“But then, a grateful heart beats in a world of miracles. If I could only speak one prayer for you, my children, it would be that your hearts would not only beat but grow ever greater in gratitude, that your lives, however long they prove to be and no matter how they end, continue to bring you miracles in abundance.”
―Rev. Kate Braestrup, ordained UU minister and Chaplain to the Maine Warden Service
The 2018 General Assembly (GA) was held in Kansas City, Missouri, June 20–24. For some review of important highlight’s at this year’s events see the UU World website at
https://www.uuworld.org/department/uu-news
Of special interest on resolutions see this news article
https://www.uuworld.org/articles/gesture-support-other-resolutions
You can watch Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray ninth UUA president deliver the Sunday morning GA service at https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/2018/worship/sunday
From the Universalist Herald, The Oldest Continuously Published Liberal Religious Periodical in North America: The topic of the next quarterly issue will be Belief vs Action – Is there a difference between your faith or beliefs, and how you act in the world, or in preparation for the afterlife? What is your understanding of the message of Universalism to belief and/or act? Do you succeed or is it a work/belief in progress? To quote Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948), Indian political and spiritual leader, “Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your habits become your values. Your values become your destiny.”
For more information about the Universalist Herald or to subscribe see http://www.universalist-herald.org/
Other local news: Rev. Don Erickson recently completed his pastorate at the Community Church of North Orange and Tully (UUA, UCC). We wish Don and his family the best in their future and thank Don for his involvement in the area’s religious community.
Interested in subscribing to UU World Digital? More info at https://www.uuworld.org/digital
From the unpublished Church of the Pioneers, A History of First Church, Unitarian of Athol we have this anecdote from 100 years ago:
The Estey organ was dedicated in 1918 at a union service of all the Protestant churches in town. The organ was set up by experts from the factory. Rev. Wilkie, who enjoyed a good cigar and liked nothing better than getting into old clothes and doing manual labor decided to do just that and help the workmen set up the organ. While enjoying a passive moment and a smoke, one of the workmen, thinking Mr. Wilkie to be a willing church assistant, remarked to him “This is the first time I ever put an organ into a church when the d___ minister wasn’t around trying to boss the job!”
From 200 years ago – Rev. Samuel F. Clarke was born February 1818 in Shipton, Lower Canada. He became the pastor of what was then known as the First Congregational Church and Society of Athol on April 19, 1848. He had previously preached some in Warwick. He served here for eight years and was active in social and town affairs. He was a member of the school committee for several years. William G. Lord writes “At the one hundredth anniversary of the church, it became his duty to deliver an historical discourse which was published and has been the basis of all subsequent historical efforts. No man has done so much to rescue the history of our town from oblivion as he did.” After leaving Athol he became the pastor in Ware. Rev. Clarke passed away in 1861 and is buried in Athol’s Highland Cemetery. Members of First Church, Unitarian placed flowers on his grave during the May, 2000 field trip to local sites of interest to the history of our church. Four of our former ministers are buried in Athol.
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On a Personal Note:
My thanks to Chris Coyle for nudging me to send out another issue of our newsletter. All of the above was contributed by him.
It has, as you all know, been a while since I wrote. When we decided, as a congregation, to sell the building on Main St. we also agreed that we wanted to continue to meet. Due to a combination of problems and health issues, life seems to have gotton in the way of that plan for most of us.
This past weekend, the trustees and the Board had meetings and agreed to maintain the current level of investment we had implemented a year ago in the UU Common Endowment Fund. We also agreed to re-start meeting monthly as a board and discuss ways to gather back together in the spirit of our mission.
A reminder that tomorrow is primary day and I hope everyone celebrates this privilege. Here in Athol we enjoy unrestricted access to our polls and we are grateful for that.
IN the September 2018 UU Bulletin, the UUA reminds us that this not all of our brother’s and sisters around the country share this level of access. The following is copied for their bulletin.
Make Voting Accessible to All (From the UUA Bulleting, Sept. 2018)
The UUA and UU Justice Florida have joined the Second Chances Campaign to get Amendment 4 passed this fall to make nearly 1.4 million people eligible to vote who are currently excluded because of past convictions. Florida is one of four states with a lifetime ban on voting stemming from Jim Crow-era voting restrictions.
UUs across the country will join two phone banking days on Tuesday, September 11th and Tuesday, October 9th from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET/2:30 – 5:30 p.m. PT to urge Florida voters to Vote Yes on Amendment 4. Join us! Once you sign up you will receive a link to a 15-minute webinar and instructions.
URLs for phonebanking are:
https://secure.everyaction.com/17CNjYQL-0aEtWIeV1FglA2?group=41&role=238585&shifts=42278&location=620
and
https://secure.everyaction.com/NQgVb0A_4Umg3nUtY7-IxA2?group=41&role=238585&shifts=42279&location=620
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Loveresists.org tells us of another ballot initiative to reduce the consequences of non-violent crimes in an attempt todisrupt the school-to-prison pipeline. here is thier appeal.
In Ohio, Issue 1—Safe & Healthy Ohio (Drug & Criminal Justice Policies Initiative)—will reduce non-violent crimes such as drug possession and probation violations from felonies to misdemeanors retroactively, freeing thousands from state prisons and disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline.
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Once again, apologies for the brief notes. Here’s a virtual Candle to gather around. I hope you are weathering the heat as well as can be expected.
Best wishes to everyone who struggle with health issues the summer and candles of joy for all that persevered.
Bright Blessings and more soon
Steve Wills