What Does It Mean To Be a People of Revelation?

Our theme for the month of April is Revelation. As we know, one of the theological tenets of our free faith is "Revelation is Not Sealed." Truth continues to be revealed to us from a variety of sources, throughout our life time. In answering the question, what does it mean to be a "people of revelation," a common response in our liberal tradition would be that first and foremost it means to be a people of humility. Revelation is on-going and spread out all over the place. Nobody has cornered the market. Nobody has captured it whole cloth. All each of us, and each of our religions, can do is know a piece of the truth. And so we are called to be humble. Humble and open. Open to other perspectives. Open to new insights. Open to a diversity of perspectives and insights.

But an openness to otherness and diversity is very different than an openness to being led, being guided, being called. It is one thing to affirm the wisdom of other perspectives; it is quite another to affirm the existence and importance of otherness!

This is how Parker Palmer, the Quaker teacher beloved by many UUs, puts it:

Members of my sharing circle point out that this requires a whole different sense of being humble and open to otherness! What if, for this month, we forget celebrating diverse perspectives and multiple sources of wisdom, and instead consider that Life is speaking to us? Take a moment to let that sink in. It's a radical idea. Imagine that we are not the only ones doing the talking!

Imagine that Life itself actually "wants" something for us and from us. Imagine that it's not all about us choosing and being in control, but instead about us listening, and looking, and letting ourselves be led. This too is what it means to be a people of revelation.

Indeed if our UU theologians are right, we are dependent on this being true. Here's how the preeminent UU theologian James Luther Adams put it:

We cannot properly place our confidence in our own creations; we must depend upon a transforming reality that breaks through our encrusted forms of life and thought to create new forms. We put our faith in a creative reality that is re-creative. Revelation is continuous.

So humility indeed. Humility to admit we get stuck in "encrusted forms." Humility to admit that we can't see or break out of those stuck ways of being all on our own. Humility to trust that there is an otherness--a confounding, mysterious, maybe conscious, maybe not-conscious otherness--operating out there and in us that we need.

And so, do you trust it? Do you trust that Life itself is trying to tell you something important? Lead you somewhere important? Get you to see or do something important?

These are the questions that our members will be talking about in their Chalice Circles this month. If you are interested in joining a chalice circle, let me know. Next fall we will open up new chalice circles and hope to find a spot for everyone who would like to look more deeply into the profound questions of living our Unitarian Universalist faith.

In Love and Hope,

Rev. Alice

You and your family are invited to spend Easter Sunday afternoon with your fellow UUs in a day of relaxation and fun while welcoming the beginning of spring. (Rain or shine!)

What: Easter Egg Hunt

Who: Everyone is invited!

When: Sunday, April 5th, 2-5:00 p.m.

Where: Alice Dilbeck and Betsy Applegate's home, in the Monrovia area.

Suggestions for what to bring:

Yourself and family--Eggs for the hunt (plastic filled and "real")--Baskets for gathering eggs--Goodies to share for munching--Lawn chairs and musical instruments.

We'll have badminton, croquet, activities for all ages, and "sitting-on-the-porch-talking-as-we-watch-others-expend-a-lot-of-energy." What could be more fun?!

Children are advised to wear or bring play clothes to fully enjoy the outdoor activities.

Directions to Alice Dilbeck's and Betsy Applegate's home are in the fellowship hall by the coffee, or you can call (256-534-0508) or email Deedee at the church office (uuch@uuch.org) for a copy.

We're Egg-cited! We'll be HOPPY to see you!  

The 2015 UUCH Annual Budget Drive (ABD) began Sunday, March 8th. The ABD slogan "We Are Here, and Reaching Out" recognizes our shared accomplishment of moving our church to Broadmor Road and making it home. It also reflects our mission statement to "let people know 'We are here' and that we welcome diversity."

Cottage Meetings were held in Mid-March and we have been gratefully accepting pledge forms from those members and friends who could not attend. Thus far, we have received pledge commitments for just over $158,000 from a total of 62 donor families. For comparison, last year's ABD total was $194,470 from 89 donors. With the help of our new and existing donors, we can match last year's record setting budget drive.

We need the full participation of all members and friends to match last year's total and fund the church at our current level. We need your pledge! The ABD pledges account for more than 90% of our operating budget. Pledge commitment forms were mailed on the 20th to those who were not able to attend a Cottage Meeting. We ask that all completed pledge commitment forms be returned to the church office as soon as possible so that work can begin on our 2015-2016 budget.  

Baby Shower!

Coming April 12th:  

An Afternoon with Brett Jones 

 

On Sunday afternoon April 12th, starting at 2:00 p.m., local author and UUCH friend Brett Jones will be at our church to give a talk and read from his memoir Pride: The Story of the First Openly Gay Navy SEAL. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, and Jones will sign books during the potluck and after his presentation. Brett has generously offered to donate all the proceeds from the book sales that day to UUCH!

This event is free and open to the public. We've advertised to the public that it will begin at 2:00 p.m. However, we will have a potluck after church that day and Brett will be there to mingle and sign for us during that time too! Join and share the Facebook Event to help spread the word! https://www.facebook.com/events/794483803976906/