Things are really beginning to buzz around UCE and I don’t just mean the cicadas. The staff is gearing up for the new church year after the somewhat slower pace of congregational life in the summer. I’m thinking back to how it felt last August when we were just returning to the building after such a long and difficult time of uncertainty and isolation. This August a renewed sense of possibility fills the air and I am imaging a year of thriving.
Kathy is working hard to coordinate adult leaders for the children’s programming. Susan is lining up our hospitality teams and providing leadership to the many social justice teams. Sandra is wrapping up Capital Campaign projects with volunteers and securing rentals. Liz and Steven are sprucing up the building, and Vickie is selecting choir music. I’m planning worship services and other programs, and we’re all looking forward to our new Office Administrator who will begin on Monday. His name is David Carling and we’ll be orienting him to take the place of Jessica Meis, whose last day was July 28th. We miss Jessica already but are looking forward to welcoming David to our community. Office hours at UCE will be more regular now; Monday through Friday 10:30 am -4:30 pm.
Amidst the excitement and anticipation of the fast-approaching fall, there is still an avalanche of hard work and difficult realities to face. I want us all to remember to pace ourselves and resist the sense of urgency that can sometimes drive us to over function in an unhealthy way. We are all still processing the trauma of the pandemic and the endless barrage of crises that have and continue to confront us every day.
My husband and child recently saw a fabulous production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Cadillac Palace Theatre and, though I wasn’t able to attend, I’ve been re-listening to the soundtrack. Such is the power of live theatre that just hearing the show described, it has transformed me (non-subtle plug for this Sunday’s service).
Though I don’t often quote Jesus, I’m thinking of his words to Judas after he asked why Mary Magdalene was putting such expensive anointing oil on Jesus’ feet instead of giving the money to the poor. “She alone has tried to give me what I need right here and now,” sings the superstar Jesus. The less rock ‘n roll, Jesus of the bible said, “the poor will always be with us.” These seemingly callous remarks might also be understood as a reminder that the struggle continues and always will. We must also, in the midst of struggle, find ways to love and accept love, to feel joy and provide comfort for one another. We will not fix the world or heal all that is broken without tending to our own spirits.
I’m reading a book right now titled, How To Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy by Jenny Odell. In it she talks about the importance of stillness and self-care. It speaks to the message of Audrey Lorde who said, “caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
Which is why we are focusing again this August on the transformative power of the arts. Because nourishing our spirits through the arts is transformative, empowering, and redemptive. Many of you mentioned how much you appreciated this past Sunday’s service on music. One of our new members, Lina Hilko, passed along information about a Choir! Choir! Choir! Event that’s coming up on September 23rd at Francis W. Parker School in Chicago. You’ll remember that our anthem featured one of these events with the song “I Can’t Keep Quiet,” by the artist MILCK. You can click on this link to register for the September Choir! Choir! Choir! event if you’re interested…at the risk of contradicting the “do nothing” message.
As we prepare to return to a fuller schedule of school, work, and church, after what I hope has been some restorative time with family and friends this summer, let’s keep remembering to pace ourselves, tend to our spirits, indulge in love of self, each other, our community, and our earth. True justice and good works can only spring from such love.
Yours in faith and service,
Eileen
Practicing Beloved Community at UCE 