December 17, 2017

Love is the spirit of this program. The music spans many genres but has unifying themes of justice, love, learning and hope. The messages come from podcasts, sermons and readings from Unitarian-Universalist and other allied sources in liberal religion.  The title of this program comes from the words of a beloved Unitarian-Universalist hymn, “Spirit of Life,” including, “Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion” and “Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.”

Braver Wiser

"Wired for Connection"

Erin Powers

Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa

Sermon

“Doing the Work of Love” (10/11/17)

The Rev. Daniel O’Connell

First Unitarian Church of Houston

Message

Thursday marked the five year anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, which took the lives of 20 children and six educators. Members of the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, Va. showed up at the NRA for the National Interfaith Clergy Witness and other congregations across the country held vigils. The Unitarian-Universalist Association President, the Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, sent the following statement to be read at the witness in front of the NRA on her behalf:

Dear Friends in Faithful Witness:

The United States is in a moral crisis.

In a country where political interests mean more than the lives of children, we are in crisis.

In a country where profits mean more than communities in pain, we are in crisis.

In a country that cares more about access to guns than access to education, we are in crisis.

But today, you have gathered to say no more.

No more weapons meant for war infiltrating our communities.

No more treating mass shootings as if they are inevitable.

You have answered the call to love your neighbor. You have answered the call to prioritize love and justice instead of greed and violence.

Although I cannot join you today, I am grateful and moved by your witness, to advocate boldly for a safer country with safer gun laws.

Unitarian Universalist values mean we side with love—a love that challenges us to spread justice and peace in our actions, witness, and advocacy.

For all of the people who made the journey to protest gun violence, I thank you.

For all of the people of faith or no faith, Unitarian Universalist and beyond, who center love instead of fear, we need you, and I thank you. I am grateful you are here and for your involvement with your local community’s efforts addressing gun violence.

Let us denounce gun violence until no one enters a movie theater wondering if a bullet will take their life.

Let us denounce gun violence until nightclubs and concerts echo sounds of music instead of gunfire.

Let us denounce gun violence until places of worship don’t need security guards.

Let us denounce gun violence until no child enters a hallway fearing they may take their last breath.

Let us see a country and a world where justice for all means freedom from gun violence.

May it be so.

Natural Silence

"Misty River Dawn"

Andrew Skeotch

ListeningEarth.com

World Religions

Today is anniversary of the death, in 1273, in present day Turkey, of the Sunni poet, philosopher and mystic Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī.  Known simply as Rumi, his legacy spans the globe.  His philosophy is inclusive, personal, direct, clear and aimed at inner peace and global harmony.  His poems are still best-sellers.  He also is the foremost exponent of Sufism and the underpinning of much classical Iranian and Afghan music.

Today is the anniversary of the enactment, in 1963, of the Clean Air Act.  One of this nation’s first and most influential modern environmental laws, its anniversary reminds us that faith and own our self-interest call us to protect the air that we breathe.  Many religious also use the air, or breath, as a central theme in their theology.  Or as Hindu scripture says, “Inhale and God approaches you.  Exhale and you approach God.”

Monday is the anniversary of the adoption, in 1865, of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Abolishing slavery, the amendment reminds us of the continued existence of white supremacy, America’s original sin, and the work of faith required to end it.

Saturday is the peak night of the Ursids Meteor Shower.  An annual event caused by the comet Tuttle, the Ursids meteor shower reminds us of the power and awe of the night sky.  It reminds us to keep looking up.  And it reminds us of our place in the universe.

Thursday is the winter solstice, also known as midwinter, the shortest day of the year.  Many celebrations worldwide are tied to the solstice.  But perhaps none are more widely observed than those known by various names in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Sri Lanka, where festivals trace their origins to Taoist philosophies of yin and yang, Shinto expression of the sun god and Buddhist veneration of a female missionary, especially in Sri Lanka.  Traditions vary greatly by culture but might include ancestor worship, family reunions and large feasts of dumpling soup, meaty hot pots, cakes and sweet rice balls.

And Friday is the birthday, in 1873 in London, of Lily Montagu, one of the founders and early leaders of Liberal Judaism in England.  A spirited activist for labor, educational and women’s rights issues, she founded a branch of England’s first Liberal Jewish synagogue.  When her orthodox father discovered what she did, he cut off all ties with her.  In 1918, she became the first woman to deliver a sermon at a main service in a British synagogue.

Sermon

“Resistance: Symbolic Acts” (10/15/17)

The Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern

Unitarian-Universalist Society of San Francisco

Message

"Light a Candle"

From "A Year of Spiritual Companionship"

By Anne Kertz Kernion

Conclusion

Seven Principles of Unitarian-Universalism

All sermons and messages are used by permission.