Minister’s Letter 9/1/2024
Beloveds,
It is the beginning of a new church season. On Sunday, September 8th, we will mingle our waters together as part of our annual Water Communion service. This will be a time to celebrate the gifts we offer the church and honor the place the water comes from. Over the last few years we have heard loudly from Indigenous activists, “water is life.” Not only does water sustain human life, it sustains all life on the planet. And where that water comes from matters. Water flows through rivers and streams, water falls gently or roughly from the sky, water amasses in lakes and oceans. Water, water everywhere. And so I ask, what does your water mean to you?
I have heard some concern that we took away the part of Water Communion where people share where their water came from. This change in liturgy has been occurring across our faith movement for one primary reasons. As we work to be welcoming to all people, it can feel alienating and even classist to hear about the big travels some people made. There can be a dynamic of showing off wealth in a community that claims to welcome people regardless of how much money is in their pocket.
This year, we are going to try another framing. When you pour your water into the same basin, you will be invited to share into the microphone a gift that you are offering our community this church season. Additionally, you are welcome to share where your water comes from with a commitment to acknowledging that all water from all over the earth is part of the same water. The particles that make up the water of the Dead Sea are the same as those that make up the water coming out of your tap. Whether you travelled to Greece or stayed right here in Chicago, the water you bring is truly the same. I invite you to skip sharing stories about your travels from the pulpit, but simply note the origin of the water you bring with you. Knowing where we come from, knowing where our elements come from, all of this wisdom and knowledge shapes who we are as a community. We need not ignore the fact that we are class diverse community. We must, however, be attentive to the impact our words and actions have upon one another. The intention of sharing our story can create feelings of bitterness, jealousy, or invisibility.
Of note, not everyone wants to share where their water comes from or how they spent the last few months. Maybe someone spent time in rehab and they are not quite ready to share that with the whole community. Maybe someone spent time at a mental health program and they feel vulnerable sharing that truth. Maybe someone spent time collecting water from a broken pipe in a home that is falling apart and they feel anxious sharing that reality. It is also true that someone may not want to share that their water comes from a trip to Argentina because they feel class guilt and anxiety about how their truth will be received by the community. Our community is not perfect and that is an inevitability. Choosing to be in community with other people is making the choice to accept a reality that we will get hurt at times. The community’s responsibility is to do the work of loving repair. The waters we mingle together represent, for me, a commitment to be there with the fullness of who we each are. No matter where your water comes from, no matter whether you share the story of your water or not, you are welcome here.
And so, I welcome you into this new church season. Much lies ahead. Our construction project is expected to come to a conclusion. Our ministerial intern will lead an adult spirituality group. We will have an incredibly fun Fall Fest. We will worship together Sunday after Sunday. I will begin preparing for my sabbatical. We will engage in active efforts to challenge white supremacy within our church and throughout the world. We will encounter a major presidential election together. We will learn, love, grieve, argue, and so much more. This is church, this is your church. You can get from church that which you put in. It is my prayer that we each put in the most that we can to ensure the waters we pour into our shared basis create not simply a still body of water but a wave of action.
In faithful solidarity,
