Rev. Ann C. Fox
(508) 992-7081
UFairhaven@aol.com
Unitarian
Universalist
Society of Fairhaven
Minister’s Views
Dear Member and Friends,
Our table at the Fairhaven Farmer’s Market: The Farmer’s Market organizers offered churches and other nonprofits in town a free table to highlight who they are. On Sunday, Aug. 24, I displayed our “wares,” a chalice, pamphlets, children’s perspective, a write-up of historical and beliefs on our church, and I decorated the booth with a string of world religion symbols and a rainbow flag. Many people stopped by to chat, pick up information, and fill in visitor cards. What a pleasant and wholesome place it was to be in and watch the people buying their food. We’ll be there again sometime in Sept.
The tragedy at the Tennessee Valley UU Church in Knoxville. You may recall that a gunman entered this church during a children’s performance of “Annie” on Sunday, July 27th and killed two church members and wounded several others before being overpowered by parishioners. Our Board President, Bob Kelley, and I sent a letter of condolence. In response to the UUA’s call for financial contributions to provide pastoral and psychological help, our Social Action Committee gave $200 of their budget and our Board gave $200 from the Discretionary fund and we sent a check for $400 to Boston. We hear that the two churches (members of the Westside UU Fellowship were also present at the church that day) were deeply moved by the outpouring of expressions of sympathy and aid from around the UU world. It is so gratifying that we can respond to tragedy so swiftly.
The interfaith service for Israeli and Palestinian youth: More than sixty people gathered on the church lawn, under four canopies, for an upbeat service on August 17 at 9:30 am. The six lively students sat on the front row next to four guest speakers: Father Thomas McElroy from St. Joseph’s, Rabbi Kanter from Tifereth Congregation, Rev. David Lima, Executive Minister of the Inter-Church Council, and Dr. Naseer Aruri (Professor Emeritus of Political Science at UMD and author of many books on Israeli-Palestinian relations), a Jerusalem-born Palestinian. I spoke as well. Butch McCarthy accompanied us on guitar and led us in singing This Is My Song (Finlandia), Let There Be Peace on Earth, and John Lennon’s Imagine (although only Butch could really sing it and the rest of us enjoyed trying).
The speakers spoke movingly to the youth about their hope for peace in their countries. Daniela Chirigottis, string instrument teacher for the Fairhaven schools, played two violin pieces as musical meditation. The six students each read to us a short statement about their hope for peace. Some of our youth socialized with them after the service. The non-pledge offering of $283 was donated to the American Friends Service Committee for Peacemaking in Israel and Palestine.
I hope that you read Jack Spillane’s article about the Fairhaven Project in the August 25 edition of the Standard Times. There was a wonderful photograph of the six students sailing in a tall ship.
A social justice issue on Election Day? Some years ago, a referendum to repeal the state income tax was on the ballot (2003 or 2004?). It got a 46% ‘Yes’ vote at that time with mostly lower income people voting for it—the very people who would benefit the most from taxes that help to share the wealth by providing services that poor communities could not pay by themselves. There had been little publicity about it and most of us were surprised to see it before us on that Election Day. This Nov. 4th, the very same referendum, called Question 1, will be before us. If it passes, 40% of our state’s budget will be eliminated. Only a simply majority is needed for it to pass. I leave it to you to decide for yourselves how our schools, social services, and much more would be affected by the passage of Question 1. May we act with the common good in mind.
A new church year is before us to bring us hope for spiritual growth and enjoyment of community. The staff will work closely together and with many of you to provide an inspiring year.
There’s a nip in the air in the early morning and the pastels are already giving way to the bolder colors of autumn. The children will begin their return to school with excitement and hope and it will be a joy to see them at the bus stop in the mornings. May we enjoy the cycle of change and opportunity. See you at our Ingathering Water Communion service on September 7, (early this year with Labor Day being on Monday, Sept. 1).
Blessings, Ann
Go in and in. Be the space between two cells,
the vast, resounding silence in which spirit dwells....
Go in and in and turn away from nothing that you find.
--Danna Faulds from Poems of the Heart of Yoga