December 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.”

This week: A new month brings a new interfaith calendar, including the Jewish festival of lights. Why journaling could help ground you to your deepest values. Why waiting for the moral arc of the universe to bend is harder for some people.  Those segments and many others to inspire you to your braver and wiser self.  Tune in for mostly words from 9-11am and mostly music from 1-2pm.


Commentary

Written by Orlando Montoya

If we are to believe the popular narrative, Chick-fil-A, with 10 billion dollars in sales the third-largest U.S. restaurant chain by revenue, has gone from being “hate chicken” to “anti-Christian chicken.”  “Chick-fil-A faces rightwing backlash” writes the Guardian.  Ted Cruz, Mike Huckabee and other conservative Christians say the chain has, quote, “lost its way” because it has refocused charitable giving away from organizations that oppose same-sex marriage.  Some LGBT people rejoiced, posting to social media their trips to taste the uncommonly good sandwich they long boycotted.  I have a complicated view of this particular phenomenon, in part, because I am gay and I worked for Chick-fil-A for five years in high school and college.  Chick-fil-A was very good to me and so you should judge my view accordingly.  I never thought it was “hate chicken.”  Nor do I now suddenly think it’s “anti-Christian” or “pro-gay” chicken.  It’s chicken.  They pressure fry it in peanut oil and put a lonely pickle slice on it between a buttered bun.  Now, I respect people who vote with their wallets to achieve their social goals, especially those motivated by their deep faith.  Slavery and sugar, colonialism and salt, Civil Rights and department stores.  My goodness, faith commands a sizeable chunk of humanity what to eat every day: no pork, no cows, etc.  It’s respectable.  In fact, my Unitarian-Universalist faith inspires me to buy in ways to help the Earth, build community and right wrongs.  But I don’t believe the popular narrative that doing so not doing so makes me “pro this” or “anti that.”  It’s a sad day when fast food choices become proxies for character.  Our buying choices do have an impact.  But unless they demonstrate extraordinary sacrifice, they are symbols.  And symbols can be powerful but also empty and overly moralistic.


Sermon

Seeking Solid Ground” (9/22/19)

Rev. Stephanie May

First Parish in Wayland, Massachusetts, Unitarian-Universalist


Sermon

Fiercely Waiting” (9/8/19)

Rev. Oscar Sinclair

Unitarian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska


Sermon

“God and Gay Marriage” (5/28/12)

Rev. Tim Kutzmark

Unitarian-Universalist Church of Fresno


Sermon

“Restless Is the Heart” (8/20/17)

Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs

Unity Church Unitarian, St. Paul, Minn.


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

  • 9:06am Disclaimer1 by
  • 9:06am Spirit of Life by All Souls Choir on Music from All Souls
  • 9:07am Intro20 by
  • 9:08am Sermon September 22, 2019 by Stephanie May
  • 9:28am UUCSEvents121201 by
  • 9:30am Intro23 by
  • 9:30am HHKutzmarkGodGayMarriage by
  • 9:51am Do What the Spirit Says Do by Kentucky T. Dutchersmith and The Rubber Band on If You're Not Goin' Far
  • 9:55am Family Tree by Ketlove Gray, Sophomore at Marquette Senior High School, Marquette, Michigan on CLF Quest May 2018
  • 9:59am Gather the Spirit by Jim Scott and the MSTG Choir on Gather the Spirit
  • 10:05am Intro31 by
  • 10:06am HHSinclairFiercelyWaiting by
  • 10:28am Intro28 by
  • 10:29am Restless is the Heart by Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs
  • 10:41am PrinciplesSources by
  • 10:43am 02 I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free by
  • 10:46am The Story Of My Birth by Mandie McGlynn on Braver/Wiser Spring 2018
  • 10:50am Echoes in a Secret Gorge by Andrew Skeoch & Sarah Koschak on Listening Earth Album Sample
  • 10:53am UUFAQ3B by
  • 10:55am Dear Mother Earth by Thich Nhat Hanh on CLF Quest February 2018
  • 10:59am UUCSEvents121201 by
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