My Kind of Town

Dear Friends,

I need your help. If we work together, we can stamp out a rare but harmful malady, congraphobia, the fear of congregational meetings.
The most frequent symptom is being somewhere else. This seems to be caused by anxiety about hearing opinions expressed which you do not share, by the same persons who always seem to have opinions you do not share, and who state them in ways that are sometimes a bit negative and self-righteous.
Sadly, if left untreated, congraphobia can result in those who are prone to abrasive unhappiness being virtually the ONLY people who come to forums and town hall-style gatherings.

I don’t think that is the situation here at First Church, but an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure. My kind of town hall meeting, the kind I think is in store on January 31,
– is convened in a spirit of a loving community and shared purpose;
– has as its goal active listening and learning.
– is never intimidated or dominated by its most opinionated participants.
– relies on those of good will and open mind to participate fully.
– is not anxious about differences of opinion (which are seldom fatal) and concludes with participants having a direct experience of what our recent guest Dr. Judit Gellérd has taught us: We need not think alike to love alike.

See you at the meeting.

Best,
David

We Need Not Think Alike

Dear Friends,

As if First Church had not had enough excitement of late, a whirlwind of energy and enlightenment is headed your way. Perhaps you thought that after Thandeka led a spiritual awakening, there would be a time of calm. Not likely.

Dr. Judit Gellérd, energy personified, arrives in the pulpit Sunday and leads exceptional classes that afternoon and on Monday and Tuesday.

How can I begin to tell you about ‘Zizi’, as Dr. Gellérd is known to her multitude of friends around the world? She has given such gifts to liberal religion, including the now frequently quoted expression of our faith: “We need not think alike to love alike.” Yes, it is a translation from the sixteenth century founder of Hungarian Unitarianism, Francis David, but it was Judit Gellérd who discovered this gem and gave it to us gift wrapped in language we can cherish.

I met Zizi more than twenty years ago, shortly after she had married an American professor of Asian religion and immigrated to California. With the oldest Unitarian churches in the world, those of her native Transylvania, threatened by the bulldozers of a mad Romanian dictator, Zizi flew into action, organizing sister church relationships that played a big role in saving Unitarian villages and bringing new hope to a troubled land.

She is a medical doctor with a specialty in psychiatry, an accomplished violinist, and after completing theological studies with mentor Ellie Wiesel, was ordained to the ministry by the Unitarian Church of Transylvania in 2002. She is an amazing woman who travels the world raising consciousness of our global connections, introducing people and congregations to one another, and inspiring young and old to ‘love alike.’

Most important to me, I suppose, is that Zizi changed my life, transformed me by way of inspiration and introduction. Be advised that she might change yours as well.

****

In more traditional churches, and even here, many must be asking: When much of Haiti was leveled and tens of thousands died, where was God? My answer is that God is present in the outpouring of compassion from all around the world, including here at First Church, where the collection for Haiti relief last Sunday was more than $8,000. It is good to be a part of this community, moved by the spirit of the holy.

Best,
David

Happy Birthday Simpsons

Dear Friends,

It seemed odd to me when I read in the worship bulletin one Sunday at a church I served in California that the chancel flowers were dedicated “To My Parents, Homer & Marge, from Lisa.”

Must be a joke, I thought. But not at all. Matt Groening, creator of “The Simpsons” and alter ego Bart, grew up attending Unitarian religious education classes, and some members of his family continue to be active in our churches, including Lisa, who co¬chaired the R.E. committee.

As The New York Times noted last week, The Simpsons deftly blends highbrow humor with slapstick cartoon antics, social satire, irony, parody, and political commentary. Each summer, here at First Church, the middle school-age youth eagerly anticipate the much-loved Gospel According to the Simpsons curriculum featuring episodes as springboards for discussions about greed, racial and sexual equality, and the social and political implications of what we buy and eat.

And so I join in the 20th anniversary celebration this week of the television version of The Simpsons by reflecting on the creativity our religious education program may well be fostering in our children and youth. Not all our children will grow up to be famous cartoonists, nor president of the United States, nor legendary journalists (Barack Obama attended Sunday School at the First Unitarian Church of Honolulu; Walter Cronkite here at First Church), but wonderful things do happen in their classes where love trumps dogma and creativity and critical thinking are encouraged.

None of it could happen without the many, many volunteers who give so much of themselves to our children and youth. You are invited to join in a salute at the Teacher Appreciation Dinner starting at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 23 in Channing Hall. It’s a pot luck, and more information will gladly be given if you email your request to natalie@firstuu.org.

Bart Simpson writes on the blackboard during the birthday episode of the long-running show, “The world may end in 2012, but this show won’t,” which we might adapt as, “Our R.E. students may grow up and their classes end, but the contributions made to their lives by their volunteer teachers never will.”

Best,
David

The Year of Sharpening the Saw

Dear Friends,

Extending Stephen Covey’s habits of effective people to organizations, I look back on 2009 at First Church and see a year when many here stepped up and “sharpened the saw.” As Covey puts it, you pursued “a balanced program for self-renewal.”

Before crafting beautiful new things, it is wise to care for the tools to be used—hence, sharpening the saw. And so it was that First Church tended to governance, finance, succession planning, systems analysis, and the careful creation of a process for searching for a new senior minister.

Consultants came from far and wide to advise and encourage the sharpening.

Jan Gartner taught ‘Radical Hospitality’ and short term strategic planning.

Mark Slegers, director of the hugely successful music program at First Unitarian in Portland, Oregon, reviewed the program here and recommended new directions. The appointment of Jason Oby as music director followed.

Stefan Jonasson, UUA director of large church services, conducted workshops on policy governance, and Joe Sullivan, a great local resource, followed up with governance training for the Board—all toward introducing a way of doing things that encourages and invites wider participation, creativity, and effective ways of making a difference in people’s lives.

Your self-renewal included a new culture of generosity, with successful stewardship and fundraising, an ambitious spending plan, and about $60,000 given away—money leaving the church to do good in the world.

It was a year when the importance of First Church to Houston and to our wider liberal religious movement was underscored by the presence with us of, among others, mayoral candidate Annise Parker and new UUA President Peter Morales, and by the leadership devoted to the landmark International Convocation of UU Women.

It was a year when we welcomed literally hundreds of visitors to our worship services, and when we said goodbye to several key leaders. That so many visitors come seeking meaning and inspiration here means that all the saw-sharpening is toward a future where the need is clear. That key leaders have departed— Deborah Rothschild, Janice Collins and Connie Acosta moving away, Barbara Nelson to death—means volunteer energy and vision will very much be needed and treasured in the New Year.

Best,
David

New Year’s Wisdom Ancient and Modern

Dear Friends,

Two New Year’s Resolutions I commend to you. Both come to us from ancient wellsprings of faith.

One: “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy.” Some of us may recall this as a commandment, but would better receive it as a friendly suggestion for sanity and self-care. It is simply healthy to set aside one day each week for worship, spiritual quest, rest, recreation, and relationship. No church business, no electronic gadgets to separate us from ourselves and others, no frenzied shopping and running of errands. Sabbath.

Two: Tithe. It need not be taken literally, but rather resolve to be a generous giver, and decide now what proportion of your income you wish to give away. This is a spiritual practice that will ground you and feed your soul.

And if you are able, let me urge you to make a generous end-of-the year gift now to First Church. Some of you, I know, have stretched as far as possible to give all you can to support the work of this church; and I know that some of you could well afford an additional gift of one hundred, one thousand, or even several thousand dollars. Let me urge those of you who can to, right now, give on line. Or, write a check before the end of the year and drop it the offering basket on Sunday, or mail it to the church.

Speaking of this Sunday, you should know that you have a treat in store. Gini Courter, the Moderator of our Movement, is a powerful speaker. Don’t miss this opportunity to be with her.

With the rare and precious opportunity you have to worship and study theology with the Reverend Dr. Thandeka in the New Year in mind, allow me to share with you two simple statements of my own theology as encapsulated in my Christmas Eve invocation and message. They are below. If you were not able to be with us for the music, drama and candle glow of the evening, may these be small and far-from-adequate samples of a holy night. Happy New Year!

Best, David

Christmas Eve Invocation First Church Houston 2009

Welcome now to this church where we practice love beyond belief, and where there is always a place for you, and a need for you to join us if you can in transforming lives and our community.

Believing as we do in the noble things that humankind will do this coming year and in a multitude of new years to come, we gather without fearsome dogma or creed freely to embrace the truth and insights that come to us in story and symbol, in experience and in science.

This is a night for story—told in word and song. Our worship this evening was inspired by the Festival of Lessons and Carols introduced in the chapel of King’s College Cambridge at the close of the First World War. It was intended as a fresh expression for a Christmas Eve that would introduce a much needed and long-overdue era of peace on earth.

We have adapted the festival of lessons and carols to fit both our love for the Christmas story, AND our inclinations toward universality and inclusivity. Yet, it is hoped that we retain the spirit of the original—love born into a world in need of greater light, and of peace on earth.

May it then be our delight to hear the story anew. But first, let us pray for the needs of this whole world:

For a new spirit of goodwill and unity among nations, and among those we elect to govern us;

Let us at this time remember the poor and marginalized, the cold, hungry and oppressed, the lonely and unloved; the infirm aged and the little children; and all those who are deluded and enraged in the name of the holy and the sacred. May we then be instruments of peace serving all of these.

In the name of all that is holy,

Amen

Why Christmas Was Worth Saving

A Christmas Eve Message  from  Interim Senior Minister David Keyes

A delightful young woman said to me: “You know, in this church, I got Jesus back.” And I said, “Tell me more.” “You see,” she said, “I used to hate Christmas. It was all about fake happiness, and I was miserable. “All about crass commercialism wrapped up in a red Santa suit, and who would get the most presents. “All about believing the literal truth of impossible fairy tales. “All about a Jesus whose birth saved a world I knew still needed saving.”

And so I asked…what happened?

She said, “I found that there is a place where fake happiness can be replaced with honesty—where people care about who I really am, not the face I put on. “I found out I could team up with others to make the holidays a time to give to those most needy. “I found out that meaning comes to us in so many beautiful ways—in metaphor, story, symbol, ritual. I can let it wash over me, and I don’t have to pick it apart. “I found out that Christmas is really about Jesus being born IN ME, a way of saying that hope is always being born, and is always needing to be born. “In this church, I got Jesus back, and I don’t hate Christmas anymore. I couldn’t do without it.”

She convinced me (and she is made up of many) that our ancestors in faith did a good thing when we, the left wing of Protestantism, used our considerable 19^th century clout to save Christmas from being outlawed or abandoned as pagan debauchery. …Saved Christmas to make it a living symbol of the rights and needs of children—Children who were being abused, worked to death, abandoned, oppressed, and essentially, in millions of cases, deprived of all the delights of childhood.

I am glad that our ancestors in faith, in churches like this one, organized, spoke out, saved Christmas.

In many ways, it needs to be saved again—and we must be about that work.

-Comforting those made especially lonely and depressed by all the

forced merriment.

-Pooling and focusing our giving to benefit the poor, not the big box

and mail order merchants.

-Teaching a deeper way to be religious, and unveiling truth hidden

from many. In all these ways, we need, once again, to save Christmas.

Children still suffer. For many, there will be no presents, no joy, little food. To put a holiday dinner on the table, to buy gifts for a family of six whose bread winner has lost her job—these are some of the ways that the Ministers’ Discretionary Fund is used. I know that those of you who are able will give generously.

The Christmas Pledge

Dear Friends,

Gospel Rock-style music right in the First Church sanctuary— my goodness. A delight to hear women’s voices from the choir this past Sunday bring the season down to earth with “Did Jesus Have a Sister?”

There are such grand musical gifts in this congregation, some of which will be heard Thursday, Christmas Eve, along with a guest brass quartet at the 7:00 p.m. service.

And because, this holiday is so much for and about children, of course there will be a children’s pageant—the 5:30 service, a sort of pick-up pageant full of spontaneity and near-terminal cuteness. It will perk you up, so consider coming at 5:30, socializing after the pageant over cookies and hot chocolate in the Fireside Room, then joining in the caroling and drama of the 7:00 candle lighting service, at which we will have a real baby in the manger, tiny Griffin Mangum, to whom the congregation will dedicate itself.

I know not the origin of what follows, but if you find lists and pledges helpful (and why not?), this one is worthy:

A Christmas Pledge

Believing in the true spirit of Christmas, I commit myself to: *Remember those people who truly need my gifts. *Express my love in more direct ways than gifts. *Examine my holiday activities in the light of my deepest values. *Be a peacemaker within my circle of family and friends. *Rededicate myself to my spiritual growth.

May this be a blessing to you and yours.

A big THANK YOU to all in the congregation who have lavished goodies and good wishes on the staff; you have made our season bright.

Merry Christmas,

David

A Different Christmas (and Christmas Eve)

Dear Friends,

“I’m so filled with hope that I can’t sit still, and I can’t keep quiet!” So said new UUA President Peter Morales from our pulpit last Sunday.

We have a “breathtaking opportunity” as Unitarians to share our faith with millions who seek progressive religious community, Peter told us. His hope and ours, he said, must flow from our ‘precious memories’ of times when we have known love, joy, meaning and purpose.

Now is a good time to search for those memories, the Christmas season being much about memory and rich old stories, especially of times when we felt loved, nurtured and embraced.

Alas, Christmas, especially as commercialized, is all too often only about nostalgia, dreamy memories of saccharine sweetness, impossibly perfect families, and mind-numbing enchantment.

I suppose I love the enchantments of the season as much as anyone, yet find it hard to live on a diet of dessert alone. So, this year, I ask you to indulge me in making a part of your holiday slightly edgy. Slightly.

This Sunday, for example, I’ll read parts of the gospel Christmas stories rarely heard in polite company, stories not entirely appropriate for small children to hear. And I’ll talk with you about the fecundity and sensuality associated with Christmas, and all such as that.

Then on Christmas Eve, into a very traditional 7:00 p.m. candle lighting service of lessons and carols, replete with old favorites, we’ll insert some new life with dramatic readings by Samantha and Erica Nagel, two gifted young women with family ties to this church. Those who know their parents won’t have any trouble imagining that they are dramatically talented. Samantha, in fact, has acted professionally; Erica’s ability to inspire became apparent when, as a teenager, she inspired this church to forge a partnership with Arkos, Transylvania.

I’m guessing that the way their dramatizations are served up, blending with Sanctuary Choir selections, will help make this a Fresh Christmas for you and yours.

Best,

David