Take Care, of Yourself & Others

For First Parishioners and millions of other progressives of faith and of no faith, this morning’s predicted presidential election results are frightening — shocking — dismaying — painful — harmful. We may find ourselves and our loved ones experiencing a variety of bodily and emotional responses: numbness; indigestion; crying; headaches; being short-tempered; being “accident-prone”; struggling to regulate breathing, heart rate, and attention. These are all normal reactions to difficult, challenging, and traumatic events.

I myself realize that I was wholly unprepared, emotionally and spiritually, for the presidential election to be finalized so quickly and with this result, and feel deeply unsettled and distressed (to put it mildly) both as a pastor and as a parent. I am with you on this journey.

Please remember to take care of yourself and others, as best as you can, today and in the coming days when our grief, shock, upset, and fear are acutely felt. Darrah Bryans and I will have the Sanctuary open this evening for a “rolling,” interactive post-election vigil from 5-7 pm, and will livestream the gathering to Zoom (passcode 1711, dial-in: +16469313860,,86965286126#,,,,*1711# ). You can come at any time and stay for as long as you like. We will also still gather in a similar hybrid format for Thursday Vespers tomorrow (Thursday the 7th) at 5:30.

We also encourage you to review the resources for calming and connection we shared on Sunday through our First Parish blog, and commit to at least one of the suggested spiritual practices or gatherings listed. Children and youth will need additional support as well, and the UUA provides a short, helpful resource on how to engage in conversation and solidarity with young people after a disaster or trauma.

Take care of yourselves and each other, and know that at First Parish, we center love and act for equity, justice, and transformation.