BUF Black Lives Matter Service Script 11/12/17

CELEBRANT SCRIPT
For Worship at Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

We Have All Been Charged
November 12, 2017


BELLS/PRELUDE (1-3 minutes)
· 10:28 first bell, outside
· 10:29 second bell, inside

Cat:
Good morning. Before we begin, let’s take a moment to quiet our minds, settle our hearts, and silence our cell phones as we listen to the prelude.

Smiling Faces, Erika, Hilde, David, Karen and Chad

WELCOME/OPENING WORDS: Cat McIntyre
Good morning. My name is Cat McIntyre. I've been a member of BUF for six years. You may know me as a cook, or recently an RE teacher, but I am also a member of the BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team. This service
is a collaborative effort by several members of that Team. The title of the service, We Have All Been Charged, comes from the Unitarian Universalist Association UUA World Fall 2017 issue, which presents this year's General Assembly Report from New Orleans.

At the General Assembly, Dr. Robin DiAngelo spoke to three, packed, sessions about how to develop White racial literacy. I quote from her book on the subject: What It Means to be White.
"I now understand that race is a profoundly complex social system that has nothing to do with being progressive or "open-minded." In fact, we whites who see ourselves as open-minded can actually be the most challenging populations of all to talk to about race,
because when we believe we are "cool with race," we are not examining our racial filters. Further, because the concept of "open-mindedness" (or "colorblindness," or lack of prejudice) is so important to our identities, we actually resist any suggestion that there might be more going on below the surface, and our resistance functions to protect and maintain our racial blinders and positions."

LIGHTING THE CHALICE: (1-2 minutes)
· Physically ignite the flame -- Erika
Elizabeth Skinner:
Acknowledgement of this land owned by Lummi and Nooksack peoples.
We light this chalice to remind ourselves of the Light of Justice we hold dear in our minds and hearts, and our commitment to work for a just and fair world for everyone.

Please join in our covenant - Love is the spirit of this fellowship and service gives it life. Celebrating our diversity, and joined by a quest for truth, we work for peace, and honor all creation. This is our covenant."

RE MINUTE - Jennifer Smith

CHILDREN’S FOCUS (4-5 minutes)
Erika: with overhead projections of book pictures

CHILDREN’S BLESSING (2 minutes)
We sing while the kids leave for their classes

We hold you in our love as you go, as you go. May your heart be at peace as you go. To nurture the spark of your precious life, we hold you in our love as you go.

GATHERING SONG (3 minutes) - I Wish I Knew What It's Like to Be Free, #151

ANNOUNCEMENTS (3-5 minutes)

1. I’d like to make a special welcome now to our visit
ors. If
you would like to know more about BUF please complete one of the green forms in the pew rack (hold one up) and drop it in the collection basket later. If you’d like a printed nametag, please put your name on the clipboard in the entryway.

2. More Announcements

GREETINGS (2 minutes) Erika
· Invite visitors to stand and tell us their name and where they are from. Erika walks around with hand-held microphone

MESSAGE Judy Pine, Injustice isn't new. (7-10 min.)

ERACISM MINUTE
· Video "The Talk" introduced by Judy Pine: White Supremacy means white Americans do not have to have this talk with their children

MEDITATIONS interspersed with silence (3 minutes) Mary Alden -- I Have Peace Like A River

Mary: Now I would like to invite Becky Kinley and Kyle Jansen, to come up to give us a brief description of the Lummi Youth Canoe Family, our Social and Environmental Justice Collection beneficiary for this month. There is more information in the BUF Midweek Update about this project.

SEJC speaker (3-5 minutes)

OFFERTORY/SPECIAL MUSIC
Cat : I now invite the ushers to receive our morning offering. All of the offerings will go to the Lummi Youth Canoe Family project. If you want to make your regular offering to BUF, please put it in an envelope with a note that it is for BUF. If
you’re here for the first time today please consider yourself
our guest and just pass the basket along with a smile.

Ella's Song, Womyn's Ensemble

SENDING SONG - Please stand if you're willing and able to sing Hymn # 1008 in the teal hymnal, When our Heart is In A Holy Place.

BENEDICTION / CLOSING WORDS / EXTINGUISHING CHALICE - Cat
The insert in your Order of Service is additional information that the Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team has found very helpful in our efforts and wants to share with the congregation. You are also invited to join us for coffee after the service and talk to any of us there.

A final quote from Rev. Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed, found in the UUA World Fall issue, is our benediction:
“The time in Unitarian Universalism when black lives didn’t matter has passed. Nonetheless, change is generational, incremental, and bruising. It comes, but not necessarily on our time schedule. We have fallen short and will again, and when we do we need to pause and pray and ask, “What does love demand of me?” and then stand up and try again. Impatience is not what sustains us, but rather dreams, hope, work, and companionship—the chance to pour out one’s life for the faith, principles, and people whom we value.”

CIRCLE ROUND FOR FREEDOM

Eracism Minute - 12/3/17 - Debbie Boots

My​ ​ name​ ​ is​ ​ Debbie​ ​ Boots.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ was​ ​ born​ ​ in​ ​ Memphis,​ ​ TN​ ​ in​ ​ 1955.​ ​ ​ So​ ​ I ​ ​ spent
those​ ​ crucial​ ​ development​ ​ years​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ 1960s​ ​ and​ ​ 70s​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ South.
In​ ​ Memphis,​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ 1960’s,​ ​ the​ ​ racial​ ​ split​ ​ was​ ​ about​ ​ 38%​ ​ Black​ ​ and​ ​ 61%
White,​ ​ and​ ​ less​ ​ than​ ​ 1%​ ​ Other.​ ​ ​ ​ Today​ ​ the​ ​ split​ ​ is​ ​ reversed​ ​ - ​ ​ about​ ​ 61%
Black​ ​ and​ ​ 34%​ ​ white.​ ​ ​ When​ ​ the​ ​ schools​ ​ were​ ​ integrated​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ late​ ​ 60’s
early​ ​ 70’s,​ ​ the​ ​ number​ ​ of​ ​ white​ ​ students​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ city​ ​ schools​ ​ dropped​ ​ from
71,000​ ​ to​ ​ 40,000.​ ​ ​ Fear​ ​ of​ ​ living​ ​ and​ ​ going​ ​ to​ ​ school​ ​ with​ ​ black​ ​ people
caused​ ​ white​ ​ people​ ​ to​ ​ flee​ ​ to​ ​ the​ ​ suburbs​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ county​ ​ - ​ ​ out​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ city
schools.​ ​ ​ Suburbs​ ​ with​ ​ names​ ​ like​ ​ Whitehaven​ ​ and​ ​ Germantown.
My​ ​ family​ ​ did​ ​ not​ ​ live​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ suburbs​ ​ or​ ​ the​ ​ counties.​ ​ ​ We​ ​ lived​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ city
center​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ house​ ​ my​ ​ grandfather​ ​ built​ ​ for​ ​ my​ ​ grandmother​ ​ as​ ​ a ​ ​ wedding
present.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ went​ ​ to​ ​ school​ ​ with​ ​ black​ ​ kids​ ​ from​ ​ 5th​ ​ grade​ ​ on.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ was​ ​ in​ ​ 9th
grade​ ​ when​ ​ the​ ​ Rev.​ ​ Dr.​ ​ Martin​ ​ Luther​ ​ King​ ​ was​ ​ murdered​ ​ in​ ​ my
hometown.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ remember​ ​ the​ ​ fear​ ​ that​ ​ gripped​ ​ my​ ​ neighborhood​ ​ as​ ​ the​ ​ city
exploded​ ​ into​ ​ riots.You​ ​ know​ ​ how​ ​ kids​ ​ learn​ ​ languages​ ​ more​ ​ easily​ ​ when​ ​ they​ ​ are​ ​ immersed
in​ ​ that​ ​ language​ ​ at​ ​ an​ ​ early​ ​ age?​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ was​ ​ immersed​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ language​ ​ of
racism.​ ​ ​ It​ ​ is​ ​ a ​ ​ language​ ​ full​ ​ of​ ​ belittling​ ​ and​ ​ hate.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ have​ ​ said​ ​ and​ ​ done
things​ ​ in​ ​ my​ ​ life​ ​ that​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ am​ ​ deeply​ ​ ashamed​ ​ of.
Using​ ​ the​ ​ language​ ​ of​ ​ AA,​ ​ I ​ ​ am​ ​ a ​ ​ recovering​ ​ racist.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ am​ ​ not​ ​ a ​ ​ racist​ ​ in​ ​ my
heart.​ ​ ​ As​ ​ a ​ ​ lesbian,​ ​ I ​ ​ have​ ​ experienced​ ​ forms​ ​ of​ ​ discrimination​ ​ and​ ​ I ​ ​ have
great​ ​ empathy​ ​ for​ ​ the​ ​ pain​ ​ that​ ​ illogical​ ​ hatred​ ​ or​ ​ misinformation​ ​ can​ ​ cause.
And​ ​ I ​ ​ am​ ​ not​ ​ a ​ ​ racist​ ​ in​ ​ my​ ​ head.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ know​ ​ now​ ​ that​ ​ I ​ ​ was​ ​ taught​ ​ beliefs​ ​ and
opinions,​ ​ not​ ​ facts​ ​ and​ ​ truths.​ ​ ​ But​ ​ I ​ ​ grew​ ​ up​ ​ surrounded​ ​ by​ ​ racism​ ​ and​ ​ I
find​ ​ myself​ ​ wary​ ​ around​ ​ black​ ​ people.​ ​ ​ Wary​ ​ of​ ​ me,​ ​ not​ ​ them.
Because​ ​ internalized​ ​ racism​ ​ can​ ​ be​ ​ subtle.​ ​ ​ I’ll​ ​ give​ ​ you​ ​ a ​ ​ personal
example.​ ​ ​ Several​ ​ years​ ​ ago​ ​ I ​ ​ went​ ​ to​ ​ a ​ ​ national​ ​ conference.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ didn’t​ ​ know
anyone​ ​ there​ ​ but​ ​ I ​ ​ was​ ​ expected​ ​ to​ ​ make​ ​ useful​ ​ contacts​ ​ for​ ​ my​ ​ company.
The​ ​ first​ ​ night​ ​ was​ ​ an​ ​ ice​ ​ breaker​ ​ event.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ dread​ ​ those.​ ​ ​ I’m​ ​ not​ ​ good​ ​ at
meeting​ ​ strangers​ ​ (though​ ​ I’ve​ ​ gotten​ ​ better).​ ​ ​ So​ ​ I ​ ​ gave​ ​ myself​ ​ the​ ​ little
pep​ ​ talk​ ​ about​ ​ how​ ​ you​ ​ get​ ​ out​ ​ of​ ​ a ​ ​ situation​ ​ what​ ​ you​ ​ put​ ​ into​ ​ it​ ​ and​ ​ off​ ​ I
went.​ ​ ​ And​ ​ it​ ​ went​ ​ fine.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ started​ ​ talking​ ​ with​ ​ one​ ​ woman​ ​ and​ ​ then​ ​ anotherperson​ ​ joined​ ​ us​ ​ and​ ​ by​ ​ the​ ​ end​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ evening​ ​ I ​ ​ had​ ​ met​ ​ some​ ​ wonderful
people​ ​ and​ ​ made​ ​ some​ ​ good​ ​ connections.​ ​ ​ Later,​ ​ in​ ​ my​ ​ room,​ ​ I ​ ​ reflected
on​ ​ what​ ​ I ​ ​ had​ ​ done​ ​ to​ ​ make​ ​ that​ ​ happen.​ ​ ​ It​ ​ went​ ​ so​ ​ well.​ ​ ​ I ​ ​ tried​ ​ to​ ​ figure
out​ ​ how​ ​ I ​ ​ picked​ ​ that​ ​ first​ ​ person​ ​ to​ ​ speak​ ​ to..​ ​ ​ And​ ​ I ​ ​ realized​ ​ that​ ​ I ​ ​ had
approached​ ​ the​ ​ one​ ​ black​ ​ woman​ ​ in​ ​ the​ ​ room​ ​ - ​ ​ and​ ​ I ​ ​ totally​ ​ understood
that​ ​ was​ ​ because​ ​ I ​ ​ saw​ ​ her​ ​ as​ ​ the​ ​ least​ ​ threatening,​ ​ least​ ​ powerful​ ​ person
there.​ ​ ​ And​ ​ that,​ ​ my​ ​ friends,​ ​ is​ ​ racism.​ ​ ​ And​ ​ I ​ ​ wondered​ ​ how​ ​ that​ ​ had
shown​ ​ up​ ​ in​ ​ my​ ​ hiring​ ​ decisions​ ​ and​ ​ mentoring.​ ​ ​ So​ ​ I ​ ​ have​ ​ a ​ ​ reason​ ​ to​ ​ be
wary​ ​ of​ ​ me.
So.​ ​ This​ ​ is​ ​ about​ ​ me.​ ​ ​ It’s​ ​ not​ ​ about​ ​ you.​ ​ ​ But​ ​ I ​ ​ wanted​ ​ to​ ​ share​ ​ with​ ​ you
what​ ​ I’m​ ​ doing​ ​ about​ ​ this.​ ​ ​ What​ ​ I’ve​ ​ tried​ ​ to​ ​ do​ ​ is​ ​ learn​ ​ a ​ ​ new​ ​ language.
Learn​ ​ facts​ ​ and​ ​ truths.​ ​ ​ And​ ​ ​ sometimes​ ​ this​ ​ learning​ ​ IS​ ​ painfully
uncomfortable.​ ​ ​ But​ ​ when​ ​ I ​ ​ feel​ ​ uncomfortable​ ​ I ​ ​ check​ ​ in​ ​ with​ ​ my​ ​ heart​ ​ -
what​ ​ is​ ​ this​ ​ feeling​ ​ and​ ​ where​ ​ is​ ​ it​ ​ coming​ ​ from?​ ​ - ​ ​ and​ ​ I ​ ​ check​ ​ in​ ​ with​ ​ my
head​ ​ - ​ ​ are​ ​ these​ ​ opinions​ ​ or​ ​ facts?​ ​ ​ And​ ​ I ​ ​ appreciate​ ​ the​ ​ grace​ ​ so​ ​ many
people​ ​ have​ ​ extended​ ​ to​ ​ me​ ​ on​ ​ this​ ​ journey.​ ​ ​ And​ ​ I ​ ​ ask​ ​ for​ ​ forgiveness
when​ ​ I ​ ​ fail.​ ​ ​ And​ ​ I ​ ​ persist.Thank​ ​ you.

BUF Black Lives Matter Ministry Action Team Meeting Minutes - November 13, 2017

BUF Black Lives Matter Action Team, Minutes for Nov. 13, 2017

Exquisite Erika chaired the meeting.
Present were: Debbie Boot, Judy Pine, Carl Shumaker, Martie Olsen, Cat McIntyre, Lauralee Carbone, Mary Alden, Judy Kasper, Monica Griffin, Suzanne Dorscha, Shari Walton, Noel Higen, Karen Knukles-Flinn, Kristina Lee Podesva, and David Curley

Erika opened with a reading from Michael Blunt on UU history and race, and then reminded us our commitments to good listening and speaking practices.

There were many comments thanking all those from BLM who prepared and presented the worship service on November 12, including Cat, Judy, Hilde Erika, Karen, Libby, and the women’s choir for their moving music. Thanks to Judy for the signs. And thanks for the contribution of speakers from the Lummi Nation.

Erika commented about how we fought for the worship service against some push-back from the congregation. Kristina asked what the push-back was. Several people spoke about relations between the denomination and its teachings, BUF, and the BLM action team.

*We discussed the nature of the White Supremacy Teach-in, a UU program that happens twice a year, and how and why BUF missed doing this in October. We agreed that although the Teach-in is not a BLM matter per se, we did agree to organize this program for a date in March (?) 2017.

*Erika asked for volunteers to do the eracism moments in December, and the schedule is:
12/3 Debbie Boots
As/17 Shari Walton.
Erika reminded us that the eracism moments are supposed to be personal, from the heart.

Lauralee read us a comment that she received abou Liz’s eracism moment, commending its use of humor, but criticizing the other presenters for blaming white people without giving suggestions about what to do. She also shared her response, suggesting that white fragility is part of the problem.

Going around the table, people were invited to share why they have come.

There was a suggestion that we provide in our meetings a time to go over our encounters with others, successful and not so successful, to help us be self-aware, and become more able to intervene in hard conversations.

Erika opened a discussion of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. She explained what it had meant for her to have taken on a lot of white culture, and she described the book as a source of comfort and a healing manual. She also suggested that it is deeply connected to the handout ‘White Supremacy Culture’ by Kenneth Jones and Tema Okun.

*Next meeting with will discuss the first two parts.

Erika led us in a discussion of ‘White Supremacy Culture’, taking each of its topics in turn:

Perfectionism, versus a climate of appreciation and a learning organization.
Constant sense of urgency. Suggestion, develop realism about time and goals.
Defensiveness. Note its links to fear of losing power or prestige.
Quantity over quality. Suggestion, include goals about good process.
Worship of the written word. Suggestions, acceptance of other ways of knowing.
Paternalism.
Either/Or thinking. Suggestion, explore more alternatives.
Power hoarding.
Fear of open conflict. Suggestion, raise hard issues, express and be open to emotion.
Individualism. Suggestion, work of delegation, teamwork.
View that progress is bigger, more. Suggestion, think about what success is, develop 7th generation thinking.
Objectivity.
Right to comfort. Suggestion: don’t take things too personally.

Final words as we extinguished the flame: We must turn and reclaim our past in order to find our future.

Respectfully submitted
David Curley