FUSF Building Dedication
September 30, 2001
Jeffrey Cerier, FUSF President
Thank you children’s choir, and thank you Faye.
Welcome distinguished guests.
Welcome visiting clergy. We are honored by your presence.
Welcome representatives of the Town of Franklin. Together, through the completion of this meetinghouse, we have re-established a permanent home for this Society. A Society which has been an important part of this community for almost 150 years.
Welcome those of you who guided the design and construction of this meetinghouse. You have created something of lasting importance.
Welcome fellow Unitarian Universalists. Our shared commitment to the inherent worth and dignity of every person, and to a free and responsible search for truth and meaning, is why this building is here.
And finally, welcome members, children and close friends of this Society. This meetinghouse is our vision made real. Our hard work, perseverance and generosity have brought it to fruition. We are family, and this is our home. It’s good to be home.
It is my privilege to welcome all of you here today to dedicate our new home. I am honored to do this, as welcoming is what this community is all about.
We welcome people of all ages:
Children, adults, young and not so young - we welcome you.
We welcome people of any marital status:
Single, married, divorced, widowed - we welcome you.
We welcome people of any economic means:
Poor, rich, and everywhere in between - we welcome you.
We welcome people of all degrees of physical ability:
Physically challenged, able-bodied, hearing-impaired, vision-impaired - we welcome you.
We welcome thinkers and doers:
Existentialists, transcendentalists, environmentalists - we welcome you.
We welcome people of any sexual orientation:
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, straight, transsexual - we welcome you.
We welcome people of all colors and ethnic backgrounds:
Native American, African American, Asian, Caucasian, Hispanic, multiracial - we welcome you.
We welcome people with any theological perspective:
Theist, atheist, non-theist, polytheist, agnostic, pagan - we welcome you.
We welcome people of all religious backgrounds:
Unitarian Universalist, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu - we welcome you.
We welcome all who strive for truth, justice, and peace.
We welcome all who strive for wisdom and compassion over anger and hatred.
May this meetinghouse, and this Society, remain a place where all can feel safe, welcome, and accepted for a long, long time.