And so on this the eve of "All Hollows Eve" we welcome new members into our congregation. It seems the timing is quite appropriate. Halloween is the liturgical, "Feast of All Souls." We do celebrate all souls here; it's a part of our Universalist tradition.

One of the leading Unitarian Universalist theologians of this century, the late James Luther Adams, known endearingly as JLA, claimed that our tradition is one that upholds the priesthood and the prophethood of all believers. What he meant by the priesthood of all believers is the, "... idea that all believers have direct access to the ultimate resources of the religious life and that every believer has the responsibility of achieving an explicit faith for free persons." For us, there is no mediator or go between. We are each accountable for our own relationship with Life, and for how we live as a result of that relationship.

Adams regarded the prophethood of all believers not as, "critics dealing with religious and ethical generalities." Nor was he referring to religious magicians who can foretell the future through some kind of exclusive and divine revelation. He was though, indeed referring to the capacity of the liberal religious person to prophesize the future by aligning and connecting, in a religious way, with the future.

The prophet’s eyes–eyes we were all born with–are capable of seeing what is, if we only open our eyes to see it. The prophet’s calling then, is to respond to what is by envisioning a future based in the reality of what is. The future that the prophet sees though, the future that the prophet is dedicated to, is one that is transformed by his/her religious commitment to it. JLA a wrote:

In essence, what James Luther Adams was saying is that, if we take this liberal faith of ours seriously, we are compelled by it into a shared and common ministry–a ministry by and for all souls. Wherever people are striving to overcome racism, poverty, homophobia, economic injustice and other disjunctions, JLA says, there is, "a divine power at work. Faith in that power brings confidence that the resources for healing and reconciliation are available to all persons, and especially those committed to humility and charity and audacity. This faith arises from and serves the divine ecology."

Out of our priesthood our prophethood emerges. Out of our faith our ministry rises. Sometimes that might mean accepting that there is pain and suffering in the world, and then being there for one another just to help another get through it.

Sometimes it might mean making one more hot noodle casserole with tuna, peas and mushroom soup, or maybe singing one more special song, so that someone might know that they are loved.

Sometimes it might mean going out of our way–or even changing the course of our paths–to touch the life of a stranger, or to share the prospect of hope with a child.

Sometimes that ministry might mean rejecting the unquestioned but possibly comfortable idea that what we have is simply what we deserve, and that what others may not have is equally of their own doing.

Sometimes it might mean risking our own exclusive view of reality in order to embrace a larger view, one that may be more inclusive of all humanity and more beneficial to the entire planet, one that may be, in the end, more sustaining.

Always though, I think that the ministry that rises out of our liberal faith means that we are called to be realists, to be honest in our appraisal of what is. Always we are called to harness ourselves to a vision of what yet can be–for ourselves and for the world. Always we are called to be strong in our faith, so that it might serve as a trusted bridge, leading from what is to the fuller vision of the other side. And always it calls on us to find and create opportunities to move on–not by happenstance–but opportunities to move on intentionally and religiously from one side of that bridge to the other.

On this eve of Halloween when there are soon to be goblins calling at our door, on this morning of new member recognition when we welcome the stranger and say, "You are one of us," on this threshold of the future when we are each called to be our best self, I invite you to listen to this poem. "The Guest House" is written by the Indian poet, Rumi:

On this lovely autumn morning we are here because somehow we have each heard and chosen (in one portion or another) to answer the call to meaningful life. Its opportunities abound, whether we recognize them or not. May we strive to be mindful, and let us welcome them all.

Let us stand without mediator, accountable for our own relationship with Life.

Let us stand as prophets of the future–true to our vision–serving as midwife to the world still a borning, offspring of our highest aspirations and of our deepest yearnings.

Let us stand in awe of this wonderful creation, each of us committed always to humility, and charity, and audacity.

And let us stand in gratitude for those who have gone before us–the saints (who were also sinners) who built this institution, who dared to live in the questions, and whose lights guide us still to help us on our ways.

May it be so.

New member recognition is always a special and rewarding time in the life of the church. New members are welcomed, recognized and celebrated. Older members are reminded of the importance of this connection in their lives, and reaffirmed in their membership by the newcomers' interest in becoming a part of the congregation.

While there is much commonality in what brings many of us to this faith community, our newcomers each arrive with a unique history and with a wealth of individual gifts. Today, as these individuals make their membership public, I would remind us all that joining a Unitarian Universalist congregation may seem easy because all you have to do is sign the book. But, be assured, it is a most demanding step.

First, we ask that you submit to the most rigorous authority in religious and spiritual matters–the authority of your own mind, your own heart, and your own conscience.

We ask that you sacrifice the security of unchallenged points of view, and that you be open to change and growth.

We ask that you be restless in the pursuit of human rights, social justice, and world peace.

We ask that you care, both for your fellow church members and for this institution which embodies the liberal religious principles that we enjoy.

We ask you to remember that this is a community of aspiration, not a congregation that has it all figured out. Part of being human is the experience of failure, and part of being in religious community is being there–to pick each other up when we have stumbled.

And we ask that you commit yourself to the service of this church by your participation in it - with your resources: your talents, time and energies, your opinions, criticisms, and your hopes. We ask that you participate with all of these, and more, we ask you to financially support this church. (Rest assured, the canvass committee will call on you soon, if they haven’t already.) Together, we can continue to build a free religious community in Montclair and in northern Essex County.

We know that you were attracted to this church because you were already supportive of many of the things this church stands for. And we know that you are volunteering to join with us because these impulses and goals fit well with who you are already.

We are happy to welcome you into the rich heritage of this congregation which is now 103 years old; into the rich heritage of our denominational organizations which date back more than 170 years; into the tradition of heresy (a word that comes from a Greek root meaning to choose), a tradition that goes back some two thousand years; and into the heritage of a set of religious values that goes all the way back to the earliest days of human awareness.

May your membership here be filled with meaning.

I would ask those of you who are becoming members to please come forward as your name is read and to sign your name into our membership book. You’ll then be welcomed with the traditional right hand of fellowship as it is presented by our President, Ruth Karr, by the Chair of our Extension Committee, Susan Spanier, by our Minister of Religious Education, Judy Tomlinson, and by myself. Please accept the gift of a flower from the extension committee; we hope that its beauty will symbolize your membership with us.