​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

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
Just now I filled out my absentee ballot. Sitting with my wife at the dining room table, we made sure we were following the directions; we double-checked our research for the obscure down-ballot races and the non-partisan section. The ballots are sealed and will be dropped off tomorrow. As I write this, election day is two weeks away.
 
Political ads, news about candidates holding rallies, and tons of polls and analysis fill traditional and social media. At a meeting of ministers today, the leader asked the rest of us how we are taking care of ourselves and how we are taking care of our congregations. What a good question! My intention is to lean into the spiritual practices that ground me: connection with family and friends; physical exercise; playing music; enjoying nature. I’ve heard this advice and I’m trying to heed it: in times of stress, we need to be more deliberate about our self-care and spiritual practices. More time to take care of ourselves.
 
As for the congregation, I think that an opportunity to gather the day after the election is important. Chances are high that definitive results will not be in for some days afterwards, and that time might be more stressful than the pre-election worrying. I am figuring out the details and timing, and open to input and suggestions.
 
For everyone who is connected with this congregation, I invite you to think about how to lean into this community for support. After the worship service last week I was talking to someone in the congregation about the fear of things going wrong on election day. I feel that fear too, and this is the hopeful thing I can say: we will still have each other. Whatever happens on November 5 and the days after, the UUFCM community will be alive and well. The connections and support we offer to one another will be needed. Even in the best case scenario, there will be more work to be done for love and justice after the election. Let us hope for and work for the best outcome, and let us be prepared to confront any outcome with resilience, strength and love.
 
PRAYER:
In this election season, may grace and peace bless each one of us.
May the pollworkers be safe.
May the voters be kind and compassionate—and determined and resilient in the face of any long lines or challenges.
May the turmoil of this nation give way to neighbors loving and respecting one another.
May democracy bring out the best in all of us.
Blessed be.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
October 22, 2024

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
In the Jewish tradition, these are the Days of Awe. The holiday of Rosh Hashanah was last week on October 2; Yom Kippur is October 11. The days in between are the time for reflection, as explained on the Wikipedia page for Yom Kippur: “During the Days of Awe, a Jew reflects on the year, goals, and past actions, how his or her behavior has possibly hurt others and seeks forgiveness for wrongs done against God and against other human beings.”
 
Some Unitarian Universalists are practicing Jews who observe these holidays…and most of us are not. Still, we all can acknowledge the wisdom of a yearly practice of reflection, atonement and goal-setting. The goal-setting is familiar in American popular culture, as we do at New Year’s. Atonement for mis-deeds (or sins) and asking forgiveness is not part of American popular culture, but remains part of the religious landscape. Catholics and other Christian denominations have rituals for confessing sins and seeking forgiveness.
 
Unitarian Universalists do not have a structured system of atonement and forgiveness in our tradition. In this moment, therefore, we might do well to emulate the Jewish people in their Days of Awe. Reflecting on recent months, how have my actions possibly harmed others? What would it look like to pray to God for forgiveness? To ask those I have harmed for forgiveness? Seeing this day as a new beginning (as Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish new year), what goals or intentions do I have? How can I be the best version of myself?
 
Unitarian Universalism was founded in 1961, and we are often focused on today and the evolving values and beliefs of our faith. Judaism and the Days of Awe date back thousands of years, and there is wisdom and value in these old traditions. May all who embrace this Jewish new year as a time for reflection and self-improvement be blessed—whether they grew up with this tradition or whether they are respectfully borrowing its wisdom.
 
PRAYER:
God of many names and no name, bless every Jew on Earth: from Tel Aviv to Brooklyn; from Poland to Pennsylvania. May all who practice atonement during the Days of Awe be blessed with self-awareness, humility, and forgiveness. Amen. Shalom.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
October 8, 2024

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Michigan
Minister’s Column
 
On Thursday afternoon I got the first inkling of the hurricane approaching and the impact it might have--so far south from my home in Michigan that it feels disconnected from my reality. I was on a Zoom call with other UU’s, and we were calling voters in Florida to support the abortion rights ballot amendment. Don’t worry, said the organizers of the call, we are not calling the part of Florida where people are evacuating ahead of the hurricane—we are calling voters on the other side of the state, hours from the storm’s path. It was during the next two days that I heard about the devastation in Asheville, North Carolina. I have family in Asheville—my brother-in-law Duncan—and I have visited there several times.
 
On social media I saw several alarming videos of cars and houses underwater, of boats up on dry land, and buildings smashed. The iconic mind-blowing video that I saw showed an intact house floating down a river that used to be a street—floating, crashing into a tree, and being swept under the water. Then I listened to a press conference with the governor alongside other state-wide leaders: department of roads, emergency management, National Guard, and more. Both interstates serving Asheville had been blocked; now one was re-opened. The other interstate could take months to be repaired. The city of Asheville was having food and water airlifted in by helicopter because so many roads were cut off. Rescue crews of first responders and utility workers, national guard troops and aircraft had already arrived or were on their way from Ohio, New Hampshire, Michigan, Florida, and more. This is the part that makes me weep every time I think of it: imagining the many soldiers and nurses and linemen and other heroes who head toward the danger when a disaster like this strikes. The officials in the press conference talked about more than a hundred rescues in western North Carolina, along with more than a dozen deaths.
 
Most of this city has been without power, water, or cell phone service for several days now. On Saturday I heard from other family members that Duncan was OK, and then yesterday I saw his post on Facebook: he was able to get out to another city where the conditions are better—although gas and food are scarce, and the ATMs are out of cash. And he wrote this in his Facebook post: “SO MUCH RESILIENCE. SO MUCH LOVE AND STRENGTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. The outpouring of helpers and heroes in Asheville right now is amazing to witness.” That was yesterday. Today he is using his Facebook post to name the restaurant that is staging food distributions and sharing the phone number of the coordinator, asking anyone with a truck or SUV to help if they can.
 
People are good. People are helpful. People come together in hard times. May we all be inspired by their example, and connect with the most generous parts of ourselves.
 
PRAYER:
May all those affected by Hurricane Helen be safe and well.
God of mercy and love, lend your strength to those first responders, those public servants, and those good neighbors who are working even now to help others.
Spirit of life and love, be with those who are lonely, scared, hungry; be with those who have lost loved ones to this storm.
May love and strength and safety come to all who have been hit by this storm. May tomorrow bring greater hope.
Blessed be.
 
Rev. Drew Frantz
October 1, 2024