“You give us the wisdom, we give you the resources.”
What would you draw if you were asked to draw a circle with yourself inside and then ever-increasing circles of belonging? What people, groups, places would you include? Would you include life, the earth, the universe? To whom and to what do you belong
We were reminded last week by Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) President the Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt that North Parish belongs to a wide circle of Unitarian Universalist congregations. We were thanked by the Rev. Lauren Smith for honoring our covenant with those other congregations by being a “Fair Share” Annual Program Fund Donor Congregation. Some of you may have wondered what this means and why it matters. It means we have raised funds every single year to pay dues to the UUA. If money is a form of energy, we have offered some of our good North Parish energy to other congregations full of real people who needed it, by supporting the staff who develop and offer resources nationwide. This is UU-style mutual care. At lunch after the service I learned that North Parish has been a “Fair Share” congregation for 40 years, since 1985!
The Rev. Dr. Sofia told me that she spends most of her time in meetings and rarely gets to meet people, so she was happy to be with us on Sunday. Did you know she flew to Boston from Baltimore just to join and thank us? I didn’t… until she told me. Our support to the UUA is important, because since COVID apparently only 52% of the 950 UUA congregations nationwide can afford to be Fair Share in a time when we need national networks and coalitions. Rev. Sofia also told me that she was keeping her phone close on Sunday just in case there was a crisis somewhere. That awareness and concern- I’m sure heightened due to political violence last week- is a burden to carry. So if you meditate or send energy or pray or light candles or just say thank you, maybe do that for her this week.
This Sunday, while some members of the congregation are at the Ferry Beach Retreat Center in Saco, Maine- hopefully soaking up the sun- others of us will be at the Meeting House to celebrate and reflect on the Autumnal Equinox, or Mabon. We’ll also take note of SUN Day, a nationwide celebration of solar and wind power which are no longer ‘alternative’ energy but the most reliable, practical, cheapest way to power our future, according to Bill McKibben and the Sun Day website. The wonderful acoustics of our sanctuary will lend themselves well to the music offered by John Finbury: Solar Flare, Underneath the Stars, September and Shine On! All that is worth the price of admission!
If you’re not at Ferry Beach, hope to see you at the Meeting House,
Rev. Lee