November 24, 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.”

Geese don’t let other geese die alone. And other lessons from their flights in formation in the sermon "A Place of Promise," linked below.

Commentary

Written by Orlando Montoya

As we approach Thanksgiving, I’d like to express my gratitude for everyone who sees me as multidimensional.  No one, I believe, knows you or I or anyone else in the fullness of our humanity.  To most people around me, I am in one dimension, one color, one subject and one thing.  I’m the radio guy, the church guy, the karaoke guy, that face in the Rotary Club, a tour guide, a newspaper writer, the guy in the gym or the former radio host on another station, the one I don’t talk about.  Some people get to see my social media posts, in which case you also might know that I like soccer, trains, history or other things.  But no one knows everything except me.  And that’s true of everyone, including you.  We are all vast and undiscovered countries.  Your interior life will go with you to the grave.  It’s why some people say that when a person dies, a library burns down.  I’m grateful for those people who check out books from the many different sections of my interior library.  They have the intellectual capacity to see me as multidimensional.  And truly great friends open up new dimensions in your life, not just by checking out books, but by leaving their books, as well.  This Thanksgiving, note the people around you and what you know about them.  Exchange books with them.  And by that I mean, tell stories.  Challenge yourself to open wings of your library that you’ve not opened before.  And don’t be surprised or disheartened when someone walks into your library, takes a look around and leaves without taking anything.  Your own value isn’t based on what the disinterested in you think.  They have their own library.  So there, you know something else about me.  I like books.

Sermon

“A Place of Promise” (11/10/19)

Rev. Marlin Lavanhar

All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma

Sermon

“Keeping Calm” (9/8/19)

Rev. Roger Fritts

Unitarian-Universalist Church of Sarasota, Florida

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