Sermon (Online via Zoom) | March 29, 2020
In the Catholic church, before the 2nd Vatican Council, priests had to say Mass every day which means they often said it alone. In places where there were many priests living, you can still often find the cubicles where they’d go at some point during the day to say Mass. They’d just stand there alone and say Mass.
Theologically, it was irrelevant whether there were people with them for Mass or not.
Our tradition has always been different. Our tradition says that you don’t need a priest to connect to the sacred, to meaning.
In our Newcomers’ Drop-In Circles every month, I explain that our tradition does not have at the top of its hierarchy the Pope, or the bishops or the ministers. We have what’s called congregational polity – which means at the top of our hierarchy are the congregations. At the macro level, we are part of the Unitarian Univeralist Association of congregations.
And at the micro level, in our congregation, I as the minister am not at the top. The Board or elders are not at the top. The members lead the congregation.
And so in our tradition, theologically, it’s very important whether you all are in the room with me. It’s actually more theologically important that you all are here than that I am here.
Your Board President and I, Tom Hull, were discussing this theological distinction recently as we discussed the decision currently before this congregation.
Today after service our congregation’s members will be voting on a path forward to find your next minister.
As you may know, several weeks ago I announced that I will be closing my chapter as your minister this June.
Since my announcement, coronavirus has happened. The world is even more full of uncertainty.
The paths may seem washed out.
And yet, I invite you to remember that it is not I – but you all – that make this church and its paths forward.
The last Sunday we were together in person, I preached about that great graceful movement of birds called a murmuration. I have another story today about birds. This one is inspired by the ancient epic poem, “The Conference of the Birds,” by the Persian Sufi Muslim writer Fariduddin Attar.
Once upon a time, all the birds in the land decided they needed a leader for their community. A leader, they thought, would make their community stronger. Representatives of all the bird species gathered to discuss finding a leader.
The robin said: “A leader will tell us the right things to do,”
The owl said: “Our leader must be wise.”
The sparrow said: “A leader must believe we each are important, big and small.”
The dove said, “I want the leader to be caring.”
The jay said: “Yes, the leader must help us share and get along better.”
The hawk said: “The leader must make us feel safe.”
Now the hoopoe bird said: “I know where you can find such a leader…It is a magical bird and it lives far from here.”
The birds were very excited. They said they were willing to go anywhere to find such a leader. “It might be dangerous,” said the hoopoe. A few birds looked troubled, but all the birds voted to go find this magical bird.
The hoopoe took off and all the birds followed.
They flew at night. They flew in sunshine. Days and days passed. Some birds got tired and left the group. Other birds were filled with doubt. How did they know this magical bird really existed? Only the hoopoe had ever heard of this bird.
One valley was filled with fiery mountains. All the birds were afraid.
“I’m too small to make it over that mountain,” lamented the sparrow.
“No, keep flying. We can make it together. We will help you.” And they did.
The strong flyers helped the weaker flyers. The birds with good vision helped find food for the group. Along the journey, the birds learned how to better respect, share and care for each other. It seemed that every bird had something special and unique to offer that made the journey easier.
Finally, the hoopoe announced, “We are here!”
The other birds looked around in anticipation. “Where is this magical bird? We don’t see it!’ they cried.
“Come. It is over here,” said the hoopoe.
The birds stood beside hoopoe and realized they were on the edge of a lake. They looked in… and what they saw was their own reflections. The reflections of not one bird, but 30 birds.
Then, they understood.
The magical bird was not another bird. The magical bird was all of them, and all of them were the magical bird.
They knew now that together they could do anything.
It has always been not I – but you all – that make this church and its paths forward. Whatever ministry I have helped create here, happened because of you all. You all shaped me.
And you will continue to shape the church’s pathway forward.
During this time of such uncertainty in our world, the lines of a poem by Antonio Machado keep coming back to me:
Caminante, no hay camino. Se hace el camino al andar. Traveler, there is no path. We make the path by walking.
– Antonio Machado
This church is poised for an awesome launch into its next chapter.
Because of coronavirus, our world is also entering a new chapter.
In our world’s new chapter, this church’s mission is even more essential.
This church is ready for it.
This church isn’t me – it is all of you. All of you get to decide its next move.
And when the horizon before you seems filled with uncertainty, remember that in reality there has never been a path.
You make the path by walking ….by choosing that next step.
By choosing it together.
– Rev. Emily Wright-Magoon