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Messages from the Minister

What's the message on Sunday morning and on other occasions in our Unitarian Universalist congregation? We have a variety of speakers during the year. The sermons that follow are a sampling of the messages prepared by Rev. Murphy. Some have been condensed or revised for website use. The date when Bob's sermon was first published in the Sand Script newsletter is indicated.

Energy, Peace, and Justice on Nobska Point

2008 February

I'm a preacher. So I'll tell a parable.

Energy prices keep rising. Nations fight with each other to control petroleum and other energy sources. Scientists are worried about a long list of environmental problems including global warming. What kind of world are we creating? ask the people? What are the forces that drive us and that shape our understanding of what's important in life?

A few days ago, America celebrated Groundhog Day. Yes, it's a peculiar relic from the European past, but, this year, it's especially important. Americans are so anxious for new leadership that they went outside and waited for a set of sleeping prophets to rise from their slumbers. In 2008, the voters will rally in all sorts of places to ask for signs of hope and inspiration. In North Carolina, the great prognosticator is Sir Walter Wally. He lives at the Museum on Natural History in Raleigh. In Pennsylvania, families wait for Punxsutawney Phil to make his appearance on Gobblers Knob.

On Cape Cod, we have Lucy the electric woodchuck. Of course, she's not really electric, although, she can be as bright as the shining waters of Vineyard Sound. Lucy the Enlightened One is the wise woodchuck who lives near the lighthouse at Nobska Point. There are plenty of scientists in the Woods Hole neighborhood, from different parts of the world, so Lucy has learned a few things during her lifetime. If you're waiting for the ferry to Martha's Vineyard and someone whispers in your ear "Die Sonne scheint noch", yes, it's probably Lucy. If you want to get beyond the politics of greed and fear in today's energy conversation, ask Lucy to speak English and listen carefully to what she says.

On the day before Groundhog Day, somebody with one of the big news networks remembered that Presidential primaries are scheduled for Rhode Island. A team of top correspondents was sent to the Ocean State, but Rhode Island isn't in the Boston suburbs and it's not in Connecticut, so it's hard to find. The reporters got lost and they came over the bridge to Cape Cod. The news crew saw Lucy the Enlightened One standing on a stump, looking like a candidate at a press conference. A reporter came forward to ask the questions that have often been asked during the Presidential primary campaigns. "What's your plan for keeping us out of economic recession, while defeating the terrorists, and putting an end to global warming?"

Lucy hesitated, but finally she spoke. "The greedy will seduce and destroy all of us if their quest for power continues. If you want to live like a human being," she scolded, "then get out of the dinosaur era. Start the energy conversation with three insights. All people need adequate sources of energy that are safe, affordable, and sustainable. Some people have too much energy and some people have too little. Love your neighbors as you love yourself."

What does that mean?"

"The world of energy is a world of contrasts. In America, some families have huge mansions with three SUVs in the driveway, but we also have homeless people who are sleeping on Boston Common. They'll be lucky if they get a blanket and a hot meal. American highways are crowded but some of our senior citizens need rides to the clinic. Meanwhile, if you go down to places like China and India…."

"C'mon, Lucy, your burrow doesn't go that deep!"

Once again, a look of annoyance, "Down in China and India there are millions of people who are desperate to pull themselves out of poverty. These folks will burn coal and anything else that they can get. They'll demand more oil and that fact alone will keep oil prices high. As developing nations grow, they'll produce more greenhouse gases, which will contribute to more climate change."

-2-

"Yeah, we know all of that. So what's the solution?"

"Think globally and act locally. You'll need a new sense of community because a lot of activities are going to become more local and smaller in scale as the price of fuel increases. However, you'll also need a global vision in order to stay prosperous. So maybe you can invest in the new technology and services that will help the developing nations. And maybe your government can invest in things like home energy conservation and public transportation that will help some of the poor people who live in America."

At this point, the chief camera man was irritated and he expressed his annoyance. He turned off his camera and he shouted. "I'm not going to film this fantasy for the evening news. Skip the moral values lecture and tell the voters that the United States will always call the shots in the global economy. Tell them that Americans can choose whatever they like without having to pay for a thousand years. If this rodent wants to be a smartass, tell her to go to Paris to join the cast of Ratatoullie."

Lucy didn't flinch. "If you can't picture social justice, then imagine another power that's universal and irresistible. Think about a power from which you can profit financially. Look around, when you stand on Nobska Point. The sun came up this morning. You can feel the wind on your face. The waves and the ocean currents are still moving in the right way. A strong economy and a healthy environment are two sides of the same coin."

"Lucy, what's your point? Are you trying to tell us something that we need to know?"

"All of God's gifts are freely given but some assembly is required."

"You frighten us!", cried the chief journalist. "The world is moving into an energy crisis and you're talking like Martin Luther King in Memphis or Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon. We want an amiable little rat who'll run on a treadmill and, if you do that right, maybe you've got a career as a spin doctor in Houston or Detroit. Maybe you can get to the White House. However, if you tell us that the world is running on empty, you'll be road kill."

The reporter was a worldly wise man and he gave Lucy some good advice. Talk about energy, said the scribe, but, please, don't talk about empowerment. Don't ask for major changes in social arrangements because when the discussion about energy becomes a serious conversation about peace and justice, it will be like the day when Moses walked into Pharaoh's court for the last time. The Egyptians had been through all kinds of environmental horrors and they agreed that it was time for a change. However, it's hard to break bad habits and its easy to believe that force and more force will set things right. Pharaoh called for the chariots and the National Guard and you know the rest of the story. Down in Texas, there are oilmen who will shoot prairie dogs who get too uppity and in Russia and Nigeria there are people who will do the same to a woodchuck.

Lucy listened for a few minutes, before she went underground. The next day, there was a white rose at my doorstep with a note from Lucy. "Die Sonne scheint noch." I don't know why a Woods Hole woodchuck insists on speaking German, but maybe it's something that Lucy learned from the Pennsylvania Dutch and maybe it's significant. The librarians at the Woods Hole public library gave me a translation. "The sun still shines."

That was Groundhog Day on Cape Cod. Nations are still fighting over oil wells and natural gas pipelines. This year American armed forces are in Iraq and Afghanistan, next year maybe they'll be policing Venezuela or the South Pars Gas Field in Iran. If you want heat this winter, talk with your neighbors about Enron and the deregulation of the energy industry. Ask if they're happy with the prices of gasoline. That's the kind of discussion that will make the sparks fly and it may cause wildfires. However, if you want enlightenment in the energy discussion, go back to the grassroots. Visit Nobska Point and see if you can coax Lucy out of her burrow. Sometimes she sticks her neck out. That's unusual in America.

Celtic Spirituality and Unitarian Universalists

2007 March

March is the month for Celtic spirituality! The month includes the first days of springtime and it also includes the holy days for the patron saints of Wales, Cornwall, and Ireland. On the coast of Massachusetts, the last of the winter storms are gone before Easter. The old blends into the new as the color green makes a bold reappearance. Good people in a variety of religious traditions speak about renewal, rebirth, and resurrection. In some ways it doesn't matter if you're a Baptist or a Buddhist. Try to get beyond sectarian labels.

Among the Celts, when Christian influences and pre-Christian experiences come together, mention is made of Celtic spirituality. When I was a child, I heard lurid tales about the terrible battles that, reportedly, took place in ancient Ireland between the Druids and the followers of Saint Patrick. There were probably some shouting matches, and possbly some bloody noses and black eyes, that were long remembered. However, in truth, the old ways and the new ways were blended into each other with very little conflict. For some of the historians who arrived at a later date, the lack of resistance among the early Celts may have been an embarrassment. "If you're looking for martyrs on the scaffold and big religious persecutions, look to the 1500s and the 1600s," was my advice to one classroom.

Life among the Celts is changing. The Scots and the Welsh have new parliaments and there's a new cultural pride in Brittany and Cornwall. As recently as the 1970s the Republic of Ireland was known as "the poorest of the Western nations," but life in Erie has changed since then and the country now struggles with the problems of prosperity and overdevelopment. Religion, too, has changed. In the last thirty years, even the religious liberals have discovered Celtic spirituality and there are now Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists on both sides of the Atlantic who go dancing at Lughnasa and who celebrate ancient holidays like Imbolc. Celtic spirituality isn't a religion - call it a "theological tendency," if you must - but it does work its influence in a variety of religious settings.

When I try to explain Celtic spirituality, I often begin with the Book of Kells. It's an illuminated copy of the Gospels that was probably compiled in Scotland in the 9th century, but it's now displayed at Trinity College in Dublin. The text is Christian, but the message of the artwork is more ecological than the message that's preached in many of today's Christian churches. In the elaborate Celtic knots and swirls, everything is connected to everything else, everything is filled with the same divine energy, and everything is important. "We shall be saved together or not at all," said the old-time Universalists, and the Book of Kells shows us that no creature stands in isolation, no detail is insignificant.

Bridget of Ireland is the special saint of Celtic spirituality. Like King Arthur and Saint Patrick, she is surrounded by legends. Some people say that she was a pagan priestess who tended the sacred fires at the "temple of the oaks" in Kildare, while others say that, no, she was a Christian abbess who presided over an Irish abbey at the start of the Dark Ages. Or, perhaps, she was a Druid who became a Christian. Some of her admirers say that she was actually a goddess, and, of course, there are also skeptics who deny her existence.

The legends say there was once a woman named Bridget (fl.451-525) who could work miracles. She was a healer who cared about her neighbors and who demonstrated her concern at a difficult time in history. Bridget was in charge of some sort of religious center where hungry people were fed and abandoned children were accepted with love. What she accomplished was wonderful and it's still remembered and celebrated among the Celts. The details are all very hazy, but, if you want to know the best of Celtic spirituality and why it still matters, spend some time with Bridgit of Ireland. She'll take you to what's important.

"Black Cat Blues"
2007 January

"Cats aren't like other people", said my Grandmother Murphy. Grandmother didn't joke about anything, so I don't question her judgment. She always was a bit cautious with cats and she advised her grandchildren to treat cats with respect and even a bit of deference.

Cats are often a bit mysterious, and frequently a bit aloof, and they seldom apologize or explain. They don't think or talk like other people. However, it's possible to become fond of animal companions. When you become close to a creature - to a horse, or a pet rabbit, or even a goldfish - you need to acknowledge that relationship and you need to understand its importance. When they die, it's necessary to feel sorrow and to mourn them.

Tarfoot died in late December. She will be missed by Lyn and myself. We didn't own Tarfoot but she befriended us and we appreciated her strength and her tenderness during ten years in the South and in Massachusetts. She was a large black cat who we met in North Carolina's tobacco country, very close to the Outer Banks. Where she came from or how she had survived in her previous adventures was never explained. So, of course, there were lots and lots of stories and some of the stories may have come close to the truth.

An elderly couple had lived in our neighborhood in Morehead City before we arrived. Hurricane Fran hit the coast of North Carolina, on September 6, 1996, and the elders were evacuated. They never returned to their home and their pets were abandoned. It was assumed that Tarfoot was one of the cats left behind in the confusion. She became known as "Tarfoot" because people from North Carolina are, traiditionally, known as "Tar Heels." Cats don't have heels like human beings, so naturally, a black cat from the Old North State is known as "Tarfoot."

"Somebody shot your cat," said one of the veterinarinas who examined Tarfoot. The cat had a metal pellet embedded in her left front shoulder. Black cats take some risks during the Halloween season and it's possible that Tarfoot became an easy target for a boy with a BB gun. Or perhaps she tried to raid a trash can during the weeks after the big storm. In any event, when we first met her, our feline friend lived like a refugee and she was uneasy with strangers. She lived under our house, eating her meals in the dark in the crawl space. After a few weeks, she decided that she could trust us, so she became a bit closer to Lyn and me. Eventually, Tarfoot decided to eat her evening dinner in our kitchen.

There were more stories, and perhaps, you've heard a few. Tarfoot was a Dixie-cat. She meowed with a Southern drawl. Tarfoot enjoyed visiting the Unitarian Universalists but she couldn't identify with the humanists. She was a catalyst who knew which species matters most in the universe. When she wore a white collar with her black coat, she looked like an old-fashioned preacher, but she preferred to stay in quiet surroundings to develop her meditation techniques. She was more agile than most yogis and, like most cats, Tarfoot knew how to use solar power. Eventually, she moved to Cataumet, on Cape Cod, "in order to put the cat in Cataumet." It was a cozy cat's life that she seemed to enjoy.

Like too many people, North and South, our companion died from lung cancer. She wasn't like other people, but she was important to us. Lyn and I will remember Tarfoot and we'll find ways in which to express our grief. If you've cared for animals, then, perhpas, you know the feeling.

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"Season of Warmth and Light"
2006 December

Let it be said at the beginning of this message that human rights and world peace are energy dependent. In today's world, nations fight with each other for the control of natural resources while the peasants of Africa and Latin America strip the hillsides for firewood. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights doesn't mention a "right to energy" but it does mention the human need for shelter, food, communication, and security. All of these things, and more, are energy dependent. In order for the human race to continue with some measure of dignity, all people require sources of energy that are safe, affordable, and sustainable. (Note from the web editor: the BBC has a good simplified version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.)

We have entered the season of the winter solstice. December is the month for Advent, Kwanzaa, and Hanukkah candles, and holiday lanterns, flaming chalices, and ceremonial fires will all make their appearance in the weeks ahead. Much will be said about light and warmth and the need to care for our neighbors throughout the year. On Sunday, December 10, our congregation will celebrate Human Rights Day, as individuals come forward to speak about human needs. We'll hear about human rights programs in Massachusetts and in the larger world.

"Fuel poverty" is not a term that is heard very often in America. However, it is one of the social problems that members of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth have tried to address during the past five years. The costs of housing, transportation, and energy are very high on Cape Cod and hundreds of low-income families and thousands of elderly persons struggle to pay their fuel bills. This is the problem of "fuel poverty". Individuals ask, "Heat or eat?" "Will our family pay this month's rent or will we pay for food and prescription medications?" "How do we pay for transportation?" These are human rights questions that need to be raised in the new energy discussions, although they're often ignored.

"Lower your thermostat setting!" "Buy a new automobile that's energy-efficient!" "Tell your landlord that you want new appliances in your apartment!" "Build a windmill or a solar powered heater!" All of these suggestions are shouted by people who are concerned about global warming and other environmental issues. Families caught in fuel poverty are often bewildered and annoyed by these proposals. One woman told me, "If my landlord fixes the furnace, he'll raise the rent. And I doubt that he'll build a windmill." Environmentalists have proposed new taxes on energy production as a strategy for reducing energy use. The extra costs will be passed along to consumers. It will be a nuisance for the rich but, once again, it will be a tragedy for the people who are trapped in fuel poverty.

In this time of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas, let us give our special attention to the poor, to the nearly forgotten, and to individuals who have been pushed aside and marginalized. And, then, let us try to stretch the warmth and light of this season beyond December. On New Year's Day, there will be a multi-faith gathering at the Woods Hole Community Hall to discuss fuel poverty and environmental justice. People of faith will bring human rights concerns into a new conversation about energy policy. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

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"Our Congregation Remembers 9/11"
2006 September

Horror in New York City, and in Washington, DC, and in an open field in rural Pennsylvania. An American day of tragedy and infamy. Pearl Harbor, at least, was an attack by one military force against another. This September, civilians suffered because of something that is still difficult to name and fully understand.

In October, five years ago, the above was the first paragraph in our congregation's Sand Script newsletter. Like most congregations, we were shaken by the events that are now remembered as "9/11." It was an intense experience that triggered a religious response. In the year 2002, our newsletter still asked, "What did it mean, September 11th, 2001? This year, while conflict continues in the Middle East, many people ask the question again.

"Our world is greatly changed," said Peter Crossley, who was our church president five years ago. "My hope is that our government will respond rationally, cooperating with all other concerned countries to obtain justice and prevent the recurrence of such dastardly acts." You'll find Peter Crossley's comments carefully preserved in our congregation's archives."

"I didn't know any of the people who died on September 11th," said Peggy Sabin, when she spoke at the first of the 9/11 memorial gatherings on Falmouth's village green. "And, yet, I felt that I knew them all." There were other voices that also expressed empathy and insight."

"The truth is that you're not the only falling stars," said young Jack Gayer, in a message written on the banner that our Sunday school children prepared and displayed.

What's important is that our congregation did respond, in appropriate ways, to what happened five years ago. Committee records and old newsletters will tell the story to future generations. Lisa Dunne, our religious education director, organized a children's chapel in which children and others spoke about their anger and sadness. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth participated in two interfaith events. Some of our members volunteered to help with emergency services. We opened our doors to the community.

After the terrorist attacks, some Americans demanded racial profiling and the suppression of civil liberties. Our congregation asked for fairness and, in those days, that request required a bit of courage. For November 11th, 2001, we invited an Islamic leader and his family to speak in Falmouth. We co-sponsored a presentation with the First Congregational Church. Afterwards, Imam Talal Eid presented our church library with a copy of the Koran.

It's all part of our story and, looking back, we need to know that September 11, 2001, was one of the days that brought many of us to a better understanding of "the things that really matter." It was a religious experience. Whatever you felt, whatever you did in response to the day's events, and what you feel and do in the present moment, are important things to reflect upon. If you're still searching for "spirituality," look within. And remember.

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"Help Wanted: Angels Only, Please"
2006 February

Trying to find new leaders in organized religion is always a challenge. Mohammed and the Buddha both reported some difficulties as their congregations started to grow. It wasn't easy to recruit the right volunteers to direct religious education classes, manage committees, and comfort the afflicted. Among the early Jews and the first Christians -well, the situation was much the same. When archaeologists deciphered the second set of Dead Sea scrolls, they found the following notes from one of the forgotten councils in the ancient Middle East. Apparently, the scribes and Pharisees were trying to evaluate other people. These comments come from their personnel records.

Adam and Eve: Our council was interested in the possibility of bringing this famous couple into our religious work. They claim to have been living in this region "since the beginning." However, they may be a bit too Bohemian for our group. They've been seen walking in the woods while in the nude. The woman talks to snakes. No record of a marriage between these two. They might be aging hippies or worse.

Esther: At first, we were impressed. Esther is brave and intelligent. She has been successful in a culturally diverse situation. Yet, we're disturbed by reports that she used her feminine wiles to manipulate her husband. Esther inspired a religious book that never mentioned God. Not a good role model for today's young women.

Noah: Involved with unrealistic building projects. An alarmist. Talks about global warming and animal rights as if these were religious concerns.

Moses: A poor communicator who stutters at times. Angry with local employers. Wouldn't it be better if we all stayed in Egypt?

Mary: This is a fourteen year old, pregnant without a husband, who comes from somewhere in the sticks. She told us that she wants to go to Bethlehem to fulfill some great purpose. Is she trying to compete with Madonna? Looks like a loser to us.

Peter: Solid as a rock but he's not right for our fellowship. No record of a college education. Goes to late-night parties with peculiar people. He has a bad temper and he has been known to curse. We've received reports about a major personalitiy clash with Paul, in Antioch. It's important to avoid conflict if we want our church to grow.

Deborah: Too judgmental. Involved with the military.

"Canaanite Woman": Sloppy presentation. The council couldn't read her name or the address on her application form. Mark suspects that she is Greek, not Canaanite, but we really don't care. Jesus called her a dog and that's all that we need to know.

Job: Everything goes wrong for this guy. His creepy appearance and his shabby clothes made us feel uneasy. We offered some good advice but he wouldn't listen. Sorry, Job, we can't help you. Listen to your wife.

Judas Iscariot: Strong leader with insider experience. Unlike our other candidates, Judas has a first and a last name. This is very helpful for corporate record keeping. He knows how to manage money and we were impressed by his speech on behalf of the poor. Judas won't be distracted by mindless rituals or frivolous behavior. We like him. Highly recommended!

Minister's Note: Many thanks to Nancy Reider and others at the Unitarian Universalist church in Brewster for providing inspiration and notes for this essay on church leadership.

"Healthy Landscape"
2005 November

For the past ten years and a bit more, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth has been responsible for the meadow and the woods close to our Sandwich Road meetinghouse. With each new season, we've become more familiar with our surroundings and we've developed a better understanding of our mission. There were native gardens and colonial farms in this region long before our meetinghouse was contructed. We hope that we can serve as wise stewards for this particular section of Cape Cod, so that the land that we now occupy can be enjoyed by future generations. A hundred years from now, even five hundred years from now, we may be judged by our actions in the environment. Archaelogists may sift through the soil and ask, "Who were these people?"

In August 2006, members of our Landscape Subcommittee came before the church's governing board with a proposed "Statement of Landscape Principles." It was adopted as a policy statement for our whole congregation and on October 15th and on October 16th the statement was distributed to church members. The "Statement of Landscape Principles" promises that our congregation will work for a healthy environment by reducing water use at our meetinghouse, by restricting our use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, by selecting native plants, and by taking other appropriate actions. We hope that we can be an inspiration to visitors.

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth can lead by example. What we do with our land sends a message to our neighbors and to future generations. We can sign petitions, write letters, and discuss the great issues of the day, and all of these activities may be significant and worthy of much attention, but, quite often, it's the simple activities in life that have thte greatest impact. Emerson said that there are sermons in stones and in the mud puddles on Boston Common, but, quite often, the best of sermons will be found in gardens and in a pleasant and sustainable landscape. In response to the beauty of our surroundings, I can only say, "Amen."

"Thanksgiving Day Reconsidered"
2005 November

Concern for the land, a desire for justice and peace, and the hope that neighbors will live together in friendship are sentiments that will be found throughout the world. When nomads cease their wandering and begin to tend gardens - an experience that is almost universal - harvest holidays soon follow. And so it is that days of thanksgiving have long been celebrated in Africa and Asia, among the peoples of Europe and the Middle East, and in the Americas.

Harvest festivals have taken place on the coast of Massachusetts for a thousand years - maybe more. The early crops raised by native peoples in our region included corn, beans and squash. European settlers arrived in the Plymouth area in 1620 and the following year - "by the goodness of God" and with much appreciation - the colonists set aside three days during the autumn for entertainment and feasting. Wampanoag neighbors joined the festivities. Thus began the tradition of the Pilgrim's first Thanksgiving. It's still an important occasion for many reasons.

William Bradford, in remembering the early years of the Plymouth settlement, later wrote:

Thus, out of small beginnings, greater thaings have been produced by God's hand, the hand that made all things out of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shown unto many, yea, in some sort, to our whole nation.

The Pilgrim congregation in Plymouth continues today as an active Unitarian Universalist congregation. A replica of the first meetinghouse - the building where religious services took place in the 1620's - is included in the village at Plimouth Plantation and it's a place that modern pilgrims should visit. We need to do some reflection. In some ways, today's Unitarian Universalists are very close to the tradition that William Bradford and others established in their frontier settlement. And, yet, in other ways, we're very different from our colonial forebearers.

Let us deepen our religious understanding and expand our vision during this special moment.

In 1996, John Peters joined with other religious leaders for Falmouth's interfaith Thanksgiving Day service. The service took place at the Unitarian Universalist meetinghouse in Falmouth. Mr. Peters, whose traditional name was Slow Turtle or "Cjegktoonupa" in Wampanoag, was the Supreme Medicine Man of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. In describing his responsibilities he said on another occasion:

As Supreme Medicine Man, I am charged with and empowered to practice the ancestral spiritual teaching of my People. These teachings have been handed down from generation to generation to express our relation to All That Is. Among my responsibilities is the practice of spiritual ceremonies for and with all who come to me as a spiritual teacher. According to our spiritual teachings, all beings are related. The teachings are open to all sincere persons who seek an understanding of the Native Way of Life and what it means to be a human being."

John Peters died in 1997. His spiritual insights and his wise leadership are still respected by Unitarian Universalists and by many others on contemporary Cape Cod. Blessed Be.

"Jesus and the Christians"
2005 May

In his will, Pope John Paul II asked Roman Catholic cardinals to look at "The Last Judgement," a giant fresco that appears in the Sistine Chapel. "Michelangelo's vision must then speak to them," said John Paul in one of his final poems.

I don't know if the College of Cardinals followed the last pope's advice. Still, we can hope that church leaders paused for at least a few minutes to reflect on one of the great allegories of Western art. "The Last Judgement," completed in 1541, shows the souls of men and women rising up to face visions of hell and paradise. Some will be saved but many of the proud will fall into despair and darkness. Heaven, we're told, isn't easily achieved.

The man previously known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany has now been elected as Pope Benedict XVI. The new pope celebrated a public mass on April 20, promising to reunify all Christians. It's a bold promise and it will be interesting to see how it develops in the months ahead. During the past twenty years, Joseph Ratzinger has been a powerful figure in the Vatican, enforcing church doctrine and breaking dissent. He has campaigned against liberation theology, against gay rights, and against proposals for women priests.

Unitarian Universalists stand on the sidelines. Many of us honor Jesus of Nazareth and we take his teachings quite seriously. And, yet, there is something about mainstream Christianity that leaves many of us uneasy. We sometimes ask, "Would Jesus, the great teacher and friend of oppressed peoples, be welcomed in today's Christian churches?" How many Protestant and Roman Catholic leaders take the time to reflect on the Jesus story? What we see in some churches is surprising and even disturbing. Clearly, there is much that is "Christian" that has little to do with the Nazarene.

The Boston Globe, March 29, focused attention on the new generation of conservative Christians who are trying to guide American politics. Life has been good for many of these people and many enjoy large homes, two or three automobiles, and attractive communities. Christianity for many of these people is a feel-good experience. It's also a big stick for the self-righteous. "This is the word of God!" shouted one patriarch while waving his Bible in front of reporters. People in other faith traditions are pushed aside. Religious pluralism is a problem. For the patriarch, even a kind Hindu like Mohandas Gandhi is damned to hell.

Jesus of Nazareth, who was a devout Jew who reached out to people in other cultures, would be uncomfortable with much of today's "Christianity." Heaven, said Jesus, isn't easily achieved and the proud and the self-righteous need to reexamine their ways. Be generous with your neighbors. Look at the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel. Pause for some reflection.

"Can We Believe Whatever We Like?"

2005 March

"Can Unitarian Universalists believe whatever they want to believe?" asks a visitor.

"We believe what we must and should believe," may be the best answer to this perennial question.

Some members of our Falmouth Fellowship celebrate Easter. Some will meet on the Day of the Spring Equinox. We have church members, also, who are involved with both holidays.

The guidance of reason and the results of science press us in certain directions. Kindness and respect for metaphor and myth are also important. May there always be young people who suspect that a large rabbit hides chocolate eggs behind the family sofa on the night before Easter. It's a fanciful story that belongs to childhood. Still, by the age of seven or eight, a bit of skepticism is appropriate. People outgrow childish things and, if they're fortunate, they move forward to a religious understanding that's appropriate for adults. Some stories are left behind. Ohter stories are seen in a new light.

Generations of Universalists and Unitarians have embraced a radical understanding of Jesus of Nazareth and his mission. On Easter morning and on other occasions, we try to better appreciate what Jesus accomplished during his life. Jesus reached out to the abandoned and the oppressed, he gave himself to the poor and to others, and he served as a healer in places where he was needed and accepted. That's what we need to know. Our attention is focused on the life of Jesus, not the death, and he's still a source of inspiration.

"We believe what we must and should believe." There's something else to announce in the month of March.

"Practice Resurrection!" declares the poet Denise Levertof. Shovel the snow from Cape Cod walks and driveways. Check the patio furniture that has been stored away since last November. Break the ice and think about the gardens that will soon be planted. Take a basket of muffins to a friend and if your friend asks about Easter services, you can say, "Have you thought about the Unitarian Universalists? Come join us on Easter Sunday!"

"Politics and Religion"
2004 August

This is a difficult moment in the American experience, and people wonder about the future of the United States and the future of our congregation. Inevitably, the questions are asked, "What has our Fellowship accomplished?" "What's the religious message that we bring to the communitites where we live?" "Does our presence on Cape Cod make a difference in the world?"

One story may be helpful in answering these questions. Its very recent. As the bombs began to fall on Baghdad in March 2003, I received a telephone call from a newspaper reporter. "I was at Otis Air Force Base," she said, "and I asked if there were any churches in the area that were helping to care for military families. The people at the base said that the Unitarian Universalists in Falmouth were helpful."

Yes, I said, that's true. We have some members of our congregation who are concerned about military families. We try to provide some assistance in the places where it's needed.

It was my turn to be hesitant. Yes, I explained, our congregation passed a resolution that expressed opposition to an American pre-emptive attack against Iraq. We haven't changed our position. However, we have a tradition of working for justice and compassion in the world and, right now, there are some military families close to home who need our kindness.

I don't know if my response was satisfactory or not. For some people, it's important to keep America divided. On one side, we're told, are all the hawks, and on the other side you'll find thd doves. Each group, we're told, moves and thinks and protests in certain ways that can easily be anticipated. On Cape Cod, the hawks are supposed to listen to certain radio stations, eat in particular diners, vote for some candidates and not others, and they're expected to be in conservative churches on Sunday mornings. The doves, according to local gossip, go to a different set of restsaurants, worship in certain churches, and listen to radio station WCAI. When the world is neatly divided between "those people" and "our people," it's easy to make judgments and to throw rocks and insults against the neighbors. That's what happens during wartime. It's unfortunate and unnecessary and we should encourage everyone to move beyond conflict and into something healthy.

Eventually, the day of reckoning arrives for individuals and for great nations. All of us, including our skeptics, will reach to moment of accountability. Asian mystics talked about the laws of karma, and Christians read Matthew 25:31-46. There are lots of rivers but, at the end, all of the different streams are brought together in one great ocean. It's a religious lesson that should be easily appreciated on Cape Cod and in other places.

"Ringing the Bells on Cape Cod"
2004 June

I offer a pastoral message for the end of church year 2003-2004.

It's very simple: We need to understand that the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth has the opportunity to become a flagship church on the Atlantic. We need to ring our church bells - to speak clearly and without hesitation - at critical mements. We may not be the largest congregation on Cape Cod or the wealthiest or the most prestigious. And yet, we do have a mission. We have the ability and the opportunity to speak with phophetic voice. We can set a good example in our universe and we can provide encouragement and inspiration. We can respond to the world with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love.

On Monday, May 17th, all of the Unitarian Universalist churches on Nantucket and Cape Cod rang their church bells to celebrate the legilization of same-gender marriage in Massachusetts. The same bells, at the same moment, acknowledged the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case of "Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education."

Our seven church bells said, "We affirm the inherent right and dignity of every person. And we know that the good work for peace and human rights continues. Even here, right now, in Massachusetts." At noon, individuals came into our Falmouth meetinghouse to ring the liberty bell provided by Cy Kano and his family to our congregation. Several people spoke about human rights and the importance of the occasion. Lisa Dunne and JoAnn Allard provided a reception, and we toasted the first same-gender couple to receive a marriage license in Falmouth. It was an historic moment for our congregation - and for all of the towns in our region - and reporters took photographs for the front page of the Falmouth Enterprise. The pictures were published on May 18th.

A week later, I received a call from one of the Protestant ministers in Falmouth. "Nice pictures in the Enterprise," he said. "I wish that we could have done something like that in my church. But it's still, well, you know, a bit too controversaial for some of us." Maybe next year. Maybe. In the meantime, the sound of wedding bells may provide encouragement and inspiration to leaders in a variety of faith traditions. The Unitarian Universalist congregations in Massachusetts - including the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth - will be in the congregations that show the way.

"Spirituality on Cape Cod"
2002 October

Like Henry Thoreau, and Henry Beston, and Rachel Carson, many blend humanism with religious naturalism. In August, a member presented a picture that said quite simply, "My religion has something to do with composting." That's probably as good an explanation as any, although chunks of pink granite, the tide charts for Vineyard Sound, and concern for our neighbors and for the quality of community life are also important as we live our lives in this particular time and place.

Several years ago, I was the host for a family from Colorado, while I was living in Boston. After several days of visiting museums and monuments, my guests grew restless. "We miss the wilderness," said a mountain man who wanted a peak experience.. "We need a real adventure."

At that point, a wise woman pointed to a map on the living room wall. "That's our Bay State wilderness," she said. "All of that blue area, east of here, that stretches back to Ireland and Portugal." The Atlantic is as wild and mysterious as it was on the first Columbus Day.

We went to Cape Cod, for a whale watch. It was a glorious October experience, as our boat nudged closer and closer to the great ocean giants. The whales splashed and snorted and some came up to our ark to investigate. We had a fine captin who knew some of the whales by name, so, suddenly, the monsters wree no longer anonymous or frightening, although, yes, it's always best to treat a mature humpback whale with respect. At the end of the day, boat and crew brought us safely back to Provincetown Harbor.

This parable ends with a simple observation. I suggest that "spirituality", for many people, may be like the winds and tides that sailors experience. Sometimes we are aware of the forces that push us forward; sometimes the elements that move us are very subtle. What we call "religion" is the vessel that holds and that protects us. On Cape Cod, the analogy is easily appreciated. Our beaches, our scenic marshes, our neighborhoods, and our families are changed and reshaped by powers that, often, are beyond our understanding and control. In this environment, even skeptics find spirituality. May we sail in the right kind of ship as we make our encounter wtih the sacred.

"Same-Sex Marriage"
2002 August

All of Cape Cod's Unitarian Universalist congregations were represented in the annual Gay Pride Parade in Hyannis on July 21st, 2002. And all of the sister congregations on the Cape sent ministers to speak at the interfaith service that preceded the rally. Several ministers spoke about the need to affirm same-sex marriages. This is one of the big issues that brings Unitarian Universalist clergy together in public places.

A reporter from the Cape Cod Times asked me, "Are gay people asking for special rights?" My response was very simple. No, I said, gay people aren't asking for special rights. They're asking for the same human rights that all people should enjoy. Including the right to be safe and protected, the right to enjoy public services without being harassed, the right to earn an honest living and to go to school, and, yes, the right to fall in love, and to marry, and to form families, without fear of persecution. Don't be confused. The annual Gay Pride Parade is a statement for human rights. And, for this reason, it deserves the support of church and state. If we can't join the celebration, let us stand on the sidelines to give our applause.

"The Promises Made in Cairo"
2002 February

With the temperature hovering around 20 degrees, thousands of Americans crowded into Washington, DC, in the middle of January, to march for peace. Among the demonstrators were many Unitarian Universalists concerned about the future of American foreign policy. As they looked around our nation's capital, the peace marchers came face-to-face with other citizen groups equally concerned about thte years ahead. While some Americans shouted, "No War in Iraq!" other Americans made preparations for deomonstrations to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe vs. Wade.

The great debates about population planning, energy consumption, and American foreign policy are all tied together. In the past, the connections were only suggested in academic circles. This winter, citizens marching in the streets of Washington may be able to appreciate the ways in which one isue leads to the next. It's all very simple. An American war fought in the Persion Gulf will be a war fought for petroleum. Competition for the control of oil supplies reflects increased demand, caused, in large part, by the world's expanding population. The United States threatens military action to keep the price of gasoline below $2.00 per gallon. The oil-producing nations of th Middle East press forward, demanding greater security, respect, and prosperity for their growing families.

The anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade decision brings many Americans back to the global discussion about family planning. It's not just a conversation about abortion rights. It's a discussion about the status of women, their human rights and opportunities, and the future of their communities. "For centuries," notes Dianne Luby, "women have fought to make reproductive choices, and many died trying."

The Supreme Court decision in the Roe vs. Wade case made abortion safe and legal for every woman in the United States. It was a landmark decision, notes Ms. Luby in a recent Boston Globe essay, because it offered American women the promise of equality and equity.

Dianne Luby is the president of the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts. Like other Americans, she has watched right-wing religious forces as they have tried to destroy government support for family planning programs at home and overseas. The Bush Administration has eliminated American funding for the United Nations Family Planning Agency, the largest multilateral family planning association in today's world. On his first day in the White House, President Bush reinstated the infamous "Global Gag Rule," which denies foreign aid assistance to organizations that provide abortion rights information to their patients. The great patriarchs of the globe, among Muslims and Christians and other faith traditions, expressed their religious approval for President Bush's decision.

In 1994, the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo, Egypt,. declared that the key to lowering birth rates in the world is to invest in health, education, and the empowerment of women. It was agreed, among the diplomats present, that the future prosperity and peace of our planet willl depend, in large part, on the status of women. The nations involved in the 1994 conference, including the United States, agreed to work together to make family planning services available to all people by the year 2015. Somehow, for some reason, the American government has lost its sense of direction. If we want peace and justice among the nations, we need to honor the promises made in Cairo.