Remembering Gordon McKeeman
The Rev. James Ford remembers the Rev. Gordon McKeeman, who died this week.
Gordon taught that everything was a miracle.
Universalism.
He pointed to the holy.
A Universalism ancient of days, and as bright and new as our most recent breath.
And Gordon told us just exactly where we could find it.
Exactly.
Here.
Right here. (Monkey Mind, December 19)
The Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern writes that McKeeman was “a kind of spiritual grandfather to me: a mentor and teacher to many of my mentors and teachers.”
My conviction that ministry (from the Latin for “service”) is not the private domain of a small number of professionals, but something we all do together, clergy and laity, arose from my own experience, but it was McKeeman who gave it words. (Sermons in Stones, December 19)
Winter Celebrations
Christine Organ wanted to write a lovely post about the beauties of this season—but instead wrote how she really feels: she hates winter!
[Maybe] Grace isn’t found in pretending the dark and cold times aren’t exactly what they are – hard and difficult. Maybe Grace comes from a simple acknowledgement that “THIS SUCKS,” followed by a deep breath and the inherent understanding that, for better or worse, this too shall pass. (Christine Organ, December 19)
The Rev. Fred Hammond objects to a proposed state law in Alabama that would educate students about “traditional” winter celebrations.
Focusing on the “traditional” elevates the esteem of those who follow the “traditional” faith and it demeans those who do not follow that faith simply by the absence of teaching about them. If on the other hand, all of these winter celebrations were to be taught and not just the Christian celebrations, then this act could be seen as an attempt at teaching multi-cultural appreciation which would strengthen Alabama’s acceptance of people whose cultural and religious backgrounds are different than the “traditional.” But I suspect this is not the case. (A Unitarian Universalist Minister in the South, December 18)
Robin Bartlett writes that Unitarian Universalists should celebrate the incarnational theology of Christmas.
[Christmas] is a Unitarian Universalist holiday because whether or not we believe in a supernatural God, a Godly Jesus, or that God’s banner over us is love, we Unitarian Universalists are humanists, and Jesus was the ultimate humanist. Jesus believed in the human capacity to love the hell out of this world. And if we truly believe that we are alone down here, then we better get at it, ’cause no big man in the sky’s gonna do it for us. (RE at UUAC Sherborn, December 19)
Kristen Coyne tells a charming story about her daughter’s faith in Santa being restored by the gift of a “Christmas Menorah.” (TallahasseeUU, December 16)
The Rev. Dan Harper shares two fun Christmas carol adaptations—“God Rest Ye Unitarians” and “Jingle Coins.” (Yet Another Unitarian Universalist, December 16 and 17)
Doug Stowe suggests a few Christmas gifts for increasing children’s capacity for creativity. (Wisdom of the Hands, December 15)
On the anniversary of the Newtown shootings, the Rev. Jeff Liebmann urges us to honor the Christ-child by protecting children from gun violence.
So when you go to your church to honor the babe, pray silently for the 20 lost children, who will never know another Christmas with their families. But come home and scream, “Why?” Go forth and demand that America put down the sword and pass sensible gun legislation. Shout until your voice cracks and your throat grows hoarse so that no family must endure this pain again. (uujeff’s muse kennel and pizzatorium, December 14)
Conversations
The first generation of UU bloggers often engaged in conversation with each other through their blog posts; while the current UU blogosphere is less interconnected, such conversations do still occur.
Jordinn Nelson Long accepts the season’s invitation to rest and quiet.
For a brief time, I will rest my mind and my feet. For this quiet interval, I will leave those sleeping dragons where they lie.
For a short season, let me be still. (Raising Faith, December 19)
Mandie McGlynn echoes her friend’s words about the season.
Friends, the winter holidays are the season of joy and peace and love! But as Jordinn finally remembered, it’s also the season of darkness and quiet. . . . So when weariness crashes through you, when you are overwhelmed by all there is to do, give yourself permission and space to experience those feelings for which we are so often shamed by the social contract at this time of year. Rather than pushing through or pushing away your sorrow, let it be a reminder to stop a moment and rest. To breathe.
The dawn is breaking soon, I promise you, but it will come in its own time. When that new and glorious morning finally arrives, it will be clear and bright, and you will recognize its beauty all the more because you’ve held your darkness close. (Mandie McGlynn, December 19)
Last week’s post by the Rev. Joanna Fontaine Crawford prompts the Rev. Kent Hemmen-Saleska to think about his own practices of wearing clerical robes and collars.
There *is* a local coffee shop I go to every Thursday for my “writing and study” day…but I’ve never worn my collar or stole *just* for *those* mundane days. For the past seven years I’ve served this church I’ve worn a robe when I preach – which is something I never thought I’d do – maybe I’ll start wearing a collar to the coffee shop on “mundane” days too? (Moving in Faith, December 13)
The Red Pill Brethren (of which Crawford is a member) had a stimulating conversation about clerical collars. (The Red Pill Brethren, December 19)
Andy Coate writes about another coffeeshop where religion and welcome go hand-in-hand.
[Tonight] I walked in and snagged a table, asking somebody quickly if they’d keep an eye on my stuff while I ordered. I walked to the counter and the barista said “Hey, Andrew. How’s Jesus-school?” and we chatted for a second or two. I sat down, untied the boots I’d been wearing all day, and opened my computer. There was a Queer Polyamorous Womens Meetup happening next to me and the conversation was hilarious and so, so fitting for where I was. (thoughts ON, December 12)
Tim Atkins replies to last week’s post by Christine Slocum. “Yes,” he writes, “the wolf has inherent worth and dignity.”
If a wolf appears in a congregation . . . and the wolf has begun to threaten the safety of the entire community, then we hold them to covenant or respectfully ask them to leave the community, as they can no longer uphold the covenant. . . .
You can acknowledge their inherent worth and dignity while letting go of further interaction. It’s not a contradiction of faith – it’s living up to our covenantal faith. (Spirituality and Sunflowers, December 13)
Where do we belong?
The Rev. Dan Harper no longer sees the benefit of membership in the Unitarian Universalist Ministers’ Association—and his congregation’s leadership agrees.
[B]efore taking this step, of course I consulted with the Committee on Ministry and the Board of Trustees of the congregation I serve, as well as my ministerial colleague in the congregation. The Committee on Ministry’s response was instructive: one member of the committee said something to the effect of, why would you want to belong to a professional organization that doesn’t meet your professional needs? The Committee didn’t seem to think the choice was as tough as I did. (Yet Another Unitarian Universalist, December 18)
The Rev. Dan Schatz has figured out a key difference between the Sunday Assemblies and Unitarian Universalism.
In the Sunday Assemblies . . . diversity of viewpoints is something that might exist but isn’t talked about, assumptions go unchallenged, and everything is kept very, very safe. . . . But I need a community that will help me make meaning through the tough times of life, that will challenge me to think as well as feel, and that will help me grow as a person. That’s why I’m a Unitarian Universalist. (The Song and the Sigh, December 18)
See you next year
The offices of the UUA (including UU World) are closed from Tuesday December 24 through Wednesday, January 1. There will be no Interdependent Web post next Friday. See you on Friday, January 4!