Dear friends and members of University UMC:
Christmas is just around the corner and this weekend holds great excitement as our children share with us their annual Christmas pageant at the Sunday morning service. I look forward to seeing you there. The children's Wesley Choir will be singing, too, and our adult Sanctuary Choir will don tinsel as they play the role of the angel choir.
Today, I feel led to share a few things with you that are different in tone. In keeping with the joy of the upcoming children's pageant, I think of the many children’s books I love at this time of year. At the same time, I acknowledge that for some, there is grief or pain for a variety of reasons, such as the loss of a child, broken relationships, or the longing to be a parent. More on that below. And know that some of what is shared below about reproductive freedom may be troubling or difficult to read depending on personal experiences and perspectives. Give yourself permission to not read. To breathe. To call a friend.
As for children’s books, I highly recommend any of these for your holiday shopping list! One book is entitled "Refuge" by Anne Booth. The book (told from the donkey’s perspective!) tells the struggle of Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus as refugees traveling in a strange land, seeking the protection and kindness of strangers. "Home by Another Way" is the first children’s book by gifted Episcopal preacher Barbara Brown Taylor, and tells of the Magi’s visit to Jesus. Another is "God’s Dream" by Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. The story told is of God’s desire for us to grow in love and the illustrations are beautiful. Below, you can find links to YouTube videos of these stories, including our own Jillian Moore reading God’s Dream.
Our sermon series throughout the Advent and Christmas season is centered on the theme of DREAMS. I am grateful for the liturgical resource known as A Sanctified Art. The creative team at this organization wrote some of the liturgy we’ve used in recent weeks. One member of their team, named Sarah Are, has written a poem entitled, “To Carry a Dream,” and you can find it below as well.
When I ponder the concept of “dreams,” and when I consider the joy of children, I can’t help but turn my attention to more sensitive and painful matters. Here’s the thing, each year around this time, my heart is warmed by the beautiful story of pregnant Mary anticipating the birth of her child. At the same time, my heart is heavy with the knowledge that pregnancy and motherhood hold deeply personal and complex stories for a great number of people. Some of you are already aware I made a statement on Reproductive Freedom following the Texas Supreme Court’s decision to block a woman’s access to an abortion after a lower court had previously approved of the procedure. I recognize there are a wide range of opinions and perspectives regarding abortion rights, even within our congregation. I also recognize the need for people of faith like you and me to learn and engage in courageous conversations around these matters. This is because as we prepare our hearts to once again receive the Christ child, somewhere there is a woman who is in grief following a miscarriage. Somewhere, there are people devastated because they are not able to have children. Somewhere, there is a woman hearing from her doctor that her pregnancy is life-threatening. Somewhere can be next door. Or across the aisle in a neighboring pew.
I share this, friends, because I know from my own experience in ministry, and in life, that a great number of stories are held by people with whom we work and worship. I share this because I know you to be a congregation that has the strength and courage to engage in hard conversations. Some church leaders and staff members have already begun engaging in these conversations and I look forward to more engagement in the new year. For today, I leave you with one final link below. It is an incredible resource I discovered by A Sanctified Art–the same people who have crafted some of our Advent liturgy. The resource was designed for clergy, but I find it helpful information for all people to have as it includes helpful information and pointers on what to say or not say when engaging with persons intimately connected to matters of reproductive freedom.
I know this subject matter isn’t the most festive for almost any time of the year. I also know avoiding the mention of such stories denies the reality that some are living with and causes some to feel unseen. I am so proud to serve alongside you and join you in prayer for those who are experiencing grief and despair at this time of the year. I look forward to seeing you in worship. My sermon will be much lighter in tone as we consider what we can learn from Mary and Elizabeth about being the church together. We will enjoy the children’s pageant and we will also bless baby blankets. At UUMC, for many years, blankets have been made by members of our community of faith and will be delivered to Neonatal intensive care units where they will be given to parents of premature babies. Each blanket is made with love and prayers. What a beautiful ministry! May we continue to join our hearts in prayer for all the children of the world who live in places of fear and terror. In the words of Sarah Are, "May they say We are foolish and unwise, And may we continue to dream; May hope keep us alive."
What a joy to be your pastor!
Teresa
