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Last month, I spoke about our commitment to making room for all. We are theologically diverse and make room for many ways of being in this world. Our message is changing so many lives, that we are literally struggling on Sunday mornings to find room for all who come here in search of religious community. Our sanctuary is full, and sometimes parking is hard to find. I want to thank everyone who has responded to our request to sit further towards to the front of the sanctuary and to park in the back of our parking lot to make room for guests and latecomers. Your combined efforts have made a difference. Let's keep it up.
You will notice some changes in the next couple of weeks. We are going to increase the seating capacity in the sanctuary by setting up more metal chairs. We realize this is a temporary compromise, and there was talk at the November board meeting of having a pre-Christmas fundraiser to purchase more upholstered chairs. We decided that at this time of the year it is more important to serve those outside our community than to focus on our own comfort. In the next month, our Sunday collections will go to the 100 Neediest Cases, a local fund for struggling families. We will commit ourselves to filling the red wheelbarrow in the vestibule with food for the local foodbank every single Sunday. We have adopted a family of seven and will provide them food and clothing for the month of December. On the last Sunday before Christmas and at the Christmas Eve service, our collection will go to the Minister's Discretionary Fund, which is available for people in our congregation who are struggling to make ends meet. If you find the metal chairs terribly uncomfortable, we encourage you to arrive early or to bring a cushion so that you can truly be present to the worship service.
We are setting a larger table in other ways. You will notice that on occasion there are two classes offered for adults during the Religious Education Hour. In the past there has only been one. Our numbers are growing, which becomes more has become possible. This has been challenging for some as it feels like we are dividing rather than coming together as a community. For some it is difficult to choose between the two classes because saying "yes" to one means saying "no" to another, sitting with some and not sitting with others. Growth is rewarding. It is also hard and always involves loss. Living our mission means saying yes to something bigger, but that always means saying no to ways that we have outgrown, and good-byes are often hard.
It is good to remember that we are moving into a season of abundance. The sunshine is less every day, and yet our homes will shimmer with beautiful holiday lights, more every night. During the Winter Solstice, fires will blaze to remind us of the coming sun. During Hanukah, the temple flame remains miraculously lit for eight days even though there is only one night's supply of oil. When no room is found at the inn, Mary and Joseph are welcomed in to a lowly stable and their son is greeted by angels, shepherds, and wisemen.
Celebrate the abundance, and let's not let fear keep us from embracing it and nourishing its sacred possibility.
In love and hope, Rev. Krista.
We invite you to read sermons delivered by Rev. Taves at Emerson, in particular, you may wish to learn more about Unitarian Universlist Theology through a series of sermons Rev. Taves delivered at Emerson Chapel during early 2009.
For more about Unitarian Universalism, check out this link: Visitors to UUism and if you like what you've seen here, and on our website, we hope that you will come be our guest this next Sunday morning.
For a concise summary of the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism, click here.