Memorial Day Service
Sunday, May 29, 11am
Rev. Cathy Harrington, Interim Lead Minister
This Memorial Day we will honor some lesser-known heroes; men and women of the global majority who gave their lives for our country.
May 29, 2022 | Sermons
Sunday, May 29, 11am
Rev. Cathy Harrington, Interim Lead Minister
This Memorial Day we will honor some lesser-known heroes; men and women of the global majority who gave their lives for our country.
May 26, 2022 | Weekly Message
My plans for today’s blog changed. Like many of you, I feel anger, frustration, and heartbreak (and so many other feelings) after the latest school shooting. I feel a deep sadness to live in a country where guns are more important than children’s lives, where a government refuses to protect its citizens, where legislators accept cash in exchange for thousands of innocent lives – over and over and over again. I take deep breaths as I type because my body is tense and constricted at the thought of so many lives lost, grieving families, and a nation, once again, evading its obligation to pass legislation on sensible gun control. I take deep breaths. I cannot look at the front page of today’s paper. Yesterday, my daughter, a teacher, reached out to let us know she was OK. On the last day of the semester, they were on lockdown because of a shooting outside their school. I have no. more. words.
These are the times when we need each other to acknowledge our sorrow, care for each other, and reaffirm the values we hold that will help us decide how we can respond to such horror. Rev. Cathy and I will be holding a vigil tonight at 7PM in Sandburg Hall to provide a space for grieving and lamentation. I will open a Zoom space for those of you unable to join in person. Please contact me for the link. Join us if you are able.
I share below a reading from a colleague, Rev. Derrick Jackson, that invites us into reflection about what these times ask of us. If you have children in your life this resource might be helpful as you consider how to address their questions.
https://draliza.bulletin.com/what-to-say-when-the-words-escape-us-all
We Are Called
In these times, we are called:
Called to step into the mess and murk of life
Called to be strong and vulnerable
Called to console and to challenge
Called to be grounded, and hold lofty ideals
Called to love in the face of hate
We are called
And it is not easy
And we will not always agree
And we will yell, and scream and cry
And we will laugh and smile and sing
We are called to be together
There is so much work to do
And we cannot do it alone
We need one another
Holding each other accountable to our covenants, to the holy, to love and justice.
In these times, we are called.
In love and sadness,
Rev. Claudia Jiménez, Minister of Faith Development
May 22, 2022 | Sermons
Sunday, May 22, 11am
Worship Team: Kim Collins, Jen Johnson, Les Downs, Rev. Claudia
Join us to celebrate Faith Development for all ages in our congregation. We will honor graduating seniors and share gratitude for all who have worked with children and adults to promote spiritual deepening. Our choir will be joining us.
May 19, 2022 | Weekly Message
Hey, how about this? It’s my last blog post. That could be a lot of pressure—what do I want to tell you? What’s the one thing? Turns out it’s easy—I want you to be creative and daring as you try to find the “new and improved” UU Asheville following a pandemic and getting a new minister.
In the fall the Ministerial Search Committee will want (no, will NEED) your ideas of what you want UU Asheville to be and do in the next 5-10 years. The more clearly that future can be described, the better job the Search Committee will be able to do in finding a minister who will lead you there.
I want you to have big ideas, matched by your energy and commitment to join in on the action. There are lots of destinies to think about, but very few that will work for this particular congregation at this particular time. The general direction for the congregation needs to come from the congregation. A good leader will further articulate and mold that future, but in UU polity it is the congregation’s will that should set the destination. It’s time for you to envision the next UU Asheville.
Here are some ideas. Not all will work here. Not all will ignite the energy needed to do the thing well. But there IS something that will do that. Can’t wait to see what you come up with next year!
This is a passage from a book I’ve been reading about a ministerial candidate talking about the congregation that is interviewing her:
“I sense a deep vein of creativity in this congregation,” she said. “So many writers and artists and musicians; so many teachers, scientists, and good cooks. I’d call on this creative energy to nourish and enrich church life. More art on the walls! Music in the air–and maybe in that charming amphitheater! Flowers in the garden! Delicious meals cooked in those big kitchens and eaten together! Let’s get people reading the newsletter again…..And let’s start an arts and literary magazine with contributions by members. Let’s hold poster-painting parties before each protest, so we’ll wield clever, eye-catching signs that speak truth to power! Together, let’s inspire one another to radically reimagine how to responsibly inhabit–and save–this precious, endangered world for our children and theirs.”
Or two descriptions from the handy internet of ideas:
It’s pretty easy to find all kinds of outreach ideas for churches online. The best ones come directly from the vision of the church, of the reputation they have in their community, and are the single focus of the church’s outreach. Sure, we still need/want to provide faith development opportunities for all, offer some form(s) of worship, provide pastoral care, create space for the growth of personal relationships, and encourage participation in events where “showing up” is important. But a congregation has the most powerful impact in its community when it doesn’t scatter its resources. Everything sounds great and important, but picking ONE seems to me to be most impactful.
Our Whole Lives was designed to be secular, but not value-free. The program gives clear messages about self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, and justice and inclusivity. The program recognizes and respects the diversity of participants with respect to biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and disability status in addition to cultural and racial background. The activities and language used throughout the program have been carefully chosen to be as inclusive as possible of this human diversity.
Why are we keeping this to ourselves? Aren’t many, many parents in Asheville wishing their children had access to this kind of information? Aren’t there adults wishing they had access to this kind of information?
These are just ideas. There are more! Bring them to your conversations with the Search Committee. Think about why it might be important to have a singular vision of the congregation’s mission. Or make a case for why you don’t like that. The point is to THINK, CREATE, DREAM about the future of UU Asheville. Your next minister’s success will depend on it.
Linda Topp, Director of Administration
May 17, 2022 | Sermons
Sunday, June 12, 2022 11am
Rev. Claudia Jimenez, Minister of Faith Devlopement
In 2015, our denomination approved a Reproductive Justice Statement of Conscience. Join Rev. Claudia and worship associate Jane Branham as they explore its implications for today as the reality of the overturning of Roe vs Wade is before us. How are we called as UUs to support the rights, needs and choices of everyone?