A2U2 friends,

Greetings from humid Baltimore where I am immersed in all things Unitarian Universalism (as well as an air conditioned convention center). The pre-General Assembly gathering for ministers, Ministry Days, has ended and last night we kicked off GA (“General Assembly”- the annual gathering of Unitarian Universalists for business, worship, and learning). This year’s theme is timely: Meet the Moment.

I’ve been as present as I can be here in Baltimore, but of course I am aware of things happening in the larger world as well. Yesterday 60+ people of faith gathered at Sen. Collins’ offices in Portland, Lewiston, and Bangor to hold vigil as well as speak with her staff about the “BBB” bill. Beautiful witness. And we learned that all 8 of the anti trans bills failed to make it through the state legislature. An incredible win for the trans+ community. Also yesterday, news dropped that we lost the SCOTUS case U.S. vs Skrmetti, “one of the biggest transgender civil rights cases of our time” (read a fantastic article about it here). Heartbreaking and enraging. Every day is a rollercoaster and it can get exhausting.

But today I am lifted up by the wisdom of Juneteenth… TODAY, this day. This holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Black Americans learned of their freedom. In the words of my colleague Rev. E.N. Hill, “in this moment, marked by increasing attacks on poor people, immigrants, bodily autonomy, DEI programming, and LGBTQ+ dignity – especially targeting trans youth – we pause to remember that freedom has never been a single historical moment. Rather, it is a living, breathing struggle calling us forward.”

TODAY let us celebrate freedom… the freedom that has been hard won by communities on the margins… freedom that must be fought for, planted, cultivated, and imagined every day. Freedom that is our right to claim and our responsibility to share. Freedom that is a verb, a practice.

Feel what you feel, whether it’s rage or numbness or despair. But do not stay there.

Let freedom call you forward into this new day. We have work to do.

See you in church, friends.

In faith and solidarity,

Rev. Tara  (they/them)