER SO LONG THAT
UNDERSTANDING MIGHT ARISE IN THE THE
ONLY THING THAT MADE CHANGE POSSIBLE FOR ANY OF US.
THE WONDERFUL , DEEP SPIRITED ANTI-
ANTI-RACIST ORGANIZER MICKEY SCOTT
BAY JONES HAS SAID THAT RELATIONSHIP IS THE SANDPAPER
THAT WEARS AWAY OUR RESISTANCE TO
CHANGE. RELATIONSHIP IS THE
ABRASIONS THAT AGITATES ENOUGH TO
MAKE A WAY FORWARD. RELATIONSHIP CONSISTENT AND
ONGOING ENCOUNTER WITH PEOPLE AND
PERSPECTIVES DIFFERENT THAN OUR OWN
OWN, IT SMOOTH THE WAY FOR THE SACRED EVEN AS IT RUBS US RAW.
AND THERE IS A HOLY ABRASION OF THE
SPIRIT THAT IS BORN IN DEEP RELATION ALLEN COUNTERS ACROSS
-- RELATIONAL ENCOUNTERS ACROSS
DIFFERENCES. WE, AS A CONGREGATION AND AS A
MOVEMENT, EXIST TO BE INSTRUMENTS
THAT HAVE HOLE A BRACE, THOSE VERY
ENCOUNTERS ARE OUR WORK. AND YET WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE
MANY WAYS TO HIDE FROM THE
DISCOMFORTS INHERENT IN A HOLY ABRASION.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES
PRESENTED EACH AND EVERY DAY IN THE
LIFE OF A CONGREGATION AND AMONG US
TO BACK AWAY FROM THE HARD WORK OF
CONTINUALLY AND REPEATEDLY RELATING
MEANINGFULLY TO ONE ANOTHER AND THE
WORLD. AND ONE OF THEM IS TO INSIST, AT ANY POSSIBLE JUNCTURE, THAT YOU
GET WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF THE
EXPERIENCE OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFE.
[APPLAUSE] AS IF CHURCH IS A SHORT ORDER
MENU AND COMMUNITY IS A PRODUCT TO BE CONSUMED ON YOUR TERMS N
YOUR TIME, WITHOUT MAKING YOU UN UNCOMFORTABLE OR DEMANDING A
WHOLE LOT OF YOU IN THE FIRST PLACE.
[APPLAUSE] IT'S THE TRUTH SPOKEN IN LOVE,
PEOPLE. AND ONE OF THE WAYS TO BLOCK THE HOLY ABRASION THAT BRINGS CHANGE
IS TO IMAGINE THAT BOTH
CONGREGATIONAL LIFE AND RELIGIOUS LIBERALISM
ITSELF ARE CONTESTS COMPLETE WITH
WINNER AND LOSERS, AND IF WE DON'T
GET OUR WAY, WE ARE WANDERERS, WORRYERS, AND LOVEERS OF
LEAVING, ARE WE NOT?
[APPLAUSE] >> AND WHO SAYS WE
HAVE TO SHOW UP AND PUT ON THE A ALB THE NEXT THIRD SUNDAY?
WHO SAYS WE HAVE TO SHOW UP AT ALL?
THE HERO OF MY LITTLE STORY, AGAIN,
IT WASN'T ME OR FATHER BEHME. IT WAS THE LITURGY ITSELF.
IT WAS THE CHURCH THAT ASKED US TO
KEEP SHOWING UP EVEN WHEN WE HONESTLY RATHER WOULD NOT.
IT WAS THE STEADY PERSISTENCE OF TO
TRULY BECOME ONE ANOTHER'S PEOPLE,
EVEN IN SPITE OF OURSELVES. NOW, DO NOT GET ME WRONG.
JUST BECAUSE I QUIETLY KEPT SHOWING
UP ON THIRD SUNDAYS DOES NOT MEAN I
AM ADVOCATING FOR JUST TAKING THE
FORMATIVE ABRASION OF RELATIONSHIP
OR THE WOUNDS OF OPPRESSION WITHOUT
COMMENT OR RESISTANCE. FOR GOD'S SAKE, DO NOT THINK I'M COMING OUT AGAINST A GOOD FIGHT.
WE SHOULD NEVER, NEVER BE COME PLAY
PLAYMENT OR PEACEFULLY IN IN THE PRINCIPALITIES,
AND SUPREMACY SIS TEMPERATURES THAT
OPPRESS. OH, NO.
AND I WILL TELL THAT YOU IF FATHER
BEHME AND MYSELF WOULD MEET UNDER
SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES TODAY, IT LIKELY WOULDN'T GO DOWN QUITE
LIKE IT DID BACK THEN.
[LAUGHTER] OVER MY YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE
MINISTRY, I'VE REQUIRED WHAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS CALL AN
EDGE. [LAUGHTER]
AND THESE DAYS, IF ANYONE HAS THE T
TEMERITY TO DISCOUNTS ME OR UNDERMINE ME BASED ON THEIR
PERCEPTIONS PERCEPTIONS OF MY GENDER
EXPRESSION OR AGE, I AM LIKELY TO OFFER UP
A WITHERING STARE AND A SPRING OF
10-DOLLAR WORDS TO MAKE IT CLEAR PATRIARCHY.
[APPLAUSE] OH, YES.
IF IT HAPPENED TODAY, THERE WOULD
BE WORDS. I AM NOT ONE TO SPEAK AGAINST AN HONEST FIGHT.
FAR FROM IT. I THINK WE NEED TO LEAN INTO THE REAL FIGHTS OF OUR AGE.
WE NEED TO DO THE WORK BEFORE US.
NOT LET ANOTHER 50 YEARS PAST AND
ASK AGAIN WHAT IN THE WORLD WE HAVE
BEEN DOING ALL THAT TIME WHILE THE
DREAM GOES UNREALIZED. [APPLAUSE]
WE NEED TO PRESERVE OUR CAPACITY WE NEED, FRIENDS, TO KEEP IT
REAL. KEEPING IT REAL MEANS ADMITING
WHAT WE'RE REALLY ALL HERE FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IN SPITE OF WHAT EVERY CONGREGATIONAL SATISFACTION
SURVEY SAYS, WE CANNOT COME HERE FOR THE
COFFEE. AND WE CANNOT EVEN COME FOR THE
GREAT MUSIC. WE DON'T EVEN COME FOR OUR
AWESOME, EXCELLENT MINISTERS.
YOU DON'T. WE COME BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEEP
ACHING NEED FOR AN ENCOUNTER WITH
THE HOLY THAT CROSSES OUR BORDERS
AND EXPANDS OUR HEARTS.
WE COME TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING
SO MUCH LARGER THAN OURSELVES, AND
WE CANNOT DO THAT HOLY WORK TOGETHER UNLESS WE ARE REALLY
WILLING TO SET ASIDE OUR OWN NEED
TO WIN AND REACH OUT OUR HANDS AND
SEEK THE DEEPER UNDERSTANDING THAT
COMES WITH DIFFERENCE. [APPLAUSE] MICHELLE ALEXANDER HAS SAID THAT NOTHING WILL REALLY CHANGE IN
THIS COUNTRY UNLESS WE ARE WILLING TO BE A COALITION UNITED BY REVOLUTIONARY LOVE THAT
PRESERVES THE PARTICULARITY OF OUR INDIVIDUAL PATHS AND DRAWS
US IN TO MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIP DIVIDES US THIS.
COALITION, ALEXANDER SAYS, IS DESTINED TO FAIL.
IF WE NEVER MUSTER THE COURAGE TO
STAND UP FOR WHAT WE TRULY BELIEVE
AND BUILD, A MULTI-RACIAL, MULTI-ETHNIC, NON-VIOLENT ARMY
OF ARTISTS, ACTIVISTS, TEACHERS,
HEALTHCARE WORKERS, FORMERLY INCARCERATED PEOPLE, CURRENTLY
INCARCERATED PEOPLE, PARENTS, STUDENTS, ELDERLY PEOPLE, ACT
ACADEMIC, HOURLY WORKERS, AND EVERY
ONE OF CONSCIENCE WHO IS WILLING TO
BRING AN END TO THE POLITICS OF PUNITIVENESS AND DIVISION IN OUR DAYS.
[APPLAUSE] WE IN THE LIBERAL CHURCH ARE
CALLED TO HELP CREATE AN AMERICA PUNITIVENESS AND DIVISION OF OUR DAYS, AND TO YOU, TO YOU THE
ONES WHO GAVE ME BOTH MY VOICE AND MY EDGE, I DARE TO SAY THAT
WE CANNOT ENTER INTO THIS COALITION ONLY ON TERMS WE
CHOOSE FOR OURSELVES. [APPLAUSE]
WE MUST ENTER INTO BELOVED COMMUNITY READY TO HAVE THE
TERMS CHANGED IN WAYS WE OURSELVES COULD NEVER HAVE
IMAGINED, READY TO SHOW UP EVEN AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE DO NOT
GET WHAT WE THOUGHT WE WANTED. BECAUSE NEITHER CONSUMERISM NOR
CONFLICT ITSELF IS THE PRIMARY IMPEDIMENT TO THE EFFICACY OF
THE LIBERAL CHURCH IN OUR AGE.
GETTING PLAID ENOUGH AT IT MERITS
AN APOLOGY IS NOT A SIN AT ALL IN
OUR TRADITION. THAT'S JUST THE SANDPAPER OF THE HOLY, WORKING ITS WAY ALONG.
NO, THE GREATEST IMPEDIMENT TO THE
EFFICACY OF THE LIBERAL CHURCH NOD
IS NOT THE REAL FIGHTS AND REAL FAILURES WE GET INTO WHEN WE ARE DOING HARD WORK.
IT IS THE FAKE FIGHTS WE WASTE OUR
TIME ON WHILE OUR OWN PEOPLE AND STRUGGLE
TO SURVIVE. [APPLAUSE] AND WHEN I WEEP, WHEN I WEEP FOR WANT OF COURAGE THESE DAYS,
WHICH I DO, IT IS BECAUSE I AM PERSONALLY NOT AT ALL ADEQUATE
TO THE URGE HE WANTS MORAL DEMANDS OF OUR TIME.
THAT'S JUST BEING HONEST. YOU'RE NOT EITHER, ON YOUR OWN.
BUT I ALSO WEEP, BECAUSE I WORRY.
I WORRY LITERALLY EVERY DAY THAT IN
THIS MOMENT OF UTMOST URGENCY, WE,
THE VERY ONES THE WORLD HAS BEEN CAPACITY TO BUILD CHANGE ON FAKE
FIGHTS THAT DISTRACT US FROM THE [APPLAUSE]
WE GO OVER AND OVER AGAIN WHO IS AS IF THEY ARE MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE. WHO GOT THEIR WAY AND WHAT BYLAW
-- IN WHAT BYLAW DISCUSSION AND
WHAT COLOR WE SHOULD PAINT THE CHURCH BATHROOM.
[LAUGHTER] SO PROTECTED BY OUR BUSYNESS
THAT THE REAL FIGHTS, THE HONEST
CONVERSATIONS, AND THE TRANS TRANSFORMATIVE SANDPAPER OF REAL RELATIONSHIP PRESENTED TO US
SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY, WEEK AFTER WEEK,
SLIP RIGHT PAST US AND WE REMAIN
THOROUGHLY AGITATED, BUT FUNDAMENTALLY UNCHANGED.
IN THE MEANTIME, WHILE WE ARE FIGHTING OUR SAFE, INWARDLY
FOCUSED FIGHTS, THE SHAME.
I DISPARATE INFANT MORTALITY RATES
BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE COMMUNITIES
REMAINS THE MOST DURABLE MARKER OF
RACIAL INEQUALITY FACING OUR NATION
TODAY. [APPLAUSE]
IN THE MEANTIME, ANOTHER OF FREDDIE GRAY'S KILLERS GETS OFF
SCOTT-FREE. IN THE MEANTIME, NATIVEISM AND
ISOLATIONISM SEEM POISE TODAY BECOME THE WORLD'S NEW NORMAL.
IN THE MEANTIME, YES, THE PLANET IS
BLEEDING AND THE FUTURE OF RELIGIOUS IN AMERICA IS
UNCERTAIN AND IN THE MEANTIME, EVERYTHING
YOU AND I AND ALL OF US CARE ABOUT
IS AT STAKE AND PEOPLE WE LOVED WHO LAUGHED AND WEPT WITH US ONE
WEEK AWAY, ONE WEEK AGO, TAKE THEIR
REST IN EARTH'S EMBRACE TODAY.
ALL OF THIS, AND YET TOO OFTEN IN
OUR CONGREGATIONS, WE CANNOT EVEN
MEET EACH OTHER'S HANDS TO POUR THE
HOLY WATER OF SACRED WORK, BECAUSE
WE ARE TOO DARN BUSY DECIDING WHETHER WE EVEN WANT TO BE IN
THIS PLACE TOGETHER TO START WITH.
I TAKE SOME COLD COMFORT IN THE FACT THAT WE UNITARIAN
UNIVERSALIST UNIVERSALISTS DO NOT HAVE A
CORNER ON THE MARKET FOR SUCH
BEHAVIORS. FOR AS LONG AS TWO OR MORE HAVE
GATHERED IN THE NAME OF THE SPIRIT,
THOSE TWO OR MORE HAVE FOUGHT SOME
FAKE FIGHTS. [APPLAUSE]
YOU REMEMBER, PERHAPS, THAT CLASSIC OLD CHESTNUT OF A
WEDDING READING FROM CORINTHIANS ANGELS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I
AM ONLY A RESOUNDING GONG OR A CLANGING SYMPATHY BALANCE.
IF I HAVE A FAITH THAT CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT DO NOT HAVE LOVE,
I HAVE NOTHING.
THAT LETTER FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL
TO THE EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY IN
CORINTH HAS NOTHING WHATSOEVER TO
DO WITH THE USHY-GUSHY ROMANTIC SENTIMENT IT IS SO OFTEN
ASSOCIATED WITH AT WEDDINGS.
THAT IS A LETTER FROM AN OVEREXTEND
OVEREXTENDED PASTOR WITH OCCASIONALLY DUBIOUS DEVELOPMENT
A CONGREGATION WHOSE LEADERS ARE
IN A CONSTANT STATE OF FIERCE AND
UNRE UNREMELTING CONFLICT.
[APPLAUSE] THE EARLY CHRISTIANS IN THE CORE I KNOW CONGREGATION -- CORINTH
CONGREGATIONS WERE LITERALLY SHOUTING THEIR PRAYERS OVER
CLANGING SYMBOLS OVERTOP OF ONE ANOTHER TO TRY TO PROVE WHO WAS
BETTER AT PRAYING. THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE FAITH
INTO A CONTEST, AND WHETHER HE WAS
SAINT SAINTLY OR NOT, PAUL WAS HAVING
NONE OF IT. NOR WAS THE HEBREW LEADER WHO
FIRST DECLARED IN PROVERBS THAT THE
PRIMARY THING IN ALL THIS IS NOT IT IS WISDOM.
AND SO THEY SAID, THEREFORE, GET GETTING
GET UNDERSTANDING. THE COLLECTIVE WISDOM OF THE
AGES REMINDS US THAT THE STAKES ARE
HIGH AND THE ULTIMATE PRIZE WE MUST
REACH OUT FOR IN COMMUNITY IS GREATER THAN THE IMAGINED
DIVISIONS AND TRUMPED-UP ARGUMENTS THAT
PULL US APART.
AND HERE IS A SEGUE WAY YOU WON'T
SEE COMING. YOU KNOW IN WRESTLE MANIA WHEN
PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS HAVE FAKE SOMETIMES THEY ARE ACTUALLY AT
RISK OF GETTING HURT.
AND DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY DO? BEFORE THE MUSCLE SNAPS OR THE
BONES BREAK IN THAT FAKE FIGHT? THEY TAP OUT.
THEY BANG THE MAT. WHEN THE FAKE FIGHT GETS CLOSE
TO HAVING REAL CONSEQUENCES, THEY
TAP OUT.
AND I TELL YOU WHAT, I AM TAPING RIGHT NOW.
AND I INVITE YOU TO JOIN ME. I AM TAPING OUT.
[APPLAUSE] >> OF EVERY FAKE FIGHT IN OUR
CONGREGATIONS OR OUR MOVEMENT ABOUT GETTING WHAT I WANT OR
WHAT YOU WANT OR WHAT WE THINK WE WANT, BECAUSE IN THIS AGE THE STAKES ARE TOO HIGH AND WE DO
NOT HAVE TIME FOR FAKE FIGHTS ANYMORE. [APPLAUSE]
AND I KNOW, I KNOW AND YOU KNOW THAT THE REAL CONVERSATIONS ARE
WAITING. JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE OF THE
FAKE FIGHT IS THE REAL ABRASION OF
THE HOLY, THE ACTUAL ENCOUNTER, SOUL TO SOUL, HAND TO HAND, IN
WHICH CHANGE IS POSSIBLE. A FAKE FIGHT ABOUT THE BYLAWS IN THE ANNUAL MEETING IS MOST OFTEN
A CAREFULLY CONCEALED REAL FIGHT
ABOUT THE VALUES THAT UNDERGIRD OUR
HISTORY COMING INTO RELATIONSHIP AND IF WE WERE GET PAST DUKING
IT OUT OVER THE PAINT COLOR IN THE
CHURCH BATHROOM, WE MAY ENCOUNTER A
PASTORAL WINDOW INTO THE INNER LIFE
OF ONE WHOSE VOICE IN THE WORLD SEEMS INCREASINGLY POWERLESS.
AND ALL LIVES MATTER. YES.
THAT ONE. CHIEF AMONG THE FAKE FIGHTS AND
COVER CONVERSATIONS THAT DISTRACT
US FROM THE WORK AT HAND, IT IS NOT
ABOUT THE SLOGAN. [APPLAUSE]
MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, IT IS ABOUT TO ACTUALLY TAKING ON THE
SYSTEMIC WHITE SUPREMACY THAT EATS AT THE HEART OF US AND OUR
CULTURE. [APPLAUSE]
SO LET US HAVE THAT CONVERSATION CONVERSATION, THE REAL ONE, THE
HARD ONE, THE ONE THAT REQUIRES US TO KEEP SHOWING UP.
LET US HAVE THAT CONVERSATION AND
LET US DO IT WITH EDGE AND FORGIVE
FORGIVENESS, CALLING OUT AND CALLING IN, CALLING FORTH A NEW
KIND OF COMMUNITY BOTH IN OUR CONGREGATIONS AND IN THE WORLD.
THE REAL FIGHT, THE REAL CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR HISTORY,
OUR IDENTITY, OUR RELEVANCE, AND OUR RESISTANCE.
THE REAL CONVERSATION BECKONS AND
THE WORLD DOES NOT NEED ANOTHER PLACE FOR LIKE-MINDED LIBERAL
LEANING PEOPLE TO HANG OUT TOGETHER
AND FIGHT ABOUT WHO'S IN CHARGE. [APPLAUSE]
THE WORLD DOES NOT NEED A PLACE WHERE YOU OR I OR ANY SINGLE ONE OF US GETS WHAT WE WANT.
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS IS A MOVEMENT
LIKE OURS TO STEP MORE FULLY INTO
OUR HIGHER CALLING, TO SERVE HAS AN
INSTRUMENT FOR ENCOUNTER WITH ONE
ANOTHER, WITH THE HOLY AND WITH THE
WORLD SO THAT WE MIGHT LOVE MORE SERVE WITH GREATER EFFICACY IN
SUCH A TIME AS THIS. MY HANDS REACHED UP, AND IN TIME THE GOOD FATHER'S HANDS REACHED
DOWN. AND THE HOLY WATER DID GET
POURED, SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY, MONTH AFTER MONTH, AND IN AND OUT OF YEARS.
AND MY FRIENDS, MY PARTNERS IN FAITH, YOU MUST REACH OUT, TOO.
STARTING WITH EACH OTHER AND EXPANDING BEYOND EACH OTHER TO A COALITION OF BORDER-CROSSERS,
LED BY VOICES AT THE MARGINS, A
COALITION THAT MIGHT YET PREACH LOVE AMID THE PUNITIVENESS AND
DIVISION OF OUR DAYS. EVEN WHEN YOU DIDN'T GET WHAT
YOU WERE HOPING FOR.
EVEN WHEN THE SANDPAPER OF RELATIONSHIP FELT A LITTLE TOO
ROUGH. EVEN WHEN YOU FIGURE OUT HOW
HARD THE REAL FIGHT IS ACTUALLY GOING
TO BE.
EVEN THEN, YOU MUST REACH OUT TOO.
AND IN THIS PRECIOUS AND FRAGILE YOU
MIGHT FIND SOMEONE REACHING RIGHT
BACK, THE HOLY MADE MANIFEST IN THE
CLOSING SPACE BETWEEN YOUR OUTSTRETCHED HANDS. [APPLAUSE] >> REACH OUT AND TOUCH
SOMEBODY'S HAND.
MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE IF
YOU CAN. REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY'S HAND
HAND. MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE,
IF YOU CAN. REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY'S
HAND HAND.
MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE IF
YOU CAN .
REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY'S HAND
HAND. MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE
IF YOU CAN.
TAKE A LITTLE TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY
DAY TO GIVE SOME ENCOURAGEMENT TO
SOMEONE WHO'S LOST THE WAY. OR WOULD I BE TALKING TO A STONE
IF I ASKED YOU TO SHARE A PROBLEM
THAT'S NOT YOUR OWN? WE CAN CHANGE THINGS IF WE START GIVING.
WHY DON'T YOU REACH OUT AND TOUCH
SOMEBODY'S HAND. MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE
IF YOU CAN .
REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY'S HAND
HAND. MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE IF
YOU CAN .
TAKE A LITTLE TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY
DAY TO GIVE SOME ENCOURAGEMENT TO
SOMEONE WHO'S LOST THEIR WAY. OR WOULD I BE TALKING TO A STONE
IF I ASKED YOU TO SHARE A PROBLEM
THAT'S NOT YOUR OWN? WE CAN CHANGE THINGS IF WE START
GIVING. WHY DON'T YOU REACH OUT AND
TOUCH SOMEBODY'S HAND.
MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE IF
YOU CAN .
REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY'S HAND
HAND. MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE
IF YOU CAN .
REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY'S HAND
HAND. [APPLAUSE] >> GO NOW INTO YOUR CORNERS OF
THE WORLD, KNOWING THAT YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOUR VOICE.
>> YOUR VOICE IS A PART OF OUR VOICE.
>> AND TOGETHER, OUR SONG CAN BE >> FULL OF THE PROPHETIC GIFT
THAT SAYS TO THE WORLD, THERE IS MORE LOVE TO BE FOUND.
>> SO WITH PEACE IN YOUR EYES. >> GO WITH LOVE IN YOUR HANDS.
>> GO WITH JUSTICE IN THE VERY SOLES OF YOUR FEET.
AMEN? >> AMEN.
AMEN. >> REACH OUT AND TOUCH
SOMEBODY'S HAND.
MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE IF
YOU CAN .
REACH OUT AND TOUCH SOMEBODY'S HAND
HAND. MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE
IF YOU CAN .
REACH OUT AND TOUCH
