“...gather up your worries— we are going to bury them beneath the ground and watch them transform into flowers of hope, pushing through the earth... reminding us... that Love brings us back to life...”
So many thanks to the Choir, our guest musicians, and Christina for directing Sunday’s music! It was wonderful to hear the cello, violin, trumpet, organ, piano and robust Choir on Easter morning. I know it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare for such a morning and I am very grateful. I also have to say y’all did a great job of being peepers, birds, bugs and flowers saying “Alleluia!” during Time for Wonder; thanks for humoring me. Next time we’ll do it with our eyes closed and see what happens. We’ll have an Earth Day service this Sunday with another fantastic guest musician, professional guitarist Brendan Evans and lots of earth-based poetry of Mary Oliver with thanks to the Worship Committee and speakers.
Huge thanks also go out to everyone who participated in the Stewardship Drive including our newest members and those who’ve joined us from the UU Congregation in Andover; we just met and passed our budget pledge goal this past week! WOW! Your generosity will allow us to move forward with confidence without the painful and time-consuming, short-sighted process of cutting the budget or sacrificing wise management of the buildings. The congregation has been a sure and steady refuge for its members and friends through all sorts of ups and downs over the centuries; thanks to each one of you for continuing this legacy through another round of very uncertain times, when congregations like ours have such an important role to play in our lives and in society.
As we head into the last two months of the “regular” congregational year, I encourage you to keep in touch and stay involved; there is too much going on in our lives and the world to drift into “summer mode” on the early side. We need one another and the wider community needs us. In addition to our usual end-of-spring traditions (Annual Meeting, various rites of passage, etc.) we are creating new opportunities to connect with each other and strengthen our skill sets in non-violence, small group support, advocacy and hope. As you talk with folks who are having a hard time, share what we’re up to in this community and invite them to check us out. Don’t isolate, congregate! Don’t agonize, organize! Don’t teach hate, meditate! Don’t blame the weather, eat together! (OK, I admit it, I’m getting carried away…)
Yours in the midst of blooming things,
Rev. Lee
P.S. If you want some inspiration, I encourage you to tune in on Sunday afternoon at 3pm to Bishop William Barber’s sermon to the nation Bishop William J. Barber, II Delivers Sermon to the Nation From Capitol Hill | Repairers of the Breach His organization, Repairers of the Breach, is starting a new Moral Mondays movement to protest the immortality of the proposed national budget.
To easily set up a meeting with me, you can use this link: https://calendly.com/revlee-northparish