December 23, 2020
Beloveds,
For nothing is fixed,
forever, forever, forever,
it is not fixed;
the earth is always shifting,
the light is always changing,
the sea does not cease to grind down rock.
Generations do not cease to be born,
and we are responsible to them
because we are the only witnesses they have.
The sea rises, the light fails,
lovers cling to each other,
and children cling to us.
The moment we cease to hold one another,
the moment we break faith with one another,
the sea engulfs us and the light goes out.
— James Baldwin, adapted
in Lifting our Voices: Readings in the Living Tradition
Thank goodness nothing is fixed! I’m sure I’m not the first to be grateful that 2020 is coming to an end. So many limitations, so many abandoned plans, so much fake news, so much hate and violence, so many lost lives. 2020 has made it abundantly clear that we are profoundly interconnected and that we need one another to survive.
And the Fellowship has risen to that call. We have kept the faith. We have clung to each other, and the light we bring to the world has not gone out.
But let’s remember, no matter how tired we are of pandemic life, this is NOT the time to let up on our physical distancing. To prevent a Christmas and New Years Eve spike in coronavirus, the State of Colorado asks us to please interact only with those within your own household (that is, people who sleep under the same roof as you.)
Keeping the Faith
When the song of the angels is stilled . . . the work of Christmas begins. . .Howard Thurman
We’re starting 2021 with two Inclusivity and Anti-Racism Workshops for BVUUF
While some UUs have been on this journey of anti-racism work for a while, others are new to the conversation. How do we navigate this challenge? This interactive 2-part workshop will provide an opportunity to feel and think together about racism and our current opportunities and challenges. Together, we will look at some approaches that we are currently engaging in Unitarian Universalism to close the gap between the values we espouse and the values we practice with regard to anti-racism. We will consider some anti-racism tools, and how they can help us in this journey. Join us for an authentic exploration of the work we need to do to continue to bend the arc toward justice in our congregations and in our communities.
Dates
Part 1: Sunday, January 3, 3 – 4:30pm
Part 2: Thursday, January 14, 6 – 7:30pm
Both sessions will be recorded, in case you cannot attend both. Although each session will stand alone, they are designed to build on each other.
Holding One Another
During these challenging times, remember what we tell each membership class: You will be cared for, and you will be asked to care for others. Please do feel reach out to each other during these times of physical isolation. And, of course, our intern Lisa Moore and I are available for pastoral care at any time.
May you have many beautiful moments in the coming days and weeks.
Rev. Lydia