July 28, 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.”
The Rev. Bill Sinkford of First Unitarian Portland shares a story, linked below, about someone who couldn't stop falling into a particular hole in the sidewalk. It's a metaphor for our larger struggles both individually and collectively.
Commentary
Written by Orlando Montoya
I gave myself an old-fashioned UU summer break this year. Many years ago, many of our UU churches would completely close in the summer. And still to this day, many of our UU churches scale back at least some of their programming in July and August. In our Savannah UU church, the choir takes the summer off. We miss you, choir. I was out of town for nearly three weeks recently. But I gave myself eight weeks in which I added no new material to this program. I’m back now and thanks for listening. This break gave me many new ideas and new insights because breaks reorganize our mental pathways. Putting yourself in a different context helps you to see things that you might not notice in a familiar environment. Take, for instance, what I do after I finish my radio and writing projects. When I think I’m finished with a long audio edit, I get up from my desk, move across the room and listen to the whole piece while sitting in a recliner that looks out to the front yard. And when I think I’m finished with a long article, I copy the piece into the e-mail application and, before I hit send, I read the whole piece from start to finish. In the e-mail application, the words are in a different font, the margins are different and the lines fall differently. And in both types of projects, when I change the context in those ways, I usually discover that I’m not really finished at all. We’re all unfinished works. Taking breaks, whether across the country or across the room, help us grow into who we’re to be in this time, in this place. May the main sign of your summer be the insights you gain on break.
New Sermon
“These Are My People, I Must Follow Them” (5/12/19)
Rev. Bill Sinkford
First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon
New Sermon
“Faithful Journeys” (6/16/19)
Rev. Martin Woulfe
Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Church, Springfield, Illinois
Archived Sermon
TBD
Archived Sermon
TBD
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
A Year of Spiritual Companionship
Written by and used by permission of Anne Kertz Kernion
