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Clarifying the Vision
Rev. John T. Crestwell, Jr.

Start with the story of  MARRIAGE EQUALITY RIGHTS and going to the press conference

Came with script but had to be extemporaneous

Then at Lobby Day –jam packed.  Saw some really BIG BIBLES!!!  Learned there is so much hate… I continuously say that my church stands on the side love!

Now mention lunch with Fred Muir (He knew about what I had done already.  A colleague called him and told him that he heard me and I did a “fine job”.

Got home and received supportive emails from several Davies members…

ALL OF THIS SHOWED ME THAT I WAS NOT ALONE.  I HAD SUPPORT.  I APPRECIATE THAT.  Even more than that, I learned that ones' belief—their vision really does guide them…

I talked about that last week-- how your vision can also lead to another’s dark age but if it is carefully constructed with compassion, there can be much good that comes from our vision.

Just a few months ago, we decided we would have a “Many Hearts” campaign to raise money to further the vision/mission of our church…  BUT the question arises… What is the Davies vision?

IF you’ve looked at a church newspaper, we have directly and indirectly accepted (I HOPE) the 3-fold vision that was laid out several years ago... That vision said essentially:

VISION:

• To raise community awareness of Unitarian Universalism by inviting our neighbors and sharing with them the good news of the Unitarian Universalist faith
• To gain and welcome new members because we have a message to share that lifts people up (in our own unique way)
• To strengthen the community within by creating dynamic programs and opportunities for spiritual growth

In a nutshell:  WE WANT TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM & we want to continuing growing and strengthening our faith.

Of course we are keeping in mind the history of various movements that begin sincere and end up oppressive.  We want to talk about our message—but we do not want to become too obnoxious and dogmatic about it.  Amen.

There are several bullets in the church newspaper (Freedom Xpress) that give clarification to the 3-fold vision…  I’d like to briefly discuss a few…

1. Newcomer Growth and Development – You’ve seen the fruits of this already with several adult Religious Education classes formed.  As an example-- New UU—so new members can get a synopsis of our history and legacy to America and the world of religion;  and Building your own theology part I & II where we help you explore and ask those deep philosophical & theological questions that will assist in spiritual growth.      Also, we want our new UUs (of course that includes all of you who signed the book today) we want you to feel like you have a place here not just on Sundays… And therefore our membership committee will continue to work to link new members to existing people, programs and activities in the church.

You may have noticed in the vision the word Diversity was not used . This is a word we’ve probably overused over the last three years…  We are already a diverse church and will become more and more diverse… But it’s not just because of our neighborhood, rather because of our desire to spread our life affirming message.  The word is out around town in UU circles at least, that we want folk to know about our work here.  And we will continue to share that message.   But my focus today in this ministry---I WANT YOU TO HEAR ME—is not just multicultural diversity that’s too limited.  I would love to see even more socio/economic diversity, political diversity and diversity in sexual orientation…  I want to model the work of the UUA, our denomination, by intentionally welcoming the GBLT community.  And I will be doing a sermon on this in the coming weeks..  But, the Unitarian Universalist Association has a program called WELCOMING CONGREGATIONS which is training in learning how to share a truly open and affirming message that welcomes all no matter their sexual orientation.  And of course we are doing the UUA sponsored Jubilee training in March to look at how we can create a world free from cultural prejudice and bias.

My belief is that we will have more and more people coming to Davies because it truly it is a “shelter in the time of storm”; a place where folk say their “yoke is easy and their burden is light”.  “They accept me for who I am at that church!”  I see a church that is a place where members want to come because they find something here they cannot find in life—the freedom to be who and what they are!

OUTREACH

Of course we are advertising to get new people to notice us... We hope “our sheep know our voice.”  The messages you will see in the next few weeks, thanks to our Growth and Public Relations Committee will express what we are in a few words.  They will be mini elevator pitches.  I expect that we will be getting lots of response from this ad campaign which will run in local newspapers in Prince George’s and Charles County.  Also, Freedom Xpress is hot on the trail…   (TELL STORY OF CHINESE REST.  AND HOW I THOUGHT THE NEWSPAPERS WERE THROWN AWAY)…  Just another way to let folk know we are here.  The word is getting out slowly but surely.

INTERNAL –Community Within

BUT—WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HERE?   That’s the question…  My hope is that you want to enjoy this ride; that you will  find a way to take pleasure in growth and change and see it as an opportunity for you to extend your hospitality.  You know, last year we signed 26 new members which were the most signed in 25 years.  And this was a year of financial uncertainty, transition and some confusion.   I know that if we are together, we can do so much more!

To our seasoned adults, you have a wonderful gift of being able to pass on your wisdom on; to share the history of what this faith means to you; you hold the power of the past in your heart.  I ask you to share that message. 

As a middle-aged adult you can ad your professional expertise—you are at the peak of your career use your knowledge to help us do our jobs better.  Like Race Dowling who has taken some heat but he runs a good meeting.  He is now putting together all of these diagrams and charts and all kinds of stuff with his team of computer geeks, you know… And you look at Race and he’s like a kid in Toys R Us.  He loves the details of church polity or governance.  He also runs a company professionally and is using his experience here…  This is what I mean use your professional expertise to make Davies even better.

And as a young adult you can provide the energy and freshness that’s needed to give the vision continue hope and vitality.  But the biggest issue is we must remind ourselves to be CHEERFUL GIVERS.  If we cannot find joy in sharing and giving of our time, talents and tokens, then it is no sense in sharing at all.

Social Action

Additionally, we have reignited our social action committee and this is your opportunity to get hands on locally and in the state.  The committee plans on finding three issues for the congregation to vote on and choose, yea or nea, to support…  From there this committee gets moving…  Now, this is your opportunity to participate and get hands on.  We have Christmas in April, Adopt a Road, The Food Pantry, already but we are also looking at other plans.  For example, tutoring (Bonnie Gill used to do) (Ron Verdonk);   public school book giveaways where we give books and read to students, and letter writing campaigns to voice our concerns over specific issues, among other things being explored.  We want this community to know that Davies here, that we care, and that we are serious about being a voice crying in the wilderness for justice wherever it is needed.

Along with this I plan on continuing to find my place as a community leader.   And being a cheerleader about my church, my faith.

Small Group Ministry (Adult RE)

I also will be working to create the “ecclesia en ecclesia” model, which simply means the church within a church reality or covenant groups.  We have a few now like woman’s circle… But I envision many, many more for example a men’s circle, a singles circle, a partners circle, a youth circle, and young adult circle.  These are private support groups within the church.   I went to my first covenant group meeting this week with local ministers and there I realized how important intimacy in ministry is.  We need this kind of support.  These covenant groups will not only make our existing members stronger but it will positively impact those who come to our church.  Fred Muir told me it was this very thing that created significant growth at Annapolis.  He’s been there 25 years.  They didn’t grow for 15 years!!!  They have 650 members.  They began to grow only 7 years ago when they (1) decided to grow and (2) created covenant support groups in their ministry.  Look for that in the coming months…

Planning for the Future

Lastly, if all of this is done and we are as active, internally and externally, as I expect us to be, we will not have room in this place.  That’s a fact…  What will happen to our sacred space?  I come here by myself sometimes with that question...  I walk inside and outside and wonder what this powerful ministry could look like in — five years—ten years…

What do I see?  I see that this entire building having to be dedicated to Religious Education and fellowship.  That this entire building we are in now will someday be where our children learn what it means to be a Unitarian Universalist.  Maybe even a school…

I look at the fireplace and see an entrance on both sides (fireplace still intact) which takes you to a new sanctuary that can seat the many, many members we have who come to Davies for spiritual growth,  intimacy, love and compassion in human relations.  I see the windows in this building that allow us to see the trees reminding us of our interrelatedness with all thing—WE ARE NATURE….  As I look around in this sanctuary, I see that we’ve taken time to make sure we have used our resources wisely and responsibly and as a result our space is peaceful, delicate, and modest with images and décor that represents many of the world’s religions and cultures.  This tells people who come without a word being said that we are a place for ALL SOULS!

I look out the window and see the beautiful gardens taken care of by our master gardeners who put tender loving care in their work.  The outside is as much a work of art as the inside.  One compliments the other…  In the garden area I see people walking and meditating or praying, some are reading on a beautiful spring day.  And around the corner from there, our children are playing in an area made just for them…  The sounds of their happy voices are sweet as honey.

Back inside, our large choir that is known in the JPD and UUA for their music, in fact they’ve cut their own CD, they are preparing for the service…  There are string and brass and percussion instruments as well…  I hear a newcomer say, “Man, this is like going to a concert every Sunday.  I come here just for the music.”  I chuckle thinking “I guess he doesn’t like my sermons.”  

Now I’m out in the community talking to members of other segregated churches in Prince George’s County & Charles County.  And I hear them say, as I walk away from them…“How do they do it?  How can so many people who think differently, look differently, act differently—how do they come together so easily?” And someone responds with wisdom—“They have a lot of love in that church.  I’m not sure what they believe but I do know they care about people.  I’ve seen their work and it is good work indeed.” 

My friends, I see all of these things, not because I don’t love what we are already because I do, rather I see this growth and change happening as a natural expression of what occurs when you are a healthy, vibrant, and alive ministry. People will talk about you, people will come check you out and you will have internal and external growth at all levels, that you can’t even control because your ministry is vibrant, transparent (it shows itself to the community openly) and active in changing lives!

 And you can’t help but become a rock in a weary land for so many; you can’t help, in this bruised and hurting world, to become balm in Gilead; you can’t stop the church from becoming a lily in the valley for so many; you can’t stop the church from becoming a beacon of light unto the nations when it is a ministry of love and acceptance…  And this is a model our world desperately needs.

Embrace our 3-fold vision-- for in its words are the seeds of greatness that shall spring forth our hoped for reality.  Let us accept the challenge that comes with our vision.  We are named for a man who was a dreamer, who believed in growth, A Powell Davies.  Let us not venerate him or his legacy, instead, we must heed the direction of his vision.  A vision that felt Unitarian Universalism had something to share!  As was said in our responsive reading this morning: “Great leaders are honored, not by adulation, but by sharing their insights and values” with others…  Let us then press onward toward our mark and manifest our greatness.  This is our call.  Shall we accept it?

There is an old theistic Christian hymn that speaks to me in this moment…

“I the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry.  I have wept for love of them whom shall I send?  (AND A VOICE CRIES OUT)  Here I am, Lord.  Is it I Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart!”

My friends, we have so much work to do.  And our world calls out to us and asks will you go, will you serve, will you hold the people in your heart?

Amen.

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