I’ve had the pleasure of attending two student theatrical performances in the past two weeks: “Alice in Wonderland” at the Broadway Theatre, and “Mamma Mia!” at Mount Pleasant High School. For both shows I was there on opening night, in a nearly-full auditorium, (it’s still weird, three years after the pandemic started, to be in a crowded in-person space and most of us aren’t even wearing masks), and both of these experiences gave me a sense of community and joy.
 
As with any theatrical undertaking, I’m amazed by the dedication and commitment to a common goal that it takes to stage these shows. “Mamma Mia!” featured musical numbers with 30 high schoolers on stage at once, singing and dancing; “Alice” was staged with a cast of youngsters from 2nd grade to high school. Costumes, sets, live music, singing, dancing, lighting—these shows are a labor of love for the cast, crew, directors…and for the parents.
 
Both audiences were full of families: parents with flowers for the performers; grandparents; younger siblings. After each show I was able to talk with parents who were full of pride for their kids. Many of the kids in these shows find a sense of belonging and purpose and success in the theatre that they do not find elsewhere. I got a sense of that from these shows and these parents; and that’s the way it was when I was in student productions in high school as well.
 
The sense of joy and community that I had at both of these performances is summed up in one moment from “Alice in Wonderland.” Earlier, the show had been interrupted briefly by a fire alarm going off in the middle of one of the scenes. The young actors took it in stride and resumed after a brief delay, starting from the beginning of the scene. After the show, young actors, their families and much of the audience gathered on the sidewalk in front of the theater. The crowd was alive with flowers and hugs; the kids still had their make up and costumes on; proud parents were beaming and taking photos. The hugs and laughter, the love and relief and pride and joy spilled from the sidewalk into the street and brightened the cold March air. The sidewalk and street were momentarily transformed into a surging oasis of joy.
 
Long live the theatre. Long live the joy of people coming together for art and community.
 
PRAYER:
May the actors and singers and musicians be blessed. May the parents with the endless rides to rehearsals and moral support be blessed. May the directors and choreographers be blessed.
 
May every human community be blessed with art—theatre, dance, and song—may art and artists thrive in this place and throughout the world.
 
Amen.
 
Rev. Andrew Frantz

“The dream of one world is our North Star,
the light we follow no matter where we are,
the dream of justice liberty and peace for all.
If we only keep that star in view,
we know for sure our course is true.”
​
These words are an excerpt from the choral piece sung by the choir last Sunday. Composer
David Wolfson took the seven principles of Unitarian Universalism and crafted choral music
with rhyming lyrics for each. In this case, the star metaphor connects to the 6th principle (The
goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all). As a singer, this line was my
favorite one musically, with a graceful soaring melody. As a minister, I appreciate how this
line—and the whole seven-part composition—reinterprets the seven principles in a fresh way
that illuminates their core meaning.

It was delightful to be part of the choir singing this music. It was wonderful to see Ricky
Courlander, UUFCM member and fellow tenor, connect with her son David Wolfson—the gifted
composer of this music—as he joined us on Zoom for the worship service. Afterwards he said
that it was a joyful experience for him as an artist to see that his work is meaningful to the
people for whom he composed it.

In the same Sunday worship service, we held a ceremony to honor and welcome eight new
people into the congregation. They each signed the book of membership, indicating that they
are committing to the ideals of this religious community: that we will see one another in our
fullness; that we will dare to bring all of our gifts and beauty (along with our woundedness) to
this congregation; and that we will seek to repair with love any time that we harm one another.

In the fellowship hall before the worship service, a group of us including the new members had
a moment to check in—going around the room and giving everyone a chance to say how they
are doing today. Like any time that we share authentically with one another, some of us
expressed joy; others were having a bad day or a tough week. Just as when we share joys and
sorrows in our worship services, those feeling joy and right next to those feeling sorrow. This is
true in our community whenever we gather. May we witness one another in our fullness as we
journey together. In the words of David Wolfson,

“Wherever our journeys take us, wherever we might roam,
if we keep our eyes on that Northern Star, we may all, at last, come home.”

PRAYER:
May the deep joy of sharing special music bless this congregation. May the message and beauty
of David Wolfson’s music bless all who hear it.

May the new members of UUFCM – David Allan, Kurt Roeder, Nancy Roeder, Daria Kingman,
Jane Douglas , Phoenix Thompson, Amy Voege, and Darlene Ritchie – find love and community
and spiritual growth here among us.

Blessed be.

Rev. Andrew Frantz

Here are two contrasting pieces of news from the past week regarding state laws that affect the LGBTQ+ community–and all of us. The first is from Michigan, as reported on the website of Bridge Michigan:

• The Michigan Senate voted 23-15 to expand state civil rights act to codify legal protections for LGBTQ communities
• Legislation is supported by a broad coalition of business groups
• Many Republicans argue the legislation goes too far and tried without success to add religious exemptions  

(from bridgemi.com, March 1, 2023)

The second is from Tennessee, as reported on the website of National Public Radio:

• ​​The bill that passed in Tennessee last week restricts "adult cabaret performances" in public or  in the presence of children, and bans them from occurring within 1,000 feet of schools, public parks, or places of worship.   

• This was passed alongside separate legislation that bans transgender minors in Tennessee from receiving gender-affirming care like puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery
• As of a month ago, at least 9 GOP-led state legislatures were pushing similar anti-drag bills.   

(from NPR.org, March 6, 2023)

I have two thoughts to share about this today. One comes from a place of righteous anger and one comes from a place of reflection.

Here and now I reaffirm my stance, and the stance of Unitarian Universalism, on LGBTQ+ rights: That trans people are divine. That discrimination and oppression of any kind–including anti-queer and anti-trans discrimination–is immoral and contrary to UU beliefs and values. That our commitment as a congregation and as a nation-wide/world-wide faith is to be welcoming to people of any sexuality and of any gender expression. That those of us who are straight (heterosexual) must do the work to understand and advocate for our gay/lesbian/bisexual fellow human beings. That those of us who are cisgender must do the work to understand and advocate for our transgender/drag queen/gender non-conforming/non-binary/they-them fellow human beings. And that we are called by our religious values to confront injustice and hateful rhetoric and policies wherever we find them, including in local, state and national governments.

Taking a deep breath, the second thought I wish to share today is reflective. There is both good news and bad news reported above. One state is affirming LGBTQ+ rights and one is attacking those rights–but my mind is consumed with the bad news. The news media that I watch is covering the bad news far more than the good news. It’s important for my mental and spiritual health to remember the good news, and it’s important for me as a faith leader to remind everyone of the hopeful truth as well as the scary truth. Let us affirm that we can and do create loving safe spaces for people of all genders and all sexualities. Let us affirm that many people–the majority of people, I venture to say–are with us on this. Let us gain strength from one another in our small circles (friends, family, congregation) who are working for LGBTQ+ rights and those in the larger circles (state and national policy makers and social justice leaders) as well. May we celebrate accomplishments as we fight like crazy against hateful policies and rhetoric. May we remember and celebrate the good news.

PRAYER:
May gratitude and blessing flow to those lawmakers who vote for inclusion, for the rights of the oppressed and marginalized, for justice and fairness and protection.
May drag queens and trans youth in Tennessee and everywhere be safe; may they know that they are divine and holy and good just as they are; may they never be alone.
May each of us do what we can to promote a world of greater equity and safety and inclusion; of greater love and community for all.
May it be so.

Rev. Andrew Frantz