President's Message - April 2025

Do you know how much I treasure being your council president? I feel like I'm on the home stretch, one more year to go in my six-year term. Plus, of course, I had the privilege to get to know you as the Congregational Life council rep for six years before that.

We had an awesome council meeting on March 19". I wish you all could have been there. I'm so impressed with the leaders we have right now: active and engaged, compassionate and funny, creative and willing, diligent and forward thinking.

Because of what I call "my no-surprise rule," I had sent out a banner slogan to council with the meeting agenda asking for their permission to hang the banner outside the church. (Council always gives its approval to external messaging.) The slogan was taken from something that a few of us had found on social media and had liked. It came from a candle company that had started a line of candle products they called "Local Woke Mob."

I asked Council if we could put this slogan on a banner: Local Woke Mob Meets Here Sundays @ 10 - and a few of you had actually put your handprints on it, in rainbow colors after church on March 16". We had a great discussion at council.

I think we all liked "woke" but there were a few members who were concerned about the word "mob" -- that it would turn off some people who didn't know us. We could have brought it directly to a vote, but unlike most items that come up at our meetings, it felt like it could be contentious.

I have a favorite agreement: "Make No Assumptions" (from the Five Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.) What then commenced was a fruitful go-round of expressions of personal feelings: trying to balance our frustration at the current black hole of chaos coming from Washington with the need to stay positive and hopeful; the recognition of how far we have come post-Covid as a congregation and the vision ahead of the long road we're walking on, where the vista seems to be shrinking in possibilities. Since most of us are children of the sixties and have witnessed growth and relative peace for most of our lives, we feel daunted at the idea and the manner of this executive clearcutting and table flipping.

When it was suggested that we change "mob" to 'folk" it resonated with all of us -- again proving that a group decision is often the best decision. We know what our job is.

As drastic as it was in the time of our abolitionist predecessors, we will stand up to bigotry, xenophobia, trans-hate, misogyny, bullying and the destruction of the social safety net.

Together, and with all who come with us, we will forge 21 Century Amazing Grace Power in Elmira.

Because this is what democracy looks like.

Yours, Jenny