I have reflected this week a great deal about what I would say to you. What kept coming to me was how thankful I am to be part of this community. 'It's not Thanksgiving' I reminded myself. But I realized that, for me, it was a personal Thanksgiving and, perhaps for many of you, as well.

          This congregation is overall spiritually healthy. I believe that members of a spiritually healthy congregation enjoy its Sunday services, love its choir, love to sing, love to see its children, and take their turn in doing something for their church. They cooperate with one another and don't play power games. They speak kindly to and of one another and they don't gossip about one another. They do not keep secrets but speak their minds gently. They are ready to serve as volunteers. They make it safe for people to be creative and to make mistakes. They are open about church finances and they talk about money logically (and sometimes wistfully). We are not perfect in all these things, but over all, we are spiritually healthy.

          Notice that I didn't include prayer or meditation in my assessment of spiritual health. No, I measure spiritual health by works though I think a spiritual practice helps with the quality of the works.

          We have handsome buildings in which to meet, but all of these are empty shells without the gathered community to give them energy and meaning. But who are we really? For me, the dominant characteristic is that this community is caring. When some of our families suffered illness, members and friends who lived close by provided meals for them.

          We have a small Caring Committee that works very quietly but consistently to call on the telephone or visit almost everyone that cannot come to church to let them know they are not forgotten. I discovered that there is an extensive unofficial caring network of people who call and visit. And our Membership Committee tries to keep a lookout for people we haven't seen for a while. And, as you know, many of you fund poinsettias at Christmas and lilies at Easter that not only decorate the church and delight us but are delivered to those who are unable to come to church or who have suffered a loss during the year.

          Last Sunday, when we asked you whether you would help fund campus ministry and programs for our youth, you showed how much you cared for the future of Unitarian Universalist youth by contributing almost $1,000 (even though some of it is currently in IOU's!). Every year, we give scholarships for our youth that are going on to higher education. Also, we fund our religious education program for children as good as, if not better, than any church I have served. Although parents mostly do the teaching, there are single people who teach and people whose children are now in college who now teach the next generation.

          We care for our community: our young, our elderly, and our sick. We're not perfect---some people fall through the cracks---but I think you are good in the fullness of that word. We are like the geese in the reading that care for their fallen and work together for efficiency upliftment.

          We do indeed care for our community. But if someone were to ask me what Unitarian Universalists are about mainly, I would respond that what we seek is spiritual growth in free and diverse ways and we believe it is important to do social justice work. Last year, with the leadership of our Social Action Committee, we raised a considerable sum for Heiffer International, a group that gives farm animals to support people in poor nations. Also, every year, we put money into our Guest at Your Table boxes for the UUSC. These funds benefit poor families across the world. And soon we will participate in Holiday Hope---we buy gifts for needy family. Also, for three years now, we have participated with five other churches to support the Shepherd's pantry that is housed in our basement and that provides food for more than 260 families per month.

          I am proud to tell you that last Friday night, our Men's Fellowship organized and hosted a forum here to inquire into the consequences of going to war with Iraq. This brought together more than 60 people from the wider community who clearly is distressed that our country may go to war. It was a relief for these people to listen to experts speak on the subject and to have an opportunity to speak themselves. I know be cause they told me. This community outreach effort was a highly successful evening and it had been a considerable effort for the men to organize this. I hope you will complement them. This same Men's Fellowship hosted a wonderful soup and salad luncheon for us a few months ago for no other reason that to provide us an opportunity to fellowship together. And I was reminded today that they also cooked and served a corned beef and cabbage luncheon for us---again that we might sit down and "break bread together" (though they did ask for a small donation to cover costs).

          Then there are the traditions at Easter and Christmas and New Year, though the expression of these might take a different perspective from year to year. The traditions require a significant volunteer effort. For a few years now, our church has participated in Fairhaven's Very Victorian Christmas by having a Crafts Fair in our Parish Hall. It is an event not to be missed. Craftspeople and artists from the immediate community sell their wares. Our Women's Alliance raises funds by making and selling greens. There was also a baked goods table. Last year, the Men's Fellowship raised funds by selling soup and sandwiches. I believe our children sold tickets for a raffle. And, our own Loring Weeks dressed up as a Jolly and not-so-old St. Nicholas. (It is a sight not to be missed. This is a great organizational effort that takes the dedicated work of many people here. These are just a few of the traditions.

          No church can move forward without organized committees and volunteers that make the church what it is. We have an elected Board of Governors that oversees the well-being of the church in general and makes the necessary decisions. Committees help the Board run the church. Then many volunteers, such as the ushers and the people who prepare Sunday morning snacks, help the committees. Our choir members are also volunteers who make our service very special. And we hope the Staff makes it special as well. We are all like the geese in the reading who support one another and thus go further than if they were alone.

          A week ago, you received our latest newsletter with a flyer in it advertising our Canvass Kick-off luncheon that would take place today. On the other side of the flyer was a list of what you valued in this community. I was deeply touched to read them. Here is some of what you said you value:

          · the message of our liberal faith;
          · of course, the music!
          · the choir is amazing!
          · Joanna Week's solos;
          · fellowship and camaraderie;
          · a friendly community that is non-judgmental and is open;
          · the unity and caring;
          · the valuing of family and children's religious education;
          · ideals;
          · freedom and responsibility to think for myself;
          · diversity and respect for all beliefs;
          · the peace, centering and spirituality of the service;
          · intellectual stimulation;
          · the dedication to peace;
          · the emphasis on respect, love and dialogue

          There were many more comments.

          Each year we turn our attention to how we will fund the programs and staff salaries for next year. Upon examination, we were not surprised to discover that our Religious Education Director, Lisa Elliot, who we recently honored for 25 years service, is significantly underpaid according to our modest denomination guidelines And our wonderful Music Director is not yet up to the recommended level. We hope to work towards correcting this situation. Also, I believe it is well known to you that as good as we are spiritually, you know that we cannot run our church on spirit. Our efforts as financial stewards of our congregation could benefit from raising the bar of our giving.

          You might have heard the story of a very wealthy man at a church pledge drive. He stood up and said, "I am very rich and I attribute it all to the rich blessings of God in my life. I remember when all I had in the whole world was $100. I knew that I had to give it all to God's work or nothing at all. So at that moment I decided to give my entire savings to God. I believe that God blessed that decision, and that is why I am a rich man today." There was an awed silence. Then a little old lady sitting in the same pew said loudly, "I dare you to do it again!"

          I have written in our newsletter that Leo and I will contribute five per cent of our income to the church. We want to help begin the journey to financial health and we particularly want our staff members who are underpaid to receive what they are worth. Also, those of us who are still working, let us be thankful for our continuing employment by contributing much more to compensate for those who are casualties of a turbulent job market or of illness.

          It is interesting to be preaching opposite Jesus giving his Sermon on the Mount. Today, I feel like I am giving the Sermon on the Amount!

          In the Gospel of Luke [Luke 12:33-34], Jesus of Nazareth said, "Sell your possessions, and give alms. . .For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We do not expect you to sell your possessions, but you might like to think how much of your heart is here and how much of your treasure can be given to support what we co-create here together so very well.

          Breaking bread together is sacred. Eating together is very enjoyable. In our Parish House, a luncheon awaits you of clam chowder from the Chowder House in Fairhaven, and tuna fish sandwiches from BumbleBee tuna, courtesy of our own Joe Berry. The New Bedford Sea Shanty Chorus will entertain us. There are pledge cards and envelopes in the middle of each table and we invite you to fill out a pledge card and put it in Terry Letton's beautifully crafted cherry and maple box that will be on the stage. (And, dear Reader, if you would like to pledge to our congregation, we will put pledge cards by the lovely wooden box in the Parish Hall. We ended our service with singing We're Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table, which was our "grace" before our most enjoyable luncheon. The New Bedford Sea Shanty Chorus was 20-members strong that day and they entertained us royally. Many of our members pledged the treasure that matched the desire that was in their hearts. May we be blessed for our generosity and may you, dear Reader, also be blessed.)

          Reading: The Goose Story

          When you next see geese heading south for the winter---flying along in V formation---you might consider what science has discovered as to why they fly that way:

          As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following.

          By flying in V formation the whole flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

          When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone---and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds in front.

          When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wings of the V formation and another goose flies point.

          Geese honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.

          Finally, and this is important---when a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshots, and falls out of formation, two other geese fall out with that goose and follow it down to lend help and protection.

          They stay with the fallen goose until it is able to fly, or until it dies, and only then do they launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with their group. Anonymous

          Ann Fox added this: We humans cannot fly but at our best, we are like a fine team that supports one another on our journey. And we are like dancers who move to a similar beat and rhythm and whose choreography is our Faith. (We followed this by singing "Let It Be a Dance"