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

10/30/2019

 
Every day I read the news and/or listen to the news on the radio. I have an intense interest in national politics at this historic time. We are in the middle of a presidency that is changing fundamental things about our democracy and our society. The challenge for me, often, is to stay positive and grounded when consuming news that is deeply disturbing. I want to be engaged in making a difference, and spending too much time reading about things happening far away can take away from the energy I want to put in right here.

I was born in this country and it’s the only home I’ve ever known. I love the United States, although I have never thought it was better than any other country—just different. Exactly one year ago I was in Chile, visiting my son who was studying abroad there. On my phone I have a 12-second video that I took one Sunday morning, riding on a local commuter train. Musicians are playing on the train car for donations–in this case a harp and guitar duet. Families are talking. It was striking to me how much safer and happier the trains felt in Chile compared to Chicago. On Chicago trains, everyone is wary and sad looking. And in the news this week is also news about Chile, suffering unrest and violence in the capital Santiago, where I visited last year.

Last week my cousin called me: she was born in Ecuador, and she asked me to pray for family members there because there is also political and social unrest, although it’s not reported much on our news.

This brings me back around to our constitutional crisis with the impeachment underway and some conservative activists threatening violence if the president is impeached. I love my country, and I want democracy and decency to prevail. I love Chile, where I spent a week and where my son spent six months living with an amazing host mom. I love Ecuador, where my aunt and cousin were born and where I have visited the rainforest, a natural wonder of the world. People from one place are not better or worse than people from another place. We all have the capacity for compassion, love and generosity—and we all have the capacity for greed and violence. May the senators in Washington choose love and compassion. May it be so for everyone.

Prayer:
God of this great and powerful nation, God of smaller nations around the world, God of ancient nations and nations yet to be and God of no nation or tribe whatsoever, hear my prayer. May the elected officials know humility; may they be called to greater honesty and accountability, and where they have been corrupted by power, may they be healed of that corruption. May the police and armies of this nation and of every nation know restraint, so that violence does not spread. May the voice of the common people be heard, and may people gather in common purpose, expressing themselves through protest and action, through speech and voting.

May we all know that we are human first before we are American, Chilean, or Ecuadorian; and may we be united in striving for compassion and fairness in every nation.

May it be so.


Yours in faith and service,
Andrew (Drew) 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