4004 Service of the Living Tradition
Ministry Dept, UUA
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Two Services of the Living Tradition were held. Our coverage, including video footage, was of the second service.
At GA02 in Québec, the Service of the Living Tradition was conducted as two separate services. The first service began at 8 AM with those ministers receiving final fellowship receiving their certificates on stage while ministers in other categories were recognized standing at their seats. The second service began at 10 AM with those ministers receiving preliminary fellowship receiving their certificates on stage with ministers in other categories recognized at their seats.
For the first time this year, the second (10:00 AM) Service of Living Tradition was broadcast live over the Internet. This live broadcast, was well as broadcasts of the Sunday Plenary and Ware Lecture, were funded by the UU Funding Program.
Music on organ and piano was provided by Leon Burke, Choir Director of Eliot Unitarian Chapel of Kirkwood, MO. Soprano soloist Kerry-Anne Kutz, Music Director and Lay Chaplain of Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Beaconsfield, Quebéc, provided a musical introit, "This Day," written by UU composer Ann MacDonald Diers, and a bi-lingual vocal response after the sermon, "Chaque-Fois" ("Each Time"), which Kutz had also composed. Both pieces were accompanied on piano by Sandra Hunt, Director of Music at the Unitarian Church of Montreal..
The Rev. Dr. David P. Hubner, acting director of the Department of Ministry, welcomed the congregation with an uplifting message about turning an ordinary space into holy ground by their presence.
Ministers receiving their preliminary or final fellowship as well as those who completing their full time ministries processed into the convention hall to the singing of "Rank by Rank, Again We Stand" (hymn #358) and took their seats in the center section of the auditorium.
Lighting the chalice for the service and representing the surviving families of ministers who have died during the past year were James Hanson (8:00 AM service), the husband of the Reverend Junella Hanson, and Eric Fisher (10:00 Am service), the son of the Reverend John Ogden Fisher. The Rev. Dr. Ralph Mero led the congregation in "A Litany of Remembrance," a responsive reading giving thanks and appreciation to our ministers.
On behalf of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee, MFC Chair Phyllis Daniel welcomed those ministers receiving their fellowship and gave a short review of the work of the MFC.
Honoring those ministers who have entered preliminary fellowship, the Rev. Ellen Brandenburg, Ministerial Education Director, called out the names of all 33 parish ministers, 9 community ministers and 3 ministers of religious education and asked the congregation to recognize them.
In recognition of those ministers who have attained final fellowship, the Rev. David Hubner invited each to receive their certificate on stage while the Rev. Dr. William Sinkford, the Rev. Dr. Kendyl Gibbons and Phyllis Daniel extended the hand of fellowship to each.
Ministers completing their service in ministry received their certificates when The Rev. Kenn Hurto, Acting Director of Ministerial Continuing Education, called them to the stage.
The Rev. Dr. Ralph Mero, director of the UUA Office of Church Staff Finance, explained the purpose of the Living Tradition Fund, which provides UU ministry students and ministers with scholarships, grants and financial assistance in times of need. Last year, the fund received $163,817 at the Service of the Living Tradition, and Mero expressed "the hope that we can double and triple this amount this year." A choir consisting entirely of ministers, ministerial students and their partners, sang the Offertory "Of Love and Understanding" by Betsy Jo Angebranndt, as the ushers passed the baskets.
The sermon, "Only By Your Presence", was delivered by the Rev. Barbara J. Pescan, currently serving the Unitarian Church of Evanston, IL. She began by singing a less common version of "This Little Light of Mine":
"Gonna let my little light shine, shine, shine…
Gonna let my little light shine, shine, shine…
Maybe someone down in the valley, tryin' to get home."
Quoting Steven J. Gould and citing examples of the heroic effects of rescue and acts of compassion after the terrorists' attack on 9/11, Pescan reminded us that we are capable of both good and evil. For every act of violence, 10,000 acts of kindness arise to balance it. Our little lights shine to guide one another home.
Growing up, her grandmother would said to her, "No matter what happens, you'll be all right." Her mother would tell her to "just do your best" whereas friends would tell her that she "has an effect on people." It was these kinds of encouragement and trust, Pescan said, that inspired her to pursue a career in ministry.
Despites negative input like the one from a friend ("If you can avoid going into the ministry, do!"), the efforts and sacrifices were all worth it when she was called to her first ministry with the welcome message, "Welcome! We've been waiting for you."
Most ministries are not perfect, she reminded the congregation. She recounted some failing moments: not listening, speaking wounding words, missing the essential question.
But there were also moments of profound connection. She would come to give comfort but instead receive comfort and depart in awe. She shared her story of ministering to a friend dying of AIDS. One of the final requests from this friend was to ask her if she would do his memorial service. When she agreed, he asked, "What is a memorial service?" Upon hearing more details, he said that's exactly what he would want after he died. Other requests included asking her to sing him his favorite tune, "The White Cliffs of Dover" and, she said, "rubbing his butt." There were long moments of silence. Through the grace of silence, they found communion.
She talked about reaching out, unfolding our ministry of love to balance acts of evil, and creating holy ground "only by our presence." In closing, urging the congregation to bring their presence to others, she led the congregation in singing again her opening words: "Gonna let my little light shine…" We need, she said, to pay attention to our similarity and to relinquish our differences so that all of our spirited 'little lights' can help one another get home.
Reporter Kok Heong McNaughton; Editor Deborah Weiner; Web Designer Julie Albanese.
*Editor's note: the offering for the Living Tradition Fund collected a total of $98,500 USD to support the UU ministry.
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