• Home
  • rainbow flagA Welcoming Congregation
  • Safe Congregation SealKeeping Safe
  • Capital Campaign
    • Contact: Capital Campaign
  • DONATE/REALM
  • TUCWomen
    • About TUCWomen
    • Join Us
    • Events
    • Contact
  • Contact
  • Instagram

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport

10 Lyons Plains Rd., Westport, CT 06880 - Ph: (203)227-7205 Sunday Services: 10:00 AM

Unitarian Universalist Association
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
    • SOUNDINGS
    • Communications Guidelines
    • ZOOM Instructions
    • Tips For Making Videos
    • Event & Space Reservations
    • TUUCWSocial Email List Ground Rules
  • Welcome Visitors
    • UU Orientation
    • Directions & Services
    • Special Ceremonies & Dedications
    • Our Congregational History
    • Our Faith
    • What is a Unitarian Universalist?
    • We are Unitarian Universalists
    • How did you become a Unitarian Universalist?
    • History of the Flaming Chalice
    • UU History in 8 Minutes
  • About Us
    • Our Mission Statement
    • Our Vision Statement
    • About Our Ministers
    • Our Staff
    • Getting Involved
    • Board of Trustees
    • Governance
    • Healing and Resilience Task Force
    • Congregant Celebration
    • Pastoral Care Chaplains
    • Our Welcoming Congregation
    • Photo & Video Galleries
    • Links – Beyond Our Walls
    • SOUNDINGS
    • Communications Guidelines
    • Events & Space Reservations
    • Pledging
  • FAITH FORMATION
    • Faith Formation for Children and Youth 2022-23
    • Welcome to Family Faith Formation
    • This Week in Family Faith Formation
    • Faith Formation Age Groupings 2022-23
    • What to Expect on Sunday Mornings
    • OWL Information at a Glance
    • Youth Ministry
    • Adult Faith Formation
    • Soul Matters
    • Keeping Safe
    • Faith Formation Registration
  • Social Justice
    • Welcome to Social Justice
    • Advocates for Prevention of Gun Violence
    • Beardsley School Committee
    • Immigration and Refugee Committee
    • KIVA Microfinance Committee
    • Racial Justice Committee
    • Westbridge Coalition
  • Music Program
    • Music Choir Schedules
    • Evensong
    • Our Minister of Music
    • The Music Committee
    • The Bell Choir
    • The Choir (Women and Men)
    • Special Projects Choir
    • Once & Again Singers
    • Children’s Choir
    • Teen Choir
    • The Chamber Choir
    • Sight-singing Classes
    • Cabaret
    • Voice Classes
    • Love Is the Spirit
    • Tune My Heart To Sing
    • Support Our Music Program
  • Sermons & Poetry
    • Minister’s Messages
    • Sermons – Audio
    • Sermons – Video
    • Rev. John T. Morehouse’s sermons
    • From Your Senior Minister: Facing Grace
    • Facing Grace – Rev. John’s blog
    • Rev. Frank Hall, Minister Emeritus – sermons
    • Rev. Frank Hall, Minister Emeritus – Dear Friends
    • Intern Minister’s sermons
    • Guest Minister’s sermons
    • Poetry & Readings
    • Communications from Your Ministers
  • Live Stream

Dear Friends – April 11, 2005

April 21, 2011 by Rev. Frank Hall - Minister Emeritus

Dear Friends,

A friend responded to last Sunday’s sermon by sending some sentences penned by Thomas Merton, catholic monk and poet.  Speaking of his epiphany, Merton wrote:

“Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of their hearts where neither sin nor desire can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God’s eyes.  If only they could see themselves as they really are.  If only we could see each other that way all the time, there would be no war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed.  I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other.”

I immediately thought of the Pope’s funeral where the crowds in Rome called for sainthood.  It seems they saw in John Paul II what Merton saw: ‘the secret beauty and depth of the heart.’  He spoke out against war, hatred, cruelty and greed; no wonder they ‘fell down and worshipped him’

Sure, it would have been better for the world if he removed the church’s ban on birth control—then his stand against a woman’s right to a safe, clinical abortion could be taken seriously.  It would have been better for the church and the world if he ordained women into the priesthood.  It would have been better for the world if he acknowledged the right of gay men and women to be who ‘they really are,’ and to acknowledge that they are loved ‘in God’s eyes.’

The wheels of change turn slowly.  We who are of a certain age can feel our own resistance to change—if we’re honest with ourselves we hear some echo of,  “We’ve always done it this way.”

Our canvass weekend was a change.  I heeded Bob Dylan’s call and ‘got out of the way.’  I went to see Richie Havens—surprise, surprise!  “It was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of their hearts where neither sin nor desire can reach, the core…”  It was a very moving, inspirational evening.

I went to the Frederic Hand concert, which nurtured a different segment of the soul. Very sweet.

On Saturday morning I recited an hour’s worth of poetry at Compo beach.  I experienced a gentle touch of humility when I had to resort to reading from my book of favorite poems–I couldn’t quite get some lines from R. Frost’s Birches—the part about the ice falling from the trees.

Family Friday provided parents and children the opportunity to gather in the sanctuary together; candles were used to focus on things each participant wanted to affirm about their experience at the church—to say something they love about this community-in-the-making.

Now the canvass has begun!  The ship has been launched.  The response to the change has been very positive, with some carefully crafted criticism, delivered in the spirit of love.  Don’t wait to be asked to participate.  If you haven’t filled out a pledge card for the new calendar year, it’s time to do so, now: don’t defer or neglect. The only way to be a generous person is to give generously.  Generosity is generative.  I hope you will make a pledge about which you can feel good.

Enjoy this spring season as ‘faces called flowers float out of the ground.’

Warmly, Frank

Filed Under: Dear Friends

  • Minister’s Messages
  • Sermons – Audio
  • Sermons – Video
  • Rev. John T. Morehouse’s sermons
  • From Your Senior Minister: Facing Grace
  • Facing Grace – Rev. John’s blog
  • Rev. Frank Hall, Minister Emeritus – sermons
  • Rev. Frank Hall, Minister Emeritus – Dear Friends
  • Intern Minister’s sermons
  • Guest Minister’s sermons
  • Readings & Poetry
  • Communications from Your Ministers

     The Unitarian Universalist
     Congregation in Westport
     is a member congregation of the
     Unitarian Universalist Association

      CLICK HERE if you have any questions      about The Unitarian Universalist
    Congregation in Westport

Congregational Hours: Tuesday - Friday
9:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Summer Hours:
July & August until after Labor Day:
Tuesday - Friday 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM

CLICK HERE to contact the web master

CLICK HERE to opt in to receive
the Weekly Congregational Email Blast

Copyright © 2023 · Visit us at The Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Westport - 10 Lyons Plains Rd., Westport, CT 06880 - All rights reserved.