My dear friends,

Today, we woke up to news that saddens, frightens, angers, and/or devastates many of us. Those of us with marginalized identities may be especially frightened right now, for good and valid reasons. I hold you, dear ones, especially tenderly today. I love you. You do not deserve to be targeted, and I will continue to do everything I can to ensure your safety, dignity, freedom, and quality of life. 

In the broadest sense, for many of us, the result of last night’s election is a stark declaration that we are not living in the country we believed or hoped we were. I share in that deep grief. 

Together, we are stepping into an era of uncertainty. Though we know the results of the election, we cannot predict what our country will look like in 1, 5, or 10 years. What I do know is our community will band together in love and respond with skill and compassion to whatever the future holds. As I have said many times, the work of love and justice is a long game, not a pickup match decided in one day every four years. I have no doubt that the work of our church will become more important than ever in the months and years to come. But today is not a day to work. 

There will be time to envision, plan, and act in the coming weeks, months, and years, and I and the church will be with you as we work to affect change in our world. Today, however, I invite those of us who are grieving, who are frightened, who are angry, and who are devastated, to honor your feelings. It is right to grieve when something precious seems to be lost. It is right to be frightened when you have been threatened. It is right to feel angry when your rights have been violated, and it is right even to feel devastated when it all seems beyond your control. We must allow ourselves to grieve, to feel our feelings, to acknowledge our pain. Only then will we be able to move forward in love. 

Tonight, November 6th, 2024, First Unitarian Church will host a candlelight vigil for anyone who wants or needs a space to be with others in their grief. The vigil will be held officially from 6-8pm, but staff members will be available at the church throughout the day for anyone who wants to talk, cry, shout, hug, or just sit. Childcare will be available during the candlelight vigil.

Because of this responsive change in programming, Choir Practice and the Choir Potluck has been rescheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, November 7th. Contact David Owens for more information.

Tonight, we will create a space to grieve together, to light candles, and to vow to continue holding one another up through whatever is to come next. Any who are grieving or who want to offer support for the grief are welcome to attend. 

I will see you tonight. And on Sunday. And on and on as we discern, envision, and enact our next moves. 

In deep solidarity and love,

Reverend J Sylvan