Sermon Preached at Ujszekely, Transylvania

July 16, 2000

Text… Philippians 1:3-4, 7

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you ... because I have you in my heart. "

Dear Friends, I cannot tell you how very happy I am to be here among you in this church! Sabrina and I, and Drs. Steve and K. C., bring you greetings from your friends in Newburyport. Also, I bring greetings from all North American Unitarian Universalists, your partners in faith. And I bring greetings from john Gibbons, President of the Partner Church Council. We are so very pleased finally to be here with you.

Two years ago, Steve and K. C. came here to Ujszekely for the first time. When they returned to the United States, they brought pictures and memories of their brief visit with you. They told us of their meeting with your minister, Zsolt, and his wife, Borika, and their newborn infant son, Bence. They told us of the wonderful hospitality and love that they had received from you during their visit.

Then, last year, Zsolt and his parents, Denes and Eva were able to come to visit with us in Newburyport. Our relationship was deepened as we came to know them and to learn more about your life here in Transylvania. We celebrated together, and our friendship grew in the reality of each other's presence. I felt then that I had known them for my entire life!

Now, at last, Sabrina and I have this opportunity to be with you and to extend the hand of friendship further. I can hardly believe that this day has come and that I am here. I was born in a small village much like Ujszekely, where my parents operated a sma1l chicken farm. Never in my dreams did I expect that I would travel here to Europe, but now here I am with you. My very first trip to Europe is here to Transylvania, to visit you!

It is exciting to be here in the birthplace of Unitarianism, to make this pilgrimage to the home of Francis David.

I know that you know much about faithfulness to your religious beliefs. For you, tolerance is not just a word, but a reality for which you have striven and sometimes suffered. So I am proud to be with you and to recognize your steadfastness to our shared faith. It is my greatest hope that our partnership can continue to grow and strengthen, and that we shall share many more such visits and exchanges.

When St. Paul wrote his letter to the congregation at Philippi, he began his greeting with a little prayer. It is one of my favorites, and often I use it at the end of a funeral service to remind my listeners of the power of memory.

Today, we are building memories that I have no doubt will last me for a lifetime. I know that long after this day and our brief time together, I will carry these memories of you in my heart. I know also that my own faith and that of my congregation have been deepened by our partnership, and will continue to deepen in the days, months and years ahead.

In my role as a minister, I feel that it is my most profound responsibility to reflect upon the human condition, and especially to be a witness to our shared mortality. As the French philosopher Amiel said, "Life is short, and we never have too much time to gladden the hearts of those traveling the dark journey with us. Oh, be swift to love! Make haste to be kind!"

Life is short, and it is sometimes sad and tragic, but it is also filled with moments of great beauty and with opportunities for love. This is such a moment! Thank you for your warm and generous welcome. I will never forget you, and so like St. Paul I give thanks for your steadfast love and your faith to the gospel of freedom and tolerance. May it always be true for each of us, in our memories of this day and of one another, that we shall forever say, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you, because I have you in my heart."

Amen.

The Rev. Harold E. Babcock