Time on magical Star Island is “time away from time” and it was the perfect setting to truly begin the contemplative part of my sabbatical. It is a place steeped in UU history (indeed friends of mine from Toronto First, Victor and Nancy Knight, after whom the Knight Award, given to the most distinguished Canadian Unitarian every year at the Canadian Unitarian Council Annual Meeting – were, I believe, the first UU couple to be married in the chapel there in the 1920s) with traditions going back over a century, (the first summer conferences were held there in 1897) connecting us to our UU spiritual ancestors in place and time. I had previously visited Star as a day visitor and attended Religious Education week there to complete one of the Renaissance modules as a theological student, but was thrilled this time to be asked to lead worship in historic Gosport Chapel. It was also wonderful to take Peter there for the first time to have him experience a place so special to me. Deep Learning and Insights Star Island’s worship tradition is revered among UUs as the most meaningful parts of the Star Island experience. For decades, worship begins after sunset from the moment you leave the “ordinary world” (symbolized by each person being given a hurricane lantern as they leave the porch of the Oceanic Lodge) and observing complete silence until you return, with the only words heard the words spoken or sung in worship. The silent “torchlight parade” winds slowly up the rocky hill until you reach the chapel, where the lanterns are hung one at a time on beautiful wooden cross sconces. The light from each succeeding lantern glows brighter until from outside the chapel is ablaze with light in the darkness and within one is able to read the words of hymns from the hymnal. Then the service begins with singing, prayer, readings, inspiration and the offerings of music or spiritual insight from the gathered ‘congregation.’ The deep learning for me in leading the service on Star was the metaphor of the “only words being the ones spoken or sung in worship;” that the only words we should speak should be the ones that express our highest value. This is a powerful metaphor for religious community and was a profound insight for me that relates to how I preach, how I act, how I lead, how I live and how I love. Like all such insights, it is hard to get across in mere words how it has changed me. The time I was there was a weekend in September after the official “conference season” has ended and Star is inhabited by individual retreatants as well as by several different small conferences. There was a music and dance weekend, yoga weekend, small choir workshop, and a “Star Women” conference, to name just a few. What is lovely is that it is a tradition among those groups to invite participation and cross-pollination from the members of the other groups – and all groups break bread together. We all got to meet each other and experience each other’s reason for coming to Star - whether physical, spiritual, musical or simply to commune with other good souls. This was reminiscent to me of a model for interfaith community that some clergy women colleagues and I used to dream of in theological school – we called it “The Temple.” Somewhat similar to the models for “community churches” present in some small towns, but with an interfaith rather than ecumenical vision; it represented to us the best of humanity’s common ground coming together in mutual service. It reminded me of the hope I have in the past invested in interfaith collaboration as a model for a peaceful world. I have always felt that UU religious community was uniquely poised to lead the way in this endeavour, and would be willing to invest personally in it. Finally, Star represents such a link to our UU past – particularly our New England Unitarian history. It was wonderful to feel so at home in a place that has nurtured and sustained everyone from Nathaniel Hawthorne to last year’s “Pelicans” (young adults who are the Island’s main employees – working as a “Pel” is described as “the best summer job in New England” by Yankee magazine - many UU youth end up there!) Being there was a reminder of the depth and breadth of the religious tradition in which I serve – honouring those who have come before and reminding me that I hold my part in this faith tradition in trust for those who will come after. It also served to remind me that I am Unitarian Universalist to the core, but need to be connected to the wider circle of our faith to keep grounded in our tradition, and that my vision of religious community extends beyond the boundaries of those we already serve. UU Values The UU Principles I feel are most connected to the insights gained on Star Island are Principle 7 • Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. And the first theological source (see above) the second and the sixth (below) • Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love; • Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. Next Page