Sunny Notes: 01.15.26 - The Power of A Spiritual Community
I was incredibly moved by last Sunday's service on “Turning to One Another: Sharing Meaning,” which was organized by several of our Celebrants and featured reflections and stories from various members and friends of BUF speaking about the ways that, by turning to one another, they find meaning. In my closing words, I shared that I have been serendipitously and particularly reminded over the past week about the deep and meaningful ways that this BUF community turns toward one another.
On Saturday, I led a memorial service for BUF member Jane DeBrock in our Sanctuary, where so many from the BUF community came out to celebrate and honor Jane’s life. And earlier in the week, I visited Linda Darks, who was receiving hospice care at St. Joseph’s hospital as she made her transition. As many of you know, Linda passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 6. She was surrounded by BUF members and friends 24 hours a day while she was in the hospital, so that she would not die alone. Some of those folks had been visiting her weekly for years, as she had been unable to get out and about anymore due to health challenges. Members of the BUF choir were there, too, singing to Linda to support her in her transition.
In today's changing religious landscape, where houses of worship in various faith traditions are losing members, and the number of “nones” (those who believe nothing in particular or are spiritual but not religious) is on the rise, the above examples of turning to one another and making meaning are a primary reason why (I believe) BUF has the potential to thrive in these uncertain times.
In my final semester of divinity school, I did a directed research project on our changing religious landscape in the U.S., through which I had the incredible opportunity to interview the founder of a major multimedia publishing company that focuses on works of spiritual wisdom and personal growth. I asked them, from their perspective, and with a finger on the pulse of the religious/spiritual institutions, teachers, and ministers who are thriving amidst changing times, what are those institutions or people offering that keeps folks coming back? They said that a congregation provides something that a media company or virtual group or solo spiritual practice cannot. They explained:
“What a congregation can provide is real community. Not online community with people I don't really know that I'm trying to get to know. But real community with people that I can take a walk with, that I can bring food to when someone's ill in their family; service projects that I can do locally, embedded in the community, ways that we can reach out to people in need, people who are unhoused, etc. So, a congregation gives me the chance to put into action the values and virtues I care about with other people, and to befriend them in the process.”
BUF provides that real community. I saw it in Sunday's service, and I saw examples of it this past week in the above-mentioned meaningful situations. My hope and intent is for BUF to continue to provide that community while also meeting the spiritual needs of today's seekers. I am grateful to be a part of a congregation with so much connection, support, and potential. On that note, I hope you will join me this weekend for our Congregational Start-Up on Saturday, January 17 (which will be offered both in person and online); our Stewardship Team's Envisioning Session on Sunday, January 18; and the MLK Jr. Day event on the evening of Monday, January 19 (details for all these events are in the Events section below).
— Sunny, minister