Which ancestors have inspired your faith, commitments, and values? This word cloud includes the names of ancestors collected from attendees in the October 29th service. Some names are recognizable public figures, most are known only to the person who wrote the card. Engaging in such a ritual reminds us of our interdependence across generations of time. As the Rev. Catherine Clarenbach writes, “We are between the Ancestors and the Descendants. We are in a holy place.”

However, being alive right now may not feel like a very holy place. Rather, we are witnesses to the desecration of life in the October 7 Hamas attack on the Jewish people as well as the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza amidst the violence of war. And now Lewiston, Maine reels from eighteen tragic deaths, joining a growing list of communities shattered by gun violence. Distant though these tragedies may be, reading the news evokes strong feelings in many of us as we wrestle with making sense of it all.

While First Church Boston may be neither a news organization, nor a political policy think tank, religious communities are places where we can receive spiritual respite in hard times and be reminded of values through which to view current events. It is no small thing to wonder what it means to “Love the hell out of the world” when the world erupts in war and gun violence.

In November, our monthly theme will ask us to explore the value of “interdependence.” What does it mean to live within a world inextricably interdependent politically, economically, and environmentally? Sunday, November 5 introduces the theme of interdependence and Sunday, November 12 dives more deeply into the political implications of shared power. The Rev. Mary Margaret Earl of the UU Urban Ministries joins us on November 19 to offer a reflection on the long journey of justice work. Finally, on November 26, we will explore paths to repairing our frayed webs of connections. Molly Howes, PhD, author of “A Good Apology” joins us following the service for a Learning Community lunch and discussion.

Through countless generations, religious community has been a resource to bring people together in times of struggle and joy, war and peace. In these coming weeks of reflection on the value of interdependence, may this community be a source of renewal and insight as we lean on and learn from one another.