Spring Swimming

On March 22^nd, the afternoon where the temperature reached the 80's, Margy and I went to the beach at Winslow Park, and actually took a dip in the ocean waters of that tidal bay. What a treat. 

But still, it created a foreboding after-effect in my heart. It is easy to feel delighted by the early blossoms, and the summer like temperatures. But on the other hand, we know it doesn't reflect good news for our future on our planet. Garrison Keillor talked about it on a Prairie Home Companion. He said people in Lake Wobegon felt ill at ease in the too warm spring—it was like entering a forbidden room in the house while your parents are away. Something isn't right about it.

We know that global warming is shifting the earth and the seasons, and that means changing our assumptions about everything. Even the garden companies have changed the zones for planting, as the lowest winter temperatures inch upwards. Now climate change is no longer an “if” but a process already started.

April is the month that we traditionally celebrate Earth Day. This year, since our Ferry Beach retreat will be the weekend of April 20-22, we will officially have our celebration on April 29^th. But we also think of the entire month as a month for renewing our connection and commitment to this planet we call mother and home.

This year has another anniversary that is on my mind. May 6^th will be the 150^th anniversary of the death of Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau is counted among our Unitarian ancestors and has been an inspiration for many in deepening our relationship to the earth and fueling our activism for justice. I decided to let him be an inspiration for our worship themes for April 29, May 6 & May 13. I am re-reading Walden, and some other of his works, and I invite you to join me in that reading if you wish. We will look at simple living, civil disobedience, and our connection to mother earth on those three Sundays.

I also want to congratulate the Green Earth Committee for our winning Eco-Maine's 2012 Eco-Excellence GRAND AWARD for outstanding contributions to Environmental Preservation. Our congregation is doing wonderful things to raise awareness of environmental issues. May we find our way to go further and further down that path!

Replenishing the Flow

This month is our annual stewardship month. Some of you are very familiar with what stewardship is all about, but perhaps others are new to the idea. You may be interested to know that our church is supported solely by its members. We don't receive money from any other entity, except for small amounts from rentals of our building. In fact, we actually send a contribution to our regional and national association, to help in the overall work of the mission of Unitarian Universalism.

Once a year, everyone is invited to consider, or re-consider, their commitment to this spiritual community, and to make a pledge about how they want to support it during the next year. Part of this support is financial, and part of this support is through volunteering our time and talents.

My partner Margy and I are also members of the church, and we make a pledge each year to support it. When I first became a minister, I thought it seemed a little strange that I would receive a salary from a church, and then give some of it back. But over time I realized that this giving comes from the same motivation that any member has—I love this spiritual community and want to see it thrive. I cannot imagine what life would be like without these amazing people gathered in this wonderful way. I want our values to grow and give life to our wider world. And so I support this church with my pledge.

People are invited to give what they can afford to give—we know that some folks are earning more than others, so of course what we each can contribute will be different. Some of us work with this difference by giving a particular percentage of our income to the church. That's what Margy and I do. If our income changes, we change our pledge in accord with that. We hope that every member will pledge something, even if during hard times it can only be a tiny amount. Because: making a pledge, even if it is just $1 per month, is a way of expressing your love and commitment to our church.

There is something very sacred about our financial arrangements. We have a gift economy here. Years ago, when I was a psychotherapist, I had to charge a fee for the counseling I did with people. But here at church, people give what they can to our common life, and no individual is charged for the particular services we offer. I don't have to worry about whether any individual who wants to talk to me can afford to pay. That is a beautiful situation that speaks volumes about our values in this world.

I want to say thanks to our creative stewardship committee! They are volunteering their time to plan ways for us to get to know each other better, to have fun together, and to be in touch with each other about our commitment to this community.

Rev. Myke