I returned to my home congregation this past weekend to lead worship as a guest minister. It was a homecoming that reminded me of the joy, care, and welcome that Unitarian Universalism represents. I joined the Oberlin Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (OUUF) in 2002. I was a member there, served on committees, occasionally led worship, taught children’s religious education classes and adult workshops; sang in the choir and even directed it for a brief time. My kids went there from the time they were in preschool and kindergarten. After 15 years as a lay member of this Fellowship, I discerned the call to ministry and went to seminary; two summers ago they ordained me, along with the UU Fellowship of Central Michigan, to become a minister. This was the first time I have been back to lead worship since my ordination. This UU space is a community of care: I spent time catching up with old friends, sharing hugs and news of kids and grandkids, hearing about health challenges and other updates on life. I see this caring and compassion in every UU space I have ever been in. This UU space is a community of deep welcome: I met people who are newer to the congregation who are finding a welcome here that they haven’t found elsewhere, due to identity and/or their theology. This is one of the hallmarks of Unitarian Universalism: we welcome people of any belief or non-belief; we welcome people of any gender or sexual identity. Finally, in this UU space I witnessed spontaneous joy. The postlude to the worship service was a lively piece of recorded music that invited everyone around the world to dance. Soon a few people in the front row were standing up and dancing, leading a train of dancers that wove through the sanctuary. The music ended and there was a shout of joy. UU spaces can be places that allow and cultivate joy. May all of our UU communities be places of care for one another; places of radical welcome; and places where joy thrives. PRAYER: Spirit of Life and Love, bless the congregation of the Oberlin UU Fellowship. Bless the frail elders and the new members, the lay leaders and the children and the visitors. May every Unitarian Universalist space be a place where old friends hug and share news of the journey of life; may every UU space be the place where the pagan, the non-binary person, the lonely seeker of any identity finds a welcome. May every UU space be a place where joyful dance breaks out unexpectedly, because life is short and loving community is precious. Blessed be. Rev. Andrew Frantz |
As I seek to get in touch with the core of who I am—my center, my purpose, my essence—I find the words of Christopher L. Heuertz helpful. Each of the three things he names—about how NOT to define who we are—is a trap I have fallen into.
The first one (I am what I have) is defining myself by my possessions. It is an easy trap to think that my house, my car, my clothes, my books, my guitar represent who I am. If I lost everything that I have, would that change who I think I am? In our society we are programmed to identify ourselves with our possessions, and we must un-learn that idea. The second one (I am what I do) is the strongest and most obvious one for me: I have defined myself as a teacher, and now as a minister; I have defined myself as a parent and as a husband. The deeper question is: who am I when all of that is taken away? What is the “me” that is left? Another way to think of this is: who am I when I am not doing anything? Many people use meditation to get in touch with their inner core: sitting and not doing anything allows our deeper self to emerge. The last one (I am what other people say or think about me) is the hardest one. Do I define myself by what others say about me? If I don’t, then the truth of me must come from within. Or possibly from the voice of God, which is not “other people” after all. No, I am not what other people say or think about me. I am instead what the Force of Life says about me. The mysterious power that created me (Life/Evolution/God/Mother Nature) says: you are good and beautiful, holy and perfect just as you are. This is the inner truth that I want to remember, separate from material things, the roles I play in life, and the opinions of others. PRAYER: May each of us find our center, our inner core, our ground of being. May we know the sense of serenity and belonging and purpose that come from deep within. May each of us know that we are loved and worthy, whole and perfect, just as we are. Blessed be. Rev. Andrew Frantz In celebration of old friends and singing
On New Year’s Eve I was able to reconnect with my friend Bo, whose home represents community gathered around music. On the day we met, at a softball game almost twenty years ago, we quickly found out that we both enjoyed playing music. Over the next fifteen years our friendship included parenting, working together, and many music sessions. At the time, among our group of friends, there were regular music parties. Usually there were several people with guitars, a few with other instruments, and many singers. Some people crafted song sheets to facilitate the music. Bo took this to a new level by printing a book of songs. And his place was the best for music parties because he was the best song leader, switching from guitar to mandolin to piano. Years of COVID and my move from Ohio to Michigan meant that I hadn’t seen Bo for more than a year and hadn’t been to a music party for years. New Year’s Eve last week gave me that chance. Bo’s wife Linda welcomed me with home-made soup and hot cider; other friends from my years living in this community welcomed me back. And then we went to the living room to sing. Bo’s songbook has been revised and is bigger than ever. We sang Paul Simon, the Beatles, Nanci Griffith and Jackson Browne. The harmonies were as satisfying as ever, and the feeling of being among friends was priceless. Holidays are a time for being with loved ones, connecting to past joys, and creating new experiences. My New Year’s Eve allowed me to celebrate the joys of long-time friends and of singing. I return from a week of vacation refreshed and ready for the new year. I hope that everyone reading this was able to find peace and joy in the holidays of December. May 2023 bring good health and community connections to everyone. PRAYER: Spirit of Music, divine muse of harmony and creativity and living beauty, be here now. May beauty bless every human being. May we all sense that we are part of a greater music—the music of life itself, with all creatures singing in one great chorus. Amen. Rev. Andrew Frantz
A healthy religious community does many important things together: we celebrate and support our children and youth; we gather for regular worship and for holidays; and we honor and remember those in our congregation who have died. The memorial service for Don Rust on Saturday was an important event for the family and for the congregation.
For the family, the gathering was surely sad and difficult. Don’s surviving siblings, his surviving children and step-children, other relatives, and especially his wife Sharon are experiencing the sorrow of this loss. Many heartfelt remembrances were offered during the ceremony. For the congregation, the death of one among us is an important milestone, a call to come together in mutual support. There is no greater purpose of a religious congregation than to offer condolence to the family of one who passes, as we offer continued support to Sharon – support that is just as important (if not more so) after the memorial service as before. Don’s death may remind us of others who have passed away and awaken that grief. We may also be reminded of our own mortality, and grieving Don’s death may spark us to embrace life with more intentionality. The memorial service included the following poem, a meaningful one to Don which evokes the mystery of what happens to us after this life, and the ways in which the living remember the dead: When I am dead, my dearest, Sing no sad songs for me; Plant thou no roses at my head, Nor shady cypress tree: Be the green grass above me With showers and dewdrops wet; And if thou wilt, remember, And if thou wilt, forget. I shall not see the shadows, I shall not feel the rain; I shall not hear the nightingale Sing on, as if in pain: And dreaming through the twilight That doth not rise nor set, Haply I may remember, And haply may forget. -Christina Rosetti This is, thankfully, the first death of a member of this Fellowship since the beginning of the global pandemic. The loss of Don Rust diminishes our congregation, and reminds us that we need one another. PRAYER: May the spirit of Don Rust rest in peace. May he live on in the memory and love of those who knew him. May we feel his presence with us as he influenced everyone he knew and every place he went. Blessed be. Rev. Andrew Frantz |
Rev. Andrew FrantzUUFCM Minister Summer Hours
Rev. Drew takes six weeks of time off during the summer months, and is also away for a full week at General Assembly. Although regular office hours are suspended for the summer, you may still contact Drew with any urgent Fellowship business if needed, or with significant pastoral care needs. Texting 440-935-0129 is the best way to reach Rev. Drew. [email protected] Phone/text: 440-935-0129 Pastoral Care Concerns
For support with life’s challenges, please contact Drew during his office hours or make an appointment with him. For specific needs such as rides to medical appointments or meals for people recovering from illness or surgery, please contact the Caring Team (formerly Arms Around) via Jen Prout at 989-400-3130 or [email protected]. Every effort will be made to lessen the burden on the individual or family who is dealing with a difficult circumstance. Archives
June 2024
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