I am inpatient for justice. Perhaps I am impatient as a matter of identity anyway, but that does not diminish my rabid impatience for justice. Further, I am impatient for people and systems that need to take time to weigh the pros and cons of pursuing justice when the cons relate to capital security. I am impatient for the people and systems that need to process the gains and losses when the potential losses are systemic gatekeepers and progress-blockers.

I am a universalist, and I believe fervently that there is room for everyone. However, I do not believe there is room for every idea. More, even though I am the type of person who tends to be late when I’m not hyper-focused on the clock, I believe in punctuality. There is room for everyone, but some people are just too late and will not be seated until intermission. I believe it is a sin to allow the whole of everyone to sink into damnation because a few of the loud and wealthy are not ready for liberation. I believe it is a sin to allow people to die without knowing the love of a community because a few people were more devoted to traditions and habits than to our communal duty of care.

We are now in the middle of our annual fund drive. Honestly, my second least favorite liturgical season – second only to Christmas. I don’t like it because of the way it constantly makes us wrestle with our identity as an institution. We don’t want to come off as money hungry, and yet there are very real real-life consequences for every dollar short we fall. One of these days, the shortfall might mean my job – previous shortfalls have certainly meant cuts to music ministry salaries. We wrestle with our identity and we wrestle with how to articulate our vision. I’m going to try, though.

Somehow, and I don’t always understand it, but I believe in the potential of First Unitarian Church’s ability to actively participate in the liberation of Portland and of Unitarian Universalism. I believe this church can be a part of salvation. But, we’re not going to do it with the system we have in place now. First Unitarian

needs a people – a congregation – an uprising of believers who will commit to immediately tearing down systems of oppression and making way for structures of liberation. First Unitarian needs a people – a congregation – an uprising of believers who will generously and enthusiastically fund the promises it makes and follow through with demands for transparency and accountability. First Unitarian needs an impatient people – an impatient congregation – an impatient uprising of believers who will build the church that today demands. We have hopes of meeting this new day with readiness and dedication, but we have a lot of catching up to do. Will you be a part of it?

Please enjoy Jaime Woods singing her “Hello Morning”.