Event: 2018 0624 Sunday Worship 1000 EDT

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>>CART PROVIDER: CAPTIONS WILL APPEAR HERE. THANK YOU.

>> GOOD MORNING, THE SONG IS I LIFT MY VOICE, THE COMPOSER ANDREA RAMSEY WRITES, I WAS INSPIRED BY THE LINE, WITH GLAD DEFIANCE IN MY THROAT, I PIERCE THE DARKNESS WITH MY THROAT. I
CREATED THIS TUNE IN HOPES OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE POWER OF MUSIC AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY IN PURSUING JUSTICE AND UNITY. LET'S SING THE REFRAIN OF I LIFT MY VOICE A COUPLE OF TIMES TOGETHER:

THE POET CECILY TAYLOR WROTE THE WORDS AND MUSIC TO OUR NEXT SONG, 'OUR WORLD IS ONE WORLD', WITH
IF CONTAINS THE PROPHETIC TEXT :THE THOUGHTS AFFECT US ALL, THE WAY WE BUILD OUR ATTITUDES WITH LOVE OR HATE, WE MAKE A BRIDGE OR WALL. PLEASE JOIN YOUR BODY AND SPIRITS AND JOIN IN SINGING.

RABBI SHOSHANA FRIEDMAN WROTE OUR FINAL SONG WITH YOTAM SCHACHTER, IN 2015. WE SING IT TODAY IN AFFIRMATION OF OUR CALL - TO WITNESS AND ACT FOR JUSTICE IN OUR SOCIETY AND IN THE WORLD.

IF  YOU  ARE  AN  IMMIGRANT,  A  REFUGEE, UNDOCUMENTED,
IF YOU ARE MUSLIM,  JEWISH,  HINDU,  CHRISTIAN,  ZORASTRIAN, BUDDHIST,
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
IF YOU ARE MUSLIM,  JEWISH,  HINDU,  CHRISTIAN,  ZORASTRIAN, BUDDHIST,
A THEIST OR AN ATHEIST,
YOU  ARE  WELCOME  HERE.[APPLAUSE]
WHATEVER NATION YOU CALL HOME, WHATEVER FAITH IS YOUR OWN, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
IF  YOU  ARE  GAY  OR  STRAIGHT,OR BI, A WOMAN, A MAN,
TRANSGENDER  OR  QUEER, QUESTIONING.
YOU  ARE  WELCOME  HERE.
IF  YOU  HAVE  A  DISABILITY,
VISIBLE  OR  INVISIBLE,
YOU  ARE  WELCOME  HERE.IF YOU WANT FOR NOTHING, OR IF YOU STRUGGLE EACH DAY TO MAKE IT THROUGH. YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
IF  YOU  ARE  HEARTBROKEN, ANGRY OR AFRAID,
YOU  ARE  WELCOME  HERE.AND
IF YOU FEEL STRONG, POWERFUL AND READY YOU ARE WELCOME HERE. YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
IF YOU HOLD A DREAM OF PEACE AND LOVE ALIVE IN YOUR HEART
YOU  ARE  WELCOME  HERE.WHOEVER YOU ARE, YOU, YOUR WHOLE FAMILY, ALL THAT YOU ARE, ALL THAT YOU CARRY, YOU ARE WELCOME HERE.
FOR  THIS  IS  A  COMMUNITY  OF  DIVERSITY  AND  INCLUSION,
A  COMMUNITY  OF  LOVE  AND  JUSTICE.
AND  IT  IS  GOOD  TO  BE  TOGETHER! [APPLAUSE] PRECIOUS ONES, WE HAVE GATHERED IN IF FAITH AND SPIRIT AND SONG AND STORY, AND FOR WORSHIP, AT THIS 2018 UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST GENERAL ASSEMBLY. I WELCOME THE HASAN FAMILY FROM THE CHURCH IN KANSAS CITY MISSOURI TO LIGHT OUR CHALICE THIS MORNING.
MORNING, MY NAME IS KHARYY, MY MOM MEGAN, THIS IS MY SIBLINGS, WE LIGHT THIS CHALLENGE FOR A SHARED COMMITMENT TO AFFIRM AND PROMOTE JUSTICE, EQUITY AND COMPASSION IN HUMAN RELATIONS. MAY THE CHALICE CONNECT US TO OUR HISTORY AND THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE. AND WHO STRUGGLED
TO BRING THE PRACTICE OF OUR FAITH INTO THE FULLNESS OF ITS THEOLOGY OF LOVE, LIBERATION AND INTERDEPENDENCE.
AND MAY THE FLAME OF THIS CHALICE KEEP US ATTUNED TO THE DEEPEST CALLING OF OUR FAITH. MAY ITS LIGHT REMIND US OF THE JOY THAT IS PRESENT IN LIFE, EVEN IN STRUGGLE - A JOY THAT IS THE FULLEST EXPRESSION OF THE LIBERATED AND LOVING SOUL OF HUMANITY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

>> ONCE UPON A TIME ON A DAY NOT SO DIFFERENT THAN THIS DAY, IN A TOWN NOT SO DIFFERENT THAN THIS TOWN, A YOUNG MAN WALKED THROUGH THE STREETS PROCLAIMING TO EVERYONE THAT HE HAD A PERFECT HEART. AND HE INVITED EVERYONE HE MET TO GATHER WITH HIM IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN SO HE COULD SHARE WITH THEM HIS PERFECT HEART AND A WHOLE CROWD GATHERED AROUND THIS YOUNG MAN, AND THROUGH THE MAGIC THAT COMES WITH STORIES, A LIGHT SHOWN THROUGH THE MAN'S CHEST AND EVERYONE COULD SEE HIS HEART. AND INDEED THEY WERE AMAZED. HIS HEART WAS BEAUTIFUL, IT HAD THIS STRONG, REGULAR BEAT, AND IT WAS UNBLEMISHED. NOT A SCAR ON IT, INDEED IT LOOKED PERFECT. AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE BACK OF THE CROWD THERE WAS A BIT OF COMMOTION, AND THE CROWD PARTED AND AN OLD WOMAN, A GRANDMOTHER, WALKED TO THE FRONT OF THE CROWD AND SHE SMILED AT THE YOUNG MAN AND SHE SAID, INDEED YOUR HEART IS BEAUTIFUL. BUT IT IS NOT PERFECT. LET ME SHOW YOU MY HEART. AND AGAIN THROUGH THE LIGHT, THE MAGIC THAT IS STORYTELLING, A LIGHT SHOWN THROUGH THE GRANDMOTHERS HEART AND ALL COULD SEE. THEY WERE SHOCKED AT FIRST, FOR HER HEART WAS FULL OF SCARS. IT HAD A STEADY STRONG BEAT,  YES, BUT IT HAD PIECES MISSING AND OTHER PIECES PLACED IN THOSE MISSING SPOTS, BUT IT DIDN'T MATCH PERFECTLY SO THERE WAS JAGGED EDGES AND DEEP CREVICES WHERE IT LOOKED AS THOUGH HER HEART HAD BEEN BROKEN, AND IN SOME PLACES IT WAS STITCHED BACK TOGETHER, BUT NOT EVERYWHERE. AND THE WOMAN SAID TO THE YOUNG MAN, INDEED YOUR HEART IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT I WOULD NEVER TRADE WITH YOU. SHE SAID, EACH PLACE WHERE THERE IS A PIECE MISSING IN MY HEART, IT IS BECAUSE I HAVE GIVEN A PIECE OF MYSELF. I HAVE LOVED SOMEONE ELSE AND I HAVE GIVEN THEM A PIECE OF MY HEART AND SOMETIMES WHEN THEY HAVE LOVED ME BACK, THEY HAVE GIVEN ME A PIECE OF THEIR HEART, BUT THE PIECES NEVER QUITE MATCH. AND SOMETIMES THAT LOVE ISN'T RETURNED AND SO THERE IS A WHOLE THAT IS LEFT. YOU CAN SEE WHERE MY HEART HAS BEEN BROKEN BY LOSS AND GRIEF AND BETRAYAL. SOMETIMES WHEN THERE HAS BEEN FORGIVENESS THAT HAS BEEN MENDED, BUT THERE IS STILL PLACES WHERE THAT FORGIVENESS HAS NOT COME FULLY. SHE SMILED AT THE YOUNG MAN AND SHE SAID THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HEART IS THE HEART THAT HAS BEEN SHARED. AND THE YOUNG MAN WAS MOVED TO TEARS AND HE TOOK A PIECE OF HIS OWN HEART AND HE PLACED IT IN ONE OF THOSE EMPTY HOLES IN THE WOMAN'S HEART. AND THEN THROUGH THE MAGIC AND STORIES, A LIGHT SHOWN THROUGH THE CHEST OF ALL THE TOWNPEOPLE GATHERED AND THEY LOOKED TO EACH OTHER AND THEY COULD SEE ONE ANOTHERS HEART AND THEY COULD SEE THE STORIES OF THEIR LIVES. THE HEARTBREAK AND THE LOVE SHARED AND THE GRIEF AND THE LOSS. AND THEY SAW THEMSELVES IN EACH OTHER. NOW SOME OF YOU, IF YOU CAME IN, I HOPE YOU WERE GIVEN A FABRIC HEART AND I INVITE YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT YOU BRING THAT IS IN YOUR HEART THIS MORNING. BOTH JOY AND SORROW. MAYBE ANGUISH, EVEN ANGER, MAYBE HOPE AND LOVE AND JOY. AND I INVITE YOU TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART AND IF YOU WISH LATER TODAY, OR ANY TIME, THINK ABOUT A WAY YOU MIGHT SHARE THAT HEART WITH SOMEONE ELSE. AS WE SHARE OUR STORIES AND THE REALITIES OF OUR LIVES AND COMMUNITY.

>>
EXAMINE THAT HEART OF YOURS AS YOU LOOK FOR THE LOVE ON YOUR HIGH SHELF PAST THE PLEASURE AND PASSION FOR YOUR OWN SELF FOR THE LOVE THAT'S REACHING SOMEONE ELSE PLEASE RISE IN BODY OR IN LOVE MULTIPLIES WHEN YOU SHARE IT, PLEASE RISE IN SPIRIT AND VOICE AND LET'S SING TOGETHER BUSCA EL AMOR.

>> GOOD MORNING, I'M THE REVEREND DOCTOR NATALIE I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING IN THE SUNLIGHT IN A BUILDING WITH WHERE THERE ARE WINDOWS.
I COME TO UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM FROM A TESTIFYING RELIGIOUS TRADITION, NOT A CONFESSING TRADITION. I COME FROM A TRADITION WHERE YOU STAND, IN THE MIDST OF THE PEOPLE, AND SPEAK YOUR PAIN OUT LOUD. YOU CALL THE PAIN INTO THE ROOM, AND EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM IS CALLED TO ATTEND TO IT. THAT IS WHAT UNITY IS. THAT IS WHAT CHURCH IS. WE ARE CALLED TO ATTEND TO EACH OTHER THE WAY THAT WE REALLY ARE, NOT OUR PASSING SELVES. 'CHURCH'  - FAITH COMMUNITY - IS ABOUT BUILDING PLACES WHERE WE CAN PROCESS PAIN AND STRUGGLE AS WELL AS LOVE AND CELEBRATION. THIS IS 'STRENGTH-IN-THE-VALLEY' THEOLOGY. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM HAS LONG TURNED TOWARD A 'MOUNTAINTOP' THEOLOGY. BUT YOU CANNOT REALLY GET TO THE MOUNTAINTOP UNTIL YOU'VE BEEN IN THE VALLEY. YOU CAN'T JUST SKIP OVER THE STRUGGLE. AS AN INSTITUTION, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM DOES EASTER WITHOUT GOOD FRIDAY, SO UNITARIANISM
STRUGGLES WITH HOW WE, AS A RELIGIOUS BODY, CAN BUILD A STRUCTURE FOR LEARNING HOW TO HOLD PAIN, AND I THINK THAT ONE WAY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM TRIES TO DO THAT QUICKLY IS TO CHEAT AND 'STEAL' IT FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S TRADITIONS. THE HARDER AND SLOWER ROUTE IS TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE VALLEY AND TO LET THEM LEAD THE CLIMB TO THE MOUNTAINTOP TO BE [APPLAUSE] TO BE
IN RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND THE OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT THE DOMINATE CULTURE DEEMS MARGINAL. THESE ARE THINGS I HAVE LEARNED IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IN WHICH I COME. THIS IS THINGS I HEAR FROM
PEOPLE IN THE HISPANIC CATHOLIC TRADITION, THINGS I HEAR FROM THE MUSLIM TRADITIONS, AND FROM INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF FAITH. THIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE CAN ENRICH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM. WHEN I AM INVITED INTO UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM, WHEN THOSE FROM THESE OTHER TRADITIONS ARE INVITED IN, ALL THAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER MUST BE INVITED IN. WELL I HAVE LEARNED, EXPERIENCED, WHAT I HAVE LIVED AS A BLACK WOMAN WHEN IT IS NOT VALID IN THIS MY FAITH,
WHEN IT IS HARD TO FEEL HEARD, IT CAN BREAK MY HEART. WHAT BREAKS YOUR HEART? WHAT BREAKS YOUR  IT CAN BREAK MY HEART.
WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS THAT RELATIONSHIPS ARE BEING CARELESSLY DISCARDED WITH LITTLE TO NO DESIRE OF RESTORATION IN PART BECAUSE OF AN INABILITY OR AN UNWILLINGNESS TO LISTEN DEEPLY.
WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS THAT WE COLLECTIVELY ACCEPT BORDERS, PRISONS AND DEPORTATIONS LIKE THEY ARE SOME KIND OF NORMAL, LIKE LOCKING PEOPLE UP IN CAGES IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALL LIVE WITH.
WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS RELIGIOUSLY BASED INTOLERANCE. FROM THE MARGINALIZATION OF MUSLIMS, ONGOING VILIFICATION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE, THE SILENCING AND SIDELINING OF WOMEN, THE OPPRESSION AND VIOLENCE AGAINST PEOPLE WHO IDENTIFY AS LGBTQ, RELIGIOUSLY BASED INTOLERANCE CAUSES VAST DAMAGE. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS ARE NOT IMMUNE TO OUR OWN FORM OF RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.
WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS UU CONGREGATIONS IN DECLINE. OFTEN AT THE HEART OF THIS DECLINE IS AN INCESSANT 'NO' TO NEW IDEAS, CONGREGATIONAL RIGIDITY, A FAILURE TO ADAPT TO CHANGING TIMES, FEAR OF TAKING BOLD ACTIONS.
WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS THAT WE ARE SO DIVIDED BY FEAR. WE DO NOT LOOK TO ONE ANOTHER; WE DO NOT DEEPLY LISTEN. WE DO NOT REMEMBER HOW CONNECTED WE TRULY ARE AND HOW MUCH WE NEED ONE ANOTHER.


WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS WELL INTENTIONED GESTURES THAT FORTIFY WALLS AND FURTHER THE GAPS IN OUR JUSTICE WORK.

>> WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS HOW EACH NEW ACT OF VIOLENCE FEELS ALMOST LIKE A BODY, ADDING TO THE MOUNTAIN OF HARM THAT MUST SOMEHOW BE REDEEMED.
>>
WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS THE FAILURE OF WHITE ALLIES TO FIGHT FOR REPARATIONS, AND FOR THE LIVES OF BLACK PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM SUSTAINED AMERIKKKAN GENOCIDE.

>> MY HEART IS BROKEN BY ALL THAT IS LIFE NEGATING AND DEHUMANIZING IN THE WORLD, INJUSTICE,
OPPRESSION, AND APATHY TOWARD HUMAN SUFFERING, AND WILLFUL DESTRUCTION OF MOTHER EARTH.

>>
WHAT BREAKS MY HEART IS THAT WE ARE GOOD AT NAMING THE PROBLEM, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO US PERSONALLY, WE ALL WANT TO POINT THE FINGER AT SOMEONE ELSE. NO PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED UNTIL WE OWN IT AND 'WE' MEANS YOU AND I. IT MEANS ME, IT MEANS ALL OF US.

>> WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO HEAR OUR PAIN AND I NOW INVITE YOU INTO A MOMENT OF SILENCE, MEDITATION OR PRAYER. THE LIVES HAVE BEEN DEFINED, DIVINE LOVE, CALLED BY MANY NAMES AND NO NAME AT ALL. WE CALL OUT TO YOU AND ONE ANOTHER TO HEAL OUR BROKEN HEARTS. WE
HUMAN BEINGS ARE FRAGILE CREATURES: OUR HEARTS BROKEN AND SCARED. GRIEF AND PAIN AND CONFLICT SEPARATE US ONE FROM THE OTHER.
WE ARE CRYING OUT. CAN WE HEAR ONE ANOTHER? CAN WE FEEL THE PAIN OF BLACK MOTHERS WHOSE SONS ARE TARGETED FOR BEING BLACK SONS, IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE CHILDREN SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS, STUDENTS FEARFUL OF GUNFIRE IN THEIR OWN SCHOOLS. THOSE STILL SUFFERING IN PUERTO RICO AND THE
CARIBBEAN? WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO CANNOT EVEN SAFELY DRINK THE WATER FROM THEIR TAPS?
    MAY WE HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE ? BECAUSE IT IS NOT JUST 'THESE TIMES' BUT ALL TIMES - MAY WE BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO JUSTICE IN ALL TIMES. MAY WE OPEN OUR MINDS TO EACH OTHER'S STORIES. MAY WE PERCEIVE EACH OTHER EVER MORE CLEARLY. MAY OUR HEARTS ENLARGE TO HOLD EACH OTHER'S PAIN AND JOY. MAY OUR BODIES ENTWINE AND EMBRACE AS WE JOURNEY TOGETHER. WE CALL OUT, WE REACH OUT OUR HANDS TO YOU SPIRIT OF LIFE. AND TO EACH OTHER. MAY IT BE SO. AMEN.
>
>>
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]


>> HMM, HOW BEAUTIFUL.
MY FELLOW UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS. IT IS A JOY TO BE WITH YOU THIS MORNING. TO BE CALLED TOGETHER  ONCE AGAIN. THIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY REPRESENTS THE COMPLETION OF ONE YEAR AS YOUR PRESIDENT. A ROLE IN WHICH I WAS
CHARGED TO NOT JUST BE A LEADER BUT TO ALSO TO BE A PASTOR TO OUR FAITH IN THESE DIFFICULT AND  IN THESE DIFFICULT AND PAINFUL TIMES, ALL TIMES, NOT JUST THESE TIMES. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FIRST-YEAR AS ONE FILLED WITH INCREDIBLE GRATITUDE BECAUSE IT IS A GIFT TO SERVE OUR FAITH IN THIS WAY. IT HAS ALSO BEEN A TIME OF ENORMOUS HEARTBREAK AND CHALLENGE AND URGENCY. A TIME WHERE WE ARE CALLED TO BEAR WITNESS TO SO MUCH PAIN. TO MAKE ROOM IN OUR BODIES AND OUR SPIRITS. TO HOLD SO MUCH OF OUR OWN PAIN. TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAST WE ARE COMING FROM AND TO DO THE WORK THAT ENABLES US TO CREATE A NEW STORY AND A NEW WAY OF BEING FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW.
LAST AUGUST, JUST DAYS AFTER I ARRIVED IN BOSTON WITH MY FAMILY, HAVING PACKED UP AND MOVED FROM PHOENIX, AZ, THE CALL CAME FOR FAITH LEADERS TO SHOW UP IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA. LOCAL FAITH LEADERS, INCLUDING UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS ON REVEREND CHRISTINA, TO JOIN THEM FOR AN EFFORT TO
STOP WHITE SUPREMACIST VIOLENCE DESCENDING ON THEIR TOWN.
I DIDN'T HESITATE BECAUSE AT ITS BEST OUR FAITH TEACHES US THAT THE HUMANITY OF EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS THREATENED WHEN WE LET THOSE WHO DEHUMANIZE OTHERS GO UNCHALLENGED. AND BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO INTELLECTUALLY WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD, THEN SHRINK WHEN THAT CHANGE CALLS US TO TAKE RISKS, TO SHOW UP, TO SACRIFICE TO PROTECT ONE ANOTHER. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO SHOW UP AND FOLLOW  THAT CHALLENGING CALL AT THE HEART OF OUR FAITH TO EMBODY FIERCENESS OF LOVE IN THE FACE OF HATE AND VIOLENCE. BEING IN KHARY LOTS VILLAGE WAS TERRIFYING AND TRAUMATIC. A NUMBER OF UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS WERE INJURED ON THE STREETS, HEATHER HEYER WAS KILLED. WE'RE COMING UP ON THE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE. THE NEW CYCLE EVERY DAY MOVES ON. THE LAYSEST SHOCK OR ATROCITY, BUT IT MATTERS WE DO NOT FORGET WHAT HAPPENED IN CHARLOTTESVILLE IN AUGUST 2017. IT REVEALS EXPLICITLY THE ROOTS, THE REALITIES OF TODAY AS WELL AS WHAT IS AT STAKE. THE VIOLENCE AND DEHUMANIZATION AND UNDERGIRDS RACISM, WHITE SUPREMACY,
ISLAMOPHOBIA, HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, AND XENOPHOBIA ? WERE ALL ON FULL DISPLAY IN THAT WHITE SUPREMACIST RALLY. EVERY ONE OF THOSE SINGLE THINGS. AWFUL WORDS, THREATS SHOUTED AT DIFFERENT PEOPLE. IT MADE THE POWER AND RENEWED BOLDNESS OF THESE MOVEMENTS, THESE WHITE NATIONAL MOVEMENTS IN OUR NATION UNDENIABLE. AND IT REVEALED THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, THE POLICE, AND THE STATES COMPLICITY AND PROTECTION OF THESE MOVEMENTS. I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR, THIS IS NOT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS. THIS IS ABOUT AN ENTIRE SYSTEM OF PLACING. I WANT TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT I MEAN ABOUT COMPLICITY.
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE RALLY, WHITE SUPREMACISTS MARCHED THROUGH THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA WITH FIERY TORCHES. THEY ASSAULTED MEMBERS OF THE BLACK STUDENT ALLIANCES, THEY MARCHED
ON TO THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WHERE FAITH LEADERS WERE GATHERED IN A PEACEFUL INTERFAITH PRAYER SERVICE. THROUGHOUT THIS THE POLICE WERE...NOWHERE. THE POLICE WERE SIMILARLY ABSENT AS MEN ARMED WITH LONG GUNS MARCHED IN FRONT OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE SYNAGOGUE DURING SERVICES SHOUTING HATE-FILLED NAZI SLOGANS AT THE FAITHFUL WORSHIPERS. IN FACT, THE SYNAGOGUE HAD SPECIFICALLY WOULD BE GIVEN POLICE PROTECTION, AND NO POLICE SHOWED UP.
THE NEXT MORNING, THE POLICE AGAIN STOOD BACK, FAR FROM THE CROWDS. WE FAITH LEADERS STOOD FACE TO FACE WITH WELL-ARMED WHITE MEN, DRESSED IN SURPLUS MILITARY GEAR, LONG GUNS, AND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, A RIGHT WING VOLUNTEER MILITIA SUPPOSEDLY 'POLICING' THE EVENT. AND THEN, WHEN DOZENS AND DOZENS OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS CAME MARCHING DOWN THE STREET CHANTING AND  YELLING WITH SHIELDS AND HELMETS AND BACKS AND STICKS, COMING RIGHT AT FAITH LEADERS, THE PART THAT THE POLICE MOVED BACK. VIOLENCE ONLY STARTED WHEN THE GROUP STEPPED FORWARD TO PROTECT THE FAITH LEADERS, WHEN THEY SAW THE POLICE WERE DOING NOTHING AND WOULD DO NOTHING. IT WAS TERRIFYING, ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING TO SEE THAT LEVEL OF ARMED WHITE NATIONALIST VIOLENCE AND IT WAS TERRIFYING TO SEE IT GO COMPLETELY UNCHECKED BY POLICE. AND I OWN AND WANT TO NAME HOW MY SHOCK REVEALS MY OWN WHITE PRIVILEGE. [APPLAUSE]
AND HEAR THIS, MY OWN ASSUMPTION THAT THE POLICE ARE IN THE BUSINESS OF PROTECTING ME, MY BODY, MY SAFETY, THAT IS NOT AN ASSUMPTION THAT EVERYONE GETS TO MAKE. [APPLAUSE] IN FACT LET'S JUST TAKE A MOMENT AND REFLECT ON THE FACT THAT THE POLICE LARGELY STOOD DOWN TO GIVE SPACE FOREARMED WHITE MEN TO CARRY OUT INTIMIDATION AND VIOLENCE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE FOR DAYS AND COMPARE THIS TO WHAT HAPPENED IN FERGUSON MISSOURI WHEN UNARMED BLACK WOMAN CAME OUT TO THE STREETS TO PROTEST AND MOURN, AFTER THE KILLING OF YOUNG MICHAEL BROWN AND WERE MET WITH A MILITARIZED POLICE FORCE ARMED WITH TANKS AND TEAR GAS. THIS IS AMERICA. THIS IS THE UNITED STATES. THIS IS THE DISPARITY THAT BRINGS INTO SHARP RELIEF THE REALITY THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER ORGANIZERS AND IMMIGRANT RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS NAMING FOR YEARS FOR BROADER WHITE SUPREMACY DEEP IN OUR NATION AND DEEP IN THE SYSTEM OF OUR PLACING. THIS IS NOT ABOUT INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS. THIS IS NOT ABOUT BAD APPLES. THIS IS ABOUT A SYSTEM OF PLACING THAT HAS BEEN SET UP TO PRESERVE ORDER AND A SYSTEM THAT IS FUNDAMENTALLY DISORDERED, UNEQUAL, AND OPPRESSIVE VIOLENCE AND MURDEROUS TO PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THIS COUNTRY.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

AND IN FACT MY FRIENDS (SOUNDS EMOTIONAL) AS INJUSTICE, INEQUITY AND DISPARITY GROW IN OUR NATION, OUR COUNTRY AND GLOBALLY, OUR NATIONS INVESTMENTS IN PLACING, IN JAILS, IN WEAPONS AND WARFARE ALL GROW EXPONENTIALLY. SEEKING TO PROTECT PROFIT MOTIVES, TO HAVE ORDER IN THIS DISORDERED SYSTEM. SEEKING TO PROTECT PROFIT AND THE PRIVILEGE OF A FEW OVER HUMAN LIVES AND HUMAN DIGNITY. IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WOULD WE NEED SUCH INVESTMENTS IN WARFARE IF WE HAD JUSTICE AND EQUITY FOR ALL? WOULD WE NEED THOSE INVESTMENTS IN JUSTICE WAS REAL, FOR ALL PEOPLE, THAT'S RIGHT. WE GOT TO DECONSTRUCT THE WAY WE LOOK, I AS A WHITE PERSON, HAVE TO DECONSTRUCT THE WAY I HAVE SEEN THE POLICE. IT WAS SO IMPORTANT TO BE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE AND TO BE THERE WITH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS FROM ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST, YA'LL SHOWED UP SO POWERFULLY, SO COURAGEOUSLY, MINISTERS AND LAYPEOPLE WHO CAME TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, THE LOCAL CONGREGATIONS AND TO BE IN SOLIDARITY AND WITNESS TO THE LARGER COMMUNITY. AND YOUR UUA WAS THERE AS WELL, INVISIBLE AND BEHIND THE SCENES PROVIDING SUPPORT TO ORGANIZERS AND STAYING AFTER FOR TRAUMA RESPONSE AND PASTORAL CARE TO THE COMMUNITY. THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN HOLD EACH OTHER AS A COLLECTIVE FAITH IN THIS TIME. I KNOW FROM MY OWN MINISTRY IN PHOENIX AN COMBINING, THE POWER OF UAA IN OUR SHARED SPACE, WHEN WE SHOW UP FOR AND WITH ONE ANOTHER IN TIMES OF CRISIS, IS UNBELIEVABLE AND IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. AS ANOTHER HEART BREAKING THINGS, THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME MUST KNOW HOW THAT BLOW FELT WHEN OUR PRESIDENT PARDONED JOE A ARPAIO. WE KNOW THIS ISN'T JUST ABOUT CHARLOTTESVILLE. AS A PEOPLE OF FAITH, THAT SAY WE ARE COMMITTED TO JUSTICE, COMPASSION AND EQUITY. AS A FAITH THAT SAYS WE ARE COMMITTED TO THE RESPECT FOR INTERDEPENDENT WEB OF ALL LIFE, WE HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY, OUR FAITH IS CALLING MORE FROM US IN THIS TIME AND TWO THINGS ARE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR TO ME RIGHT NOW. NUMBER ONE,  THIS IS NO TIME FOR A CASUAL FAITH OR A CASUAL COMMITMENT TO YOUR VALUES
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
COMMUNITY, YOUR CHURCH, YOUR CONGREGATION, YOUR SOUL AND YOUR FAITH. NO TIME FOR CASUAL FAITH. [APPLAUSE] AND NUMBER TWO, THIS IS NO TIME TO GO IT ALONE OR TO THINK WE ARE IN IT ALONE. THIS IS NO TIME FOR A CASUAL FAITH. AS UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS WE ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES. RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES THAT PRACTICE LOVE AS OUR FOUNDATION AND WE ARE LIVING IN TIMES OF HEART BREAK, VIOLENCE AND PAIN AND IN THIS TIME WE NEED COMMUNITIES THAT REMIND US OF OUR HUMANITY. BECAUSE THE TIME WE ARE LIVING IN IS INCREDIBLY DEHUMANIZING. NOT JUST THESE TIMES. ALL TIMES. BUT THESE TIMES ARE URGENT. THESE TIMES ARE URGENT.
FIFTY YEARS AGO, REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS ASKING WHAT IT WOULD TAKE FOR WE AS A NATION TO TURN AWAY FROM THE GIANT EVILS OF RACISM, MILITARISM AND ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION THAT INFECTED SO HE UNDERSTOOD DEEPLY AFFECTING SO MUCH OF OUR SOCIETY AND HE SAID THAT WHAT IT WOULD TAKE WOULD BE A POWERFUL, UNCONDITIONAL OVERFLOWING GOOD WILL FOR ALL PEOPLE. A UNIVERSAL LOVE FOR HUMANITY. HE CALLED THIS KIND OF LOVE AGAPE LOVE. HE SAID IT VERY WELL TO BE THE SALVATION OF HUMAN CIVILIZATION. AGAPE LOVE. KING SAID OF AGAPE LOVE THAT IT IS THE LOVE OF GOD OPERATING IN THE HUMAN HEART. AGAPE IS THE LOVE OF GOD OPERATING IN THE HUMAN HEART. I HOPE, YOU KNOW WHATEVER YOUR THEOLOGY, WHATEVER YOUR BELIEF OR NON-BELIEF, YOU CAN HEAR THE POWER OF THAT MESSAGE OF HELPING OUR HEARTS EMBODY AND PRACTICE A DEEPER, UNBOUNDED, UNCONDITIONAL, OVERFLOWING LOVE FOR ALL HUMANITIES AND WE NEED COMMUNITIES THAT TEACH US HOW TO LOVE WITH THIS FULLNESS. WHEN THE PROPAGANDA AND POLITICS THAT TELL OUR HEARTS TO BE AFRAID. WE ALSO NEED COMMUNITIES WHERE WE CAN FULLY BRING OUR HEART BREAK AND THE FULLNESS OF OUR PAIN AND ANGUISH AND BE REMINDED THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE, BUT THAT WE ARE HELD BY A LOVE THAT NEVER LET'S US GO. AND WE ARE HELD BY ONE ANOTHER AND WE WILL NEVER LET GO. WE NEED COMMUNITIES OF BOTH COURAGE AND DEEP PRACTICED COMPASSION. A RESILIENCE AND RESISTANCE. AND WE NEED TO NURTURE AND BUILD THIS IN OUR CHILDREN. I KNOW WE MAY NOT ALL, WELL WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS WE MAY NOT ALL BE ABLE TO BE ON THE STREETS IN PLACES LIKE CHARLOTTESVILLE AND FERGUSON, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO HEAR THAT AS LETTING YOU OFF THE HOOK. [LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] I ACTUALLY, I MEAN SOME PEOPLE ARE DYING, SOME PEOPLE ARE ILL, SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO BE MORE CAREFUL WITH THE POLICE BECAUSE OF THEIR IDENTITY, THEIR STATUS. SO I DON'T WANT YOU TO LET THAT, LET YOU -- DON'T LET YOU, DON'T YOU HEAR ME LET YOU OFF THE HOOK. THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. [LAUGHTER] BUT WE ALL HAVE A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY AND WE NEED MORE PEOPLE SHOWING UP IN CHARLOTTESVILLE AND FERGUSON AND ON THE BORDER AND SAN DIEGO ON JULY 2ND AND WASHINGTON DC ON JULY 30TH, SHOWING UP ON THE STREETS AND NOT BEING SILENCED. WE ALSO HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY IN MAKING A STRONGER COMMITMENT TO BUILD SOMETHING NEW IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN OUR CONGREGATIONS. TO MAKE A STRONGER COMMITMENT TO NURTURE HEALTHY RADICAL, INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES AND POWERFUL PRACTICE OF THIS FAITH THAT HELPS US BUILD A COURAGEOUS AND FIERCE EMBODIED LOVE AND NURTURES WHAT IS BEST IN US AS HUMAN BEINGS. I KNOW FROM TALKING WITH MANY OF YOU THAT WHEN YOU WITNESS WHAT HAPPENED IN CHARLOTTESVILLE YOU TURN TO YOUR CONGREGATION FOR HEALING AND TO HOLD THE TRAUMA. BUT WHERE WE WANT TO BE A SALVE TO THE WOUNDS OF THE WORLD, WE ALSO MUST BE A MIRROR TO OUR OWN INFLICTION OF WOUNDS. AND THIS IS WHAT BRITTANY WAS TALKING ABOUT LAST NIGHT, RIGHT. ABOUT REALIZING THAT WE REINFORCE SUPREMACY AND UPHOLD IT IN WAYS WE MAY NOT ALWAYS REALIZE AND THAT WE ALL CAN FALL VICTIM TO LEANING BACK INTO MODERATION, RIGHT. A COMFORT OF LIFE. WE NEED COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BUILDING SOMETHING NEW, PLACES OF ABUNDANT LOVE AND DEEP JUSTICE. MY PRAYER FOR WE AS AN ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITIES IS THAT WE ANSWER BOTH CALLS, TO HOLD EACH OTHER IN TIMES OF PAIN AND TO HOLD EACH OTHER TO ACCOUNT IN ACTS OF COURAGEOUS LOVE WHEN OUR INSTITUTIONS CREATE HARM AND ACTS OF COURAGEOUS TRUTH-TELLING WHEN WE AS INDIVIDUALS INFLICT HARM. OURS HAS NEVER BEEN A MONOLITHIC FAITH AND IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE LIMITED BY THE MONOCULTURAL ROOTS OF ITS PAST.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THE PROMISE OF OUR FAITH MEANS LIBERATING OURSELVES FROM SYSTEMS OF DOMINANCE AND EXPLOITATION THAT WE ALL SUFFER UNDER. THE PROMISE OF OUR FAITH MEANS MAKING COMPASSION A WAY OF BEING. IT MEANS CREATING A COLLECTIVE SENSE OF BOTH COMMUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY IT HOLDS THE VISION OF A YET UNREALIZED FUTURE WHERE OUR COLLECTIVE SURVIVAL, OUR LIBERATION AND A PRACTICE OF THE FULLNESS OF OUR THEOLOGY IS POSSIBLE. NOW WHEN WE STEPPED ON TO THE STREETS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE AS FAITH LEADERS, WE KNEW OUR SAFETY COULD NOT BE GUARANTEED NOR EXPECTED. WE KNEW WE WERE PUTTING OUR LIVES AT RISK. OUR FAITH, THE CALL TO LOVE, THAT LOVE IS STRONGER THAN HATE GAVE US STRENGTH, THAT SOMETHING ELSE GAVE US STRENGTH AND THAT WAS THE FACT THAT WE WERE NOT ALONE. FRIENDS, THIS IS NO TIME TO TRY TO GO IT ALONE. WE NEED TO BE BUILDING THE STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES EVEN AS WE ARE RESISTING IN THE LARGER WORLD. WE AS INDIVIDUAL CONGREGATIONS CAN'T BE IN THIS STRUGGLE ALONE. WE CAN'T BE IN THIS STRUGGLE ALONE. I WAS STRENGTHENED BY THE FAITH LEADERS WHO I STOOD SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, ARM IN ARM, CHRISTIAN, JEW, MUSLIM, UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS, SIDING WITH LOVE. NOW IS THE TIME TO GET PROXIMATE AND GET CLOSER AND BUILD STRONGER BRIDGES ACROSS OUR FAITH, ACROSS OUR CONGREGATION, BUT ALSO IN DEEPER PARTNERSHIPS AND COMMITMENT WITH THOSE MOST DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY SYSTEM OF INJUSTICE AND OPPRESSION. CAUSE HERE IS THE THING, THEOLOGICALLY, OUR UNIVERSALISM SAYS THAT NO ONE IS OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE OF LOVE, RIGHT.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
 HOWEVER, WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IN OUR LIVES AND IN THE CONTEXT OF OPPRESSION AND DISCRIMINATION, THE CIRCLE NEVER GETS DRAWN WIDER FROM THE CENTER. THE CIRCLE GROWS WIDER BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE AT THE MARGINS, AT THE EDGES, WHO SEE HOW EXCLUSION IS HAPPENING, ARE LEADING AND ORGANIZING AND WORKING TO BREAK THOSE WALLS DOWN.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
RIGHT. SO WE ALL HAVE TO BE STANDING IN THE MARGINS, PUSHING FOR GREATER LIBERATION FOR ALL PEOPLE. THAT IS THE WAY WE MAKE THE CIRCLE WIDE. THIS TIME WE ARE LIVING IN IS ONE OF TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY AND NEEDED CHANGE AND THE HEALTH AND STRENGTH OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR COMMITMENT TO THIS THEOLOGY OF LOVE AND JUSTICE AND INTERDEPENDENCE IS CRUCIAL. AND I KNOW IT IS CALLING MORE FROM ALL OF US, AND I KNOW THE STRAIN THAT, THAT CAN FEEL. AND I KNOW THE STRAIN OF THE DAILY DESPAIR AND HEARTBREAK. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT OUR FAITH IS STRONG AND IF WE LET OURSELVES BE HELD BY IT (SOUNDS EMOTIONAL) IT WILL GIVE US WHAT WE NEED TO KEEP ON MOVING FORWARD AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN HOLD ONE ANOTHER IN THIS WORK. WE HAVE BEEN READYING FOR IT MY FRIENDS, WE HAVE BEEN READYING FOR YEARS TO GROW OUR MUSCLES FOR RESISTANCE AND FOR COURAGE AND FOR SOLIDARITY. I KNOW THIS WORK, I KNOW THIS MOMENT THAT WE ARE IN AND IT IS NOT JUST THIS MOMENT, IT IS MANY MOMENTS MOVING TO THIS TIME. BUT IT IS GOING TO CHANGE US. THE WORK AHEAD, IT IS GOING TO CHANGE US DEEPLY. THAT'S WHY WE ARE A LIVING TRADITION. RIGHT? BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED TO BE HELD BY THE PAST, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE NEW REVELATION TO GUIDE OUR HEARTS AND SPIRITS AND TO WALK INTO SOMETHING NEW. I SEE THAT DAY WHEN WE WILL LOOK BACK AND SEE THE CHANGES WE HAVE MADE IN OUR HEARTS, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, IN THE PRACTICE OF OUR FAITH AND THEOLOGY. AND THIS WON'T COME FROM SOME CASUAL PRACTICE OR CASUAL COMMITMENT. IT WILL ONLY TAKE A GREATER COMMITMENT AND GENEROSITY TO OUR COMMUNITIES THAT SUSTAIN COURAGE AND LOVE. AND IT WILL MEAN NEW WAYS OF LIVING OUR FAITH, IT WILL MEAN LETTING GO IN ORDER TO SAY YES. TO REACH OUT MORE BOLDLY, LOVINGLY AND FAITHFULLY WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR JUSTICE AND IT WILL TAKE EACH OF US FINDING OUR OWN CALL. OUR WORK, OUR PLACE IN THE STRUGGLE. WHERE OUR GIFT CAN HELP BRING SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING LIFE-GIVING INTO THIS WORLD. MAY THE SPIRITUAL COMMUNITY THAT WE PRACTICE, MAY THE SPIRITUAL COMMUNITIES THAT YOU LEAD AND PRACTICE IN, IN YOUR HOMES, IN YOUR HOMETOWNS, MAY IT STRENGTHEN ALL OF OUR HEARTS MAY IT GIVE US COURAGE, MAY WE NOT BE SILENT OR SHRINK BACK FROM THE DEMANDS OF LOVE. AND WE MAY HOLD ONE ANOTHER AS WE FOLLOW NEW PATHWAYS OF JOY, OF COMMUNITY, OF CHANGE OF THE UNKNOWN. AND WE MAY ALL BE HELD BY THAT CAPITAL PRACTICE OF AGAPE LOVE THAT STIRS IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR HEARTS. MAY IT BE SO. AMEN. [APPLAUSE]

>> MY NAME IS REVEREND ROSE SWWAY, UNIVERSAL LIFT CHURCH, AKA SMUUCH ABOUT 20 MINUTES SOUTH OF HERE. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU HAVE COME TO VISIT US. SO HONORED TO HAVE YOU IN OUR HOMES, TO PROUD OF OUR HEARTS LAND. IT IS OUR JOY TO OFFER YOU OUR BOUNTY. AND AS A GIFT TO KANSAS CITY WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL OFFER YOURS. FOR THE WORK OF THIS CITY DEPENDS ON US, WE LOCAL ORGANIZERS WHO CARE SO MUCH ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE KNOW. IN A MOMENT I WILL INTRODUCE TO YOU THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITIES CREATING OPPORTUNITIES, THE RECIPIENTS OF THIS YEAR'S GA OFFERING, BUT FIRST I WILL TELL YOU THAT THIS ORGANIZATION WAS CHOSEN WITH THE INTENTION THAT THIS MONEY GO TOWARDS THE MOST VULNERABLE AMONGST US. THAT THIS OFFERING BE USED WITH THE UPMOST ATTENTION TO WHICH WILL ALLEVIATE THE MOST SUFFERING. MAY THIS COMMUNITY REAP THE FRUITS OF YOUR GENEROSITY. IT IS NOW MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU MR. SEFT HUNTER. [APPLAUSE]
>> WHILE I WAS HUNGRY, THERE WILL BE SOMETHING TO EAT. WHEN I WAS THIRSTY, I WAS A STRANGER. I NEEDED CLOTHES, I WAS SICK, I WAS IN PRISON, I WAS AN IMMIGRANT. GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS SEFT HUNTER AND I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITIES CREATING OPPORTUNITY. A 40 YEAR OLD FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION BASED RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CITY, WORKING BOTH IN MISSOURI AS WELL AS IN KANSAS. THIS MORNING WE ARE STANDING WITH YOU, YOU ARE STANDING WITH ME, ARE MEMBERS OF OUR LOCAL FAITH COMMUNITY, VOLUNTEERS, SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCATES AND FOLKS WHO REFUSE TO SEE PAIN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SIMPLY LOOK THE OTHER WAY. SINCE OUR FOUNDING, CCO HAS BEEN DEEPLY FOCUSED ON BRIDGING THE VAST RACIAL DIVIDE AND FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE ACROSS THE REGION. WE BELIEVE THAT EVERY PERSON SHOULD GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY. BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IS NOT THE REALITY IN THE CITY IN WHICH WE CURRENTLY LIVE AND CERTAINLY THE COUNTRY IN WHICH WE ALL SHARE. WE BELIEVE THAT FAMILIES FACING VIOLENCE, AND STARVATION, YEARNING TO REACH OUR SHORES, DESERVE OUR COMPASSION NOT OUR CONDEMNATION. WE BELIEVE THAT LIFE OF A BLACK BOY SITTING IN A PARK IN CLEVELAND OHIO, OR ONE WALKING THROUGH A NEIGHBORHOOD IN SANFORD FLORIDA IS JUST AS VALUABLE AS A WHITE BOY DOING THE SAME BERKELEY CALIFORNIA OR ROCKFORD ILLINOIS. [APPLAUSE] WE BELIEVE THE ZIP CODE OF YOUR BIRTH SHOULD NOT PREDICT HOW FAR OR HOW HIGH YOU WILL REACH IN LIFE. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT IS NOT THE REALITY IN THE CITY IN WHICH WE CURRENTLY SIT AND THE COUNTRY IN WHICH WE ALL SHARE. SO BETWEEN COMMUNITIES GOING EAST AND WEST, BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE THERE EXISTS A LIVE EXPECTANCY OF 13 TO 15 YEARS RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CITY. THE PAINFUL TRUTH IS WHERE YOU LIVE IN THE CITY AND WHERE YOU LIVE IN AMERICA FOR THAT MATTER, NOT ONLY PREDICTS HOW LONG YOU LIVE, BUT IT CERTAINLY PREDICTS HOW WELL YOU LIVE. IT IS PRECISELY FOR THIS REALITY WHY WE ORGANIZE. WE KNOW THAT WHILE THERE ARE MANY FACTORS THAT DETERMINE THESE OUTCOMES, SYSTEMIC RACISM, SYSTEMIC POVERTY, ARE THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS. TO THIS END WE BELIEVE THAT WE ARE CALLED TO ENSURE THAT THE DISPARITIES THAT DRIVER THESE, THESE OUTCOMES, RACISM, PERSISTENT POVERTY, ARE ERADICATED NOT JUST IN OUR CITY BUT ALSO IN OUR NATION. [APPLAUSE] RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI, OUR STATE LEGISLATOR HAS SAID THAT IT IS LEGAL TO CHARGE FOLKS -- ALL RIGHT.  SO OUR STATE LEGISLATOR HAS SAID THAT RIGHT HERE IN THIS STATE IT IS PERMISSIBLE TO CHARGE FOLKS UPWARDS OF 950% TO BORROW A SMALL LOAN BETWEEN $50 AND $500. SO FOR THE PRICE, FOR THE PRICE OF REPAIRING A TIRE SO YOU CAN GET TO WORK, 1950%. FOR THE PRICE OF COVERING PRESCRIPTIONS, FOLKS WHO ARE DEALING WITH DIABETES, 1900, 1900 AND 50%. TO THIS POINT, TO DISRUPT A CORRUPT EXPLOITS THE BODY OF BEING, 1950% IS WHAT YOU MUST PAY. IN ZIP CODE 63138 JUST THREE MILES FROM WHERE WE CURRENTLY SIT. YOUNG MANS OF COLOR, BETWEEN AGE 17 AND 25, A QUARTER OF THOSE YOUNG MEN WILL NOT LIVE TO SEE AGE 30. THESE PRECIOUS LIVES ARE SHORTENED, NOT JUST BECAUSE OF VIOLENCE, BUT BECAUSE OF INCARCERATION, BECAUSE OF A WOEFULLY UNDER-FUNDED SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO TO THIS POINT WE ARE CALLED TO COMFORT THAT MOTHER WHO MUST BURY ONLY 17 YEAR OLD SON, CALLED NOT JUST TO COMFORT HER, BUT WE'RE CALLED TO BE A WITNESS TO THE SYSTEM THAT TOOK HIS LIFE IN THE FIRST PLACE. [APPLAUSE] SO WE KNOW, WE'RE IN A REMARKABLE MOMENT IN OUR COUNTRY, NOT JUST THIS MOMENT, BUT AS YOUR PRESIDENT SAID, ALL MOMENTS. WHERE WE MUST CONFRONT NOT JUST WHO WE ARE, BUT WHO WE MUST BECOME. SO WOMAN, IMMIGRANTS, FOR CHILDREN, FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, EVERY MOMENT IS ONE WHERE OUR EXISTENCE, OUR VERY EXISTENCE IS IN CONSTANT NEGOTIATION. AS PEOPLE OF FAITH, WE ARE CALLED TO REJECT THE NOTION THAT OUR COMMUNITIES AREN'T BIG ENOUGH, OUR HEARTS AREN'T OPEN ENOUGH TO WELCOME AN IMMIGRANT FAMILY. WE ARE CALLED TO REJECT THE NOTION THAT OUR TREASURY IS NOT DEEP ENOUGH, IS NOT FULL ENOUGH TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE TO THOSE WHO NEED IT, OR TO PROVIDE FOOD FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE DEPENDING ON IT. THIS WE BELIEVE IS OUR CALL. THIS WE KNOW IS THE REASON WHY WE ORGANIZE. WE BELIEVE THAT OUR WORK MUST ENTER THESE SIMPLE YET PROVOCATIVE QUESTIONS, I WAS HUNGRY. I WAS THIRSTY. I NEEDED CLOTHES. I WAS SICK. I WAS AN IMMIGRANT. FOR THIS MORNING, THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>> THE WORLD DEPENDS ON US, PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY, THE OFFERING WILL NOW BE, BE RECEIVED.
>> [APPLAUSE]
>> THIS IS NO TIME FOR A CASUAL FAITH. WE MUST PULL TOGETHER THE PIECES OF OUR BROKEN HEARTS AND EXPAND OUR ABILITY TO LOVE. TOGETHER WE MUST SEEK THE HIGHER GROUND AND WAKE UP OUR SPIRITS. TOGETHER WE CAN FIND THE SOURCES OF LIFE JIVING HOPE AND RESILIENCE. IN OUR FAITH, WE CAN OF THE TO THE STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE WHICH GIVES US STRENGTH AND POWER AND EVERLASTING LIFE.
>> WHAT GIVES ME HOPE IS IN SPITE OF OUR BROKENNESS OURS IS A
OF MANY GENERATIONS AND AT LEAST A FEW RELIGIONS, RACES, AND CULTURES ALL SITTING IN A ROOM SINGING OF MANY GENERATIONS AND AT LEAST A FEW RELIGIONS, RACES, AND CULTURES ALL SITTING IN A ROOM SINGING , WHEN HAVE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT GENERATIONS, SITTING TOGETHER, SINGING, SHARING STORIES AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO REDUCE THE HARM. WHAT GIVES ME HOPE IS THE FUTURE OF FAITH. I BELIEVE WE ARE AT THE DAWNING OF A NEW AGE OF FAITH AND A MORE MALLEABLE WORLD. AN AGE OF COMPASSION.
>>
WHAT GIVES ME HOPE IS CONGREGATIONS THAT SAY 'YES'. YES TO CALLING MINISTERS WITH NON-WHITE RACIAL IDENTITIES, QUEER IDENTITIES, DISABILITY IDENTITIES; YES TO BLACK LIVES MATTER AND BLACK LIVES OF UU; YES TO INNOVATIVE, ANTI-RACIST COLLABORATIONS IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY; YES TO ART, MUSIC, DANCE,

>> WHAT GIVES ME HOPE IS THE VOICES THAT ARE SAYING THE STATUS QUO IS NOT INEVITABLE, WHAT HAS BEEN FOR SO LONG IS NOT WHAT WILL BE. THE VEIL OF PROGRESSIVENESS HAS NOT BEEN LIFTED. NOW THERE IS A CALL TO MAKE REAL WHAT WE HAVE.
>> WROTE THE PASSIVE ACCEPTANCE OF INJUSTICE IS NOT THE WAY OF HUMAN BEINGS. AND IT IS NOT THE WAY OF OUR UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FAITH. OUR FAITH CALLS US TO RESILIENCE AND TO HOPE, NOT BLIND OPTIMISM BUT TO HOPE, HOPE IS AN ACT OF ACTIVE STRUGGLING COMMITMENT. HOPE IS IN THE HERE AND NOW, HOPE IN WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGETHER. HOPE AS RESISTANCE TO INJUSTICE. HOPE THAT CALLS US ON. HOPE THAT CALLS US ON AS LIFE CALLS US ON.

>> FRIENDS, WE HAVE MADE THIS HALL A SACRED SPACE. AND AS WE LEAVE THIS CIRCLE TODAY, LET US REMEMBER TO PRAISE THIS GIFT OF LIFE. MAY WE WONDER AND MARVEL AT ITS BEAUTY. MAY WE KINDLE MORE JOY, MORE LOVE AND MORE SONG INTO OUR HEARTS AND INTO OUR DAYS. AND MAY WE BE LED OUT IN PEACE AND MAY WE GIVE BACK LOVE.
>>
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

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Event: 2018 0624 Sunday Worship 1000 EDT