A Stable Faith by Rev. Shayna Appel
Over the course of this last month we have been exploring in worship the fine art of Cultivating Relationship. Our Worship Committee began the month with a service focused on the stories of indigenous peoples of North America, their culture, and the impact of oppression on sacred traditions.
On October 10th I invited you all to explore the question, “Who Is My Neighbor?” as we looked again at the ancient story of the Good Samaritan. In this service you were asked to focus on the ‘other’ by learning to ask not, “What will happen to me if I….,” but to consider “What will happen to the other if I do not…?”
On October 17th we learned about the difference between ‘opinion’ and ‘alignment’ and how the latter can help us move forward when opinion has us stuck. We also learned about the synergy and spirit of quest that arises in communities that focus on alignment over and above opinion.
On October 24th we explored the connection between self-love and the capacity to love others.
Finally, on October 31st we celebrated All Souls Day, giving us a chance to reconnect and give thanks for those who have gone before us.
Throughout this series it has been my hope that we might all consider our relationships here at UUCM. What is the purpose in cultivating relationship here and how important is that aspect of our life together? What role does cultivating relationship play in the bigger picture of building beloved community? How would we know if we were truly cultivating healthy, wholesome relationships at UUCM? And most importantly, who are you willing to be in the matter of helping to cultivate these relationships?
During the month of November we will turn our hearts toward the question of Holding History, and we will discover again — surprise, surprise! — that Holding History also requires us to cultivate relationship!
And, speaking of cultivating relationships, I know many of us are sick, sick, sick of zoom! This has resulted in a noticeable decline in the number of you attending weekly worship. I’m sick of zoom too, for what that’s worth, but when you are not here, you are missed! Just sayin’…!
With much love,
Rev. Shayna