“It is pure, single Nature, alone in her power & loveliness, that touches, subdues and exalts the soul…”
What a big weekend! On Saturday morning some determined stalwarts stood out in the rotary to remind people to vote, and that night other brave souls told “Stories from the Stage”. On Sunday we observed our 381st birthday, celebrated the completion of Phase I of the Green Envelope Project, re-dedicated the 5th Meeting House, and hosted the fabulous and timely play “Representation and How to Get It”.
If you missed Sunday, the sermon and the play were in part about us and in part about the Unitarian Transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson and Julia Ward Howe. Howe was influenced by Emerson, and Emerson was influenced by another woman, Sophia Peabody Hawthorne, whose Cuba Journal was one of the first transcendentalist pieces of writing. Hawthorne’s sister hosted reading parties of the Cuba Journal, where folks like Emerson took turns reading it aloud late into the night. These reading parties apparently could go on for seven hours! Those folks in the 1830’s were all on fire with new ideas, and they loved getting together.
This Sunday we will observe our annual All Souls service; you are invited to bring photos of ancestors or those who’ve died- especially in the last year or two- to put on the windowsills during the service. We’ll be reflecting on the people who’ve showed up for us, offered us support, helped us feel a sense of belonging, loved us into being. Did anyone do that for you? Do we pay enough attention to such small but impactful legacies?
As we prepare to round the corner into November, keep on breathing, walking, meditating/praying… and remember you’ll get an extra hour of sleep on Halloween night.
Hope to see you at the Meeting House,
Rev. Lee
P.S. Today (Friday) is the last day to vote early in MA (until noon at town/city halls.) Thanks to those of you who are working the polls or working the phones to remind people to vote on Tuesday! (Maybe we can all text at least 3 people we know to remind them to vote.) If anything untoward happens around elections, tune in to North Parish as we’re connected to a whole network of faithful people. Happy all hallow’s eve/Halloween!
P.P.S. If you’d like to learn more about Transcendentalist spirituality or find books and resources, I recommend Rev. Barry Andrew’s website, Transcendentalism as Spiritual Practice — Transcendentalist Spirituality