December 31, 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 is “The Heart and the Hand.”  It 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

"The Possibility of Redemption"

The Rev. Robin Tanner

Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Summit, New Jersey

Sermon

"The Good News"

The Rev. William Sinkford

First Unitarian Church of Portland, Oregon

Message

"I Pray This Day for the Courage To Be..."

The Rev. Maureen Killoran

From "To Wake, To Rise"

Edited by the Rev. William Sinkford

Natural Silence

"Echoes in a Secret Gorge"

Andrew Skeoch

ListeningEarth.com

World Religions

Today is New Year’s Eve.  A largely secular holiday, its celebrations are as varied as humanity itself but usually involve staying up late and drinking.  The date coincides in Western churches with the Feast Day of St. Sylvester.  Venerated in February in Eastern Churches, Sylvester was a Fourth Century pope who led the First Council of Nicaea, a pivotal event in Western history.  For that reason, 15 countries officially celebrate today as St. Sylvester’s Day.  The tradition of Watch Night also is a religious observance tied to New Year’s Eve.  Many Baptist, Methodist and Pentecostal churches will hold midnight services, usually on the themes of repentance and making resolutions for the year ahead.  Watch Night takes on special meaning in African-American churches, since New Year’s Day 1863 is when the Emancipation Proclamation officially took effect.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Day.  The holiday’s faith connections include the World Day of Peace.  Officially recognized by the Catholic Church in 1967, the World Day of Peace is often used by popes to make important declarations on subjects ranging from human rights and international diplomacy to economic development and climate change.  On the World Day of Peace in 1990, Pope John Paul II declared that the ecological crisis was a moral crisis and called for global solidary and global responsibility in fighting it.

Tuesday in many Western churches is the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ.  This holiday, celebrated by various names and on various days in various churches, celebrates the circumcision of Jesus, in the Jewish tradition, on the eighth day after his birth.

Friday is the birthday, in 1666 in modern day Pratna, in northern India, of Guru Gobind Singh.  The tenth guru of the Sikh people, Singh was a philosopher, warrior and poet who wrote important Sikh texts and established the guidelines of Sikh wardrobe, including the kesh, or uncut and long hair and beard, symbols of respect for God’s creation.

Friday is Twelfth Night, celebrating the eve of Epiphany and the end of the Christmas season.  Holiday traditions for Twelfth Night have waned but might include those you associate with Christmas, including caroling, sweet breads and feasts.  The Christmas tree, Christmas wreaths and other decorations historically were taken down on Twelfth Night.  William Shakespeare wrote a play to be performed on Twelfth Night.

And Saturday is Epiphany.  Also known as Three Kings Day or Theophany, its celebrates different events in Eastern and Western churches.  In the East, Christians mark this day as the baptism of Jesus.  In the West, Christians mark this day as the visit of the Magi, also called the Three Kings or Three Wise Men, to the Christ child.  The essence, however, of both events in the Biblical story is the same, namely, the physical manifestation of Christ. National customs are amazingly varied.  In Bulgaria, men dance in ice cold water.  In Latin America, children receive gifts.  In Greece, priests throw a cross in a river or lake and men dive to find it.  And in Finland, people wish upon a cookie and break it, hoping it breaks into three pieces, for the Three Kings, symbolizing a wish to come true.

Sermon

"The Profanity of Thoughts and Prayers"

The Rev. Dr. Roger Ray

Progressive Faith Sermons

The Emerging Church of Springfield, Missouri

Message

"Holiday Greeting"

The Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

President, Unitarian-Universalist Association

Conclusion

Principles and Sources of Unitarian-Universalism