Wake Now, Our Senses...

Wake, now, my conscience, with justice thy guide;
join with all people whose rights are denied;
take not for granted a privileged place;
God’s love embraces the whole human race.
("Wake Now, My Senses", #298)

A lot is happening in our world these days. And in our country. And in our communities. There are a lot of good reasons to be concerned. These concerns are shared, as is our intention to be faithful and principled in response. Our faith in human potential is deep, and we of loving conscience have been tested before.

At UUSGS, in addition to longstanding commitments to justice and inclusion, we are also committed -- in theory and in practice -- to right relationship, to the practice of partnership. These ideas guide our work and our movement in public, now and always. We know that we do not move alone -- to do so would be ineffective and likely misdirected. And so it is that especially at times like these, our partnerships really matter. We want to lift up a few today:

Pioneer Valley Project (PVP) connects local communities and individuals to move together on issues of shared importance. PVP membership, therefore, often includes representatives from directly affected communities in and around Springfield. Our congregation (UUSGS) is a member organization of PVP; our participation is collaborative and mututalistic. Most recently, Rev. Jason and other local faith leaders sent letters to Superintendents Akers (police) and Dinnall (schools) to request meetings about a potential increase in federal immigration enforcement activity in the region, and about how we can expect our local leaders to protect our community. We are forcing the issue, for sure... but we are also offering to help. This should be an issue of shared concern.
- PVP is also a regional affiliate of Massachusetts Community Action Network (MCAN), a statewide interfaith organization. MCAN is part of Faith in Action, which connects groups like MCAN (Massachusetts) and ISAIAH (Minnesota, coordianting much of the interfaith response in Minneapolis right now).
- Most recently, Rev. Jason, Darcie (Director Religious Education & Family Ministry), and Verne (UUSGS Board member) attended an interfaith gathering in Boston (also here) to request a meeting with the Governor and to demand that she back up strong rhetoric ("Enough is enough") with executive action that protects all Commonwealth residents.
The Pioneer Valley Workers Center (PVWC) works centrally with Hispanic immigrant workers. PVWC works closely with LUCE immigrant justice network of Massachusetts. These are frontline organizations doing important work.
- A Bystander Training is scheduled for February 12th.
UU Mass Action's mission is to organize and mobilize UU's in Massachusetts to confront oppression. UU Mass Action is scheduled to visit and lead worship with us soon. UUSGS leadership is considering becoming an official "partner congregation."

Each of these partners will visit UUSGS shortly to provide information, training, and organizing opportunities. UUSGS leadership is already engaged with each, but we know that you may want to take action yourself, too. Know that these opportunities are coming, guided by the needs of those on the front lines.

There are other opportunities, too. Side with Love, the organizing strategy team of the Unitarian Universalist Association, has organized a Minnesota Resource Kit that includes resources, information, and ways to be involved in what is happening there.

Stakes are high right now. Risk is real for those on the front lines, and front lines are everywhere. Sideline urgency is is rarely helpful; resolve, support, and protection from the sidelines is crucial, however. As we sing: "... join with all people whose rights are denied; take not for granted a privileged place..."

From Rev. Jason: "It seems like every day we see another abuse, another assault on basic human dignity. As ugly as this is, as dangerous, and as exhausting as it may feel... there is another story taking shape, too. Some say it is a struggle for the soul of our country. I agree, but I think it may be even bigger than that. Because what we see in the US -- this rise of authoritarianism, racism, violence -- this isn't just taking place here. It isn't just taking place in Minnesota either. It is everywhere, in the US and across the world; it is here, in Springfield. And just as true is the fact that across the world and right here, people are standing up together... standing for one another and standing with one another. Often, these connections are across historic and unlikely divides. Diverse people are showing up for one another and for the kind of community we want to live in together. And so while we are confronted daily with reminders of just how bad things can get, while these attacks deserve our faithful response... so we are also seeing some pathways to create a better way, together. As one prayer in the State House put it: 'it is easy to side with persecutors, for they ask nothing of you but your silence.' We must do more, not only to resist hate but also to create the kind of strong communities that give hate no quarter and injustice no fertile soil in which to go to seed. May we be a people so bold, so faithful, so loving."

More to come, friends. This is not the beginning. But we are far from the end.
Love will prevail. Let's make sure it does.

Love will guide us, peace has tried us,
hope inside us will lead the way
on the road from greed to giving.
Love will guide us through the hard night.
(Love Will Guide Us, #131)

Darcie, Verne, Rev. Jason (representing UUSGS) and other religious leaders from across the Commonwealth process to the State House.