Closing Celebration June 27, 2010 7:30PM CDT CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY: 1 HEAR INK 314-427-1113 WWW.HEARINK.COM 19:27:33:27 >> GOOD EVENING. 19:34:48:10 MY NAME IS WALT WIEDER. 19:34:50:09 I'M ON THE PLANNING COMMITTEE, 19:34:51:27 THE SENIOR MINISTER AT THE 19:34:53:03 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH 19:34:54:01 IN SURPRISE, ARIZONA. 19:34:57:24 AS GENERAL ASSEMBLY DRAWS TO A 19:34:59:24 CLOSE, AND AS WE PREPARE TO 19:35:03:04 RETURN TO OUR HOME 19:35:05:04 COMMUNITIES, WE CLOSE WITH A 19:35:07:09 CELEBRATION OF OUR BEING 19:35:08:27 TOGETHER AS WE REMEMBER THE 19:35:11:03 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST WEEK 19:35:12:25 AND SHARE OUR VOICES IN COMMON 19:35:15:00 SINGING AND THE MUSIC OF THE 19:35:18:15 GA ADULT CHOIR AND THE 19:35:20:13 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST 19:35:22:01 CHILDREN'S CHOIR. 19:35:24:00 [ APPLAUSE ] 19:35:33:15 >> AND GOOD EVENING. 19:35:36:00 COMPOSER KEN BERG'S MUSICAL 19:35:37:24 ARRANGEMENT OF THIS BEAUTIFUL 19:35:39:22 TEXT IS BOTH TENDER AND 19:35:41:21 THOUGHTFUL. 19:35:43:21 THE ORIGINAL CHILDREN'S GOSPEL 19:35:45:13 HYMN WAS WRITTEN IN 1920 BY 19:35:48:06 AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMPOSER 19:35:50:06 HARRY DIXON LOES. 19:35:52:18 IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA IT 19:35:54:28 REMINDED PEOPLE THAT EACH 19:35:57:06 INDIVIDUAL LIGHT COULD BE THE 19:35:59:06 ONE THAT BEGINS TO BREAK THE 19:36:01:28 DARKNESS OF INJUSTICE. 19:36:03:04 19:36:55:03 THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE 19:36:57:16 I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE. 19:37:05:21 THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE, I'M 19:37:05:21 GOING TO LET IT SHINE. 19:37:16:21 THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE 19:37:26:27 I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE 19:37:32:03 LET IT SHINE 19:37:35:22 LET IT SHINE 19:37:39:01 LET IT SHINE! 19:37:58:16 EV'RYWHERE I GO 19:38:04:09 I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE. 19:38:11:06 EV'RYWHERE I GO 19:38:18:18 I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE. 2 19:38:28:24 EV'RYWHERE I GO 19:38:38:07 I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE 19:38:46:25 LET IT SHINE 19:38:52:00 LET IT SHINE 19:39:17:27 ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT 19:39:22:09 I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE. 19:39:30:03 ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT 19:39:34:06 I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE 19:39:46:01 ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT 19:39:50:24 I'M GOING TO LET IT SHINE 19:39:52:13 LET IT SHINE 19:40:01:15 LET IT SHINE 19:40:08:01 LET IT SHINE. 19:40:30:06 THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE 19:40:31:24 LET IT SHINE 19:40:33:21 LET IT SHINE 19:36:04:10 19:41:10:24 [ APPLAUSE ] 19:41:11:16 >> MY NAME IS LYN BURTON. 19:41:40:18 I AM CONSULTING MINISTER TO 19:41:42:10 THE BISMARCK-MANDAN UU 19:41:45:21 FELLOWSHIP AND CHURCH, WHICH 19:41:47:06 HAS BEEN A BEACON OF LIBERAL 19:41:48:22 RELIGION STANDING ON THE SIDE 19:41:50:10 OF LOVE IN NORTH DAKOTA FOR 19:41:53:03 NEARLY 60 YEARS. 19:41:55:03 [ APPLAUSE ] 19:41:55:18 >> OUR CONGREGATION OF 85 AND 19:42:05:07 FUTURE LEADERS TO THIS GENERAL 19:42:08:18 ASSEMBLY AND SUPPORTED THEIR 19:42:10:15 PARTICIPATION, BOTH 19:42:11:21 SPIRITUALLY AND FINANCIALLY. 19:42:23:28 [ APPLAUSE ] 19:42:24:03 >> REPRESENTED THIS GO AMAZING 19:42:25:10 YOU FEEL U CHURCH ON THE 19:42:26:18 NORTHERN PLAINS ARE CHARTER 19:42:29:03 MEMBER BETTY MILLS, WHO SERVED 19:42:30:18 TWO TERMS ON YOUR UUA BOARD, 19:42:34:21 AND JANICE CHENEY, CURRENT 19:42:36:09 BOARD PRESIDENT. 19:42:45:24 >> JUST AS SPRING IS A 19:42:48:09 TREASURED TIME ON THE GREAT 19:42:50:28 PLAINS, SO HAS THIS BEEN A 19:42:53:06 TREASURED TIME OF MEETING, 19:42:56:15 SHARING, LEARNING, 19:42:59:04 CELEBRATING, AND GROWING IN 19:43:02:27 UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION 19:43:05:00 OF ALL THAT UNITARIAN 19:43:06:25 UNIVERSALISM HAS TO OFFER. 19:43:10:09 WE ARE BLESSED BY THE 3 19:43:12:06 CHALLENGE OF LIVING OUR 19:43:13:12 PRINCIPLES, BLESSED BY THE 19:43:16:07 CHANCE TO GATHER IN THIS 19:43:18:03 EXTENDED COMMUNITY OF FAITH, 19:43:20:21 BLESSED BY THE WISDOM AND 19:43:22:25 BEAUTY OF OUR COMMON PURPOSE. 19:43:27:03 WHILE OUR TIME TOGETHER IS 19:43:28:24 ENDING, TOMORROW AND EACH DAY 19:43:33:03 WE AWAKEN WITH THE BREATH OF 19:43:36:00 LIFE OFFERS US A CHANCE TO 19:43:38:22 INFLUENCE THE FUTURE, TO GROW 19:43:41:15 IN KNOWLEDGE AND COMPASSION, 19:43:44:00 TO FIND WHATEVER LARGE OR 19:43:46:19 SMALL THING THAT WE CAN DO TO 19:43:49:21 BRING GREATER KINDNESS, 19:43:51:24 CLARITY, AND HUMANITY WITHIN 19:43:54:16 OUR CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE. 19:43:58:03 MAY THE LIGHT OF THIS CHALICE 19:44:01:09 ELLUMINATE THE PATHS OF 19:44:05:16 JUSTICE, INSPIRE US TO SEEK AN 19:44:07:18 EVER EXPANDING TRUTH, GIVE US 19:44:09:03 THE COURAGE TO CONFRONT 19:44:10:25 INTOLERANCE, THE STRENGTH AND 19:44:12:24 GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT TO REACH 19:44:14:24 OUT AGAIN AND AGAIN TO BRING 19:44:18:04 LIGHT AND HOPE WHERE THERE IS 19:44:20:10 DARKNESS AND DESPAIR. 19:44:23:18 WITH EACH CHALICE FLAME WE 19:44:25:28 LIGHT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD, MAY 19:44:28:00 WE BE REMINDED OF THIS FLAME, 19:44:31:12 OF THE CREATIVE CAPACITY WE 19:44:32:21 HAVE EXPERIENCED HERE, OF THE 19:44:35:25 IMMENSE POWER OF POSSIBILITY 19:44:38:21 WE EACH HOLD IN OUR HANDS AND 19:44:41:18 HEARTS. 19:44:44:19 WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THOSE 19:44:47:03 HANDS AND HEARTS ARE JOINED IN 19:44:49:22 COMMON CAUSE, THERE WILL 19:44:51:28 ALWAYS BE HOPE. 19:44:54:09 WE LIGHT THIS CHALICE WITH 19:44:56:03 GRATITUDE FOR THE GLORY OF THE 19:44:58:04 SPRING, THE GLORY OF EACH DAY, 19:45:01:09 THE GLORY OF THOSE ASSEMBLED 19:45:03:27 HERE, AND WITH ABIDING 19:45:05:09 REVERENCE FOR EACH OTHER AND 19:45:07:09 THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. 19:45:17:01 >> IN RESPONSE TO THE CHALICE 19:45:21:18 LIGHTING, THE UNITARIAN 19:45:22:27 UNIVERSALIST 2010 CHILDREN'S 19:45:25:16 CHOIR, CONDUCTED BY JANEAL 4 19:45:31:12 X-RAY WELL, WILL SING FLAMING 19:45:34:19 CHALICE. 19:45:35:03 THE THESE WERE WRITTEN BY EVA 19:45:37:00 CESKAVA, AND THE MUSIC WAS 19:45:38:21 COMPOSED BY DR. TOM BENJAMIN 19:45:40:19 OF THE SONG CAN BE FOUND IN 19:45:42:12 THE UU CHILDREN'S SONG BOOK, 19:45:44:09 MAY THIS LIGHT SHINE. 19:45:45:12 19:45:55:10 FLAMING CHALICE, BURNING 19:45:55:10 BRIGHT, NOW YOU SHARE WITH US 19:45:55:10 YOUR LIGHT. 19:46:07:00 MAY WE ALWAYS LEARN TO SHARE 19:46:07:00 WITH ALL PEOPLE EV'RYWHERE. 19:46:16:27 FLAMING CHALICE, BURNING 19:46:16:27 BRIGHT, NOW YOU SHARE WITH US 19:46:16:27 YOUR LIGHT. 19:46:27:16 MAY WE ALWAYS LEARN TO SHARE 19:46:27:16 WITH ALL PEOPLE EV'RYWHERE. 19:46:38:21 FLAMING CHALICE, BURNING 19:46:38:21 BRIGHT, NOW YOU SHARE WITH US 19:46:38:21 YOUR LIGHT. 19:46:49:03 MAY WE ALWAYS LEARN TO SHARE 19:46:49:03 WITH ALL PEOPLE EV'RYWHERE. 19:45:46:00 MAY WE ALWAYS LEARN TO SHARE 19:45:46:00 WITH ALL PEOPLE EV'RYWHERE. 19:47:15:25 [ APPLAUSE ] 19:47:16:13 >> BEFORE WE SING OUR FIRST 19:47:29:00 HYMN, SINCE THIS IS MY LAST 19:47:30:09 SERVICE I WANT TO DO SOMETHING 19:47:31:09 A LITTLE FUN. 19:47:32:16 >> YEAH! 19:47:34:01 >> IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK, AND 19:47:36:09 I THINK WE NEED A LITTLE BIT 19:47:37:06 OF A TUNEUP. 19:47:39:06 SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU ALL 19:47:40:12 TO DO IS TO HUM WHATEVER PITCH 19:47:43:24 IS IN YOUR HEAD. 19:47:46:06 LET ME HEAR IT. 19:47:47:21 AND. 19:47:50:10 GOOD. 19:47:56:15 THAT IS NICE. 19:47:58:15 [ LAUGHTER ] 19:47:58:27 >> NOW I WANT YOU TO HUM THE 19:48:05:27 PITCH OF YOUR NEIGHBOR. 19:48:08:13 JUST ALLOW THINGS TO ADJUST. 19:48:12:27 LET'S HEAR YOU. 19:48:14:00 KEEP LISTENING. 19:48:24:21 NO FAIR, JIM. 19:48:31:12 YEAH. 5 19:48:32:03 YEAH, THAT'S NICE, NICE. 19:48:38:04 SEE, BUILDING LOVING COMMUNITY 19:48:39:27 CAN BE VERY BEAUTIFUL IF YOU 19:48:40:24 HAVE THE RIGHT EARS FOR IT. 19:48:42:09 [ LAUGHTER ] 19:48:42:24 >> LET'S CONTINUE TO BUILD 19:48:45:19 THIS COMMUNITY WITH THE SONG 19:48:48:00 LOVE WILL GUIDE US BY SALLY 19:48:49:18 ROGERS. 19:48:50:03 WILL YOU PLEASE RISE IN BODY 19:48:51:16 OR SPIRIT? 19:48:52:09 [CONGREGATION SINGING "LOVE 19:48:52:09 WILL GUIDE US"] 19:48:54:19 [ APPLAUSE ] 19:50:39:13 >> WE CAME HERE IN PARTS AND 19:52:36:09 PIECES, SEGMENTS AND 19:52:40:15 COMMUNITIES, INDIVIDUALS AND 19:52:43:16 CONGREGATIONS. 19:52:46:15 PERFECTLY IMPERFECT WE CAME 19:52:48:15 HERE. 19:52:50:22 AND I SAID TO MY FRIEND, THE 19:52:52:10 REVEREND JOSE BALLISTER, THERE 19:52:55:27 IS A NEW WIND HERE. 19:52:58:03 I CAN FEEL IT BLOW IN THE 19:52:59:25 HALL. 19:53:02:21 EVEN BEFORE WE MET THE FIRST 19:53:04:06 TIME, I COULD FEEL A NEW WIND. 19:53:10:00 HERE WE HAVE LEARNED TOGETHER 19:53:11:18 MANY THINGS. 19:53:13:06 WE HAVE LEARNED THAT PROCESSES 19:53:15:13 THAT WORKED WELL PERHAPS IN 19:53:18:15 SMALL MONOCULTURAL NEW ENGLAND 19:53:23:06 TOWNS CHAFE WHEN WE NEED TO 19:53:27:24 USE THEM TO BEND THE WORLD 19:53:29:15 TOWARDS JUSTICE. 19:53:30:06 THOUSAND WITH OUR ROOTS 19:53:31:19 EXPOSED, PERHAPS WE WILL BE 19:53:33:21 MORE WILLING TO CONSIDER 19:53:34:18 DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES USED 19:53:37:03 FOR CENTURIES IN COMMUNITIES 19:53:39:13 THAT VALUE THE HEALTH OF THE 19:53:41:10 GROUP AS MUCH AS THE RIGHT OF 19:53:43:18 THE INDIVIDUAL. 19:53:45:15 AS MEG BARNHOUSE SAYS, WE 19:53:48:22 BELIEVE IN THE INHERENT WORTH 19:53:50:10 OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL, NOT EVERY 19:53:52:12 OPINION. 19:53:53:21 [ LAUGHTER ] 19:53:59:16 WE HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH HERE. 19:54:00:24 A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO THE POWER 6 19:54:02:12 OF LOVE CAME INTO THIS HALL 19:54:03:27 AND REFUSED TO LEAVE UNTIL IT 19:54:07:16 HAD DRAGGED US IN THE STREETS 19:54:10:24 TO WITNESS TOGETHER OF THE 19:54:12:03 POWER OF LOVE CAME TO LIVE 19:54:13:16 AMONG US, BECAUSE WE MADE A 19:54:15:09 PLACE FOR IT. 19:54:17:00 IT COULD HAVE GONE ELSEWHERE, 19:54:18:27 BUT IT CAME HERE. 19:54:21:16 AND THE POWER OF COLLABORATION 19:54:23:27 CAME HERE TO BE AMONG US. 19:54:27:00 THE POWER OF LEADERS REACHING 19:54:29:19 OUT TO PEOPLE THEY DON'T KNOW 19:54:34:00 TELLING EACH OTHER RAW, 19:54:36:09 AUDACIOUS TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WAS 19:54:38:01 AT STAKE AND BRINGING 19:54:41:03 SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THIS 19:54:42:00 ASSEMBLY FOR YOUR 19:54:43:27 CONSIDERATION, YOUR 19:54:45:28 DELIBERATION AND LOVE. 19:54:48:01 AND THE POWER OF COMMUNITY 19:54:50:06 CAME HERE, COMMUNITY FIRST 19:54:51:18 WITH PEOPLE WE HAD BARELY MET, 19:54:53:16 BUT INSIDE OUR FAITH, INSIDE 19:54:56:00 THE HALL. 19:54:57:18 AND THEN COMMUNITY WITH A 19:54:59:03 COMMITMENT THAT OUR COMMUNITY 19:55:01:01 CAN BE LARGER. 19:55:02:28 OUR COMMUNITY CAN BE MULTI 19:55:05:15 LINGUAL, MULTI-CULTURAL, MULTI 19:55:09:16 CLASS, MULTIGENERATIONAL, 19:55:12:27 MULTI RELIGIOUS. 19:55:15:12 CAN REACH OUTSIDE OF OUR FAITH 19:55:17:07 AND ACROSS BORDERS. 19:55:20:24 ALL THIS POWER, ALL THIS LOVE, 19:55:25:00 IT TAKE HERE. 19:55:27:19 AND WHEN WE LEAVE, IT CAN FOR 19:55:29:12 THE STAY HERE. 19:55:30:24 IT HAS A NEW HOME. 19:55:34:01 YOU MUST TAKE IT TO YOUR 19:55:35:10 CONGREGATION. 19:55:37:27 MUCH TO DO. 19:55:40:27 MUCH HAS BEEN MADE HERE, BUT 19:55:44:10 SOME HAS BEEN BROKEN. 19:55:47:00 THE AGREEMENTS THAT BIND US 19:55:49:12 ARE SO FRAGILE, SO WE MUST BE 19:55:53:00 SO, SO TENDER WITH EACH OTHER 19:55:56:09 WHILE WE FIND THIS NEW WAY 19:55:59:10 TOGETHER. 19:56:01:04 THIS IS A TIME FOR 7 19:56:02:12 CELEBRATION, BUT NOT FOR 19:56:05:09 TRIUMPHALISM, FOR WE HAVE NOT 19:56:10:03 YET ARRIVED. 19:56:11:00 WE HAVE ONLY DECLARED OUR 19:56:12:24 STRONG RESOLVE TO BEGIN AGAIN 19:56:16:04 IN LOVE. 19:56:19:12 SO WHILE WE SHOULD NOT UNDER 19:56:21:12 STATE THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE 19:56:23:19 HAVE MADE HERE TO NEW WAYS OF 19:56:26:12 BEING, WE MUST ALSO NEVER, 19:56:29:06 EVER UNDER ESTIMATE THE WORK, 19:56:33:16 THE REAL WORK THAT REMAINS 19:56:34:18 AHEAD OF US. 19:56:35:18 WE STILL HAVE NOT YET HEARD 19:56:37:24 EACH OTHER PERFECTLY. 19:56:39:16 WE STILL ARE NOT YET SEEING OR 19:56:42:16 HEARING EACH OTHER FULLY. 19:56:45:21 BUT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRY. 19:56:49:13 WE MUST CONTINUE TO TRY. 19:56:52:21 WE WILL TRY. 19:56:55:24 WE ARE NOT ENOUGH, BUT WE ARE 19:56:58:01 A FINE, FINE START. 19:57:03:21 SÍ SE PUEDE. 19:57:08:03 >> WELL, YOU ARE THE HARDENED 19:58:23:12 VETERANS THAT REMAIN. 19:58:26:01 IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU. 19:58:29:15 AND I MUST SAY BEFORE I BEGIN 19:58:30:24 MY BRIEF COMMENTS, I FEEL LIKE 19:58:33:01 THIS KIND OF PROUD UNCLE 19:58:34:16 SITTING THERE IN THE FRONT ROW 19:58:36:03 WATCHING THIS YOUTH CHOIR AND 19:58:39:24 SEEING THREE OF THE CHILDREN I 19:58:41:28 KNEW AT JEFFERSON UNITARIAN 19:58:43:24 CHURCH. 19:58:46:00 IT'S A PRETTY NICE SIGHT, 19:58:48:24 GUYS. 19:58:49:04 PRETTY NICE SIGHT. 19:58:50:13 [ APPLAUSE ] 19:58:50:25 >> THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN 19:58:59:07 REMEMBER THAT FAR BACK, IN OUR 19:59:01:21 OPENING CELEBRATION, I TALKED 19:59:03:09 ABOUT THE BUSINESS AND COMING 19:59:04:24 TOGETHER TO DO AT GENERAL 19:59:08:09 ASSEMBLY THE BUSINESS OF THE 19:59:09:12 ASSOCIATION AND SUGGESTING 19:59:11:00 THAT WE UNDERSTAND, OF COURSE, 19:59:12:03 THAT OUR BUSINESS IS MORE THAN 19:59:14:16 SIMPLY THE NARROWLY DEFINED 19:59:16:10 BUSINESS, ALTHOUGH WE 19:59:17:09 CERTAINLY DID THAT AND DID IT 8 19:59:20:00 WELL, AS GINI TALKED ABOUT, 19:59:21:19 ESPECIALLY THAT DIFFICULT 19:59:23:07 DECISION ABOUT GOING TO 19:59:24:09 PHOENIX AND HOW TO GO TO 19:59:26:12 PHOENIX. 19:59:27:00 SO WE CAN CHECK THAT OFF. 19:59:29:16 BUT I ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE 19:59:31:04 IMPORTANCE OF WORSHIP AS PART 19:59:33:27 OF OUR BUSINESS WHEN WE COME 19:59:36:16 TOGETHER, AND THERE HAS BEEN 19:59:37:22 WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL WORSHIP. 19:59:39:24 THE SERVICE OF THE LIVING 19:59:40:27 TRADITION, MUSIC THAT HAS 19:59:42:21 FILLED OUR HEARTS, THIS MORE 19:59:44:19 THAN'S WORSHIP AND MUSIC WAS 19:59:46:18 TERRIFIC AND ALL BLENDED 19:59:48:21 TOGETHER. 19:59:49:03 I TALKED ABOUT OUR BUSINESS 19:59:50:22 BEING ALSO TO LEARN, TO LEARN 19:59:52:24 FROM ONE ANOTHER, AND THERE 19:59:54:24 HAS BEEN MUCH, MUCH OF THAT 19:59:56:21 THAT I HAVE HEARD OF AND SEEN. 19:59:59:22 AND OUR BUSINESS WAS TO 20:00:02:15 WITNESS, AND WE WENT AND 20:00:03:24 WITNESSED POWERFULLY, 20:00:05:24 POWERFULLY FOR MARRIAGE 20:00:08:15 EQUALITY, AND WHAT A THRILL TO 20:00:10:18 SEE THIS HILLSIDE FILLED WITH 20:00:13:24 PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM WITH 20:00:15:04 THOSE BRIGHT YELLOW STANDING 20:00:17:09 ON THE SIDE OF LOVE T-SHIRTS. 20:00:19:00 SO WE CAN CHECK THAT OFF. 20:00:22:04 BUT IF YOU'LL RECALL, I SAID 20:00:23:19 THAT THE REAL TEST, THE REAL 20:00:25:00 TEST OF THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 20:00:27:12 WAS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER WE 20:00:29:01 LEFT. 20:00:31:19 SO NOW I WOULD URGE YOU TO 20:00:33:24 TAKE THE BEST, TAKE THE BEST, 20:00:36:03 TAKE THE SPIRIT, TAKE THE 20:00:37:22 KNOWLEDGE, TAKE THE PASSION, 20:00:40:12 TAKE THE COMMITMENT AND SPREAD 20:00:42:09 IT. 20:00:43:03 LET US LET OUR LIGHT SHINE. 20:00:47:07 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:00:47:25 >> 74 OF OUR YOUNG UU'S FROM 20:02:29:24 25 DIFFERENT STATES HAVE 20:02:31:27 MUSTERED THE COURAGE TO FOLLOW 20:02:34:28 THEIR DREAMS. 20:02:37:18 THEY HAVE LEFT THEIR HOMES AND 9 20:02:39:06 TRAVELED HERE, MANY BY 20:02:41:28 THEMSELVES TO BE IN THE 20:02:43:19 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST 20:02:44:16 CHILDREN'S CHOIR. 20:02:47:03 THEY WORKED HARD TO EARN THIS 20:02:49:00 PRIVILEGE. 20:02:50:16 THEY HAVE SPENT THE LAST FIVE 20:02:52:19 DAYS ACROSS THE RIVER IN ST. 20:02:54:18 PAUL AT MACALESTER COLLEGE 20:02:57:24 WITH THEIR 20 VOLUNTEER 20:03:00:10 CHAPERONES LEARNING TO BE 20:03:05:21 BETTER MUSICIANS, SCIENTISTS, 20:03:07:16 ARTISTS, FRIENDS, AND EVEN 20:03:10:09 HUMAN BEINGS. 20:03:12:09 OUR HOPE FOR THEM IS THAT THEY 20:03:14:07 TAKE HOME A BETTER IDEA OF 20:03:16:10 WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A 20:03:18:03 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST OF THE 20:03:20:00 FUTURE. 20:03:21:09 THEIR MESSAGE TO US THIS 20:03:23:13 EVENING IS A SONG OF HOPE, 20:03:26:24 BIRDSONG, WHICH MAY INSPIRE 20:03:30:07 ALL OF US TO LIVE OUR DREAMS 20:03:32:10 AND OUR LIVES MORE FULLY. 20:03:36:21 20:04:05:09 HE DOESN'T KNOW THE WORLD AT 20:04:05:09 ALL. 20:04:14:24 WHO STAYS IN HIS NEST AND 20:04:14:24 DOESN'T GO OUT. 20:04:21:03 HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT BIRDS 20:04:21:03 KNOW BEST. 20:04:29:18 NOR WHAT I SING ABOUT. 20:04:33:10 NOR WHAT I SING ABOUT. 20:04:39:10 NOR WHAT I SING ABOUT: 20:04:45:06 THAT THE WORLD IS FULL OF 20:04:45:06 LOVELINESS. 20:05:01:21 WHEN DEWDROPS SPARKLE IN THE 20:05:01:21 GRASS 20:05:09:12 AND EARTH IS AFLOOD WITH 20:05:09:12 MORNING LIGHT. 20:05:17:25 A BLACKBIRD SINGS UPON A BUSH 20:05:23:16 TO GREET THE DAWNING AFTER 20:05:23:16 NIGHT. 20:05:28:16 THE DAWNING AFTER NIGHT. 20:05:33:24 THE DAWNING AFTER NIGHT. 20:05:41:06 THEN I KNOW HOW FINE IT IS TO 20:05:41:06 LIVE. 20:05:57:00 HEY, TRY TO OPEN YOUR HEART TO 20:05:57:00 BEAUTY; 20:06:04:06 TRY TO OPEN YOUR HEART TO 10 20:06:04:06 BEAUTY; 20:06:11:18 GO TO THE WOODS SOMEDAY. 20:06:12:25 AND WEAVE A WREATH OF MEMORY 20:06:12:25 THERE. 20:06:16:00 THEN IF TEARS OBSCURE YOUR WAY 20:06:20:09 YOU'LL KNOW HOW WONDERFUL IT 20:06:20:09 IS. 20:06:22:24 YOU'LL KNOW HOW WONDERFUL IT 20:06:22:24 IS. 20:06:32:25 OH HOW WONDERFUL TO BE ALIVE. 20:06:52:12 HE DOESN'T KNOW THE WORLD AT 20:06:52:12 ALL 20:07:00:12 WHO STAYS IN HIS NEST AND 20:07:00:12 DOESN'T GO OUT. 20:07:08:15 HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT BIRDS 20:07:08:15 KNOW BEST. 20:07:15:19 NOR WHAT I SING ABOUT. 20:07:18:27 NOR WHAT I SING ABOUT. 20:07:24:19 NOR WHAT I SING ABOUT. 20:07:31:04 THAT THE WORLD IS FULL OF 20:07:31:04 LOVE. 20:07:37:01 AND HOW FINE IT IS TO LIVE. 20:03:38:03 OH HOW WONDERFUL TO BE ALIVE. 20:07:58:19 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:07:59:13 >> AS WE APPROACH THE END OF 20:08:37:12 THIS 49TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 20:08:39:07 THE MEMBER CONGREGATIONS OF 20:08:41:06 THE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST 20:08:42:12 ASSOCIATION, WE INVITE YOU 20:08:46:04 ONCE MORE INTO THE SPIRIT OF 20:08:48:09 REFLECTION. 20:08:50:09 WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE NOTE OF 20:08:53:06 WHICH OF ITS MOMENTS WILL STAY 20:08:55:19 WITH YOU, WHICH WILL UPLIFT 20:08:58:00 YOU WHEN YOU NEED THE LARGEST 20:09:01:06 SENSE OF OUR FAITH, WHICH WILL 20:09:03:19 SERVE AS BEACONS, SHOWING US 20:09:06:27 THE WORK WE STILL NEED TO DO 20:09:08:21 TO REALIZE OUR FAITH IDEALS. 20:09:12:16 WE ASK YOU TO NOTE WHICH 20:09:14:09 VOICES WILL CONTINUE TO RING 20:09:16:18 IN YOUR EARS. 20:09:19:22 >> PERHAPS THEY ARE ACTUAL 20:09:22:12 VOICES AND PERHAPS THEY ARE 20:09:24:12 REMEMBERED VOICES. 20:09:26:09 FOR EACH TIME WE GATHER, WE 20:09:28:22 HAVE AN UNSEEN CLOUD OF 20:09:31:24 SPIRITUAL WITNESSES, THOSE 20:09:33:24 SPIRITUAL ANCESTORS WHO 20:09:36:13 SACRIFICED FOR US SO THAT WE 11 20:09:39:15 MIGHT ENJOY THE FREE RELIGION 20:09:41:21 WE EXERCISE, WITH ALL ITS 20:09:44:25 STRENGTHS AND ALL ITS 20:09:46:03 IMPERFECTIONS. 20:09:50:16 THOSE ARE THE GREAT FIGURES 20:09:52:19 FROM BOTH THE UNIVERSALIST AND 20:09:55:24 THE UNITARIAN BRANCHES OF OUR 20:09:58:16 FAMILY TREE. 20:10:00:01 THE ONES WE PROCLAIM ON 20:10:02:06 T-SHIRTS, PULL PITS, AND IN 20:10:05:00 OUR CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS 20:10:06:24 EDUCATION LESSONS, AND ALSO 20:10:09:09 THE UNSUNG HEROS, THE UNSUNG 20:10:14:18 ONES WHO SACRIFICED UNNOTICED 20:10:17:04 AND SOMETIMES ABANDONED SO WE 20:10:20:18 CAN MOVE FORWARD, MOVE TOWARDS 20:10:23:25 THE GREAT GOALS WE PROFESS. 20:10:27:18 >> IN SUNDAY SERVICES, WE ARE 20:10:30:00 OFTEN INVITED INTO THIS SPIRIT 20:10:31:28 OF REFLECTION AND MEDITATION 20:10:33:19 FOR A FEW MOMENTS, A PRACTICE 20:10:37:21 TIME OF STRETCHING THE MIND, 20:10:40:04 HEART AND SOUL. 20:10:42:24 TODAY WE INVITE YOU TO HOLD 20:10:44:24 THAT SPIRIT OF THOUGHTFUL 20:10:46:27 ASSESSMENT FOR THE NEXT YEAR. 20:10:49:24 FOR WHEN WE GATHER IN 20:10:51:27 CHARLOTTE, WE WILL BE MARKING 20:10:53:12 THE 50TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 20:10:56:13 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST 20:10:57:16 CONGREGATIONS. 20:11:01:06 >> WE ARE, AS WE KNOW, PEOPLE 20:11:03:22 WHO FIND OUR OWN WAYS, WARY OF 20:11:07:18 BEING BOUND BY TRADITION'S 20:11:09:15 LIMITATION. 20:11:11:03 SO AS WE MARK THIS 20:11:12:16 ANNIVERSARY, WE INVITE YOU TO 20:11:15:15 DO SO NOT ONLY BY MARKING OUR 20:11:18:21 MOMENTS OF GREATEST 20:11:19:16 ACHIEVEMENT, BUT LET US ALSO 20:11:22:12 LOOK INTO OUR SHADOWS AND 20:11:24:15 CREVASSES. 20:11:27:07 >> LET US NOT ONLY HOLD UP THE 20:11:30:15 HEROIC MOMENTS. 20:11:32:06 LET US ALSO BE WILLING TO GO 20:11:34:09 WITH THE LOOK INSIDE THE UNLIT 20:11:37:07 CORNERS AND ON IT'S AGENDAS OF 20:11:44:04 UNFINISHED BUSINESS. 20:11:45:03 >> LET US BE WILLING TO LOOK 20:11:46:06 AT YOUR HISTORY WITH THE ETHIC 12 20:11:47:24 OF TRUTH AND DISCOVERY THERE 20:11:50:03 ARE THAT ARE ALONG THE GREAT 20:11:52:19 TOOLS OF OUR FAITH. 20:11:53:25 >> LET US APPROACH IT WITH THE 20:11:57:12 SPIRIT OF UNIFYING LOVE THAT 20:12:01:10 IS OUR THEOLOGICAL 20:12:03:12 INHERITANCE. 20:12:04:21 >> LET US BRING QUESTIONS 20:12:07:18 ABOUT WHOSE VOICES RING IN OUR 20:12:10:16 EARS AND WHOSE WE STILL STRAIN 20:12:12:15 TO HEAR ABOUT THE GOALS WE 20:12:13:24 HAVE REACHED AND THOSE WE HAVE 20:12:15:12 YET TO REALIZE. 20:12:17:28 >> LET US BRING DREAMS. 20:12:22:18 THOSE OF OUR FOUNDERS. 20:12:24:12 WHAT THEY DREAMED BE OURS TO 20:12:26:04 DO. 20:12:26:13 >> AND THE DREAMS OF THOSE WHO 20:12:27:21 HAVE COME AFTER, AND MOST 20:12:30:00 IMPORTANTLY, LET US ALSO BE 20:12:32:19 ACCOUNTABLE TO LEAVE SPACE FOR 20:12:35:21 THE DREAMERS AND THE QUESTERS 20:12:39:12 WHO HAVE NOT YET TO COME. 20:12:43:04 >> IN THIS SPIRIT OF INQUIRY 20:12:45:00 AND INTROSPECTION, WE, ON THE 20:12:48:01 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE, 20:12:49:19 INVITE YOU INTO A YEAR OF 20:12:51:24 CELEBRATION, COMMEMORATION, 20:12:54:12 AND CONTEMPLATION ABOUT WHAT 20:12:56:25 WE HAVE ACHIEVED SINCE THE 20:12:58:10 CONSOLIDATION OF THE 20:13:00:15 UNITARIANS AND THE 20:13:02:00 UNIVERSALISTS IN 1961. 20:13:04:07 WE WILL CONTINUE THIS 20:13:06:09 MEDITATION WHEN WE ARE 20:13:08:24 TOGETHER AGAIN. 20:13:21:06 >> OUR NEXT SONG IS FOR ALL 20:13:24:01 THAT IS OUR LIFE, NUMBER 128 20:13:25:21 IN SINGING THE LIVING 20:13:26:24 TRADITION. 20:13:28:00 THE NEXT 50 YEARS WILL BE 20:13:29:09 FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO 20:13:30:28 WORK FOR THE COMMON GOOD. 20:13:33:06 SO I INVITE YOU TO RISE IN 20:13:35:06 BODY OR SPIRIT AND RECOMMIT 20:13:38:16 YOURSELVES TO WORKING FOR 20:13:40:00 JUSTICE AND SERVICE TO ALL. 20:13:42:18 [CONGREGATION SINGING "FOR ALL 20:13:42:18 THAT IS OUR LIFE"] 20:13:44:18 >> OUR THANKS TO THE UU 13 20:16:09:00 CHILDREN'S CHOIR AND GA CHOIR 20:16:11:27 FOR COMBINING TO SING THIS 20:16:13:16 ANTHEM BY MINNESOTA COMPOSER 20:16:16:12 STEVE HEITZEG. 20:16:19:15 IN HIS OWN WORDS, HE WRITES 20:16:21:25 WITH THE BELIEF THAT "EACH 20:16:23:27 SOLITARY AND INDIVIDUALISTIC 20:16:26:15 SPIRIT AND BEING IS A 20:16:29:19 SUSTAINING NOTE IN THIS LIFE, 20:16:32:18 THIS MUSIC." 20:16:37:09 20:17:13:12 BLACK WHITE RED BROWN YELLOW 20:17:13:12 BIRTH 20:17:20:06 BLUE AND GREEN, O, COLORED 20:17:20:06 EARTH. 20:17:27:12 SISTER RAIN, BROTHER STONE 20:17:34:24 BRING US BACK TO OUR TRUE 20:17:34:24 HOME. 20:17:41:15 WHAT CAN I, A SINGLE SOUL 20:17:48:15 DO FOR THOSE I DON'T EVEN 20:17:48:15 KNOW? 20:17:54:24 O I SHALL SING(AH….) 20:18:01:10 AND I SHALL WORK(AH…) 20:18:02:09 FOR PEACE ON EARTH(AH….) 20:18:04:16 UNTIL ALL ARE FREE.(AH…) 20:18:15:24 PEACE AND LOVE, LOVE AND PEACE 20:18:17:28 PEACE AND LOVE THE EARTH IS 20:18:17:28 WAITING. 20:18:20:16 LOVE AND PEACE, PEACE AND LOVE 20:18:22:24 LOVE AND PEACE HELP ONE 20:18:22:24 ANOTHER. 20:18:25:16 PEACE AND LOVE, LOVE AND PEACE 20:18:28:10 PEACE AND LOVE THE EARTH IS 20:18:28:10 WAITING. 20:18:35:06 PEACE AND LOVE. 20:18:57:15 NO MORE WAR. NO MORE FEAR. 20:19:04:24 MAY HUNGER SOON DISAPPEAR. 20:19:11:18 NO MORE DOUBT. NO MORE LIES. 20:19:20:04 ONLY TRUTH SHALL FREE THE 20:19:20:04 CRIES. 20:19:27:07 ONLY HOPE, ONLY DREAMS 20:19:34:04 CAN ERASE THE TEARS AND 20:19:34:04 SCREAMS. 20:19:40:13 O I SHALL SING(AH….) 20:19:43:18 AND I SHALL WORK(AH…) 20:19:47:25 FOR PEACE ON EARTH(AH….) 20:19:49:28 UNTIL ALL ARE FREE.(AH…) 20:20:00:21 TURTLE AND WOLF, LEOPARD AND 20:20:00:21 DEER 20:20:03:00 WATER AND LAND - ALL LIVES ARE 14 20:20:03:00 EQUAL. 20:20:05:12 BIRDS AND TREES, PEOPLE AND 20:20:05:12 PLANTS 20:20:08:06 DOLPHIN AND WHALE - ALL LIVES 20:20:08:06 ARE EQUAL. 20:20:12:06 BUTTERFLIES, KANGAROOS 20:20:14:12 ELEPHANTS - ALL LIVES ARE 20:20:14:12 EQUAL. 20:20:21:21 ALL LIVES. 20:20:32:03 BLACK WHITE RED BROWN YELLOW 20:20:32:03 BIRTH 20:20:47:03 SISTER RAIN, BROTHER STONE 20:20:47:15 BLUE AND GREEN, O. COLORED 20:20:47:15 EARTH. 20:20:49:24 THOUSANDS OF LIVES, THOUSANDS 20:20:49:24 OF LIVES 20:20:50:21 THOUSANDS OF LIVES - EACH LIFE 20:20:50:21 IS SACRED. 20:20:52:22 THOUSANDS OF LIVES, THOUSANDS 20:20:52:22 OF LIVES 20:20:55:00 THOUSANDS OF LIVES - EACH LIFE 20:20:55:00 IS SACRED. 20:20:58:27 THOUSANDS OF LIVES, THOUSANDS 20:20:58:27 OF LIVES 20:21:00:15 THOUSANDS OF LIVES - EACH LIFE 20:21:00:15 IS SACRED. 20:16:37:28 SACRED LIVES. 20:21:37:13 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:21:38:04 HI. 20:22:15:01 I'M MEG RILEY, INCOMING SENIOR 20:22:17:07 MINISTER AT CHURCH OF THE 20:22:19:00 LARGER FELLOWSHIP. 20:22:21:27 [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] 20:22:22:15 >> IT'S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE 20:22:27:01 BLESSING TO BE YOU IN MY 20:22:28:21 HOMETOWN AND I LOOK FORWARD TO 20:22:31:12 SEEING YOU NEXT YEAR IN 20:22:32:19 CHARLOTTE. 20:22:35:01 >> I'M DENNY DAVIDHOFF AND I'M 20:22:40:28 GOING TO CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER 20:22:43:24 YEAR TO CELEBRATE BEING 20:22:45:15 ELECTED MODERATOR THERE IN 20:22:48:16 1993. 20:22:50:28 I COULDN'T CELEBRATE -- 20:22:52:15 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:22:53:00 >> I COULDN'T CELEBRATE THE 20:22:55:24 FIRST TIME, BECAUSE MY SISTERS 20:23:00:00 AND BROTHERS OF COLOR WERE IN 20:23:02:18 VERY GREAT PAIN AND I WAS 20:23:06:04 FEELING IT AS WELL. 15 20:23:10:15 BUT THE WORK GOES ON AND 20:23:17:10 CHARLOTTE WILL BE, I PRAY, MY 20:23:22:18 43RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 20:23:25:25 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:23:26:18 >> MY NAME IS BART FROST AND I 20:23:36:06 WILL BE GOING TO CHARLOTTE 20:23:37:09 NEXT YEAR AS WELL, NOT JUST 20:23:39:18 BECAUSE I'M ON THE GA PLANNING 20:23:41:16 COMMITTEE, BUT BECAUSE GENERAL 20:23:42:22 ASSEMBLY RENEWS MY SOUL. 20:23:47:03 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:23:47:18 >> MY NAME IS MICHAEL TINO AND 20:23:53:27 GOD AND THE MINISTERIAL 20:23:55:24 FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE WILLING, 20:23:57:16 I WILL BE RETURNING TO THE 20:23:59:15 STATE AND DISTRICT IN WHICH I 20:24:01:03 FIRST BECAME A UNITARIAN 20:24:02:12 UNIVERSALIST TO CELEBRATE MY 20:24:05:13 FINAL MINISTERIAL FELLOWSHIP 20:24:07:15 WITH YOU NEXT YEAR IN 20:24:09:15 CHARLOTTE. 20:24:10:21 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:24:11:24 >> HI. 20:24:19:09 MY NAME IS ABHIMANYU 20:24:20:03 JANAMANCHI. 20:24:24:10 (OR I'M GOING TO CHARLOTTE TO 20:24:29:03 BE A WORSHIP LEADER FOR THE 20:24:30:13 YOUTH. 20:24:32:15 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:24:33:06 >> I'M KELLIE WALKER FROM THE 20:24:40:16 VALLEY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST 20:24:42:03 CONGREGATION IN CHANDLER, 20:24:44:21 ARIZONA, AND I WILL BE GOING 20:24:46:07 TO CHARLOTTE TO HELP BRING 20:24:49:09 MORE FABULOUS MUSIC TO GA IN 20:24:51:21 MY NEW ROLE AS MUSIC 20:24:53:16 COORDINATOR OF GA. 20:24:55:10 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:24:56:01 >> MY NAME IS AMY MANNING AND 20:25:03:01 I'M GOING TO GA 2011 IN 20:25:05:12 CHARLOTTE IN ORDER TO WORK, TO 20:25:08:06 LEARN, AND TO CELEBRATE WITH 20:25:10:03 THE UNIQUE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE 20:25:11:22 WHO ONLY GATHER ONCE A YEAR. 20:25:14:00 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:25:14:12 >> MY NAME IS JERRY GAYNOR. 20:25:20:27 I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNITARIAN 20:25:21:24 UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF LONG 20:25:22:21 BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AND I'M 20:25:24:12 LOOKING FORWARD TO MY 16 20:25:25:25 27TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN 20:25:27:19 CHARLOTTE IN 2011. 20:25:29:09 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:25:32:06 >> MY NAME IS NOEL BURKE AND 20:25:37:18 I'M GOING TO CHARLOTTE, 20:25:39:15 BECAUSE I WILL BE THE NEW 20:25:41:09 SENIOR HUUP. 20:25:44:01 R NEXT YEAR. 20:25:45:12 I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE. 20:25:48:12 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:25:48:18 >> MY NAME IS DONNA FISHER AND 20:25:50:10 I AM PROUD TO BE THE 20:25:51:15 ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE UU 20:25:53:03 MUSICIAN'S NETWORK AND A 20:25:55:12 MEMBER OF THIS FABULOUS GA 20:25:56:28 CHOIR. 20:25:57:28 I'M GOING TO GA 2011 IN 20:26:00:03 CHARLOTTE TO RUN MY UU 20:26:01:24 MUSICIANS NETWORK EXHIBIT 20:26:03:22 BOOTH, TO SING AS MUCH AS 20:26:05:13 POSSIBLE, AND TO HEAR NEXT 20:26:07:00 YEAR'S WARE LECTURER, KAREN 20:26:10:22 ARMSTRONG, WHO HAS A MESSAGE 20:26:12:10 NOT JUST FOR UU'S, BUT FOR 20:26:14:12 EVERYONE. 20:26:14:27 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:26:15:15 >> AND FINALLY, I'M GOING TO 20:26:22:03 CHARLOTTE, BECAUSE I LIVE 20:26:23:09 THERE. 20:26:24:00 [ LAUGHTER ] 20:26:24:15 >> CHARLOTTE IS MY HOME AND MY 20:26:29:04 BIRTHPLACE AND HAS UNDERGONE 20:26:31:12 QUITE A REVITALIZATION SINCE 20:26:32:27 THE LAST GA WAS THERE 17 YEARS 20:26:35:04 AGO. 20:26:36:16 THE CITY IS NAMED AFTER QUEEN 20:26:38:18 CHARLOTTE AND IS OFTEN CALLED 20:26:40:12 THE QUEEN CITY. 20:26:42:00 AND PERHAPS, JUST PERHAPS, IF 20:26:44:16 ONLY FOR FIVE DAYS, WE MIGHT 20:26:46:12 JUST ALTER THAT MEANING. 20:26:48:09 [ LAUGHTER ] 20:26:51:22 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:26:52:10 >> I'LL SEE YOU IN CHARLOTTE 20:26:58:12 IN 2011. 20:26:59:22 Y'ALL COME. 20:27:01:13 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:27:01:28 >> I AM HOPE JOHNSON, 20:27:24:09 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST 20:27:24:21 MINISTER PROUDLY SERVING IN 17 20:27:27:28 GARDEN CITY, NEW YORK, AND 20:27:30:27 BEYOND. 20:27:31:09 AND YES, I PLAN TO BE IN 20:27:34:24 CHARLOTTE IN 2011. 20:27:39:09 I PLAN TO BE THERE, BECAUSE I 20:27:41:24 BELIEVE IN THE SAVING POWER OF 20:27:45:01 RECONCILIATION. 20:27:48:00 BEING IN CHARLOTTE, FOR ME, IS 20:27:50:21 NOT OPTIONAL. 20:27:53:01 IT IS NOT A CHOICE. 20:27:55:04 IT IS, RATHER, A SACRED ACT. 20:28:01:22 THE HOLY DEMANDS MUCH OF US. 20:28:05:24 WE MIGHT CHOOSE NOT TO LISTEN, 20:28:10:28 BUT THE HEART ALWAYS HEARS. 20:28:16:21 HOPE DEFERRED MAKETH THE HEART 20:28:20:19 SICK, SAYS THE 12TH VERSE OF 20:28:22:18 THE 13TH CHAPTER OF PROVERBS. 20:28:26:09 AND THEN IT ADDS, BUT DESIRE 20:28:29:09 FULFILLED IS A TREE OF LIFE. 20:28:33:27 RECONCILIATION HELPS US TO 20:28:37:19 BUILD THE WORLD THAT WE DREAM 20:28:39:24 OF, HELPS US TO FIND THAT TREE 20:28:45:04 OF LIFE. 20:28:47:21 IN 1993, I WAS AT A MEETING AT 20:28:52:16 COMMUNITY CHURCH OF NEW YORK, 20:28:54:04 MY HOME CONGREGATION. 20:28:56:24 ALL OF US WERE HEADED TO 20:28:58:18 CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, FOR 20:29:01:07 GENERAL ASSEMBLY FOR GA. 20:29:05:06 WE DISCUSSED GA CULTURE: THE 20:29:08:25 PLENARIES, MANY KEY BUSINESS 20:29:10:09 ITEMS, THE WORKSHOPS, THE 20:29:13:06 BANNER PARADE, THE ELECTIONS, 20:29:16:09 THE MESSAGE BOARD, THE GA 20:29:19:15 CHOIR, THE WARE LECTURE, THE 20:29:22:15 SERVICE OF THE LIVING 20:29:23:24 TRADITION, AND MORE. 20:29:26:04 SO MUCH MORE. 20:29:28:27 AND THEN BEING WHO I AM, I 20:29:31:00 SAID, WELL, WHAT ABOUT PARTY 20:29:32:10 TIME? 20:29:33:13 [ LAUGHTER ] 20:29:33:24 >> AND I HEARD THAT THE MAIN 20:29:38:15 SOCIAL EVENT WAS THE THOMAS 20:29:41:16 JEFFERSON BALL. 20:29:44:18 HMMM, INTERESTING. 20:29:47:06 THE DESCRIPTION WENT ON TO 20:29:48:22 SAY, COME IN PERIOD DRESS. 20:29:53:27 AND I RECALL HEARING MY TWIN 20:29:55:06 SISTER JANICE MARIE JOHNSON, 18 20:29:58:13 WHO LOOKS A LOT LIKE ME, ASK, 20:30:01:21 WELL, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO 20:30:04:19 WEAR TO THE BALL? 20:30:09:00 A DIFFICULTY, FOR ME, WAS 20:30:11:24 FINDING WAYS TO GIVE VOICE TO 20:30:15:01 A TEACHABLE MOMENT. 20:30:18:03 YOU KNOW, I KNEW WE HAD TO DO 20:30:20:15 SOMETHING. 20:30:21:19 WE ALL KNEW THAT WE HAD TO DO 20:30:24:15 SOMETHING. 20:30:27:24 DIDN'T KNOW HOW, BUT THE 20:30:30:16 OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED ITSELF 20:30:32:09 WHEN I ATTENDED THE 20:30:34:03 AFRICAN-AMERICAN UNITARIAN 20:30:36:03 UNIVERSALIST MINISTERS MEETING 20:30:38:19 AND WAS ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE 20:30:41:27 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, TO SPEAK 20:30:44:12 ABOUT HOW PEOPLE OF COLOR FELT 20:30:46:25 ABOUT THE BALL. 20:30:50:00 , ABOUT THE TJ BALL. 20:30:51:15 TAKING THE TIME TO CRAFT AND 20:30:54:24 TO RE-CRAFT THE STATEMENT WAS 20:30:58:06 A DEFINING MOMENT FOR ME. 20:31:02:27 IT MEANT FINDING A WAY TO HOLD 20:31:05:07 THE PAIN AND THE ANGER, WHILE 20:31:08:09 AT THE SAME TIME MAKING SPACE 20:31:11:18 FOR HOPE. 20:31:14:16 IT WAS MY FAITH IN THE 20:31:18:00 POSSIBILITY OF RECONCILIATION 20:31:20:19 THAT MADE ME STAY THE COURSE 20:31:26:03 THEN AND NOW. 20:31:28:28 SO I'M ASKING YOU TO LISTEN TO 20:31:31:27 YOUR HEARTS. 20:31:33:21 LET US HELP TO BUILD THE WORLD 20:31:35:24 THAT WE DREAM OF, AND I'LL SEE 20:31:39:10 YOU IN CHARLOTTE. 20:31:42:27 [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] 20:31:43:18 >> WE HAVE ONE LAST SONG. 20:32:15:25 COME AND GO WITH ME TO THAT 20:32:17:21 LAND, NUMBER 1017, SINGING THE 20:32:21:09 JOURNEY. 20:32:22:03 THIS TRADITIONAL 20:32:23:19 AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPIRITUAL WAS 20:32:25:00 USED AS A MARCHING SONG DURING 20:32:27:09 THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT OF 20:32:28:18 THE 60s CALLING ALL TO LEAD 20:32:32:16 IN THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE AND 20:32:34:18 TRUTH. 20:32:35:24 PLEASE RISE IN BODY OR SPIRIT 20:32:38:09 AND ANSWER THIS CALL. 19 20:32:40:24 >> THANK YOU, JOHN! 20:32:42:27 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:32:42:09 [CONGREGATION SINGING "COME 20:32:42:09 AND GO WITH ME"] 20:32:46:01 [ APPLAUSE ] 20:36:04:12 >> PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. 20:36:11:15 PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR OUR 20:36:13:00 BENEDICTION. 20:36:15:22 WAS IT REALLY JUST A FEW DAYS 20:36:18:09 BACK THAT THOSE BANNERS CAME 20:36:20:06 STREAMING IN AND OUR HEARTS 20:36:24:01 SANG WITH THE TRUTH THAT 20:36:26:09 EVERYTHING IS HOLY NOW? 20:36:28:15 OR WAS IT MORE LIKE A MONTH? 20:36:31:24 [ LAUGHTER ] 20:36:32:04 >> OR A MINUTE? 20:36:35:15 SOME OF US ARE ALREADY GONE, 20:36:37:06 OF COURSE. 20:36:40:01 SOME OF US WERE NEVER HERE. 20:36:41:25 [ LAUGHTER ] 20:36:43:16 >> I DIDN'T MEAN IT THAT WAY. 20:36:45:15 [ LAUGHTER ] 20:36:45:27 >> BUT WE REMAIN, THE LOYAL 20:36:52:09 FEW, THE LAST REMANENT, 20:36:57:09 SYMBOLIC OF THE WHOLE. 20:37:01:21 SO LET US COMMIT OURSELVES TO 20:37:05:09 TAKE FORTH FROM THIS PLACE ALL 20:37:07:07 THAT WE HAVE HEARD AND THOUGHT 20:37:09:09 AND FELT, ALL THAT WE BROUGHT 20:37:13:06 WITH US AND ALL THAT WE FOUND 20:37:15:10 HERE. 20:37:18:00 ALL THAT SURPRISED US. 20:37:21:03 ALL THAT DELIGHTED US. 20:37:25:28 ALL THAT DISARMED US. 20:37:29:09 ALL THAT TRANSFORMED US. 20:37:34:28 AND USE ALL OF IT, EACH DAY 20:37:40:21 FORTH, IN THE WORK OF 20:37:44:24 NURTURING SOULS AND HEALING 20:37:47:21 THE WORLD. 20:37:51:09 IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS 20:37:52:19 HOLY, AND IN ALL THE HOLY 20:37:55:24 NAMES THAT HAVE EVER BEEN 20:37:57:24 UTTERED, AND THOSE NOT EVEN 20:38:00:16 YET IMAGINED, 20:38:06:19 BLESSED BE 20:38:07:24 NAMASTE 20:38:08:24 ASSALAMU ALAIKUM 20:38:11:00 ASHE 20:38:13:10 SHALOM 20:38:16:18 AMEN, GO IN PEACE. 20 CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY: HEAR INK 314-427-1113 WWW.HEARINK.COM