RE Voices Summer 2025 (1)

Summer Edition v. 1

Hello! And welcome to the summer edition of the REnews!  There will be three issues of the REnews this summer, which will come out approximately every four weeks.  In this edition I’ll sum up the last few weeks of the program year, talk a bit about my experiences at General Assembly and the pre-GA LREDA education days, share some local interest groups and upcoming events, and let you know my summer schedule.

Spring RE Wrap Up

First, let’s wrap up the last few weeks of the program year.  Our last Sunday of RE was June 1st, during which our Spirit Play cohort experienced the Spirit Play version of the Flower Communion Story.  On June 8th we celebrated with our annual Flower Communion service.  The children participated in the parade and blessing of flowers at the beginning of the service.  I love to watch the blessing.  So much joyful energy! On June 15th we celebrated fathers and people making transitions in their lives.  Cutest transition:  I can ride my bike with no training wheels!  The children shared tidbits about their fathers and agreed that one thing all fathers have in common is that they love their children.  I had hoped to get a child to volunteer that dads like to tell jokes so that I could invite any fathers who wanted to could stand up and tell a joke, but no one did, and so we skipped that part of the planned Time for All Ages.  After service we all enjoyed our potluck Fellowship hour indoor picnic.  It seemed like no one really wanted to go home, but in the end we all did.  

After a three week hiatus, the summer series services will start July 13th with the theme “Trips that Have Changed Me”

Our Community Art Project is complete!  It will be framed over the summer.

General Assembly Report

I’m glad to say that GA was completely and totally worth the 16 hours of driving it took to get there and back.  

Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning were the LREDA seminar that always precedes GA.  This year the topic was Storytelling, and we talked about finding stories, writing stories, and telling stories in an authentic way.  We also got a ton of links to story sources for books that center minority and diverse cultures, books that authentically depict indigenous life, and books that portray characters who are disabled,  LGBTQ+, and/or neurodivergent in positive ways.  I’m looking forward to poring over book lists and checking things out via interlibrary loan over the next several weeks.  Some of these books may well come to the Family Library or feature in a future time for all ages.

In General Session we voted on three Actions of Immediate Witness and voted between three Congregational Study/Action Issues to be studied over the next few years.  All three AIWs passed which means that it is the official position of the UUA that:

1. Immigrants (regardless of legal status) are people of inherent worth who have inalienable rights (such as due process, etc.)

2. Reaffirming our covenants around democracy and freedom calls us to faithful defiance of authoritarianism

3. All people who identify as LGBTIQ are people of inherent worth and dignity who deserve our support and protection.

There were also three Congregational Study/Action Issues that were voted between. CSAIs are issues that are proposed by UU congregations or associations for further discussion and study at the congregational, regional and national levels.  The study process takes place over a number of years, so the CSAI selected is not an immediate thing.  There were more than three CSAIs originally proposed and the were winnowed down to three in a pre-GA vote.  The three we voted between were (I’m linking to the proposals):

1. Abolition, Transformation, and Faith Formation which is concerned with moving to a more humane and less violent replacement for our current incarceration system

2. Fat Liberation:  Building Justice and Inclusion for Larger Bodies which is concerned with treating people of all sizes with inherent worth and dignity including welcoming people into congregational spaces accessible to all sizes of body

3. Housing: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion which asserts that safe, affordable housing should be available to all and calls on congregations and localities to pick up where the government is letting people slip through ever-widening cracks

After three rounds of debate and balloting (the first of which was nullified due to an error in the process--I was asked to make the motion to nullify basically because Rev. Cindy knew how I voted) the CSAI selected to move forward was Abolition, Transformation, and Faith Formation.

In addition to general sessions, there are workshops, worship services, and lectures to attend.  Because I was singing in the choir I didn’t get a chance to go to the workshops, but all three lectures I attended--the Berry Street lecture (sponsored by the UU Ministers Assn), the Fahs lecture (sponsored by LREDA), and the Ware lecture were fabulous.  I will try to put links to either the videos or the text of these once they become available and to the final worship as well.

Upcoming Events

Looking for things to do with the kids and/or ways to live your faith over the summer?  Here are some upcoming events.

Grafton LIONS Fourth of July Concert

Where:  Grafton Common

When:  July 2nd, 7 p.m.

The 215th Massachusetts Army Band returns for their annual performance at our 4th of July concert.  There are usually food trucks and I believe that Uncommon Cow will be open so bring your blanket and picnic basket (or cash) and come on down for what is always a great family evening.

Grafton Fourth of July Parade

Where:  Grafton Common

When: July 4th, 10 a.m.

It turns out that our peace garden and front steps are a great place to watch the parade from.  The parade starts at North Street school and proceeds along the ‘top’ edge of the Common to Oak Street.  Want to be in the parade?  Dress up your bicycle or scooter and meet in the gathering area at North Street School half an hour before the parade starts.

Reading Frederick Douglass Together

Where:  Grafton Common

When: July 5th, 6 p.m.

Join us for family activities, a sing-along, some great African drumming, and a reading of Frederick Douglass’ famous address by members of the congregation and community.  Heidi from the library will be there with book lists and books to check out (with your CWMars library card).

Grafton Farmers Market

Where:  Grafton Common

When:  Every Wednesday (weather permitting), 2-6 p.m.

I have never been to the Grafton Farmers Market without running into someone from UUSGU.  It’s a great way to support local agriculture.

Community Farming Volunteer Days

Where:  Community Harvest Project, Brigham Hill Rd

When:  Monday mornings starting at 9 a.m.

CHP has walk-in hours for volunteers on Monday mornings.  It’s a great way to show your children where their food comes from and how much work it takes to grow it while also helping the local community.  Children under 14 must have their parents with them to volunteer and 14-16 year olds need to be part of an organized group.

And a Few Local Organizations

Is your family interested in hiking and getting out into nature?  Check out the Grafton Land Trust for trail maps, information about the Kestrel Project, programs and guided hikes.

Interested in sustainability?  Sustainable Grafton is working to promote native plant species, reduce the amount of pesticides and herbicides used, and encourage recycling and composting.  Check out our page on FB.

Want to get involved in anti-racism work?  Grafton RISE may be the organization for you.  We are a small but growing group of local citizens dedicated to learning ways to eliminate bigotry in ourselves and in society. Check out our page on FB.

Looking for LGBTIQ activities and/or ways to support individuals?  Check out Grafton PRIDE.  We’ll be having our (hopefully annual) PRIDE festival on September 13th at Touchstone School.  Look for more information about that as the date approaches.

DRE Summer Schedule

Office hours:

• Tuesday and Thursday 9 a.m. - 2:45 p.m.

• Wednesday noon - 2:45 p.m. (July 30, August 26)

• Wednesday noon - 4:00 p.m. (all other Wednesdays)

On Vacation July 13-19 and August 10-16