January 21, 2018

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.”

Tune in Sunday morning from 9-11am on WRUU.org and WRUU 107.5 FM Savannah.

(Pictured: Kate Landis of Shoreline Unitarian-Universalist Church, Seattle, Washington)

Braver Wiser

"Wanting To Break Free"

DeReau Ferrar

First Unitarian Church of Portland (Oregon)

Sermon

"The Age of Miracles" (10/18/17)

Rev. Bridget Spain

Dublin Unitarian Church

Natural Silence

"African Night"

Andrew Skeoch and Sarah Koschak

ListeningEarth.com

World Religions

This week marks the 110th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  An call for harmony among Christians, the event started with a Franciscan friar in 1908 in New York and became ecumenical following the establishment of the World Council of Churches in 1948.  The week of prayer is co-organized by the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches.  This year’s theme is “Your Right Hand, O Lord, Glorious in Power.”

Tomorrow also is World Religions Day.  Started in 1960 in the Baha’i faith, its aims are ecumenically broader than those of Christian unity.  Baha’is believe in the oneness of religion and of progressive revelation, which describes religion as constantly evolving throughout human history.  Baha’is might celebrate the theme of religious harmony by hosting discussions, conferences and other events to foster cross-religious dialogue.

Today marks the anniversary of the Women’s March, the worldwide protest affirming a shared humanity and pronouncing a bold message of resistance and self-determination.  Its themes of justice, equity and compassion in human relations reflected the core values of many Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and non-religious people whose ideas of the holy reject racism, misogyny and attacks on our most vulnerable people.

Monday in the Hindu faith is Vasant Panchami.  Celebrated for various religious reasons and in various ways across the Hindu world, it has become a kind of spring festival, with kite-flying and the wearing of yellow clothes and the eating of yellow food to celebrate the flowering mustard fields.  Some Hindus associate the holiday with the goddess of learning.  Others associate it with the god of love, making it a kind of Valentine’s Day.

Thursday in Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican churches is the Feast of the Conversion of Paul the Apostle.  The holiday celebrates the Biblical story of Paul of Tarsus, described as a zealous persecutor of Christians who nonetheless converted to Christianity after being blinded by a light and hearing the voice of Christ on the road to Damascus.  The phrase “Road to Damascus” now describes any sudden or radical change of heart.

Saturday is the anniversary of the death, in 1851 in New York, of James Audubon.  An ornithologist and painter, he extensively documented American birds, strengthening our connections with nature.  Caring for birds, animals and the rest of our natural world is a common theme running through all the world’s major religions.  His death anniversary reminds us to imagine what we could do if we decided to spread our wings and fly.