Messages

Friends,

The trees are at peak right now. The vibrant hues of autumn paint our world with breathtaking beauty, yet we read the headlines and see so much strife, war, disconnection. I pray for safety in Israel and Palestine, Ukraine and Russia, Mexico, Haiti, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the Congo. I don’t know if there is more war now, or it seems I’m looking more at our world neighbors. We pray for peace (acknowledging that there is so much nuance lost in just praying for peace). Sometimes I am led to prayer while discerning action.

There is an election this November. Please remember to vote, and to vote your conscience and values.

The wisdom of Mary Oliver offers a balm to the sadness…
“Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”

These words invite us to pause and embrace the gift of each day, to cherish the ordinary miracles that surround us, and to share our wonder with one another. It is connection that we accomplish the seemingly impossible.

In this season of reflection and gratitude, I am equally moved by Jericho Brown’s powerful assertion that “Love is an action, never simply a feeling.”

As we approach Thanksgiving, it is essential to recognize that true thankfulness extends beyond mere sentiment. It requires us to transform our appreciation into action, to live out our gratitude in ways that positively impact our lives and the lives of those we encounter.

These two remarkable poets offer us profound insights into the essence of transcendence and thanksgiving. It is a celebration not only of abundance but also of connection, both to the natural world and to one another. When we pay attention to the intricate tapestry of existence and allow ourselves to be
astonished by its complexity and beauty, we are drawn into a deeper sense of wonder and gratitude. We recognize that life itself is a gift, one that we have the power to enhance and share.

Our Unitarian Universalist community embodies the spirit of transcendent thanksgiving, where love and gratitude manifest as action. We come together to celebrate diversity, to support one another in times of need, and to uplift our shared values. It is in this community that we find the strength to act on our love, to manifest our gratitude through service and compassion.

As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables, ‘friends-givings,’ and family gathering and as we reflect on the blessings in our lives, let us not forget the call to action that gratitude entails. Let us share our love, our compassion, and our resources with those who may be in need. Let us pay attention to the world around us and be astonished by its wonders. In doing so, we transform the act of thanksgiving into a transcendent experience that uplifts our spirits and strengthens our bonds as a beloved community.

May this November be a month of reflection, gratitude, and action. May we, like Mary Oliver and Jericho Brown, find inspiration in the beauty and love that surround us, and may we use this inspiration to make the world a more just and compassionate place.

May it ever be so,
-Rev. Will

Dear Friends,

As the vibrant colors of autumn surround us and the days grow shorter, I’m filled with a sense of awe and gratitude for the journey we’ve embarked upon together as a congregation. October is upon us, and it marks a time of change and reflection.

Embracing Change:
Change is an ever-present force in our lives, much like the changing seasons. Just as the leaves gracefully transform from green to brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold, our congregation continues to evolve. We have welcomed new faces and celebrated milestones together. As we embrace change, let us remember the core values that bind us: the commitment to justice, compassion, and the free search for truth.

Gratitude:
Amidst change, it is essential to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. I’m profoundly grateful for the resilience and dedication I see in each of you. Your commitment to building a more just and compassionate world is truly inspiring. As we move through October, let’s take a moment to reflect on the blessings in our lives, the beauty of our surroundings, and the strength of our community.

Share Your Thoughts:
I value your input and feedback. If you have ideas, concerns, or suggestions for our congregation’s future, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Your voice matters, and it helps us shape our shared journey.

In closing, let us embrace the changes that October brings and hold gratitude close to our hearts. Together, we can continue to be a beacon of love and justice in our community.

With warmth and blessings,
-Rev. Will

Friends,

Today’s brisk morning is a reminder of summer turning to fall. Kids and grandkids are back to school, Friday night lights illuminate the field for our communities, and we find ourselves returning to a life that seems almost forgotten—talk of football, colder mornings and anticipating the end of gardens and crops, the button bucks losing their fuzziness and fawns losing their spots…

All the while, the demands of everyday life are still upon us: the political divides in our communities, loan forgiveness, the spiritual practices of generosity, and the fear of missing out—and an upcoming November referendum on reproductive rights and individual liberty. There are campaigns and images that seek to motivate but too often it seems that they divide.

Recently I found myself at a gathering, music was playing: Brats, burgers, and a beat. In the center, a maternal figure was dancing, alone. She’s a mentor to me. She was dancing the electric slide, living her best life. I join in, a little boy joins in—we’re teaching him, before long nearly everyone joins in.

Where ever you find yourself, full of passion for the rights of people: trans rights, women’s rights reproductive rights, climate change, decolonization and dismantling supremacy cultures—white supremacy, male supremacy, heteronormative structures, habitat restoration—-remember that our souls are held together by the pain and joys that we experience individually and collectively; remember that there is joy and sorrow in every moment. Remember to dance, have some food at a tailgate, connect.

May this time of the year offer life and love and connection. May you find peace and joy and May you dance when the sweet music plays!

May it ever be so

-Rev. Will

 

Dear Beloveds and Friends,

As the warm summer breeze graces our days and the sun bathes us in its golden rays, we find ourselves in a season of abundant growth and reflection. July has arrived, bringing with it a cherished opportunity to explore the essence of freedom of belief and deepen our connections within our beloved community. The warm sun reminds us of the promise of abundance, and the climate-change induced smoke in the air reminds us of our responsibility to care for the earth.

July is a time we, Americans, celebrate and reflect upon the promise and responsibilities of Freedom. At the very heart of our Unitarian Universalist faith is this Freedom of Belief. It is principled as encouragement for us to seek our own truths, to question, to challenge, and to constantly grow in our understanding of the world and our place within it, to resist tyranny and to find liberation.

There are many attacks on our freedoms. Bills and proposed laws that restrict rights, and some that even deny medical treatment. Please get active in these political actions. Engage the UUJO–our Ohio based UU Justice Organization. They need some volunteers and I think the people of All Souls could really help them. Freedom requires practice and effort.

This freedom invites us to embark on a lifelong journey of exploration, where our spiritual paths intertwine with the wisdom of diverse traditions and the insights gained from our own personal experiences.

As we engage in the delightful adventures and peaceful respites that summer offers, I encourage each of you to take some time for personal reflection. Allow the beauty of nature, the serenity of quiet moments, and the joy of shared experiences to inspire and nourish your spirit. Embrace the freedom to question and explore, to discover new perspectives and deepen your connection to the divine.

This past week, our denomination (86.3% of Delegates) voted to remain considering changes to the Article 2 of the UUA bylaws–Principles and Purposes. It is written into our tradition to keep searching for meaning, and written into our bylaws to keep our Principles and Purposes relevant for our current times. In the fall, I presented these changes during adult RE. Although we have looked through these changes, we will dive deeper at the proposed shift from Principles to Values, with Love at its center.

We also have a new president of the UUA, the Rev. Dr. Sofia Betancourt. During her acceptance speech, she shared that she is a Universalist in her UU faith. She is a respected theologian, minister and teacher. With her election and the changes in Article 2, it feels like a discerned pivot toward our Universalist side of the UU family–a return that I welcome and affirm.

In the Spirit of Love, let us also celebrate this season of our congregation. Summer is a time for forging new bonds and strengthening existing relationships. It presents countless opportunities to engage in community-building activities, from picnics and hikes to book clubs. I invite you to reach out to one another, to extend a hand of friendship and understanding, and to engage in conversations that foster empathy, compassion, and growth.

Our church community is a sanctuary where we find solace, support, and inspiration. Together, we create a safe space for authentic exploration of our beliefs and a nurturing environment that encourages each individual to grow into their fullest potential. As we celebrate the freedom of belief, let us also extend that freedom to others, embracing the diversity of perspectives and experiences that enrich our collective journey.

It is certain that it will continue to offer a variety of opportunities for spiritual growth and connection. For the 6th year in a row, I am on the ministry team for Summer Institute. Both at All Souls and within the CER–Region, we have planned exciting events, inspiring worship services, and engaging workshops that cater to the diverse interests and needs of our congregation.

May this summer be a time of deepening connection, self-discovery, and joyous exploration. Together, let us celebrate the freedom of belief that is the cornerstone of our faith, as we weave our individual journeys into a beautiful tapestry of shared experiences.

Blessings and peace,
– Rev. Will

Friends,

As we enter the month of June, as we reach out and experience Pride Month, as we begin to enjoy the summer…

I find inspiration from the Tao Te Ching, a timeless text that invites us to cultivate peace, harmony, and balance in our lives.

June means to me, the start of summer and the promise of warmer days ahead. This is a time to celebrate the beauty of nature and the abundance of life around us, as well as to reflect on the teachings of the Tao Te Ching. I think of sunshine on my shoulders and cool breezes.

At the heart of the Tao Te Ching is the idea that we can find peace and harmony by aligning ourselves with the natural flow of the universe–action and inaction. This means letting go of our attachments and judgments, and embracing the present moment with gratitude and openness. More human being and not so fixated on the human doing.

As we enter this new season, we can also think about how we can build peace within ourselves and in our communities. We can start by cultivating a spirit of kindness and compassion, not only towards ourselves, but also towards others. By practicing active listening, seeking to understand different perspectives, and embracing our common humanity, we can build bridges of understanding and create a more peaceful world.

One way to put these teachings into practice is to take time to connect with nature. Whether it’s taking a walk in the park, tending to a garden, or simply spending time outside, we can find inspiration and solace in the beauty of the natural world.

Being Pride Month, we affirm that Love is Love, that we are all whole and holy. Join us with:

Stonewall Columbus Pride on June 16

Knox County Pride on June 25

Mansfield Pride on August 5 (we are building a float!!!)

As we bask in the warmth and joy of this new season, let us hold in our hearts the teachings of the Tao Te Ching and the vision of a world in which peace and harmony reign.

Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful June,
— Rev. Will

Friends,

I recently was invited to participate in the Ohio-Meadville District Ministers retreat. One of my takeaways was being present to the deep questions in front of us, just under the surface.

With Passover, with Easter, with Ramadan and Eid—all so recent—it is easy to overlook the deep meaning of these traditions within the Abrahamic branches. There are so many ways to contemplate and reflect on them, and the recurring theme is resistance.

These questions were:
• What good inside of you is resisted by you?
• What obstacles are in your path along your journey that offer resistance to your travels and goals?
• Where do you find love in your self care/what lightens your load?

As you think through these questions, don’t just let a simple answer suffice. There is a tradition that I was taught while studying at Antioch—to ask ‘Why’ five times. Not just harnessing your inner two year old, it is a way to get to the core of an issue.

Words from Rumi to reflect upon:
Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder…

Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing
myself…

Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure…

For each of us, I pray that old escapes into new and that we remember our connections to friends and neighbors and strangers, our connections to all life and all material. And that we find newness in life in this changing world. I hope May flowers find you and graduation parties allow you to celebrate accomplishment and to see loved ones.

Peace,
— Rev. Will

Friends,

As I watch our days increase, the rain and the clouds, and the culmination of both in our of late amazing sunsets, I cannot help but to think about the connection of all. We are material, matter, and so is the rock. We are alive, and so too is the bright green moss on the forest floor. We move and run and billow and crawl, so too does the wind. We frolic and play, so too does the doe.

At the same time of transition, I think about willful change and the vehicles we use for change. The seasons change and so do we. Sometimes change is hard and sometimes change is just change. And cultivating our joy and gratitude in change, in all things, can elude us.

Wendell Berry’s words on At start of spring:

At start of spring I open a trench
In the ground. I put into it
The winter’s accumulation of paper,
Pages I do not want to read
Again, useless words, fragments,
errors. And I put into it
the contents of the outhouse:
light of the suns, growth of the ground,
Finished with one of their journeys.
To the sky, to the wind, then,
and to the faithful trees, I confess
my sins: that I have not been happy
enough, considering my good luck;
have listened to too much noise,
have been inattentive to wonders,
have lusted after praise.
And then upon the gathered refuse,
of mind and body, I close the trench
folding shut again the dark,
the deathless earth. Beneath that seal
the old escapes into the new.

For each of us, I pray that old escapes into new and that we remember our connections to friends and neighbors and strangers, our connections to all life and all material. And that we find newness of life in this changing world.

Peace,
Rev. Will

Dear Friends,

Love is the power that holds us together and is at the center of our shared values. We are accountable to one another for doing the work of living our shared values through the spiritual discipline of Love.

This quote was lifted from the pages of the Article 2 Commission—the committee that looks at our UU values and is charged to keep our faith relevant. Our principles and values are on the docket to be looked upon at our General Assembly this summer.

Love is the holy thing that unites us as Unitarian Universalists and Love is the experience we share at All Souls. When I think about the warmth and connection that springs forth during a service, and the camaraderie that shows up at coffee hour, this is the Love that is shared throughout the building and the people of All Souls.

We are also reaching out to our neighbors. We are getting involved in direct volunteer experiences with Matthew 25 ministries— they’re a food distribution pantry that is set up on the last Saturday of the month in Ashland and the first Saturday of the month at Mansfield Senior High; people can drive up and receive help in the form of produce and food. If you are looking to volunteer too, please come just before 8am.

I am reading an excellent book about making a difference. I encourage everyone to read it. In a few months, I would like to put together an adult RE book read of it: Soul of a Citizen; Living with conviction in challenging times, by Paul Rogat Loeb. It is offering to me inspiration and hope, while also offering practicality.

In it the author quotes philosopher and theologian Cornel West, “A rich life is fundamentally a life of serving others, trying to leave the world a little better than you found it…. This is true at the personal level… [but there’s also] a political version of this. It has to do with what you see when you get up in the morning and look in the mirror and ask yourself whether you are simply wasting time on the planet or spending time in an enriching manner.”

As March rolls out spring and melts the winter away, I hope you find ways to connect, and serve, and enrich the lives of others and others might offer the same for you. As the daffodils pop up, I pray that you can experience the Love
that holds us together.

Peace,
— Rev. Will

Dear Friends,

I hope February finds you in peace and love and purpose! In this lovely month, I hope you can pause to appreciate all of the different types of love in your life. With Valentine’s Day, we typically focus on romantic love (Greek: ‘eros love’), but with Galentine’s Day, we fellowship focusing on friendship love
(Greek: ‘philia love’). In families we experience love (greek: ‘storgē love’). And, through Black History Month and when we engage in Justice work we love (Greek: ‘agape love’).

Thinking about where we are geographically, and our love of that (Spanish:  querencia love’) and the belonging-sort-of-love we might experience (Old Welsh: ‘cynefin love’). Sometimes we experience the feeling of connection that just seems to work instantly as if fate intervened with a friend or partner (Chinese: ‘yuán fèn’ love). And, perhaps we seek spiritually a transcendent love (Pali: ‘metta loving kindness’).

I think about our connection—through, in and among all things—within this wide lens of love, I can’t help but hope. I hope for our neighbors and communities, and I hope for the connection we cultivate in each other as a church—listening and responding to each other on this search for meaning and purpose. I hope for the difference we can and do make in each other’s lives and the Justice work we accomplish to help our communities and our world.

I pray that each of you experience love in so many multifaceted ways.
— Rev. Will