On Sunday, Decmeber 31, 2006, four of our youth shared their experiences with the congregation.

Laura Tabor, Dartmouth College
I started attending junior youth group in sixth or seventh grade, going with my neighbor Molly as my mother began to discover South Church .  The hour and a half or two hours each weekend was, if not necessarily always a spiritual experience, an outlet for Sunday relaxation amid piles of weekend homework.  I liked that it was a group of people I didn’t really see together anywhere else, and that made it a break from the rest of my life, especially once we all reached high school and I rarely saw anyone outside of our Sunday morning reunions.  The lack of  social overlap the rest of the week gave youth group a quiet, easygoing atmosphere perfect for unwinding, whether it was walking to Prescott Park in warm weather, playing games or leaving heaps of half burnt matches in the chalice.  Beyond the actual experiences I got through youth group—visiting a labyrinth and a Baptist Sunday service in the same year, overnights where we lingered in the half lit sanctuary after hide and seek or sardines—it was satisfying to explain to my friends why I didn’t resent going to church, and how it wasn’t boring (at least not in a traditional dull as nails Sunday school way).  Being able to say, “I’m a Unitarian Universalist,” and subsequently being able to explain what that meant, gave me a chance—maybe even an excuse--to accept my own evolving brand of spirituality, to identify it and give it a home in my life by being a part of the church community.  While I wouldn’t say I am actively spiritual—and maybe that’s not an easily defined state—I can say that having identified with some sort of spiritual part of myself has allowed me to open up to the world around me and given me cause to appreciate it more deeply. 

I have always been an outdoorsy person—I love standing on top of a mountain or in the wet sand of a beach and just soaking up the wonder of my surroundings; I get excited on bus rides back from cross country meets as we drive north and the peaks of Vermont and New Hampshire seem to rise around us, because I am coming home to these mountains, to Dartmouth nestled in their granite arms.  I feel at home with this great sense of open awe, hiking through sundrenched snowdrifts to bright brittle peaks where suddenly the White Mountains lie stretched, fading from sharp ice and rock into soft blue and then softer purple, melting into the horizon. 

While South Church may not have instilled these sentiments in me, it did, by giving me a church community to call my own and belong to, lead me to the comfort of recognizing them in myself, and for that I am grateful.   Thank you. 

Greg Frank, George Washington University

I can’t believe it’s been three years since I’ve graduated from Senior Youth.

I have a good friend who goes to Catholic University in Washington DC . He was raised southern Baptist, but converted to Catholicism before entering college. Did I mention he’s black and gay? Needless to say, Trevor and I have had several engaging debates about religion. Being a devoutly religious person, Trevor has a hard time fathoming my lack of church attendance. I tell him matter of factly that I do attend church…it’s called the Lerner Health and Wellness Center – also known as the GW gym. He quickly dismisses the notion that a gym is a suitable place of higher calling, though his gay side understands and wants communion.

I counter with questions of how he’s come to terms with his homosexuality after years of repressive doctrine. Trevor admits it’s an ongoing process, and will probably take additional therapy on the side. I remind him how one therapist, by the name of Neiman Marcus, has helped me deal with life’s obstacles. Luckily, after years of crying himself to sleep because he thought he’d be going to hell, he’s come to the realization that God loves everyone. In the end, it’s a draw. My Godless daily life is sending me to hell, while he has tote a considerable amount of emotional baggage.

Speaking of religion and the city, I feel it is my duty to tell you of my experience with Scientology. The religious headquarters of the Scientology movement is located in the middle of Dupont circle…also known as the gay ghetto. I had no inclination to go into the building, which looks similar to the abandoned Iraqi embassy only a few blocks away. However, the Church of Scientology was having an open house, and I was walking past with a few friends. Any hesitation we had about venturing into the mothership were placated with presence of several good-looking bachelors at the entrance. Upon stepping into the main hall, I was surprised by the ornate ness. Befitting a former residence, there were high ceilings, chandeliers, and marble flooring. In front of me was the ‘sanctuary’, which consisted of a handful of chairs and a lectern. To my right was the museum, complete with Ron Hubbard’s pieces of writing and their bible. There was also a massive painting of Ron Hubbard hanging above the entrance to the museum…to say it was disconcerting would be an understatement. The woman was gracious handling our questions various questions, and didn’t blink when asked about homosexuality. I have to admit, I was intrigued was buying into their doctrine. To their credit, they emphasize change/healing through personal will, not through the threat of eternal damnation. Thankfully, my friends were able to pull me from their clutches prior to the ‘processing’ stage. [That’s when they take you downstairs and hook you up to a machine to see if you’re qualified to be a member].  

Those have of been the extent of my religious experiences while in DC. There is a large, well-known Unitarian church that I pass on consistent basis. It’s called All Souls Church …how clichéd’ is that?

Helen Sturgis-Bright, South Church Senior Youth

Over the summer I became interested in finding a youth group working on saving the Earth and educating others about its condition. I wanted to be part of a group that is tackling the large scale problem of Global Warming and not just creating busy work; I have enough of that in school. I researched organizations such as the UN and other national and international organizations. Then I looked at what it would take for travel, time, and effort to be involved with those groups. I started looking for more local organizations, closer to home that were in sync with my values. I looked at what the Unitarian Universalist Association had to offer. As it was summer time, eventually I went on vacation and the whole matter was pushed out of mind.

When I got back from vacation, I found that people in the newly formed Ministry for Earth at South Church were working towards introducing the Green Sanctuary program. Shortly after the beginning of the school year, my mom and I spoke with Dave Cohen from the Ministry for Earth. They were looking for a Youth Liaison to be part of this effort, an effort committed to caring for the planet through meaningful action and education. It was handed right to me! Plus, I like the title Youth Liaison, I mean, come on.

Education is an important piece of this. People need to understand that Global Warming will affect all of us. It isn’t something we are going to be able to control and dismantle like an outdated bomb when we feel like it. One of the most common things I hear when someone brings up Global Warming is, “Oh, I don’t mind if it’s summer all year round.” I can’t explain how much this irritates me. Yes, it will be warmer year round. There also will be disruption to all the ecosystems, natural disasters, freak storms, and rising ocean waters. These events may be a wet blanket to those year round summer vacation plans! To those people who say, “Oh, well, I’ll be dead by then.”, I say that isn’t a solution. You are the ones with the opportunity to change this course as we still have a chance to fix some of the damage done. You lived through possibly the most affluent and most opportunity filled era of human history, you owe something, at least a planet to live on, to those beings human, furred, feathered, or scaled who come after you.

 We need to acknowledge that Global Warming is a problem. Those disagreeing are not within the scientific community but are arguing from the point of view of vested religious, commercial, or political interests. Scientists agree that Global Warming is here

As a religion that is founded on reason and the search for personal truth, this is a call to which Unitarian Universalists must pay attention.

Now that I have told you all this scary stuff, let me share the good news. Although Global Warming is bigger than Portsmouth , bigger than New Hampshire , even bigger than the United States , it is a problem that can be addressed effectively through local action. In fact, our best chance for success is working in local communities. Community groups mobilize much faster than governments. People can make decisions and act without all the red tape of government bureaucracy and the influence of lobbyists. Also, much of Global Warming results from our activities right here at home. All great movements start with the people. If communities all over the world, communities like ours, start working on the causes of Global Warming locally, it will get solved.  

If you are searching, as I was, for an opportunity to help the earth, look no further. Just as Dorothy found after her journey through Oz, we already have everything we need to tackle this problem right here at South Church . South Church is providing an opportunity for all of us to take concrete, meaningful steps to address Global Warming. Ministry for Earth has adapted an easy 3 Step Program that will make a difference if people choose to participate.

Step number 1 stands for dropping the temperature in your house 1 degree throughout the winter and lowering your air conditioning setting 1 degree during the summer. You hardly will notice the difference if you put on those wooly sweaters during the winter and those cool, breezy tanks in the summer.
Step number 2 stands for reducing your driving speed by 2 miles per hour. This might be a hard habit to break especially if you are running late but, in reality, slowing down 2 miles per hour is not going to change anything except that it might make you a little safer, save you some gas, and help reduce Global Warming. What a great excuse for arriving a little late!
Step number 3 stands for replacing 3 regular light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. This is quite easy to justify as they last for 7 years and are said to save $140.00 on your electric bill over that time.

I know you are busy people with overfull lives already. I ask that you view this through Jody Blouch’s lens of “enlightened self-interest”. There is something in this for you. The Ministry for Earth information says that you can reduce about 1,300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, carbon dioxide which directly contributes to Global Warming. You also will save nearly $1,000. Hey, $1,000 is $1,000. For those of you who are more ambitious or are already doing these things, we will be presenting steps 4-5-and-6 at a later date but you can talk to us now. “Enlightened self-interest” will tell you that it is all good supporting our Unitarian Universalist 7^th Principle: respect for the interdependent web of life of which we are all a part. Good for you personally, good for all those to come, and good for the Earth.

Let’s put this 3 Step Project into action. Let us know if you decide to implement these steps. We will be in the Fellowship Hall during Social Hours. We will track the Congregation’s participation on a big display board in the Fellowship Hall. Let’s try to get 75% of South Church participating with each of these 3 steps. Let us set an example of what we would like to see in the world around us.

Our future plans include taking this project outside of South Church to share with other faith-based groups. Already we are talking and planning a joint effort using this 3 Step Program with Saint John’s here in Portsmouth . This is just the beginning. This is how Global Warming will be fixed, through local action, people and communities working together. Come and visit our table at Social Hour to take a pledge to participate in this 3 Step Program. A 3 Step Program that is as easy as A-B-C, 1-2-3, and as simple as Do-Re-Mi!

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