On the week of the anniversary of my call as your minister, I was heartened, moved and comforted by your singing, hugs and support at the end of last week’s service. After a couple of intense months of ministry and loss in our congregation, it is good to be reminded that we’re in this together. If you didn’t get to see it, you can find it at the end of the service.
Some of you asked about the scenario that Benjie and I described. While it is a practice I have often seen in AME (African Methodist Episcopalian churches), it actually happened at a Unitarian Universalist Congregation. After the expelling of Justin Pearson and Justin Jones from the Tennessee State House last month, Justin Pearson preached at our UU church on Easter morning. The entire service is worth viewing as it is a master class in building partnerships, trying new things and responding to the moment when it calls.
As I have said many times, our ministry is shared. It is not my ministry alone; it belongs to all of us. That means caring for each other, the fiduciary responsibility, being of service in the community, building relationships, marking milestones, protecting each other and bearing witness to the complexities of living in this remarkable time. I’m honored to get to share this ministry with you.