Dear Members and Friends,
Rosh Hashanah begins this evening. As the Jewish New Year, it launches the Jewish High Holy Days that culminate with Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement. These ten days are a time for the Jewish faithful to practice teshuva, or turning toward wholeness by acknowledging where one has failed others.
The human journey invariably includes the struggle with broken relationships — and longing for restoration. I have heard from so many of you for a deep longing for restoration of relationships at the family, congregational, and national levels. The next two Sundays, we shall explore the wisdom of the Jewish High Holy Days. This Sunday: “Celebrating the Human Capacity to Change and Grow.” Next Sunday: “Beginning Again in Love.”
Following this Sunday’s service at 11:30 AM, the members of the Committee on Ministry and the Board of Trustees will gather in the sanctuary with members who wish to join them to share and reflect on the question “How do we want to be together?”
I love the wisdom of the Jewish High Holy Days that not only affirms the human capacity to change and grow but provides hope for us human beings who are imperfect. It is part of the human journey to sometimes lose one’s way or to do or say something—or not do or say something—that hurts someone, whether intentional or not. It is not uncommon for one of us to forget something. Fortunately, we are not defined by our mistakes or failures but by how we learn to recognize where we need to seek repair and make amends. And there’s a couple amends I need to make. They’re small, but practicing small amends make the bigger ones easier!
The first amend or “mea culpa” is that I failed to write anything for SOUNDINGS—or ask anyone to do so—about this opportunity to gather at 11:30 AM. Thus there’s nothing in SOUNDINGS about it, but that’s not the only reason for this announcement.
I must share that another of the many things that I failed to do this past week merits sharing with you: the death of Willard Carter.
Willard Carter died on September 4. His name was included in the September 10th service when we read the names of those who died. I apologize for publicly announcing his passing a week late. I will strive to ensure future announcements are more timely.
Willard signed the membership book in 1953 and served on the Building Committee in the 1950s and 1960s. He loved attending even through his 90s. The family anticipates holding a memorial service here at some point in October.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to the Chaplains if you would like to talk with someone about your relationship with Willard at pastoralcare@uuwestport.org. And you are welcome to share with me a memory of Willard so that I can come to know him through you.
I so look forward to seeing many of you on Sunday morning and providing the space where this congregation can grow in trust, faith, courage, and compassion.
Warm Regards,
Rev. Alan Taylor
