Good morning, beloved community.

It is truly a blessing to gather together, to see each of your faces, and to feel the warmth and energy that fills this space when we come together. Today, I want to speak to you about the importance of community—about how we build it, how we nurture it, and how, in turn, it sustains us through the highs and lows of our lives.

In a world that often feels divided, where differences seem to overshadow commonalities, our shared sense of community becomes not just a comfort but a necessity. Here, in this sacred space, we strive to create a home where each person is valued, where every voice is heard, and where we recognize that our strength lies in our togetherness.

The Power of Connection

There is a story I want to share with you. It’s a story about a small village that faced a time of drought. The fields dried up, the rivers slowed to a trickle, and the people grew weary. They were struggling—each family trying to make do with what little they had left. And then, one evening, an elder of the village called a meeting. She asked everyone to bring whatever food they could spare to the town square. Some brought a handful of grain, others brought a few withered vegetables. One family brought a small pot of water, another a few herbs.

And together, they made a soup. It wasn’t a feast by any means, but it was enough to feed everyone a small, warm bowl. As they sat together, eating their shared meal, they realized that they had not only nourished their bodies, but they had also fed their spirits. They had reminded themselves that even in the hardest times, they were not alone.

This story is a simple one, but it teaches us a profound truth: that in times of need, our greatest strength lies in our ability to come together, to share what we have, and to lift each other up. When we build community, we create a space where each of us can contribute, where each of us can find support, and where, together, we are stronger than we could ever be alone.

Building a Community of Care

So, what does it mean to build a community? How do we create a space where each person feels they belong, where they are seen, heard, and valued? I believe it starts with small, intentional acts of care.

It’s in the way we greet one another with genuine warmth when we come through these doors. It’s in the way we take the time to listen, really listen, to each other’s joys and sorrows. It’s in the way we show up for one another, whether that means delivering a meal to someone who’s sick, offering a ride to those who need it, or simply being present when someone needs a friend.

Community is built not just through grand gestures, but through the everyday ways we show up for one another. It’s in our willingness to be vulnerable, to share our own needs, and to allow others to help us when we are struggling. It’s in the recognition that we don’t have to have it all figured out—that we can lean on each other, just as others lean on us.

Strength Through Diversity

Another important aspect of community is recognizing the strength that comes from our diversity. Each of us brings something unique to this community—a different story, a different perspective, a different set of experiences. And when we bring those differences together, we create a richer, more vibrant tapestry.

In Unitarian Universalism, we hold the belief that truth is not found in a single voice or a single perspective, but in the chorus of many voices. We find wisdom when we listen to each other, when we learn from those whose experiences differ from our own. This is not always easy. It can be challenging to truly listen to another person’s story when it challenges our own assumptions or beliefs. But it is in these moments of listening, of reaching beyond our own understanding, that we find the greatest opportunities for growth.

Our diversity is not a barrier—it is a blessing. It is a source of strength that allows us to see the world from multiple angles, to approach challenges with creativity, and to find solutions that we might never have discovered alone. When we honor each other’s stories, we create a space where all are truly welcome, and where every person can find a place to belong.

Sustaining Each Other Through Challenges

But community is not just about celebrating the good times; it is also about holding each other through the difficult moments. Life is full of challenges—loss, grief, uncertainty. And in those moments, it can be easy to feel alone, to believe that no one else understands what we are going through. But when we are part of a community, we have a place to turn when the weight of the world feels too heavy to carry alone.

Think about the times when you have faced a hardship, and a friend reached out with a kind word or a helping hand. Think about the times when you felt lost, and someone offered you guidance. These moments remind us that we do not have to bear our burdens alone. And when we come together in times of sorrow, we find that our collective strength can hold us up, even when our individual strength feels like it is fading.

This is what it means to be part of a community—to know that when you stumble, there is someone there to catch you; and that when others stumble, you will be there to catch them. It is a promise we make to one another—to be there, in joy and in sorrow, in celebration and in struggle.

The Future of Our Community

As we look toward the future, I invite you to consider how each of us can continue to build and strengthen this community. What gifts do you bring? What passions can you share? And how can we, together, ensure that this remains a place where all are welcome?

This work is never finished. There will always be more hands needed, more hearts to hold, and more voices to hear. But that is the beauty of community—it is a living, breathing thing, always growing and evolving. And it is up to each of us to nurture it, to give of ourselves, and to receive the gifts that others bring.

My hope for us, beloved community, is that we continue to build a place where love is not just spoken, but lived out in action. A place where our differences are celebrated, where our challenges are met with compassion, and where we know, deep down, that we are never alone.

May we leave this space today with hearts full of gratitude for the gift of community. May we find the courage to reach out to one another, to lift each other up, and to build a world where love and justice guide our way.

Thank you for being here, for being part of this journey, and for making this community what it is. Together, we are stronger. Together, we are building something beautiful.

Amen.