COMMUNITY AND MEMBERSHIP by Greg Grallo (June 1, 2014) Today is the annual meeting for the UUFM and a new member ceremony. It is always wonderful when individuals choose to become members of a community; it is an outward expression of an inward movement towards a connection to something larger than oneself. The ceremony is simple; we come forward and state our name as we write in the UUFM book. The book itself contains names of individuals who have moved away or passed away; of those who have started the Fellowship as well as those that have continued to build it. There are wedding and memorial dates contained in here, too. It is a collection of changes and transformations and milestones. It is much like trying to capture a changing river on the page; today some will choose to be formally recognized as contributing to this stream of individuals. And that recognition allows one to both assume a new identity as well as to rest in the comfort of the larger community. But there are things that are not recorded in the book that are just as important to the health and development of the Fellowship. The times friends and members visited sick individuals in the hospital or cleaned the homes of deceased members is not recorded. The arguments over the direction of the Fellowship and the “correct” way to grow is not written down. The volunteers who lead the services, provide food and drink, welcome newcomers and participate in committees are not found in the book. Being in community together is so much more than membership alone. Membership is necessary for the Fellowship to continue, but it is not sufficient. For the Fellowship to develop, we must examine what it means to be in community. Many individuals become a part of communities in search of a connection to something larger than the sum of the parts. We might identify with a group of like-minded people who share a political view or other worldview. We might feel overwhelmed with the suffering in the world and join with others to ease the burden of responsibility. We might have learned over time that self-reflection is helpful, but by definition we are unable to see perspectives that we are not aware of and participating in community allows us to see with fresh eyes. Unitarian Universalism is unique in that not only are varied viewpoints welcomed, but difference and exploration are the foundations of UU. In some ways becoming a Unitarian Universalist is the opposite of joining a club; it is an expression of openness, exploration and pluralism. We are tied together by the Seven Principles, but those are guidelines and aspirations rather than a creed or statement of belief. But like many spiritual communities, we believe in bringing our ideas out of our minds and into our hearts and hands. Many members are actively engaged in our larger community and breathe life into the principles through their actions. Some individuals support Family Promise as we assist other congregations in providing care for homeless families; some are arrested in giving human voice to non-human ecosystems; some diligently visit homebound members and offer support; and some work behind the scenes so that our Sunday services are fresh and engaging. When many people first come to UUFM, they come from traditions and experiences of “religion” that were harmful and painful. Others come because of a desire for spirituality in their lives and curiosity about exploring new ways of seeing the world. Many people who come to the Fellowship stay for a time, but eventually drift away. One idea about this is that initially UUFM is a balm to old hurts and there is excitement in investigating new ideas. But eventually, the novelty wears off and we begin to wish that the community would deepen. It is at this point that a shift happens; if the community doesnt deepen, some individuals start looking elsewhere for that original feeling that occurred initially. Or we might have the insight that we are part of the community and it is not the role of the community to carry us along anymore; rather, it is our turn to enrich the community. This enrichment can happen in many forms; for some it is simply a renewed commitment to attending the Sunday services. For some it is a desire to assume a leadership role or to become a participant in a committee or study group. But for an individual who makes the shift from being carried by the community to supporting the Fellowship, one thing is consistent; we begin to bring the community with us wherever we go, in our hearts, minds and hands. It is for this reason that spiritual development coincides with community development. We begin to see our service to the development of the Fellowship as a spiritual practice. UUFM is not a social justice organization, though we take a stand where there is injustice; it is a spiritual community. The beauty is, we dont have to agree on what spirituality is; we are able to experience it in our own unique way. I have commented before that one of UUFMs struggles is that there is no unifying spiritual practice, no common way of engaging ourselves outside of group meetings. Buddhists use meditation and mindfulness; Abrahamic religions use prayer and other rituals. UUs do have something, though, that has been here all along. UUs are dedicated to building a caring, just and open community, not just here amongst ourselves, but everywhere we go. It is this simple practice that we can engage in immediately. When we enter the building on Sunday morning, we can use this place and this group of people as a microcosm for what we wish to create in the world. Getting a cup of tea for someone can take on the form of spiritual practice. Welcoming someone new to the community, whether in greeting before the service or in conversation afterwards can become spiritual practice. We can cultivate genuine warmth and sincerity with one another so that when we are challenged outside (or even inside!) the community we have something to fall back into. And most importantly we learn to show up, to arrive and let our bodies give voice to our commitments. In this way our Seven Principles become unique and alive in each of us. Membership asks of us that we contribute to the Fellowship with our time, energy and our material resources. We place little requirement on contribution and most who choose to become members today have already been contributing. Whether or not membership is calling you today, please consider supporting the Fellowship in any way that you are able. On Wednesday we were discussing community and the phrase, “See a need, fill a need” came up. Rather than waiting to see who will take care of something, be the person to take care of it. Now as we have shared our time and journey together, let us recognize and honor the story that is Unitarian Universalism. Two streams reaching back through history met more than fifty years ago and have continued beautifully throughout that time. When we have been immersed in the waters of caring community and thoughtful examination of the world, we are moved to stand up and formally say, “Yes!” to the principles and commitments of Unitarian Universalism in general and UUFM specifically. At this time, we will welcome anyone who wishes to come forward and pledge their continued commitment to UUFM and to living in a way that creates a just and beautiful world for ourselves and future generations.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Jul 2014 01:44:52 +0000
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