Free and Unfree – 21/1/24

Musical Prelude: Trad.: Oh Freedom! (played by George Ireland)

Opening Words: ‘Here in this Sanctuary’ by Jack Mendelsohn

Here in this sanctuary of ancient dreams,
of wisdom and beauty, we come
to grow, to be healed,
to stretch mind and heart,
to be challenged, and renewed;
to be helped in our own continuing struggles for meaning and for love;
to help build a world with more justice and mercy in it;
to be counted among the hopers and doers.

In the face of cynicism, darkness, brutality around us and within,
we seek to align ourselves with a living community
that would affirm rather than despair,
that would think and act rather than simply adjust and succumb.

Here we invite the spirit of our own humanity
and the healing powers under, around, through and beyond it,
to give us the nerve and grace, the toughness and sensitivity,
to search out the truth that frees, the love that moves,
and the onward-flowing life that makes all things new. (pause)

Words of Welcome and Introduction:

These opening words by Jack Mendelsohn welcome all who have gathered this morning, for our Sunday service. Welcome to those of you who have gathered in-person at Essex Church and also to all who are joining us via Zoom from far and wide. For anyone who doesn’t know me, my name is Jane Blackall, and I’m Minister with Kensington Unitarians. I’m glad you made it here today.

This morning’s service is titled ‘Free and Unfree’. This theme was inspired by the famous words of the civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer: ‘Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.’ It’s a big, big topic! – but I hope we’ll make some modest inroads into exploring this tension between freedom of the individual and our collective freedom – and we’ll consider some of the many different dimensions of freedom (and the various ways in which we, and all our human neighbours, might still be somewhat un-free).

But let’s pause, and check in with ourselves, before we go any further. How are you doing – in body, mind, and spirit? Maybe it would help to stretch – shake off any physical tension you are carrying. Or maybe you could do with intentionally setting aside any worries that are bouncing around your brain. Maybe you need to take a conscious breath or two to fully arrive and settle in. As we often say here – we make this hour sacred with our presence and intention – so let’s be here now, as best we can.

Chalice Lighting: ‘Infinite Possibilities of Love’ by Tom Goldsmith

Let’s light our chalice flame now, as we do each week. This simple ritual connects us in solidarity with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists the world over, and reminds us of the proud and historic progressive religious tradition of which this gathering is part.

(light chalice)

Symbol of light and knowledge,
Symbol of warmth and freedom;
We light this chalice as a symbol of our faith.
As we gather to celebrate hope, and the infinite possibilities of love.

Hymn 42 (purple): ‘From the Light of Days Remembered’

Let’s sing together now. Our first hymn is number 42 in your purple books, ‘From the Light of Days Remembered’, also known as ‘The Fire of Commitment’. For those joining via Zoom the words will be up on screen. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer. It’s a lively one – so sing up as best you can!

From the light of days remembered burns a beacon bright and clear,
guiding hands and hearts and spirits into faith set free from fear.
When the fire of commitment sets our mind and soul ablaze;
when our hunger and our passion meet to call us on our way;
when we live with deep assurance of the flame that burns within,
then our promise finds fulfilment and our future can begin.

From the stories of our living rings a song both brave and free,
calling pilgrims still to witness to the life of liberty.
When the fire of commitment sets our mind and soul ablaze;
when our hunger and our passion meet to call us on our way;
when we live with deep assurance of the flame that burns within,
then our promise finds fulfilment and our future can begin.

From the dreams of youthful vision comes a new, prophetic voice,
which demands a deeper justice built by our courageous choice.
When the fire of commitment sets our mind and soul ablaze;
when our hunger and our passion meet to call us on our way;
when we live with deep assurance of the flame that burns within,
then our promise finds fulfilment and our future can begin.

Candles of Joy and Concern:

Each week when we gather together, we share a simple ritual of candles of joy and concern, an opportunity to light a candle and share something that is in our heart with the community. So we’ve an opportunity now, for anyone who would like to do so, to light a candle and say a few words about what it represents. This time we’re going to go to the people in the building first, and take all of those in one go, and then I’ll call on the people on Zoom to come forward.

So I invite some of you here in person to come and light a candle and then if you wish to tell us briefly who or what you light your candle for. Please do get up close to the microphone as that will help everyone hear (including the people at home). You can take the microphone out of the stand if it’s not at a good height and have it microphone pointing right at your mouth. And if you can’t get to the microphone give me a wave and I’ll bring it over to you. Thank you. (in person candles)

And if that’s everyone in the room we’ll go over to the people on Zoom next – you might like to switch to gallery view at this stage – just unmute yourselves when you are ready and speak out – and we should be able to hear you and see you up on the big screen here in the church. (zoom candles)

And I’m going to light one more candle, as we often do, to represent all those joys and concerns that we hold in our hearts this day, but which we don’t feel able to speak out loud. (light candle)

Time of Prayer & Reflection: based on words by Douglas Taylor

Let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer. This prayer is based on some words by Douglas Taylor. You might first want to adjust your position for comfort, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever works for you. Do whatever you need to do to get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – to be fully present here and now, in this sacred time and space – with ourselves, with each other, and with that which is both within us and beyond us. (pause)

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, in whom we live and move and have our being,
we turn our full attention to you, the light within and without,
as we tune in to the depths of this life, and the greater wisdom
to which – and through which – we are all intimately connected.
Be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the
silence and stillness at the very centre of our being. (pause)

Gracious and loving God, Universal Spirit from whom
all things come and to whom all things return;
We gather on the edge of another week and,
for some of us, on the edge of our strength, and
our capacity to manage all that life has brought our way.
Some of us come here uplifted by the events of our week, some
weighed down by them, or maybe we arrive in some paradoxical mix of the two.

We are here, together, in our familiar
Sunday gathering of hope and restoration.
At times we come weary and worn down;
at other times we come with questions,
with a longing, or with something to offer.
But for those who, this morning, find themselves shattered, lonely, or lost,
let us offer our prayers of resilience and restoration.

In prayer, we test the tender places
in our hearts and in our lives,
to sense what healing may occur.
And gratitude is often a great source of healing.

So let us give thanks for the landscapes of grace in our lives,
for music and for good companions,
for the guidance of great principles,
and the examples of integrity around us.
We give thanks for all that lifts us up and for lessons that lead us on.

For the times when we are brought low by anxiety or adversity,
show us the hidden wells of love we can tap into.
Help us rise up once more, just once more,
and once more again will surely be enough.
Remind us we do not strive in vain;
that we are part of a chorus,
that resilience is in our bones,
that peace will ultimately prevail on earth,
and that healing and grace come like soft rain.

Be thou an ever-present strength upon our journeys,
and teach us that in falling down, we do rise again.
This we ask in the name of all that is holy. (pause)

In a few moments of shared stillness now, let us call to mind those people and situations who
are on our hearts this morning, thinking of all those issues that concern us close to home, and
those troubled places the world over, and let us hold them gently in loving-kindness. (pause)

And let us hold ourselves in loving-kindness too. Each of us carries our own private burdens.
Life is tough for so many right now; we are all too aware of life’s struggles and hardships.
So let us rest in self-compassion now as we ask silently for what we need this day. (pause)

And let us take a moment to reflect on the week just gone in a spirit of gratitude; let us notice
and give thanks for all those blessings, large or small, that have helped to lift our spirits. Maybe we can prepare our hearts to recognise and receive life’s goodness in the week ahead. (pause)

Spirit of Life – God of all Love – as this time of prayer comes to a close, we offer up
our joys and concerns, our hopes and fears, our beauty and brokenness,
and we call on you for insight, healing, and renewal.

As we look forward now to the coming week,
help us to live well each day and be our best selves;
using our unique gifts in the service of love, justice and peace. Amen

The Story of the Wolf and the Dog (Aesop, retold by Bill Darlison)

In a bonus addition to our usual programme, I’m going to invite Antony to come up and tell us a story now, the Story of the Wolf and the Dog. It’s one of Aesop’s Fables, retold by Bill Darlison, and it’s one way of looking at freedom (though one that’s not without its problems… choosing the reading doesn’t imply wholehearted endorsement of its message! I might add a little bit of commentary and nuance to the story and its message later on. But see what you make of it).

One day a dog met a wolf in the forest. The dog said to the wolf, ‘Mr. Wolf, why are you so thin? Haven’t you eaten recently? You really must learn to look after yourself better!’

‘I eat when I can,’ said the wolf, ‘but it’s not always easy to get food. I’m getting older and I’m not as quick as I used to be. The animals I eat seem to be able to get away from me these days.’

‘You should come and live with me,’ said the dog. ‘I live in a big house; it’s warm and cosy; my master feeds me three times every day and I can sit and doze in front of the fire any time I like. Sometimes he lets me out for a few minutes so I can run around the forest. There he is, over there, waiting for me to go back to him. Come with me. He’ll look after you.’

‘I think I will,’ replied the wolf. ‘Why should I be out here in the cold, grabbing what food I can when I can be fed for free? Lead the way.’

As the dog went on ahead, the wolf noticed that the dog had a little circle round his neck where the fur had worn away. ‘What’s wrong with your neck?’ he asked.

‘Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just where my master fastens a chain around me each night to keep me in my place while he is asleep,’ said the dog, a little ashamed.

‘Sorry,’ said the wolf. ‘I won’t be coming with you. I’d rather be half-starved and free than well-fed and a slave. Goodbye!’

And the wolf vanished into the forest.

Hymn 16 (purple): ‘Captive Voices Cry for Freedom’

Thanks Antony. Let’s sing together again now. Our next hymn is number 16 in the purple book, ‘Captive Voices Cry for Freedom’, it’s not one I’ve knowingly sung here before so I’m going to ask George to play it all the way through. It’s perfectly on topic for today’s theme and I think it’s perfectly singable – we’ll pick it up. The words will be up on screen. Sing up as best you can!

Captive voices cry for freedom,
arms pull bars that will not bend;
liberty – our priceless treasure –
we will cherish and defend.

Free to doubt and free to question,
free to seek and free to find;
let us celebrate our freedom,
free in spirit, free in mind.

Free our minds from narrow thinking,
free our hearts from prejudice;
fill our minds with hope and reason,
fill our hearts with joy and peace.

Free from bigotry and anger,
free from ignorance and fear;
humankind heed freedom’s challenge,
speak, O Lord, and make us hear.

Free all troubled minds from torment,
bring them comfort and repose;
grant us also such a freedom
when our lives draw to their close.

Free from fear of separation,
unenlightened creeds proclaim
universal destination –
God of love, from whom we came.

Online Reading: ‘To the People who have Mistaken Freedom for Liberation’ by Teresa I. Soto (read by Sonya)

To be free, you must embrace
the breadth of your existence
without apology, even if they try to take
it from you. You must know, not that you
can do whatever you want; you are not
a kudzu vine, eating entire hillsides for
the purpose of feeding your own lush life. You
must know instead, that inside you are entire
Universes – milky blue, magenta, and gold –
Expanding. But to actually be free, you must
know and you must fight for the entire
Universes inside of everyone else.
Being free is not a license, but
A promise.

Meditation: ‘Perspectives on Freedom in an Unfree World’

Thanks Sonya. We’re moving into a time of meditation now. I’m going to share a few quotes on this theme of freedom (and unfreedom) for us to ponder inwardly during this meditative time. The quotes will take us into 3 minutes of silence which will end with the sound of a bell. Then we’ll hear some meditative music from George. So let’s each do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position if you need to – put your feet flat on the floor to ground yourself – close your eyes. As we always say, the words are an offering, feel free to use this time to meditate in your own way.

Jean Maalouf wrote: ‘Only in true freedom can one flower.
Freedom is probably the soul’s deepest need.’

Eleanor Roosevelt said: ‘Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being.
With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up,
the person who does not want to carry his own weight, this is a frightening prospect.’

Franklin D. Roosevelt said: ‘True individual freedom cannot exist
without economic security and independence. People who are
hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.’

Paulo Freire said: ‘Liberation is a praxis: the action and reflection
of men and women upon their world in order to transform it.’

Albert Camus said: ‘The only way to deal with an unfree world is to
become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.’

And Fannie Lou Hamer famously said: ‘Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.’

I wonder if any of those quotes particularly spoke to you? I invite you to take those diverse thoughts on freedom (and unfreedom) into our time of shared silence and stillness now.

Period of Silence and Stillness (~3 minutes) – end with a bell

Interlude: G. Donizetti: Prendi per me sei Libero from L’elizir d’Amore (played by George Ireland)

In-Person Reading: ‘On the Nature of Freedom’ by Jamal Abasi (read by Brian)

This short poem, ‘On the Nature of Freedom’, is written by a young Afghan refugee called Jamal Abasi. He came to Germany at the age of 12 and wrote this poem at the age of 16.

Freedom is a fine word
For which much has been sacrificed
And which can harbour many dangers
But that does not mean
That we have no freedom at all
We have just not understood it properly
We have not understood that it has limits
We have not understood that untamed freedom
Can lead to folly.

Yet we are not always
Responsible for it ourselves
People who could not taste freedom
Their whole lives long
And then suddenly come to a world
In which it is highly valued
Do not understand freedom
They follow their image of freedom and in this lose
Their own way

No spot on this earth can be completely unfree
Because a person’s thoughts
And the way
A person experiences the world
Are a universe of their own

It would be good to know
Where the roots of unfreedom lie
So that one’s own freedom
Is not suddenly in a cage.

Reflection: ‘Free and Unfree’ by Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall

Thanks Brian. As I said at the top of the service, this theme of freedom and unfreedom is a big, big topic, and we might as well accept upfront that we are barely going to scratch the surface of it today – I hope it’s one we’ll return to again and again, and approach from different angles, in the months and years to come. After all, it’s a theme beloved of Unitarians – historically we’ve made a lot of ‘freedom, reason, and tolerance’ as our guiding values – we call ourselves ‘a free religious faith’.

And it’s a theme which means a lot to me personally too, though I tend to speak in terms of liberation more than freedom, as the two words have slightly different connotations for me. When I had my ordination service a few years ago I wrote a statement of my vision for my ministry – I tried to articulate my own sense of calling – and liberation was a big part of what I hoped my future ministry would be about (perhaps that’s why I picked this topic the week before our big induction service). I’ve long been inspired by the liberation theology tradition, this idea that God cares especially for the oppressed, the unfree, and that we are all called to join in the struggle for the liberation of everyone – to create the conditions where all human beings are in a position to flourish and thrive – it’s a big ask, of course, but I believe in those words of Fannie Lou Hamer: ‘nobody’s free until everybody’s free’.

But what does it really mean to be free? Or to be unfree? Often we hear talk of freedom from people asserting that they should be free to do whatever they want – but to my mind that’s framing freedom in a very individualistic, even libertarian, sense – asserting our rights to do what we like, in pursuit of our own pleasure and happiness, whatever consequences or ‘collateral damage’ we might cause to any poor soul who has the misfortune to be in our way. I don’t suppose you’ll be surprised to hear me say: I think this this is a pretty problematic way to think about freedom. It brings to mind that well-known quote: ‘your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins.’ There seems to be an unavoidable tension between individual liberty and collective well-being and we each need to work out a way to live which takes both sides of the equation into account.

We heard that tale of the Dog and the Wolf earlier, and as I hinted, I have rather mixed feelings about it. It seems to present just two options for life: you can be wild and free, like the lone wolf; or you can give up your freedom, like the poor old dog, who has chosen domestication and captivity. The story offers a binary choice: you can be independent or dependent (and trapped). But surely there’s a middle way between these two – what would it look like if we acknowledge our interdependence – that we are embedded in an ‘inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny’ (to quote Martin Luther King) and our action (or inaction) will always have an impact on others whether we intend it or not. If we look at freedom through the lens of interdependence we might opt to voluntarily give up some of our own freedom, to constrain our own actions, in order to minimise harm to others and act in service of the common good. And I think most of us do this in our daily lives, we accept some limits, as part of the social contract.

There’s an essay on freedom by the philosopher Shay Welch that adds something important, I think. She writes: ‘Part of the importance of social freedom to individuals is the ability to shape their life and express their personality. Social freedom is essential if people are to meaningfully live their lives by making plans, commitments, curious endeavours and inquiries, personal expressions, and relationships. These activities require that individuals be able to choose freely… Yet all choices are constrained… Social oppression leads to unjust, predetermined, limited options, that direct members of certain social groups toward specific and similar—stereotypical—life paths.’ Words by Shay Welch.

So let’s make this a bit more concrete now and consider just a few of the many ways in which freedom or, more to the point, unfreedom are manifested in people’s real lives. We might think through the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Some people are unfree in the most basic sense – locked up in prison or otherwise in physical captivity – we’d better leave consideration of the prison system as a topic for another day (though I think Sarah preached on this not that long ago). Some people’s freedom is constrained as a result of various laws which prohibit certain behaviours – including some laws which we might consider unjust – such as those limiting the right to protest in the UK or those which still criminalise LGBTQ+ people in many countries worldwide. Some people’s life choices are limited due to being trapped in poverty and debt (and more and more people are falling into this category, I would say, living precariously, and working more hours for less pay, due to the ever-increasing concentration of wealth in the hands of the few). Some people are constrained by social and cultural convention or family obligations which they feel unable to escape. Some are boxed in as a result of prejudice, stereotype, or discrimination which might even make it dangerous for them to simply go about their everyday lives in public – we only have to think of the terrible incidents the Black Lives Matter movement brought to the fore – and those same factors block people’s access to education, jobs, or the resources they need to get by. Some of us are un-free because of addiction or other compulsive behaviours; and some through fixed habits of thinking they can’t break out of.

It’s a long list. And an incomplete list, of course. There are very many ways in which we can be unfree. And I recently came across an essay from a young New York based philosopher, Yarran Hominh, who’s been doing a lot of work on the notion of ‘unfreedom’. This is a long-ish excerpt adapted from his writing but I think it’s important so I want to share his insights with you. He writes:

‘To speak of “Liberation” invites the question: liberation from what? So, the first step in liberation is to understand the conditions of unfreedom from which we want to liberate ourselves. Unfreedom involves an experience of constraint or denial. There is something I should be able or want to do or to achieve and cannot. This feeling of frustration is the experiential guide to unfreedom. It asks us to understand the causes of that frustration and what might relieve it. Of course, unfreedom takes many specific forms, from slavery to authoritarianism to group-based forms of oppression and domination. Unfreedom is right before our eyes. Workers are bound to alienating and exploitative work, where they can get it. Women are forced to pay impossible amounts of money, and travel impossible distances to get abortions, where they are legal. Black people and other communities of colour are pushed into ghettoes, and then when those areas become desirable, they are forced out by rising rent and costs of living. People living with disabilities are unable to access basic infrastructure, and are left without the support necessary to live a decent life. The global South is trapped in cycles of debt and locked into economic policies that serve not their citizens, but only the short-term interests of multinational corporations. Unfreedom not only normal, it is systemic.’

Powerful words from Yarran Hominh about just a few of the aspects of unfreedom that seem to be baked into our contemporary globalised society. And, like he says, the first step toward liberation is to understand the conditions we might want to liberate ourselves from. The first step toward liberation is awareness of the problem, in all its complexity, and acknowledgement of the suffering it causes to all who are unfree. Which is, ultimately, all of us, because ‘nobody’s free until everybody’s free’.

So where does that leave us? (for today, at least, as I think this is a subject we’ll keep returning to).
I wonder if our calling as a free religious faith community is to keep that awareness front and centre – to make liberation a guiding principle as we go forward – and to resist, disrupt, and unlearn the ways of the world that are unjustly keeping us – all of us – from thriving, flourishing, and living free.

I very much hope that’s where we’re headed. May it be so, for the greater good of all. Amen.

May it be so, for the greater good of all. Amen.

Hymn 70 (purple): ‘I Wish I Knew How’

Time for our last hymn, it’s number 70 in your purple books, and of course we had to have this one: ‘I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free’. Please sing up and let’s enjoy our closing hymn.

I wish I knew how it would feel to be free.
I wish I could break all these chains holding me.
I wish I could say all the things I could say,
say ’em loud, say ’em clear for the whole world to hear.
Say ’em loud say ’em clear for the whole world to hear.

I wish I could share all the love in my heart,
remove all the bars that still keep us apart.
I wish you could know what it means to be me,
then you’d see and agree everyone should be free.
Then you’d see and agree everyone should be free.

I wish I could give all I’m longing to give.
I wish I could live like I’m longing to live.
I wish I could do all the things I can do,
though I’m way overdue I’d be starting anew.
Though I’m way overdue I’d be starting anew.

I wish I could be like a bird in the sky.
How sweet it would be if I found I could fly
I’d soar to the sun and look down at the sea,
then I’d sing ’cause I’d know how it feels to be free.
Then I’d sing ’cause I’d know how it feels to be free.

Announcements:

Thanks to Ramona for tech-hosting. Thanks to Sonya for co-hosting and welcoming everyone online. Thanks to Antony, Sonya and Brian for reading. Thanks to George to playing for us today – welcome back! Thanks to Julia for doing coffee and Liz for greeting. For those of you who are in-person – please do stay for a cuppa and cake after the service – it’s berry lime drizzle cake this week – served in the hall next door. If you’re joining on zoom please do hang on after for a chat with Sonya.

We have various small group activities during the week. There’s so much singing happening at the church these days! Stay behind after today’s service for a singing lesson with Margaret. Or you can come back on Wednesday night for our community singing group, that’s great fun. Looking a bit further ahead we have ‘Many Voices’ meeting here after the service on Sunday 4th February – that’s a long-running LGBTQIA+ singing group – allies are very welcome – and congregation members can now go for free. You can pick up flyers for all of these events. Tati and Gaynor who run ‘Many Voices’ are here today – do you want to come up to the mic?

Sonya is back with her Nia dance classes on Friday lunchtime from 12.30pm. Heart and Soul, our contemplative spiritual gathering, is happening tonight, Sunday, and Friday online. It’s a great way to get to know people more deeply. This week’s theme is ‘Poetry’. Sign up with me!

Next Sunday we have the long-awaited Induction Service, that’s at 3pm on the 27th January, officially marking the start of the new ministry (though I have been here for quite a while…) and we think we’ve got at least 60 people joining in-person and another 20 online. I think we’re mostly organised in terms of logistics on the day but if you might be able to help let me know.

Next Sunday we’ll be back here at 11am, the day after, when our theme will be ‘Ordinary Time’.

Details of all our various activities are printed on the back of the order of service, for you to take away, and also in the Friday email. Please do sign up for the mailing list if you haven’t already. The congregation very much has a life beyond Sunday mornings; we encourage you to keep in touch, look out for each other, and do what you can to nurture supportive connections.

I think that’s everything. Just time for our closing words and closing music now.

Benediction: based on words by Sarah Lammert

Our time together has now ended.

Go in peace, embraced by the light and warmth of our gathering.
Go in love, ready again to struggle on.
Go in beauty, shining forth like a lamp for freedom.

And let us share in the ongoing worship of the community in dispersion,
taking what we have found here back out into the world,
and passing it on, for the greater good of all. Amen.

Closing Music: J. Sibelius: excerpt from Finlandia (played by George Ireland)

Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall

20th January 2024