Thursday, 11 March 2010, 12:02 pm PST
Unitarian Universalism: The Institution of Spiritual Freedom
A 2008 501(c)3 nonprofit organization candidate
Featured Ministers
the "Hot Stove"
Because my church has an intern and staff member in search and is itself in search, and because I was listed as a reference for several colleagues in search, I've taken a greater-than-usual intere... [read more]
iMinister
Rough Outline of 2 Samuel
2 Samuel Outline and Notes — 1:1-16 David learns of Saul’s death – 1:1-10 the Amalekite tells David how he killed Saul – 1:11-16 David... [read more]
The Latest Form of Infidelity
Gone Sitting
This afternoon Jan & I are off to sesshin, leaving auntie & the cats in charge of the homestead. This means it is unlikely there will be any additional posts before Sunday evening. .. In th... [read more]
Monkey Mind
What God and A Few Missional Minded (UU Christians) Can Do
Can you get five people, more or less, together to change the world? Here is a current status update on what can result. Yours will look different. But you can do it. Let me just say faith is so mu... [read more]
Planting God Communities
Avoiding the plague
Sometime you get absorbed by your job. This is not necessarily bad: jobs are reality, too. But the pressures of working in an office often distract me from their reality: I solve a problem, I answe... [read more]
Yet Another Unitarian Universalist
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Ah, another bit I needed to keep making sense of it all:
From nakedpastor: One of the greatest enemies of the church is fantasy. Just like fantasy is one of the greatest enemies of a marriage. Dissatisfied with reality, we create a fantasy of what we d... [read more]
ministrare
On the Recent Actions of Catholic Organizations and Leaders
The Catholic church and its representatives have taken some reprehensible actions as of late. A sampling:A Catholic school in Colorado is refusing students of gay and lesbian parents. ... [read more]
Rev. Cyn
Quick RJ Look at Primary Election for Mult Co Seat #2
A quick political observation and a few racial justice related comments. The race for Multnomah County Seat #2 covering most of N/NE Portland is going to be hot, multicultural, and will almost cer... [read more]
RadicalHapa
new blog location
I've now moved my blog to a personal website: Rev Ricky. com. Click on "blog" from" the menu on the welcome page. You will be able to comment on blog posts, subscribe with ... [read more]
One More Step
A Note that I Am Shamelessly Resuming a Bad Blogging Habit
Dear Community,In the crunch to finish my book (Histories and Mysteries of First UU Burlington, VT), I am doing almost no reading of your blogs. Please don't feel bad -- I've cut... [read more]
PolityWonk
Evil & Climate Change
"Evil" is not a word I normally use, especially in reference to people. Instead words such as ignorant, misinformed, deluded, and ill, more easily trip off the tongue. Yet now I'm i... [read more]
Calling Ministers - Examining and interviewing for UU ministry
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I'm feeling sad about the many staff changes at the UUA
due to a necessary restructuring of the organization. I have not yet read any explanation of how the decisions were reached to lay off quite a few people; I do believe that it was due largely to b... [read more]
Ms. Kitty’s Saloon and Road Show
I’m Getting Arrested
Hi, I plan on being arrested by the Muscular Dystrophy Association at 1 p. m. on April 1, 2010. No fooling – they’re coming to get me at Pathways Church and take me away to Spring Cre... [read more]
Sunflower Chalice
Another Look at John Calvin
We Unitarian Universalists struggle with John Calvin. I thought I’d spend some time during Lent considering him. Here is what I presented this Sunday. Spoken Meditation What might John... [read more]
timesunion.com
Bringing Walden Home: Higher Laws
March 7, 2010 Dear Henry, I’m writing to share my thanks for your gift of Walden. I’m reading it along with the congregation I serve, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, and wi... [read more]
Thousand Voices
Children, It's Spring - a case for 'de-ligio'
Today's address picks up on a number of themes and authors that I mentioned last week when I briefly explored how we as a contemporary religious community might, following Karl Marx's advice in h... [read more]
Caute
When does personhood begin?
This is a variation on the age-old question of when does life begin–at conception or at birth? There was a recent bill passed in Utah that criminalizes miscarriages as homicide if the wo... [read more]
A Unitarian Universalist Minister in Mississippi
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Why I’m still a Christian
If there is anything that makes some of my fellow Unitarian Universalists more uncomfortable than my military past and probably future, it is my willingness to call myself, both in public and from ... [read more]
Celestial Lands
Standing on the Side of Love
sermon delivered to the Unitarian Church of Los Alamos, 2/14/2010 [read more]
Returning . . .
10 commandments a la Hitchens
Christopher Hitchens proposes a revised Ten Commandments, in a new Vanity Fair article. After several pages of his usual snark and deliberate mis-understanding of modern Christian thought, he come... [read more]
the yes church
Odds & Ends
Snapshot from Denver
This mural of a famous photo of Johnny Cash adorns the parking lot wall of Bender's Tavern, on East 13th Avenue in Denver. It grabbed my attention so much that I had to take a picture. Here's ano... [read more]
Educated & Poor
Celebrate DC, Speak Out Against Virginia
Last Friday, the Attorney General of Virginia, Ken Cuccinelli, sent a letter to every college and university in the state to rescind their policies banning discrimination on sexual orientation. He ... [read more]
Sexuality and Religion: What’s the Connection?
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What's Your Real Religion?
Take the Test
UU News
Egypt's Sheik Tantawi, Head of Al Azhar, Dies
According to the New York Times, Egypt's chief religious official, Sheik Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, died yesterday during a visit to Saudi Arabia. He was 81. As head of Egypt's most prestigious cente... [read more]
Religion Clause
David Chura: Juvenile Justice? Send ‘Em to Boot Camp!
The author of I Don't Wish Nobody to Have a Life Like mine became an unlikely advocate for a military-style form of education for kids in the juvenile justice system. [read more]
Beacon Broadside
Board to review proposed changes to Article XV
NEWS: If amended, Article XV would make it easier to change bylaws [read more]
News from UU World
Who owns your congregation?
LIFE: A congregation's owner isn't its board, minister, or members; it is its mission. [read more]
Life from UU World
Pluto discoverer featured on NOVA, and other UUs in the media
UU’s In the Media
Featured Podcasts
Grace and Giving
Sunday Sermon, Jan 31,2010: Rev. Barbara Hamilton-Holway [listen to the episode]
UU Church of Berkeley
Blessing the Bills, Rev. Meg Riley, March 7, 2010
Reflections on scarcity and abundance. [listen to the episode]
Unity Church-Unitarian of Saint Paul, MN
See all podcast episodes from Unity Church-Unitarian of Saint Paul, MN
The Art of Massage
The Art of Massage -- Sermon delivered by Joel Gilbertson-White February 28, 2010 [listen to the episode]
First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco Podcast
See all podcast episodes from First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco Podcast
The Life That Makes All Things New
January 24, 2010 - Rev. Bruce T. Marshall explores personal spirituality and how it may develop in a Unitarian Universalist context. The traditional term for this process is "Spiritual Forma... [listen to the episode]
DMUUC Message
“An Alternative to Arrogance”
Sermons from First Unitarian Society of Madison
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The Courage to Do
Sunday Morning Worship at All Souls
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"Story Shaped" - December 13, 2009
One of our bridging youths said that she liked for things, including religion, to be "story shaped. " What stories give shape to your life? Are there stories about yourself that you... [listen to the episode]
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
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Graduation Homily
Sunday Morning Worship at All Souls
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The Summer of Our Content
Sunday Morning Worship at All Souls
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Featured Blog Posts
Cadillac & Power-Over Sexuality
For a year or two Cadillac had an ad campaign featuring their sleek new black models being driven by very attractive forty-something people (I recall one ad with a man and another with a woman). T... [read more]
Lefty Parent- Living and Parenting Without The Rule Book
See all blog entries from Lefty Parent- Living and Parenting Without The Rule Book
Finding the American Mystics
The Tribeca Film Festival, one of the most prominent independent film festivals in the world, has announced the twelve entries in their World Documentary Feature Competition for 2010, one of which ... [read more]
The Wild Hunt
Robin Hood and the Templars of Doom
Robin Hood and the Templars of Doom | Features | Fortean Times offers a surprisingly plausible theory for the origins of Robin Hood, says Will. via The Erudite Ogre: Aetheric Ephemera: Ruminations ... [read more]
it’s all one thing
An important milestone for a Pagan blogger
is this, my 666th post! I mean, people keep telling me I'm a Devil worshipper, after all. So I thought this post should be about Satan. The problem is, I don't know much about him- he is a Christ... [read more]
Cuumbaya
Jack and the Beanstalk, A Prologue
There is the story First Then there is the spin Noah and how He dodged drowning Pharaoh and how He deserved it Jack and how Theft and murder Might be OKThere is the story Then the spin [read more]
Deity and Its Double
Building the Movement, Brick by Brick
Michael Walzer's piece entitled "Missing the Movement" is so relevant and smartly written that I felt inclined to read it through four times before beginning to thinking about formul... [read more]
Comrade Kevin’s Chrestomathy
Today’s Almanac—March 11, 2010
Think you’ve been walloped by the big storms of the past winter? Think March means spring is here and you are safe from more snow? Think again. ... [read more]
Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout
calm peace, rather than a tumultuous delight...
Before moving to Massachusetts, we lived in New York state, within a short walk of the Hudson River. Our front porch afforded a wonderful view of Storm King Mountain which became for me... [read more]
Boston Unitarian
Rev Cyn on Catholic Communion
This, Third: Communion. And, again, I wonder at those who choose to stay in a religion that has this attitude, but that aside. .. Now, I don't know the ins and outs of the Catholic's policies a... [read more]
Pfarrer Streccius
Spring
In light of today's beautiful weather and promise of Spring:"I saw an act of faith today. A man was on his knees, not in a pew in a church,but in the garden, planting seeds. "-Author... [read more]
Everyday Unitarian
God's involvement
An article was published on Yahoo's website today about a survey on American religious attitudes. The article begins by stating that "most Americans believe God is involved in their everyd... [read more]
Find and Ye Shall Seek
Possible next steps after the UUA staff cuts
While it is pretty clear where I stand on some matters related to Unitarian Universalist Association staffing, it’s not to say I’d be happy to leave things as they were had there been ... [read more]
Boy in the Bands
Are We Afraid of Religion? or, What Is At Our Core?
Those of you who are on the GA-listserv will know that there has started to be a real conversation about the staff re-organization that’s going on at 25 (and the closing of the Washington off... [read more]
east of midnight
“For Lease,” a message from the sky
I live relatively close to Interstate 75. When I say relatively, if I look hard enough (meaning not very hard at all) I see it through the trees by my apartment building. And there’s on... [read more]
Spirituality and Sunflowers
Chasing Life, by Tina Simson
Today was one of those days that start slowly. You see, my dad is leaving this world bit by bit, and a dear friend was recently diagnosed with cancer. It’s cold outside and the remnants of a Nor... [read more]
Wellspring: Inspiration and Guidance for a Spiritual Journey
See all blog entries from Wellspring: Inspiration and Guidance for a Spiritual Journey
The Wal-Mart Effect
I just finished reading Charles Fishman's bestselling book The Wal-Mart Effect. I was at a conference in New Orleans a couple weeks ago and the publisher, Penguin, had a booth. It caught my eye an... [read more]
reason and reverence
Ever considering giving up/reducing meat? Great article to think it through.
I thought this is one of the best article on vegetarian questions/issues in a good while. I love how chill he is, how not arrogant. Interview with Jonathan Safran Foer, author of Eating Animals at... [read more]
Elizabeth’s Little Blog
Who loses with regions?
UU World put up a good article yesterday about the move from districts to regions. If you don’t know, the country is divided into 19 regions now, and it looks like we’re headed to merg... [read more]
Making Chutney
A Bad Boss
A letter in Consumerist highlights life under a bullying boss. Commenters ponder the options: to leave, to document, to go to HR (or all of the above). [read more]
Surviving the Workday: Spirituality at Work
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White-Ward Memorial Universalist Church, Pine Park, Georgia
The first Universalist Church in southwest Georgia, and about 50 miles from the nearest other Universalist Church (in Florida). Church founded in 1898building dedicated in 1907 Daniel Patterson War... [read more]