Several years ago, when I first became a candidate for trustee, I have to admit that one of my first concerns was "OhmyGosh! What if I have to preach a sermon!" Now that the day has arrived, it's just as humbling as anticipated.
In preparation, I looked up the words preach and sermon. Did you know that The American Heritage Dictionary offers as one of its definitions of the verb to preach: "to give religious or moral instruction, especially in a tedious manner?" Further, one of its definitions of sermon is "an often lengthy and tedious speech of reproof?" This was not heartening news.
Though I don't know if it were true for you, in fact, those definitions did characterize some of the preaching from my childhood. However, I will try to follow three important preaching traditions at All Souls: affirmation, rather than reproof; experience, rather than revelation; and brevity - with perhaps a dash of levity - rather than tedium. In fact, when talking recently to my nonagenarian father, he suggested that there is no such thing as a too short sermon. Another preaching tradition, but one that I will leave to the professionals, is to change the sermon topic at the last minute in light of current events. The Lay Sunday Service was recently rescheduled for Martin Luther King Sunday. While not writing a new sermon, I must offer a tribute to Dr. King, whose fight for justice was so eloquently espoused, so fearlessly sought and so tragically ended.
So. What about "Life in the Village of All Souls." I'd like to tell you a story. Perhaps one like yours. When my six-year-old daughter, Katie and I arrived at All Souls more than a dozen years ago, it was with no thought of my own participation in this community. I was a long way from seeking a spiritual journey with a group of like-minded souls. As a parent, I was just "doing the right thing" by introducing Katie to religious education. I didn't choose All Souls because I was a Unitarian. I really didn't know more than the name implied. I just no longer believed in Christian Trinitarian theology and would have been uncomfortable in the hypocritical position of taking Katie to the Episcopal Church of mv childhood. This is why I had been married here and why Katie was dedicated here. At that latter time, Forrest invited us to come back when she started school. He said, "We have children, too, and are committed to growing our religious education program here at All Souls." When we returned and met Mary Ella, who was then the RE Director, and Margie, her first teacher and pageant director, I somehow knew that Katie was in the right place. Some weeks later, there was a Parents' Association meeting. At the time, while I did not do churches, I certainly did Parents' Associations - schools, after-schools, sports, theater. So I the meeting, volunteered to make a few phone calls and found myself a class parent.
About the same time, there was a request for volunteers for the Saturday meal delivery to the homebound elderly. I was very grateful to have both my parents in good health and leading active lives in their retirement. They also had the means and foresight to be on a list for a future residence in the local senior community. So, even though my brother in Texas and I in New York were 1,000 miles away, we always knew that our parents would be cared for; not alone. In addition, there are few opportunities for young children and their parents to volunteer together. Katie and I signed up to visit with three or four elderly neighbors one Saturday per month.
I began attending the worship service - tentatively, not every Sunday. Heard the splendid music - relaxed, a little. Listened to the readings - opened my mind, a crack. Went to adult education - was excited by the diversity of ideas. Considered the sermons - took some actions, haltingly.
Just that simply, I entered into this community where deeds, not creeds, were significant. There were no high hurdles to jump over. From the outset All Souls gently shaped the strongest foundation for my life here - the pyramid of worship, service, and fellowship.
At this juncture, you might well ask, "All right, nice story. What's your point? My point is transformation - the apex of that pyramid. Did I know that back then. Not likely. One of the more interesting aspects of life in the village of All Souls is not what is required of us, but the opportunities that are offered to us. I think that the Jewish and Christian traditions emphasize the wrong side of the coin when they characterize worship of God and service to others by deprivation and sacrifice. From Abraham to Jesus, we are told that God demands that we be willing to give up something to demonstrate our devotion.
Yet, when we serve food to those who are hungry, work to advocate change for children who are impoverished, write a check to fulfill a pledge - are we giving up something? When we stop smoking or overeating, take the time to really listen to a friend or family member, or resist contributing juicy tidbits to office gossip - is this sacrifice? I don't particularly feel the pinch of deprivation or the obligation of duty. I think we've learned that these occasions are opportunities. Opportunities for service to others, of course; but equally important, they provide opportunities for ourselves as well - as important, it turns out, to personal development and furfillment, as adult education is to the intellectual, music to the aesthetic, fellowship to the psychological and worship to the spiritual.
This shift in the feeling or perception of service from scarcity to abundance is an important aspect of our lives here. The open heart.
Now, what about Forrest's metaphor of the light refracted through the individual panes of glass - one light, many windows. Never has it been made so easy to consider different points of view without assuming a defensive posture.
As I participated in the worship service for a while, I began to affirm some notion of God, because I stopped confusing God with theology, creeds or rituals. It also became clearer that neither the name nor the nature of God was a critical issue for my belief. Rather, the environment here at All Souls nurtured my comfort with a belief in something both within me and outside of me.
We all know that wonderfully joyful song, "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine." It doesn't say, I'm going to make it shine. It suggests to me that to the degree that I get out of my own way, the light of me will shine all by itself.
That is similar to what I have found here at All Souls. If I listen to the music, the readings, the prayers and sermons, I am guided naturally into the light of illumination, the light of lighter-hearted and the light of lighten-up. The open heart and mind.
The miraculous transformation in the life of ordinary me is that I have been able to take with me the open heart and open mind of All Souls into my family, jobs, *iendships and activities. I am a different parent, colleague, humorist, daughter, worker, friend, writer, volunteer, woman. How does this happen?
Each time I hear the charge to parents during the Dedication Ceremony- "this child has come into the world at your invitation and not her own. May you be equal to the promise that is hers" - I am moved. Sometimes to tears, sometimes to smiles, but always with a renewed sense of commitment- not to aim futilely at the goal of super parent or perfect parent, but at the attainable objective of a-little-bit better parent.
When I attend the service presented by the high school seminar and listen to the students as they stand here and read the homilies that are bursting with their experiences, I am astonished by their honesty, courage and hope. Sometimes my
inspiration leads me to look at my part in a troubled relationship, face a fear, make a decision.
The hearts of the All Souls volunteers must-be oh-so large. I don't want to embarrass you by singling you out, nor do I wish to exclude any of you - the dozens and dozens of volunteers with whom I have had the privilege to serve over the years. I will leave that listing to Volunteer Recognition Sunday. It is your devotion that has moved me. Whether you serve food to our hungry neighbors, teach our children, or advocate in the community for justice - you provide a model that I ean follow by extending myself.
We are a congregational ehureh in more than polity. With great respect to the unique ministerial leadership at All Souls, the Lay Sunday Serviee celebrates the spirit and contribution of every member of this congregation.
At the Congregational Budget Meeting, you will learn about the financial condition of All Souls and have the opportunity to vote on the operating budget for 1999. One week later at the Annual Meeting you will be able to read the reports of all the committees who so ably eonduet the business of the church, hear the reports from our gifted ministers and elect three new trustees to the Board. I trust that on both occasions you will be as pleased as I am about the institutionalcondition of All Souls.
Today, I can report that for this member of the congregation, life in the Village of All Souls has never been better, no matter where I am or what I'm doing. I am one soul within All Souls And All Souls is within me. Thank you. Copyright AllSouls 1999.