Minister’s Message

A Song is Somewhere to Begin

On November 6, I attended a clergy vigil at the ICE Detention Center in San Francisco. It was a beautiful event – probably 200 religious leaders from many faiths, in religious attire – robes, stoles, yarmulkes, prayer shawls, tee shirts – and carrying signs in support of our immigrant neighbors. Given the number of people coming from many places, the quiet sound system, and the busy downtown streets, it was a little chaotic. What held us all together was a song.

The song we sang is one you may know as Siyahamba, hymn #1030 in Singing the Journey (the “teal hymnal”). It was clear that many of our non-UU colleagues know it, too. The crowd practiced singing it in English and Spanish. (Some of us added the Zulu words, too!) We then sang it as we walked the half mile between the S.F. Immigration Court and the ICE offices/detention center. The song kept us together and proclaimed us as peaceful, joyful, resolute people of faith.

Singing is also what I remember most about the No Kings Day rally and march I attended in Santa Cruz last month. I was with about 18 colleagues, who stayed together and sang songs along most of the route. As we sang, those around us joined in, thus expanding a sense of solidarity through the vibrations of our voices.

That week, Rev. Bonnie Dlott (NVUU’s minister emerita) reminded me of the song “Somewhere to Begin” by TR Ritchie, which highlights the importance of singing in “times like these.” It says, “If change is going to come, there are things that must be done, and a song is somewhere to begin.” For a song has the power to join us together, and rekindle our commitment to collective liberation.

This week, may you find joy, peace, and purpose through song, through a dream, and through love.

In faith,

Rev. Susan