What matters most?

I have two friends named Ed: one a UU Minister, the other a religious contemplative, a monk in the world. As I think about their lives and what is going on in our world, I wrestle with the all-important question we all must answer “What matters most in my life?”

As I reflect on Rev. Dr Ed Brock's ministry, the lives of the people around me, the spirit of the age, and my own life, I deal with a nagging question. I hear it when I wake up in the morning. I hear it during the day. I hear it as I go to bed.

"What matters most to you?"

Time is flying. So many sunsets to see, so many bird songs to hear, so many flowers to smell, so much honey to taste, so much to touch and feel.

I work part time in a library. Every day, hundreds of books, DVDs, compact disks, and other media pass through my hands. I barely have time to read even the titles. For someone who grew up in an African village without libraries, someone who loves books, this is like being a child in a candy store--my wildest dream come true.

What I've learned handling this amount of media is that I can't read or watch or listen to everything. Here, too, the nagging question arises: "What matters most to you?"

Last Sunday, a friend, Ed Del Arroyo (the other Ed) took his vows to become a Peace Pilgrims monk. I met Ed three years ago at Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry. It was at one of our reflection days where seminarians gather to prepare for the coming quarter. He, another student and I formed a triad for the "Shalem process." Ed had been a Benedictine monk, a mental health nurse, a TM practitioner, and had been to India. He came to STM for a graduate degree in theology. For over a year now, Ed and I, with Karen and Deb, two other STM students, have been meeting once a month in each other's homes.

After the ceremonies in what the Right Rev. Father Alan Kemp of the Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch Malabar Rite in Gig Harbor called the cathedral in nature in the middle of pine trees without walls, we had a reception for Ed at Deb's house where we wished him well. We ate and drank and talked. And we asked ourselves: What matters most?

We agreed that connecting with and maintaining a constant communion with our inner selves was the most important task for us and for the world. We said that all our actions should be premeditated and intentional. Without constant union with the Spirit within, our lives are shallow. Next come meeting our basic needs followed by our own service to the world.

I've experienced peace and disquiet simultaneously recently. Peace because all my life, I’ve worked to connect with my inner spirit for guidance and strength. Disquiet comes since there's so much to do to live from this center, to meet basic needs and leave the world a better place.

This disquiet alarms me as I perceive the conundrum of the age. We're the generation most likely to leave this world worse than we found it. We have made the greatest scientific discoveries but we've used these inventions for the most part to deaden the spirit, enslave others and destroy the earth.

What matters most for me, then, is reconnecting with my inner core, and with those who have connected with their inner spirit to create a positive global consciousness to take us out of the nightmare of the age.

Shalem Institute

Seattle University’s School of Theology and Ministry

Peace Pilgrim

The Catholic Apostolic Church of Antioch: Malabar Rite

Environmental Issues

When I think about Rev Ed Brock

I’ve been posting the comments that some members of the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church made about Rev Dr. Ed Brock’s seven-year ministry. Tomorrow, I’ll post the comments that the Covenant Groups Coordinator made about Ed’s Leadership. Today, I’m posting the words of the President of the Board of Trustees. Sometime next week, I'll post my comments about the reasons for posting all these comments. I'll attempt to give my comments about the joys and challenges of being a Unitarian Universalist Minister.

“When I think of Rev Ed Brock”
Victor Place
President, EUUC Board of Trustees

When I think about the Reverend Ed Brock there are many things that come to mind.

I see the person Ed; I think about the role that he plays in peoples lives.

I think about the father, the husband, the son, the leader, the brother, the friend, the social activist, the minister, and the student, the man of good words and of good work.

I think about the man who for so many of our Sundays has worked to bring us words to contemplate during our week -- words to impact us, to remind us about being in the river of life; words to inspire us to appreciate, or to encourage us to act.

I think about being connected to what is alive in us.

I think about Ed modeling social activism in Florida during the elections and the search for personal truth in his interest in Non Violent Communication.

I think about a man who this congregation has watched create a family, who we watched become a father, a parent; who many of us could knowingly and warmly watch struggle with the tasks, and bathe in the bliss, of being a new parent. And while Ed was creating his family he also nurtured the life of this congregational family.

This congregation has grown and developed over these seven years with Ed as our minister. As it is in nuclear families, when one person changes or grows it effects the change and growth in the other members, so it is in the life of our church family.

We have, in collaboration with Ed’s leadership, and the will of the congregation, created new programs that reflect our values and principles.

Peace and Justice, Sustainability, Covenant Groups to name a few.

We have made efforts in being a Welcoming Congregation, we are working towards becoming a Green Sanctuary, and we have expanded our giving to our local and world communities. We are investing in our youth and the growth of our congregation.

We have all been moved, or inspired, or challenged, in some way affected by our relationship with Ed and I want to take this time to thank him for his gifts to us.

Religious education, music and summer services

Today, I share two presentations of Rev Dr Ed Brock’s ministry. Faith development of youth and children is one of the cornerstones of Unitarian Universalism. In his seven years' ministry at the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church, Rev. Dr. Ed Brock emphasized "helping children make meaning of their experiences." Cathy Liu Scott presents Rev Dr Ed Brock's impact on Religious Education at EUUC.

In the second presentation, Nancy Gladow’s highlights Rev Ed Brock’s contribution to a robust music program and his introduction of summer services.


Helping children make
meaning of their experiences
Cathy Liu Scott

Ed, two years into your ministry here at EUUC, our religious education program entered into a difficult time. The end result of this period of difficulty was that a Director of Religious Education who had been here for several years, and who was well liked by many, decided to leave.


During this time, you provided stability, support and encouragement for our religious education program as we were trying to find our way.


You saw how essential a robust Religious Education program is to the life and future of our congregation. You understood the importance of finding a seasoned professional to help set the tone and stage for a permanent DRE.

Toward that end you sought the highest caliber leadership in the role of interim DRE.

In that first year of search for the right person, you spend much time and effort recruiting Lena Breen, who was both a UU minister and a DRE with a national reputation. In the succeeding year, you spent much time and effort recruiting Lynn Bacon, a DRE with a national reputation, and a wealth of experience, as for years she had led the largest UU religious education program in the country.

Under the guidance of these two women, the quality, tenor, and size of religious education programs grew. The teen program was strengthened, a new Coming of Age program was launched, teacher recruitment was strengthened, and the quality of the entire program increased and broadened in different ways. You encouraged both Lena and Lynn to become an integral part of our worship services.

In these and other ways you have helped us see the role and potential of DREs in new ways. And this has led to results. Laura McNaughton has carried forward the new standard of excellence. And now, for the first time in the history of this church, we have begun a search for a new full time DRE.

Ed, thank you for playing your part in the development of the religious education program of EUUC, both what has been and what is yet to be.




Music, summer services and
empowering members
Nancy Gladow

I will begin by reflecting on two quite different ways Ed has influenced our congregation’s life.


Recognizing how important music is to worship, Ed worked with the Music Committee and the board over a period of several years to create a position of music director, a broader position than choir director; and to give the role both more hours, and a much broader scope. As a consequence we have had a music program that, as you see this morning, has grown in depth, breadth, and quality over the years. Some of the changes have been adding a children’s choir, opportunities for youth group members to perform, bringing in special guest musicians, and of course the pleasure of hearing our regular choir perform, regardless of what service we choose to attend.

Recognizing the need that some members of the congregation have to get together in the summer, Ed got us started having summer services for the first time in the history of the church. In the first and second year of their development Ed planned the services and John Park carried them out. Many members now look forward to the summer services as a chance to consider a broad range of topics in an informal atmosphere that provides ample room for discussion. This addition to our congregation’s life, has greatly enriched our community.

While today’s reflections will focus on how Ed has affected our congregation, it is important to remember that anything that happens needs many hands. Although Ed helped birth many programs and activities, he was also very good at finding people within the amazing pool of talent within the membership of EUUC with just the right skills to take them over. It is only through a partnering of a minister with members of the congregation that positive changes are sustained. Now, although Ed is leaving for other endeavors, these programs live on.

Thank you, Ed.

A voice to tell us what we need to hear

Rev. Dr. Ed Brock is a Unitarian Universalist minister. Unitarian Universalists believe in the inherent worth of each person and the interconnected web of all life. Unitarian Universalists have shaped the course of justice in America and in the world in the tradition of inspiring ministers such as Theodore Parker who said in a sermon, "The arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice."

Sunday 10 June 2007 was the last day of Rev. Dr. Ed Brock as minister of the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist congregation. At that service, seven people spoke about Ed's ministry. On Monday, I posted my remarks. In this second installment, I share with you the email that John Tucker of the Peace and Justice committee wrote to Ed. John read this at the service and has granted me permission to share it.



Dear Ed:

I appreciate what you have done to bring the Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Church along the path from a pastoral church to a programchurch.

I appreciate the spiritual help with which you graced me and my family.

I appreciate the support that you gave to the formation of the Peace andJustice Committee.

I appreciate the fact that you took a stand against the invasion of Iraqand the diversion of focus away from the forces that attacked us on 9/11. That was in October 2002, five months before the invasion. You warned of "…urban battle in the streets of Baghdad with thousands of civilian casualties."

I appreciate the boldness with which you denounced the use of torture and extraordinary rendition by the United States.

I appreciate that you spoke out against the erosion of liberty in thiscountry, evidenced by the illegal detention of people, the denial of theright of habeas corpus, the assault on the Constitution, and the spying on US citizens.

Some of your sermons were not appreciated by the entire congregation. Some members even called them unpatriotic. While the sermons were not nationalistic, they were the height of patriotism. There is a world of difference between nationalism and patriotism.
With the wisdom of hindsight, it is easy for us to see that you were right, but you had the foresight and moral courage to speak out at a crucial time.

I will miss you on Sundays, but I hope to hear your voice in other venues, telling us the things that we need to hear.

John Tucker, Peace and Justice Committee

To read a selection of Rev. Dr. Ed Brock's sermons, follow this link : http://www.euuc.org/ministerspage/sermons.htm

Farewell, Ed and Alphise

Sunday, 10 June 2007, was the last Sunday of the church year at Edmonds Unitarian Universalist Congregation. It was also Rev. Dr. Edward Brock's last day in the pulpit, ending his seven years as minister of this 330-member- liberal religious community.
"I believe...that my time for leadership here has passed. There is a need for new energy and talent to lead this wonderful congregation to even greater heights of achievement and service," Rev. Dr. Ed Brock wrote in a letter of 18 May 2007 he sent to Members and Friends of EUUC.
At the parting service, I was among seven people who spoke about Rev. Ed. Brock's legacy. Here's the full text of my talk.

Farewell, Alphise and Rev Dr. Ed Brock
Kwami E. Nyamidie

I was born in Togo, West Africa, a land far away....For someone from far away, it is important to find a welcoming community...

I found my community at this church...Being involved in this church changed my life. I came here through Alphise and you, and met Bruce, and one thing led to the other. I went to seminary and graduate school.

Now I am on my own course of ministry; my choices include becoming a minister or DRE. I have chosen a path that seems genuine to me, the work of spiritual direction. I am now building my spiritual direction practice.

One of our hymns speaks of how our community of faith gives us roots and wings. Roots ground us in what is firm and sure, and wings give us freedom. You have helped in giving me roots that ground my being; I am now preparing to take wing to rise as the spirit of life guides me.

Someone has said that we all have different needs at different stages of our lives. For me, this church, and you, Ed, have helped me make important decisions at a critical point in my life. For that I am deeply grateful.

Through this church and you, Ed, I have built relationships with some people here that will last a lifetime. For that also, I am deeply grateful.

As this congregation looks to its future, may you build a "community that nurtures spiritual growth, celebrates the interdependence of all life, and works to bring justice and compassion into every dimension of the lives of its members."

Ed, as you venture into your future, may you experience constant enrichment of your life and ministry.

Here is link to the sermons of Rev. Dr Ed Brock