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Choir: Singing) “Hold on just a little while longer. Hold on just a little while longer. Hold on just a little while longer. Everything will be all right. Work on… Pray on… Sing on… Hold on…” Narrator: Yes indeed, here in this community
we hold on, hold on to each other and at the same time, we learn how to let go.
We gather today to give thanks. Oh, my we are here to give thanks. Our hearts are overflowing, our cheeks are
on fire, our souls sing in the joy of what we know in our essence, is
belonging, belonging to the symphony of this community, this church. Choir: “Everything will be alright…” Reader One: We give thanks for the basic
melodies, for straightforward arrangements of notes sometimes obvious,
sometimes woven into deep complexity, but always returning, always trustworthy
always leading in the direction we need to go. Narrator: Holding on we gather to give
thanks… Reader Two: We give thanks for the creative
soloists, for sequences that soar beyond the heights what most of us could
dream, transforming imagination into vision and helping the possible become
real. Choir: “Everything will be alright…” Reader Three: We give thanks for
counterpoint, those tones that speak with independent voice, tempting us out of
our complacency, challenging us into perplexity, demanding that we consider the
possibility that everything could be different after all. Narrator: Holding on we gather to give
thanks… Reader Four: We give thanks for the pastoral
passages, for quiet voices drawing us to reflection beneath the branches of the
tree of life, measures calling us to peaceful introspection, luring us to the
wisdom that dwells in the depths of every soul. Choir: “Everything will be all right…” Reader Five: We give thanks to the voices of
requiem, which bring to our community the tones of remembrance for what has
gone before; voices which come here bearing pain of caring that has been
betrayed or promises that wound up ignored. Narrator: Holding on we gather today to give
thanks… Reader Six: We give thanks for the voices
which weave harmony, and those which always and inevitably sing off key. We give thanks for the voices restricted by
age and the unformed sweetness of the notes of youth. Choir: “Everything will be all right…” Reader Seven: We give thanks for tympanis
booming decisively and (almost) always right on cue, and we give thanks for
piccolos and triangles who sometimes help to make us smile. Narrator: Holding on we gather today to give
thanks for this community as we give thanks for a work of music. We feel
uplifted by its particular note, which is your note, perhaps, your special
gift. A distinct joy which flowers and makes bloom the longest silence in the
silent room. All: We give thanks for this community. We
give thanks for the rich blend of voices that is gathered here. The music would
have less meaning if you left. Choir:
“Hold on just a little while longer.
Hold on just a little while longer.
Hold on just a little while longer, everything will be alright.
Work on….
Pray on… (SoloJ Payday is coming after
while. It won’t be very long. You’ll look for me and I’ll be gone. I’m gonna walk around
God’s throne. Let me hear you now…
Sing on… Hold on…” Narrator:
What is a church anyway? What is it that we so tightly hold on to? The
people from different ages, background, beliefs and needs went out from their
homes one fine, clear, crisp day, children in hand and searched and searched and
searched, for what? Something they
called… All: HOME Reader One: Because as people they felt
lost, lonely and afraid, they were looking for a group of people who would feel
like a family for them. Narrator: Other people were also searching,
searching, searching, they were looking for something called… All: SANCTUARY Reader Two: Because they felt life was like
a war zone and they were searching for a space that afforded them safety and
peace and calm in the storm of their lives. Narrator:
Other people were also search, searching, searching, they were looking for something called… All: COALITION Reader Three: Because they felt they wanted
a venue, a people and a place in which to do social action and fulfill their
community concerns. Be a presence in their cities, and counties and states. Narrator: And other people were also
searching, searching, searching, they were looking for something called… All: CHURCH Reading Four: Because they felt they needed
a group of people who could help them create an atmosphere of spirituality and
a place to search and grow in their faith.
To learn about World religions and deepen their connections to the
spirit of life and love. (Readers begin to argue with one another…) Narrator:
Ahhem, (Readers continue arguing)
One fine day, as they were all explaining to each other what it was they
were as a group, they realized they truly saw this assembly of people in
amazingly different ways. As the each
continued to talk at each other it was longer a sharing time or listening time,
it was a time of debate! (All readers
stop!) Reader Five: When the noise stopped, (looks
accusingly at the others) they looked away from one another, amazed at their
adamancy, their anger, their investment and insistence at what this group
should be called. In their silence they
looked at one another, some for the very first time, and saw, they saw…people,
people who wanted connection, potlucks and picnics and child care. People who
had no family in the area. They saw people who truly did see this group of
people as their new family and this group of people was indeed their… All: HOME Reader Four: When they began to look into
each other eyes, shy at first, they saw people so battered and bruised by the
world, so pressed upon by life, so beat up by other religions, so simply having
to cope, that they came to this place seeking safety, peace, warmth and
understanding. And of course they called this group a… All: SANCTUARY Reader Three: They saw people who cared so
deeply about the earth, the poor, the disabled, the immigrant that they came to
this group seeking someplace that already had a social action program in place.
A group of like-minded religious individuals
who had assessed the needs of the city, country and state and were
already out there in the trenches making a difference. This group soon become
their… All: COALITION Reader Two: They saw people seeking clarity
in the maze of religious knowledge that is available. They saw people
needing guidance in how to proceed in answering the big questions of their
lives. The classes, discussions, adult programs, and sermons filled that need
of finding their own spiritual path, this group soon became their… All: CHURCH Narrator:
And very soon some who looked for family connections where out in the
soup kitchen and on the high way cleaning up. And those who attended discussion
were also going to put lucks and picnics. Those who were seeking sanctuary were
seen at discussions and adult forums and one by one the people began to realize
this group was home, sanctuary, coalition and church all at the same time. But it was also something more, something
that embraced all those descriptions – this group discovered, even in their
very different needs and faith systems, that what they really were was… All: Community Narrator: Once they realized that, as a
group of people they turned a corner, the light went on, they breathed new life
into the old bones that were once dead. They were no longer simply individuals
who happened to come together on Sunday morning, they were not a community,
where home, sanctuary, coalition and church merged and melded into a new body,
the body of community and love. Meditation: I was lost, hopelessly lost. I had looked for my congregational president
everywhere the numerous signs told me to go if I wanted to march in the banner
parade. Here it was almost 15 minutes
before the time we were to line up and all I could see were poles and banners
and legs and people laughing as they were greeting each other
who they hadn’t seen in a year. But where was my president? It was not the time I would have picked to
have a discussion with a security guard of the Salt Lake City convention
center, but he was curious. My name
badge said “Rev.” and he just was full of questions about my being a minister. “So, you’re a church that’s not really a
church,” he said as he winked and smiled as he looked at me out of the corner
of his eye. I felt he was baiting me
and yet really inquisitive at the same time. I could feel the old anxiety of
having to explain from the beginning who we were as Unitarian Universalists and
at the same time contend with the look of superiority in his eye. And I just
knew he wanted to tell me all about his church. “Where did you hear that we are not really a
church?” I asked nonchalantly. “Well,” he turned to look at me, “I was
talking to a guy yesterday, as they were setting up their books and stuff in
the booths and I saw books there about gay people and Native Americans and
meditation and African writings and all that stuff, and it seemed to me that
was neat but really weird stuff for a church. So, I asked this guy from your
church about all those books and he said something about being an association
or something and I figured that you were just some group that was pretending
like you was a church.” He took a deep breath. The Officer looked at me
sideways, the gun in itsholster reminding me of what his role was in the
building and he said to me, “Now I see you a young woman,” (I’ll always love
him for saying that) he says, “wearing this badge that says you are
a minister. Ain’t no women ministers in my church.” He started to rub his chin. So many responses were pounding through my
head. Here was an opportunity, a real opportunity to preach some good news of
UUs love of diversity and our desire as a church to tackle the hard questions.
Here I was, at General Assembly in the middle of Mormon country talking to a
local and he had just asked me the $100,000,000 question! But I had to find my
church president, would she think I had forgotten all about her? I so wanted to
see the new banner that our church had made. What to do, what to do? I was formulating my response, when my new
friend didn’t give me a chance to wax eloquent, as only a minister can. He
said, “I try to lead a good life. In my church we pray for people all over the
world. You know?” He looked in all directions, seeing if anyone was listening
to us and he whispered, “My brother-in-law is gay. I like him.” He shifted his gun. “Well, now,” he continued a
little louder, “maybe I’ll just stop in and look at those books, about gays and
those other cultures. I really don’t know much about them.” He took my hand, “As for you being a
minister, as far as I know Jesus didn’t talk much about women in the church.
So, I guess it’s ok. I think it’s the hate that tears people apart, it’s the
loving that comes easy, but we are so afraid to show it. Seems to me people who work at loving each
other are more alike than different wouldn’t you say? I never heard of a church
like yours. I will have to think about all this a bit. Yes, you really got me
thinking. Well, you have a great
convention. Your group seems to be a great bunch of people. Look there, someone
is looking for you.” I turned around and there was my church
president coming down the hall out of breath and glad to have found me, as we
lined up in the rows of laughter and flashbulbs and hugs and smiles. I was thrilled to be among so many fellow
UUs, but I smiled to myself and thought, “Yes, indeed we are more alike than
different. Blessed Be!” Narrator: Throughout my life I have searched
for a group of people like this church. And yet at times, I have felt so alone. Even in the midst of this wonderful group of
people I have felt so very much alone.
Where to turn, what to do for answers?
I have realized that in my aloneness I am also afraid, afraid of a world
that does not hold the same beliefs as me.
What if the tide in the world turned?
What if there was no longer any religious tolerance? What if I was fighting the whole system by
myself? Reader one: What can they do to you?
Whatever they want. They can set you up, they can bust you, they can break your
fingers, they can burn your brain with electricity, blur you with drugs till
you can’t walk, can’t remember, they can take your child, wall up your lover.
They can do anything you can’t stop them from doing. How can you stop
them? You can refuse, you can take what
revenge you can, but they roll over you. Reader one and two: But two people fighting
back to back can cut through a mob, a snake-dancing file can break a cordon, an
army can meet an army. Two people can keep each other sane, can give support,
conviction, love, a massage and hope. Reader one, two and three: Three people are
a delegation, a committee, a wedge. Readers 1 – 4: With four you can play bridge
and start an organization. Readers 1-6: With six you can rent a whole house, eat pie for dinner with no
seconds, and hold a fund raising party. All: A dozen make a demonstration. A hundred
fill a hall. A thousand power and your own paper; a hundred thousand, your own
media; ten million, your own country. It goes on one at a time, it starts when
you care to act, it starts when you do it again after they say no. It starts
when you say WE and know who you mean, and each day you mean one more. Choir:
“Everything will be all right…” Narrator: Let’s make a big noise in Des
Moines, First Unitarian! Growth will start when we say we. If you are worried
about growth and what that will mean to this church, worry no longer. There is room for all. There is a message here of peace and love
and caring and sharing. To keep that message only for ourselves would be such a
waste. Hiding our light under a bushel. There is room for everyone who walks
through that door. Reader One: If every single member of this
congregation, and there are 250 of you, brought just one person to church and
those persons joined, we would be at our 5 year long range plan of 505 in
05!! Oh, my if that happened this year,
what would we think of next??? Reader Two: We are standing on the shoulders
of those who have gone before. Many, many brave and courageous people who were
not afraid to preach the gospel of good news.
They looked people straight in the eye and said… All: Life today is as good as it gets. Reader Three: Our forebears looked people straight in the eye and said, “We
have an answer for this world and that is… All: To question is the answer. Reader Four: It is our turn people of First
Unitarian, it is our turn to look people we know straight in the eye and say… All: Come, come whoever you are, do I have a
wonderful church experience for you! Reader Five: Now faith is assurance of
things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen; for by it our forebears
labored mightily. Reader Six: By faith, (All) William Ellery
Channing, with the power of his spirit and thought. Led his people out of a
theological wilderness and championed the rights of the downtrodden and the
poor. Reader Seven: By faith, (All) Margaret Fuller,
broke the fetters of old creeds and dead systems and laid the
foundations for women’s rights. Reader One: By faith, (All) Theodore Parker,
with his pen, voice and example, wrought courageously for justice
and freedom, and became a beacon-light of truth in a dark and trying time. Reader Two: By faith, (All) Susan B.
Anthony, toiled a lifetime against overwhelming odds for human freedom, unable
to taste the fruits of her labor. Reader Three: By faith, (All) Clarence
Skinner, spoke the prophetic word against oppression of the poor and championed
the persecuted. Reader Four: By faith, (All) Malvina
Reynolds, lifted her voice to protest the making of war and sang her songs of
love and peace. Reader Five: By faith, (All) Dorthea Dix and
Horace Mann, Clara Barton and John Haynes Holmes, witnessed to justice and
human rights. Narrator: And what more shall we say? For
time would fail me to tell of all the teachers and leaders of youth, the
toilers for the humble, the voiceless, the fearful who, through service to the
needy and sick, have righted wrongs, inspired hope and wrought righteousness. Reader Six: Individually and collectively it
is our day to become bold and daring by making a commitment, by making promises
to spread this priceless UU good news! All: It is our turn now. This is the day!!!! Reader Seven: This commitment, this promise
is the creative, sustaining, commanding, judging, transforming powerful word
which may be interpreted theistically, nontheistically, humanistically. The
power and spirit of the good news cannot be controlled but surely it is
something we can depend upon, even for our freedom. Reader One: As we are held by this community
in love and support, we reach out to those who still are in need of a
little good news. Let it never be said
that all those in our city did not hear our good news because we neglected to
tell them. Reader Two: Let is never be said we were too
shy. Reader Three: We were too anxious, or we
were too worried about upholding the past. All: Oh, no. Let it never be said! Narrator: Lay aside every weight and inertia
which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience, the race that is set
before us. Let go of fear and go about
instead spreading the joy of our good news; religious freedom, openness, tolerance
and the search for meaning is here, available for all. All: Now, let us go out from this place and
tell the good news.. the UU good news.
Holding close to one other we find a way to include all… Ending Song: “Hold on…” |