Celebration - What Do We Celebrate On This Date?

Reverend Dr. John M. Higgins
February 6, 2005

Before beginning, let me add my thanks for those who are serving this congregation in outstanding ways. I won’t repeat those names Bill Scott has already mentioned, but I do want to pay tribute to Bill’s leadership at this time. He succeeded Bill Suiter who has already been honored and took over leadership at a crucial time in our evolution. I also want to mention Arthur Urrows who is heading our yet-to-be authorized capital campaign. Art is a professional fundraiser and has already drummed up enthusiasm from a host of members and friends. I would also like to add my welcome to our honored guests and those whom we have yet to meet. Those of you who are visitors and guests are here to express your good wishes – I hope – for our progressive outlook in religion and our world. You don’t have to believe as we do because your good wishes are a treasure already.

All of us are here to mark an important point in the development of our Unitarian Universalist Center. Just like people who have undergone health problems and resulting surgery to correct internal problems, we too have suffered and are in the process of recovery. We have had our physical plant brutally attacked and harmed by a hurricane. We have had preliminary medical procedures and are now ready for the next stage. Right after misfortune, the repaired of our building, we find ourselves in the recovery room - this building.

But before and after surgery, we usually get advice on how to avoid similar problems in the future. We review our past history on how to avoid similar problems. We record how we ate, exercised and, in general, how we took care of our health. Then we plan for our future - preferably an improvement over the past.

Now, as a congregation in the recovery room, we learn how to assess our past, how best to nourish ourselves and look to our future. As adolescents, with only eleven years behind us, we look to growing older, wiser, healthier and confident.

Human patients look to the gene pool and our living habits. We also look to how we used our strengths to overcome adversity and those who stood by to help.

Before going into our gene pool, let us look to those who comforted us during our emergency. Almost immediately after the hurricane, Temple Israel contacted us through their president and cantor and invited us to use their facilities on Sunday afternoons. This was our convalescence period and when our congregational history is written, we must remember Temple Israel not only for the housing they offered and gave us during this period but for holding out their hands to us. Whether or not we ever used the facilities, the fact that they reached out to us cannot be forgotten. It was a group of fellow humans reaching out to another group in distress. We will remember.

Our co-religionists throughout the continent also sent us gifts through the UUA District. We were even able to establish a Minister’s Discretional Fund which provided limited by real assistance to those of our members who were experiencing financial difficulties due to the storms. Some congregations contacted us directly or even specified their hurricane contributions were for us directly.

And, we too, were forced to look into our own commitments and resources and many came forth with pledges for a new building - even before the congregation agreed to mount a capital campaign. Others increased their 2004 pledges or paid 2005 early.

Sometimes when human beings are in physical distress, they decide whether or not they want to live. Many, if not most, decide to go on and their inner strength, whatever that might be, pulls them through. As a hospital chaplain, I remember how many who thought they were at the point of death would fight to live for family and to see grandchildren grow up. They were thinking of posterity.

When this congregation was hurt by storm, I saw no sign that we were near death. Rather, I saw a determination to revive and succeed. Amazingly, we added ten members to our congregation - a 13% increase during our convalescence. This took place after I had begun to hear worries that our numbers had been stagnant for several years. Some were worried that we were dying out.

But, just as human patients have to look at their medical and psychological history, we too must. We must go back to our gene pool and physical health over the years. First of all, let’s remember that as a congregation, we are not yet in our adolescence.

Just about eleven years ago, a group of people from the congregations in Melbourne and Cocoa found themselves in disagreement with the rest of the two congregations. Both of these congregations had the same minister. The dissidents were disturbed by the theological orientation and leadership habits of the minister and his supporters.

This is not an unusual situation for UU congregations. We do not have a creed, and, therefore, we must follow our conscience. Many congregations are founded by those who wish for a zone of greater theological comfort. A similar movement had taken place in Orlando a year before. These alignments and realignment are part of UU history. In fact, they are occurring today in at least three places in the state. It is generally best for all concerned that these divorces take place. In a few years each of the congregations involved take on different complexions and the differences that separated them have been forgotten. Each congregation redevelops its outlooks.

Although the founders of this congregation did not know it at the time, they developed traits, convictions, and intricate unspoken understandings and habits. This is the gene pool. Even when their founders are gone, certain characteristics or ways of operating seem to carry on. This congregation had difficulties in the early days and rented space in which to hold services and meetings. Eventually, it both the land on which to hold services and meetings. Eventually, it bought the land on which we sit today. The congregation has been fiscally conservative. As part of the conservativeness, it made a wise decision to concentrate on the reduction of the mortgage. Today, that wisdom serves us well with a valuable property almost paid for as we face new financial demands. The congregation also defined itself in theological outlook - not by announcing that it is basically humanist. Many people do not want to be labeled and while the3y certainly have different outlooks on many matters, most do reflect supernatural intervention in the affairs of humanity and seem to believe that humans are responsible for human progress and regressive behavior.

Possibly they did not verbalize that they had developed a philosophy about ministry. While the brew perked, it seems to me that an outlook towards ministry, if it materializes, is that the congregation is responsible for day to day operations, business, finances and policies while the minister is responsible for counseling, home and hospital visits and delivering messages at specified periods. He or she may be consulted about some proposals. I am assuming this from the position of a consulting minister and expect that down the line, when it comes time for a “called minister”, that this separation will be recognized.

So there is a gene pool, much of it unspoken and, of course, this probably will be argued in some form for years to come.

Now that we are in the recovery room, what have we learned about ourselves?

1. We have friends who helped us through hard times. We need to keep them as friends and look for future cooperation - hopeful, in the matter of holding joint services at times we find to be appropriate.
2. Three UU congregations exist in the county. Each has a dominant theological outlook. Each appeals to the notion that freedom of thought is essential and that the Ten Principles and Purposes adopted by the UUA are common guidelines. Most of these principles revolve around the dignity and worth of every individual.
3. We have found that we can be generous and supportive in contributing to our future. Since the founding of the congregation and the early tribulations, there have been few difficulties of the magnitude of the present time. Our present situation has brought many of us to the conclusion that it is time to build a new center, built to withstand great storms and be a beacon to the promise of free religion. We will be asked to dig deeper into our finances. When we are truly unable to do so, we will be asked to help in fund raising activities and more. All of us, no matter what our financial resources, will be able to help.
4. We are called on to bring our message of compassion, human dignity and the fulfillment of the promises of the founding documents of the United States. We must be visible and gather those who think as we do. First, of course, we must let them know that we are here. Our message is not guilt; it is the opposite - hope. The belief that governments are instituted to cooperate with the population for the betterment of all - even the most unfortunate and our own responsibility to move this land towards responsible humane treatment of other lands is fundamental. Even though these things may not be achieved in our lifetimes, they are worth the struggle today.

And now, I will ask you to do what I have never asked of you before. Please hold hands for a brief meditation and, when it is over, shake hands or hug each other, as you are comfortable. Look to both sides and front and back of where you are seated.

We have gathered with our friends, to celebrate our recovery from near disaster. We have looked into ourselves and our community and find that we have the resources - moral, financial and confidence - not only to overcome adversity but also to profit and be rejuvenated by it. We will come together to see a future where our values and beliefs are promoted; to ally ourselves with those who believe in human dignity, personal responsibility for our actions, freedom from sectarianism in government and fulfillment of the ideals - achieved and not yet achieved - in the foundation documents of the United States of America. We are caring human beings and reach out to all those who need us. May we be worthy of the obligations we have as human beings. And now, please reach out and touch those near to you, as you comfortable.

And now, in the tradition of liberal religion, I invite your comments and concerns.