3-5-23 Where You Go I Will Go - Annual Meeting Reflection

 Presented at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard at our Annual Meeting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSDwFmVfClE

Where you go I will go, Annual Meeting Reflection.

“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. 

Your people will be my people and your God my God”.  

These are the words from the Bible book of Ruth.  

It tells the story of two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth.  

They were married to the sons of Naomi.  Now in a 

short time Naomi’s husband and both her sons passed away, 

leaving the women alone.  Being widowed and 

alone she planned to return to the land of Judah.  

She encouraged both her daughters in law (now widowed) 

to return to their ancestral home and their people. 

Orpah chooses to return home, but Ruth chooses 

her mother in law as her family.   

“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. 

Your people will be my people and your God my God”.  

Now there are many themes and inspirations 

we can find in the book of Ruth.  Love, Devotion, 

faith and family.  To me, this is the story of a 

chosen family.  Naomi in the story encourages 

Ruth to return to her family.  She can not give Ruth 

a husband or the stability that she would have 

among her own people, yet Ruth chooses love 

over her ancestral ties.  Ruth works in the field 

and cares for her mother in law.   And in the story 

Ruth is rewarded by God for her hard work and 

devotion to Naomi with a family, husband 

and prosperity.  

This community is a chosen family.  Like so 

many in our community, we seek people beyond 

our familiar ties. People who share our values,

 and accept us for who we are, our whole selves. 

Looking through our historical documents, 

I came across this (History of Unitarian 

Universalist Fellowship of Melbourne 

Florida 1956 -1974).

It reads:

“Our congregation is a fellowship of people 

who encourage and help one another to 

explore the vital questions of life and mutually 

support values that would lead to a meaningful 

life for all people”.  

Our chosen family was formed in February 

and March of 1956.  Jim Hopper, a Unitarian 

from Wellesley Hills Massachusetts, started 

us as the first Unitarian meeting in Brevard 

county. They started in the trailer of Margaret 

and Cyril Nute in Canova Beach, gaining 

interest from those moving to the area for 

the newly formed space program.  In the early 

years they met in several places, including 

members' homes, the Eau Gallie YMCA, 

Florida Tech, and the Melbourne Civic Theater.  

This document goes into some of the speakers 

and group activities shared with the early members, 

and I would invite people to read through it and 

see some of our legacy in this community.  

We went through many ups and downs, and 

according to records almost disappeared in the 

early 70’s.  But like Ruth, through our faith and 

devotion to one another, we found a way in this 

community to continue and thrive.  

In 1973, through the generous pledges of 

our members, we began over the summer 

the process of building on this beautiful piece 

of land we sit on today.  

From the words of our members:

Dr William Mather said at October 7th meeting 

in 1973

“The long silence of the summer does not 

mean that we have all been loafing.  

To the contrary, we can now announce the 

first general meeting of the fellowship.”

Bill Newcomb (Building Committee Chair) 

and Ralph Moorhouse (Finance Committee Chair) 

“finally got a roof over our heads and floors 

beneath our feet, and to them we all say 

Thanks again and again.  Where once the 

Bedford horses grazed and the palmetto scrub 

flourished, we now have a place for our 

deeper fellowship.” 

And we are grateful for those who helped create 

our legacy, and move us into this deeper fellowship.  

So what were the goals of this fellowship in 1974.  

In the words of Dr William Mather:

“We must be more completely oriented to the needs 

of our neighborhood, our town, our county, state 

and ultimately all humanity.  It will not be enough, 

through the next 5 years to meet together just to 

enjoy each other’s company or to get an emotional thrill.  

There is work to be done in this world, by Unitarians”.

And so may these be our goals in our 21st century 

chosen family.  May we like Ruth, choose love, 

choose to care for one another.  For your people 

are my people, and where you go I will go.  

May we be each other’s chosen family as we 

do serve our wider community in the spirit of our 

Unitarian Founders.

So may it be. 

 

11 27 22 Service Gratitude with Beth Anz

Our speaker was unable to attend so our service leader shared some thoughts on Gratitude for our UU Community.  The speaker was a last minute cancellation so there is no written transcript, comments are off the cuff, based on the songs below and the current article 2 commission.

Link to talk at Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjdGKE6IQG4

 

Article II Study Commission 

https://www.uua.org/uuagovernance/committees/article-ii-study-commission

 

"There Is A Love." 

There is a love holding us. 

There is a love holding all that we love. 

There is a love holding all. 

We rest in this love.

 -Elizabeth Norton's setting of a meditation written by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker 

“Make us aware we are a sanctuary 

Each made holy loved right through 

with thanksgiving 

we are a living sanctuary a-new.” 

– Christian Praise Song with words rewritten by Sanctuary Boston http://thesanctuaryboston.org/

Twas the Night of Halloween

 

Twas the Night of Halloween

Written by Beth Anz (adapted from Twas the Night Before Christmas)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB-hsyTI4S4

 

Twas the night of Halloween, and all through the tomb,

All the creatures were stirring, fore night time was soon.

The ghouls bags were hung by their costumes with care

In hopes that Halloween soon would be here.

The ghouls were all rising out of their graves,

With visions of candy corn and the haunted corn maze.

Mamma ghoul in her witches hat and pa in his mummy wrap,

Had just gotten up from a long graveyard nap.

When out on the street, there arose such a clatter

They sprang from their tomb to see what was the matter.

Out in the streets they flew like a flash,

Flying by quickly to behold the great bash.

The moon up above gave a haunting light glow,

That shone on the streets and the revelers below.

And what to their ghoulish delights at this mash,

But a gaggle of monsters, with candy to stash.

With witches, and mummies and monsters galore,

They knew in a moment what fun was in store.

More rapid than zombies the children they came,

They screamed and they laughed and they played their trick games.

Now Glinda, and Dracula, monster of Frankenstein

Goblins and ghouls and creatures of all kinds.

To the streets, to the porches, to the knock on the door

Collect all the candy, tricks and treats are in store.

The wind starts to howl as the moon starts to rise

And the hunt has begun to fill up the skies,

As the moon rises high and the bags start to fill

The children continue the trick or treat drill.

So up to each doorstep the children they run

With bags full of candy, and a night full of fun.

And then on the wind, I hear in the sky

The cackling of witches and see broomsticks fly.

As I turn my head and see all around

The legions of zombies with their moaning sound.

They were dressed all in tatters from their head to their feet.

and their hunger was growing for their human treat.

A gaggle of monsters with their candy sacks

Ran down the street to escape the attack.

Their eyes open wide, their mouth in a gasp

Their feet moving quickly, their voice in a rasp.

The ghouls were all haunting up and down the road

And the witches were cursing the naughty into toads.

And Frankenstein's monster, roamed through the streets

And mighty superheroes showed off their feats.

The night now belonged to the ghouls of the night.

The creatures lined streets all over our sight.

They cackled and smirked and went in the nights gray,

On a night to cause mischief, in a merry old way.

With a wink of their eyes, and a twist of their heads,

They showed me that I had nothing to dread.

They howled and they hollered, and to each door they knocked.

And filled all their baggies, their buckets and socks.

Then grabbing their broomsticks, and jumping astride

The witches they rose up above to the skies.

And the ghouls and the goblins began their descent.

For their candy bags full, to the graveyard they went.

But I heard them exclaim as they took to their flights.

“Happy Halloween to All, and to All a Good Night”.

Old Stingy Jack and the Jack O Lantern Story

 

Old Stingy Jack and the Jack O Lantern Story

Adapted by Beth Anz

shared at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard on 10-30-22 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB-hsyTI4S4

 

Every year on Halloween night you see pumpkins and turnips 

lit up in front of houses up and down the streets.  Carved in 

fun shapes of ghouls and goblins and scary smiles.  

But where does this spooky gorded creature come from, 

we’ll none other than “Stingy Jack”.  Who is 

stingy Jack you ask?  

We’ll a no good louse that I had the misfortune to 

come across one moonlit night.  You see, my name is Lucy, 

and I am one of the good folk.  The wee ones who 

may grant you good fortune or back luck, a “trick or treat” 

if you will.  And on all hallows eve, us wee folk can move 

through the veils and interact with mere mortals 

on their journeys.  

Now “Stingy Jack” as he was known to the townsfolk 

had a reputation, and not a good one.  He lied, cheated 

and stole from everyone he could.  He had few friends 

and many enemies.  One All Hallow’s Eve, on his 

way to the Harvest Festival, Jack came across an 

otherworldly woman on the road.  She had a large 

cart, full of treats, which had toppled over.  

“Good Sir” I shouted.  “Will you help me turn over my cart, 

it is so heavy and many hands make light work”.   

Now us wee folk have been known from time to time 

to grant treats, and kind wishes to those who show 

good character, but this gentleman was of no good character.     

“What concern is that of mine?” He said.

“Well concern for your fellow man” I said.  

“All of the other townsfolk are already at the harvest festival 

and there is no one else to help.  Could you please 

assist me and we can be on our way?”

“Well what’s in it for me?” he said.  “Why should I strain 

my back for your cart?”.  

After going back and forth for some time, I relented.  

Clearly this man was looking for a trick, and not a treat.  

“I will give you coin for your harvest cider” I said.

“Make it several” he said, and then reluctantly assisted 

me with my cart and we continued on the road to 

the harvest festival.  Well any fool knows that kindness 

is its own reward, but this man was an 

exceptional fool indeed. 

As I learned from the townsfolk, “Stingy Jack” as 

he was known, was universally disliked for his lying 

and thieving ways.  Surely he was ripe for a trick.  

As promised I gave the barkeep my coin for his cider.  

I bought him 3 as is the wee folks custom, and Jack 

became more and more inebriated as night went on.  

Of course the barkeep warned me “Stay away from 

that Stingy Jack, he’ll steal your coins as soon as 

you’re not looking”.  Sure enough 3 free ciders for one 

good deed was not enough.  When I refused to buy 

him another, he reached into my pockets and tried 

to steal my coins for what he was owed.  

As quickly as he tried to steal the coins, they dissolved 

in his hands.  His selfishness knew no limits.  Over and 

over he was thwarted until he became desperate.  

“Please”, he said “Just one more drink”  I’ll give you 

anything, anything.  

“Would you sell your soul?” I said.  

“My Soul” he said, “Sure, what is a soul anyway”, 

anything, just give me another drink. 

So a special drink was made, that only the wee folk know of, 

that Jack happily consumed.  Of course any fool knows 

not to take food or drink from the fae, but Stingy Jack was 

no ordinary fool.  Once he had fallen into my trap, 

I revealed myself for only his eyes to see.  

“You see, I'll take your wretched soul, and drag you to 

the otherworld where no good lying cheating rogues such 

as yourself are tricked into our realm for eternity”.  

Suddenly the earth opened up and Jack learned that 

his soul was very real indeed.

“No, wait” Jack begged and pleaded and looked around 

everywhere for some loophole to avoid his fate.  

It was then he pulled out his horseshoe necklace and 

wrapped it around my neck.  “Iron,” I said.  Rookie mistake.  

I should have checked him before I revealed myself.  

Everyone knows that Iron traps our kind 

and prevents our mischief.  

“Let me go” said Jack, and I will remove this horseshoe.  

“A debt must be paid” said I,”but I will make you a deal.  

10 years you may have, and not a day more.  

10 years and I will return to repay the debt.  

In that time if you grow and learn from your stingy 

ways a new bargain may be struck”.

“I will change”, he said “I promise.  I have learned 

my lesson”.

So I let him go on his way.

Now 10 years passed on all Hallow’s eve, and 

Stingy Jack quickly forgot his promise.  He continued 

in his miserly, thieving and unkind ways.  And on 

all Hallows eve, 10 years later, I met him again 

on the road. 
“It’s time”,  I said to Jack.  “I have come to collect 

and take what’s mine”.  

Jack grabbed for his neck and searched for 

his lucky horseshoe.  

“Not falling for that again” I said, as I pointed to 

his horseshoe swaying in the top of a nearby apple tree.  

Frantically, Jack started to climb up the tree, desperate 

to reach the horseshoe and avoid his fate again. 

But this time I was ready.  My elemental friends caused 

a  strong breeze to move across the land, swaying 

the tree to and fro.  Jack reached the very top and 

grabbed onto the horseshoe just as the branches broke 

in the breeze, and down he went, tumbling down 

to the ground to his death.  

Jack had tricked me again, unable to claim his soul 

for the fae, he went on to the afterlife.  But the afterlife 

didn’t want Stingy Jack.  All his thievery and lies left 

him alone in limbo after his death, cursed to walk the 

earth for his crimes.  And so I took pity on him, and 

gave him a fairy light to guide him on his way.  

Jack found a gourd and carved a toothed smile on its 

skin to carry that light for all eternity.  And that is how 

Stingy Jack became the Jack of the Lantern on 

Halloween night.  So make sure to say hello to Jack this 

Hallow’s Eve, and remember to share your treats 

so you don’t get tricked.