[printprofilepic]In May of 1961, the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America formally consolidated into the Unitarian Universalist Association at a joint General Assembly in Boston, electing their first president and putting into effect the plan for consolidation approved by both denominations one year earlier. We have been, since that time, the little church that could—a denomination that made up in conviction and in action for what it lacked in sheer numbers. For fifty years, Unitarian Universalism has stood out ahead of the curve on many of the great moral issues of our times: civil rights, women’s rights, LGBT rights; all in the name of the dignity of all people and a world made fair and just.
In June of 2011, thousands of Unitarian Universalists from around the country and around the world will gather in Charlotte, North Carolina to celebrate the 50th General Assembly as a consolidated faith. Jess and I, along with Mike and KokHeong McNaughton, and Felicia Orth, will represent our congregation at this year’s Assembly. It is always a thrill to stand among so many of our UU brothers and sisters and learn how we are putting our faith into action nationwide. I always come home with at least one or two good ideas for our own community here in Los Alamos. This year, if I come away with nothing else, I hope to learn this: What do the next fifty years hold for this little denomination that could?
I think the answer may lie with our Ware Lecturer this year, the marvelous Karen Armstrong, who for the last several years has been speaking on behalf of the Charter for Compassion [charterforcompassion.org]. The Charter reads, in part: “We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.”
Compassion—literally “to suffer with”—is a powerful word. It is a word that forces us to cease seeing ourselves as the center of the universe, but as a small part of something larger—forces us to cease acting as though we are the star of our own show, but rather bit players in a much grander drama. If I were to sum up our much beloved Principles into one word, that word would be Compassion.
In the next fifty years, may we—the faith whose convictions outweigh its numbers—be the force for compassion that this world so desperately needs.
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The church enters into a more relaxed schedule this month, with a single service at 10 a.m. We have several great guest speakers lined up to present our services. My thanks go out to the members of the Worship and Forum Committees for the work they’ve already put in to this summer’s worship schedule. If you enjoy the services over these next few months, be sure to thank George & Mary Hrbek, TJ Ulrich, Mia McLeod, Ann Shafer, Felicia Orth, Evan Rose, Sherry Hardage, and Stephanie Richard.
In late July, I’ll be back with another round of “Summer Blockbusters.” We’ll kick things off with Up on July 17th and Up in the Air on July 31st. Please keep your eye on the announcements e-mail list for more information as the services approach.
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I’ll be on vacation beginning June 6th and will return to the office on July 11th, with a week back “on duty”—so to speak—from the 22nd to the 26th as I go to work at General Assembly, beginning my tenure on the UUA’s Commission on Appraisal. I’m also thrilled to be celebrating my entry into final fellowship as a minister at this year’s Service of the Living Tradition. I’ll be shooting plenty of video again this year to present you with another visual report in September.
I’ll be in the office in the weeks leading up to the Blockbuster sermons, and taking a few weeks of study leave here and there to finish preparations for the fall.
De Anna Hoyle, our new Director of Lifespan Religious Education, will be joining us in mid-July, and I look forward to helping her get settled in here at the church (look for an introduction from De Anna herself later on in this issue).
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My collection of sermons, Your Life Is a Gospel, is now available for lend at the Mesa Library and for sale at Otowi Station. Kindle users will be able to get electronic copies via Amazon before the next issue of the Voice is mailed out.
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I wish you all a peaceful June and July.
See you (later) in church!
Rev. John Cullinan
