January 27, 2019
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.”
Sometimes the challenge is to love what's in front of you. That's the message on this week's broadcast, linked below, from the Rev. Oscar Sinclair. (Photo Ryan Van Etten)
Commentary
Written by Orlando Montoya
On January 3rd, the Chinese lunar explorer Chang’e 4 became the first spacecraft to land successfully on the far side of the moon. The achievement gave human beings the first close-up images ever taken from the lunar hemisphere unseen from Earth. On a cold night, 17 days later, I gazed skyward, to watch as the seen lunar hemisphere darkened in an eclipse not be repeated for two years. Chang’e 4 spoke to me of universal ideals of reaching ever forward and advancing ever upward. One small step. Humanity’s advancement might seem questionable recently. Our government remained shutdown this month. We can’t even pay our civil servants while China lands on the moon! But our news isn’t the last word on human achievement. Events happening on the far sides of our moons, in the totalities of our eclipses, will lead us forward. Consider these ongoing stories: clean energy is setting records; the ozone layer is healing; for the first time ever, less than half of humanity is not in poverty and less than a billion people are without electricity; India decriminalized homosexuality. I’ll post a link to some underreported good news you might not know. It’s an act of faith to build up amid tearing down and to hope in troubled times. It’s an act of faith to watch our metaphorical bright orbs go into totality. And lots of moons have gone dark recently, unfortunately. This world needs work. But we make it better or worse. It’s not some force in the sky. Gaze skyward for inspiration, to remember the twinkling energy that we are and to dream of landing on new worlds. Vow this year to build your own personal Chang’e 4. Where will you go? Vow to look at the night sky more often. And always, keep looking up.
Sermon
“Things My Father Taught Me” (11/4/18)
Rev. David Miller
Unitarian-Universalist Church of Fairfax, Virginia
Sermon
“Love What’s in Front of You” (10/21/18)
Rev. Oscar Sinclair
Unitarian Church of Lincoln, Nebraska
Sermon
“The Nature Fix” (6/3/18)
Rev. Kathleen Owens
First Unitarian-Universalist Church of San Diego
Sermon
“God and Gay Marriage” (5/28/12)
Rev. Tim Kutzmark
Unitarian-Universalist Church of Fresno
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
