Service
“The Seeds of a Century”
Rev. Dr. Janet H. Bowering
Outlaw’s Bridge Universalist Church
Centennial Homecoming – May 8, 2005
Chalice Lighting
Let this flame be to us a symbol of the holiness we seek, its brightness dispelling gloom, lighting a path to faith and hope.
Opening Words
Let their be a sense of reverence and gratitude in our hearts as we gather here this morning. Reverence for the miracle of life which courses in our veins and in all earth creatures; gratitude for the warmth of human friendship which bonds us together on this strange star adventure. In this quiet place of meditation may we find the insight and courage to meet the problems and demands of the daily round. Out of the vast resources of the race, the dreams, hopes and longing of all and the great surge of the creative life itself, may we find strength and faith for better living.
-Amen
Sermon
Those of you familiar with my preaching know that I have various ways to begin and to title a sermon: anecdotes, definitions, even jokes. Occasionally, I use a Bible text, but it has to be right – to fit the topic and the occasion. From the book of John, 12th Chapter, 24th verse – “Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
I’ll admit, I’d considered using as a title “The Harvest of a Century.” But harvest is rather a one time event, a form of completion – wrap up. It’s a source of satisfaction and it contributes to growth and well-being in the form of animal food, people food and lumber and fibers and more. But it rather loses its identity once it has been gathered in.
Whereas seeds hold a promise for the future and make a identifiable contribution in due time and not necessarily the following year. I think of Johnny Appleseed and the orchards that surprised westbound travelers and graced the farmlands of the Midwest long after Jonathan Chapman had gathered discarded seeds from cider mills and planted them on his roaming journeys. On Jon Chapman’s tombstone 1774-1845 – “He lived for others.”
I think too of seeds smuggled out of a country which had a monopoly on a certain crop.
Of course, we have to recall, as well, seeds accidentally scattered into new lands which grew and spread wildly-Kudzu and purple loosestrife. And that suggests the uneasiness about new laboratory creations that have some agronomists and farmers worried about the unknown effects. Finally, I’d recall centuries old seeds found in tombs probably part of a worship tribute. These very old seeds sprouted when given water and sunlight – like lost treasures rediscovered!
Each of these examples could be expanded into a story and perhaps a metaphor about human history. But, we’re here to celebrate an event! An anniversary and we want to think and talk about this church and its century of growth. That means its founding or planting, its growth and fruition and of course, the seeds produced and scattered. I think another reason I chose the image of seeds is that once ripened they keep well; they don’t wither or rot like lettuce or peaches.
It’s hard to say just when we should start the story for some preaching of Universalism goes back to the 1700’s but we can identify clearly with the event in Kenansville [NC] in 1828 when a Yankee Peddler by the name of William Ives came through the state with his horse and covered wagon. I quote from John E. Williams’ history [History of Universalism in North Carolina]. “When this man went from house to house selling his goods he would leave Universalist literature and in this way he helped to sow the first seeds of Universalism in North Carolina. For many years afterward when other ministers came through the state, they would find isolated families with Universalist beliefs who had never seen a Universalist church or heard a Universalist preacher.”
The story of our church is more detailed. When the founders decided to take action they knew they had a supply of good seeds in the persons who had been a part of Aunt Julia Outlaw’s Sunday School which she conducted “at a school house near her home beginning about 1870,” and which continues to this day.
This church was organized in 1905 by the Rev. Thomas Chapman and the first building was dedicated in 1907. Chapman was the first minister. This is a time too when we recall and give credit to the circuit riders, who like that early peddler, sowed seeds drawn from their own experience and shared from accounts of earlier settlers.
Universalism came to this country in many forms – with the pietists, and with people in religious communities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. John Murray had ready listeners when he came ashore at Good Luck, NJ in 1770. Elbanan Winchester, Quillen Shinn, Father Clayton, J. L. Everton, and others spoke to groups – not yet labeled Universalist with a capital “U” but eager for the idea and the scriptural reference and stories. From those groups of listeners there came converts, some just idly curious, some who were zealots and some serious minded “church builders.”
I would not minimize the contributions of the itinerant preachers. But their work would be hard to identify today if it were not for the founders and nurturers. These were the people who came and heard and said: “This kind of religion is what we need in the community. Bring us more please and we’ll build a church for the preaching of this good news.”
And so they did, right here! It was on land donated by Charity Elizabeth Outlaw, later married to Robert “Bob” Maxwell, called Chellie and so the church came to be called Chellie’s Chapel. Other churches were built all over the area – Woodington, Smith’s Chapel, Red Hill, Kinston, Pink Hill, Clinton, and more – most of them now only memories, but not without lasting influence.
I’d like to think that when Munroe Husbands was working to establish Fellowships as part of the so-called “Bright Galaxy” of renewal sponsored by the Unitarian Association in 1946-47, he may have found some dormant seeds from the earlier groups
that “sprouted” and added to the then initial interest. Those half forgotten seeds may have been the difference between Fellowships that grew and became churches – and the ones that quietly faded – as did may started by the earlier circuit riders.
Now what other seeds can we note that were part of this church’s legacy? Clearly there was the high proportion of school teachers in this congregation. I’ve heard that Aunt Julia is credited with advising young women to go into this profession. It wasn’t just a commendable kind of work – it was a chance for them to be independent – to have some choice for their future, - to “make a difference,” AND to plant more seeds!
There were people who came to this church because their families did, they’d grown up here and, since we like to believe that we raise our kids to have inquiring minds, this church was where they were comfortable. The Youth Group went to Raleigh to see “Family of Man.”
I quote from Mr. John Williams’ History of Universalism in North Carolina (p.139), “Being a rural community, the people know how to ‘live at home’ and do their own thinking.
Of course there were people who heard of “our kind of church,” of what I’d call “applied Universalism” because they came to events here. They observed and listened not only at funerals and at Sunday services but at suppers and turkey shoots, at square dances and auctions.
We “show forth” our beliefs in the way we do things and interact with each other. All of that is a form of seed sowing and over the decades of this past century, we’ve produced many and varied seeds. I know, and you know as well as any, some seeds take hold and grow and some do not.
This church showed leadership in many of the rooted seedlings. The ideas offered, the projects and initiative. The things which this congregation tried, some which succeeded wonderfully and some which were so-so, but which inspired others such as the series on World Religion (the map is on the floor still). They may have been like dandelions or milkweed, airborne and dreamlike and they may have been like cockleburs or stick titles, persistent perhaps even uncomfortable as they moved us to try new things. Some may have brought new people here to this church – or another UU church. And some kept on attending their own but with new ideas – a view that declared, “Hey, if those folks at Outlaw’s Bridge could do it maybe we could too!”
Whether it be school lunches or a community library or electric service during Gus Ulrich’s tenure, or classes on home economics or telephone service or foreign students brought to observe farming methods or today’s ESL classes. We didn’t do it alone but often we were ready to take the lead. This is applied religion and sometimes, it is a kind of worship.
I remember Gus telling of the day that the committee who’d worked to get the REA [Rural Electric Association] to bring electricity here (1938 or 39), went to Raleigh to get the maps and other documents. There was a small crowd waiting for them when they returned. The maps were spread on the floor of the parsonage living room and a ring of kerosene lamps placed around the edges. Then everyone got down on their knees to see where the lines would run. Gus said it was the nearest thing to a Universalist prayer meeting you could hope to see.
And then of course we remember the terrible day the old church burned on Easter Sunday morning 1950. Many of you remember how people arriving for service pitched in to save all they could – the pews we are sitting in now. Even doors were unscrewed from the frames and other furnishings. Then while their beloved church was but smoldering ruins people sat together and planned the rebuilding.
That was later in the day on Easter Sunday and that too was worship. What a wonderful kind of resurrection was demonstrated by this building, which was dedicated just a year later in April 1951. Most of the construction was done by people of the congregation – after all they’d built almost all of the parsonage just 13 years before in 1937 and I think that too was an act of faith in the future because they built it all ready wired, though the REA had not put through any electricity, yet!
We know how things flow, how seeds sprout and grow. The church was paid for and the mortgage burned while Vin and I were here. And then we shared our energies as a congregation to help fix up the buildings at Shelter Neck Conference Center. The mortgage burning brought back the Rev. Leonard Prater and his wife, Lyda, who had given so much of themselves in the rebuilding. More recently the building has been enhanced by air conditioning and I understand Bill Sutton deserves credit for getting that going.
It’s hard to start naming individuals because so much was the result of group effort, but I remember how much I learned, not only about customs and ideas but about practical things. I didn’t cook collards or black eye peas long enough and I sliced the ham too thick. I recall Becky Ulrich told me she had to learn more about making her biscuits and her boys had to learn bout pumping water into the gravity tank in the parsonage before the electric pump was installed.
We learned to get along with neighbors – a changing requirement as the area changed. Better roads, more communication meant we were less isolated and perhaps less interdependent. I remember we were excited about getting telephones. But after I’d lived 4 ˝ years without a phone, it was rather a “mixed blessing” to have one. People didn’t stop by with messages as they used to.
I remember, too, the warmth of hospitality – inviting you to come in and visit or (absolutely amazing to a Yankee) the parting remark after church, “Come go home with me.” I’d heard this several times until I asked of Effie Outlaw as I recall, “But Effie, what would you do if we really did come along and go home with you?” She smiled and assured me that she’d “set about cooking and fix it to feed us.” This kind of welcome in this church has been a treasured memory for ministers and visitors of short or long duration.
Recently I was telling my friend and classmate, Gene Navias, about this celebration. He smiled in remembrance, “Outlaw’s Bridge! That was on my first field trip!” He worked for years for the UUA Department of Education. You can never know how people have been influenced by their experience especially a first time. In the words of Thomas Caryle, “All work is as seed sown. It grows and spreads and sows itself anew.” I am thankful to have been a part of the seed sown in the past century. You who have been and continue in the tradition – be proud and thankful, too. We have been blessed by the trials and triumphs faced together in the spirit of our Universalist tradition! The future awaits -
Prayer
Eternal Spirit, god of all times and all peoples, we lift our hearts in gratitude and thanksgiving for this day of reunion and celebration. We are grateful for all the qualities that have been handed down to us by our parents and relations. May we do all that we can to pass on to others the best that we have learned and understood from our mothers and fathers, relative and teachers. Let our lives be lived in such ways that are true to the rich heritage of love and kindness that they have handed on to us.
May our thoughts and prayers be with those who have lost family members especially children to acts of war and other violence, to illness and accident. Let us understand where we can and work to heal the wounds and build a safer more gentle world.
As we have looked to the past it is right and proper we should also look to the future. We are parents to a succeeding generation whether we have children of our own or not. By example, we would transmit our values and sentiments to the children of our time. May we not forget our responsibilities to work always for ways that will bring a fairer more generous sharing of earth’s gifts for all the human family. We pray that our lives may be a blessing to us and those we meet in our daily living but also to generations yet unborn.
-Amen.
Charge to the Congregation
It is an honor and a joyful responsibility to deliver the charge to the people of this church as you enter your second century, for this congregation holds a legacy of fundamental importance in today’s world.
Our Universalist heritage expressed as belief in “the worth of all persons and the boundless love of God” has been taught and honored since well before the founding of this church.
The love taught by Jesus which was neglected and misrepresented by the Christian hierarchy through so many dark centuries was reanimated as a theological force by preachers like James Relly, George DeBenneville, John Murray, and hosea Ballou and by lesser known messengers like Thomas Barnes, Quillen Shinn, and Olympia Brown.
That gift is what makes your Universalist Church unique among the religious institutions of this community – the one which has presented universal salvation as a redeeming gift.
Perhaps even more essential was its theology which spoke boldly of an ever loving God who embraced all nations and all peoples. If ever the world needed that concept, we need it now.
And so the legacy we have held dear – and sometimes taken for granted – must be renewed as a cherished gift to share and to celebrate.
May your doors always be open to human needs, and may the remembrance of an honorable past guide you into the challenging future. May a variety of voices speak to you of the many paths to truth
May you share a common vision for the years ahead for, “where there is no vision the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18) You must present the message of Universalism as both urgent and compelling.
And finally I charge you to nurture a sense of holy gladness in the tasks you undertake. This will sustain you through the difficult times – and there will be those, as we all know.
Please remember always that you, the people of this church are the custodians of hope for the coming generation, and may God be with you in all that you do.
-Amen and Amen
Benediction
As we have come together to share in the celebration of a milestone in the life of this church and the people who have upheld it faithfully through all the years ---
May we have a sense of the grand procession the bold and the brave, the uncertain, the devoted, the dreamers, the workers, and yes those who asked the hard questions, raised the difficult concerns. These are the ancestors of this congregation and we recognize their contributions.
Congregations joins in:
May we go from here renewed by their memory, grateful for the faith which sustains us and strong with our courage to move on into the next century, upheld by the love of God and of the human family.
-Amen
-- Janet H. Bowering