Minister's Musings November Newsletter 2025

"one hand opens in grief, the other in gratitude
pressing them together to pray” ~ Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Unitarian Universalism is pluralistic faith and a living tradition. At UUCO, this means we offer a spiritual community that holds sacred and secular space for believers and non-believers of all sorts. Prayer seems like a fraught endeavor for many and often we might disagree on the “how” and “why” of it. To whom or what do we pray as Unitarian Universalists? The answer, of course is, “It’s complicated.” Personally, I’m a big fan of prayer- whether it’s an utterance or shout of words, a dance of the spirit, a stroll through nature, a song chanted on repeat, or the focused meditative practice of voicing mantra. I pray in color-doodling on paper words or symbols to put my thoughts out into the universe. My friend Stephen says that spell work is prayer with props. I think ritual is a kind of prayer. My definition of prayer as a UU is wide open and I like that.

While I love to pray and think it’s generally a good practice, I’ve also seen prayer weaponized or used as an excuse to avoid personal responsibility. “Thoughts and prayers” have been mumbled to bypass or minimize tragedy by those with power who choose to offer empty words but no action. Effective prayer is a focusing practice to help one make sense of a situation or give hope when no sense can be made. Some prayers should activate us and help us work towards our highest good. Other prayers can be offered in grief when you don’t know what else to do and sometimes that’s all you can do- just pray. And holy smokes! Sometimes prayer is simply a moment to express gratitude.

In just thirteen words, poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer expresses the complexity of life and how prayer is a practice that reminds us that we contain multitudes. Grief and gratitude, being open to receiving all that life offers, then bringing it all close to our hearts. This November, this is much to grieve: The loss of democracy, the erosion of kindness, the despair felt when lacking resources for people to be able to feed and shelter their families because a livable wage is not a right in this country. This November, there is also much to be grateful for: friendship, chosen family, and practices of mutual aid-folks who extend acts of compassion because to ignore suffering is unfathomable. I’m also so grateful for this beloved community that gathers in hope. And I’m grateful for Love that will not let us go.

Bringing my hands together in prayer, I am mindful of Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker’s words:

There is a love holding me. There is a love holding you. There is a love holding all. I rest in this love.

Blessings to you all,
Rev. Sarah