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UU Statements, UU Perspectives: Pastoral Care in Times of War

The Rev. Jane Rzepka
Senior Minister, Church of the Larger Fellowship

Jane Rzepka
The Rev. Jane Rzepka
The windows of the UUA's chapel look out at Boston's State House grounds. Attending a worship service about the war the day it began, this is the image I saw framed in the window: an historic cannon on the State House lawn. And atop the cannon, climbing, jumping, shouting, frolicking, were two children. In this picture, wars were history, and kids played, oblivious.

Later in the day, I watched out my office window as helicopters flew low over the Boston Common. Sirens screamed. The bright flashing blue lights of police vehicles reflected off my walls and computer screen. Officers on motorcycles and horses lined up along Beacon Street. Tourists' children could not enter the State House grounds to play on the cannon. In this picture, war is present and no kids play.

Days later, the major attacks seem to be over, and we are left with the "what nexts?" and the questions about the suffering and the dead, about freedom, about political vacuums. The State House in Boston is still under guard, and though the day is sunny, the grounds are deserted.

The US invasion of Iraq is difficult for most of us, tragic for many. Whether you've been worried sick about someone on the front, troubled by the protests, grieving for your lost hope of preventing the war, frantic over the suffering of the Iraqi people, embarrassed by the actions of the United States, concerned that the attack may not meet its objectives—whatever your opinion and perspective, please know that the spirit of our faith community is with you.


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