Dear ones~

This week we are attending the online gathering of the St. Lawrence chapter of the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association. Our chapter includes ministers who are serving in their first year of ministry all the way through many colleagues who are retired. What we know is that we need one another.

This morning, part of our program was a taizé service of chanting, music, and silence. We closed with Meditation on Breathing by Sarah Dan Jones from the teal hymnal. “When I breathe in, I’ll breath in peace. When I breathe out, I’ll breathe out love.” This week, as we study and work, vote and phone bank, as we sweep the floor and walk the dog, as we care for children and elders, as we carve pumpkins and choose costumes, let us tend to what we are taking in, as well as what we are sending out.

In his work to abolish slavery, the Rev. Theodore Parker said, “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe; the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways; I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. And from what I see I am sure it bends towards justice.” And later the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. would say, “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” We are very worried about which direction the moral arc is bending at the moment… We are worried personally. Each time we try to write the reasons for that, it is too hard to type. Our very being is threatened as are all the rest of the lgbtq+ people you know. We are worried as religious leaders. That list of reasons is even longer.

And, we know that how the work of justice happens is just as important as what happens… and so, we begin with our breath.. breathing in peace, and breathing out love. Join us in that. Come to the Halloween Party. Come to worship. We need one another as Strength for the Journey-this journey that is really hard right now for so many people. If things are easy for you right now-offer some strength and support to someone else. And if your struggle is beginning to overwhelm you, know that we are here.

Vote if you are eligible, and have not already done so. Encourage those you know to do the same. Reach out to someone you haven’t seen in a while and let them know you are thinking about them. We need one another more than we may know.

With much care and concern,

Rev. Lynn and Rev. Wendy