Minister's Corner
OUR CONSULTING MINISTER
The Rev. David S. Blanchard of Syracuse New York
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Pastor’s Prism
I recently came across some words by one of my professors at Harvard Divinity School that struck me as worth sharing. Diana Eck, Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at Harvard, wrote in her book, Encountering God: A Spiritual Journey from Bozeman to Banaras:
“Our cultures are thirsty for whatever it is that is named with the word spirituality. Our lives are busy. Our days hurtle by with a roar. Our rooms are piled high with books to read, filled with the sound of televised news and sports, with minute-by-minute coverage's of baseball games and national and international disasters, filled with music as we like. There is so much to keep up with that stopping for real periods of stillness is increasingly difficult. We have practiced the routes of having, doing, going, making, getting and keeping so frequently that we know the terrain by heart. The ways of watchfulness and attention will take both learning and unlearning.”
These words certainly resonate for me. I suspect they do for many of you reading this. I have so often heard from parents of young children that the hour they have in church on Sunday morning is the only time in their week when they encounter a deep awareness of their spiritual journey and know the felt experience of being replenished. Others, for different reasons, may find the same results from being in spiritual community, from the time shared in worship. I think there is something to be learned from this one route to finding that sort of spiritual reality, that might be generalized to larger portions of our lives.
For one thing, the experience in worship happens with intention. It is not a matter of mere chance. Others have carefully prepared for you to appear. In expectation, you arrive. And then there is the aspect that it requires our own effort, our own commitment. It means we will do this thing, and not the other. You have made the choice. And as Eck maintains, you yourself must be watchful. The truth, the spirit, the mystery, the ‘holy houdini’ is not going to hand you an engraved invitation to follow them. You must be attentive to them, or at least to the hints of their presence in your world. Like Roald Dahl wrote, “those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” And so it is with the ephemeral reality of spirituality.
As we wait for hints of Spring, may we learn something new that might give us access to wonder. Unlearn something that you know is just no longer working for you. Pay attention to the thirst that Diana Eck mentions. The only permission you need is your own.
in faith, David
Some
of you have requested more information about "The
Land of Broken Dreams", specifically, what I was talking about
in my sermon, "Oddballs & Eccentrics"
Go
to: http://www.agilitynut.com/h/bobsmith.html
for pictures and more information.
PS: I will be on vacation the first week of March.
A complete listing of our "Treasures and Dreams" that was shared on January 3rd is posted on the bulletin board outside the sanctuary. You can also go to this link on our Donations / Pledges page at http://www.uuutica.org/donations.html . Take a look! And if you were not able to be present for the original conversation, don't be shy! Send me an e-mail (revdsb@aol.com), or leave a note in the office with YOUR three treasures and YOUR three dreams. Your ideas will be incorporated into the larger list, and will contribute to the ways we work together and chart our future. Every voice counts. Every vision matters. What are yours? I'm all ears.
CARING CREW: During the past month, almost 20 people have volunteered to be a part of our “caring crew” ---- a group that exists to extend care and support to members and friends of our congregation who may be going through a “rough patch”. My intention is to identify three or four people who can take turns (on a monthly basis) coordinating the care. But at the moment, I would ask that any needs or concerns be directed to me. If you know of anyone who could benefit from some care or cheer, please let me know. In next month’s newsletter, I hope to have the system of coordination in place. Thanks to all those who are willing to reach out to others. David
MARCH
FOOD DONATION
During
the month of March, please bring in paper goods : toilet paper, paper
towels, tissues. Two years ago we managed to collect over 500 rolls
of t.p. ! Can we beat that record? I think we can…. Thank you.
David
CHALICE CIRCLES: We will gather on the first and third Tuesday of March from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Parlor. Regular attendance is important, but of course new folks are welcome to attend to experience the discussion and decide if this is a group they would like to commit to. If you have questions, please let me know. David
A Note on Contacting the Minister
In
general, my intention is to keep my hours in Utica close to what I have
published in the newsletter and in the Sunday bulletin. But I have
found that it is almost impossible to keep them precisely! Other
things get scheduled, and in the interest of being flexible, I have to
adjust the schedule - often at the last minute.
So
I would ask/remind you to be in touch on my cell phone listed in the directory
or by e-mail revdsb@aol.com or
minister@uuutica.org.
In case of emergency please contact Rev. Blanchard or Elaine Griswold, church moderator as listed in the Directory.
I might not be at the church, but I might be meeting someone for coffee over at Barnes and Nobles. You are not bothering me to call! (And a message left on the church machine might not reach me for a couple of days!) - David
Minister's Schedule
The nature of the work of ministry conspires against rigid schedules, but for the purposes of planning and some degree of predictability, a schedule is necessary for both you and me. At the outset, not being certain how well this will work, I am planning to be in Utica - at or near the church - on
Tuesdays
from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM and
Wednesdays
from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
On
the Sundays when I am preaching (twice or three times a month)
I will plan to stay until 2:00 PM.
I will be in Utica at other times, of course, but these are the times you can count on me being there. (It is always best to call first before just dropping in, or you risk finding me in consultation with someone else, or out on a parish visit. Making an appointment isn't a bad idea. It would also help me plan my own time.)
My
phone number is listed in the new Directory available at Church.
My e-mail address is revdsb@aol.com
or minister@ uuutica.org
Please
make a note of them and use them whenever you need to reach me. In
the case of emergency, call me at any time. - David
Secretary’s office hours: Monday -Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 - 11:30 AM. No hours during July and August. Hours will resume on September 8th.
Previous Sermons (Click on Sermon name to hear Sermon. Depending on your web connection, it may take a while for the page to load. Once loaded, you may have to click on a "play" symbol, in order for the Sermon to begin. Contact Bill Gazitano at pencandle@roadrunner.com or as listed in the directory, if you have any problems.)
Abraham Lincoln February 15, 2009
Easter Sunday April 12, 2009
A Nice Place to Visit . . . May 17, 2009
Tribute to Rev. Dr. Forrest Church October 18, 2009
Things
That Go Bump in the Night October 25, 2009
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