Answering the Call to Lead

More Information

Religious Education for children and youth happens during worship on Sundays. Children and youth arrive in the Sanctuary for the just a little bit and welcome in Sunday with a story and song. Then, they attend their own programs in the Education building. Learn more here!

If you don’t have a chalice, but want to light one, check out our Making a Chalice at Home page.

In person services are followed by coffee hour.

Children’s Story

Sermon Audio

Sermon Text

Beth Wilson

Good morning to those here in person and those joining us on Zoom! My name is Beth Wilson and I use she/her pronouns. I and the rest of the Nominating Committee have put together the service this morning and we’re excited to share it with you. We extend a special welcome to infants and experienced elders, and those somewhere in between on the age continuum. We welcome you wherever you you find spiritual inspiration whether it be a sacred text, in the wildness of nature, or within your breath. Here, we practice theological diversity and inclusion. We welcome you especially if you identify as transgender, queer, indigenous, multicultural, immigrant, or are a co-conspirator on our journey towards dismantling systems of oppression. We welcome you wherever you are on your journey. Whether you have been coming here for decades, or you are visiting for the first time – May you find room here for your spirit to be refreshed and nourished.

Last week we heard several Board members share the gifts that they give and receive within the East Shore community. This week we’d like to expand upon that theme by talking more about leadership and the ways in which it can deepen our spirituality as UUs.

It’s the Nominating Committee who developed this service, so you know we have a slight bias in encouraging you all to consider the positive aspects of participating in leadership at East Shore:-) And by “leadership” we’re talking in a general sense. Participating on the Board of Trustees is certainly a leadership role, and a vital one in our congregation, but so are the many ways that we can serve East Shore – whether it be volunteering in the RE program or welcoming congregants at the front door of the Sanctuary before a service. We are working on expanding the role of the Nominating Committee to work more collaboratively with membership as a whole, helping all members identify opportunities to contribute to the community, using their own unique strengths and gifts.

Robin Wall Kimmerer, in her book “The Serviceberry” writes about the gift economy and the ways in which it emphasizes community and abundance. She states that “thriving depends on more than meeting basic physical needs, and includes goods like a sense of community, mutual support, and equality.” I agree with her when she says, “I want to live in a society where the currency of exchange is gratitude and the infinitely renewable resource of kindness, which multiplies every time it is shared rather than depreciating with use.”

The idea that we as individuals thrive when we contribute to our community is one that we on the Nominating Committee want to foster. One of the most powerful pieces of advice I’ve had about primary relationships is to ask not “how do I need my partner to change”, but to ask myself “how can I become the best partner I can be.” I believe that this question may be useful at all levels of relationships, including within a congregation. Asking ourselves “how can I contribute to this congregation” will create not just a thriving community, but a richer self.

In the book “Serving with Grace: Lay Leadership as a Spiritual Practice”, Erik Wikstrom says “Work devoted to something greater than yourself lifts you out of the narrow sphere of individual concerns, enlarges your perspective, and provides context for the joys and concerns of your own life. It’s a reality check, bringing us constantly back to the truth of our seventh principle in which we affirm the interconnected web of all existence.”

We’re going to hear now from several East Shore members who have served in a variety of leadership roles over the years. I invite us all to reflect on our own capacity for leadership and the ways it could nurture our spiritual development.

Martin Cox

Maury Edwards

Hi, thank you for asking me to speak. My name is Maury Edwards, he/him pronouns, and I am the guy that brings the signs to what I consider a spiritual place- the street corners of the Eastside- for the BlackLivesMatter Flash Stances.

I’ve told this story a few times so forgive me if I am repeating to you.

I came to East Shore to give my Daughter a chance at spiritual development. We joined the congregation through Manny Brown and Seth Hamilton’s BlackLivesMatter Flash stances in Factoria. I rarely talked and was quite shy but believed I needed to put my body on the line for my beliefs. It was 2016 and a politically tumultuous time. I watched and listened to others as they reasoned with walk-ups who wanted to argue with us being there.

One day a fellow challenged me personally and I did my best to reason with him. We had a lot of, “Yeah, buts” each of us. I felt it wasn’t going that well, so I asked him if he would talk to his relatives of color that he was citing and let them know that he had talked to me and kind of describe what each of us had said. The, I said, let them talk and really listen to them. Don’t tell them what to say, or how to be. He said he could do that.

A month later he was back. “Remember me?”, he asked “Yeah”, I said, think we were going to have another frustrating exchange for both of us. He reached out his hand and thanked me for continuing to be on the corner. As he drove away, he waved. He had changed. And I had changed. I decided to take my own advice and listen, rather than tell. Now, six years later, I carry a sign that says, “Questions, Comments? Park your Car and come Talk to me.” Vastly different than the shy fellow who never talked.

When George Floyd was murdered in 2020, it was another turbulent time. Instead of 6-8 people at the Flash Stances, we saw 125-130 people. And a lot more of the Pickups and the cars coming past were abusive. They yelled at us and I heard some of us yelling back.

Doug Strombom, Milly Mullarky and I were standing on the Kirkland corner when Milly said, “We’re better than this,” She was right. We weren’t going to change any hearts and minds by yelling at people. So, we changed. We talked to the others on the corner and we all agreed to not be confrontational. We were there to listen and talk to people about what they thought. Let them hear themselves as they described themselves to us. Answer their questions, but put it back on them to do the talking. In putting that into practice, I learned a lot. A ton.

Now I try to bring that focus into my everyday life- some days are better than others. And, my dream is to make and have space at my spiritual home, East Shore, where people can fully be themselves, authentically- a space where they talk about themselves and we listen and not judge, minimize or tell them- deeply listen.
This was and is the magic of listening circles brought to life in our everyday living…brought to life on the corners of our BlackLivesMatter Flash Stances.

New people coming in to our Congregation and to the corners of the Eastside- what if we proactively asked them about themselves rather than waiting for them to become like us before they can be heard?
I find it so broadening to hear people’s stories and views not necessarily like mine. I learn from them. I connect with them. I value them.

That is my story of how I experienced spiritual growth through leadership at ESUC. Thank you, East Shore. I will forever be in your debt.

Leta Hamilton

Good morning everyone. I am going to attempt to get through this without crying, but there will probably be some tears!

I am Leta Hamilton. I use she her pronouns & this is my East Shore story.

I started coming to East Shore when I was pregnant with my 3rd child. He’ll be 16 in March.

It didn’t take long until I was volunteering as a Sunday school teacher. As a mom coming here without her spouse, teaching Sunday school has always been a way I can contribute meaningfully to the church. There is always – always – a need for folks to step up & teach RE. As a committed Sunday school teacher, my presence in the Sanctuary was (& still is) sporadic, but that’s ok. I am only here now because my team members are in the RE building covering the class! Helping in RE is something I’m really committed to.

Before Amanda alice came to East Shore, I organized the Chalice camp for the church for a few summers. That was a TON of work & I’m so grateful for the gifts Amanda brings to our community.

I also received the training for elementary OWL & have taught that class a few times over the years.

Then…It was Martin Cox! Who asked me to be on the nominating committee, and for anyone who doesn’t know, the nominating committee is a really important part to the functioning of any non profit, especially a church! It’s how we get things done!

I also had the immense privilege of being on the search committee for our settled minister, Rev. Dr. Maria Cristina Vlassidis Burgoa along with some awesome humans who are now lifelong friends.

I got asked to join the outreach committee, which strives to be present in our community & find ways to reach people who would value coming to a place like East Shore.

Now, I also find myself on the Board of Trustees as a trustee at large.

My current volunteer jobs at East Shore include middle school RE, outreach committee & board of trustees.

What’s my why? Why am I so committed to being a volunteer every year no matter what.

I think of it like this: East Shore is like a tree to me. It’s my tree. And volunteering is how I tend it.

Here I have roots & this faith tradition has roots that grow outwards & reach so many invisible places that I don’t even realize how wide they spread. As the daughter of a military chaplain who moved a LOT growing up, roots matter to me. I value them in a way maybe only other military brats can appreciate.

East Shore is the trunk where I know I can come to rejuvenate myself every week. It’s a solid trustworthy source of repose in an otherwise chaotic life. Anyone who follows me on Facebook knows my life is busy! East Shore is an anchor I can return to every week & volunteering here is part of my self-care routine.

The branches & leaves of my East Shore tree are all the ways that a church like this can make a difference in the world. Here we strive to offer beauty, love & safety in a world that includes hate as part of the religious affiliation tapestry. Any one of us can think of a denomination that promotes bigotry over love.

Tending my East Shore tree through service to its needs is important work I do not take for granted. I may not see all the fruits of my labor, but volunteering is something I can do & will continue to do.

It is my belief – the only faith I claim – that tending to the needs of this church – My East Shore tree- will contribute to a more loving & sustainable world for my four kids. They deserve that. I deserve that. We deserve that. Thank you.