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

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
    • The Caring Support Network
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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 – November 17, 2008

April 24, 2011 by Rev. Frank Hall - Minister Emeritus

Dear Friends,

I was somewhat hesitant to accept the invitation to participate in a clergy conference in Minneapolis last weekend.  It was sponsored by the Plymouth Center for Progressive Christian Faith.

The gathering was called ‘Emerging Leaders Conference.’  It was a gathering of fifteen seminarians, or those in a start-up ministry, the ‘emerging progressive Christian leaders,’ and fifteen mentors – those of us who have been seasoned by experience.

Participants were asked to read a book titled, What Does a Progressive Christian Believe? and subtitled, ‘A Guide for Searching, the Open and the Curious,’ by Delwin Brown, who was one of my colleague mentors for the weekend.

After reading the first half of the book I called Jim Gertmenian, a dear friend, colleague and former minister of Norfield Congregational Church in Weston, who had invited me to participate, and told him I wasn’t sure I fit the description of ‘progressive Christian.’  He assured me that I am, so I got over my hesitation.  I’m glad I did.  I’ll tell you why:

I was asked to conduct a workshop titled ‘Healing Congregational Division,’ and encouraged to share as much poetry as I wished!  I used it sparingly, but they expressed appreciation.

I won’t try to summarize ‘what a progressive Christian believes,’ but I’ll give you a flavor, with a few lines directly from Del’s book:  “A progressive Christian movement, if it is to be more than a fad, must be resolutely theological as well as active in the pursuit of justice.’

“God is viewed as incarnate…belief in a God who is fully in and with the world.  Love is the fundamental character of God…intimately connected to the world…an appropriate sense of mystery…who we are to be as human beings and what we are to do are inextricably connected..”  He talked about the mythology and poetry of the Bible.

I reminded the group that 19th century Unitarian ministers, William Ellery Channing, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Theodore Parker were ‘progressive Christians,’ saying things very similar to what Del wrote in his book.

At our closing session I expressed appreciation for the weekend, for feeling embraced by my Christian friends and allowing me to get back in touch with my Christian roots.  I reminded them of the old saying:  “I hear and I forget; I see and I remember; I experience and I understand.”

For me, the experience was very moving…valuable.  I was relieved that I ‘fit in,’ that I was accepted, since I don’t think of myself as exclusively Christian, but I was also taken by surprise at the extent to which I felt nurtured and inspired.

I was reminded how much I appreciate you – the permission you give for me to be myself and to share that self honestly and openly. I hope the connection to Thanksgiving is clear.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Frank

Filed Under: Dear Friends

SEARCH

Categories

  • Events
    • Announcements
  • Interdependent Web
  • Minister's Message
  • Order of Service
  • Readings
  • Sermons
    • From Your Senior Minister: Facing Grace
    • Guest Minister's sermons
    • In The Interim
    • Intern Minister's Sermons
    • Minister's Message
    • Rev. Frank Hall, Minister Emeritus
      • chautauqua
      • Dear Friends
      • Rev. Frank Hall's sermons
    • Rev. John T. Morehouse's sermons
    • Rev. Shelly Thompson, Assistant Minister for Faith Formation
  • This Week at Church
  • TUCWomen Blog
  • Uncategorized
    • Uncategorised
  • Upcoming Sermons
  • 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.