“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” —Coretta Scott King
It is with that humility and spirit that we think of you, your family, friends and loved ones during this important yet uncertain time in history.
More among the Mighty Cloud of Witnesses
What we know for sure is that when we do come back together, there will be those who are now among the mighty cloud of witnesses like our beloved Roger Ames and Julia Richardson, among others.
We also know that there are circumstances, experiences, meetings and to-do’s that have come and gone and will never be implemented or resolved. The day, date and occasion has come and gone or will return at an appointed time next year—like March 31st, when both Knowlan’s daughter, Laurel, who turned 21 and my daughter, Angel, who turned 26 this year, could not be celebrated in person. Or my son, Nicolas, who did not get to go on the Coming of Age trip last month.
Inspired from Rev. Barbara Prose Chapel last week where she encouraged us to create our own Altars at Home, I made mine to hold space for the moments and loved ones we lost. You can watch her chapel video here.
Missing Out & Missing Each Other
I’m sure if I asked you to sit and reflect on everything you had to cancel, loved ones and friends who died and can’t have a memorial service right now, the service call to repair your dryer and the list goes on.
These life events can be unpleasant, intimidating, isolating and ambiguous at best.
You are not alone
We want you to know that we understand you, we see you, and we are here for you. You are not alone! We want to help you hold space for anything that concerns you and celebrate what makes you smile. The epitome of community is the ability to connect, provide resources and to affirm your existence.
An Invitation to Remember
With Love Beyond Belief serving as the foundation of this community, we want to extend a heartfelt invitation to remember. Let’s not carry our feelings inside, but let’s put them in an intentional space that’s big enough to hold them all.
All Souls Altar of Love & Memory
Knowlan and I created an All Souls Altar of Love and Memory in our foyer until we return as a community. We have also started one in our homes, and we invite you to do the same.
Please send us your celebrations, gratitude, photos of loved ones that have died (or ones you are thinking of), concerns and occasions that you don’t want to forget via email, and we will include them all on the altar. You can send us pictures of loved ones, pictures of mementos, quotes, whatever you need us to hold for you. Please send them to community@allsoulschurch.org.
I look forward to the day we are back together as one. Until then, I love you, I miss you and I’m honored to build our Altar of Love and Memory.
I leave with you a reading from the back of our Singing the Living Tradition hymnal, by the late Unitarian Universalist minister, Rev. Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley:
A Litany of Restoration (#576)
If, recognizing the interdependence of all life, we strive to build community, the strength we gather will be our salvation. If you are black and I am white,
It will not matter.
If you are female and I am male,
It will not matter.
If you are older and I am younger,
It will not matter.
If you are progressive and I am conservative,
It will not matter.
If you are straight and I am gay,
It will not matter.
If you are Christian and I am Jewish,
It will not matter.
If we join spirits as brothers and sisters, the pain of our aloneness will be lessened, and that does matter.
In this spirit, we build community and move toward restoration. ‘
Nicole Ogundare serves All Souls as the Life Events & Hospitality Coordinator. She brings love and intention to everything she does, including managing our community gatherings and all Life Events at All Souls, down to the finest detail. She is the embodiment of Love Beyond Belief. Read Nicole’s post, Spiritual Practices: A Commitment to Self-Love & Connection
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Please send us your celebrations, gratitude, photos of loved ones that have died (or ones you are thinking of), concerns and occasions that you don’t want to forget via email, and we will include them all on the altar. You can send us pictures of loved ones, pictures of mementos, quotes, whatever you need us to hold for you. Please send them to community@allsoulschurch.org.
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[…] Nicole and I created a community Altar of Love and Memory where you can send us pictures of loved ones, names of events you’ve had to let go of, pictures of mementos – whatever you need us to hold for you. We can find a way to let them go as a community when we gather again. […]