Message From Rev. Telos

I open my mouth in astonishment. Praises fall forth with my every breath…. I bless that justice is only just if it transforms me as well as the world outside me. I bless that what is fractured still dares to dream of wholeness. I bless that the good are not those who strive to do good, but strive to allow their hearts to be vulnerable to the inherent dignity of others. I bless that peace can never be impossible, even in the Middle East…. I bless the peace that takes nourishment at the breast of justice. I bless that both singing and silence are possible. 

[excerpted from the poem, Simple Amidah by Mark Belletini; Sonata for Voice and Silence]

Dear ones,  

Yes, our long awaited season is coming… To see the first green shoots coming up through the soil, buds beginning to show on the trees, and birds returning after a long wintertime, welcome to Spring, to a time of rebirth and growth again. This time has required resilience as we move through the uncertainty, and a deepening of community that we all need. I am continually moved and grateful for the multitude of ways that members and friends of All Souls offer gifts of time and work, pledging financial resources, offering music and words, pulling up carpeting on hands and knees, making delicious and nourishing food and the list goes on and on. It has lifted my spirits many times to recall and remember this growing, deepening, welcoming congregation and how essential faith communities are, especially now. We are leading with justice as All Souls has for decades, but now our voices and commitments are needed even more to strengthen that arc, and join with people all across our country. 

We support our dear and vital local organizations with our time and offerings; this month we are supporting the Boys and Girls Club, a community center for children and young people to gather, create and learn – a safe and welcoming place for them! We know there are community members whose voices are not being heard, who are not able to speak up or out, and we are called to live into our faith as Unitarian Universalists. We ponder the meaning of this time of Lent, this time of reflection. Jesus’ triumphant return among the people with a vision that threatened the authorities and his death. We imagine his followers mourning this loss and then… waking up to realize their calling to continue the work of caring for the most vulnerable in that ancient community. The courage and resilience needed.

 There is violence and devastation across the world, in Gaza and Ukraine, in Syria and Sudan. It may feel as though our prayers for healing and peace on Sunday mornings are small, that they cannot make a difference but I believe they do. We are mourning with them. We hear their cries. We are strengthening our own community and connecting with other faith communities to support and protect our sacred spaces of worship. And we are taking time to remember that we are bound together with each other and all living beings. 

As the earth wakes again in this new season in our dear Vermont, we too can wake our curiosity, taking the time to notice and deepen our compassion for ourselves and each other. May we know we too are blessed. 

With Care, Rev. Telos