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

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