Quadratic Equation

Josh Pawelek

3002 What Are You Doing Here?

Speaker: The Rev. Joshua Pawelek, minister at Unitarian Universalist Society: East , in Manchester, Conn.

Watch the Worship: RealVideo  | Windows Media 

Prelude - " God Be in My Head," sung by Quadratic Equation, a women's vocal quartet

Chalice Lighting by Marlys Brinkman

Call to Worship - Listen for this voice, discern its insights, respond to the questions it asks so that we may know what we are doing here. so that we may live with authenticity and integrity and vast undying love. The still small voice. the still small voice. Amen and blessed be.

Hymn - "Comfort Me" - led by its composer, Mimi Bornstein

Reading - 1 Kings 19: 11-14

The reading shares the story of the prophet Elijah, who is fleeing from the forces of Queen Jezebel. He hears a voice, telling him: "Go forth and stand upon the mountain before God, because God is about to pass by." And there was a great wind, so strong it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks before God. And God was not in the wind. After the wind, there was a great Earthquake, and God was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, and God was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a still, small voice. And when Elijah heard it he wrapped his face in his mantle and stepped to the mouth of the cave and listened. And the voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Elijah answered, "I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets by the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away."

Music - "Voice Still and Small" - Quadratic Equation

Sermon - "What Are You Doing Here?" - The Rev. Josh Pawelek

Pawelek delivered a powerful, thought-provoking sermon that called worshippers to focus on their power and their role in society, is. We live in the most powerful and richest nation in the world, at the expense of people who subsist after we have taken virtually everything. Maybe life is a wraith, a shadow, an illusion - privilege hiding immense loss. Give us the strength to wrestle with this possibility.

He talked of his effort to bring anti-racist identity to the struggle for equal rights for gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgender people. He said, "A Latino man asked him, 'Why would you want to struggle against a society designed to support people like you?'"

Pawelek said, "I love my life the way it is. I love my wife, my children. I love my congregation. I love my UU faith, I love ministry in Connecticut . I love this country, the United States - it has incredible promise, and I believe in it. But if all the forces that made my life what it is, if all the institutions that have nurtured me, have resulted in the killing of three urban boys in the sweet days of June, the price is too high, and it is unacceptable. If all the institutions that have nurtured me result in UU youth of color, delegates to the GA, being negatively profiled in any way, the price is too high; the situation is unacceptable. Our covenant is forsaken, our altars thrown down, and too many lives have been taken."

"What am I doing here?" he asked. "I am coming back from spiritual death. I am seeking our life. I am taking it back. I am seeking authentic, accountable, fearless, anti-racist life, and I do intend to have an impact on the institutions I love."

Pawelek continued, "This community must be one that gives praise and thanks, perhaps even zealous praise and thanks, to the Creator, the source of God and hosts, and upon this community. We shall establish the power that brings true Justice."

Closing Hymn - "Come My Way, My Truth, My Life"

Benediction

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