Stained Glass Windows Dedication Service

Sunday, September 20, 2009

WORDS OF DEDICATION FOR THE GORDON WINDOW
(In honor of Kate Mary, Jean, and Frances Gordon)

Three women born into privilege, three women who could have dedicated their time solely to travel, concerts, and social events, turned their energies instead to issues of social justice.

Appalled by children forced to work in inhumane conditions, they lobbied strenuously for a change in Louisiana’s laws to protect them.

Motivated by unsafe working conditions in local factories, they vigorously campaigned for factory inspectors and ensured that women for the first time could serve in that capacity. Jean Gordon herself was named one of the first.

Stifled by the lack of women’s voice and vote in political affairs, they devoted time, energy, and money to women’s suffrage, achieving votes for women property-owners, a precursor to women’s general suffrage.

Moved by the official neglect toward the children of poor working mothers, though childless themselves, they helped establish the city's first day nursery at Kingsley House.

Becoming aware of the neglect of mentally retarded and neglected and abused children, they took the lead in changing the concept of a local orphanage into a training school, leading to the foundation of the Milne Homes for Girls and Boys.

Fearing for the health and safety of the drinking water in the city, they lobbied successfully to get a new tax and bond issue on the ballot to get the Sewerage and Water Board started.

Emotionally affected by the plight of helpless animals, both working animals and abandoned pets, they expended efforts that eventually became the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The Gordon Sisters worked tirelessly all their adult lives to improve the lives of all the inhabitants of New Orleans, both human and animals, especially those less fortunate than themselves.

Inspired by the lives and works of Jean, Kate, and Frances Gordon, realizing that they were flawed as we are flawed, let us dedicate ourselves to devoting our time, talents, and treasure as best we can to making our corner of the world a better place.

Realizing that this window lay in fallow form, closed in a box, for close to 50 years, and that the frame of this window is repurposed from the wood of the ruined pews of this church, let us dedicate ourselves to using our talents to our utmost, never failing to do what we are able to do, and let us be determined to salvage what we can from the Storms of our lives.

Congregational Response: Let us be so dedicated.

WORDS OF DEDICATION FOR THE KATRINA WINDOWS

As liberal religion has stood firm in the Crescent City since 1833, let us be dedicated to carrying our heritage forward into the future.

As the Storm winds of change and turmoil blow about, let us take courage and withstand whatever comes toward us.

As the dirty Floodwaters rushed over the city and changed our lives, our church, and our city forever, and the congregation regathered away from the waters, using land-line telephones and cell phones and computers, we were reminded that the church is the people, not a building, not even a location. Let us resolve never to forget that important lesson.

As we work to rebuild and recover, to remake our church, our city, and our lives, we rely on our faith tradition and our knowledge of history to remind us of return and renaissance. Let us draw strength from this knowledge and be rebuilders of our Unitarian Universalist faith.

As the old yellow glass was reused in these panels, to tell the story of Hurricane Katrina, how we suffered and how we are reborn, let us dedicate ourselves to retelling the story of renewal and restoration, and to being a part of that process, for each other, for the church, and for our beloved city.

Congregational Response: Let us be so dedicated.