September 29, 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 stories of what happened when people said yes.  We'll also examine what liberal religion means.  And we'll hear one of the most well-known prayers in Jewish liturgy, sung for Yom Kippur.  All this plus a new song by the rapper Common.  Tuning into WRUU 107.5 FM and WRUU.ORG for "The Heart and the Hand" with mostly words from 9-11am and mostly music from 1-2pm.

Commentary

Written by Orlando Montoya

Wednesday is Mahatma Ghandi’s birthday. Quite coincidentally, not even knowing about this date in history, I was thinking about a quote of his this week. “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” Attributed to the man of peace but perhaps never spoken by him, the quote came to me this week because of our current political climate, the never-ending escalation.  It occurs to me that great numbers of Americans, on both sides of our political discourse, derive great pleasure in giving back as good as they get.  One insult demands another insult, yet more insulting.  One outrage demands another outrage, yet more outrageous.  Our leaders derive much of their support from a sense by some people that they’ve been wronged.  Their leaders are simply “giving it back,” an eye for an eye, to the other side.  And, truthfully, how many times have you thought, as I have, “Oh, man, when we get them out, they are going to regret x, y and z because we’re going to do x, y and z times negative 50 plus a, b and c, which they’re not going to like, either.” Anger and retribution are energizing but blinding forces.  Amplified in a self-centered culture by media that elevate retributive honor, movies and the online mob, they darken our vision, dehumanizing as enemies those who should be friends.  Ghandi gave his life for non-violence.  And I struggle with this concept when imminent, life-threatening danger is starting at my face, at my planet, at my democracy, at the most vulnerable and at all targeted by evil regimes.  I don’t know what to do about that.  But I do know that someone has to be first to lay down arms.  May people with such honor appear now and act while we still can see.

Sermon

“Liberal Religion” (8/8/19)

Rev. Hannah Petrie

Unitarian Universalist Church of Studio City, California

Sermon

“The No Becoming Yes” (9/15/19)

Rev. Elea Kemler

First Parish Church of Groton, Massachusetts, Unitarian-Universalist

Sermon

TBD

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