Revs. Kate Tucker & Meg Riley attend state funeral for Rep. Melissa Hortman

With much gratitude for all the ministries of this community that ripple beyond our walls, we share a story from Rev. Meg Riley, our beloved member and affiliated minister about her experience representing First U along with our beloved Rev. Kate Tucker, Minister Emeritia, at the funeral of Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark. May we remember we all have the power to “beam love,” as Rev. Kate models below. In Rev. Meg’s words:

First of all, I have tremendous gratitude for the senior priest at the Basilica for inviting the downtown clergy group, of which First Universalist (and First Unitarian Society) are members.  Rev. Jen, Laura and Ashley could not go so sought representation, and Rev. Kate Tucker and I were delighted to attend.  I was particularly glad because I was out of town for the vigil and other opportunities to grieve this horrific murder.  I did not personally know Melissa Hortman but all the local activists I know have loved her for years.

We decided to drive up the Mississippi River to the basilica rather than take the freeways, and on the way exclaimed about how beautiful Minneapolis is and how lucky we are to live here.  When we arrived at the basilica I was stunned to learn that a) there was convenient, easy parking for the clergy guests! and b) the clergy were sitting in the front row.  We were welcomed by the priest and treated as guests of honor.  I was delighted to see and sit by my old friend DeWayne Davis, who I got to know in DC in our work for repro justice and don’t see enough since he moved to Minneapolis.  (He’s currently the senior pastor at Plymouth Congregational and running for mayor of Minneapolis.)

I started to cry as soon as Kamala Harris walked in.  Such poise and dignity. I held in my heart who we are and who I hoped we might be as a nation.  Because we were in the front row, Harris walked quite closely by us, flanked by secret service and a ton of aides and such.  Former Senator Mark Dayton came by and then, eventually, right as the service was beginning, President Joe Biden.

The service was formal and very Catholic. I found that deeply comforting in this moment.  Tradition is not usually what I love in worship but to see hundreds of Americans honor and respect Catholic tradition felt healing right now when the ground is quaking relentlessly every day.  There were a few hymns and readings that moved me and a lot that was familiar and, though not my religious language, full of love.    I declined to take communion because non-Catholics were not explicitly welcomed to do so although because I could watch hundreds of people take it from my front row seat, it was easy to see that many non-Catholics were opting in and no one was troubled by it.  

The eulogies were moving, particularly the one from Melissa’s best friend.  I felt her presence most with that one, which was less about her political career and more about her as a friend and mom and wife.  Her son read the St. Francis of Assisi prayer, which she kept in her purse, as a closing.  I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love that prayer.

In order to get back to the door where we’d come in, we were asked to wait until the Basilica was empty.  After about 25 minutes of people leaving, virtually no one was left except Biden and Harris and their people (staff, secret service, etc.)  Kate and I were waiting for them to leave before we did.

Harris walked by.  Biden walked…up to us.  He took a turn from his exit and came over and talked to us for a good five minutes.  Kate said she had been beaming love to him across the room and she thought  that drew him to us.  Kate and Biden connected powerfully.  I don’t hear well so even though I was right next to them I couldn’t make out the whole conversation.  Knowing her, she probably said deep meaningful things. 

I on the other hand said, “I was just in Delaware last week!”  (Oh, where?) “Rehoboth and Lewes!  I love those beaches!”  He replied with a long story I couldn’t really hear that involved New Jersey and a woman who kept deferring her happiness while his son Beau was dying–I asked Kate later and she said sorry she was just gazing at him with love so I will never know what that woman wanted in New Jersey!  And I told him I share his birthday and so does my dad, and we agreed that November 20 is a good birthday.  I did tell him thanks for everything he did for our country and that I keep him and his family in my prayers–true.  Kate said afterwards his overwhelming message to us (with our clerical collars on) is that we should not underestimate our power or the value of our work as spiritual women.  They shared family stories and much love with one another.  I took a few photos of their conversation since I couldn’t hear anyway.

Kate and I drove home down the Mississippi River, awed at the day.    

Here’s my favorite reading from the service, which the choir sang. I think it could be a good chalice lighting for UUs:

Hymn to the Eternal Flame by Michael Dennis Brown

Every face is in you,

     Every voice,

Every sorrow in you,

     Every pity, 

Every love, every memory, 

     Woven into fire.

Every breath is in you,

      Every cry,

Every longing in you,

      Every singing,

Every hope, every healing,

      Woven into fire.

Every heart is in you,

      Every tongue,

Every trembling in you,

      Every blessing,

Every soul, every shining,

      Woven into fire.