Beloveds,
Last week I told you that Mat Staver had written a shockingly hate filled letter to me. I didn’t tell you the whole truth. He didn’t write it to me, I am just on his mailing list. He doesn’t know me from Adam, yes, THAT Adam. You see, when I first came to Athol and saw the “For Sale” sign on the front lawn of the church, I felt no small amount of despair. What future did it portend? Was the town I had bought my home in, was planning to raise my kids in, really selling off it’s liberal religious heritage? Since those days, we, as a group have stuck together, we pulled the sign down for a little while and gave it our best. I was reassured, and that reassurance turned to strength and has blossomed into a love for, and excitement about, our little community. So what does this have to do with Mat Staver? As I said, when I first got to town I was feeling disheartened and decided to try understanding how folks like the members of the Libery Council think and feel. I figured that if I was going to have to “fit in” with a less liberal community I should define the rails, and boy did I find the third one.
According to Wikipedia, the folks I’ve been talking about are defined thusly:
“Liberty Counsel® is an international nonprofit litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.”
It didn’t take long after I first investigated enrolling in Liberty University, for me to get on this distribution list. What started out as an exercise in trying to hear an alternative view, quickly made me a target of a volley of “alternative fact arrows” of truly outrageous proportions, and how!
I mention it again, because ,since last week I have heard from them, at least, 10 more times and the message is always pretty much the same. Quoting from their letter:
“Friend,
With less than 6 hours remaining this month, we are still over $10,000 short of our budgeted need. While it will take a miracle to meet that challenge tonight, I dare to believe in and pray for miracles. Who will rise up with us to confront the enemies of freedom today?”
It goes on like that in every letter and as I read them I realize that he is not only writing TO ME, but to ask for a donation to stop people LIKE ME! Very strange paradoxical sensation.
Three things come to mind. The first is that he is indeed talking about me and probably a few of you as well. In the minds of his readers, we are the “enemies of freedom” and that’s just a mind boggling reality to me.
The second is that for less that two million dollars, we could completely save our Society and send a few messages back to ‘the big city.’ While that is a crazy pipe-dream to most of us because of our circumstances, Mat will raise that much and more to forward his message of hate while we put a sign back on our lawn. I’m going to take a second with the meditation bowl to let that unfairness of that sink into my reality.
The third thing that jumps out at me is that he has asked me for money to forward his causes, 10-15 times this past week. I am sure that the Social Justice Society of Athol (First Church Unitarian, Inc.) has asked for a donation, in my recollection, ONCE in that past ten years. Now whose crazy?
So, with that in mind, I want to tell you a fact that is indisputable. For every donation that comes into the First Church Unitarian, Inc. of Athol Ma. between now and when we open back up, I will send you a signed copy of this letter so you have something to start your next fire with. In other words, your donation to the Society will bring you great warmth and appreciation. And, who knows, it may help spark more debates here in Athol as well.
All my best,
Steve Wills
Sometimes lay service leader,
Financial Chair, B.O.M.
ex-clerk,
ex-fall fair gopher,
general n’er do well about main st.
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Other Business: I think we were planning on meeting again? If anyone knows when, please let me know and I’ll post it here.
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Thanks to Rev. Merideth Anderson, and BOM Chair, Carleton Lanou as well as the rest of the congregation of the First Universalist Church of Orange Ma. for their kind words of Support last month. They are not on break right now and meet every Sunday in Orange at 31 North Main St. at 10:30. I hear they have a great little choir! #verykind #gogiveemahug #UUoneAssociation
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A Big Shout out to David, who thought he could fly and found out he was wrong. He looks like he is on the mend but, dude, that had to leave some marks! Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
On a related note, extra blessings on the heads of Kathy and Lisa who came to his aid and helped him pack up his kitchen. I’m glad my old newspapers helped in some small way.
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This Saturday, the 3rd, from 11:00 to 12:00 noon, there is a Trustee meeting, any and all are invited, of course. I am not sure if there is board meeting at the same time. Contact Edith if you are interested in either meeting.
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The congregation is split on the idea of a fall fair this year but the conversation continues and donations for the tag sales are already coming in.
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Around the UU Web:
From Beacon Broadside:
This month, journalist Deborah Jian Lee launched Kaleidoscope, a podcast she co-founded with Erin James-Brown. As the host, she has intimate conversations with activists, entertainers, authors, and spiritual leaders about identity, faith, and social engagement in our dangerous times. Our readers will remember her as the author of Rescuing Jesus: How People of Color, Women, and Queer Christians Are Reclaiming Evangelicalism, which offers an inside look at the young, diverse, progressive Christians transforming the evangelical movement. Our blog editor Christian Coleman caught up with her to ask about her podcast and what she hopes listeners will take from it.
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Several people has asked if I have heard from Marilyn recently. To this I say that I think about her often and receive communications from her frequently. Most of them are things that arrive in her mailbox that I know she thinks you will love to hear about. I’ll try to continue to curate and publish them here. for example. from a recent UUA publication that was forwarded to me from her, called, “Side With Love” comes a lesson of an ancestor, Egbert Ethelred Brown. I’ll cut and past verbatim for you:
link: http://archives.nypl.org/scm/20552
Egbert Ethelred Brown was a pastor who found his political assessment inextricably linked with his faith expression. Originally an Episcopalian, then Methodist lay preacher, Rev. Brown would go on to become a Unitarian minister. Though enrolled at Meadville Theological school in 1907, Rev. Brown was targeted and deported to his home country of Jamaica. Years later, Rev. Brown returned to the United States to complete his studies and go on to become the first Black man to be ordained a Unitarian minister. Rev. Brown was involved in the Jamaican trade union movement, racial justice in the United States and organizing for independence and due to a lack of ongoing financial support, his family relocate to the U.S. in 1920. He would go on to found the Harlem Community Church despite inconsistent support from both the British and Foreign Unitarian Association and the American Unitarian Association that throughout his jobs would require him to take on additional jobs.
Like Ethelred may we be persistent in our vision and creative in our implementation.
She also tagged a prayer and song, both of which will be in a upcoming “Ted and Response” as soon as we figure out what our opening day and location will be. I’ll keep you appraised.
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Finally, from the CROP Walk or Hunger, Steve Damon, their chairperson invites us to walk with him.
I just wanted to give you a heads-up that Franklin County CROP Hunger Walk 2018 planning has commenced.
What? 32nd Annual Franklin County CROP Hunger Walk
When? Sunday, October 14, 2018. Step-off at 2:00 PM
Where? Leyden United Methodist Church
Who? The people of Franklin County
Hosts? Rev. Nami Yu and Sue Howarth
Much, much more information to follow.
Your Friend,
Steve Damon, Chairperson
Franklin County (MA) CROP Hunger Walk
Happy to remind you again as the date gets closer.
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Closing quote: “One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.” – Helen Keller
Amen,
Blessed be,
Shabbat Shalom
Your friend, Steve