Minister’s Message

Dear Ones,

It was an honor to attend the Martin Luther King Commemoration on Sunday, January 19, where I represented NVUU as part of the Napa Valley Interfaith Leaders Council. During the commemoration, the NVILC presented the following statement:

The members of the Interfaith Leadership Council wish to extend our loving, welcoming, embrace to all the people of Napa during this observance of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today we honor the memory of a great American who devoted his life to justice, to the upliftment of the downtrodden, and to the recognition that all peoples are expressions of divine love, possessing inherent dignity and worth. Regardless of race, religion, culture, gender, relationship orientation, and gender identity or expression, each contains the spark of life. It is our ongoing work, inspired by the life, legacy, and sacrifices of Dr. King and countless others, to nurture that spark within ourselves and to honor it in others. It is for us to recognize the names and qualities of the divine Beloved in all of our fellow human beings, and to show them kindness.

We acknowledge that our history, up to and including the present, includes episodes of darkness and oppression. Many have suffered injustice, including LGBTQ+ individuals, women, indigenous people, and other minority groups. In many cases, injustice has been fueled by religion itself, yet we believe that these judgements and actions have been the intentions of humans, not of a higher power. We seek to offer places where our members, visitors, friends, and neighbors can explore faith without fear of judgement, spaces where each person has the freedom to shine brightly. The members of this council represent spiritual communities that welcome and affirm all individuals. We invite and encourage everyone to participate as integral parts of our communities, including in services, events, membership, employment, teaching, and as clergy or leaders.

We are grateful to be among those who value inclusion and diversity because we have found that, through solidarity, our faith is ever deepened. As your minister, I will continue to build interfaith and community alliances here in the Napa Valley. We are truly stronger together.

In faith,

Rev. Susan