The true preacher can be known by this, that he deals out to the people his life ... life passed through the fire of thought.
When people who “heed the guidance of reason and the results of science” arrive at a diversity of answers, it may be that they are asking different questions. Three ethical frameworks help us to make sense of our moral choices. This sermon was written for the UUs of Fallston, May 19, 2013.
2 days agoWe have inner resources for our community’s work of encouraging young souls. Whether you are a parent or part of the larger circle of care, the abilities to articulate your own faith, to stay present, and to let people grow beyond our predictions can be helpful in our mission to nurture. This sermon was written for the Unitarian Universalists of Fallston for Mother’s Day, May 12, 2013.
1 week agoSpirit of Life,
Ground of our being,
Root of unified mystery
Growing into myriad branches of expression,
Bring us together now.
Bring us close to the earth,
Ear to the whispering grass,
Quietly,
Attentively,
Waiting with slow breaths,
Listening for the very stones to cry out
With their rocky stories of
Tectonic plates meeting and parting meeting
Their mineral memories of
Hadean days, molten rocks flowing and joining
Their ancient legends of
Stars born out of the collapse of other stars
Help us to re-member.
Help us to piece together
Our one-ness with matter,
Our one-ness that matters.
With one more deep breath,
May we rise, star-stuff walking and rolling
Across the surface of an impossible blue-green planet.
May we join together to heal what is divided.
May we find wholeness within, without, among, between.
Eternal Source, Seed of the Universe, help us to grow peace.
So be it. Blessed be. Amen.
Context: This prayer was written by Rev. Lyn Cox for Union Sunday at the First Unitarian Church of Baltimore, May 5, 2013. Union Sunday is an annual regional celebration of Unitarian Universalism. It commemorates the 1819 “Baltimore Sermon” by William Ellery Channing, which launched the Unitarian movement in America. This year’s Union Sunday preacher was the Rev. Dr. Galen Guengerich from the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City. Rev. Guengerich is the author of the forthcoming book, God Revised: How Religion Must Evolve in a Scientific Age.
2 weeks agoThe Wiccan Rede, “An it harm none, do as ye will,” can be considered a version of the Golden Rule. It may seem like an “anything goes” guideline, but a closer look reveals the rede’s strong limits and its requirement for active critical thought. Following the Wiccan Rede would involve considering potential harm to beings outside our immediate awareness, taking care to cultivate willpower that matches our values, and caring for ourselves as members of the interdependent web. This sermon was written for the UUs of Fallston, April 28, 2013.
3 weeks ago1 month ago(Text below from the Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center, where this video was filmed.)A group of Unitarian Universalist professionals and lay people has been gathered at Murray Grove this week for a series of workshops led by Rev. Julie Taylor of the UU Trauma Response Ministry, a community minister and volunteer Emergency Medical Technician specializing in critical incident response, trauma, and disaster spiritual care. Upon hearing of the tragic events at the Boston marathon, she recorded a video last night on ways to respond spiritually to crises like this, which was then posted to YouTube for the use of the UU Church of the Larger Fellowship by CLF ministerial intern Lara Campbell.
Julie’s talk offers ways for anyone to deal not just with this tragedy, or events like it, but with traumas of any kind that all of us may encounter in our lives. The UU Trauma Response Ministry provides direct care and training in crisis response and congregational procedures:
(Video filmed and posted to YouTube by Lara Campbell)
In addition, the following links and resources from the Unitarian Universalist Association may be helpful:
Religious Education resources for adults, children, and families
Trauma response resources for congregations and families
1 month agoOnce again families are coping with how to explain tragic and scary news events to their children. This time the news is in regards to two explosions that occurred near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. For those living in the affected areas, these are particularly stressful and anxious…
Sometimes we need recalculate our route when it seems like we’ve reached a dead end or find ourselves rushing down a road in life that’s not right for us. The book of Ecclesiastes (also known as Koheleth) has some surprisingly timely advice for those situations. This sermon was written for the UUs of Fallston, April 14, 2013.
1 month ago1 month agoA church member recently shared a great video featuring Lutheran Pastor, Nadia Bolz-Weber, an inspiring speaker who had a few things to say about trying out Unitarian Universalism in her past. She expressed a lot of respect for us, but noted that UUs are “REALLY smart, but they have this…
Christians, Pagans, and Humanists all have perspectives on resurrection. This sermon was written for the Easter service with the Unitarian Universalists of Fallston, March 31, 2013.
1 month ago