"In our Unitarian Universalist tradition,

what is required of those who prepare and deliver sermons?

What does it mean to offer wisdom and hope

to members of a gathered community?  

These are great responsibilities. 

Each worship service is a unique moment in a congregation's life." 

                                     -  Erika Hewett,  The Shared Pulpit:  A Sermon for Lay People

 

Friends  -

This Sunday you have a wonderful opportunity to experience one of the great strengths of this congregation:  a lay-led Sunday service and speaker, Ryan Hannon from Safe Harbor, whose guests we are hosting here next month.

We don't do lay-led services only so the senior spiritual leader has a Sunday off (for which she is grateful, by the way).  It is a deeper philosophical choice about honoring the vision of our members.  Our skilled, generous volunteers spend many hours creating a Sunday experience that allows different voices, talents and interests of our members to be front and center.

It is not easy to lead worship (or gathering):  it takes a great deal of time, courage and preparation - for both professionals and lay leaders.   

So while I am deeply grateful for the Sunday away from the pulpit so I can refresh and renew, lay led services are not just that:  they are part of the fabric of how this community sees itself.  

As Erika Hewitt writes, "Gathering for an hour on Sunday, though, is a physical reminder of the community we've chosen to call home.  Worship is both a calling forth of our best selves and an expression of acceptance of people as they are."

Let's therefore celebrate our honoring of the skills and talents of our members.

I look forward to being with you when I return from a week of teaching in Nebraska!

In blessing - 

Rabbi Chava