September 10, 2017

The millions overwhelmed by the storm’s indifference 
To misery, injury, and so much worse -
this brings me to prayer.

The siblings nearby who suffered the 1000 year deluge
And the thousands half a world away devastated by rising waters
They bring me yet again to prayer.

That the people in the path will understand, and seek a way to safer ground
That neighbors will find neighbors and lend their hands and hearts
That first responders will be blessed with strength and perseverance
That the peace that passes all understanding, the infinite and eternal peaceful center, will hold
And that the recovery will belong to all of us, near and far.

Come to prayer with me.
Amen.

Braver Wiser

"Faith in Small Actions" by Tim Atkins

Sermon

"Humility and Humanism" (5/14/17)

The Rev. David Breeden

First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

Braver Wiser

"Meeting the Monstrous Beast" by Teresa Honey Youngblood

10am Hour

Natural Silence

"Relax Stream"

World Religions

Today is Grandparent’s Day.  Designated by Congress in 1978, Grandparents Day honors grandparents, gives grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children and helps children become aware of the strength and guidance that older people can offer.

Today is the birthday in 1812 in Boston of one of the 19th Century’s leading Universalist theologians, Thomas Thayer.  Thayer rejected the idea of endless punishment after death.  He promoted human nature.  And he believed science would not contradict Biblical truth.

Today in Shia Islam is Eid al Ghadir.  The holiday commemorates an event in which Shia Muslims believe the prophet Muhammad designated his cousin Hazrat Ali as the first in a line of hereditary imams.  Sunni Muslims honor him merely as a very respected teacher.

Today in the Druze religion is the Festival of Prophet Sablan.  The Druze are a religious minority numbering less than two million people living mostly in Lebanon, Syria, Israel and Jordan.  Sablan’s tomb in Israel is considered the second most holy site of the Druze.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the attacks of September 11th, 2001.  The event reminds us of the 2,973 lives taken that day; it calls us to work toward a more tolerant, just and peaceful world; and it calls us to heed our best instincts: comfort, compassion and love.

Tomorrow in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Rastafari Churches is Enkutatash, or Ethiopian New Year.  On this day, the faithful attend church and gather to share meals of injera, a flat bread, and wat, a stew.  The day also might include flowers, dancing and new clothes.

The Coptic Church also celebrates a new year’s tomorrow.  Except, they call it Neyrouz, taking the word from Persian.  It’s also called Feast of the Martyrs.  Coptic Christians are Egypt’s largest religious minority.  They will eat dates to symbolize the blood of martyrs.

Tomorrow Orthodox Christians will observe a fast for the Beheading of the Forerunner of Christ, called by Western churches, St. John the Baptist and celebrated on a different day.  In some cultures, the pious will not eat food from a flat plate or use a knife on this day.

Wednesday marks the anniversary, in 1993, of the First Oslo Peace Accord, signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.  The day reminds us that peace from the hand must also come with peace from the heart.

Thursday is the birthday in 1879 in New York of family planning advocate Margaret Sanger.  A visionary who convinced Americans that women have a right to decide when and if to have children, Sanger said a woman’s duty was to act in defiance of convention.

Thursday Catholic and Orthodox churches will observe The Exultation of the Holy Cross.  The feast celebrates the physical cross used to kill Christ.  Many churches claim to have a piece of it.  The faithful believe St. Helena discovered the cross in a miracle of revelation.

On Saturday, Jews will begin Leil Selichot, prayers seeking forgiveness, in preparation for the High Holy Days beginning with Rosh Hashanah on September 21st. Typically held at night, selichot prayers ask the faithful to consider their actions over the past year.

Sermon

“You Got To Get Up To Get Down” (7/30/27)

Rev. Marisol Caballero of Austin, Texas

Innovation Specialist in the UUA’s Faith Development Office

Message

"UUA, UUSC Leaders Appalled by Decision To End DACA"

The Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, President of the Unitarian Universalist Association

Thomas Andrews, President and CEO of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee