This year, you may have noticed that we’re exploring different ways that we can engage in a commitment to liberating love. Thus far, we’ve considered the practices of invitation, deep listening, and repair. Throughout December, we’ll take a deeper dive into one of the most challenging practices for some people: being really and truly present. 

I know we’ve all heard various quips about how showing up is half the battle (or some other extravagant percentage of life). That may be true in a lot of ways. I would suggest that how we show up makes a big difference. One way that embody our spiritual values is by showing up willing to be fully present in the moment, with whoever shares that moment with us.

In our congregational covenant, we say we’ll be curious in our listening to one another. That’s another way of saying we’ll be present. As Unitarian Universalists, our commitment to Generosity leads us to the covenantal promise that we’ll freely and compassionately share our presence (among other things) in mutual and interdependent relationship. 

So much of the time, we show up preoccupied with the past or the future. Or we show up with a list of expectations or needs that we want others to meet. That’s human. Nothing wrong with having needs. But the spiritual practice of presence invites us to be mindful of the moment. To receive the gifts we didn’t know we needed. To consider what others might receive from us in that fleeting moment.

And we explore this spiritual practice in the midst of a holiday season that pulls a lot of us in many different directions and often adds an abundance of commitments onto our calendar. Which makes it even tougher to be fully present in the moment, I think.

We’ll begin our practice of presence this Sunday with an observation from Eckhart Tolle and a bit of scripture from the Bible. And we’ll follow that up on December 8 with some acknowledgment that holidays often make us more aware of absences. How do we cultivate a sense of presence in the midst of those absences?

Incidentally, we’ll take time that Sunday—December 8—to be present with one another over a potluck meal after the service, and anyone who wants to can participate in decorating the Sanctuary. Just in time for our special music service on December 15. 

On Saturday, December 21, we’ll have a Winter Solstice ceremony that celebrates how we’re nurtured by the presence of darkness, and we’ll continue our solstice observance into Sunday, December 22, with some celebration about the rebirth of the sun and the presence of light. 

On Tuesday, December 24, we’ll have our all-ages Christmas Eve service, complete with preservice music at 5:30PM provided by our many talented young people. After that service, we’ll have another opportunity to be present with one another over some holiday treats in the Fellowship Hall.

Through all of these opportunities, I hope we discover that beyond the importance of showing up, we also have some agency over how we show up with and for one another. And in spaces beyond our community, where our presence might be needed and appreciate more than we realize.  

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