| Each month we follow a theme for worship services. In November, it was Change. As the calendar turns to December, the year turns toward winter, and the season from harvest to yule, the new theme is Wonder. Here is a poem called “Mysteries, Yes” by Mary Oliver: Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood. How grass can be nourishing in the mouths of the lambs. How rivers and stones are forever in allegiance with gravity while we ourselves dream of rising. How two hands touch and the bonds will never be broken. How people come, from delight or the scars of damage, to the comfort of a poem. Let me keep my distance, always, from those who think they have the answers. Let me keep company always with those who say “Look!” and laugh in astonishment, and bow their heads. I love the theme of Wonder because I love the lesson it contains: be amazed. Delight in small things. Reflect on everyday mysteries like love and gravity and nourishment. Indeed I come to poems for comfort, and I come both with delight and with sorrow. The last part of this poem is my favorite. Wisdom is not in answers but in noticing and delighting. It makes me think of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. One of the wisest and quietest and most powerful characters in the story is Tom Bombadil. He has no power to make war or to rule kingdoms, but his power comes from the earth and from his connection with it. He knows his land and knows that he belongs there—and he laughs in delight as he goes about his business. He laughs when the sun appears from behind the clouds or when a bird sings. These things, as Mary Oliver suggests, are worthy of astonishment and of wonder. PRAYER: Earth Wheel; Star Wheel that turns time; Great Mystery; hear my prayer: May delight and wonder be abundant in our lives, May we be wise enough to wonder at daily miracles all around us, May we be child-like enough to laugh and be in awe at everyday beauty. Blessed be. Rev. Andrew Frantz |
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I am still experiencing shock and mourning two days after hearing the news of the deadly shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs. I learned about the shooting on Sunday morning during the rehearsal time before the worship service. I had already planned a very emotionally heavy service for Transgender Day of Remembrance, the annual occasion to remember and honor the many transgender people who have died from violence in the past year. By the time I began to speak from the pulpit, I hadn’t processed the emotional trauma of this news: 5 dead and 18 wounded at a mass shooting in a gay nightclub; a suspect is in custody. As I shared the news aloud, I heard the gasps from some in the sanctuary who were just learning of it in that moment.
This worship service was the most emotionally raw Sunday morning I’ve experienced in my years of ministry. I worry that the shocking news along with the gut-wrenching slide show of 73 trans people who have died this year was overwhelming. It may have felt like too much for those in attendance. If you are still feeling the grief, sadness, anger, fear associated with this event, or feelings brought up by Sunday’s worship service, take care of yourself. Reach out for support to me, to loved ones, to anyone in your support system. Be gentle and loving with yourself. I said this on Sunday, and I repeat it here: This is the place where the pain is—and this is the place where the hope is. Because we care enough and love enough to feel the pain when our fellow humans (especially queer and trans in this case) are harmed, we keep open the place within ourselves for compassion. From that place comes hope. I believe in dancing. I believe in joy. I believe in striving to create safe spaces for queer people. I believe in everyone exuberantly and joyfully being their full selves. I have hope for our human community and for our American society. PRAYER: May healing come to the victims of the shooting in Colorado; to their families, friends and loved ones. May the day come when people who are transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer not be afraid to live in public, to gather in public, to be themselves in every corner of the world. May we hasten that day by fiercely promoting love for all people, with no exceptions. Blessed be. Rev. Andrew Frantz
Election Day is coming up soon – Tuesday November 8. This year I will again be volunteering for the day with Election Defenders, who are mobilizing teams of UU ministers (and others) to go to key states, including Michigan. My assignment is to be available in the Grand Rapids area for the day, to show up at any polling place where conflict arises with the aim of helping voters and de-escalating conflict. I follow political news closely, and there are alarming trends in this country: political violence, election denialism, undermining faith in voting, voter intimidation. In this environment I am called to use my power in defense of the democratic process, and this is one way for me to do that.
I encourage everyone reading this column to vote and to encourage your loved ones to vote. One of the issues on the ballot in Michigan is reproductive freedom. As I’ve written before in this column, Unitarian Universalism is strongly and formally in support of reproductive freedom. As a religious institution, we are within our legal rights to advocate for issues such as this in elections–but legally we must not advocate for specific candidates. For the reproductive freedom ballot question–question 3–I was somewhat taken aback to see the huge sign at the Catholic church, just two blocks away from our UU fellowship, telling people to vote “no” on this question. Since then I have read news reports that the Catholic church is leading the effort to oppose this ballot question. They are within their rights to do this, and expressing what they presumably hold as a religious value, but I think they are on the wrong side of history and of popular opinion in this case. More importantly, I think the Catholic church is on the wrong side of this question morally. To love pregnant women is to allow them the freedom to choose what happens with their bodies, not to grant that power to the government. A “yes” vote on question 3 reinstates the abortion protections that were in place under Roe v. Wade, and in the context of my value system that is the right vote. On my cell phone today I got a text message from UU the Vote, our voting rights advocacy group within Unitarian Universalism. It was a blessing and I share this blessing with you: May our values call forth the energy to do the work of love, justice, and democracy. May our fears be enveloped in love larger than any hate. May we manifest our faith in actions this election week. Amen to that. PRAYER: May voters be safe on Election Day. May poll workers and election officials be safe. May all citizens follow their conscience, their higher reason, their humane values, in casting their votes; and may democracy be strengthened by the exercise of the votes on this day. May divine blessing come to those of every faith and of no faith. May every person be blessed and loved and safe, with no exceptions. May it be so. Rev. Andrew 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
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