February 10, 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.”

The Greek philosopher Epicurus attacked superstition and believed in pleasure.  Venture into his garden in the sermon, below called "Swerving."

Commentary

William Wordsworth mused in his famous poem about wandering “lonely as a cloud” in a “bliss of solitude.”  Do you remember that poem?  You might flinch at the flowery language of the Romantics.  But they often expressed a sharp vision about time spent alone.  In the Wordsworth poem, daffodils return to the poet’s eye when he’s in a pensive mood.  And I’ve been pensive lately, deep in that lifelong struggle between solitude and community.  As an exponent of a church, and a rather “come together” type of church indeed, I should be talking about reaching out to friends, mutual support and communal power.  But as an exponent of also a rather heretical church, one that encourages questions of orthodoxy, I also wander the clouds alone sometimes.  This month, I decided to travel by myself, to several places that I’ve wanted to visit for awhile, without regard to who might or might not want to join me.  I now practice Whitesnake travel.  Here I go again on my own.  And I’ve been sitting in my alone place, on a particular bench, on a particular trail, where I can just be, by a river, for 30 minutes or an hour, without anyone passing by.  People are difficult and hurtful.  They can make you feel like a misfit.  And just like a muscle needs time to relax and heal after a hard workout, so too, I believe the muscles of our inner beings grow in times of restful solitude to flex stronger later.  I made up my mind.  I ain’t wasting no more time.  Here I go again.  You know, the Romantics were misfits in their day, rebels and rejects.  I will, of course, come down from this lonely cloud.  But for now, in my best John Glenn, “Oh, that view is tremendous!”

Sermon

“Make It Right” (1/20/19)

Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs

Unity Church Unitarian, St. Paul, Minnesota

Sermon

“Swerving” (1/27/19)

Rev. Kendyl Gibbons

All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church, Kansas City, Missouri

Sermon

“Mariposa, Mariposa” (10/14/18)

Rev. Carol Bodeau

Westside Unitarian Universalist Church of Knoxville, Tennessee

Sermon

“Last Things First” (4/23/17)

Rev. John Buehrens

First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco

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