The Beacon Januaryjanuary 2017 2017 1 First Unitarian Church of Baltimore HOPE,, SSOCIAL JUSTICE and LIBERAL RELIGIOUS VALUES Corner Charles & Franklin Streets
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First Unitarian ChurchThe News Beacon The Beacon JanuaryJanuary 2017 2017 1 First Unitarian Church of Baltimore HOPE,, SSOCIAL JUSTICE AND LIBERAL RELIGIOUS VALUES Corner Charles & Franklin Streets Celebrating two centuries January Services of First Unitarian Theme: Strangers No More BY MIKE CROSS-BARNET Services at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary “We have hung together these many years, and shall January 1 Rev. David Carl Olson maintain this free fellowship “This Holy Fire” for centuries to come.” We gather on the first day of the new year simply to be and to breathe. To be one community with each other. To --The Rev. Irving R. Murray breathe in the peace that sustains us our spirits in times of (1915-1992) change. To breathe out love to a world that needs it. And while we’re breathing, we will sing favorite songs, and First Unitarian Church of Bal- enact the ritual of the burning bowl. timore was founded in Febru- ary 1817, was dedicated in January 8 Rev. Susan M. S. Donham October 1818, and in May “Prayer: ‘The Language of the Heart’” 1819 hosted William Ellery MIKE CROSS-BARNET Unitarian minister A. Powell Davies wrote of prayer Channing’s famous Baltimore being “the language of the heart.” Reflections on the pur- sermon that gave energy and definition to the emerging poses and powers of prayer from a hospital chaplain and Unitarian faith. For well over a year, I have been lead- UU humanist minister. ing the planning for our church’s bicentennial celebra- tions. Our efforts are currently focused on a weekend January 15 Rev. Dale Lantz of special events from February 10th through the 12th. “Healing Wounds—Hurling Stones: Listening to my Friday the 10th, the actual anniversary of our founding, Open Heart” will feature a solemn gathering in tribute to church Almost 20 years ago my heart led me to join a Unitari- founder Henry Payson, followed by the joyous raising an Universalist congregation. My path has emerged from of our bicentennial banner in the front of our church, the United Methodist tradition and the practices of the where it will remain throughout the years of our cele- Buddhist tradition. I am still learning what it means to brations. On Saturday the 11th, the church’s Peace and open my heart in the community of this gathering of Justice Ministry will lead a day of service at our part- UUs. Some of the time opening my heart has been in- ner organization Dayspring Programs. More infor- spired by the songs that we sing and the prayers that we mation about these events will be coming soon. share. And some of the time, you all help me get in touch The culmination of the weekend will be a pair of with deeper sources of pain inspired by fear and anxiety events on Sunday, February 12. We will begin at 2 and old wounds that I didn't even know I still carry. This p.m. with a celebratory service in the sanctuary, led by sermon includes themes which Rev. Lantz will be teach- UUA Presi- ing on Sundays in an Adult Religious Education class dent Peter beginning January 15 at 9:30 a.m. Morales and INSIDE joined by January 22 Michael Brown, .Div. “Prophetic Resistance” many friends FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH NEWS We live in an era of uncertainty and fear. Truth has and neighbors Page become negotiable. How do we adjust and thrive in the Coffee Cabinet 2 of First Uni- midst of radical changes? A sermon by a member of our C Milton Stewardship Nominations 3 tarian. This young adult community and religious education ministry, The Book Group 3 event is free a graduate of Meadville Lombard Theological School, Historical Perspectives 5 and open to and a recent organizer in Ohio for United Against Hate, a Treasurer’s Report 12 all. Following Religious Education, Pete’s Patter 14 the service, (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 4) First Unitarian Church News The Beacon January 2017 2 moral imagination, he wonders Coffee Cabinet how he might be connected BY DAVID CARL OLSON to—rather than distinct from— MINISTER the person with whom he feels tension. Skinheads, homopho- “I feel awkward writing a book titled Cultivating bic preachers, privileged White Empathy because I know that I have been profoundly 1-percenters, polluters—all of flawed in my ability to be empathetic with others. I do these are people we can turn not see the title as a proclamation of my abilities, but into one-dimensional non- rather a grand challenge for me to live a more compas- persons. By such action, we are sionate life. I, therefore, dedicate this book to all the diminished. By cultivating em- people I have harmed so that they know that I am us- pathy, we may be able to grow ing the experiments detailed here to accept this chal- spiritually. REV. DAVID CARL OLSON lenge and to cultivate my character.” If I were to keep a list of Rev. Nathan C. Walker New Year’s Resolutions, growing spiritually would be at Dear congregation, dear community, the top of the list. It is the reason that I belong to a Unitari- an Universalist congregation—to grow my soul. I can ex- January is always a time when I have education- hibit the worth and dignity that is mine by birthright, but I related travel. I go to Chicago at the start of the month for can conceal it when I am brittle, judgemental, superior, Meadville Lombard Winter Convocation when the Ad- one-dimensional. Leading this precious community, living junct Faculty of Teaching Pastors meet for training and with you discernment. Toward the end of the month, I participate in I with our aspirations and personalities, these provide the Fraters of the Wayside Inn ministerial study group, an opportunities for me to grow. I seek a higher educational historic gathering of Universalist clergy in Massachusetts. degree—and especially one that unites strategic thinking, This January, I begin something new. renewal and a deeper practice—in my effort to make a With the gracious permission of our President Doreion contribution to our historic church and its future. It is part Colter, I will be released from routine work during the of my affirmation of our community as a place that is month of January to begin a low-residency Doctor of Min- transforming spirits, celebrating diversity, supporting each istry degree program. For the next three years, I will be in other and building a better Baltimore. Claremont, California for six days each January pursuing a Happy New Year, dear friends! Let’s first be kind to degree in Spiritual Renewal, Contemplative Practice and one another. And then let’s celebrate. Strategic Leadership. With fond affection, Claremont School of Theology is an innovative Methodist- And even Love, heritage school that has long been a leader in Process Thought and host to the Center for Engaged Compassion. My core program this year will be “Discernment-Based Strategic Planning” and will include faculty who Rev. David Carl Olson, Lead Minister teach engaged compassion. When I shared with faculty members my excitement about our ministries with Dayspring Program, they January Services were especially excited. This kind of community (Continued from page 1) engagement represents the compassionate action that project of MoveOn.Org. Mr. Brown will analyze the history is at the center of their research. They consider how of exceptionalism through a religious lens, and talk about it is that communities of faith exhibit their compas- ways to resist fear and hopelessness in an era when religious sion for a hurting world by direct experience of “the texts provide a blueprint for the way to build Heaven on other.” Such work is accomplished as a good end in Earth. and of itself; but it is also a means by which the peo- ple of faith are spiritually renewed and their congre- January 29 Diana Davies, PhD gations are transformed. “Nuestra fe, nuestra tierra” (Our faith, our earth) Unitarian Universalist community minister Nate The struggle of the Standing Rock Sioux to protect the Walker is the executive director of the Religious Missouri River is not a new struggle. Indigenous people Freedom Center at the Newseum. His new volume throughout the world have had to fight to protect their sacred Cultivating Empathy: the worth and dignity of every land and waters. Our liberal faith calls us to join in this effort, person without exception encourages us all to be- but how? What are we to do? Today, our Intern Minister will come more compassionate in our engagement of share what she learned as a participant in the “Guardians of people we might demonize. He names a dozen per- the River” program in Nicaragua, sponsored by the UU Col- sons and situations where he felt some degree of lege of Social Justice. contempt for “the other.” Through the application of First Unitarian Church News The Beacon January 2017 3 Nominations for the Clare Milton Stewardship Award BY CATHERINE EVANS MEMBER, BOARD OF TRUSTEES The Board of Trustees is now taking nominations for fied leadership ability in others and mentored them the Clare Milton Stewardship Award, given annually to a in service; and member of the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore who Have been actively involved in the larger com- has demonstrated uncommon devotion to the stewardship munity – neighborhood/city/state or national level – of the Church and its resources over a period of 20 years in a manner consistent with UU philosophy and Prin- or more. ciples. To be eligible for the award, the member must To nominate one or more people who meet the meet the following criteria: 20-plus year membership requirement, please email your nomination to Clare Milton Stewardship Award Criteria for Clare Milton Stewardship Award Committee c/o Catherine Evans at cathe- [email protected] by January 4, 2017 or mail to The individual must have been a member of First Clare Milton Stewardship Award, c/o Secretary, Unitarian Church for at least 20 years, and First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, 1 West Hamil- Have a consistent record of pledging and finan- ton Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, to be received no cial support of the church [Note: amount is not the later than January 4, 2017.