• 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 Church in Westport

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

uua-logo-2
  • Calendar
    • Calendar
    • SOUNDINGS
    • Communications Guidelines
    • ZOOM Instructions
    • Tips For Making Videos
    • Event & Space Reservations
    • TUCWSocial 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
    • The Naming Committee
    • 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 – February 12, 2007

April 23, 2011 by Rev. Frank Hall - Minister Emeritus

Dear Friends,

The sermon and service last Sunday was about The Wizard of Oz, and I came up with a two-word summary of the story: purposeful companionship. Dorothy and the friends she met on her journey along the Yellow Brick Road, the scarecrow, tin man and lion, were ‘off to see the Wizard’ hoping to find what they needed: brains, a heart, courage, and a way back to Kansas – home.  I thought, later, that I should have called it the Wizard of Us.

The story about Dorothy and her traveling companions applies to us, of course.  We’re traveling through life together, meeting up with folks along the way who share our sense of hope.  Hope is generated by purposeful companionship, a sense of hope.

One of the most effective ways of generating that sense of hope is our weekly candle lighting time when we reveal something about ourselves, about our loved ones who are at the core of what we call ‘self.’

Twenty-three years ago, the Ministerial Search Committee told me about candle lighting, as a regular part of the Sunday service, and they asked if I would be comfortable continuing to have it as part of the Sunday service.  I said, “If it’s working, by all means, I’ll be glad to keep it.”

Candle lighting works.  It has been extremely important to me and to us; it connects us to one another, and helps us to stay centered or connected to our deeper selves.  It puts names with faces.  It provides support and encouragement for the difficult times, and allows us to face the great tasks that face us, and to celebrate our accomplishments. It invites deeper contact.

Many times during my first few years I was told, “We should do away with candle lighting.”  Some said it was too depressing to hear about other people’s troubles.  Some complained that ‘the same people get up, over and over.’  Some complained because it took too much time, that some people go ‘on and on,’ and some complained because people used candle lighting to make an announcement about an upcoming event they wanted to promote, or to make a political speech.  Every complaint had some validity, but not enough to end it entirely.

I listened, carefully, but I was, and remain, convinced that our candle lighting is one of the keys to our sense of companionship, to our becoming a caring congregation.  I’ve tried to address each of the concerns. I’ve asked folks to be very brief, a half a minute, putting my hand on an arm or shoulder when they’re going on too long.  I’ve asked people to be sure to identify themselves, and to speak slowly and clearly into the microphone so they can be heard and understood.

From time to time we have a problem, but by and large I’m satisfied that the risks and the work involved is worth it.  So it pained me, deeply, a couple of weeks ago when too many people got up to light candles, and I had to interrupt and ask people to light them in silence.  I apologized before delivering the sermon that day – I was shaken by the experience.  I spoke to some whose candle lighting was interrupted, and I listened to and read some thoughtful suggestions about how to improve the process.  We’ll keep working on it, together, giving substance to our statement of affirmation, and our purposeful companionship.  Thanks for your understanding.

With Affection,

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 Church in Westport
     is a member congregation of the
     Unitarian Universalist Association

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

Church 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 Church in Westport - 10 Lyons Plains Rd., Westport, CT 06880 - All rights reserved.