“Our job now has two parts: first, to unleash a torrent of moral energy, and second, to become poets of solidarity.”
This week I’d like to applaud the flexibility and hopeful spontaneity of our Vocal Choir and Music Directors. Did you know that they have only two rehearsals to prepare for each Sunday that they sing, and many folks can only make one of them- on Sunday morning itself? John sends them recordings or sheet music beforehand to practice on their own, then they show up at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday and pull it all together. This week, they learned the brand-new song “Believe Your Eyes” by Thomas Keesecker, written the weekend before. Per request, John sent our Choir’s version of the song to the Minneapolis faith leaders group called MARCH (Multifaith Antiracism, Change & Healing), and we all got to hear some inspiring music.
Some of our North Parish groups have been stepping forward to offer support and guidance during this stressful time, when many of us are tempted to hibernate even when we know that connection is what we need. Tell friends to check out some of the options to choose from on Sundays. The Music Committee is offering Soul Circle Singing sessions on the 2nd and 4th Sundays, Sangha members are offering instruction in Basic Mindfulness for Anxious Times, the Justice Team is offering 15 minute mini-education sessions called Coffee and Clarity, the Stitch Ministry is working on red hats together (during services), and our usual Sunday life passage support groups also continue to meet. Just check the Enews or Order of Service for the details; some groups meet before the service.
After last Sunday’s service, some folks were asking after a few of the writers whom I quoted. The poem Impossible Generosity which was shared during the meditation time and begins “I want to give you what I could not give you, a world where there is no hurt and grief,” was written by Rosemerry Watola Trommer. The metaphor of “islands of sanity” and the poem in the sermon called Turning To One Another which begins “There is no greater power than a community discovering what it cares about,” were both written by Margaret Wheatley.
A community discovering what it cares about… that is what we do, all the time, in all the ways. I’m so glad we do.
Rev. Lee