Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Falmouth

Messages from the Minister, Robert F. Murphy

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.

Matters of Faith: Energy, Faith, and Justice
2009 October

See article published in Cape Cod Times

Unitarian Universalists In The Middle East
2008 May

I've returned from my sabbatical and my days on the Jericho Road. It was, indeed, a religious experience. Although, like many religious experiences, it's not easy to explain. I can share a few photographs and I can offer a travelogue but you'll need something more in order to understand where I've been and what I've been doing since Easter Sunday.

Here's the story in brief: In late March, 2008, I went to Israel and Palestine with an Israeli tourist group. My wife and I were together for ten days. We traveled in an air-conditioned bus with two guides and an armed guard. Lyn and I stayed at nice hotels and we enjoyed some first-rate meals and hospitality. When our motor coach came to military check-points, the soldiers were courteous and efficient. No passports required and few questions asked. Our guides said a few words to the right people, and, in a few seconds, our tour bus was rolling again and headed for another restaurant or resort.

We traveled along the Jericho Road through West Bank areas. Also, we went to other places in Israel and Palestine. We saw Masada and the Dead Sea. We stayed overnight at a kibbutz and we met with artists and mystics who entertain the rich and famous. Madonna, the popular singer, has discovered the occult philosophy known as "kabbala". Lyn and I had a crash course in the subject. I had a massage in Jerusalem. We went to Galilee and we even ventured into the Golan Heights to look at Syria and the mountains of Lebanon. On the Golan Heights, there's a small building where refreshments are sold. Nearby, you can see minefields and the remains of a tank.

Israeli newspapers are filled with rumors. "Do you think that the Syrians will attack this week?" the tourists asked. It's a persistent question and the answer is always "maybe".

Maybe this week, maybe next year. A few days ago, all of Israel practiced for the next emergency. Air raid sirens screamed and school children ducked for cover. New gas masks are being distributed to civilians but hotels tell their guests "no need to worry".

Two weeks ago, on the Golan Heights, observers from the United Nations drove past our tour group. Kids in uniform played soccer at an artillery park. Lyn and I walked into the local shopping mall and we saw young women reading fashion magazines while carrying M-16 automatic rifles. We went to a Golan Heights steakhouse where a retired army colonel, now a restaurant owner, briefed his customers on the current military situation. In the days of John the Baptist, the inns served local wine and they still do.

After ten days of comfortable travel, Lyn and I arrived in Tel Aviv. Lyn returned to the United States and I joined a second tour group. This time, I went through Israel and Palestine with Arab Palestinians in Palestinian vehicles. My tour guides were registered tour guides and all of our actions were legitimate and easily explained. I visited places that Lyn and I had visited a few days earlier. However, this time the reception was a bit different. Imagine the racial divide in Mississippi and Georgia during the 1950s.

Jimmy Carter says that Israel and Palestine have become an "apartheid society" and, because of my recent journey, I'll nod in agreement. The gap between Arab and Israeli experience is enormous. When I was with the Palestinians, Israeli military authorities were, suddenly, very interested in my travels. I was also stopped by the Palestinian police who asked about Jewish settlers. At military road blocks, I was asked several times each day to show my passport and to explain myself. I was with Arab villagers in the hills near Jerusalem when a young soldier with a dog told me to "stop taking photographs". His soldier companion raised his rifle, I covered my camera, and I stopped asking questions. Nothing unusual, I suspect. Happens every day.

There's more to the story and it's the part that matters most. My Israeli guides were courteous and efficient but they swept their tourists past the difficult places in Israel and Palestine. That's their job and they're very good at what they do. Imagine a team of white Southern tour guides in Dixie during the 1960s. Forty years ago, tourists from the North saw the mansions of Charleston and New Orleans and avoided the shanty-towns.

Don't settle for Southern-style hospitality and a quick drive through the countryside. Take the Jericho Road once. Then, travel the Jericho Road again. When I made the West Bank journey for a second time, my Arab guides insisted that I stop and take a closer look at the scenery. We met with refugee groups, with social service workers, and with families that have lost their homes because of demolitions. We talked with human rights and peace activists. I met with farmers and with others to discuss environmental justice needs. Much of the population is malnourished - probably twenty percent, maybe more - and Arab families live with problems that reminded me of the poverty that I saw on American Indian reservations during my time in VISTA service in the Southwest.

Several people have asked me for a political message. Maybe a sermon that will name the evil doers in the Middle East and that will offer a quick cure for all of the region's problems. If you want political statements, I encourage you to check the Internet or the daily newspapers. Hundreds of political writers, sitting in comfortable places, can provide you with lots of news and analysis. Writers have been writing about the Middle East for thousands of years. So there are writers on the political left, and writers on the political right, and writers in the middle, and they all have something to say about who's to blame and who's to praise in the politics of the Middle East. Take your pick. Some of the information that's available may be very helpful. All sorts of opinions and theories have appeared and I can't provide you with any new insights or promises.

However, I do encourage you to think about the Jericho Road. It's the difficult road that's associated with the Good Samaritan story in the Bible. It's the highway that Jesus followed on his last trip to Jerusalem. The religious lesson is simple and it's the same for every generation. If you want inner peace, and if you want peace in your family or community, stay with the Jericho Road. You may have to travel on the Jericho Road again, and then again, and, maybe you'll have to repeat your journey a few more times, before you finally get things right. You'll go into some difficult places and you may have to work with some difficult people. This is what the peacemaking process requires and you'll find the same requirements in Massachusetts and in Northern Ireland and in other parts of the world. It's religious work that requires a religious commitment.

The good news from Israel and Palestine is that there are hundreds of men and women who are working, in their different ways, to resolve conflicts and to develop a healthy society. You'll find these good people among the Muslims, among the Jews, among the Christians, and with the various minorities and secular groups. I met with some of these people. They're part of the modern world. However, they represent a religious way of living in the world that doesn't belong to a particular nation, denomination, or moment in history.

Mary Magdalene and the twelve apostles might recognize life on today's Jericho Road. Motor coaches and trucks have replaced camel caravans. However, Arab villagers on the West Bank face incredible hardships and frustrations. Conflict and the threat of conflict are always present. Israelis, too worry about their physical safety and Jewish settlers have weapons hidden in their homes and automobiles. Suicide bombers and other terrorists can appear at any moment. In Israel and in Palestine, there are lots of political leaders, with lots of political advice for their constituents, but the old difficulties continue year after year.

Look around in today's West Bank and you'll understand the context in which early Christianity appeared. The story of Jesus of Nazareth begins to make sense.

Religion often develops in times of social crisis. Muslims and Jews have their own heroes and heroines to celebrate. We need to listen to all of the stories. If we refuse to listen, and if we refuse to respect all of the cultures and all of the ethnic groups that are involved in the Holy Land conflicts, the conflicts will grow. And they will continue to pull Americans and others into new difficulties. Peace is possible but a lot of effort is required.

The best religious leaders are the peacemakers who try to create sympathy and cooperation between different groups. The worst are the preachers who encourage division. However, there are also charlatans in the spiritual marketplace who try to ignore social injustice and these people, too, are part of the problem. They've accepted the status quo and they've told their disciples that "social progress is impossible". Live for yourself, is the message and don't worry about human life on the dirty side of Bethlehem. The charlatans offer fatalism, self-indulgence, and a dose of snake oil.

Good religion includes the words "love your neighbor". Look for the message. It's always important.

What exists in the Middle East is a series of moral dilemmas and cultural contradictions that won't be easily resolved. The United States is trapped in the mud of the Middle East and the problems of Israel and Palestine and nations like Iran and Iraq and Saudi Arabia will trouble American life for many decades. We can't ignore the Middle East. We can spend billions on military hardware and on foreign aid. However, at the end, the United States will discover what the ancient Romans discovered. The Middle East involves a set of religious problems that will require a series of religious solutions. Blessed are the peacemakers and all of the Good Samaritans who travel along the Jericho Road.

"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.

"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.

"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.