President's Message - May 2025
- Jenny Monroe
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Here's something I shared five years ago, but bears repeating:
"There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of antiintellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.'" Isaac Asimov
Thankfully, we are a place where anti-intellectualism is called out for what it is, and people can find olace with like-minded progressives in community. We stand up for each other's rights and take responsibility for being a safe haven for the marginalized. We honor a woman's choice to make her own decisions about when and how she will become a mother: We honor all families.
We believe that hope springs eternal and is worth husbanding. In so many places darkness abounds. Yet e continue to value bringing truth to light. I offer a favorite message written by Father Ron Rolheiser ronrolheiser.com
MIDWIVES OF HOPE - A Message for All Kinds of Mothers
"None of us wants to be this way. Something inside us wants to trust, to hope, to believe in the goodness of things, to again feel that trustful enthusiasm we once had as a child, when we were innocent (and "innocent" means "unwounded"), when we could still take another's hand in trust. We'd like to trust, but often we can't give birth to it. That's where a midwife can be helpful.
When a baby is born, normally the head pushes its way through the birth canal first, opening the way for the body to follow. A good midwife can be very helpful at this time, doing everything from giving support, through giving reassurance, through giving instruction, through teaching us how to breathe, through actively helping to pull the new life through the birth canal.
That's true too for trust and hope. A good midwife can be helpful in bringing these to birth. What can she bring that's helpful? Insight, support, reassurance, certain spiritual "breathing exercises", and experienced hands that can, if necessary, help pull the new child through the birth canal.
One of the things a midwife of hope needs to do is what Jesus did when he met people after his resurrection. He sent them back to "Galilee" where he promised they would re-find their hope and trust. What is "Galilee"?
In the gospels, "Galilee" is more than a geographical place. It's a place of the heart: the place of falling in love, of first fervor, of being inflamed with high ideals, of walking on water because one is naive and trustful enough to believe that this is possible. "Galilee" is the place we were before our hearts and ideals got crucified, the place inside us where trust and hope are gestated.
Somewhere in life we lose the child in us and also lose the trust and hope that go with that. It's a painful struggle to give birth to trust again and, in that struggle, a midwife of hope, someone who believes in the resurrection, can indeed be a wonderful friend."
Here's what I'm hopeful about for the month of May:
That we'll get enough volunteers to staff the rummage preparations and sale even though some of us will have to miss the noon "Hands Off" rally in Corning on Saturday, May 3rd in order to clean up after the sale.
That our congregation will offer their ideas during worship on May 4th about what the church should start, stop and continue - a discussion format presentation prior to our Congregational meeting at 11 AM.
That two new individuals in our congregation, Bev Clickner and Pat Breux, will be elected to Council at that meeting.
That all who can come will RSVP for our annual Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday, May 11th from 11:30 AM to 1 PM.
That we'll all learn new things at Talima Aaron's May 14* lecture at 7 PM about John W. Jones, American Hero.
That anyone who wishes to join the church will let me know ASAP so I can make preparations for a May 18th New Member's Welcome Ceremony.
That we will attract lots of folks to the Thursday, May 29th luncheon sponsored by the Alzheimer's Association and Planned Parenthood of Greater NY (see flyer in this edition of Cross Currents).
Still full of hope!
Yours fondly, Jenny
