January 8, 2012

Maketh All Things New

As we look to the year stretching ahead of us, we can be certain of uncertainty. The way we relate to each other is our best bet in terms of preparing for a future we can’t yet know. In this regard, Unitarian Universalism has some things in common with the World Wide Web. This sermon was delivered to the UUs of Fallston on January 8, 2012.



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January 2, 2012

UU Fallston Adult Religious Education Options

This post is directed at local members and friends of our “brick and mortar” congregation. Long distance friends may want to check out the resources we’re considering for your own study at home.

A four-session adult religious education class led by me (Rev. Lyn) will meet after the service February 12, February 26, March 11, and March 25. We decided at the summer congregational meeting that we want to do more study and reflection related to our social responsibility work. Within that framework, we have three options:

(1) A class based on How Much Do We Deserve: An Inquiry Into Distributive Justice by Rev. Dr. Richard S. Gilbert. This class would be focused, fast-paced, and extremely relevant to our congregational theme of relieving poverty in Harford County, MD. (Visit the UUA Bookstore to purchase the textbook or download the free study guide.) Participants should read the relevant chapters before we cover them in class. For more information about the ideas in the book, see Gilbert’s article from the UU World Magazine’s Nov/Dec 2001 issue.

(2) “Blessing the Peacemakers” is a four-session covenant group module developed by the UU Service Committee (UUSC). The series invites reflection on the connections between religious education and justice-making. This is a coherent series with spiritual depth. It is more general than our congregational theme on relieving poverty, but it is more related to our goal of being a welcoming, intergenerational community.

(3) Additional justice-centered covenant group modules developed by the UUSC cover special topics in each session and are not sequential. We would use “Living on Democracy’s Edge,” “The Right to Water,” “Wage Justice,” and “Living an Engaged Faith.” These sessions offer variety and a lot of food for thought. They are related to our congregational theme in the way that all justice issues are interdependent. “Wage Justice” is directly tied to relieving poverty.

The meeting dates and times will be the same regardless of which option we choose. All three options are written such that anyone can lead them; if you are excited about one of these choices and want to organize a series in the spring or summer, abundant tools and support are available to you. For now, those who are likely to sign up for the February/March series are invited to give their input. There will be a comment form available at UUF beginning January 8, or you can leave a comment here on the blog.

What do you think? If you are likely to sign up, which class would you choose?

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December 29, 2011
The shift from postmodernity to participatory culture means people find their identity through what they create as opposed to maybe what they consume. … Our churches are still structured in such a way that we do it to them, not inviting them to create worship with us. So, if that’s the case, there’s really no space for people who’ve been formed by our participatory culture in our churches.
Dr. Ryan Bolger (via azspot)

Interesting perspective. What do you all think? Are there more ways we can create together?

(via gilmoure)

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December 18, 2011

Searching for Calm and Bright

Today’s sermon (December 18, 2011) looks to the Winter Solstice for inspiration in bringing more peace and calm into our lives during what can be a high-pressure time of year.

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December 11, 2011

Dedication

In advance preparation for Hanukkah, today’s sermon (December 11, 2011) examines two possible motivations for starting over: finding meaning and expressing love.

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November 20, 2011

Abundance

This sermon, written for the annual Stone Soup Sunday celebration at UUF (20 November, 2011), examines the idea of abundance from the perspective of our inner gifts. What gifts do we have among us in community that can help unlock a practice of generosity and a sense of abundance?

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November 18, 2011

Sharing

Sharing physical space, food, and spirit are some of the ways to practice recognition of our interdependence. Opening our hearts is difficult in tough times, yet music reminds us of the potential for finding joy in sharing. This sermon was written for the Unitarian Universalists of Fallston and was delivered on November 13, 2011.

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November 1, 2011

Roll Like Waters

We can find inspiration, encouragement, and resources for resilience in stories from the past, including ancient texts such as the Hebrew Prophets. This sermon was written during the Jewish High Holidays and was presented to the UUs of Fallston on October 9, 2011. (Apologies for the late post.)

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Ancestors

Remembering our beloved dead helps us understand our own place in the world. This sermon was written for the UU’s of Fallston, October 30, 2011.

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August 12, 2011
Even when our hearts are broken by our own failure or the failure of others, even when we have done all we can and life is still broken, there is a universal love that has never broken faith with us and never will
Rebecca Parker (Unitarian Universalist, educator, minister, theologian)

(Source: uuquotes)

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