Blog
“Living on the Side of Love”
Feb 27, 2012
Our team has been challenged in many ways by the 30 Days of Love campaign, perhaps most significantly by a recent post on the EqUUal Access blog. EqUUal Access is a national Unitarian Universalist group dedicated to educating congregations accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities. The group’s vice president, Carolyn Cartland, wrote an article entitled “Living on the Side of Love–Whether We Stand, Sit, or Recline on a Stretcher” about how the use of the term “standing” in “Standing on the Side of Love” can be alienating for people with disabilities. We also received a copy of Rev. Katie Lee Crane’s thought-provoking “Love is a Verb” sermon on ableism which you can download and read here. We encourage you to take a look at Carolyn’s post and think about how this issue may be impacting folks in your own community.
Do you have stories about how ableism has impacted your life? We welcome blog post submissions–take a peak at our blog content guidelines and email your story to love@uua.org.
More >30 Days on the Side of Love
Feb 23, 2012
The message below went out on Thursday, February 23, 2012 to Standing on the Side of Love supporters. You can sign-up for these emails here.
____________________________________________________________________________
Though our National Standing on the Side of Love Month ended over a week ago, the stories are still coming in about all of the wonderful ways that you all participated in the Thirty Days of Love. From a justice-themed youth conference in Denver to witnessing for marriage equality in Fairfax to a rally for immigrant families in Boston, your loving voices have been echoing across the nation.
Click here to check out how your fellow “Love People” participated in the 30 Days of Love!
We hope that National Standing on the Side of Love Month has been as meaningful for you as it has been for us.
In faith & justice,
The Standing on the Side of Love Team
More >30 Days of Gathering, Speaking, Singing, and Witnessing on the Side of Love
Feb 23, 2012
Thirty Days of Love by the Numbers
- Nearly 1,000 people took part in our daily love actions.
- 75 people registered public witness events.
- 52 people signed up to phone bank to defeat anti-LGBT amendments in North Carolina and Minnesota.
- 46 people submitted their own prayers, mantras, and meditations.
- 250 people attended the immigration webinar.
- 110 individuals took part in the collective visioning webinar.
- 77 congregations participated in Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day events.
- 7 congregations reported that they honored community leaders with Courageous Love awards.
- Nearly 200 people registered social justice-themed worship services.
Week 1: Story of Self
For the first week of the campaign, we explored our “Stories of Self,” which aims to communicate your personal values that move you to act. Dozens of people shared their personal reflections by posting on our Facebook page or commenting on our blog. Here are a sample of the thoughts folks bravely shared with us:
Day 2: How is love part of your personal identity?
Love is my eternal challenge. So many days I fall short of the mark. Anyone who thinks “standing on the side of love” is an arrogant statement that others should “be like me” must live on another planet than I do–because for me it is an aspiration that I will never fully embody. –Rev. Meg Riley
Day 4: Ask Yourself, What Do You Struggle With?
I worry that my son, who is gay and transgender, will be physically harmed or even killed for being different, yet I know that he MUST transition for his own mental and spiritual health. –Anne Reardon Urbanski
Lost my partner of 30 years eleven months ago. Struggling with walking the line between honoring lost love and finding a new path for myself, of having fun while being sad, of making new connections at a time when I am not fully present. Living life is not for the weak. –Phyllis Gorman
Day 5: Inspiring Others Through Our Own Stories
I came out as a lesbian in 1994 after being with my husband for 22 years. Very tough time and mostly self-inflicted. I had never felt any homophobia toward others but when it was me, I found that I had a lot of emotional hurdles to get over. I too am a compulsive overeater and have had so much shame around that. But have found a community that is supportive and encouraging and learning to love myself without excess food. What I have never come out about before though (except to a very few close friends) is that I was raped in my home by 2 men when I was 17 years old. Now that I’ve said it out loud maybe I can incorporate that experience into my life in an integrated way and even find a way to make a terrible ordeal into something that helps me and others. Thanks for this opportunity. I DO believe that the more we know each other’s stories, the healthier we all become. We know that so much dysfunction comes from keeping secrets. –Lynne Westmoreland
My middle child was five when i whispered it to him. Every night i would tuck his sweet soul into bed and whisper his good nights. We would reflect and talk quietly. We would prepare for the next day. This night was different. This night was sacred. I chose to tell him how it all would be from this point forward. I whispered “I am going to live on the outside how i feel on the inside ” he paused and pet my face “I will be a boy ALL the time” his listens, he took it in, he loved me through it “Oh mommy, I am so happy you are taking off your woman mask” Acceptance. Gratitude. Peace. Empowered. –Sayer Johnson
Rachel Rott
I stand on the side of Love because love was so absent in my childhood and I believe the lack of it was instrumental in setting me up for a series of victimization throughout my life. I am now a survivor, inspiring to thrive on LOVE. It is because I have learned to love, which by the way is a saving grace, phenomenal attribute our species, and why I therefore, stand on the side of love which sustains me. –Abuelita Grand
SSL activist Rachel Rott wrote a beautiful prayer that was sent to our email list. An amazing group of 46 people also wrote and submitted their own prayers, mediations, or mantras about love. Three particularly inspiring authors will receive a copy of “Thou, Dear God”, a collection of prayers by Martin Luther King, Jr. Click here to see a sample of the wonderfully inspiring creation that we received.
Week 2: Story of Us
A Courageous Love Award is presented to Ruth Ellis Center Board Member Dr. Amorie Robinson in Southfield, Michigan. (Credit: Randy Block)
The second week of National Standing on the Side of Love Month focused on creating and telling a “Story of Us” that communicates our values and inspire others to act. We held a collective visioning webinar with 110 participants (listen to a recording of the webinar here). We also shared a number of resources, such as the “Story of Us, Story of Now” Guide (PDF) and a Collective Visioning Guide (PDF), to help congregations create develop their stories.
Check out this sweet note about the resources that we got from Carrie Rice, the Worship Committee Chair at the UU Fellowship of Mankato, Minnesota:
I just wanted to say on behalf of my congregation (which just said goodbye to its minister) that the resources for worship which you made available are INCREDIBLE! We are very excited about using them in the months ahead. Thank you for all the work!
We also encouraged folks to lift up stories of courageous love, either on our online map, or by presenting awards to community members on behalf of their entire congregation. Leilani Pearce shared her story with our email list and SSL tech guru Tim Griffin told us about his daughter’s bravery. Click here to see more details on some of the amazing individuals that were honored around the country.
Jen Jones, the Equality North Carolina Communications Director, is running across the state to oppose the anti-LGBT ballot measure. These UUs are waiting to greet her in Charlotte. (Credit: Robin Tanner)
Week 3: Story of Now
This week focused on our “story of now,” which shares the urgent challenges we are called upon to face, the hope that we can face them, and choices we must make to act. During this week, 52 volunteers signed up to phone bank against upcoming anti-LGBT ballot measures in North Carolina and Minnesota. Additionally, 250 people took part in a webinar hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Association and its coalition partners–Interfaith Immigration Coalition, National Day Laborer’s Organizing Network (NDLON), and the New Sanctuary Movement–about the recently launched national campaign for community-based immigration advocacy. The goals of this campaign are to train interfaith teams to meet with local officials to change the way communities respond to detainment requests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and stop ICE agents’ unlimited access to jails. You can watch a video recording of the webinar here and download a PDF copy of the Congregational Toolkit for Immigration Advocacy here.
We also asked our supporters to make contributions to anti-bullying projects through the Donors Choose project. We received the following note about this action from Carol Cobb:
Thank you so much for getting information out. In the days where sensationalism fuels social ills, it is refreshing to have information that helps cure the ills. I am a new Donor’s Choose Teacher and I am very excited to see that there are those that share the information. Thank you.
We also received submissions from several congregations that are engaging in their community’s issues in innovative ways. Here are their stories:
First Unitarian Congregational Society, Brooklyn, New York
First UU Brooklyn‘s Senior High Youth led an educational service project for the congregation’s children. After teaching the children about love, marriage equality, and justice, they made Valentines to send to the New York State representatives who voted to support marriage equality last year. They sent the cards to Brooklyn representatives and their federal Senators, Mayor, Governor, and the four Republicans who made a stand on personal conscious across party lines. Watch the gorgeous video they made about the project:
Standing on the Side of Love Valentines – First UU Brooklyn from Cooper Miller on Vimeo.
UU Fellowship of Bozeman, Montana
The UU Fellowship of Bozeman is getting involved in a number of important local issues. Rev. Nina Grey tells us that “Native American justice is a big issue in Montana” as the state houses seven reservations and the congregation is looking to become more involved with Native American advocacy work in the area. Additionally, the congregation’s social justice study group is focusing on immigration by reading The Death of Josseline and speaking with local minister Father Val Zdilla about the work his is doing with the local Latino community. Soon, the group will be starting the UUA’s immigration curriculum. Additionally, Rev. Nina Grey preached a “Standing on the Side of Love” sermon encompassing reproductive justice, immigration, LGBTQ equality.
Clara Barton District youth with their Standing on the Side of Love Graffiti Sheet (Credit: Carmen Booth)
UU Church of Worcester, Massachusetts
Youth in the Clara Barton District gathered for the “i got uu babe” mini-Youth Con at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester where they participated in a “Standing on the Side of Love” workshop. They broke into small groups to discuss their identities and share personal stories. Everyone was affirmed for their participation as they sang Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You Babe.” Youth were also encouraged to put their faith in action by signing a ‘Graffiti Sheet’ committing to stand on the side of love, signing an e-petition calling for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), and more. According to Janet Davis, “The workshop gave youth, as well as adult advisors, a space to share their own stories and begin to make connections to larger issues of bigotry and oppression.”
Week 4: Spreading the Love
The last week of the campaign, which included National Standing on the Side of Love Day, was dedicated to “spreading the love” through public witness and love-themed worship. Many dozens of congregations across the country took part. Check out some of the great work being done below for LGBT equality, immigrant rights, and economic justice.
Witnessing for LGBT Equality
Karen, Barb, and UUA President Rev. Peter Morales outside of the Fairfax County Courthouse. (Credit: Dea Brayden)
Valentine’s Day is traditionally a popular time for LGBT rights activists to demonstrate in favor of marriage equality and tons of UU congregations used the “Standing on the Side of Love” message in their actions this year.
UU Congregation of Fairfax, Virginia
On Valentine’s Day, Rev. Kären Rasmussen and Barb Brehm, who are both retired Navy veterans and have been domestic partners for 26 years, filed for a marriage license at the Fairfax County Courthouse. Members of the UU Congregation of Fairfax and the People of Faith for Equality of Northern Virginia organized the demonstration and a number of UU clergy spoke at the event including Unitarian Universalist Association President Rev. Peter Morales. The demonstartion concluded with a candlelight vigil. Kären said of the couple’s decision, “For those who know us, Barb and I didn’t decide to do this lightly. We are pretty private people and retired Navy at that. But we felt that this act has such meaning, especially on Valentines Day.” The event was even covered by the Fairfax News and made an appearance on the local news. Click here to check out a great video slideshow about the event.
Northlake UU Church, Kirkland, Washington
Northlake UU‘s Rev. Marian E. Stewart testified at the House hearing on the Washington State marriage equality bill. Her colleague, Rev. Lois Van Leer of the congregation in Woodinville, WA also testified at the Senate hearing. You can watch videos of both testimonies online–Rev. Stewart’s remarks at the House hearing are here beginning at 1:50:25 and Rev. Van Leer’s speech at the Senate hearing is here beginning at 79:55.
Marietta, GA UUs at the Heart in the Park event (Credit: Vance Cox)
Emerson UU Congregation, Marietta, Georgia
Emerson UU Congregation held its Fourth Annual Heart in the Park event to bring attention to LGBT equality issues. Songs were led by their 30-member choir and speakers used human amplification through Occupy’s “Mic Check” technique. An article about Heart in the Park in the Marietta Daily Journal said of the event, “This year, participants—dressed in red to celebrate Valentine’s Day—began the event by marching around the park behind a rainbow gay pride flag, carrying such signs that read: ‘Marriage is a Civil Right,’ ‘Support Love,’ and ‘The Right to Love is Inalienable,’ while singing to the beat of a drum. They then gathered in the shape of a heart, and sang more songs with such lyrics as: ‘When I breathe in, I breathe in peace; when I breathe out, I breathe out love.’”
Unitarian Universalist Church West, Brookfield, Wisconsin
UU Church West presented a play entitled “The Size of the Dream: Celebrating the Promise of Marriage Equality” in partnership with Equality Wisconsin. According to a description of the play, “In this premiere choral theatre production, a small group of ordinary citizens boldly enter the fight for marriage equality in song and story as a constitutional amendment comes up for a vote. Inspired by a compassionate community organizer, they tour the state telling their poignant and personal stories in order to win the hearts and votes of those who will be the hardest to convince.”
MUUSJA protesters in Detroit (Credit: Randy Block)
Michigan UU Social Justice Network
Last month, members of the Michigan UU Social Justice Network (MUUSJN) participated in a “Gay Families Matter” rally in Detroit to protest a new law in Michigan that eliminates domestic partner benefits. The group also published a great new interfaith LGBTQ toolkit, which you can find here. MUUSJN mailed copies of the toolkit to 400 different religious groups.
First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Florida
Nicki Drumb and her partner Rachel Gardiner, together for seven years, went the Orlando courthouse and asked for a marriage license for the fourth time in four years. Although they have been repeatedly turned down, they feel it’s still important to go, to ask, to make the clerk look in their eyes and say “No” in person, to make others aware of the 1,000+ rights and privileges that are being denied in that “No.”
Human Heart Love-In in Orlando, FL (Credit: Mike Haddad)
Afterwards the couple gathered with hundreds of fellow LGBT rights supporters and members of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando for a public event at Loch Haven Park called, “The Human Heart: An OUTright Love-in” where the crowd makes the shape of a giant heart on the grassy field near Mills Avenue. They created a huge human heart made from as many human beings as humanly possible–uniting as one human family, celebrating what all humans have in common, and showing the community their support for equality and justice. ”We like to take a moment to remember, and remind others that at the heart of this issue is love. We simply want to love each other and get married, love our kids and ensure all families can stay together, and love ourselves for who we are without fear of being bullied.”
Maryland Lobby Day
Earlier this week, a crowd of more than 500 LGBT-equality supporters rallied on the Lawyer’s Mall in Annapolis as part of the annual LGBT Lobby Day. Sen. Allan Kittleman, the sole Republican in the Maryland Senate who is supporting the legalization of marriage for same-sex couples, said in his remarks, ““I’m a proud Republican who supports marriage equality. It’s not a partisan issue. There are thousands of Republicans in Maryland who support the principles of freedom, liberty and equality.” Check out this article about the Lobby Day in the Washington Blade, which features a photo of Governor O’Malley in front of a Standing on the Side of Love banner!
Abigail Hasting-Tharp with mom Jamila with her valentine. (Credit: Al Hartmann, Salt Lake Tribune)
First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, Utah
Abigail, a 9-year-old member of the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, was featured in the Salt Lake Tribune. Abigail created a valentine for the state of Utah asking for her mothers’ marriage to be recognized. The card was signed by dozens of Abigail’s classmates and members of First Unitarian. The message on the card reads, “Will you be my Valentine, Utah? I have two moms and I love them with all my heart. We moved here last year and we have no legal rights, and no legal protections as a family in Utah. My moms are married, but you don’t recognize this. WHY?”
First UU Church of Columbus, Ohio
The Gay Straight Alliance and Justice Action Ministry of the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus hosted an event called ”Freedom to Love, Freedom to Marry: An Interfaith Rededication and Solidarity Celebration.” Participants, both gay and straight, rededicated themselves to their spouses and partners and to the inalienable and sacred right of individuals to choose their partners for life. The event aimed to bring together people from different faith communities who share the conviction that God’s love and grace are for all people; demonstrate gay-straight solidarity for equal rights; and voice heartfelt support for the people of Ohio and other states as they take the bold and necessary steps to legalize same-sex marriage. The Unitarian Universalist Association presented First UU Columbus with a $500 grant from the President’s Freedom to Marry Fund to make this event possible.
First Unitarian Church of Richmond, Virginia
Member of First Unitarian of Richmond participated in a range of projects to commemorate National Standing on the Side of Love Month, including a Jubilee Anti-Racism Workshop, through the congregations new Allian to End Oppression. This week, they participated in Equality Virginia’s Lobby Day and witnessed for marriage equality–check out their spot on the local news here!
Witnessing for Immigrant Rights
Immigrant communities face significant oppression across the country. Congregations in Boston, Colorado, and Connecticut all used National Standing on the Side of Love Month to call for just treatment of immigrants in their communities.
Participants held hearts and ‘Love’ signs along with Centro’s Just Communities/Comunidades Justas Campaign banner. (Credit: Susan Leslie)
Standing with Immigrant Families, Boston, Massachusetts
Unitarian Universalists including UU Mass Action gathered at Boston City Hall Plaza with Centro Presente, National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON), Boston New Sanctuary Movement, Interfaith Worker Justice, and others to celebrate the contributions immigrant communities give to Massachusetts and to protest the continued participation of the City of Boston in the ICE Secure Communities program of mass detention and deportation. Sarahi Uribe of NDLON and Patricia Montes of Centro spoke about the contributions of day laborers and other immigrant workers who in return for hard work are contending with an ICE program that is breaking up their families. Rev. Fred Small, First Parish of Cambridge UU, called on the community to stand on the side of love with immigrant families saying, ‘The only secure community is the Beloved Community.”
Columbine UU Church, Littleton, Colorado
Demonstration participant holds a sign outside the GEO detention center. (Credit: Mary Wellemeyer)
Every month, the American Friends Service Committee co-sponsors a vigil at the privately owned GEO detention center that houses people awaiting deportation hearings in Aurora, Colorado. This month the theme of the gathering was love, in honor of Valentine’s Day, and members of several area UU congregations including Columbine UU Church participated. Says Rev. Mary Wellemeyer, “It was moving to be part of a group of so many young and old, anglo and latino, of numerous different faiths, carrying signs and lighted candles. Chanting. We walked about a block from the corner where we started, showing our signs to passing cars, receiving honks of support, watching our step on the ice while keeping the candles upright… We came to a place where the public road was near the chain link fence and the chain link fence was near the building. The students festooned the chain link fence with Valentine’s Day balloons and paper streamers…There will be Valentine’s cards for the detainees and for the workers in the detention center. And as always, encouragement for those who wait. Some of us will go to a deportation hearing ten days from now to show support. The struggle continues, with love and occasional glimmers of hope.”
Unitarian Universalist Society: East, Manchester, Connecticut
Friends of Sujitno Sajuti, an Indonesian national who sits in a Massachusetts jail awaiting deportation, led a press conference to keep him in this country. Sajuti is a teacher with advanced degrees, an activist for immigration reform and health reform, and has been in the United States for 23 years. The group of clergy and concerned citizens, who gathered at the Elmwood Community Center, said his case “has become one more example of the heartless, senseless bureaucracy that squanders government power in our country.” Local UUs have been active on this issue–check out Rev. Josh Pawelek’s reflections here and keep an eye out for a SSL banner in the video below!
Occupying Love
Economic justice has come to the forefront of the public discourse over the last couple months. Several congregations and the Unitarian Universalist Association at the denominational level are working on these issues in their communities.
First UU Congregation of the Palm Beaches, Florida
The First UU Congregation of the Palm Beaches has been actively participating in the 30 Days of Love campaign. In addition to holding a worship service about Standing on the Side of Love with Immigrants, they have been displaying their Standing on the Side of Love and Occupy Love signs every Thursday as part of the Occupy North Palm Beach demonstrations and incorporated economic justice themes into their Teaching Thursday series. Later this month, they will be holding an all-day Occupy North Palm Beach event that will prominently feature Standing on the Side of Love.
Rev. Peter Morales, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association, and Rev. Eugene F. Rivers III, Pastor of the Azusa Christian Community, at a press conference announcing opposition to three strikes bill. (Credit: Dea Brayden)
Opposing the “Three Strikes” Bill, Boston, Massachusetts
UUA President Rev. Peter Morales joined with Jesse Jaeger, Executive Director of UU Mass Action, Rev. Eugene Rivers of the Black Ministerial Alliance, leaders from the Criminal Justice Policy Coalition, and activists from Occupy the Hood at a press conference at the UUA to oppose the proposed ‘Three Strikes’ law in Massachusetts that would create mandatory life without parole sentences and bar judicial discretion. Following the press conference, a delegation was led by President Morales, Rev. Rivers, and Mr. Jaeger to the State House to deliver a letter signed by 250 UUs, including over 100 clergy, to the Governor and legislators. The group has requested a meeting with the Governor. President Morales said, “As a people of faith, we are called today to stand on the side of love, not vengeance. Not fear. Not political maneuvering. As A matter of compassion and justice, the Conference Committee Should be dissolved, and this damaging legislation killed.” For more information on this measure, check out this article in the Boston Globe.
A Standing on the Side of Love banner makes a cameo in the HKonJ march. (Credit: Tracy Hollister)
Historic Thousands on Jones St., Raleigh, North Carolina
Many “Standing on the Side of Love”-clad UUs participated in the sixth annual “Historic Thousands on Jones St.” (KHonJ) event in Raleigh, North Carolina. The march advocates for a number of economic justice issues, including a living wage, health care, public education, voting rights, collective bargaining, and immigrant justice. Members of both the Community Church of Chapel Hill UU and the UU Fellowship of Raleigh took part in the event.
Worshiping on the Side of Love
Nearly 200 people told us that their congregation was holding a social justice-themed worship service and a number of folks submitted details about their services.
UU Fellowship of San Dieguito, Solana Beach, California
UUFSD kids and their Valentines for the lawyers that fought Prop 8 (Credit: Alison Aguilar Lopez Gutierrez McLeod Crotty)
The UU Fellowship of San Dieguito‘s Children’s Chapel activities centered around the Court Decision regarding the constitutionality of California’s Proposition 8. The children designed Valentines Day “thank you” cards to the organizations and lawyers that fought hard against this amendment. On the same day, the whole Fellowship wore Standing on the Side of Love t-shirts and Rev. David Miller preached a sermon entitled “Is God Love?”
Unitarian Society of Hartford, Connecticut
Members of the Unitarian Society of Hartford also gathered to worship on the side of love. Rev. Katie Lee Crane’s “Love is a Verb” sermon focused on ableism as another focus in our work for justice. The sermon included a story from Carolyn Cartland about how the use of the term “standing” in “Standing on the Side of Love” can be alienating for people with disabilities. You can download Rev. Crane’s thought-provoking sermon here.
Magic Valley UU Fellowship, Twin Falls, Idaho
The Magic Valley UU Fellowship explored what it means to “Stand on the Side of Love” with undocumented immigrants and their families. The sermon discussed the broader immigration landscape and attempted to find some historical perspective on this issue, which is nearly as old as our country. Rev. Suzanne Marsh addressed questions such as: What (if any) is our civic and spiritual responsibility relative to the undocumented residents of our country? Why is this issue a priority for our denomination? What’s love got to do with it anyway?
Love postcard designed by Allegheny UU Church (Credit: Donald Zeilman)
Allegheny UU Church, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Allegheny UU Church designed a great postcard to publicize their “Love Communion Sunday.” It was sent to the congregations members and friends to encourage them to participate in this special Sunday event.
Eliot Unitarian Chapel, Kirkwood, Missouri
Eliot Unitarian Chapel held a kickoff event for their involvement in the Standing on the Side of Love campaign. Their extravaganza included an introduction to explain SSL, two guest speakers who are local professional advocates for the LGBT and immigrant/refugee communities, music by the women’s acapella choir, and a banner hanging ceremony.
UU Congregation of Columbia, Maryland
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia‘s youth group presented their annual Standing on the Side of Love worship service. The service focused on The Story of Us (the story of youth as ordinary heroes) and The Story of Now (the UUCC youths’ learning, justice and service topic for the next 16 months: homelessness).
First Universalist Church, Rockland, Maine
Members of the First Universalist Church of Rockland, Maine (Credit: Annie Kiermaier)
The First Universalist Church in Rockland‘s Standing on the Side of Love worship service focused on the upcoming referendum for the freedom to marry in Maine. Congregation member Annie Kiermaier and her partner Lucie attended a press conference earlier in the week where Equality Maine announced that they gathered 105,000 signatures on petitions so that Mainers will vote in referendum this November on the freedom to marry.
UU Fellowship of Midland, Michigan
Rev. Jeff Liebmann preached a Standing on the Side of Love-themed sermon about Viola Liuzzo, a Unitarian mother who answered Martin Luther King Jr.’s call and was murdered in Selma while driving a Black man home at night by four Klansmen. She died only two weeks after Unitarian minister James Reeb was also murdered in Selma. Click here to download and read a copy of Rev. Leibmann’s great sermon.
First Parish UU, Northborough, Massachusetts
In honor of National Standing on the Side of Love Day, Rev. Dr. Jan Carlsson-Bull delivered a sermon entitled “Love Stuff” as a pulpit guest at First Parish UU. You can download her beautiful sermon on the transformative power of love here.
Still to come…
Tapestry UU Congregation, Mission Viejo, California
Last December, the San Bernardino Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for the construction of the Al-Nur Islamic Center. Since then, neighbors have appealed this decision and signed a statement opposing anything that would “increase the traffic on our streets and negatively affect the atmosphere of our rural country neighborhood.” Members of Tapestry UU will be attending the appeal proceedings with their Standing on the Side of Love banner next week. Member Jan Meslin says, “SSL has been such a powerful and supportive message to the Muslims at various actions we’ve [attended]. It’s been powerful for Tapestry UU members too.”
Worship Leader: Rev. Suzanne Marsh
On this Sunday, the closest to Valentine’s Day, we will explore what it means to “Stand on the Side of Love” with undocumented immigrants and their families. In the fall I spoke with you about the “Dream Act”, which would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented folks who came to this country as children. Our General Assembly in June in Phoenix AZ will also focus on this issue. In this service we will explore the broader immigration landscape and attempt to find some historical perspective on this issue, which is nearly as old as our country. I hope to answer questions such as: What (if any) is our civic and spiritual responsibility relative to the undocumented residents of our country? Why is this issue a priority for our denomination? What’s love got to do with it anyway? A discussion will follow the service for those who are interested.
Worship Leader: Rev. Suzanne Mars
More >Thirty Days with Celebrations of Courageous Love
One blossoming National Standing on the Side of Love Day tradition is to lift up community members who have exhibited courageous love by presenting them with an award. During these past Thirty Days, eight congregations sent us news about the awards for courageous love they presented to outstanding individuals in their communities. If your community or congregation lifted up courageous love, or plans to, let us know so we can spread the word: email love@uua.org.
Love Award recipient Nancy Nangeroni speaks with a First Parish congregant after the service (Credit: Ernie Kirwan)
First Parish UU, Cambridge, Massachusetts
First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist, presented its second annual Courageous Love Award to Nancy Nangeroni, Chair of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition. The award honors Ms. Nangeroni’s years of dedicated service to the transgender community, her perseverance in educating the general public about transgender life and issues, and her critical role in passing the Massachusetts Transgender Equal Rights Act. She also started a nationwide campaign to end violence against transgender people, which inspired the International Transgender Day of Remembrance held each November. Ms. Nangeroni spoke to the congregation about the struggle of the transgender community for respect, acceptance, and safety and the joy of striving together for justice. Presentation of the award was followed by song and celebration outside on the church steps beneath the congregation’s newly re-dedicated rainbow flag.
Community Church of Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Community Church gave a courageous love award to Sherre Toler in recognition of her principled stance against the upcoming anti-LGBT amendment to the North Carolina state constitution. She was the Director of Elections for Harnett County, North Carolina, for eleven and a half years, and was proud of the progress made in voting procedures and the fair and efficient operation of the Board of Elections during her tenure. But resigned her position because she believed that could not ethically remain in her position and oversee this amendment on the ballot. To celebrate her courage, the congregation made a valentine thanking her for her stand and invited members of the congregation to sign it during coffee hour.
A Courageous Love Award is presented to Ruth Ellis Center Board Member Dr. Amorie Robinson in Southfield, Michigan (Credit: Randy Block).
Northwest Unitarian Universalist Church, Southfield, Michigan
Northwest UU Church presented a Love Award to the Ruth Ellis Center for its work with homeless LGBT youth. Ruth Ellis Center Board Member Dr. Amorie Robinson accepted the award on behalf of the organization, which is one of four such centers in the nation that serves homeless LGBTQ youth. Dr. Robinson is a noted clinical psychologist who has taught college-level women’s studies, including classes on LGBT and race issues, and is now contracted by the state of Michigan to assist schools throughout Michigan to address issues of bullying in primary schools. Northwest UU Church contributed $248.24 from their collection to the Ruth Ellis Center. In an interview, Rev. Kimi Riegel said of the congregation’s decision to honor the center, “This year in the Detroit area 2,000 teens and young adults will become homeless or at-risk because of their identity. The Ruth Ellis Center saves the lives of many LGBTQ youth within Michigan. The center provides safe space at its drop-in center and residential facility, which serves LGBTQ youth through enrichment programs, counseling and testing, and several support services.”
UU Church of the South Hills, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills chose the Rev. Dr. Janet Edwards to be the recipient of their “Love” Award for her unwavering dedication to the inclusion of LGBT people in the Presbyterian Church USA. Rev. Edwards went through three years of disciplinary action for presiding at the wedding of two women in 2005. She was acquitted by the Pittsbugh Presbytery court in 2008. While Rev. Edwards was co-moderator of More Light Presbyterians and after almost 40 years of debate, the Presbyterian Church USA changed its constitution to allow openly gay candidates to be ordained as ministers, elders and deacons.
UU Congregation of Marin, California
The UU Congregation of Marin presented its second annual Standing on the Side of Love award to the executive director of SPECTRUM, an organization that provides services to the LGBT residents of Marin County, California, during a service last Sunday. A certificate and Standing on the Side of Love t-shirt were presented to the honoree.
Mission Peak UU congregant Beth Schaefer and Linda Wasserman embrace during a ceremony honoring the late Mayor Wasserman.
Mission Peak UU Congregation, Fremont, California
Mission Peak‘s Love Hero award ceremony honored the late Mayor Wasserman of Fremont. The award was presented to Linda Wasserman, Mayor Wasserman’s wife. As reported by the Fremont Bulletin, “Mayor Wasserman was honored for the way he embraced diversity by appointing commissioners from different backgrounds, and helped pass a Fremont City Council resolution opposing Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage. In a time when the city’s population changed from a white to Asian majority, Wasserman encouraged the community others to respect diversity.”
First UU Society of Albany, New York
First UU Albany presented their second annual Standing on the Side of Love award to Fred Boehrer and Diana Conroy. They founded the Albany Emmaus House and the New Sanctuary for Immigrants (NSI). NSI provides free services to both documented and undocumented immigrants. Its volunteers visit jails, go to courts, advocate for worker’s rights, promote comprehensive immigration reform, and house homeless immigrants.
Prescott UU Fellowship, Arizona
Prescott UU Fellowship presented four local organizations with certificates and honorariums to honor their “courageous love.” Awards were given to the Anglo-Latino Alliance, Hungry Kids, Inc., Coalition for Compassion & Justice’s Home Repair program, and the Granite Peak UU Congregation Neighborhood Education Project.
Prayers, Meditations, and Mantras for Love
Feb 16, 2012
For Day 23 of the “30 Days of Love” we asked our supporters to “Write a prayer, meditation, or mantra expressing the challenges you face, or your hopes for a better world.” We received a resounding response, with 46 beautiful submissions. Three individuals with particularly inspiring words will receive a copy of “Thou, Dear God”, a collection of prayers by Martin Luther King, Jr. Here’s just a sample of the words that were shared with us:
Submitted by Katherine Harris of Sunland, CA:
Today I will remember
What I shared with you
Not what I lost when you were gone.
Today I will think Of the light and laugher
Not the sighs and sobs
Today I will do
The things wished for me
Not say later, later
Today
Today
Today
Submitted by Amanda Udis-Kessler of Colorado Spring, CO:
Great mysterious Spirit of Love, be with me today and all days. Open my heart, move my hands, speak through my mouth, and awaken my mind to prepare me for the work of love, caring and justice in this broken and beautiful world. Sustain me when I am afraid. Goad me forward when I retreat into old ways of being that are unloving to myself or others. Help me see all that is extraordinary about this world that I may be filled with awe and gratitude. Help me serve the world, humbly and with joy. Give me courage to work toward wholeness and healing, my own and the world’s. May it be so.
Submitted by Carol Ehrlich of Kensington, MD:
When I awake, may the Light break through my cloudy eyes.
When I rise up, may the Light illuminate my way.
As the Mystery leads me through our sorriows, traumas, fears, may the Light shine upon the Love that stands amidst our pain.
May the Mystery hand me over to Love.
As Love embraces me, may the Light reveal the path for me to bring Love to others.
May Love embrace us all, so we will know what the Mystery knows:
Love leads us, heals us, strengthens us.
Submitted by Barbara Finch of Santa Barbara, CA:
May I greet each new day with an open heart that knows its own pain and recognizes the pain of others. May I breathe deeply, inviting the suffering of the world to rest with my own in that place of great love where compassion embraces sorrow and guides it toward gentle acceptance. May the tiny flame that burns within my soul become a beacon of hope when there is a need to chase the darkness or find a different path. May love shine always through my smile and may I offer it graciously wherever this journey takes me. Amen.
Sumitted by Robin Taylor of Rochester, MN:
Remind me, remind me, remind me
To take a deep breath and put a smile on my lips and picture you as the wondrous soul you truly are
Before I open my mouth to criticize.
Submitted by Lisa Flanagan of Normal, IL:
My wish is that love wins over hatred and intolerance; that social justice becomes the law of the land; that everyone is allowed to love the people they love, and that we learn more about the people that are hard for us to love and like, and find tolerance for them in our own hearts.
Submitted by Colleen Fay of Mt. Rainier, MD:
Dear God, You are love both in feeling and in action. Teach me to love as you love, fully, without reservation and with every fiber of my being. Let me be your vessel of love to those of your children who need it most: the tormented, the forgotten, the lonely, the sorrowful. And let me, Dear God, love with a smile and a laugh, but with such tenderness that when another person cries, I may taste the salt. Use me as you will, Dear God, for when I love those whom you love most I am closer to being the person you wish me to be. I ask this in your most holy name. Amen.
Submitted by Caitlin Turner of Tulsa, OK:
Oh God. Let me love more clearly. Open my heart like a canyon. Guide me to your infinite love and allow me to follow you. God, bring me to a radical love, one that changes my mind when it’s stuck on fear. Keep me near love. Supply me with a treasure of love to share.
Submitted by Wilderness Sarchild:
There is no time not to love,
No time not to say “I love you.”
No time not to open your mouth,
Open your eyes, open your fists.
No time not to care, to desire,
To fall down on your knees in anguish for what is already lost.
No time not to write a poem,
Sing gloriously out of tune, and not just in the shower.
No time not to dare to walk into the fire,
That place you must go,
That thing you must do,
Even though every bone in your body
Screams “NO!, not this, not now!”
There is no time not to go outside,
Talk to trees,
Lie face down in the dirt, I mean, eat the dirt
And know you are being fed from your Mother’s womb.
There is no time not to hold a baby,
Smell the newness of hope reborn,
Touch the future that you will not be part of.
There is no time not to skip down the street,
Blow bubbles in the grocery store,
Or dance as if your heart isn’t broken.
There is no time not to say “I’m Sorry, you were right,”
Or “I want to hear what you have to say”
Or just “I see you.”
There is no time not to love.
Submitted by Joy Christi Przestwor of Bakersville, NC:
My Beloved Spirit guide, as I gather myself for a new day, a new week beginning, may I intentionally listen more deeply, smile wider, laugh louder, and love unconditionally all life that crosses my path each and every moment of this day and each day to come!
Thanks to everyone that shared their beautiful prayers, meditations, and mantras with us!
More >
