| Thanksgiving, in my life experience, has been a time to connect to family through tradition. I remember Thanksgivings with my uncle and grandparents. I remember Thanksgivings in my home town and in the town where I raised my kids. I’ve had Thanksgiving Day in Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, Arizona, New York, and on the island of St. John—and now in Michigan. Today I went shopping for the Thanksgiving meal I am planning for myself, my partner, and my kids who are arriving tonight. I’m grateful for the money I have to buy the things I need; I’m grateful for the stable agricultural and economic system that makes food and other things so readily available; and above all, I’m grateful for loving connections with my family. At Sunday’s worship service, everyone was invited to write down what they are grateful for. Young and old shared aloud during the service; many people posted their paper leaves on our “tree of gratitude” in the sanctuary. Here’s what some of them say: What are you grateful for?
I am honored to be witness to these heartfelt expressions of gratitude. The tree of gratitude will remain on display for a few weeks in the sanctuary or the fellowship hall. Food sustains my body, but love and connection with family and friends keeps me alive in mind and spirit. I’m grateful for my health—in body, mind, and spirit. I’m grateful for the chance to be with loved ones on this holiday of tradition and gratitude. Prayer Divine spirit of the earth, grower and sustainer of life, we thank you. Energy of the sun, that all earthly life depends on, we thank you. We thank the rain that fed the crops, the hands that planted and harvested, the bakers and cooks and preparers of our food. We are thankful for the vehicles and roads and safety workers, the drivers and pilots who bring loved ones together across the miles. We lament the loss of loved ones who are not at our table any longer, and we feel the connection with them through tradition and memory. May all who are hungry find a table set with a dinner to feed them. May all who are lonely find companions to share their experience with. May we all be reminded of what we are grateful for, to sweeten our appreciation of this tragic, beautiful, scary, delightful life. Blessed Be. Andrew Frantz |
The snow and cold this week feel more like the deep of winter, though it’s not even Thanksgiving yet. I’m aware of the effect this weather has on me: it pushes me to be isolated, to stay inside. Already I have switched my jogging practice from the freedom and joy of running outside in the warm weather to the relative drudgery of running on a treadmill in a gym during the winter. I’m still grateful for the health of my body that allows me to run, and for the benefit to my mind, body, and spirit when I do it—but it’s a big seasonal adjustment.
More important is the idea of isolation versus connection. We humans are social creatures. We thrive on connections, giving and receiving love. I know that I am emotionally healthy when I am connected, and I am less emotionally healthy when I isolate. Ideally these opportunities for connection with others occur organically in the course of my daily routine, but I often need to have discipline to make it happen. For me that means reaching out to loved ones (often by text message), as well as scheduling time for social groups and support groups that I’m part of. And all of it feels harder when it’s cold and snowy outside. I’ve heard a saying that there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. I’ve seen pictures of a preschool where the kids go outside and play in any weather whatsoever—if they are muddy after playing in the rain in their head-to-toe rain gear, a hose rinses them off when they come inside. In the same vein, one of my minister friends in Lansing gave advice to those of us who are new to Michigan: dress in layers. Everyone is a little bit taken aback by the severity of this early-season cold, but we are resilient people. We can handle this. My wish for you, for me, and for all of us is to stay warm and stay connected. Prayer Sprit of Life and Love, be with me now in this season of cold. Be with me in the beauty of the snow swirling outside my window. Be with me in the bright sharp feeling of the air outside and in the warmth within my body that keeps me alive. Divine spirit, be with me in calm moments of solitude, present as the still small voice within. Be with me in moments of connection with others: God-between-us that is present when we recognize the divine in one another. And be with me in the mystery beyond: in the full moon rising, in the beauty of the bare tree branches against the cloudy sky. Blessed be. Aho. Amen. Andrew Frantz This week my partner will complete the move from the home we shared in Ohio to our new home in Michigan. While I have been starting this ministry position with the Fellowship, she has been busy with the move.
I thought of this recently because of a conversation I had with a Fellowship member. This person often attends with their partner, but on this day their partner didn’t come. I asked them where their partner was. They replied that their partner made their own choices, and sometimes decided to attend and sometimes didn’t. I appreciated this gentle reminder of boundaries. My partner may sometimes come to events at the Fellowship—Sunday mornings and other times—and may not. It’s obviously not my business to decide for her, and it’s also not my place to explain her presence or absence to anyone else. This is true in other ways in a covenantal community like our Fellowship. Some people may have boundaries around how much they want to discuss their children. Or their emotional challenges. Or their illness. I think it’s OK for us to ask one another, from a place of loving kindness, about one another’s family members or other personal issues. And it’s OK for someone to choose not to talk about it. We shouldn’t take it personally if someone has boundaries around parts of their personal life. It’s up to each of us to set the boundaries that we decide to, and to honor the boundaries that others set. Rather than diminishing trust and love, healthy boundaries strengthen our covenantal community so that all can feel safe and connected in the work of love and justice that we are called to do. Prayer: Gracious and loving God: Spirit of life and love: Mother Earth and Father Sky: hear my prayer. May I have the courage to be open and vulnerable, to seek connection with others through my own willingness to share. May I have the wisdom and strength to protect what should not be shared, for the emotional good of myself and others. May I know the balance between vulnerability and strong boundaries, knowing the right time and place for each. May all people find this balance. May our community and our world be a place where everyone feels safe, where everyone chooses when to let others into their trust. May our community and our world be a place where everyone respects boundaries out of love and kindness. May the experience of safety, and of love freely given and freely received, bless the whole world with no exceptions. May it be so. Yours in faith and service, Andrew (Drew) Frantz |
Rev. Andrew FrantzUUFCM Minister Office hours:
In-person Tuesday 10-noon Wednesday 1-3 & 8-9pm Outside of Office Hours, Drew is reachable at any time via text, phone, or email. Day off: Monday Contact for emergencies only [email protected] Phone/text: 440-935-0129 Pastoral Care Concerns
For support with life’s challenges, please contact Drew during his office hours or make an appointment with him. For specific needs such as rides to medical appointments or meals for people recovering from illness or surgery, please contact the Caring Team (formerly Arms Around) via Jen Prout at 989-400-3130 or [email protected]. Every effort will be made to lessen the burden on the individual or family who is dealing with a difficult circumstance. Archives
April 2026
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