September 22, 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.”

This week, we’ll hear two great messages about “reaching out.” There’s reaching out for connection. And reaching out in service.  Both are central to Unitarian-Universalism.

Commentary

By Orlando Montoya

“Your song dies and changes / and is not here tomorrow / any more than the wind / blowing ten thousand years ago.”  So ends a poem by the “Poet of the People,” Carl Sandburg, whose North Carolina home I had the pleasure of visiting earlier this year.  Sandburg’s reflection on life’s fleeting nature reminds me of how grateful that I am to wake up every day.  I give thanks every day for life’s gift.  And for that reason I never apologize for the priorities in my 24 hours.  I came near to sobbing this week over my seemingly endless and growing list of obligations, many of them self-created and non-paying.  Even if I had 24 good, waking and productive hours, not burdened by a tired body and a restless mind, I’d still not finish my work.  Of work, Sandburg writes of grass and bodies piled underneath it: “I am the grass / Let me work.”  No, I don’t apologize for taking an hour for poetry, an hour for walking around the lake, an hour for napping, an hour for televised soccer or an hour for lifting weights.  No one else will share my death and so no else should question my priorities.  Perhaps in those unfortunately few hours where someone is paying me for their priorities, I’ll listen.  But in my self-created and non-paying work, I’ll do what I very well please and not feel terribly sorry if I come up short.  I’m grateful for the bed on which I sleep, the food which I eat, the air that I breathe and the insights I gain by changing a poem’s words slightly to say “This day… is not here tomorrow / any more than the wind / blowing ten thousand years ago.”  Don’t ever apologize for your life’s priorities.

Sermon

“The Opposite of Connection” (6/9/19)

Rev. Kendyl Gibbons

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church of Kansas City

Sermon

“Service Is Our Prayer” (8/18/19)

Rev. Andy Burnette

Valley Unitarian Universalist Church of Chandler, Arizona

Sermon

“Carbonated Holiness” (11/11/18)

Rev. Elea Kemler

First Parish Church of Groton, Unitarian-Universalist

Sermon

“Jesus and the Buddha” (2/12/17)

The Rev. Bridget Spain

Dublin Unitarian Church

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