MCUUF welcomes everyone, regardless of age, race or ethnicity, immigration status, sexual orientation,
gender identity, or disability. Wherever you are on your spiritual path, you are welcome here.
Many years ago, I had a car accident.
I was driving home after my morning swim at the YWCA in Tulsa, OK, around 7:30 in the morning, when a car crashed into the driver’s side of my Prius. I was stunned and didn’t move, as I tried to understand what had just happened. My airbags had deployed and there was broken glass at my feet.
I looked up to notice a woman coming towards my car, asking if I was okay. Her care and concern moved me out of my seat, into the street. Later, sitting in the grass, by the side of the intersection, I was horrified to learn that I was the one who had gone through a red light. The two young children standing near me had been in the other car, and could have been hurt, if not killed, by my mistake. Despite my error, their lives were spared. Despite my error, their mother was concerned for my well-being, an act of mercy and grace, I will never forget.
Did I deserve her mercy? Not at all.
Mercy is often at odds with justice.
Justice means each person receiving their due, while mercy means withholding a merited punishment. One can’t have mercy on someone who has done no wrong, since that would simply be giving them their due. Mercy isn’t especially fair and makes us feel uncomfortable because it registers as inegalitarian and arbitrary. Justice, in contrast, is partially defined by fairness. But it’s also the case that justice sometimes demands something beyond simple fairness; something including mercy.
The word mercy in Hebrew is hesed, which is also translated as loving kindness. Mercy means offering compassion and love to someone, whether they deserve it or not. Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy and founder of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice writes,
“The power of just mercy is that it belongs to the undeserving. It’s when mercy is least expected that it’s most potent—strong enough to break the cycle of victimization and victimhood, retribution and suffering. It has the power to heal the psychic harm and injuries that lead to aggression and violence.”
American society tends to favor swift and harsh punishments; it recoils from mercy. But as Parker Palmer wrote recently, “Looking back on my eight-seven[th] year, It’s clear to me that I would not be here without the mercies granted me by a variety of people, or without the great mercy that gave me life itself and has allowed me to continue to enjoy the gift.”
Palmer’s inspiration is the song Mercy Now, by singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier. Listen to the song below, in case you are also feeling the need for a little mercy now. Or in case you are feeling ready now, to offer mercy to some people in your life.
Mary Gauthier – Mercy Now
Here are the song’s closing lyrics:
“Yeah, we all could use a little mercy now.
I know we don’t deserve it.
But we need it anyhow.
We hang in the balance.
Dangled ‘tween hell and hallowed ground.
Every single one of us could use some mercy now.”
I am forever grateful to the mother in the other car, who showed mercy to me. She had mercy in her heart, when pure anger would have been more than justified.
May goodness and mercy follow you, all the days of your life.
With love beyond Belief,
Rev. Barbara Prose
- Every Tuesday from 9-11 am: Pam Zachary-Morneault hosts a “Garden Café.” Drop in anytime between 9:00 am and 11 am in White Salmon. No politics or religion are discussed. Women and men welcome. Contact Pam for location (541-490-3329)
- Every Wednesday at 4 As we begin a new year, the We are Immigrants campaign will be showing up in new ways around the community. You are invited to join us every Wednesday at the Providence intersection in Hood River (12th and May Streets). We plan to be at this location on a recurring basis – every Wednesday from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. (rain or shine). We’ll be waving at cars as they honk and drive by.
- Please bring your We are Immigrants signs (we’ll have a few loaners available as well).
- Every Third Thursday at 5:30 pm: Come together at the Rockford Grange for “Third Thursdays Together“.
- Every Friday at 5 pm: Community Action for Gaza at the Salmon Street fountain at the intersection of Second and Oak Streets in Hood River. Bring signs and friends if you can. These vigils will continue until a permanent ceasefire is achieved. Many of us are very concerned about the human cost of the war in Gaza, as it drags on for months on end. You can express your support for efforts to achieve a ceasefire by attending the weekly vigil.
- Every Sunday at Mercado Guadalajara. Join the Somos Inmigrantes Campaign at the Mercado in Hood River with a solidarity sign (any sign that inspires you) every Sunday. Show up between 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – it’s the busiest shopping time. The intention of our presence is to show support and solidarity for our community. Need groceries? Don’t forget to shop at the Mercado!
Please send requests to
administrator@mcuuf.org with the name, date and hours of your proposed event, the specific area at the Grange you want to use and your contact info. We’ll submit it and let you know asap if the request is approved or if there is a scheduling conflict. There is a once-a-month meeting where space/rental questions are decided, so get your requests in as early as possible. Thank you!
After receiving her Master of Divinity degree from Bangor Theological Seminary in 2009, Rev. Prose served the All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa Oklahoma from 2010 to 2023. As the Executive Minister of this 2,000 member congregation (one of the largest UU churches in the US), she led a staff of 20 or more.
Rev. Prose moved to Hood River over a year ago and has been enjoying spending time with her granddaughter in Washougal.
Rev. Prose also serves as Executive Director of the Portland-based Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice (“IMIrJ”). We are pleased to support Rev. Prose as she continues to lead IMIrJ’s vital programs while also serving as our minister this coming year.
The 2026-2027 Stewardship Drive is live! A pledge is a promise to the Fellowship. Help us grow and thrive!
