April 15, 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.”

Braver Wiser

"Putting the Pieces Together"

Amanda Poppei, Senior Leader

Washington Ethical Society, Washington D.C., Unitarian-Universalist

Sermon

"The Play's the Thing" (2/11/18)

The Rev. Vanessa Rush-Southern

First Unitarian-Universalist Society of San Francisco

Message

"Being Human Means We Are of This Earth"

Sweethome Teacup

Portland, Ore.

Natural Silence

"Springtime in the Bush"

Andrew Skeotch

ListeningEarth.com

World Religions

Wednesday is a holiday celebrated by both Hindus and Jains.  Akshay Trutiya is the birthday of Lord Para Surama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, a principal deity in Hinduism.  Jains celebrate the day to remember Tirthan Kara Rushab Hanatha’s ending of a yearlong fast by drinking sugarcane juice.  The day is considered lucky for starting new ventures.  Anything started on Akshay Trutiya is believed to bring new growth and prosperity.  Hence, new business or new construction is often started on Akshay Trutiya.

In the Baha’i faith, Friday is the start of Ridvan, commemorating the declaration by Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i faith, that he was a manifestation of God.  This occurred in the common year 1863.  Ridvan is a 12-day festival and work is forbidden on the first, ninth and twelfth days.  The word Ridvan means paradise and is named for the Garden of Ridvan outside Baghdad, where Baha’u’llah stayed for 12 days, after the Ottoman Empire exiled him and before he journeyed to Constantinople.  It is the holiest Baha’i festival and is marked by community gatherings, prayers and celebrations.

Saturday is Earth Day in Savannah, although it will celebrated in worldwide next Sunday.  Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970.  Earth Day reminds us to connect not only with our planet, but also our neighbors.  Demonstrate thankfulness, cultivate responsibility and pursue the common good, values everyone can share regardless of belief or non-belief.

Saturday is the birthday of influential Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher and early advocate for American wilderness preservation, John Muir.  His letters, essays and books describing his adventures in nature have been read by millions. According to author William Anderson, Muir exemplified “the archetype of our oneness with the earth.”  Biographer Donald Worster says he believes Muir’s mission was “saving the American soul from total surrender to materialism.”

In the Rastafari religious movement, Saturday is Grounation Day, celebrating the 1966 visit to Jamaica by the Ethopian emperor Haile Selassie.  Some 100,000 Rastafari from all over Jamaica descended on Kingston on that day to hear a man revered as a messianic figure.  The significance of this event in the development of the Rastafari faith is great.  Having been outcasts in society, they gained a measure of respectability for the first time.  By making Rasta more acceptable, it opened the way for the commercialization of reggae, leading, in turn, to the further global spread of the Rastafari movement.

Sermon

"Fine Sunny Day"

The Rev. Stephen Kendrick

First Church, Boston, Mass., Unitarian-Universalist

Message

TBD

Message

From "A Year of Spiritual Companionship: 52 Weeks of Wisdom for a Life of Gratitude, Balance and Happiness"

By Anne Kertz Kernion

Published by SLP Press

Conclusion

Seven Principles and Six Sources of Unitarian-Universalism