Telling Our Story

Happy New Year, Beloveds!

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.” ~ Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” ~George Santayana

“History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” ~ David McCullough

“There is properly no history, only biography.” ~Ralph Waldo Emmerson

These often-heard aphorisms remind us to pay attention to our past so we can move into the future as the people we want to be. Along with some of you, I read Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter most days, and she often draws parallels between the events of the past and the challenges we face today. Her reflections sometimes tell how far things have advanced, and also how none of what we’re experiencing is untethered to the past.

As difficult as it is to stay grounded in this present moment, with our nervous systems on constant high alert (maybe that’s just me?) it can be helpful to turn our attention to the emergent possibilities found in our shared stories. We are not doomed to repeat history if we can courageously, honestly, and humbly explore it and talk about it.

Telling our story, as Unitarian Universalists and as a congregation, helps us to know who we are. And knowing who we are as a faith, and a community, helps us to act upon the values that have arisen from our history. Over centuries, we have endured many challenges. We have learned hard lessons as a faith and as a congregation. We have grown and transformed through hardship and loss. Throughout our story we have become stronger, more resilient, and more committed to our mission. And the story is ongoing.

Our collective future will be lived by our young people and so we need to share what we can of our history and our values with our children. Kathy Underwood and I have met with youth and parents in our congregation in the past few months to gather feedback about how we’re doing as a congregation in terms of meeting the needs of families of young children. Part of what we’ve heard is a desire to learn more about our values and our history. Parents and youth want to know what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist and how our faith can equip us to engage more powerfully in the world today.

Toward that end, I hope you will consider participating in a few upcoming opportunities for learning and conversation:

UU History Class: registration link

Kathy Underwood, our Director of Lifespan Faith Formation, Dan Solomon, Bob Mesle, and I will be offering a four-part UU History class on Wednesday evenings in January for adults and youth 12 years and older. We’re using a well-crafted curriculum out of First Unitarian Church of Dallas, that explores our history through the stories of some well-known and lesser-known forebears. The final Wednesday class will focus specifically on the history of our UCE congregation.

Name Change Conversations with the Board: registration link

The Board of Trustees will be hosting four conversations about the possibility of changing the name of our congregation. Whether you feel attached to our name or are excited about changing it, we want to provide everyone the opportunity to weigh in on what’s being proposed and why. No decisions have been made. We will move forward, whatever we decide, as a whole congregation. I am hopeful we can have an open-hearted and open-minded conversation and come to a decision that will help us all more fully and proudly proclaim our shared values and identity. Please plan to join us at one of these sessions:

• Tuesday, January 20 (virtual) 7-8 pm
• Monday, January 26 (virtual) 7-8 pm
• Sunday, February 1st 12:00-1 pm (room 6 in-person) 
• Saturday, Feb 7th (virtual) 10 -11 am 

As the façades of security and comfort crack, as the institutions we have relied on fail, as familial bonds and friendships rupture, we can, and we will, continue to grow in our understanding of who we are as a faith community, where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. And we will grow in our capacity to live with courage, strength and commitment, faithful to our shared values of love, justice, and transformation.

Grateful to be on the journey with you,

Rev. Eileen