Before July comes to a close, I want to take a moment to celebrate our wonderful Music Director, Deana Gurney.
Deana stepped into this role in July 2008, and for the past 18 years she has blessed our community with her extraordinary gift for selecting just the right music for each message and theme. Time and again, she amazes us with how perfectly the music complements the service.
Deana and I work together almost effortlessly, like hand and glove. Very little communication is needed between us, yet she always seems to know exactly what is needed, and the result is consistently spot-on.
She is also deeply dedicated to her music team, fostering a spirit of collaboration that allows everyone to work together seamlessly. Her leadership, talent, and commitment have enriched our ministry in countless ways.
Thank you, Deana, for a job exceptionally well done. You are deeply loved, greatly appreciated, and a treasured part of our spiritual community.
Expanding the Promise: Women Who Helped America Grow
The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that all people are created equal, yet the full meaning of that promise has unfolded gradually across generations. Through courage, vision, creativity, and faith, remarkable women helped America grow beyond its limitations and closer to its highest ideals. Their lives remind us that spiritual evolution and social progress often begin with individuals willing to see a greater possibility and help others see it too.
Today we opened the series with Abigail Adams and What Can Abigail Adams Teach Us Today?
In this week’s message, we reflected on the life of Abigail Adams, a woman who exercised remarkable influence at a time when women had few public rights or opportunities. Although she never held political office, she recognized the gap between America’s lofty ideals and its lived reality and had the courage to speak up.
Abigail reminds us that we do not need a title, position, or authority to make a difference. Her famous plea to “Remember the Ladies” was rooted in a deeper principle: When we see injustice, exclusion, or inconsistency, we have a responsibility to bring loving awareness to it.
Her wisdom invites us to:
- See clearly the difference between what is and what could be.
- Listen for wisdom in unexpected voices, including our own inner guidance.
- Speak truth with both courage and compassion.
- Trust that one sincere voice can help create positive change.
In a world that often encourages us to remain silent or polarized, Abigail Adams offers a different path: speaking honestly while remaining grounded in love. Her legacy reminds us that spiritual growth and social progress both begin when ordinary people choose to express the truth they see with wisdom, courage, and care.
Your voice matters. Use it with wisdom, courage, and love.
It turns out history keeps us humble! During my talk, I said that Abigail Adams was the only woman whose husband and son both became U.S. presidents. I was gently reminded that Barbara Bush can make the same claim. My thanks to the attentive historian who caught that detail and helped me keep the facts straight.
Next week, we celebrate the remarkable life of Phillis Wheatley, whose courage, faith, and wisdom transcended the limitations of her time. Her story reminds us that our deepest freedom is not determined by outer conditions, but by the truth of who we are in Spirit.
Come discover how recognizing the Divine within can transform the way we see ourselves and others.
You are a blessing in my life,
Rev. Patricia Bessey
