I can remember requesting just one thing for my twelfth birthday – a lock for my bedroom door. Now this was strictly because my then five-year-old brother was forever taunting me with “I see you” every time I turned a corner in the house, or worse he would sneak into my room unbeknownst to me when I was playing or doing homework and say “I see you”. It was downright creepy and annoying. I just knew the lock would solve my problem. But no sooner had the lock been installed and clicked into place, then my little brother put his fingers under the door and said “I’m still in your room and I can see you”! Now of course he couldn’t physically see me but certainly he had my image in his little overactive imagination.
We can’t see the future of Summit, but we can form an image or concept of Summit in our own imaginations, and the difference is that we can work together towards making that vision (image) a reality.
This past March, I was in this pulpit as your candidate for settled ministry. On the last Sunday of that candidating week, I spoke to this congregation about ‘calling’ – my calling to professional ministry and your calling as a spiritual community. As I shared with you then, I can’t tell you what your individual calling is. That comes from within yourself. However, one insight I’ve garnered in my own efforts to understand the idea of calling is that at the very least, we human beings are called to be in community with one another. More specifically, we are called to speak the truth in love with one another, to offer strength and hope, and to share our stories of life and faith with one another. But our personal call is just one part of the message. Our personal call is individual, and the collective individuals are called to a larger purpose – our institutional call. The call of this Beloved Community. We just read together Our Shared Vision and I’ve requested that it be printed front-and-center on our order of service each and every week as a reminder to all of us as members, and as a testament to those who are new who come seeking, what Summit UU Fellowship is about – who we are – what our purpose is as we occupy this space, this sacred space at 8778 Cottonwood Ave. in Santee, California.
Last Friday evening there was a gathering in this sanctuary, of this community, to share and explore our dreams and expectations for this coming year (and beyond) as it relates to my being here with you as your settled minister. How many of you were here for that gathering? As those of you who were here know, much of the discussion centered on the aspect of growth. And isn’t it interesting that the very first line of Our Shared Vision states ‘Summit UU Fellowship is a growing congregation’!
In that sharing on Friday, I heard you express your concerns over growth and your excitement over the possibilities and opportunities that come with growth. The day after that gathering, I shared with our Board of Directors some of my thoughts on growth. As your minister, and with Our Shared Vision as a touchstone, I long for, and will work for, what I call “organic growth”. This is a growth that comes naturally; it just can’t help but happen. It’s a growth that is not pushed or pulled into being, or artificially manufactured without intention and consideration. Organic growth will happen naturally, as we live our vision as a growing, caring, intergenerational congregation.
Organic growth occurs where there is strong & dedicated lay leadership. Would all the members of our Board of Directors please stand? These are some of the strong & dedicated lay leaders of Summit. If you are the current chair of a committee or task force, please raise your hand. More dedicated lay leadership. You just witnessed our incredible group of children’s religious education teachers and mentors in our Teacher Commissioning ceremony. Summit has a history of strong lay leadership.
Where do you fit into the vision of the community? Whether you’re a founding member, nearly new member, long-time friend, or a guest considering Summit as a spiritual home, where could you see yourself, your gifts, your passions, in that vision? Let me suggest that you start by visualizing a common theme in congregational life –one not exclusive to UUs, but we do it quite well – potlucks! Start by asking yourself, “What can I bring to this potluck dinner of religious life?” We can all bring something to the table, and it takes all of those deviled eggs, and tossed salads, and chicken casseroles, and brownies, and lemonade, and other delights to complete our potluck dinner. And it takes all of our talents and resources and leadership and compassion to make Our Shared Vision a living document!
Rev. George Westfall spoke to his D.C. congregation about vision and said, “I want to be with people who want to stand up to the challenges of the day. I want to be with folk who want to be a part of authentic ministry that has a vision that has an impact socially and spiritually. I want to be of use because I understand that my life and commitment to this congregation is about more than just me; it is about being a voice in the community for those who have been alienated by their religion or a bad relationship. It is about finding people who need what we can offer them!” I couldn’t have said it better myself.
During that candidating sermon on March 25, I spoke with the children of Summit about ‘calling’. I showed them my stole from my ordination. And I talked about the times in our lives when we have a strong sense of what we need to do – what we are called to do – and while we are excited about it, we may be anxious as well. I shared my Guatemalan worry dolls with them. I was sharing with the children about how we each find ways to handle our anxiety when we are excited but nervous, because it takes courage to accept our calling. It takes courage to live out a statement of vision - to make it more than just pretty words on paper.
Strength, dedication, and courage are exactly what we need in order to embrace the challenges that our vision presents. And, yes, it does present us with challenges. The last part of that first sentence says ‘we are a congregation of diverse backgrounds’. It’s easy to say but what does that mean? Backgrounds that we each bring with us. Religious backgrounds that some of us have chosen not to entirely abandon, but instead have found portions of which to guide our personal spiritual practice. Backgrounds that include religious, political, and socioeconomic diversity. That means we are not all humanists or atheists or agnostics; we are not all theists or Christians; we are not all democrats or political liberals; we are not all upper middle class professionals. We are diverse.
‘We are a growing, caring, intergenerational congregation of diverse backgrounds, embracing the free and responsible search for truth and meaning’. One of my favorite authors, Parker Palmer, writes, “The world still waits for the truth that will set us free – my truth, your truth, our truth – the truth that was seeded in the earth when each of us arrived here. Cultivating that truth is the authentic calling of every human being.”
Our vision challenges us when we claim “We are committed to promoting spiritual and personal growth, social justice, environmental awareness and participation in the greater community.” We are committed.
I believe deep in my heart that we are committed because we know that there are families with young children in East County, calling on Summit to live out its vision. There are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and yes, possibly even transgender folks in East County, calling on Summit to live out its vision. There are young singles and retirees, people of great wealth and people who are struggling to make ends meet in East County, who are calling on Summit to live out its vision. Calling us to deepen even further our compassion, and that is not an easy task. In fact, it may well be some of the most difficult spiritual work of our lives. But we can do it together.
I shared quite boldly with you nearly 7 months ago that I was certain of 2 things: 1. Summit UU Fellowship and E. County was where I felt called to serve. 2. Walking together, you and I, on this journey would offer every single one of us ample opportunity to find that place where our deep gladness meets the worlds’ great need; as individuals and as a beloved community. I am still certain of those two things! I also asked if you were willing to accept the challenge of living Summit’s vision and I said to you “I am”. I stand before you today still asking, and hoping that you are willing to accept the challenge; willing to live our shared vision, and to say once again, and still, “ I am”. I am because there are brothers and sisters in East County, calling on this beloved community. And like the old gospel song says, “we’re gonna let our little light shine, shine, shine, cause there’s somebody, down in the valley, tryin’ to get home.”
May it be so.
