September 1, 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.”

Coming up this week: Can two people walk together unless they are agreed?  This ancient question gets at who is and who isn't without our circle.  Also, a minister's six greatest lessons, abridged.  Plus all the regular segments.

Commentary

Written by Orlando Montoya

General Assembly is the large annual gathering of Unitarian-Universalists each summer.  Part business meeting, part spiritual retreat, General Assembly often presents wisdom in its fleeting moments, not the well-rehearsed worship or the well-planned workshops, but also in the passing and fragmentary.  One such moment for me involved a person named Elandria Williams.  Within our Unitarian-Universalist Association, Williams is the elected co-moderator, the highest volunteer position.  This year, in Spokane, she gave a life lesson that I’ll always remember.  From the podium, it seemed like she was telling the three thousand people assembled in the convention hall a litany of routine information – how to use the recycling bins, how to receive updates, how to contact the security office, et cetera.  And then, impromptu, seemingly out of no where, she started talking about bathrooms.  She explained that the UUA requires convention halls to have male, female and gender-neutral bathrooms.  And she reminded the UU’s present to expect that their fellow UU’s know which is the right bathroom for them to use.  She said, “We’re adults.  This is a UU convention.  We all can read signs.  If you’re in the men’s room and you see someone walk in that you think looks female, assume that that person knows what restroom they belong in.”  This was profound wisdom for me and she probably doesn’t remember it.  But I’d like you to expand that thought for a minute.  Who belongs in your space, your church, your workplace, your sidewalk, your shopping mall, your public space of any kind?  The smelly unshaven man?  The woman pushing a cart?  The person speaking a foreign language?  The black man?  How often do we not expect them?  Maybe it’s time that we expect people who we don’t think belong actually belong.  Thank you, Elandria Williams.  Keep dispending spontaneous wisdom.

Sermon

“Walking Together on Our Separate Journeys” (3/17/19)

Rev. Doug McCusker

Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg, Virgina

Sermon 

“Thanks, Release, Blessing” (6/30/19)

Rev. Kelly Dignan

Unitarian-Universalist Church of Boulder, Colorado

Sermon

TBD

Sermon

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