Thursday, 17 May 2012, 05:26 pm PDT
Unitarian Universalism: The Institution of Spiritual Freedom
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Featured Ministers
Beyond Military Borders — Homily at PSWD-UUA District Assembly 2012
I have received multiple requests for copies of the homily that I presented at the UUA Pacific Southwest District Assembly this year, and instead of continuing to email it out, I thought I would pu... [read more]
Celestial Lands
Worship
I return to the question: What are we here for? For those of you who have a "thing" about prepositions at the the end: For what are we here? That is, for what do we come to a worship ... [read more]
Lake Chalice
Alabama’s Shame Deepens
Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side; Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,... [read more]
A Unitarian Universalist Minister in Mississippi
See all blogs entries from A Unitarian Universalist Minister in Mississippi
Mother's Day Prayer
Let us open ourselves widely to Life, and share a few moments of quiet attention… {silence} We call upon the Hopi Earth-Mother, Tuuwaqatsi, and Cybele, the Magna Mater; we think of Parvati, p... [read more]
the yes church
Apparently Breasts Are Provacative
This week's Time Magazine cover of a woman breast-feeding her 3-year-old son sure has a lot of people talking. My own feelings about the Time cover are conflicted. On one hand, I thi... [read more]
Rev. Cyn
Longing or Gratitude
The other night I watched TV for the first time in a long time. No anti-boob-tube righteousness in that hiatus . . . I've been busy. But I did get a break the other night, and I tuned in Myt... [read more]
A Minister’s Musings
Living Compassion with Robert Gonzales
Just dropped Robert Gonzales off at the Albany Airport to catch a 6am flight back to Portland, OR. My wife Philomena and I brought him back from a three day Living Compassion retreat with him at... [read more]
timesunion.com
Spring mending-time – a meditation on the value of maintaining walls
Stone wall at Frost's farm in Derry, NHReadings: Psalm 16 and Mending Wall by Robert Frost (Youtube link below)A poster which has appeared on our own noticeboard from time to time says: “Unitari... [read more]
Caute
Our "Betters"
aren't. The news of Mitt Romney's cruelty toward a fellow student at the posh Cranbrook School, combined with the recent stories about how future financial titans currently enrolled at Dartmouth ... [read more]
thelivelytradition
The Great Home-Brewed Emerging Frontier
This talk is from May 6, 2012 at Westside UU Church in Fort Worth, TX. I speak about what Unitarian Universalists can learn and what we can contribute to developments in Evangelical Christianity... [read more]
Sunflower Chalice
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
I never really believed in Hell, but had I been taught that hell was real from childhood, I would no doubt have believed in it fo... [read more]
A Jersey Girl in Kentucky
YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW
I never really believed in Hell, but had I been taught that hell was real from childhood, I would no doubt have believed in it fo... [read more]
A Jersey Girl In Kentucky
Homily: "Different, Unique, Diverse, Inclusive" (Delivered 5-6-12)
I want to begin by mentioning one particular poem by Billy Collins, the former US poet laureate and a favorite poet of many members of this church. In his exquisite poem Litany, Collins stri... [read more]
RevThom
Reading the Bible Again for the First Time: Book of Revelation
On August 23 of the year 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy erupted with a deafening roar. It shook the earth, sheets of fire shot up out of the crater, molten lava rained down, and it killed ... [read more]
Thousand Voices
ReShaping the World: church in likeness to a different God
Reshaping The World: church in likeness to a different God Rev. Ron Robinson Ballou-Channing District, UUA, Keynote Sermon, Fairhaven, MA, May 5, 2012 Introduction: A Bigger Bandwidth In a ... [read more]
Planting God Communities
She Adopts A Beagle
High-maintenance, the lady at the shelter says. I’ve heard that one before. Bad on a leash. What self-respecting creature would be good on a leash? He is standing at my knees, his entire flan... [read more]
PeaceBang
Strangely Silent Years
March on Media: Part II in an Ongoing Series on the Place of Technology in Our Lives Once upon a time, when a mariachi band or barbershop quartet or stray female vocalist stepped into the subway... [read more]
The Reverend Dr.
Forrest Church's spiritual odyssey
IDEAS: Biography reveals moving model for spiritual growth. [read more]
Ideas from UU World
A Trail of Beauty and of Tears
A TRAIL OF BEAUTY AND OF TEARSRev. Kit Ketcham, with Jarina Moss, April 29, 2012 In February, I spoke to you on the topic of current civil rights issues in America, mentioning sev... [read more]
Ms. Kitty’s Saloon and Road Show
Earth Day: Finding Hope in Troubled Times
Dear friends, Happy Earth Day! Here’s the sermon I gave this weekend. I hope you will all stay hopeful and focused out there–it is not too late to make the changes we need to protect th... [read more]
Drink from the Stream
Who do you recognize on Earth Day?
As a parent, Earth Day is a chance to bring out the environmentalist in my kids. I love all the people caring for the earth, improving their individual habits, and drawing special attention to the ... [read more]
RadicalHapa
Odds & Ends
Cleaning up with the Colonel
On the back patio, cleaning away a winter's worth of fallen leaves and grime. COL: You got a broom? ME: Yeah, here's the outdoor broom. [begins moving patio table and chairs] COL: [sweeping w... [read more]
Educated & Poor
Response to TUMC: Religious Leaders Stand With LGBT People of Faith
I'm pleased to tell you that today the Religious Institute, a multi-faith organization dedicated to sexual health, education and justice, issued a statement regarding The United Methodist Church... [read more]
Sexuality and Religion: What’s the Connection?
See all blogs entries from Sexuality and Religion: What’s the Connection?
"Replenishment" Or "My Pond is Back"
In September, I visited my favorite pond to discover it was, for the most part, gone. Dried up, from the drought. A field where fish used to swim. It's back. Almost to overflowing. In some areas, ... [read more]
The Journey
What's Your Real Religion?
Take the Test
UU News
Israeli Council To Recommend Memorial Day Reading Omit "God"
Haaretz reports today that in Israel, the Public Council for Soldiers' Commemoration will recommend to Defense Minister Ehud Barak that in Memorial Day ceremonies at military cemeteries the s... [read more]
Religion Clause
Outlaw Marriages: The Hidden Histories of Fifteen Extraordinary Same-Sex Couples
The engaging and untold stories of fifteen prominent same-sex couples who defied cultural norms and made signifcant contributions to American history. [read more]
Beacon Broadside
Thick stories
SPIRIT: In Soul to Soul groups, silence can connect us more deeply than using words or questions. [read more]
Spirit from UU World
UN seminar spurs UU young adults to immigration action
NEWS: 119 youth and adults attend three-day UU-UNO conference in New York. [read more]
News from UU World
Faith Without Borders: From Elmina Castle: Undoing Racism
The Rev. Peter Morales, President of The Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA), and a delegation of Unitarian Universalists have just returned from visiting the Every Child is Our Child program ... [read more]
Unitarian Universalist Association: Top Stories
See all news results from Unitarian Universalist Association: Top Stories
Featured Podcasts
Rethinking Heaven, Rev. Marlin Lavanhar, Senior Minister All Souls Tulsa, May 6, 2012
Unity Church-Unitarian of Saint Paul, MN
See all podcast episodes from Unity Church-Unitarian of Saint Paul, MN
Immigration as a Moral Issue by Rev. Bruce Marshall at Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church
22 April 2012- Every year, the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) holds a general assembly to discuss issues that concern its members and society. This year, in the wake of the passage... [listen to the episode]
DMUUC Message
A Home for Love
A Home for Love -- Sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker April 29,2012 at 11:00 am [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
Foolish Love
i thank You God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes (i who ... [listen to the episode]
UU Church of Berkeley
The Laughing River: A service for all ages
Sermons from First Unitarian Society of Madison
See all podcast episodes from Sermons from First Unitarian Society of Madison
"Now is the Time: Stewardship Sunday" - April 10, 2011
Come celebrate the gift of our beloved community as we reflect on what this moment in our congregational history calls us to do. We'll also have a child dedication at this service. [listen to the episode]
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
See all podcast episodes from Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
Featured Blog Posts
Life with a Chronic Illness
Chronic illnesses are, by their basic definition, long-lasting. Some, like Bipolar Disorder, I expect to have forever. I would be shocked if a cure for any of the major psychiatric ailments is disc... [read more]
Comrade Kevin’s Chrestomathy
Protests In Sunni-Majority Iranian Province Turn Deadly
Iran on edge… Tensions are running high in a southeastern Iranian province with a majority Sunni population after a protest against the recent arrest of local religious figures ended in bloodshe... [read more]
Pfarrer Streccius
Banned “Tax the Rich” TED Talk slides and text here - SlashGear
Banned “Tax the Rich” TED Talk slides and text here - Slash Gear: "If the typical American family still got today the same share of income they earned in 1980, they would earn about 25% ... [read more]
it’s all one thing
Forty Years of Asatruarfelagid
This year sees the 40th anniversary of the Icelandic Asatru Association, Asatruarfelagid, co-founded in April 1972 by Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson under “the desire that Icelanders could have ... [read more]
The Wild Hunt
Today is Ascension
Later. What? It’s Wednesday? Long week. Tomorrow is Ascension. Long-time readers know that I love the feast of the Ascension, when Christ took leave from his followers and figuratively lifted... [read more]
Boy in the Bands
On Raising an Atheist (and an Agnostic): Part II
Last week, I mused about my younger son’s atheism and my older son’s agnosticism, both which came to light after years of my own questioning and movements into and out of churches. (He... [read more]
Finding My Ground
Compulsory Schooling – The Hammer of Educational Equality
Other than paying taxes and attending school when you are young, a human being pretty much decides for themselves how they are going to make a living and lead their life. I understand the taxes par... [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
Universalist Convocations 2012
UPCOMING 2012 UNIVERSALIST CONVOCATIONS MARK REVITALIZATION OF KEY RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTIN AMERICA TODAY Historic Site to Host National Gatheringof Universa... [read more]
SC Universalist
New Plaid Shoes
Today is my birthday! ! I love birthdays. Since everyone is working or at school, I have planned, a la The Muppet Show, a "Me Party"! I am super excited for it. I woke up to br... [read more]
Everyday Unitarian
More on Fear & Gratitude
There are lots of external reasons I might be having trouble finding a job - not least, Wisconsin's continued employment hemorrhage under Scott Walker that keeps us mired in the worst of the reces... [read more]
Wandering Monk, Reluctant Gyrovague
See all blog entries from Wandering Monk, Reluctant Gyrovague
Bring Your Mind Home
Wednesdays are hump day, hard day. My energy is drained and weak by evening, especially with the challenges of the office. But I look forward on Wednesdays to morning meditation. ... [read more]
UU Intersections
A Humanist Approach to Death
[a talk presented to the Concord Area Humanists on May 2, 2012]A few weeks ago I found myself at a funeral where no doctrine of the afterlife was preached. No one assured us that the deceased was w... [read more]
Free and Responsible Search
A no good, very bad week
It’s been a less than lovely week in the life of me. I’ll survive and I’ll get over it, but man alive. It all hits at once. Unfortunately, it all decided to hit around my... [read more]
Spirituality and Sunflowers
She Adopts A Beagle
High-maintenance, the lady at the shelter says. I’ve heard that one before. Bad on a leash. What self-respecting creature would be good on a leash? He is standing at my knees, his entire flan... [read more]
The manic mind of the minister
keep learning...
My blogging has been pretty sparse over the past couple of months (Bill, if you are reading this, thanks for asking after me. ) I plan to talk a bit about why this has been so over the next couple ... [read more]
Boston Unitarian
How Does A Person Of Color Prove That They Are American?
Since the Supreme Court heard arguments about SB1070 yesterday, I thought of this question: How does a person of color prove that they are an American? I’m black and can speak fairly reasonab... [read more]
east of midnight
Matsch, Dreck und Kinder
Kinder lieben Matsch und Dreck, insbesondere meine. Und was soll man sagen, der Frühling ist die perfekte Zeit dafür. Das Wetter wird wärmer und verlockt nach draußen zu gehen. Meine beiden Rac... [read more]
reason and reverence
Why Is The Sercret Service "Scandal" A "Scandal?"
Grown men had sex. I'm shocked! They had sex with prostitutes. I'm even more shocked! C'mon now people. This country is involved in armed conflict in one of the most desolate places in the world... [read more]
It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere
Happy Pascha!
This year, Easter and Passover happen to coincide in the modern Jewish and Western calendars. They don't always, but it's a helpful reminder of the oft-underemphasized reality that on hist... [read more]
the Socinian
Of Deepities, the Gambler, and UU
Deepity is a term coined by Daniel Dennett in his 2009 speech to the American Atheists Institution conference. It refers to a statement that has (at least) two meanings; one that is true but trivia... [read more]