Manatee UU Fellowship NEWS

The other night I had a dream. I drove into the Manatee UU Fellowship parking lot and there were about six youngsters playing in and around the playground. Another group of slightly older youngsters were playing tag around the oak tree. Several adults were chatting at the fence keeping a watchful eye.

I walked up the walkway towards the screened in deck. A group of adults were engaged in the morning forum topic. The whirl of a fan overhead kept the space cool. Inside the choir was rehearsing the morning’s anthem. I could hear the director and choir having fun with one another as they prepared.

In the corner of the library there was a small group of adults talking about their latest school district project with the NAACP. In the kitchen several people were plating food and getting coffee ready for after the service.

I reviewed the week’s announcements. Several activities were coming up that might be of interest. We wanted to be sure to attend the 2,000-strong Nehemiah Assembly where STREAM was going to be requesting the Bradenton Police Department to adopt a new mental health response for individuals in crisis. Instead of police responding, qualified mental health counselors would respond to de-escalate the situation. The partnership with STREAM energized the congregation to assist in creating justice solutions for the citizens of the county.

The Peace Choir was meeting at the courthouse gazebo to sing at the lunch hour. This small choir has given Manatee UU renewed recognition in the community. Several new members have joined the congregation because of this one simple community effort.

There were several activities coming up — a trip to the Family Heritage House Museum to learn about the contributions of Black Americans to Manatee County; the children’s religious education program was going to the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature to learn about the habitat of our Florida coast. The seniors were continuing their luncheon series of local faith groups responses to current issues in Manatee County with the rabbi giving the address.

The worship service began with a small jazz ensemble performing the prelude. The worship services often would have a variety of musical styles presented, jazz, classical, reggae, hip/hop to appeal to the multicultural multigenerational congregation present. People are still talking about the youth group’s powerful liturgical dance ensemble. The messages delivered by lay members and clergy alike are inspiring.

The congregation, with other UU congregations in the region, hosted a delegation from the Kenya Unitarian Church and there are plans for some of our members to visit their congregation.

The whole congregation has a golden aura of joy and anticipation of all they could be. It is warm and welcoming on multiple levels. It was not an easy journey to reach this rejuvenation, but Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship is a fun, exciting place to be.

I knew that I could retire knowing this merry band had a bright future ahead of them. I awoke with a smile on my face and a dance in my step.

It may seem that this vision of some future date is too fantastical for it to become reality for Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Visions often seem beyond the reach. We do not have families here now, so it may seem impossible to envision families here. We do not have a choir at the moment, so perhaps having this reunion of the Family Singers will aid us in seeing the possibility of a choir again. If we have a vision of where we want to be, then we can develop a roadmap on how we might make that vision a reality.

May it be so.

Blessings,
Fred

(This was originally offered as part of a sermon on Oct. 16 titled “Mission: POSSIBLE.”)