March 16, 2003
at The North Parish of North Andover, Unitarian Universalist
Gail: Several years ago at an Association Sunday service, guest minister Scott Alexander read the children’s story. At the conclusion of the story, he asked children if they knew why they come to church. After they offered several wonderful answers, he summed it all up by saying, “we go to church to grow a bigger heart,” as he put a large construction paper heart on his chest. In many ways, the reason we come–all of us--to this church is as simple as the message delivered to the children that day. We come bringing the deepest longings of our heart. We come with a yearning to be somehow larger, more whole, more alive.
Lee: There are plenty of people who are looking for a spiritual, human community—a place to be filled up with peace, energy, hope and love in order to carry on and create something good in an anxious and draining world. There are plenty of people who are looking for a place they can bring their wholeselves—where they don’t have to apologize, hide or pretend who they are in order to be welcomed.
There are plenty of people who have questioned their religious training, who have puzzled and wandered, read and argued, fallen into doubt, stumbled through the valley of the shadow of death, and decided to live—to live fully— and are in search of those who will understand. There are plenty of people who are searching for some community that will welcome the stranger, help them grow in spirit, and provide companions in repairing and loving the world. Little do they know, we are here, and this is our mission.
Lee and Gail: “We covenant to be a welcoming spiritual community, where all are safe and free to search for spiritual meaning in their own ways. We find strength in the many forms of diversity.”
Lee: Can you believe there’s a church where someone raised as a Christian sits next to someone raised as a Jew, and more often than not they are married to each other? Can you believe there’s a church where atheists and pagans drink coffee together, staunch humanists and theists “build their theology” together, Buddhists and agnostics teach children together, and on Easter we sing two versions of the same hymn, simultaneously, with humor and respect? It’s the sort of church where a person hears laughter often on Sunday morning—the sort of church where there are some who pray and some who meditate and some who simply reflect on their lives—but all are invited into silence together, to remember that we are part of something greater than ourselves.
Gail: Can you believe there’s a church that teaches its children using the wisdom stories of all cultures and traditions, teaching stories of liberation, gratitude, courage, and love which speak to the youngest among us, even as they inspire and engage those entering the teen years? This is a church where children learn a rhythm to the year, honoring ancient celebrations as well as the Jewish and Christian calendar which is our heritage. We move through the seasons, telling and retelling familiar stories and themes.
This is a church where a prophet is understood to be someone who speaks and acts for what is good and right and true-and we name as prophets Jesus and Mohammed, Moses and Isaiah, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. This is a church where children get to try on the mantle of the prophet, speaking for what is good and right and true. This is a church where adults are not only mentors and guides to children, but also understand themselves as fellow travelers on life’s journey. If you have been a teacher, a group leader, a mentor, an advisor, or a guide to our children, will you please stand with enthusiasm! Can you believe there’s a church that helps us grow a bigger heart? Here is your evidence!
Thank you, you may be seated.
Lee: This is a church where welcoming people means being honest. It is a church where spiritual and intellectual integrity is more important than reciting a theological party line. Can you believe there’s a church where memorial services honor the theology of those who have died, where they make space to mourn and to celebrate a life well lived? Can you believe there’s a church that affirms the holy in the life-time commitments of all couples, and welcomes its children in a ceremony that speaks of the original blessing of life?
This is a church where theological diversity is a strength, because everyone senses the wonder and power and glory of a greater reality—whether we refer to it as universe, goddess, god, humanity, spirit of life, world community or the tao, creativity or the power of love. We are not so concerned about the naming—there have always been many names for the holy, for the oneness of which we are a part.
What matters is that we know we are part of it, and called to respond to it; What matters is that we know that no one but us can complete the universe in exactly the same way.
Gail: And what makes such a welcoming community possible? The many hands who do the tasks that help this faith community thrive. There are those who see to the care of our beautiful building, assuring that the roof doesn’t leak and the furnace works. There are those who wash the coffee cups and clean the refrigerator. There are those who buy the children’s snacks and care for little ones in the nursery. There are those who do layout for Steeple Talk, those who print it, and those who prepare mailings and stuff envelopes. There are those who review leases and insurance and safe church policies; those who watch over investments and other financial and legal matters. There are those who do strategic planning and those who train leaders. There are those who serve on the personnel committee, the membership committee, and as part of the governing board or the parish council. There are those who worked out the logistics of adding an 8:30 service-the Board members, the staff, the musicians, and the RE Committee. And there are those who raise the money that supports this community: Red Bow Fair workers and contributors and those who invite us every March to make the financial pledges that support the mission of this church. If you are involved in any of these things, please take a moment to stand. Can you believe there is a church that helps us grow a bigger heart? Here is your evidence!
Thank you, you may be seated.
Gail and Lee: The second part of our mission statement says: “In the Unitarian Universalist tradition, we covenant to take responsibility for the spiritual growth of ourselves and of our children. We encourage all to participate in congregational governance.”
Gail: Can you believe there’s a church where youth are understood to be full participants in the community? Where junior youth lead worship for children, and where senior youth lead worship in the sanctuary? Can you believe there’s a church where teens understand and can work with budgets, and agendas, and even by-laws-and where they take seriously a covenant about how they will be with one another? This is a church where faith is understood as encompassing much more than belief—where it includes our attitudes, our ethics, and our actions in the world—and whether we try to embody gratitude, caring and awareness.
Can you believe there’s a church where sexuality education is an integral part of religious education because we understand the body as sacred? Can you believe there’s a church that encourages adults and teens to talk with one another, to open their hearts and minds to the other’s experience? This is a church where those who are Coming of Age declare themselves ready to take responsibility for their own spiritual journey and for their own moral decision-making. At a worship service and ceremony in this church Coming of Age youth are introduced by their mentors- and offer their own faith statements from this pulpit in front of family, friends, and parishioners. (This year’s ceremony will be on Saturday, April 5 at 6:30 and I urge you to come!)
Lee: Can you believe there’s a church where busy adults take responsibility for their spiritual growth, and for making connections with others? A few years ago, some church members felt a need for programs in Adult Spirituality. Now in its third year, Adult Spirituality coordinators Dick Wilson and Diane Hereema offer a full calendar— with classes sponsored by all parts of the church community.
Then there were those intrigued by the idea of ongoing reflection groups. A workshop was attended, books were read, a study group was formed; and out of all this came Small Group Ministry.
Now four groups are meeting every other week to reflect together on topics from sermons and everyday life—topics like enemies, or aging, or the difference between religion and spirituality.
Then this year, church member Jane Facente, seized an opportunity to attend a training with Merrimack Valley Project for something called a One to One Campaign. Jane recruited others- Wally Anderson, Gary Adams, & Kate Gilligan-and together they brought the Campaign to North Parish. The Campaign gave us permission to approach each other and share our stories, and by the end of eight weeks, over 195 conversations have taken place. A shift has occurred: newcomer or old timer- it doesn’t matter—we can approach one another more easily, with the simple wish to make a connection as fellow members of this congregation.
Gail: There are other stories of spiritual growth and connection, both old and new: A seed planted long ago by Jeanne Driscoll Dunn blooms into a series of women’s spirituality groups— and now we have the 11th incarnation of Cakes for the Queen of Heaven. A seed planted long ago by others to become a Welcoming Congregation for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people is being tended by Cara Marshall and Mary Kilpatrick, with a congregational vote planned for this May. A seed planted by Dave Amiralian results in the formation a North Parish Men’s Group. A seed planted by Cathy French and Jim Munro becomes an Evensong group, and one planted by Bill Toomey and Charlie Kellogg becomes a Science and Religion group. Seeds planted by Jim Dalton become a Recorder Ensemble, a World Music Ensemble, a brass ensemble, guitar ensemble, and other musical combinations that continue to abound. Right now, Dave Lewis is trying to plant a seed of interfaith UU-Muslim dialogue, and Elise Forcino is planting a seed with youth-adult small group ministry. Meanwhile the Coffeehouse continues to bloom. If you are involved in any of these groups, or other small groups that support your spiritual life, please rise for a moment as you are able. Can you believe there’s a church where we can grow a bigger heart? Here is your evidence. Thank you, you may be seated.
Gail and Lee: The third part of our mission statement says: “We strive to continue our historical role of being catalysts for progressive change in the local communities. Through active personal involvement we advocate for social justice in our local communities, our nation and the world. We do this in the context of the Unitarian Universalist principles and from the perspective of our place in the intricate web of life.”
Lee: Can you believe that in the Olde Center of North Andover, there’s a church that is learning how to leverage its spiritual power, reaching out beyond our walls to the wider world? Can you believe that last week, church member Kathy Teplitz, with thanks to the Leadership Development Task Force, presented a workshop at a conference for Mid-size churches? Can you believe that her case study of North Parish was considered cutting edge information, which was gobbled up by 55 people representing churches from all over the country? And at that same conference North Parish was featured by another presenter for our radical revisioning of ministry to youth and children? We have been leveraging our spiritual strength—and not only for the sake of other Unitarian Universalists.
Gail: The children have a monthly outreach project, as they learn to carry their faith into the world. In projects organized by Fran Rohr, they have provided gallons of soup and other canned goods for the People’s Pantry, personal items for women’s shelters, money to support the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Last fall, a baby goods collection drew enough diapers, pacifiers and bottles to fill 83 welcome baskets for area babies born to low-income parents.
Lee: Among the adults, church members Jill Houser and Pat Grimm offer to co-lead a Habitat women’s build. Within a few months, there are 270 volunteers from 57 cities and towns, with over 80 participating in weekend trainings, 23 of whom are church members. The women gather on Saturday mornings on the third floor of an old factory building in Haverhill to learn how to read blueprints, hold a hammer, and cut with a circular saw. Most are rank amateurs. All are eager to learn and wildly supportive of one another-and the cheers echo through the building each time a woman successfully cuts a board with a power tool for the very first time. Their goal is a foundation in the ground in a few weeks and the duplex completed by Christmas.
Gail: Can you believe there’s a church where youth take seriously the call to be the hands and feet of Love in the world? Pamela Bearor Amiralian brought back information from General Assembly last year about the UUSC Fair Trade Coffee project. The Youth educated themselves about the difficulties small farmers have getting a fair price for their crop, and decided to sell fair trade coffee on the first and third Sundays of the month. To date, perhaps 20 cases of coffee have been sold or used here, and our efforts, combined with those of other congregations, have made this a wildly successful project.
Our youth also responded to a request from the UU Service Committee to partner with the Lawrence Teen Coalition. The Youth Adult Committee voted funds from their budget and sent Daniel Brosnan, Elise Forcino, and Richard Smith to a leadership training institute with Coalition youth. They have subsequently become involved in community outreach projects on teen pregnancy prevention and domestic violence awareness and prevention. Along the way, our youth learned from the Lawrence Coalition teens about the Youth City Council in Lawrence, and have decided that a youth voice is needed on Beacon Hill. They are now working to line up support for such a vision.
Lee: Another story: During a crowded coffee hour, Tina Klein and Lisa Martelli came up with an idea of forming a neighborhood recycling program in North Andover. A meeting was held and the first 10 recycling captains were recruited from North Parish. Today there are approximately 50 captains covering 70 streets and 800 households, which is more than 10% of the town. The program received an award from the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Environmental Protection for Best Outreach Program of 2003. The goal is to cover 80% of the town, and there is more to come—including a town wide Earth Day Clean Up; you can sign up today.
In another example, Erik Kesting learned about a youth scholarship to a meeting of the
International Association for Religious Freedom, taking place in Hungary. He won the scholarship, planned his trip, and decided to visit the Unitarians in Romania. He ends up spending four months in Romania, much of it with a minister’s family. His reports inspire other church members to see if we can become a Partner Church. The congregation votes, a match is made, and now the Unitarians of this church and those in Marosvasarhely are forming a connection.
Gail: Of course there are other stories of reaching out, both old and new:
-- Sue Manning, Pam Pappalardo and Edwinda Goodhue struggled to put their passion for prison reform into action, and Partaker’s Prison ministry was born.
-- Cari Marchese, concerned about the way in which local food pantries were organized, recruited help to start one here. Ten years ago the People’s Pantry was born.
-- Women of the church decided to raise money to build a religious education wing and long ago the Thrift Shop was born.
-- Ed Warnshuis crashed a meeting of Congregational ministers, and challenged them to do something about the MCAS failure rate in Lawrence. Stand and Deliver was born, with many church members signing up as mentors. Today 20 church members are still counted among the 104 active mentors. The program covers three schools and will be featured at a workshop at General Assembly.
Lee: Can you believe there’s a church that feeds the hungry, visits those in prison and helps clothe the naked? Can you believe there’s a church that helps provide shelter to the homeless and a ticket to success for those who struggle? Will anyone involved in the Women’s Build, Neighborhood Recycling, Partakers, Stand and Deliver, the People’s Pantry, the Thrift Shop, the Teen Coalition, the RE service projects, the Fair Trade coffee effort please stand up? There’s your evidence of such a church.
Can you believe there's a church where the presence of each person helps it grow a bigger heart? You, here, are the evidence. Will everyone please stand up as you are willing and able, and let us sing, together. (#298 Wake Now My Senses)
People say, what is the sense of our
small effort.
They cannot see that we must lay
one brick at a time, take one step at
a time.
A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions.
Each one of our thoughts, words
and deeds is like that.
No one has a right to sit down and
feel hopeless.
There’s too much work to do.
And By Rabbi Hillel:
“If I am not for myself, who will be?
If I am only for myself, what am I?
If not now, when?”
©2003. Rev. Lee Bluemel and Gail Forsyth-Vail. All rights reserved.