Sharing the stories of our families and our communities has many values. To be sure these stories can be painful, at times, but they are also sources of inspiration and pride depending on what they entail. The people in our stories serve as models of heroism as well as cautionary tales. In the days, months and years ahead, we will need to access our personal libraries of stories in order to embody the resistance necessary to bring about a fair, peaceful and just world in which all can thrive.
During the past decade, Rev. Charlotte Lehmann has served as a religious educator or minister at UU congregations in MA, FL, and VA. They are also trained as an earth scientist and managed geochemical laboratories and conducted research on global climate change during their previous career.
Summary:
This sermon by Reverend Charlotte Lehmann explores the vital connection between personal history and the act of resistance against oppression. By weaving together the significance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day with her own family lineage, the speaker illustrates how ancestral stories of defiance can inspire modern justice work. She highlights the Krzyżowa Circle, a German resistance group, and the courageous women who maintained a commitment to democratic values during the Nazi regime. The sermon emphasizes that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but requires an active, ongoing struggle against marginalized suffering. Ultimately, the sermon serves as a call to action for individuals to share their narratives and find personal ways to resist authoritarianism.