Minister’s Musings

Minister’s Musings by Rev. Julie Lombard

In February, Creation is our worship theme. This is a loaded term for religious folks. Creation can be about something as simple as a beginning- such as the Big Bang, a spark of inspiration, or a shot heard around the world. Every story must have a beginning and we humans like to have the meaning that explains it.

There are as many creation stories as there are cultures. The Holy Bible offers us two creation stories! You may know of the Ancient Greek story of Gaia, but have you heard of the Hopi’s Four Creations story, how about the Maori’s Separation of Heaven and Earth story, or of the Apache’s Creation by and of the Self story? Each culture has its own way of saying, “We were here, and this is how it all began.” Are you curious about these stories?   Visit: http://www.gly.uga.edu/railsback/CS/CSIndex.html

“Even the rocks that seem to lie dumb as they swelter in the sun along the silent seashore in solemn grandeur thrill with memories of past events connected with the fate of my people, and the very dust under your feet responds more lovingly to our footsteps than to yours, because it is the ashes of our ancestors, and our bare feet are conscious of the sympathetic touch, for the soil is rich with the life of our kindred.”- Chief Seattle

Chief Seattle’s idea of how rocks thrill with memories as bare feet walk upon them and they are reconnected to the ashes of one’s ancestors is quite a trip. Is that what really happens when we walk on the beach? Is it some kind of cosmic family reunion? There’s a beach in RI where a curious person can find strange, holy creatures to walk around as if they were monuments in a museum- each stone structure is a unique creation standing the test of time and weather. Yes, human beings co-create them with Mother Nature as she has her own way with these seaside structures. I bring them up because creating is part of creation.

In this loving church community full of artists, musicians, and free thinkers, there is no end to what we are able to co-create together. We can build anything we need because we remain open to the possibility. May we recall our own power to create and build whatever is needed. We have the strength and the creativity to rise up to meet any challenge our future may have in store for us. What might we co-create together? What is needed? What will we feel called to build? How will our creation serve our Green Mountains that we share?

In March, Death is our worship theme. Death appears to be a downer of a theme, but I welcome us to remain curious as we enter this month and all that comes with it. Death is a part of the circle of life. The end comes before the next new chapter may begin. If I was to say that with March comes the death of winter, I may only hear cheers from those suffering from spring fever.

With February’s theme being Creation next to March’s theme of Death, now is a good time to examine our beliefs about life and death. These are the two largest questions religions have sought to answer over time. “Why does life exist and what happens after we die?” As always, there is no one answer for these questions, however we do offer a place of learning and support to explore them in.

We embrace and celebrate the miracle of life and uphold our interdependence with each life in this magnificent web which we are a part. At the end of life, we offer both care and support. Many assist family and friends through the sad journey of saying goodbye to someone they love and later offer companionship to one another in the long and ongoing journey of grief. This is what it means to be a beloved community. Death brings to life a caring community.  

We get our ideas about life and death from both science and whatever spiritual traditions that we arrived with here and all the ones we’ve pick up along the way. Some believe there is no life after death while others remain open to the possibility. One thing is for certain, not many hold tight to the idea of divine judgment or ending in a flaming hell. I am grateful that eternal damnation went away with our ancestors - the No Heller Universalists - centuries ago.

There is also no one way to memorialize a person. Ours services are uniquely personalized allowing us to mourn and celebrate each individual. Working closely with the minister, the decease’s loved ones create a service that best suits their needs. Each service offers ways to live life more fully through a myriad of sacred lessons.