September 13, 2023

September 13, 2023

“This mornin’ a miracle happened
The risin’ of the world’s closest star”
– Willi Carlisle, “Your Heart’s a Big Tent”

Beloveds,

During some Zoom meeting I attended sometime last spring, one of our UU siblings played for us Willi Carlisle’s “Your Heart’s a Big Tent”, which sounded to me exactly like a sort of Universalist hymn (if not exactly something out of 19th century New England).  You can listen here (If you enjoy banjo & harmonica, you’re welcome. Even more fun with the crowd at this year’s Newport Folk Festival joining in!)

Willi’s lyrics and his exuberance reminded me immediately of our congregational mission statement, opening with the assertion that our core belief is the transforming power of love. He sings

I need a theory of all love
Like the heart’s a big tent
Gotta let everybody in
Doesn’t matter who they are 
If they do right or where they’ve been
Everybody gets in

And every fall, we–through our governing Board–spin a new vision of how our ministry together will serve our mission to create sanctuary and champion justice in the coming year. (You can see our mission statement anytime you need some inspiration, right at the top of our webpage: nashvilleuu.org.) This Sunday, the Board will present our shared vision of ministry for 2023-24. 

Go ahead and listen to Willi while you’re waiting…

Yours in the big tent, 
Rev. Denise
RevDenise@gnuuc.org