March 10, 2019
The unifying themes of this program are justice, love, learning and hope. The messages come from sermons and readings from Unitarian-Universalist sources. The program title comes from a beloved Unitarian-Universalist hymn, “Spirit of Life,” which includes the words, “Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion” and “Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.”
Learn more about the Laughing Buddha in the message below from the Rev. Peter Boulatta.
Commentary
Written by Orlando Montoya
This week marks this program’s second anniversary. Since I started “The Heart and the Hand,” more than 50 ministers have given me permissions to broadcast more than 160 sermons. I’ve written 92 world religions segments and 25 commentaries. I’ve curated hundreds of messages and songs, learned the finicky ways of radio automation software and traveled cross-country to advance this show and this station. I created the only radio show here and one of the few nationwide that promotes liberal religion, broadcasting ideas that I wish that I had heard when I was younger, ideas that are truly life-saving. This week also is the fifth anniversary of the unplanned and unwanted ending of my previous radio job, the full-time paying one that I began when I was 23 years old and that I thought would take me into retirement. That previous longtime position gave me 14 professional awards, took me all over Southeast Georgia and gave me skills and recognitions that benefit me still today. The fact that these two anniversaries, one bitter, one sweet, fall in the calendar’s same box of seven days is coincidental but not lost on this sap, this misty-eyed karaoke singer of Paul Anka songs: “Good morning, yesterday. You wake up and time has slipped away.” Nostalgia looks in the rear view mirror while the spirit of life steps on the gas. What you call that spirit, I don’t care. But what it certainly doesn’t do is defrost the window. I can’t see what’s ahead of me: more of the same or another unplanned ending? Careening, scary, fast-moving car, this life in all its numbered and unnumbered milestones make no sense. But I must have faith, yes this is faith, that this show and this life is taking me and you where we need to be.
Sermon
“What’s Love Got To Do with It” (2/11/19)
Rev. Bill Sinkford
First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon
Sermon
“The Laughing Buddha” (12/2/18)
Rev. Peter Boulatta
Don Heights Unitarian Congregation of Toronto
Sermon
“America’s Favorite Misanthrope” (6/4/17)
The Rev. Michael Schuler
First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin
Sermon
TBD
Braver Wiser
Used by permission of Braver Wiser, a publication of the Unitarian-Universalist Association
Quest Monthly
Used by permission of Quest Monthly, a publication of the Church of the Larger Fellowship
UUA Statements
Messages from the Unitarian Universalist Association
Natural Silence
Used by permission of ListeningEarth.com
UUA Principles and Sources
Our liberal faith as defined by the Unitarian Universalist Association
World Religions
Written by Orlando Montoya
Interfaith Calendar
Written by Orlando Montoya
UU FAQ
Written by and used by permission of John Sias from interviews with Rev. Steve Edington
Published by the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Nashua, NH
