Both Sides By Rev. Nina D. Grey October, 2000

I watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, and how can I fail to know we are part of an interdependent web. The web of existence ties together children and adults all over the world. It connects creeks and streams, rivers, lakes and oceans, the birds of the air and the fish of the sea. It weaves together the past, present and future. We are one.

On September 10, we welcomed Rev. Marlene Walker, into our congregation's worship and life together. How blessed we are that she has come to be with us and strengthen our ministry. She offers many fine gifts to inspire our vision for the future. On September 17 we marked Rev. David Arksey's 23rd year of ministry with us as our Minister at Large. We are so grateful for his faithful witness to our faith and presence in our community. He is a bulwark of support.

And on September 17 we said a most fond farewell to Tom Weisflog, who has accepted the position of head organist at Rockefeller Chapel. How much Tom has inspired our worship and life in his 22 years at First Unitarian Church! To say that we will deeply miss his weekly presence in our worship life and in our congregational life is an understatement. Yet we know he is close by, still our neighbor and most dear friend, part of the web of our caring. May our blessings go with him.

This month we honor the interdependent web of life in many ways.

On October 1, we join with other urban Unitarian Universalists from all over Chicago at the Harvest Fest, at our own church. A celebration for all ages, the Harvest Fest joins together UUs of all ages as we honor the harvest and our ties with one another. When we deepen our UU connections and work together with others of our faith, we also strengthen the life of our own congregation.

And this month on October 7 we meet to think about a new social justice project that will more completely weave our life into that of the larger community. Our mission calls us to respond to the needs of the community that sustains us. We are part of a neighborhood and a city.

And this month, we mark United Nations Sunday, once again hosting the Chicago Children's Choir for its birthday celebration. The choir has always represented a hope of inclusivity. When we hear them, we can believe in our own vision of the beloved community. We can know that we are all related. On this Sunday, October 22, we will note the lasting commitment the UN has made to children all over the world. We will remember once again that we are called to affirm the reality of an interdependent web of all existence, of which most assuredly we are a part.

And every week we begin our worship as an intergenerational, community, welcoming people of all ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and abilities, expressing our commitment to respect the dignity and worth of all, expressing our commitment to a just vision, and acknowledging and celebrating the richness and beauty of the whole body of our faith.

We are many and we are also one. Blessed be!

In love and faith,

Nina