Dear UUCL,
I'm still sitting with the warm feeling of our congregation that I felt on November 24th. From a program on gratitude organized by Lynne, the music of both the band and the choir, people sharing the story of significant bread in their families, and a full sanctuary, to the delicious food of the Harvest Feast, I drove away from UUCL that afternoon feeling thankful for you as a congregation. Communal gatherings are one of the essential things that make our congregation special.
I love this time of the year. Familiar faces return to congregations. We start singing songs you could sing without glancing down at the hymnals — our homes filled with family and friends. We travel to see loved ones. Lights twinkle on trees downtown.
It's also a time when UUs get to wrestle with their theological diversity the most. Let me explain. During December, congregations observe Hanukkah, Advent, Christmas, and the Winter Solstice, and many others. We wrestle with theological diversity because it's the time of the year that we draw from our sources the most. We sing with gusto lyrics that we don't quite agree with. We listen to stories of scripture from old. We appreciate the miracles of Hanukkah. The light returning with the Solstice is anticipated. No doubt, there are practices that you hold dear that I haven't listed here.
How do we approach this time of the year in a congregation with theological diversity? Rather than wrestle with it, I say we embrace it. I saw we engage with it. And this isn't always easy. Whenever I describe our religion to an acquaintance or a stranger, and I discuss the various sources we draw from; they inevitably ask, "isn't that tough?" My response is always, "you bet. But it is worth it."
I learned about embracing and engaging theological diversity by going to a liberal Christian seminary that also shared a hillside with a rabbinical school. We came to our discussions with respect and curiosity. The similarities between our traditions were enlightening. The differences were more significant, though. They helped define us.
I've learned in various interfaith settings I've been in over the years that religious experiences can help us feel a sense of awe. The awe that someone feels in receiving communion. The sense of peace in meditation. The centering some feel while davening in the synagogue. The awe we feel while singing.
The theme for December is Awe. What I know is this: What might evoke a sense of awe and wonder in one person might not evoke it in someone else. And that is beautiful.
See you at UUCL!
Rev. Aaron