Read this week’s email newsletter here.

In the Oct. 11 issue of the Weekly Liberal, Rev. Jen Crow writes:

Last Sunday I had the privilege of leading worship at Unity Church-Unitarian over in St. Paul. I missed being with all of you, and I was grateful for the opportunity to be of service to the congregation and the ministers who formed me during my internship 16 years ago. It felt good to go back, and good to be with people I loved and who loved me after such a difficult week in our national discourse and decision making.

As I got ready to get up into the pulpit, Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs shared about an upcoming event at the church focused on vision and imagination. He shared a quote from one of their church members, Bill Doherty, that went like this: “Outrage is not a strategy, but imagination is.” This phrase has stuck with me, and I’m relying on it pretty heavily these days as I try to figure out who I am called to be and what I am called to do in this particular moment in time.

I know there is a place for outrage, for grief, for rage and disappointment and discouragement – and I know how important it is to let whatever feelings we are having flow through our bodies and our spirits unimpeded by judgment. And I know that it is tempting for me to stay in rage and despair and discouragement too long, inadvertently giving up my power and creativity along the way. So I’m pushing myself these days to use my imagination. To imagine winning. To remember that another world is possible, as the author and activist Aurora Levins Morales writes in her blog post, titled, V’ahavta.

I’m trying to push myself and my thinking out of the boxes that usually hold me captive, allowing my imagination to fly for even a moment before the practical considerations come in and shut it all down. And I’m feeling grateful for the imagination and creativity we are living into with our physical space at church as we:

• Re-imagine what and who our building is for
• Live into our commitment as a sanctuary church and a resource for the larger community
• Work with Shir Tikvah to imagine what it would mean to share this space at 3400 Dupont
• Serve as a safe and welcoming home for Southside Child Development Center
• Dream of the ways our space can more fully reflect our values and help us to welcome all of who we are and who we can be, in joy.

Being a part of this community draws out the best in me, and I hope in you, too. Let us imagine winning. Let us remember that another world is possible. And may our imaginations come to life as we respond to the joy and challenge of this time.

In gratitude,
Rev. Jen