UUFCM
  • HOME
  • WORSHIP
    • Welcome!
    • About UU Worship
    • Upcoming Services >
      • Orders of Service and Inserts
      • Worship Resources
    • Music Program
    • On Spirituality
    • For Inspiration...
    • Sermon Archive
  • LEARN
    • Learn – Faith Development
    • WiRE
    • Youth RE
    • Adult RE
  • CONNECT
    • Find Community – Connect Your Life
    • Social Justice >
      • Social Justice News >
        • Election Worker
      • Anti-Racism
      • Mother Earth Love
      • Social Justice Interest Survey
    • Serve
    • Shared Interest Groups >
      • Social Events
      • Shared Interest Groups Calendar
    • Calendar
  • NEWS
    • UUFCM eNews >
      • Subscribe to UUFCM eNews
    • UUFCM Events
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Minister >
      • Minister’s Column
    • Membership >
      • New Members
    • Who We Are >
      • Covenant and Mission
      • Welcoming Congregation
      • Arms Around
      • What UUs Believe
      • Principles
      • UUFCM History >
        • Past as Prologue
    • Administration & Staff
    • Governance >
      • Leadership >
        • 2022 Annual Meeting Documents
      • UUFCM Bylaws
      • UUFCM Policies
      • UUFCM Board Minutes
    • Facility Use
  • VISIT
    • Visit the UUFCM
    • What to Expect
    • Service Cancellation Policy
    • Safety Procedures
  • CONTACT
    • Ask Us
    • Find Us
    • Directory & Important Contacts
  • DONATE
    • Ways to Contribute >
      • Pledge Card
      • Volunteer Form
    • Stewardship >
      • Testimonials

Minister’s Column

9/14/2022

 
Last week I wrote about using the wayside pulpit sign at UUFCM to announce events and to proclaim our values of love and justice in the world. Shortly after that, I saw an announcement from a UU colleague that their wayside pulpit had been vandalised.

This UU congregation was known in their community for being welcoming to people of all genders and sexualities, and the messages on their sign board stated as much. Just like ours. Their Sunday worship sometimes focussed on LGBTQ rights and dignity. Just like ours. The vandals spray-painted F*** the LGBT across the glass of the wayside pulpit. 

The vandalism of signs that proclaim racial justice (usually Black Lives Matter) or LGBTQ justice (usually rainbow flags or signs) is nothing new. Today when I went looking for the Facebook announcement about this act of vandalism (to remind myself of the details), I found many other instances of UU churches–and other houses of worship–having their signs and banners and buildings vandalised. Religious leaders who post responses to these acts of vandalism often strike a balance of forgiveness and defiance: we forgive the person who acted out of hate; there is no way that we are going to let hatred and intimidation stop us from proclaiming and living out our values.

In the Water Ingathering service this past Sunday, I was delighted to share a video message from the national president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Reverend Susan Frederick-Gray. Her message emphasized the unity of Unitarian Universalists across this continent, connected by the water service that we perform around this time in the fall–and connected by the values of inclusion, diversity, and anti-oppression that define our religious movement. Because we dare to be known for these positions, we are united by being targets (or potential targets) of hatred and intimidation. May we be strengthened by our unity; may we steadfast in expressing our values and our love.

PRAYER:
May the house of worship that suffered vandalism be blessed with recovery from this trauma; may the people be filled with resolve; may they be safe from further harm.

May the perpetrators of this vandalism be filled with loving kindness; may they be well; may they be whole; may they know love and forgiveness.

May it be so.

Rev. Andrew Frantz

Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Rev. Andrew Frantz

    UUFCM Minister

    Office hours:
    Drew's office hours are suspended until further notice. However, he is reachable at any time via email, phone, or text.
    Day off: Monday

    minister@uufcm.org 
    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 Arms Around team via Gisela Moffit at gbmoffit@gmail.com or 989-772-1602. Every effort will be made to lessen the burden on the individual or family who is dealing with a difficult circumstance.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Worship Services

Sunday Mornings at 10:30 a.m.
Upcoming Services:
February 5: Coming to Terms
February 12: Growing into Our Future


​

Quick Links

Minister's Column
​Sermon Archive
eNews
  - Subscribe!

Calendar
​Find Us
​Directory
​Facility Rental
The UUFCM is funded solely by members and friends.
Picture

We are a Welcoming Congregation

Picture
Service Cancellation Policy
 ©2023         319 S. University Ave., Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 • P.O. Box 41 • 989.400.4933 • admin@uufcm.org