The BeaconApril 2016 The BeaconApril 2016 1 First Unitarian Church of Baltimore HOPE, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND LIBERAL RELIGIOUS VALUES Corner Charles & Franklin Streets Historical Perspectives #74 April Services 1 A Heritage to Hold in Fee: 2015/2016 THEME: A WHOLE PEOPLE ON A JOURNEY TOGETHER The Historians of Services at 11 A.M. in our Historic Sanctuary April 3 Rev. David Carl Olson First Unitarian UU Service Committee “Justice Sunday” BY CATHERINE EVANS “Liberal Religion’s Liberating Vision” Our church considers the meaning of resurrection—the expected To the Founders renewal of Spring, and the unexpected renovation of who we are And those who have followed after them, and who we dream we can become. Throughout our Unitarian Universalist Association, congregations are reminded of the Whose inspired vision, courage and devotion have work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee—and re- created and preserved commit to a work of Justice-seeking and building. As we enact This heritage of Religious Freedom. the Rule and Realm of Universal Love, can we learn from con- temporary resurrection stories the ways that our relatedness can —Dedication of A Heritage to Hold in Fee set us free? (Soul-to-Soul spiritual reflection circle at 9:30 A.M.—Trust) Since its found- April 10 Rev. David Carl Olson ing, members of the First “Planting Seeds, Tending Blossoms” Unitarian have under- I hope that the seeds I plant in my garden will bear true. In time, stood the importance of I hope that they will produce beautiful blossoms that delight eye the Church to the individ- and nose (and occasionally tongue!). In a transformative system uals who worship here like a church, some of the “seeds” we plant produce unexpected seeking religious free- CATHERINE EVANS “fruit.” How do we learn from our experiments and how do we dom, to the City of Balti- change in order to grow? more and to the Unitarian--now the Unitarian Uni- (Soul-to-Soul spiritual reflection circle at 9:30 A.M.—Spiritual versalist--faith. Starting in 1817 and throughout the Experiences) succeeding generations, the clergy and lay leader- ship have collected and assembled manuscripts, cor- April 17 Diana Davies respondence, journals, minutes, contracts, prints, “Radiant and Humble—Compassion for Our photographs, and all types of paper materials, as Fellow Animals” well as artifacts of all descriptions, including oil On the Sunday before Earth Day, we gather to celebrate the in- lamps, communion sets, tapes, furniture, and so herent worth and dignity of all beings, including non-human forth. For animals. All are invited to bring a picture or memento (a collar almost a or squeaky toy, for example) of an animal who has blessed our INSIDE hundred lives, so that we can express our thanks for their simple being, and fifty and bless them, in turn. First Unitarian Church News years, the (Soul-to-Soul spiritual reflection circle at 9:30 A.M.—Addiction) Page Church Coffee Cabinet 2 April 24 Rev. David Carl Olson Eight Things I Learned 3 has had an appointed Annual Stewardship and Pledge Drive Commences Pete’s Patter: Futuring Fantasy 4 “We Are a Generous, Loving People” Tour of Greenmount Cemetery 5 Historian. Buddhist Sharon Salzburg says, “Loving-kindness and compas- April Special Services 5 For the sion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and Treasurer’s Report 11 last sixty- sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference—in Income and Expense Reports 12 five, it has our own lives and those of others.” Our church prepares for the Unity Weekend Events 14 had a fierce and gentle actions that will express our deep love for each space des- other and Baltimore. We seek to be powerful—able to enact a UU COMMUNITY NEWS ignated for liberating vision—and we seek to be wise. Roy Zimmerman Concert 15 (Soul-to-Soul spiritual reflection circle at 9:30 A.M.—Calling) (Continued on page 6) 2 The Beacon April 2016 Coffee Cabinet BY REV. DAVID CARL OLSON MINISTER Dear congregation, dear community, We have shared a radiant hour when the truth has “How are you?” someone asks, and I made us free, can only say, “Taking one step be- And the spirit’s gracious power dreamed of good fore the other.” Whether due to con- that yet shall be fusion of my heart-mind, sadness at Bright the path before us lies, joyful pilgrims now the passing of an aunt, elation at the we rise. call of a friend who is about to visit, Life calls us on. weariness in yet another too-long meeting, or simple wonder about We are a people—a whole/hale/healthy/holy peo- where I am and where I am heading, ple—on a journey together. Our hope is to stride forward REV. DAVID OLSON the consistent “How are you?” an- with a clear aim in sight. And then, together, to move— from there to here. One step at a time. swer I offer is that I am moving, just one step at a time, finding my way. Blessed on the way, with you, I remember being in a classroom at a church, many years ago, where someone had left slogans on the wall. Much love, “One Day at a Time,” read one of the posters; and “Let Go and Let God.” It would be a few years before I connected those slo- gans with the 12-Step method for dealing in a healthy and sometimes powerless/powerful way with addictions (to many substances and settings) that make our lives David Carl Olson, Minister unmanageable. A more manageable life would be found, The Kids Call Me “Rev” it taught, not through a giant leap of revolution, but by a persistent, day-by-day application of reaching in to one’s richest resources, and reaching out to groups and (Rev.) David Carl Olson [email protected] individual leaders and literature—and habits, like taking one step at a time. For many, this has proved to be a way First Unitarian Church of Baltimore (Universalist & Unitarian) that led to a more serene life. cell/text: (410) 350-9339 (preferred) I take my life one step at a time, as I am able. And I study: (410) 685-2330 am comforted that this has been a source of strength for Minister’s Open Hours in the Study people in many times and places. Saturdays from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. The late Rev. Dr. Forrest Church used to describe the (also a time for preparation and rehearsal for Sunday worship) way we are taking as one “from there to here.” This, of course, is exactly the opposite of what I normally think. I Mondays from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. am here. I move, one pace at a time, toward there. Seems Wednesdays from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. (also a time to prepare with Worship Associates) to be the way it is! But Church asks us to step with a deep knowledge Minister’s Other Hours that there is a there which will claim us, a completion of Tuesday is reserved for visitation. Please text or call me at (410) 350 lives full of incompletion, that is inevitably where we -9339 if you would like to be visited. will be. That place is where Universal love claims us, Thursday is a writing day at the library and in my home study. where Beloved Community is fully constructed, where serenity is fully achieved. Minister’s Self-Care (through Mid-May) Knowing where there is, we get to take steps here. My Sabbath is on Sundays after I finish responsibilities at the church, through Tuesday afternoon. During that time, I also And knowing where there is might allow us to take better prepare for a Tuesday morning seminar I am taking in New steps here, steps here that are coherent with there. Cap- York with Dr. Cornel West. turing that imagination, we move from there to here. Jason Shelton’s anthem, which our choir is preparing I am always “on call” for pastoral and other concerns. Do not hesitate to contact me if there is something you’d like to talk about or this month, says it this way: do. It is always a good idea to contact me in advance if you are coming to the church to see me. I am most accessible by text message at (410) 350-9339. Thank you! April 2016 The Beacon 3 Eight Things I Learned At Leadership Training BY DIANA DAVIES MINISTERIAL INTERN I recently returned from a week-long, interest is relational. intensive training program sponsored by Our self-interest is the core of our identity, Gamaliel (a community organizing leader- our needs, as well as our loves and pas- ship institution). Gamaliel was founded in sions. To be courageous is to know, de- 1986 to train clergy and community lead- clare, and act on our self-interest. ers to build political power, and unite peo- Any effective action begins with listening, ple across faiths and races. The work was with one on one conversations. Through grueling and tough, and I am still pro- these conversations, we initiate relation- cessing much of what happened there, but, ships, understand the other person’s self- for now, I’d like to share with you a few interest, and help the other person to gain of my most significant take-aways. I hope clarity about their own self-interest. some of these might be relevant to your Listen with curiosity. Listen with courage. own social justice work and might provide DIANA DAVIES Suspend judgement.