The Article II Study Commission did a lot of hard work over a few years to determine what values we Unitarian Universalists have in common. The list was overwhelmingly approved at the General Assembly in 2024. We’ll spend this month exploring Justice, Equity, Generosity, Interdependence, Pluralism, Transformation, and Love at the Center.

As we continue to move through the cycles of grief and worries of what acts of hatred may come or ways the incoming administration will try to thwart democracy, we consider the stories, poems, songs, and practices that can teach us how to effectively resist, to help us get through hard times, and to remember who we are. We have lifted up several of those in worship all fall, and especially in the last few weeks.

Sikh activist Valarie Kaur wrote a prayer for America back in November of 2016. She wrote, “What if this darkness is not the darkness of the tomb, but the darkness of the womb?

What if our America is not dead but a country still waiting to be born? What if the story of America is one long labor?” We have been in presentations with her as she spoke of revolutionary love.

And she reminds us that the midwife says- first we breathe and then we push. Right now, as we feel our feelings and start organizing and strategizing for what’s to come, we are breathing, getting clarity. And soon, it will be time to push-to cast out hatred and acts of harm, to protect those we love and those we do not yet know who will be targets. We are in this together-even though we will experience it differently. But no matter what comes, if we face it in community, we can be more effective.

Today, consider checking on the resources and resilience hub in a message below. Have conversations with your kin and friends about who and what you value and what you will help to protect. Come to worship and be filled by being together, by singing together, by listening together, by praying and/or meditating together. We hope to see you on Sunday for one of the long-time traditions at UUSS of bread communion-May all be nourished, may all be fed.

Rev. Wendy and Rev. Lynn

When we wrote last week, it was still Election Day. A lot has happened since then.

This past Sunday we shared a quote from author, historian and activist Rebecca Solnit who wrote, earlier this week, “You may need to grieve or scream or take time off, but you have a role no matter what, and right now good friends and good principles are worth gathering in. Remember what you love. Remember what loves you. Remember in this tide of hate what love is. The pain you feel is because of what you love.”

We then invited folks to write down some answers to the ‘what you love, what loves you, what love is’ and consider putting the paper where you will see it, so that they can be reminders and incentives in the weeks and months ahead. Each of us has a role to play, maybe even several, in resisting hatred, in strengthening democracy, in caring for one another.

Know that you are loved, and that you are not alone. So many of us are reeling, raging, and/or raw. Feel your feelings. Even the uncomfortable ones. And sometime soon, we’ll keep feeling our feelings and move towards strategies and actions to care for and protect what we love, what loves us, and what love is.

With care, and in faith,

Rev. Lynn & Rev. Wendy

Here we are. Election Day 2024. Over 100 people in the congregation have participated in the UUSS #UUtheVote efforts over these past several months. Last night, we gathered with over 20 folks for a text bank to remind NY voters to go out and vote and to vote for Prop. 1.

Thanks to our UUtheVote organizing team and the efforts of our community partner Planned Parenthood, they provided training and support. And while some of our technology did not quite work for everyone, despite every effort and coordination, still-several thousand texts were sent by our diligent group. There were a few responses that were hostile. Given the climate created by some campaigns, this was unsurprising, though the ones with more threatening language were a bit unsettling. No state is a monolith of perspective and not everyone wants equity.

As we encouraged on Sunday, take good care of yourself. Reach out to folks you know. Check in. If you are in need of support, let us know. Many, many thanks to all the folks who are serving as poll workers, to those who have devoted energy to this election season, and to everyone who has voted or will today.

Breathing in peace, and breathing out love,

Rev. Wendy & Rev. Lynn

We went to the polls on Monday, where we got to stand in line. That’s right- we GOT to be in line to cast our votes. It is not hyperbole to say that our democracy is threatened. If this election season has taught us anything, it is we can not take the right to vote for granted.

 

We were behind a couple of folks we hadn’t met yet, and who we learned fled from a different state to live in NY, who shared our commitment to voting, to democracy, to honesty, and to connecting and listening to one another. Neighbors sharing concerns together was a lovely gift of getting to be in line-concerned citizens voting early to make sure we get to participate in a process that thousands, perhaps millions have died for throughout human history.

We know that many of you have voted already, too… often waiting in line for a bit to do so. We thought of those in other states and other countries who are willing to wait for hours, and of some of our forebears who waited years, or a lifetime before being able to cast a vote. It is no small thing.

Thank you to all who are doing so much with #UUtheVote to encourage and support participation in this election. If you haven’t yet voted, and need a ride in order to do so, please let the UUSS #UUtheVote folks know. They/We can help!

And if you are feeling concerned at all, we hope to see you this Sunday, because we need one another. Gather together for worship in the morning and then come on back for the Schenectady Clergy Against Hate vigil at 4pm. If you can volunteer for that event, let us know as soon as possible.

Breathing in, I know I am breathing in.
Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.
Breathing in, we ground ourselves in love.
Breathing out, we vote grounding ourselves in hope.
Breathing in, we strengthen our courage for justice.
Breathing out, we soften for compassion.

Centering our wild hearts in love, let us open to what is possible and do our best to create the most compassionate, just, and joyful outcomes!

In faith~ Rev. Lynn & Rev. Wendy

This month we’ve been exploring how embracing what is may help us open to what is possible. This past week we have heard from folks how the beauty of Fall is lifting your energy, offering both solace for what is challenging or heartbreaking and inspiration for creativity, joy, and gratitude.

At UUSS, we are feeling a sense of possibility and hope, as people participate in democracy and getting folks to polls with #UUtheVote, as big questions are asked in Getting to Know UU, as a circle of adults gather for Wednesday meditation and another group begins a Wellspring class, as a meal is shared at the Locavore lunch, as Coming of Age participants prepare for their fall retreat, and children and youth Religious Education classes connect and learn together.

How are YOU feeling about what is at UUSS this Fall? Have you availed yourself of the opportunity to connect with others in the congregation? with visitors? with the UUtheVote efforts? The possibilities of the Congregation and maybe even the nation’s future change when we open to them together.

In faith, and with hope~ Rev. Lynn & Rev. Wendy

This past weekend included our 16th wedding anniversary and we had planned some time away, to focus on one another as people, to tend to our relationship, to eat good food and enjoy one another’s company. We are grateful that part of our roles as co-ministers of a congregation includes being invited to officiate at weddings, vow renewal ceremonies, and/or to meet with couples who are wanting some support for their relationship. Marriage or any long-term relationship requires some care and attention for it to thrive.

As part of our weekend, we wrote 40 postcards for #UUtheVote, encouraging voters in Texas to get to the polls. As a queer couple who couldn’t have legally married when we first met, and who were married in California before Prop 8 passed, preventing marriage equality in the state until the Supreme Court ruling in 2015, we know how important an election can be for protecting or increasing rights.

And, just as good relationships deserve our time and energy, so do our rights. Let’s not take any of them for granted because we are one election away from increasing or diminishing much of what we hold close. Our UUSS UUtheVote Team (see below) and the national #UUtheVote https://uuthevote.org/events/ have lots of ways to get involved, to do what we each can to ensure a brighter, more just future, and a more loving community is possible.

In faith~ Rev. Lynn and Rev. Wendy

Many thanks to the dozens of people who attended some part of the Climate Revival weekend! We had a great turnout for Saturday’s gathering and leaned in to naming the challenging realities we face and also the community care we can embrace. In worship, we blended some resources from the UUA and from our own hearts, raising our voices in song, feeling the weightiness of the climate disasters and losses we are facing, and leaning into the possibilities of what we can re-imagine for a new Era with Love at the Center.

Because of the horrible disasters that Hurricane Helene was wreaking, we changed the special collection to the UUA Disaster Relief Fund. If you were not in attendance on Sunday, see the request below and if you can, give as generously as possible.

As we bridged between worship and the advocacy hour, all who attended were invited to call the Governor’s office. When we consulted with the Green Sanctuary Team, they suggested that folks in the congregation contact the Governor’s office and encourage her to sign the Climate Superfund Act, which has already passed the State Senate and Assembly. We offered instructions and support, especially for those who may have never done this before. See the Green Sanctuary announcement below for more info.

Many thanks to all who attended, all who volunteered, all who participated in any or all of the activities this weekend, and to the Staff who helped, too. Together, we can make a difference in so many ways!

We hope to offer another opportunity to have a Climate Revival in an online format. Stay tuned!

With genuine appreciation and deep gratitude for this Earth and our denomination,

Rev. Wendy and Rev. Lynn

P.S. You can hear the commissioned anthem here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UicUUR3O0yo

This past week the trees along the creek next to the church buildings have been turning a bit yellower each day. Other signs of Fall are appearing, too, including migrating birds,  changes in light, smells, and colors. What do you notice changing? We are reminded of a song by Molly Bajgot, who wrote, “Change is coming. What do we need to imagine?”

This weekend’s Climate Justice Revival will include an invitation to imagine what we hope the world will be like in 2050. What beautiful changes are possible if human beings are able to significantly cut carbon emissions? What kind of a world do we want to create and leave for future generations of all living species? Change is coming. What might we imagine together that the changes be what we hope for rather than what we dread?

With hope and in faith~ Rev. Lynn and Rev. Wendy

Folks are welcome to attend all or part of this 2-day event!

Details:

Sat. Sep 28th, 9:00-1:30 & Sun. Sep 29, 10:30 worship, followed by Advocacy Hour

We will join with several hundred other UU congregations in this historic moment!

“The UU Climate Justice Revival is about more than just “climate!” Climate justice is racial justice, is gender justice, is disability justice, immigration justice, LGBTQIA+ justice, economic justice, mental health justice, and on and on. Climate justice is an intersectional justice issue and one we have to understand as a complex crisis with the same root causes as the systems of oppression we fight so hard against.” (UU climate website)

The UU Climate Justice Revival is a wonderful chance to come together with creativity, connection, and shared reimagining. Saturday will include incredible opportunities to collaborate in creating strategies for addressing climate change within our local context. Sunday will include worship and an advocacy hour to put our energy and our concerns into action. Learn more at uuclimatejustice.org.

Children under 13 will be exploring age appropriate resources in upcoming Sunday Children’s Chapel and Sunday Fuunday Gatherings this fall. Try RSVPing with this form: https://forms.gle/nWJ7QEuxPpHASqoB6 and if that doesn’t work, send Rev. Wendy an email at revwendy at uuschenectady dot org.

If you want to help this event happen, please contact one of us. We’ll need some volunteers on both days. We hope to see you there for one or both days! – Rev. Wendy & Rev. Lynn