December 23, 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 Rev. Marlin Lavanhar of All Souls Unitarian Tulsa talks about "Living with Gratitude" in a video linked below.
Commentary
Written by Orlando Montoya
The phrase that’s come into my mind these past few weeks is “calling all ancestors.” The holidays are, for many people, a time of feeling more disconnected, when getting out of bed in the morning requires a conversation that goes something like: “Please, ancestors, if your spirit is with me, give me strength to rise and tell me what to do.” Now, if you actually hear your ancestors’ voices, lying in bed, then maybe you should check what your friends put in their holiday brownies. Like most Unitarian-Universalists, I doubt prayer’s power to change reality, if not its power to change thought. And the thought here is, deceased mother, deceased grandparents, deceased friends, deceased everyone who came before me; deceased prophets, baby in a manger, Buddha under a tree, kings and wise men dead, King the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, what would you do right now because I have no earthly idea? Feeling alone, it’s helpful sometimes to call all ancestors in this way. That’s why in the African-American tradition of Kwanzaa, celebrants pour libations from a cup, called a Unity Cup, whose wine or juice symbolically unites spirits, past and present. To be honest, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hannukah and solstice traditions don’t speak well to me, except for those like carols and foods, ancestors of sorts, passed down in comfort and joy, comfort and joy, good tidings of comfort and joy. If you don’t know what to do, that’s okay. If you don’t think the ancestors give a damn, rotting in their dust, that’s okay, too. Their stories, like those of a new baby, for unto us a child is born, can comfort when the morning ancestor conversation, lying in bed, is as chilly as the wind outside and as cold as the floor onto which your feet must stand.
Sermon
“Shaping a Life Worthwhile” (9/23/18)
Rev. Deborah Cayer
Eno River Unitarian-Universalist Fellowship of Durham, North Carolina
“Living with Gratitude” (11/4/18)
Rev. Marlin Lavanhar
All Souls Unitarian Church, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Sermon
TBD
Sermon
TBD
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 and used by permission of John Sias from interviews with Rev. Steve Edington
Published by the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Nashua, NH
A Year of Spiritual Companionship
Written by and used by permission of Anne Kertz Kernion
