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Cedars Unitarian Universalist Church
A Welcoming
Congregation
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Eye on the UUniverseRev. Jaco B. ten Hove
The youngest ones begin to enliven the atmosphere in glorious, sometimes constant motion, scampering all over in vaguely dancelike fashion, inspired by, if not exactly in step with, the music. Older youth and young adults come and go, socializing eagerly in clumps and occasionally adding their style to the open space, even joining in the swing dancing.
Some parents boogie with small bodies wrapped around their waist or strung over their shoulder. Various individuals sway to the tuneage by themselves in their own inimitable fashion, dodging or interacting with the little ones that scurry nearby. The grassy plain slowly rises to throb with happy, gyrating bodies, dominated by many beautiful youngsters, so delightful in their unselfconsciousness. (A clearly uninitiated bandleader commented late one evening that she was confused at first about why people set up their chairs so far back from the bandstand, but now she understood.)
Lots more of us lounge about, sharing food and drink, conversation and companionship, as we watch contentedly and enjoy spontaneous or pre-arranged rendezvous. I once noticed an elder couple comfortably sipping their beverages, both doing crossword puzzles, as they nodded gently to the musical rhythms. All kinds of folks wander in from all over and coalesce for a time being, with zero commercialism, beyond the band usually offering their CDs.
I find myself smiling a lot during these eventful evenings, savoring the all-ages nature of this temporary community that beautifully reflects our larger populace. It often makes my summer week. It also makes me aware of how rarely such interactive age diversity is available to us. We live in a mostly age-segregated culture, with generations frequently separated from each other by design or preference.
Think about it. How often do you get to be around, let alone get to know, folks of all ages? One other notable setting for such multi-generational gathering is congregational life such as Sunday mornings at church, and other occasions such as picnics. From youngsters to elders, we at Cedars endeavor to build what I like to call pan-generational community (meaning “all-inclusive,” or across the age spectrum) by countering the cultural tendency to separate peer groups. It’s not always easy, but it’s so worth it!
As we begin to shift gears into a new season, one that holds great promise for our rich congregational life together, let’s relish the precious ways our ambitious liberal religious project spans the ages. Let’s look for and create more opportunities to appreciate each other, across the generations. Let’s all boogie on the spiritual dance floor as our congregational energy rises in the autumn air.
Fondly,
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