Recorded Nov. 4

Hello beloved members and friends. I’m the Rev. George Grimm-Howell, he/him, and I’m the settled minister of the UU Fellowship of Hendersonville. Another new month lies before us, and in so many ways it promises to be just as challenging as October. So many are still hurting from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.

I’m happy to report we have made a great impact in our community by sharing about $10,000 worth of disaster relief cash donations so far. We have prioritized help for our own members and friends, some of whom lost their homes or much of their belongings. After that we have focused on outreach to the migrant and LGBTQ communities. We’re providing help for missed paychecks, needed house or property repairs, and more. Caring for the vulnerable among us is one important way that we center love.

Now, with today’s election, we face potentially another storm. We’re hoping for a positive outcome that will see democracy and hope win out over fear and division. But even if that happens, our nation and possibly our state are will be buffeted by a new storm of civic unrest.

This is why I’m so grateful that our theme for November is Heritage and Roots. Our earth teacher, trees, teach us that our roots are living and growing, always in need of tending. And they teach us that we thrive best in community, supporting and nourishing each other. Finally, as I preached last Sunday, our connections to each other and our connections to our tenacious ancestors will anchor us during the coming storm.

As we face this epic election cycle, we will hold each other up as we celebrate the victories, as we grieve the losses, and as we care for the vulnerable among us. But whatever comes, we will face it together. I hope to see you at our post election community care gatherings on Wednesday, Nov. 6.

There will be two sessions: one in person at 3 p.m. in the sanctuary, and a second hybrid session at 6 p.m. on Zoom (Click here to join) and also in the sanctuary.

An update from Rev. George on Wednesday, Nov. 6:

Good morning, beloveds. I know many of us woke up to very hard news. We will face this uncertain future together. If ever there was a time that our nation and our world needed a faith that centers love, this is it. Hold fast to love, hold fast to each other.

We will gather at the fellowship at 3 and 6 today to do just that. There is much that will be asked of us in the coming months and years. But for now, we breathe, we grieve, we feel, and we celebrate some hopeful victories. Big hugs. Big love. The birds are still singing.