Instead of heading out to 4th of July parades, marinating chicken for the barbecue, or making their famous picnic potato salad, the governing board of First Parish of Kingston, MA were notified by police that their building had been vandalized - both inside and outside. Anyone who has not yet heard this story can follow First Parish on Facebook to learn more. When you arrive there, you will see a photo of the front of the building with road signs planted in front:
You are enough.
You are not alone.
Members and friends of First Parish felt the truth of those affirmations in the days following this event. Just for this moment, let’s put aside the legal proceedings coming out of this case; let’s set aside for a moment the costs of repairs and historic shutters. Just for now, for this moment, let us be stunned by the Love in the aftermath.
It was Love that was awoken when the historic shutters shattered in the night. Love took the form of heartbreak. For the people who so love their church and their community, the assault on their building and the assault on the values they strive to live aloud were felt in their bodies and their spirits. We cannot feel heartbroken, if we do not first feel Love.
It was Love that called through telephones, emails, and texts to the staff and members of First Parish Kingston. Local interfaith clergy, UU siblings from local churches as well as far flung siblings in faith asserting in fierce love, You are not alone. How can we help?
It was Love sitting in folding chairs on an overflowing town common to be - just be - together. Love was there to listen, to witness, to affirm - your values are shared values; your grief is ours.
It was Love that conspired with UU siblings to bring and present a new Progress Pride flag, a new Black Lives Matter flag, on behalf of all of us, so First Parish Kingston may continue to live their values aloud - and never alone.
It will be Love that leads the course of healing for First Parish. A Love that will hold space for tears, for fear, for outrage and betrayal. A Love that will encourage (a word whose derivation is ‘to make strong’) the congregation toward not just healing, but growth.
As Rev. Emily Bruce, our minister in Kingston said that evening: “If our hearts feel broken, let them be broken open to reveal deep wells of inner strength and resilience and hope...
Let us rebuild and restore this church as we rebuild and restore our faith in each other, ourselves and the power of love to overwhelm hate at every turn.
All that we are and all that we love stands with us now on the brink of possibility.
Let us work for a deeper peace,
a more embracing hope,
a greater generosity of spirit,
and a deeper joy in this life we share, in our beautiful and yet still broken world.
Because love always wins.”*
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*Rev. Bruce credits Rev. Leslie Takahashi for her words, On The Brink, which were incorporated in these closing words.
First Parish Kingston has also started a Faithify campaign to assist in building repairs.
