Worship This Week
10 a.m. September, 28st
Building Our Community With Love At Our Center
Lead by Rev. Lori
Music by the Pick-Up Chorus
For our Sunday security, we lock the doors at 10:05. Ushers will monitor the doors until 10:15.
Church Activities This Week
Unless indicated otherwise, these activities welcome all members and friends.
Full calendar below with links to other events.
Sunday, Sept 28 @ 10:00 AM - Worship
Wednesday, Oct 1 @ 10:00 AM - Board of Trustees
Wednesday, Oct 1 @ 5:00 PM - Harbour Singers
Wednesday, Oct 1 @ 5:00 PM - Finance Committee
Thursday, Oct 2 @ 6:00 PM - SBGM – Dine Out – Portland Pie
Friday, Oct. 3 @ 12:00 PM - Brown Bag Lunch
Office Hours
Administrator
Brian Dustin
Mon/Wed/Fri 8-11 AM
Caring Needs
Message from Rev. Lori
Hello my friends!
I am writing this from away. For those who dont know, I am at a family reunion in Den Hague in the Netherlands. It has been a lovely trip. On Saturday I was taking a walk through a lovely park on my own. There is only so much extended family one can take after all. There was a big event taking place on a large playing field that abuts a beautiful park that runs through almost the full length of the city. I was walking outside the field to get to the park and take a long solo walk there. Past the field at the entrance ot the park there was a police car and ambulance parked. Curious, I approached the police car and asked them about the event. I explained I was visiting from America and couldn’t understand the speaker or chanting taking place.
I had assumed it was a concert or something as there seemed to be many young folks with a punk rockfish look to them. Although many were carrying Dutch flags, so it seemed it could have been a sports thing. The policeman told me that it was an anti-immigration rally. He explained that many of the young folks in the country were/are very anti-immigrant because the country has very liberal policies and benefits for immigrants that the residents dont even have access to. He shared that housing is scarce and unaffordable for people and yet immigrants and refuges have guaranteed housing once they get status.
I remember feeling a bit of a gut punch. Before I could stop myself I said something like, Geez, I came from America to get away from hateful rallies and angry mobs…and here it is in my face again. The policeman said that it is a tricky issue here, because it doesnt seem fair that the Dutch have to work to pay taxes and can’t get housing and those from away land and get housing right away. He also said that he doesnt like the politics in America and see scary things going on regarding black people and gay people. That he doesnt agree with any of that, but is very sympathetic to the issue of illegal immigrants getting something that even residents can’t get.
I remember feeling another gut punch at that moment. A recognition that we(the US) have/had lost the capacity for civil dialogue about real issues years ago. If everyone was/is at the table, if everyone listened and considered together each other’s needs and concerns and fears, we could map something together. Perhaps that is an oversimplification and not everyone would ever come to the same table and there are many other agendas at play. There are nuances to situations that need parsing out that only comes through dialogue and civility. Right now there seems to be the overarching theme that it sometimes feels like we simply prefer to other people and dismiss them as wrong or evil or idiotic or ignorant or whatever makes us feel “right”.
We had a pleasant conversation and as I often do, I thanked him and his partner for their service to the people. I proceeded to walk in the Queenspark as it is called. The noise I heard from the direction of the field now had a more sickening flavor to it. I equated it to the chanting at a Hitler rally and not a pleasant gathering in a park. As I got more and more space from it my walk turned pleasant, however. I returned about 30 minutes later to where I had entered the park and just when I did I heard an explosion. Very soon after I heard sirens and witnessed at least a dozen police vehicles and fire trucks rushing to the area. Through the trees surrounding the field, I saw that something was on fire. I saw orange smoke and heard screaming and chaos. I felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and fear that this is becoming the way of the world.
A few hours later, streaming on my phone, was information about the riots. Someone in the crowd had shot fireworks into a police car and it exploded. The crowd that had been chanting has turned on the police. At least one policeman had been injured. And then more violence ensured and apparently traffic was closed in and out of the city. You can probably google riots in Den Hague if you are interested in learning more. Interestingly the leader that spoke at the rally instantly condemned violence and acknowledged that the issue needed peaceful and thoughtful discourse not violence. She stated that this violence was in no way sanctioned by the movement. She condemned the violence right away. I read all of that through google translate on my phone. Again, I felt a sickening in my stomach and a sadness in my heart as I recognized that I am not experiencing those standards beingheld up in my country right now. However, I was soon immersed back into sightseeing and family meals and events and tried to distance myself from what I experienced.
I woke up on Monday convinced in my soul that I and WE need to focus on what it is we can do to care for ourselves and build and nurture beloved community at UUCSB and in our local community. We need to be an example and a sanctuary for ourselves and others. These times will bring out the best in some and the worst in others. These times will trigger our deepest fears and wounds and may cause us to default to our primal instincts, or unresolved hurts, childlike selves. Holding each other in community, even when we aren’t able to be our best selves is in fact the greatest call we have AND best example of what it means to be right relationship. That is what the world needs more than anything else right now. That is what we need right now!
This week I will speak about building belonging by putting love at the center of community. As that title and concept has been percolating in my mind, I realize that it is will be an exploration about the true nature of love. After sipping way too many espressos this morning, I remember the Biblical passage I chose to memorize in my New Testament class in seminary was 1st Corinthians 13. The passage about love. It is my word for God, for purpose, for the meaning and call of life. My kids were young when I attended Bangor Theological SeminaryFor fun, I translated my passage into Dr Suessian language, either because I was reading too much Dr. Suess at the time or just for fun. I share it with you to reflect on before we come together on Sunday.
1st Corinthians 13 according to Dr. Suess
If I speak with the tongue of a Zizzle-Zazz tree,
But have not the love that’s as big as can be,
I’m just a loud clatter, a noisy old cluck,
Like a banging old drum or a stuck old truck.
If I know all the secrets of riddles and rhymes,
If I’m clever and wise, ahead of my times,
But don’t have the love that’s so gentle and true,
Then all that I know just won’t get me through.
If I give all I own to a Who-Who in need,
If I let them eat first, and plant every seed,
But don’t have the love that’s so patient and kind,
Well, what’s the big point? What’s left behind?
Love is patient, love is sweet,
It doesn’t brag or claim a seat.
It’s not jealous, it doesn’t boast,
It’s not rude or mean to most.
Love doesn’t keep a nasty score,
It doesn’t get mad or keep a door
Closed on friends when things get tough,
Love just sticks around, strong and rough.
Love doesn’t delight in bad,
But cheers for good, and makes hearts glad.
Love always hopes, always trusts,
Love sticks around, it never busts.
Love never quits, it never ends,
It’s the bestest of all, your truest friend.
So, if there’s only one thing to do,
Love is the thing that will see you through.
Now we see as if through a foggy old pane,
But one day we’ll see clear, no more pain.
Till then we believe, hope, and love—
Three big helpers sent from above.
And the biggest of these, the one that’s supreme,
Is love, love, love—that’s the dream!
So spread it around, like warm cookies and tea,
That’s the secret to life, as easy as can be.
Rev Lori Whittemore
(she, her, hers)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco Biddeford
Ongoing activities
Share the Plate: September
Minister’s Discretionary Fund
The Discretionary Fund allows Rev. Lori to help folks in our community who find themselves in need of immediate financial assistance. The more robust this fund is, the more people Rev. Lori can help.
Hannaford Gift Cards
Would you like to donate to the church in a way that doesn’t cost you anything? If you buy your weekly groceries with a Hannaford gift card purchased from UUCSB, the church gets 5%. Our church depends on this fundraiser to contribute to its operating budget. Cards are available in $100 or $50 denominations. Gift cards are for sale in the Parish Hall every Sunday after the worship service. If you are worshiping virtually, just call or email Jane P. and make arrangements to pick them up at another time. Thank you for participating in this fundraiser in support of our church.
Save the Date! Upcoming Events
October highlight: Our new program From Aging to Saging, created for but not limited to our long timers, is set to begin on October 8. at 9:30. It will take place the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 9:30-11:00 and will explore several practices to deepen spirituality. Read more about it in the September Messenger. And study up on Small Group Ministry over here. Please rsvp to revlori@uuchurchsacobiddeford.org to let her know if you are planning to attend!
These UUCSB meetings, community events, and important deadlines are just around the corner.
Learn more by clicking on a square or check out our full calendar over here!
