November 25, 2018
The unifying themes of this program are justice, love, learning and hope. The messages come from sermons and readings from Unitarian-Universalist sources. The program title comes from a beloved Unitarian-Universalist hymn, “Spirit of Life,” which includes the words, “Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion” and “Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.”
The week, we welcome two new participating ministers, the Rev. Angela Herrera of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Albuquerque, New Mexico and the Rev. Barbara Gadon of Eliot Unitarian Chapel in Kirkwood, Missouri.
Commentary
Written by Orlando Montoya
There are 32 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, the longest possible holiday season. That’s 32 days for shopping, 32 days for Christmas music, 32 days to fall off your diet, 32 days for waiting for it to end. I’d like to remember those people for whom these 32 days are not a joyous time. Far from or lacking family or close friends, remembering a loss that happened around this time or feeling forced into something that seems fake are a few of many reasons why people dread talk of turkey, trees, decorations and parties. You’re not alone. In such moments during this season, I turn to my holy books. As a Unitarian-Universalist, I have my own and many holy books, one of which is Rainer Maria Rilke’s “Letters to a Young Poet.” Of sadnesses, Rilke writes, “For they are moments when something new has entered into us, something unknown, our feelings grow mute in shy perplexity, everything in us withdraws, a stillness comes, and the new, which no one knows, stands in the midst of it and is silent. I believe that all of our sadnesses are moments of tension that we find paralyzing because… we stand in the middle of transition.” I leave this idea here with you, asking only, what new thing has entered? What is emerging from this silent transition? Is it a new year, seven days after these 32? Or is it a joy, innate in us, that the season thrusts in our faces, however fake seeming? With any hope, it’s both. Last week, in another context, someone asked me to define hope and I said it was forward-looking. That’s how Rilke asks us to orient. So don’t shop, turn off the music and eat healthy. This feeling isn’t something old. It’s something new.
Sermon
“People of Memory” (11/4/18)
Rev. Barbara Gadon
Eliot Unitarian Chapel, Kirkwood, Missouri
Sermon
“Unity and Diversity” (8/26/18)
Rev. Angela Herrera
Unitarian-Universalist Church of Albuquerque, New Mexico
Sermon
“The Nature Fix” (6/3/18)
Rev. Kathleen Owens
First Unitarian-Universalist Church of San Diego
Sermon
“The Biggest Risk” (3/19/17)
Rev. Teresa Schwartz
First Unitarian Church of Chicago
Braver Wiser
Used by permission of Braver Wiser, a publication of the Unitarian-Universalist Association
Quest Monthly
Used by permission of Quest Monthly, a publication of the Church of the Larger Fellowship
UUA Statements
Messages from the Unitarian Universalist Association
Natural Silence
Used by permission of ListeningEarth.com
UUA Principles and Sources
Our liberal faith as defined by the Unitarian Universalist Association
World Religions
Written by Orlando Montoya
Interfaith Calendar
Written by Orlando Montoya
UU FAQ
Written by John Sias from interviews with Rev. Steve Edington
Published by the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Nashua, NH