Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
Donald Trump’s inauguration sparks many thoughts about policy and protest: immigration, health care, education, law and justice, abortion rights and trans rights are just some of the issues that confront us individually and collectively. At our congregational retreat on Saturday we will do a deep dive into what’s happening and how we might respond. For today, however, I’m reflecting on self-care, engagement, and retreat.
 
On Monday this week I was at the annual Martin Luther King brunch at Central Michigan University. I enjoyed the speeches and the music, and I felt a hopeful sense of community in the room. But immediately afterwards, I had a strong desire to go home and take a nap. I realized that the trauma of election day – below the surface for the past two months – was bubbling up inside me. My body knew that it was inauguration day and was telling me to retreat.
 
Sometimes retreating (taking a nap, turning off social media, going for a walk, watching a movie) is the right thing to do. Our bodies, minds, and spirits need rest and resetting. Taking a few hours of down time on Monday allowed me to re-engage when I was ready. Engagement is needed by all of us as we are able: mentally, physically and spiritually we must meet this moment for the sake of ourselves and for those most at risk. But we can’t engage if we are depleted. Therefore the self-care of retreat and rest is necessary.
 
And of course, too much resting and retreating can result in apathy, despair and loneliness. For me, the task is finding the right balance. And this is individual. I can’t tell you when it is the time to engage or to retreat—each person’s needs are different, and the events of the world affect us differently depending on our identities and our situations. May we all find the right balance between being engaged and taking down time for self-care. May we listen to the wisdom of our bodies and be guided by that wisdom.
 
PRAYER:
Spirit of life and love, this is a trying time. We face so much uncertainty, and so many threats to our well-being.
Guide us, spirit of love, into the courage to act when we need to act. Grant us the time and space to rest when we need to. And grant us the discernment to find the balance between the two.
May it be so.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
I was nine years old when Jimmy Carter’s term as president began and thirteen when it ended. I remember the gas lines and inflation that marked this period; I remember the Iran hostage crisis; and I remember the Camp David Peace Accords mediated by Carter. An environmental pioneer, Jimmy Carter had solar panels installed on the roof of the White House—which Ronald Reagan later had removed. As the years and decades passed, Carter’s presidency looked better and better in retrospect—and his post-presidency was equally remarkable. His love of peace and social justice continued, with his non-profit center doing outstanding humanitarian work. I once learned a small fact that I will never forget: that I honor President Carter for his policies and public service. Equally important, I want to remember Carter as an honorable and decent person. His quiet human side is revealed in a book of poetry that he published in 1995. One of these poems I shared last Sunday during worship as a tribute to the President. Through the poems, I see moving glimpses of the man’s life and love.
 
The dedication page of the poetry collection contains many things you would expect: a dedication to his wife; to poets who inspired him, and so on. And then there is this dedication:

Jimmy Carter’s book of poetry is dedicated, among other things, to justice. Justice in this case is defined as “punishment or remorse” for those who cause religious economic, social and legal harm.
 
It is a grand irony that this president has died on the eve of Trump’s inauguration. A greater contrast between two men in politics and service, in morality and character, and in learning and expression, cannot be imagined.
 
PRAYER:
May God bless the memory and spirit of Jimmy Carter. May this nation remember, honor, and be inspired by his example of working for peace and justice.
 
May people of all walks of life, and all stations and levels of society, emulate the love, gentleness, thoughtfulness and decency of this famous American.
 
Amen.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
January 14, 2025

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
During the winter holidays, I went to see a fun Christmas movie and came away with a theological lesson about Universalism. The movie is “Red One,” and the story features Santa Claus as well as his evil brother, Krampus. It turns out that this is a figure from European folklore who would accompany Saint Nicolaus and punish the bad children while Santa (St. Nick) rewarded the good ones. In the movie, the conflict revolves around the nice list and the naughty list. Krampus is all about punishing the people on the naughty list, and takes this view to an extreme: everyone, after all, is naughty in one way or another. Santa (Red One in the movie) takes the radically opposite view: he doesn’t want to even see the naughty list anymore. Everyone is good in one way or another, so everyone gets presents. This is Universalism.
 
Well, metaphorically anyway.
 
Universalism is really a theology of universal salvation. This theology, which accounts for half of the name of our Unitarian Universalist religion, says that a loving God would not send anyone to hell. Therefore everyone is saved—universal salvation. But the metaphor for Christmas and Santa works very well. A traditional way of thinking is that people are either good or bad, and the good ones go to heaven while the bad ones go to hell. Similarly, good children get candy in their Christmas stockings and bad children get coal in theirs. The truth, however, is more complicated.
 
My belief is that there are not good and bad people, just good and bad deeds. We all are capable of love, generosity, compassion—and we are all capable of cruelty and selfishness and hate. Universalist theology, central to the UU religion, says that we should emphasize the good in every person. Whether or not you believe in a reward of heaven after this life is over, Universalism says that we all deserve good things just by being who we are. We all deserve love and compassion. Universalism is a theology that de-emphasizes sin and broken-ness, and elevates the inherent good in all of us.
 
PRAYER:
As the Christmas season comes to an end, with children returning to school and Christmas decorations being put away, may we remember that Love is the reward and that all of us are on the Good list. The list of St. Peter and the list of St. Nicolaus are one and the same: we all are beautiful inside.
May we see the beauty and goodness in ourselves and in each other, today and every day.
Amen.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
January 7, 2025

​Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column

Many of us will be enjoying some time off from work in the coming weeks, and many of us will be celebrating Kwanzaa, Christmas, Yule, and/or Hanukkah. The winter holidays are a time of darkness and coldness. In that way, it is a good opportunity for the kind of sitting in silence that author Andre Dubus is talking about in the quote above. What he expresses is what many of us think: that we don’t have the right skills to do meditation “the right way” – the way that would lead us to peace, equanimity, and a greater awareness of the Divine that is present everywhere. Ironically, some of the most well-known spiritual leaders say the same thing. I’m thinking of Buddhist nun Pema Chodron, who teaches meditation and says that her thoughts are always intruding on the peace of her meditation. The trick is to do it anyway. The benefit of meditation is in the practice, not in the perfection of the practice.
 
May your holidays--whichever one or ones you celebrate--be relaxing. May your gatherings include real connection with your loved ones. May you have solitude and quiet to reflect, heal, and renew yourself. May you be free from expectations of perfection (from yourself or from others) and have a holiday that is good enough. Blessed be.
 
PRAYER:
God of Christmas and Kwanzaa, God of Hannukah and Yule, Divine presence that is with us when we celebrate just as when we mourn, smile upon our holiday gatherings this winter.
 
May we be blessed with satisfaction, feeling happy that we have enough.
 
May we take care of ourselves, acknowledging sadness as well as joy.
 
May we share love with everyone, building a world of greater peace and joy.
 
Amen.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 17, 2024

​Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
Psychologist Amy Cuddy offers this wisdom: “Presence is removing judgment, walls and masks so as to create a true and deep connection with people or experiences.” Being present to experiences is important, as this Sunday’s worship service will explore…but for me, what Cuddy is saying here relates especially to how we interact with other people.
 
Being truly present is a gift that makes authentic connection possible. But sometimes our mind is focused on ourselves instead of the person we are with—and sometimes we spend our energy keeping up our own appearance (the mask Cuddy refers to) instead of fully paying attention to the other person. Often the mask is a form of protection because we are afraid to be authentic and vulnerable. Judgment is the other side of the coin. If any part of my brain is busy judging the person I’m with (as good or as bad), then I am not seeing and hearing how they truly are.
 
As an example, yesterday I was in Ohio and had lunch with my brother and step-mother, my son and his girlfriend. It was a special moment because we don’t all get together too often—and I was able to be present to the moment. I had little need to mask any part of myself, and I had little feeling of judgment toward anyone else. This allowed me to listen fully, to ask real questions, and to express myself authentically. I was in the moment and not worried about what came before or after—which, ironically, makes it a good memory to reflect on.
 
May we all cultivate a sense of presence in our interactions: with loved ones; with fellow members of this congregation; with co-workers. May we be brave enough and self-aware enough to remove our masks, to let go of our judgments, and to tear down the walls that separate us.
 
PRAYER:
Spirit of life and love, our lives are full of encounters with other people. Some bring us joy. Sometimes we are called to listen with compassion.
May we be present to the fullness of each encounter, showing up with love for ourselves and for one another.
Blessed be.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 10, 2024

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
Winter arrived suddenly during Thanksgiving weekend--with a touch of Christmas magic. On Friday evening we took our visiting grandchildren up the street to Kinney Lodge Christmas House amid the first snowfall of the season.
 
This home, at 321 North Kinney Avenue, is decorated extravagantly with Christmas lights, and visitors are invited to stroll around the property. The fresh snowfall made the scene more magical, and experiencing it with young children even more so. The gracious hosts provide cups of hot cocoa and cookies for free. They can be found on the patio dressed as Santa Claus and The Grinch, respectively. Delighted by the experience, I have learned a little of their history.
 
Dominic and Kevin (Santa and the Grinch) are the current owners of the house, and it previously belonged to Dominic’s grandparents. For years, the grandparents would decorate the house and yard for Christmas, and townspeople would come by to visit. Today they are reviving this tradition from the 1990’s. The Facebook page dedicated to Kinney Lodge is full of people sharing their childhood memories being renewed thirty years later. The light display is open from 5:00-10:00 daily through the Christmas season, and on Thursday and Friday from 6:00-8:00 is the full experience with hot cocoa, cookies, and Santa.
 
In many ways I don’t feel ready for the winter season—the dark and cold can be a challenge. Thus it is all the more welcome to experience the holiday lights and friendly people that make Kinney Lodge an oasis of snowy fun. Long live holiday traditions and neighborhood gatherings.
 
PRAYER:
As Christians everywhere celebrate the advent of Christmas, may all people know warmth and love, friendship and neighborliness in this dark winter time.
May joy and peace come to everyone, everywhere, with no exceptions.
Amen.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
December 3, 2024

​Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
It is well-known that the 2016 election of Donald Trump caused a spike in attendance at UU congregations—often referred to among ministers as the “Trump Bump.” At the time, my seminary studies took me away from regular Sunday worship, so I did not experience this first-hand. Nonetheless, I knew that a Trump electoral victory in 2024 would similarly result in more new people attending UUFCM services. This has proven to be true the past two Sundays. More brand-new people, more people who attend occasionally, more people who have been away for years. I believe they come because they are trying to process the new moment in America and what it means; they come because they are seeking community with liberal and progressive people; they come because they are scared, angry or sad and need to be comforted. Some new people may be reading this column for the first time, having just signed up.
 
This is an expansive time for UUFCM, when more people are drawn to our doors and our message of love; this is a tender time for UUFCM, when people are hurting and vulnerable; this is a transitional time for UUFCM, as we figure out how to meet this moment. I am reminded that every time new people join a congregation, they change it. And this is how it should be: we don’t want new people to assimilate and become just like the ones who are already here. Just as the 2024 election changes all of us, new people change our congregation. And this moment calls us to our highest purpose as a congregation: to be a place of refuge and comfort, to be a community of love and caring. All of us need love and caring, and all of us are able to offer love and caring—but not to the same degree or at the same time. Some need more than they are able to give; some are able to give more…and this shifts over time.
 
This is a time when Unitarian Universalists need to return to our roots and our values: love for all people; defending the rights and dignity of those who hold marginalized identities; the belief that diversity brings richness to our community and that no one is above anyone else. And we need to recognize that many of us are especially tender right now: this allows for deeper connections, and also makes us vulnerable to misunderstandings. As we progress into this new moment let us grow stronger in love.
 
PRAYER:
May all who are hurting find gentle and compassionate welcome.
May those who are scared find safety.
May this congregation offer healing and community.
May small differences be set aside in service of greater good.
For the ones who are here and the ones who are yet to come: may love bless all.
Amen.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
November 19, 2024

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
As I reflect on last week’s election, I am thinking about gender. I was truly expecting Kamala Harris to win on the strength of female voters. Instead, it feels like America is unwilling to elect a female president. We have re-elected a rampant misogynist in Donald Trump, and we have put a political party in power that keeps enacting absurdly strict anti-abortion laws. Taking these things together, I feel that the rights and dignity of women have been badly harmed by this election. As a man, I call on other men to speak out for the sake of protecting and honoring women.
 
The men’s group that I participate in teaches men to be in touch with our feelings; we learn that masculinity is love, gentleness, strength and connection. And we become better fathers, husbands, sons and brothers through this work. Our motto is “heal men, heal the planet.” My best friend from ManKind Project is Dave, who works in the local food movement in northeast Ohio. He is as burly as a bear and as gentle as a kitten. He has volunteered in the state prison with men who are serving time for abuse—healing these men and making communities safer.
 
A year ago I went to Dave’s wedding. Today I got a text message from him with a photo: Dave holding his newborn baby. This beautiful man with his precious tiny baby fills me with hope and love. On behalf of this baby I re-dedicate myself to the work of love and justice; I re-dedicate myself to the ideals of healthy masculinity and to healing men. Men can be part of the problem of misogyny; we can also be part of the solution of empowering women and all people.
 
PRAYER:
May the men of America be loving, kind, and respectful to all women.
May we denounce violence, rape, and assault in our families; in our neighborhoods; and in the White House.
May we reclaim masculinity as a positive force for growth, healing, creativity and nurturing.
 
Blessed be.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
November 12, 2024

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
This week I went to see a movie called “Conclave” which is in theaters now. In this fictional film focused on the election of a new pope, I found interesting parallels to Unitarian Universalist politics; to the national presidential election; and to the private vs. public life of clergy.
 
I won’t spoil the plot here, but the movie follows the drama of the college of cardinals who assemble at the Vatican immediately after the death of the pope, to elect the new pope from among their own assembly. Necessarily this involves factions with diverse views about the direction of the church. While the Unitarian Universalist faith is a tiny fraction of the Catholic faith in terms of number and influence, we have been through our own version of this in recent years with the internal debates about the 8th Principle and the Article II revision. These debates were about how we center anti-racism in our faith and how we articulate love to be a core UU value—among other things. And while the votes about UU faith are made by congregations and by thousands of delegates at General Assembly (as opposed to dozens of Catholic cardinals sequestered at the Vatican), there are inevitably conversations and proposals and compromises among powerful individuals in UU leadership that also make a difference. I just don’t expect a feature film to be made about behind-the-scenes debates over the values and principles of Unitarian Universalism. What’s true about both Catholicism and Unitarian Universalism is that there are crossroads moments in the direction of the denomination that are decided by important votes.
 
To a lesser degree, the film had moments that reminded me of the presidential election that is taking so much time, attention, and energy in our nation today. In both cases, the role and the rights of women is an issue that divides voters.
 
Finally, I found “Conclave” enjoyable just as a story. The characters were rich and nuanced and interesting. Throughout the film we see the cardinals in their public role and in their private moments. As a minister myself, I appreciated the truth woven through the story: that clergy are mortal humans with frailties, doubts, and even crises of faith. Whether or not you are religious, I think the movie is worth watching on these grounds alone: as a story of human relationships including love, loyalty, betrayal, compassion and more.
 
PRAYER:
On this Election Day 2024, may all Americans be safe.
May the polls be safe and may the people show up peacefully to express their wishes.
May the work of democracy--which is the work of poll workers and poll watchers and ballot counters—be carried out with calm deliberation.
May we all be courageous and compassionate on voting day and on the days that follow.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
November 5, 2024

​Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
This Monday I spent my day off traveling to Ann Arbor to hear Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. After finding parking, I walked across the University of Michigan campus, filled with students and the unmistakable energy of a college in the middle of the fall semester. Getting close to the city park where the rally was held, I saw the line that stretched for many blocks—it took several minutes just to find the end of the line. In the next hour, I made new friends with those around me as the line snaked through the sidewalks of a beautiful Ann Arbor neighborhood in the afternoon light amid gorgeous fall colors.

I finally went through a security check point staffed by the secret service, then found my place in the park: the bleachers were full and the grass soon filled up to where we were standing shoulder to shoulder. Then musician Maggie Rogers warmed up the crowd with some of her songs: a young singer with a beautiful voice that moved me and set a quiet tone for the evening.

As I was waiting for the candidates to speak, I realized that I was looking for hope and inspiration. It may have been my imagination, but I felt that the crowd overall had a bit of tension and uneasiness—a little more “wait and see what happens” energy and a little less exuberant joy energy than I expected.

When Kamala Harris delivered her speech, there came a moment when she called out specifically to men, in the context of women’s reproductive health care. Men don’t want to see their wives, their sisters, their daughters, their friends have to risk their lives when they want to make choices about their health care, she said. No we don’t, I said. One or two men’s voices in the crowd around me said the same thing. And in that quiet moment, in that packed crowd, I realized that my voice matters and my energy matters. I am not here in this election to wait for someone else to fix problems for me. I am here to build coalitions and build community.

When the speeches ended, much of the crowd left immediately. And a large number of us stayed, crowding forward as far as the security barriers would allow, hoping for a closer glimpse of the famous candidates. It was a rock star moment, yes: I was drawn by the desire to get close to the people I normally see only on TV. And I wanted to get close enough to say to them: I’ve got your back. Elected leaders in this country are not there to serve us only—we serve them as well, in a partnership to build the best society we can. Politics is not a spectator sport, it is a call for action and engagement. In this important election may we all remember that we have a voice and that we are called to build a brighter future together.

PRAYER:
May this election season bring people together, not tear us apart.
May we see the common goals that unite us and reject any calls to denigrate groups of people.
May God bless the public safety officers who protect the candidates and spectators.
May God bless the EMT’s who respond to emergencies in the crowd.
May God bless America as we are so close to this important election.
Amen.

Rev. Drew Frantz
October 29, 2024