The Rev. Dr. Craig Rubano
Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the earth revolves—slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.
— Thich Nhat Hanh
I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”
— Kurt Vonnegut
We cannot attain the presence of God because we’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s absent is awareness.
— Richard Rohr
The most characteristic element of Christmas is what we call the Christmas spirit, its joy, its reassessment of life as good. This persistent presence is difficult to explain, but none question it.
— Unknown
As we are swept up into the holiday season, as we anticipate the excitements of December (see Unknown, above), as we relive pasts that loom both rosy and bittersweet, I hope we will take the time to exist in the present for, as Thich Nhat Hanh reminds us, only this moment is life. Advent invites us to slow down and take account of the things that are going right, to know that there is so much that is good if we would only take the time to notice (see Vonnegut and Rohr, above). These past weeks since the elections have resulted in many of us feeling anxious, fearful, angry, confused, betrayed. Can the Christmas spirit reach us when so much seems lost in the balance? Can we find things worth celebrating when so much seems unsettled and unsettling? And yet, the story of Christmas is all about hope in the face of despair, unfolding under the crushing oppression of empire, with insecurities and inequities seemingly inescapable. Even in deep darkness, however, there was and is light, celebrated by so many traditions at this time of year. And, so, we pay tribute to a spirit of joy this month with some of UUCMC’s most beloved traditions.
The month begins and ends with the voices of the “us” that is UUCMC: Pat Hoppe starts us off on the 1st meditating on what connects us with one another and the universe, and, on the 29th, several congregants share from their hearts as a new year dawns for us all. In between, Advent, Hanukkah, the Winter Solstice, the Litany of Lights, and Christmas lend their rituals to quiet our souls and give us reasons to rejoice, even when so much in our country and world is so deeply disturbing. The Spirit of Life and Love is revealed to us all when we take the time to live into our mission of creating community, transforming ourselves, and transforming our worlds. I do hope to see many of you, in person, at the meetinghouse, to hold one another, share holiday treats, and prepare for 2025.
Looming bright in the new year is the arrival of our new Music Director, Michael Rosin. My appreciation goes to the Search Committee, under David Fischell’s leadership, for vetting candidates, interviewing several, auditioning a couple, and, together with the Music Committee, the choir, and me, deciding on a truly talented and experienced musician and conductor. But Michael’s arrival is in January. Meantime, we are in musically wonderful hands as our indefatigable and treasured Music Director Emerita Elaine Held leads a bevy of talent to delight our December ears and hearts: Brian Gilmore, UU Singers, Sister Singers, Tenson Liang, Just Folk, Kirsten Norberg, the UkUlele Orchestra, the Core of Fire Interfaith Dance Ministry, the Fischells, and more! Seven worship services in December 2024!!
I am so grateful to be in community with you all. Let the holidays begin!!!
Rev. Craig