The Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough

During this year, we have explored ‘where do we come from?’ and ‘where we are going?’ But in the song we often sing, these two questions bookend a third: ‘what are we?’ This middle question is one of identity, a question of substance, a question that grounds us solidly in the present moment.

What are we? C. S. Lewis said that “we are what we believe we are.” During the coming program year, we will begin working together to create an engaging, compelling, and honest mission and vision statement for UFP. This new statement must, first and foremost, be one that we believe, as well as one that we can easily speak with surety, pride, and conviction.

At this moment in time, fifty years since our inception, what are we? Are we a vital liberal religious community? Are we a gathering of like minds? Are we diverse theologically? Are we people in covenant with one another? Exactly what are we?

What is our work in the world? In what ways do we aspire to relate to one another and to our community? Do we live our principles? Who do we say we are, and what do we hope others see that we are?

On Sunday Jan 23rd, our story was The Three Questions, written by Jon J. Muth, and based on a tale by Leo Tolstoy. The book concludes, “Remember then that there is only one important time, and that time is now. The most important one is always the one you are with. And the most important thing is to do good for the one who is standing at your side. For these, my dear boy, are the answers to what is most important in this world.”

Right now, Our Space Community Centre is the one who is standing at our side. How can we do good for them?

Our Space is a low barrier community centre planned and run by people who live in poverty and/or are aware of poverty issues. It provides a place to get warmth, food, rest, support, learning, and caring. Perhaps most importantly, Our Space creates a place to connect and to belong. Check out

http://ourspacepeterborough.ca
or
http://nourishpeterborough.ca/category/our-space/

As I pondered this question, the theme for our Nov 7th service, I realized that for our
particular journey, we need a different kind of map. Our map has no external
destination. It cannot be created by just one person (even the minister), nor can it be only two-dimensional. The intersections of this map are interpersonal, teaching us what to do when we encounter one another. The routes on this map
are circular, leading us in the way of deepening.

Given that I could not make a map to show us where we are going, I realized that I can provide directional arrows...signposts that are meaning-makers, reminding us of
what we most value.

So, my first task would be to make a sign, writ large, asking you to show up. Be here. This community is not whole or vibrant without you.

I would make a sign directing you to continue all the wonderful things we are doing... our commitment to our children, our wonderful and varied music program, our dedication to being a warm and welcoming congregation.

 I offer these words found at www.newstories.org:

“Stories shape us. They shape our thoughts, our perceptions, and our responses to the world. They hold our history and guide our actions in difficult times. They define us to ourselves and each other and provide our place in the order of things.”

What are the stories that you know, or have heard, about this community, the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough? Have you heard that we are warm and friendly, or that we are cliquish and homogenous? Have you learned that we hold onto tradition for all it’s worth, or that we are constantly changing? Do you believe that we are wealthy, or poor? Are children central to our community, or are they to be delegated to a room somewhere separate? Do we get along by disregarding our differences or by embracing them?