This Sunday we will explore compassion and its power to heal. What the world needs now more than anything is an understanding of true compassion. It has been said, "Wisdom without compassion is ruthlessness, and compassion without wisdom is folly." What does wise compassion look like?

 

My doctoral project was titled, "Transforming Violence; a Compassionate Response." From personal experience I began to understand that our collective response to a violent crime has been shaped by a broken justice system. Sister Helen Prejean once said that we will never be a compassionate nation until we abolish the death penalty. She may be right, but I don't think we will be a compassionate nation until we understand and dismantle the systemic racism that terrorizes people of color.

 

This week we have been horrified to watch a video of a white police officer using such brutal force on an unarmed black man that he died. His name was George Floyd, and as he was dying, he continued to say, "I can't breathe, Sir." We are shocked and sickened as yet another unarmed black person dies at the hands of the police, but sadly we are not surprised. What truths do we need to sit with before we can help bring an end to this endless injustice?

 

White people have work to do before this system can be dismantled, and before we can be true allies for people of color. This isn't to make us feel guilty or ashamed, though we likely will. Stephanie Long writes, " The goal is not just to have people learn about white supremacy, but to understand how their personal lives support it."

 

Check out her article called, " Black People Need Stronger White Allies - Here's How You Can Be One".  https://r29.co/2Ads5zQ 

 

Let's learn together how to be true and better allies to our neighbors of color.

See you in church!

 

L, Cathy

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Folks, we are at a fork in the road. As you know, we have been unable to hold in-person services in our facility for over two months. Your Board, Minister and I are realizing that we will not be able to get back together in our Sanctuary for some time to come, maybe as long as a year. Frankly, we cannot maintain social distancing with 100 people in our Sanctuary, plus group singing is an enhanced way to spread the virus. In addition, our Congregation is particularly vulnerable with many of us over sixty years of age and a significant number of us with underlying medical conditions.  It would not be responsible for us to start in-person services again until conditions improve. Perhaps not until an effective vaccine is widely available. The risk is just too great. Our national UUA organization is encouraging us to not open too soon.

So, back to that fork in the road. One path we could take is to become discouraged. "Oh, woe is us". To me, and to many of you, a big part of being a Congregation is to be able to gather most Sundays, catch up with our friends and share in the message and singing of our worship together. We miss the physical social interaction - shaking hands, hugging, sharing coffee or tea after service and being in the same physical space together. It would be easy to give up and drift away from the fellowship of our Congregation.

The other path is to stick with it through what may be some tough times. We have a great Interim Minister supported by a strong staff. Our Religious Education and Music programs are on a good upward path. We have developed excellent on-line worship. While different from what we are used to, it can be just as fulfilling. Most of our committees and groups are continuing to meet using the on-line tools we are quickly adapting to. New small groups and adult classes are underway, meeting on-line. We have added Friday evening Vesper Services and on-line office hours. We are exploring some innovative ways to connect those in our Congregation who are not "computer savvy". We are encouraged that our search next year for a Settled Minister will happen and be successful. In many ways, we are feeling even more connected than before.

My wife, Sandra, and I are choosing the latter path. Our Congregation has been resilient in tough times before. We believe we can do it again. We hope you all choose to join us. With your help we can get through this and come out the other side even stronger than we were before.

Mike McDonald

President, Board of Trustees

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Schedule a personal visit with Rev. Cathy via Zoom or phone - contact her by text or email:  231-301-3177;  [email protected]

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~ James O'Dea