Dear Ones,

If you attended last Sunday’s online worship service, you know that we celebrated the Flower Festival again! You may also know that there is an opportunity to pick up some gladiolus bulbs from the Fellowship Hall porch. I just checked, and there are still some bulbs available.
 
I know it’s not the same as seeing the beautiful array and variety of blooms in front of the Sanctuary, brought by members and friends, and then shared with everyone. It is in keeping with the spirit of the Flower Festival, though, I think. It celebrates our coming together, and the potential for growth and beauty in each and every person, no matter what age.
 
A few years ago my colleague Gretchen Haley published her list of the “Top Ten Stories Unitarian Universalists Should Know.” Some of these stories are familiar to many of us, such as “The Blind Men and the Elephant,” and “The Farmer’s Horse Ran Off.” Others are not so familiar, and I hope to find a way to incorporate these important stories into our services.
 
One story – the one Haley says she could preach on for a year – is “Partners,” by Marc Gelman. I have a particular fondness for this story, as it’s the story I used in my second service of Candidating Week back on Mother’s Day of 2016. The story is a twist on a creation tale, with God beginning the creation of the world. God gets to the point of creating humans, then God claims to be tired and asks humans to finish the world. The humans are unsure; then God says, “You can do it. If you keep trying to finish the world, I’ll be your partner.” God then has to explain that a partner is someone with whom you work on something that’s too big to be completed on your own.
 
Nearly five years in, I’m still thrilled to be your partner in spiritual exploration and fellowship.
 
Be well, and stay safe everyone!

Blessings,
Rev. Lori Hlaban