UUA GA in SLC, II - jottings

THURSDAY

Opening worship began with a capella singing of "Gathered Here in the Mystery of the Hour," accompanied by drum only. Very moving! The unusual and interesting part of opening worship this morning was a polyvocal dialog by worship leaders following on each of the verses of the hymn that we have frequently and rather enthusiastically used at MVUUF: We'll Build a Land. The voices were the voices of UUs some of whom feel oppressed and excluded by the words of this favorite, others who hear these words as positive, uplifting, and inclusive. The impression was that all the positions regarding this hymn are real positions among UUs today. It was fascinating and frustrating, to hear the same song interpreted so completely differently. If every single hymn becomes part of some dialogic struggle, can we ever do anything without holding a series of workshops on it or, worse, killing it dead on the spot by positioning and explanation of every move we make rather than actually doing worship? And yet... dialog is certainly necessary.

Next, a session on increasing lgbt welcoming aspects. Mostly geared to congregations that went through the process of becoming Welcoming some years back and have done nothing since to maintain awareness and sensitivity - or the special problems that ensue when Welcoming becomes successful ad people now find themselves actually having to deal with a significant LGBT presence in their congregations. Interesting stuff that won't be applicable to MVUF for several years.

Had brunch with Meadville Lombard faculty, students, and prospective students.

4-hour session on Theology for a Secular Age presented by Rev. Galen Guengerich, minister of All Souls Church in New York City. This was a serious class, not a feel-good one. Guengerich engaged serious theological ideas from a UU perspective. Most complicated and provocative were his discussion of the use of the word God both among ourselves and in dialog with non UU people. The audience all seemed engaged and thoughtful, but the G-word generated a lot of questions and comments. 4 more hourse of this class tomorrow morning early.

After the class, Rev. Guengerich led what has been described as a jazz vespers but which was labeled on the order of service as: Salt Lake City at Sundown: Worship in a Different Light. The service interspersed poems by Joy Harjo with a local jazz band's playing of jazz standards. Also, there was a responsive reading, shared silence, a prayer, and a closing blessing. It felt like a strange hybrid to me. The audience clapped after each number, treating this as a concert, but I've watched them do the same thing at regular worship services. I'm not sure it felt like worship to me but more like a jazz concert and poetry reading. Enjoyable but not quite what I had hoped for. Still, this was essentially the same structure as we have used at MVUUF when we have had a musical guest: music interspersed with poetry, a responsive reading, joys and sorrows, plus shared silence. And yes, on those occasions, we at MVUF have responded as to a concert: with applause. A definite hybrid of concert and worship service... So perhaps my reaction here had to do with the type of music? I love jazz, but the jazz standards such as were played often suggest a nightclub atmosphere rather than something worshipful, to say nothing of those selections whose lyrics are more widely known and proclaim a message that, while part of the totality, do not quite fit into something worshipful. Am I just setting a double standard?

Went to dinner at a Lebanese and Moroccan restaurant this evening with 4 people from the UU congregation in Billings, Montana. They are a congregation of 60, established in the mid-20th century, lay led, and 14 of their members came to GA this year! Great lamb tagine and hummus. (What a surprise that everyone at the table ordered a lamb dish!) Enjoyable and serious conversations about the Theology session, small congregation issues, and general getting-to-know-each-other conversation...

Closing worship featured young people and a Bridging Ceremony (coming of age). Some of the young people delivered serious and well-constructed sermonettes. The music was geared to the younger crowd. A nice ceremony.

A full, tiring, exhilarating day. Now I segue to bed.