Message From Rev. Telos
Spirit of life and love;
Spirit that lives within us, and between us, and AMong us right now:
Within this beloved community, and in our work for collective liberation,
may we continue to weave the web of trust and care to keep our bodies safe.
But more than that! May our bodies be the site of healing, joy and freedom.
Ours is the work of inviting people into an irresistible movement,
rooted in our belief that a new world is possible.
And the center of our work is love, and joy, and the spirit of abundance.
May we know, deep in our bones, that this is the call of our faith.
By Lisa Garcia-Sampson
Dear ones,
Yes, may we live and work guided by love, joy and the spirit of abundance! This month begins with the pagan holiday of Beltane, a celebration of the peak of Spring, and the coming of Summer. Then the birth of Siddhartha, to grow into the enlightened one who founded Buddhism. We celebrate Mother’s Day, a time to honor not only our mothers but to remember our dear Mother Earth. We will hold our Welcome Spring Fair! on Saturday, May 3rd with gifts, crafts, and edibles to sell! We will celebrate our year together at our Annual Meeting on Sunday, May 18th, reflecting on all that we have experienced and done together. A year of sorrows and celebrations, welcoming new members and remembering the dear ones we are no longer here.
We will reflect on the life of Tom Baehr’s wife, Cindy on Sunday, May 4th and honor long-time member Nancy Butterfield with her service on Saturday, May 10th. We remember them and others who are no longer with us in human form, but their spirits live on in our memories, in what and who they loved, in what inspired them. As always our days are mingled with joys and sorrows as we find our way, embracing moments that lift our spirits and holding an openness to loss that can come in at unexpected times. We are a community of seeking hearts and open minds, as I AM fond of saying and it is true. To the best of our abilities, we allow our hearts and minds to stay open to new ideas and newcomers who blessedly find their way through our doors and often decide to stay and make All Souls their spiritual home. We strive to honor those AMong us that have been committed to our community for decades (our dear Ruth L. joined in 1957 and remains a hardworking, contributing member at the heart of our congregation!)
In the month of May each year we hold our Annual Meeting on the 3rd Sunday, a time when we reflect and celebrate all that has been accomplished in the past year. There are so many of you that work so hard on every front from maintaining our building and land, to offering worship services, to hosting art exhibits (The wonderful variety of Expressions pieces that are displayed now are a reflection of Who we are and What we love!). Gratitude, so much gratitude to our Board of Trustees for their leadership, and to all of our committees and teams from Finance to Stewardship, Worship and Membership, Caring Circle and Religious Exploration, Friends of the Meeting House and the Committee on Ministry. Our Social Justice Committee is deeply involved in our work for justice as a congregation. We have hosted Brattleboro Area Interfaith Leaders Alliance (BAILA) Soup Suppers and Conversations, deepening our relationships with friends and leaders across faiths, we have marched and witnessed at justice events in Brattleboro and beyond, signed statements and called on leaders, and the work continues. As a Unitarian Universalist congregation, we are on the front lines of preserving the rights of all people, especially those being targeted and marginalized, advocating for the preservation and justice for our dear planet, and deeply committed to our values of freedom, justice and caring. I am humbled and proud to serve All Souls Church, this congregation offers a light that shines upon us all!
In Faith and Love, Rev. Telos