Dear church,

 

In the coming day or so, based on the sighting of the new moon, Muslims in our Portland community and around the world will begin the celebration of Eid, marking the end to the holy season of Ramadan. As war unfolds in Iran and into Lebanon, suffering continues in Gaza, and Islamophobia is on the rise again in the US, I have been thinking of all those marking this holy time amidst these circumstances. Those who are leaning into community, resilience, generosity, and faith… who are celebrating as a pause from resistance, or perhaps as an act of resistance itself.

 

I spent time this week working on two upcoming Celebrations of Life for A2U2 members. Writing those services is always a mix of sad and sweet, and I am reminded time and again that as far as we know, it is just this one sacred life we get. In the words of Annie Dillard, “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”  Will we lean into community, resilience, generosity, and faith even amidst a falling-apart world? 

 

Sunday’s worship service will lean into this question. It is our second annual Wild and Precious Life service, where we’ll hear from somebody from each generation reflect on the question at the end of Mary Oliver’s beloved poem “The Summer Day” – What is it you plan to do with this one wild and precious life? This year’s reflection will be offered by a group of our RE kids, Eben Malcolm, Althea Laprey, Steve Merz, Kathryn Stannard, and Carol Hayden. It will be a beautiful morning, and I hope you’ll join us in person or on Zoom! 

 

Until then, may you find a moment of peace in the storm. I look forward to being together. 

 

In faith,

Rev. Tara