Monthly Column from Rev Terre
Friends, welcome to April! Our theme for the month is
JOY! This month is certainly the time to experience joy,
as spring emerges in all her glory. It seems to be a
miracle that in spite of all that seems broken in our
world, beauty surrounds us.
Recently I read a story of a man who met some of
the indigenous people living in the Kalahari. The people
who lived so close to nature were shocked to learn that
the European man could not hear the stars. There was so
much beauty around him, but he could no longer hear
the resonance, the deep sounds, of the natural world.
Perhaps one thing we might seek this month is to listen
with our hearts and ears to the myriad of living things
that surround us.
When we feel most challenged in our lives, that is the
time when we most need to connect with Mother Earth.
April is certainly a time when we can look beyond
winter’s hold and celebrate renewal. In harmony with the
renewal experienced in this season, Joan Lewis and I
plan to attend a retreat from April 10 to 13 entitled
“Uncovering Original Nature: Seeds Splitting and Growing
Anew” in Madison, Wisconsin. I expect this seminar will
offer us new ways of thinking about growth and renewal.
I look forward to sharing our experience when I return.
Easter comes on April 20th. We will, once again,
“flower the chalice.” We are all invited to bring flowers
from our yards to cover a large chalice with them. Be
sure to ask Bob Morriss how many years he has
celebrated this ritual as a UU minister. Thank you, Bob,
for sharing this special Easter ritual with us.
Many thanks to Emily, who is sharing her gifts on
April 6 when we engage with our history through music
and word. Emily will even be playing a Bartok piece, as
Bartok was a Unitarian. So much interesting history is
found in music created over the centuries.
I am sorry to miss Easter with you this year. I will be
playing MOM from April 14 to 22. My daughter Anabel is
having complex sinus surgery. Rather than flying back
from Wisconsin to Lynchburg for 48 hours. I will fly to
MN so I can telecommute for a couple of days. I’ll be on
email, Zoom, and phone as needed. Thank you for giving
me the space to be with Anabel.
Happy Spring!
Terre