I’m soon to be the program chair in our little congregation. That really translates to worship service leader but folks are a bit touchy about words. As I begin my work, I feel my anxiety level rising. It is hard to tell sacred cows from petrified wood. Even in large congregations, there is creative tension between humanists, pagans, deist and atheist. That tension harmonizes on Sunday morning with wisdom of a good minister. In a small congregation such harmony is harder. Perhaps members are singing their own songs so loud because they have been marginalized and silenced in other situations. They believe that Unitarian Universalism is a place where they will not be told to ‘quiet down’. With the best of intentions they take turns with show and tell. This is an overgeneralization of course. Many want to engage and to welcome.
In March, the next Board president will speak on ‘prayer’. I’m speaking on ‘Sundays with the Unitarian Universalism’. In April, I’m planning an Easter service in which I will reflect on the message of Jesus. The next week, the pagan group will be doing a ‘Beltane’ service. I’ve googled the internet looking for Sunday Beltane Services that were inclusive. Not having much luck. I asked a pagan minister who told me she thought earth-centered activity is on the side, in homes on moons and Saturdays, outside, not on Sundays during church. She asked if “the earth energy is also influencing the Sunday service in such a way that visitors may feel put off?” I agree with the thought that smaller churches emphasize variety. In my new small church, this is illustrated by the weekly phrase about “diversity of beliefs and coming back next week to get a better idea of what Unitarian Universalism is all about”. AT UU Annapolis, Sunday Services had evolved to be more all inclusive, drawing all all sources of wisdom, and less on specific practices.
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