Open

Sing “Come, Come, Whoever You Are” (youtube) complete poem (hymn 188)

Come, Come, Whoever You Are

Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving.

It doesn’t matter.

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Come, even if you have broken your vows

a thousand times*

Come, yet again, come, come.

—Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi

*It is very important to include the line about the broken vows. This verse is not in the hymnal, but is a part of the original poem.

Ask: Have you read the verse about broken vows before? Does it change your understanding or experience of “Come, Come, Whoever You Are” at all?

Why or why not?

Read

We Will Not Cancel Us by adrienne maree brown

The Answer to the Paradox of Tolerance from Yonatan Zunger via Mastodon and Zhi Zhu

If the group skews younger, instructors should make a point to pause to engage participants’ comprehension and engagement. Consider watching the video belowbefore reading the Zunger piece.

Watch

The Paradox of Tolerance (vimeo) by @maiabemtbc on Instagram

Do

Discuss Zunger’s Answer, replacing “peace treaty” with “covenant.” What do covenants mean in UU communities? What do we do when folks act outside our covenants? What does adrienne maree brown ask us to do?

May want to have the text of the congregational covenant to share.

Close

Flame In Our Hearts from Vanessa Titang

Take Home

Read The Dispossessed by Ursula K. LeGuin and/or Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. (Ask if anyone has read either of these books, and see if they can relate the stories to justice and covenant. )

Do you have covenants with people outside of church? Discuss the idea with folks at home, and with your friends.

Read the First Amendment to the US Constitution . In groups, write a clause that addresses intolerant speech and how it affects (or does not affect) Constitutional rights under the First Amendment. Share with the larger group, along with justifications.

Come, Come Whoever You Are from Christiana McQuain