UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CONGREGATION OF WHIDBEY ISLAND
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P.O. Box 1076, Freeland, WA 98249 360-321-8656
The recovering addict, by changing habits in thinking and action, often by focusing on their spiritual core, works to find unity in the depths of her or his internal conflicts, relying on the company of their community. We also, as individuals, families, andas a congregation may find our unity in the depths of our conflicts, confusions, and diversity, as well as in the sharing of our experience, aspirations, and vision, and by investing in our community.
Most of us may not be addicts per se. But we all have habits that manage to get in our way, habits that may maintain our assumptions, our conflicts, our judgements; habits that may make it hard to accept, enjoy, nurture, and respect ourselves or others; habits that may make it hard, at times, to practice our religionpursue our spiritualityespecially in community. They may make it hard to be with ourselves and others as we would choose to be. Many, if not most, ofthese habits are a function of learning, a function of attitude and experience, and therefore open to change and choice. Our willingness to engage such change involves our willingness to risk, to become more conscious,to give and to be available to others in new ways.
By focusing our spirit, listening to our heart and mind, our own as well as that of others, taking in and acting on our vision (our higher power, our longer view), applying our principles, our reason, and exercising our willwe may discover that elusive unity. We may make the changes in habit required to experience the quality of community for which we strive.
This is how some of us actually change some of our more compromising habits. Sounds simple? It obviously is not, but there surely is a path waiting to be found, in all likelyhood, probably more than onea good friend, a supply of acceptance, faith, trust, and a little loveshould help us find and keep the path. That's what I continue to learn, in ever deeper ways.
As we move to express, establish,and strengthen our congregational vision and covenant, we will find it easier to discover and affirm that inherent and interdependent unity of which our Universalist ancestor, deBenneville, spoke such a long time ago.
"If we could really seek the unity in the midst of our diversity, I am convinced in my heart we will grow deeper and more committed as a spiritual community. . ." wrote Rev. John C. Morgan ( a contemporary of ours whom I have had the privelege to meet on the 'UU Net'). I am equally convinced that we can grow in this way and look forward to a more active engagement in such a search.
It is to be hoped that the path we, as a congregation, are now pursuing, namely that which will lead us to a more permanent home, a sacred space in which many can find their place, will invite us to become a deeper, broader, and more committed spiritual community along the way.
It's all part of a happy and invigorating new year!
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VIVE LE DIFFERENCE
from Duke L.
I just finished reading a book entitled "When Santa Was A Shaman." Near the end, the author, Tony van Renterghem, gave his definitions of two words: worship and celebration. They are as follows:
Worship: As opposed to celebration, worship is based on the idea that there is an outside force, a power, which consciously "rules" each of us individually: an entity which sees us as its obedient children or servants. These forces, called God, Allah, Yahweh, etc., demand servitude, based on rules and statements given us long ago, but always via some human, after which it was written down by the same or other "very special" humans, in books such as the Bible, the Koran, and other "holy" works.
Celebration: The exact opposite of worship as defined above. The true shaman celebrated life not just man's own existence, but that of all nature around him. We are not its servants, but we are part of it (in the same manner that each individual cell of our body, each bacteria in our intestines, is part of our own symbiotic being). We are all interdependent, equal, responsible partners; humans and other creatures, forests, seas, mountains, deserts and planets. We are all imbued with the spirit of life, and if that is not reason enough for joyous celebration, I don't know what is. We don't have to fear or worship it, because we're an integral part of "It", but as such, we are also responsible for "It" by our actions. (Sounds UU to me!)
So do we have "Worship" services, or should we have "Celebration" services? Maybe we should have a Celebration Committee instead of a Worship Committee? It may just sound like semantics, but words have power, and the underlying way of thinking, or the approach to planning a service can be deeply affected by the meaning(s) behind the words. Who or what are we "worshipping" in our church?
UU FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Did you know that any member, friend, or employee of your congregation plus their immediate family and/or domestic partner can join the Unitarian Universalist Federal Credit Union (UUFCU)?
UUFCU members benefit directly from favorable rates. Members earn attractive dividends on their share accounts and at the same time help out other UUs who need funds. Loans are available for many purposes education, home repairs, home improvements, family emergencies, debt consolidation, cars, boats, RVs. Currently UUFCU's new car loan rate is 7.5%, used cars (up to 7 years old) is 8.5%, share account savings is 3%. Individual share accounts are insured up to $100,000 by the federal National Credit Union Administration.
To learn more about UUFCU and to download account and loan applications visit our Website at http://members.aol.com/uufcu February is Membership Recruitment Month. Become a UUFCU member today!
SOAPBOX
from Ken M., newsletter editor
Last week Bill G. reported to the Board on a habit the worship committee will be fostering in the coming weeks. Frankly, I thought the habit he described was already part of our worship ritual, that we already had the habit, until I thought about it and realized he was right. The habit has to do with our conduct before the service. The worship committee would like us to reserve the sanctuary prior to the service as a space for those who wish to contemplate, meditate, clear their minds, or prepare quietly for the service.
I can only speak for myself, but when Bill mentioned this to me, I suddenly knew I wasn't as respectful of the sanctuary and those in it as I might have been. I've mostly arrived at the last minute, made my greetings, and flew around the sanctuary setting up, conducting business, or just visiting with my many friends in this congregation, oblivious to those who might be seeking a moment of peace. I had developed a bad habit.
Near the time clock at my company's warehouse there is a sign. It reads: "Being late is just a habit. Being on time is a better one." It's hard to argue with this statement; it's common sense really. And yet, most of the warehouse personnel continued to show up late day after day, week after week, in spite of this reasonable and persuasive message. That is, until the managers started docking their pay. Suddenly, everyone developed better habits.
I've always marveled at the power of habits both good and bad. The habit of tardiness persisted until the desire to not have one's pay docked by a bunch of clock-watching, tie-choked, yahoos overrode it and caused the old habit to be replaced. The point is that habits show us what we really value. What we want most. Who we are.
For myself, I'm going to develop a better habit for Sunday services. It's going to involve sacrifice and self-discipline, but I'm convinced compensating values are there. I'm going to get there a little earlier, talk a little softer, try to hold my conversations to the fellowship hall, and respect the musicians and congregants in the sanctuary who seek their own path to our worship service. I'm going to develop this habit and foster it among my peers not only because it makes sense and is the right thing to do, but also because I think it reflects who I am, who we are.
NEW MEMBER
Kathy C. was acknowledged at the January 14 service as the latest member to join our church. Kathy and husband Ken have recently moved to a new house on the West side of the Island where Kathy hopes to set up shop as an Innkeeper. Kathy is a self proclaimed political activist and for many years was on the staff of the Democratic Party of King County. She is full of energy with many talents. Please welcome her.