December 2, 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.”
In Almedia Junior's painting, Judas shows remorse for betraying Jesus. But there's another Judas story. We consider the enlightening Gnostic gospel on this week's program.
Commentary
Written by Orlando Montoya
I’m just old enough to remember Cold War movies about dramatic escapes from Eastern Europe. The sounds and images are still in my head. People dug tunnels underneath walls. People hid in car seats. People floated over a border in a hot air balloon. Nikita, when you look up through the wire do you count the stars at night? Such sounds and images came to my mind again this week as videos showed the world’s most powerful military hurling tear gas at men, women and children seeking asylum at the US-Mexico border. Why did we make heroic films about daring asylum-seekers fleeing to a better life back then? And why today do I find the tear gas videos sullied by comments, from so-called Christians no less, that say “Fog them out like roaches” and “Next time use bullets.” The obvious answer is that our media and political leaders chose to ennoble one set of asylum-seekers and demonize another for their own self-serving reasons. And leaders set the example for others to adapt into cruder ways. Now, if you want to talk with me about immigration reform, border control or even the parameters about who gets in and who stays out, that’s fine, that’s politics. But I cannot accept the escalating violence, dangerous language and dehumanizing methods that lead us only down. That’s immorality. Level heads and open hearts must lead us up. But where are level heads and open hearts? Find them in the same people once moved by those films so long ago. Find them in today’s asylum-seekers, no less brave than those who eventually tore down those walls. Connect broken hearts on both sides of this divide and find, at the end of it all, no reason for, as the song once said, ten tin soldiers in row.
Sermon
“Meditation on Kristallnacht” (11/11/18)
Rev. Tom Goldsmith
First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City
“Judas Iscariot” (10/7/18)
Rev. Bridget Spain
Dublin Unitarian Church
Sermon
“Integrity in a Time of Lies” (3/26/17)
Rev. Stephen Kendrick
First Church Boston, Unitarian-Universalist
Sermon
“A Universalist Pentecost” (6/4/17)
Rev. James Ford
Unitarian-Universalist Church of Long Beach
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
www.elkgrovetile.com
Adam,
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Thanks