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uusociety_org

2011-12-11-2%20Sermon.mp3

Help. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices. What is it about human beings that makes us hopeful. Our capacity to look to the future. To grow and learn. To feel wonder and awe in the face of mystery. Yes when we are at our best we are hopeful creatures. But it is so easy to lose hope. To get stuck in a difficult or painful presents. To feel frustration and fear in the face of the unknown. That is why the various religions of the world have liturgical calendars. Preach distinctive faith a reliable and repeating series of. Festivals holidays events that remind people of the stories and lessons that call us back to our better selves. In the christian liturgical calendar the month of december is advent. A time of expectant waiting for the arrival of. Well the arrival of that thrill of hope. At the heart of the christmas story. The uu minister carl seeburg reminds us that christmas is simply the latest incarnation of an old and enduring universal religious celebration. Christmas he says is older than anyone religious tradition. Every culture has adapted itself to the great mid-winter celebration. Way before there were christians there was christmas by another name. Each temporary face graft its customs and meanings onto the celebration that is there and will outlast them. Bulb lot there from carl seberg. So advent the time of spiritual preparation for this celebration. Is also. An expression of universal human need. Another commentator john taylor says this. We human creatures in spite of all that has happened to us and been done by us are still hopeful. Something new something vital something promising is always coming and we are always expecting. Advent is the time of anticipation and as long as we expect. As long as we hope. Someone will light a candle against the prevailing darkness and neither the winds of hate nor the gales of evil will extinguish it. As a congregation you have come through a hard time. Unexpected changes painful conflicts significant losses. And that hard time happened in the context of a hard time in the larger culture. Any kannamma crisis that has dragged on far too long. Unprecedented political polarization. Environmental depredation uncertainty about the future. Fear of handing off to our children a world of intractable and insoluble problems. Yet in spite of all that you continue to be together. To be the first unitarian universalist society of burlington. You continue to worship. To make music to share your face with our children. You kept showing up. You kept working you kept being faithful stewards of this beloved community. You kept on advocating for sustainability. For justice and for peace. You fully expected the hard time to pass. You were helpful. But a candle would be lit and that your hopes would be fulfilled. And so on the basis of that evidence i declare you to be advent people. You have been intentional about holding onto an attitude expectancy. About the clearing your affirmations of hope and faith about lighting candles of love and joy even while facing the winds. Of controversy. You are advent people. And that is why i chose to offer you this advent sermon series on faith last week and on hope this week. Well that makes sense already you might say but why finding hope with robert frost of all people. Trust does not strike everyone immediately as a hopeful. Kind of guy. Well it all started with a brief meditation on frost poetry written by a colleague david rankin. He said in part. If you are a yes type of person you may not understand robert frost. He does not speak well to the once-born to the buoyant and optimistic to those who are blessed with a happy hope and a cheerful faith. If you are no type of person you may not understand robert frost. He does not speak well to the life denying to the cynical or nihilistic to those who lack a candle of hope and a spark of faith. But if you were on the edge. Yes maybe. Type of person. Wrestling with inner demons searching to find the meaning of life cleaning with your fingernails to a dim hope and a fragile faith. You will understand robert frost he is your advent poet. Sofro the yes maybe folks here this morning here is your sermon on finding hope with robert frost. His personal life was filled with tragedy and hardship. His father died when he was young. Two of his children died in infancy another committed suicide as an adult. Those losses sensitized frost. His work speaks to the sometimes bleak reality of the human condition. He rode out of an awareness of human limitations as well as the human capacity to overcome. Despair. What is better known about frost is his careful attention to the natural world around him. He was deeply attuned to this northern new england. Environment. So often his poetry is about seeking and finding reasons for hope and affirmation in the outdoors. One of his classic poems is fire and ice. A poem that generation after generation reads as a lyrical cosmic speculation. In fact the astrophysicist fred adams and greg laughlin began an article about a study of possible outcomes of encounters. Between our solar system and passing stars by saying. Poor poet. Robert frost is a pretty good scientist. Some say the world will end in fire. Some say a nice. From what i've tasted of desire i hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice. I think i know enough of hate. To say that for destruction ice. Is also great. And would suffice. Maybe it's not so much a cosmic speculation maybe not a poem about the way the world might end. Trust may be a pretty good scientist but he's a really good student of human nature. Fire and ice is about the extremes of human emotion. About to zaire and hatred. The poem is a commentary on human emotional capacity that is as relevant today as the day it was written. Our advent poet knows well the workings of the human mind and heart. That is what makes him an advent poet. As invites us to walk through woods and fields of snow and ice he also invites us to speculate on the human condition. Be honest about the fear and doubt that live in our hearts. During advent. And throughout the year. They cannot scare me with their empty spaces between stars. Onstar's where no human races. I have it in me so much nearer home. To scare myself with my own desert places. Amazing how quickly and purposefully frost can move between the desert places and the lovely dark deep woods filled with tranquility. And the promise of fulfillment. Let's move together more deeply into his poetry. First with a guided meditation. And then with more reading and commentary. Out walking in the frozen swamp 1 grade a. I paused and said. I will turn back from here. No i will go on farther. And we shall see. Those opening lines from frost poem the woodpile capture perfectly the human dilemma. Faced with the dismal. The grade-a on a frozen swamp our first impulse is to say no i won't go on. But then impelled by some inner directive some sense that to go on matters we say instead. Yes. Maybe. I invite you now to bring yourself into a reflective place. Take a moment to straighten your spine. Feet flat on the floor for grounding. Find a focal point or close your eyes. And begin to breathe. Slowly and deeply. But these images take you to your place of hope. Place where you can say yes. Maybe. The christmas tree at the top of church street sparkles with multi-colored life. Ruiz hang on doors candles light or windows. Just a few blocks away people huddle in doorways hungry. Cold. Alone. Can we find hope. Let's go on farther and we shall see. The malls filled with shoppers answering the patriotic call to shop. As a way to save our nation. A few blocks away the young people of occupy wall street lead us into a different way of looking at economic justice. And we know even as the police clear out occupation after occupation that you cannot clear out an idea whose time has come. Can we find hope. Let's go on farther and we shall see. We come together in our meeting house and prepare our hearts celebrate christmas. Hanukkah. Solstice. We make our homes beautiful and festive with lights candles fresh greens flowering plants. I'm silly decorations. Our families and friends are made glad by the giving and receiving of gifts. Our generosity extends to unknown friends through our guests at your table box and the giving tree. It is the brink of winter. We are all out walking in a frozen swamp on a gray day. And we are all opening our hearts and minds to the messages of the season. Shall we find hope. Shall we find hope we need no. We need go no farther to find. The answer. Our answer yes. Maybe. In order to know who you are frost once said. You must know opposite. So much of his poetry is an expression of the ambiguities of both human nature and mother nature. Ambiguities created by those essential opposites being held in a creative tension. How often do we catch glimpses in his poetry of the primordial fear that we are subject to. Those empty spaces he spoke of in desert places with which he scared even himself. And just as often we see that primordial sea or turned into courage as people intentionally turn their face towards the mystery. People turning their back on the land which holds all that is familiar. And towards the deep and unfathomable see. Or up at the stars. Frost poetry. Celebrate that choice that decision. The each of us make as an expression of our free will. In spite of human limitations he tells us over and over again by making a decision to stay with the mystery the fear the smallness even of our humanity. We triumph. The solitary walker out on the frozen swamp decides to stay and see. And what he sees in the end. Is both the eternality of nature. The slow smokeless burning of decay. But also the work of human hands the woodpile lovingly and precisely stacked. The long-gone craftsman's handiwork is admired. Perhaps frost most famous tell if the human exercise of free will comes in the poem that begins two roads diverged in a yellow wood. And i bet everyone in this room. At least everyone over a certain age knows how it ends. And i i took the one less traveled by. And that has made all the difference. A lonely and hardscrabble spirituality from this advent poet. Spirituality drawn from the wisdom of nature. Nicole. Hard-edged nature of the new england winter. Always the same wenonah faded night. At last the gathered snow lets down as white. As maybe in dark woods. And with a song. It shall not make again all winter long. I'm pissing on the yet uncovered ground. I almost stumbled looking up. As one who overtaken by the end. Gives up his errand. And let's death to send. Upon him where he is. With nothing done. Two evil. No important triumph one. More than if life had never been begun. Get all the president is on my side. I know that winter death has never tried the earth but it has failed. The snow may heat. In long storms and on drifted 4ft deep. As measured against april birch and oak. It cannot check the peepers silver croak. And i shall see the snow all go downhill. In water of a slender april rel. But flashes tail through last year's withered break. And dead weeds. Disappearing snake. Nothing will be left white. But he roberts. And there a compass houses. The cycles of nature are essentially reliable. Cold and dark is followed by warmth and light and rebirth. Snow melts away. But the work of human hands the houses and the church withstand the winter as well and remain. This is the most ancient of wisdom. It is the basis of advent and christmas and those earlier holidays with more ancient names. The dark and cold time come then pass. The light returns. And in all of these poems as in all seasonal celebrations we are nudged gently back. Too human company and human concerns. We are sustained and comforted. By our walks in the woods our encounters with the beauty and reliability of nature. But our ultimate calling. Is to our human community. Whose woods these are i think i know. His house is in the village though. He will not see me stopping here to watch his woods fill up with snow. My little horse must think it queer. Stop without a farmhouse near. Between the woods and frozen lake. The darkest evening of the year. Gives his harness bells a shake. To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sounds the sweep. Easy wind and downyflake. The woods are lovely dark and deep. But i have promises to keep. And miles to go before i sleep. Miles to go before i sleep. We all have promises to keep. As the days grow ever shorter and darker let our spirits be lightened by the shore knowledge that the solstice time reliably approaches. As we enter the season of expectant waiting would turn our faces towards christmas boyd not by cockeyed optimism. But by a sense of hope that grows out of the depth of our souls. Forge from our struggles with loss and evil. Sustained by our engagement with the power of nature and human love. And strengthened by our acknowledgement of the ambiguities of life. With eyes wide open seeking not simplicity but depth. Putting our faith in nature and human nature at the forefront we can be addressed people. And solstice people. And hanukkah people and christmas people. And we will then with confidence be able to sing the words to the 12 digital christmas carol actually penned by a unitarian. The reverend edmund hamilton sears. On christmas eve we will sing these words. Below the days are hastening on by prophet bards foretold. When with the ever-circling year comes around the age of gold. When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendor sing. And the whole world give back the song. Which now the angels sing. Yes. Maybe.

uusociety_org

2010-01-03-2%20Sermon.mp3

It has often been said that if you took all of the people. Who sleep in church. And laid them down into end. They would all be a whole lot more comfortable which may have been said only partly. Ingest. Because long ago in ancient times among the greeks and the romans it was. The custom. To sleep. In church and is actually had a technical name it was called. Incubation the worshipper would enter into the temple. Or the sacred precincts. For the express purpose of. Slumbering to receive. A night-time vision or portent. Of the future in there are ancient. Inscriptions that abound giving thanks to the goddess or the god for the wisdom that's been imparted. Dreams were. Highly-regarded also by the authors of. The hebrew bible the psalms declaring. That god's gifts. Come to his loved ones. As they sleep. Maybe you remember your stories from sunday school and in the book of genesis. There's the story about figueroa who dreams of. Seven fat cows seven lean cows forecast in coming years of feast and famine and it's by interpreting the pharaohs. Nocturnal vision that joseph. Remembered. Joseph. He's the one who had that obnoxious dream. Remember. He dreamed all his his siblings his brothers were bowing down to him and adulation imagine. How that would affect your standing in the family they sold him into slavery in egypt as a result and that was how joseph arose to become the pharaohs privy councillor. And it was. In egypt where. The feast of epiphany originated. Sometime probably in the third century christians celebrate this on the 6th of january but it was. Originally likely. A solstice celebration in this is because. Apparently the calendar. In egypt. Was 12 days later than the julian calendar at rome so you take it back two weeks and it's just around the winter solstice. In christian tradition. Epiphany became associated with the visit. Of the magi to the christ child in bethlehem and they bring their gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream. Not to return to herod. They departed to their own country by another way. Now when they departed matthew goes on. Behold. An angel of the lord appeared. To joseph in a dream. Telling him to take mary and the baby him to flee and then if you go on reading in the new testament in the book of acts it foretells of coming day of gladness. When daughters and sons will prophesy and old men. Will dream dreams. Eastern religions probably regarded dreaming. Even more highly than religions of the west in india. The universe. The cosmos itself. Arises. From. Asleep. From the dreaming of the deity. Vishnu who is. Resting upon a great. Serpent named ananta. Whose name memes. Endless. And as he sleeps upon this bed of eternity vishnu has a dream which grows which emerges. Unfolds like a beautiful. Lotus flower. Growing from his. Naval and all that you see around you. All of it. The snow. The trees. All of us. Gathered here so various. So vivid so seemingly real all of it. Is nothing but ripples. In the subconscious of the god vishnu. The universe that we observe is nothing more or less than the lucid dreaming of the creator. In china. Meanwhile. The dallas. Philosopher transue is remembered for his mystical ruminations having awakened from a dream in which he imagined himself to be. A butterfly. Letting happily about a sunlit garden. He can no longer be sure when he woke up. If he were actually a chinese sage. Having dreamt that he was a butterfly or if he were actually a butterfly merely dreaming to be. Amman. And it's worth noting that sleep sleep is one of those funny things it it comes about through what the dallas. Would call. The law. I've reversed effort. Wu wei the harder you try. The more difficult. It becomes. So that lounge through sense of the wise person he doesn't think about his actions they flow. From the core of his being he holds back nothing from life therefore. He's ready for death. As a man is ready for sleep. After a good day's. Work. All of which puts a new perspective on those who occasionally nod off during the preacher's sermon andra calls it a famous story. About. Court preacher. In eighteenth-century london. Dr. robert. Cell. Who interrupted his discourse to admonish. The british prime minister to moderate his snoring. Lesti snored so loudly that he awaken the king. Sleep. Comes naturally. To all of us to kings. The commoners s*** is the most democratic the most egalitarian. Of oracle's it's a fact that all of us spend about a third of our life. Dozing. We spend even more than eight hours a day when were very young or or very old closer to that. Ultimate. Mystery of things and. Scientists can't really explain this physiologist have determined that through our 8 hours of sleep we save the equivalent of about 120. Cal that's about. The signs of a good-sized banana. For all that time in bed so you can't say that sleep is really necessary to. To restore or revivify. The body and it doesn't seem too likely either that sleep is there too. Protectus nature's way of. I've guarding us from the predators that prowl at night because even very large. Animals. Even. Horses you can't possibly conceal themselves on a wide-open prairie. Even they will sleep for 3 or 4 hours a day at least part of that time. Swap down. Horizontal unconscious on the ground which is not a very good survival strategy if you're trying to stay away from. Wolves are other hunters with a taste for horseflesh. So it doesn't seem that sleep. Is a requirement for the body so much is. Nature's way of giving. Timeout. For the mind. All vertebrates. Dream even the the brain are mollusks. Like. Octopuses or octopi however you say that. They also experienced something very like. Rim. Sleep people of course experience rapid eye movement and non-rem sleep. And intervals over the course of the 9th intervals or something like. 90 to 110 minutes will do. For five of these. Any given night about a quarter of that is spent. In dreamland. And where is psychologist once looked on dreams is nothing more than a confused jumble of. Infantile fears and. Suppressed desires a plunge down into the irrational. Now researchers know that dreaming. Is necessary. For sanity. Itself. So that sleep deprivation is rightly looked on as a form of. Torture. Loss of sleep. Particularly. The deprivation of dreams will lead to the memory loss to mood swings and extreme forms to complete disintegration of the personality. Hallucinations resembling psychosis. It seems that dreams are often coming to us not from the murky. Add a week. Basement of the mind but from some higher plane of consciousness so that many of the the last centuries great scientific discoveries. Have their origins in dreams. Nobel prize-winning physicist niels bohr. Once dreamt that he had gone to. The races. And the ponies. We're running. Round. The track. When he woke up he thought about. That race track all the horses were in their assigned lanes and he realize that that must be like the orbit. Of the electrons as they circled the nucleus of the atom and that was the beginning. Quantum theory. Albert einstein was once asked to. Recall exactly. When and where. Relativity popped into his brain he traced his brainstorm back to a dream that he had in adolescence. He was. On a sled. Like you might ride today only this sled was going much faster than any of us would ride as it accelerated as it began to rock it. Forward closer and closer to the speed of lighting notice the stars around and then they were exploding in a a prismatic. Spectrum of colors einstein said that all his later scientific career could be traced back. As an extended meditation on that singular dream. It was einstein who did more than any other individual to. Reframe and reshape our ordinary everyday notions of time. And space. Who helped us understand that such. Seemingly objective realities. Has. Distance how far it is from here to bear duration. How long it takes to get from one point to another. This this really can vary they can expand or contract depending on one's. Viewpoint and dreams i think have the ability to take us out of our ordinary perceptions. At the world it's measured by the yardstick or the ticking of the clock. Because every dream. Is taking place. Now. It's taking place. In the present tense. Yesterday. Tomorrow. It all. Merges and blends in the immediacy of the present attempts that. Grammarians i think my call. The subjunctive eternal. I just made that up the subjunctive the subjunctive eternal every event has a timeless. Nonlinear. Quality. To it. And in addition to this. Every aspect of the dream is taking place. In a dimension that against symbolic wordsmiths might call. The first. Person. Infinite. So that everything and everyone that you encounter in the dream. Is a dimension or an aspect of your own more spacious self. Like vishnu. You are the creator of. The landscape you're inhabiting your not only the god. You're also. The serpent. He rests upon your also. The lotus. Growing from the naval you. Ar. All of it. The unitarian universalist minister jeremy taylor suggests that this is one reason why. Dreams are often so hard to recall. In the real world. You can't be. In two places at the same time i often try that during the weekend. I always run into trouble. But in a dream you actually can be in two places at once. You maybe. Two people. At the same time you may be experiencing events from several different. Angles. A vision simultaneously and then the alarm clock rings and you. You wake up your throne back into this. Humdrum. Mundane three-dimensional space time continuum. And you can't remember any of it that the dream of a 8 it's impossible to recall just as it's impossible to see your own. Blind-spot. Unless. That is. You're sleeping. Because i think one of the great gifts that dreams can give to us. Is this ability to reveal what is hidden about. Ourselves. Things we can't see. What are ordinary waking eyes strength. And weaknesses alike and this is why often when people come to me for for counseling i will encourage them to pay attention. To their dreams as sources of insight and guidance. Now this isn't to say that all dreams are edifying or eliminating sometimes there just. Boring or stupid or a nay nor obviously related to distress. Or performance anxiety for instance i've had some variant of that dream that all preachers ham it's sunday morning. At 11. I'm buck naked i can't find the door to the church and i've lost my sermon. But sometimes dreams. Can be more interesting and also more suggestive a dream i had last week. And i'll call this dream. The silly machine. In the dream i'm standing in line and i'm waiting to use one of those. Machines one of those devices that you sometimes see at carnivals or. Museums. You put a coin. Into the machine. You turn a heavy crank and the coin is transformed into some kind of. Commemorative. Medallion. Usually it's inscribed. With a legend like. I rode the mount washington cog railway or. Or some other profound statement 50 cent. Will typically turn a penny. Into what is either. A shining memento or a worthless. Piece of scrap metal depending on how you look at it so. There i was standing in line i was almost ready. Put my coins into the machine. When. Some woman a stranger. Got it in. Cutting the line head of me. Well that's not very polite. I shouted feeling very annoyed. And aggrieved at this person who had usurped my. Rightful spot. This. Interloper. Who had delayed my anticipated moment of commemorative metal happiness. And now it's where my dream ended. So i'll let you interpret it. Hi i did my own interpretation i had i had to think about the dream. And. It made me wonder how many of the priorities. Did i set for myself are really. All. That. Urgent. How many of the the tasks. The projects that seem. So all-fired important are really rather like that silly machine turning out products. I've somewhat dubious value. I began to ponder how much of my time i spend waiting in line. For satisfactions. It don't really measure up to the expectations how much. Energy and effort i spend chasing after relatively. Worthless. Trinkets. I had to ask. Why it is that i sometimes feel envious. Or frustrated. When i see other people advancing through the world more quickly than me. Why do i feel that way when there's really nothing so special so fabulous about being there at the front of the line there's really nothing at the front of the line except another. Turn of the crank. So i don't know if this was a message from. The goddess or the god or higher consciousness or. Just stuff bubbling up from my ear but the dream did make me pause. And i have no doubt that you too. Have dreams. That will speak. To you that will bring light from dark. Places because beyond breakfast time and lunchtime beyond. Eastern standard and daylight savings different. Time zone. We live. And the dreamtime. Where are you. Are older than you thought smarter. And more creative. Then you realize. And if you seek there. You will find. If you knock. The door. Will be open. And if the meanings that emerge are not. Immediately apparent. I would advise you. To sleep on it. So in case you have been napping this morning or not paying close attention i'll sum up with a little poem by walter de la mare. Called scholars. Logic does well at school. And reason answers every question right. Paul parent memory unwinds her school. And copycat. Keeps teacher. Well inside. The heart's a truant. Nothing does by rule. Safe in its wisdom is taken for a fool. Nods through the morning. On a dunces stool. And wakes. To dream. All night.

uusociety_org

2015-01-25-2%20Sermon.mp3

Have to say that it really is a joy to stand up here and see all your faces. Takes away some of the terror. I know how many of you were here last sunday i don't want you to raise your hands. But those of you who were here may have seen how i embarrassed myself. I got so carried away by the worship drama. That i couldn't wait to hug the players. So i left. before this song i'mma was over and i would remember. Find me ending up with tick not han the person tamara and realizing there was nobody behind me. And did it anyway cuz i i really was eager to you know. Hi maya angelou and martin luther king and jesus. And i loved the theme taken from the words of gandhi for those who weren't here. Be the change you wish to see in the world. As often happens i found the service so rich i couldn't absorb all the inspiration so i'm almost grateful for this opportunity to unpack. Some of the wisdom in the words of the different characters many of you who are here. In the cast. The cast was made up of famous thoughtful activist prophets and poets. And for those of you who weren't here i should be if you describe the context of this drama acted out by members of our own congregation. The title as i already told you it's not only be the change but it was an activist. Bristi scuse me dinner party activist dinner party. And so it is remember the play opens. With a harried homemaker sowell. Detective chopping vegetables. And at the same time she sees a pile of unsorted mail. She attempts to sort it and i could so identify with it finding bills and all kinds of requests for good causes. And then the phone rings. And the caller wants to alert her to the plight of the polar bears who the caller says are melting. Twitch twitch the woman replies oh my god i just thought it was it was there ice that was no. You're very kind those are you hearing it for the second time. So then the narrator of the play clicks in acts is the voice of this woman subconscious. And it tells her that she has dreamed up all these famous activist and poets etcetera. That she likes to read and quote often. They each speak to the near to spare this poor overwhelmed woman who's ready to give it all up. Andrew me the 13th century mystics sufi poet. Sums up what they are all counseling for her which is simply you have to be yourself. She's reminded and very much relieved by the liberating limitation of having to act only in her own era. In the words of martin luther king we are not. How to. Deliver results. But you act. Faithfully. Maya angelou tells her we are only asked to stand up for justice in our own way. And then you who is. The harried housewife was representing all of us. It simply asks what what do you mean by our own way. So now is marge piercy. Turn and she is a jewish feminist activist and author of so many novels and 20 volumes of poetry three of which are in our own hymn book. She responds to you. Saying these words well every human being naturally possesses some powers to make a difference right. But clearly everyone can only really effectively do that in a few somewhat limited ways. And speaking about standing up for justice in our own way martin luther king ads. Look. Maya marge and romy are poets. Howard thurman and i are preachers. And jesus is well. That's complicated for you unitarians. And i will adhere that it's a challenge to this. Hybrid. One that i want that i really find important to face. I often seek refuge in the 13th century. Mystic german mystic meister eckhart. So when he was asked if he believed that jesus was the son of god. He would answer why yes and so are you and so am i. I find it really painful and tragic. Is the doctrine of the trinity is what has divided christians from jews and muslims for centuries. I like to think of it. Not as a dogma. But more as a useful metaphor for relationality in god. Father son and spirit and i'd like to think of the spirit providing the feminine element facilitating the relationship between the father and the son. I sometimes wish. That we have that a human family. According to eckhart every creature the word of god. And his vision harmonizes with the gospel of thomas which is the gnostic or what they called in the play. Apocryphal got gospel referred to read martin luther king. Who is quoting jesus in the sky spoke when he said. If you bring. Pouring. The word that is within you what you bring forth will save you. And if you do not bring forth what is within you. But you do not bring forth will destroy you. Not always easy to access the word the wisdom it is within us i believe. Thomas merton a twentieth-century trappist spiritual author and guy cautions our generation saying they're over busyness is a contemporary form of violence. Leaving little time for reflection. And that over busyness kills the root of our inner wisdom. These very words recorded by parker palmer last sunday on npr. He and other another younger activists were being interviewed by krista tippett on her program on being. Parker's latest book is healing the heart of democracy. And i was a part of this group just last spring in which we studied the five habits that parker says we need to be effective in healing the heart of democracy. I was so grateful that on the program he boiled the five down to just two. I had forgotten the other three. The two being crispr. In humility. Irish dream up my own activist dinner party the guests would include parker palmer thomas merton along with the civil rights legend john lewis. Barbara lee and cory booker. Lewis as you all know that 600 marchers across the edmund pettus bridge in selma on march 7th 1965. Bloody sunday. Lewis was beaten to unconsciousness and suffered a concussion on that day. Despite all that he has suffered. Or maybe maybe just because of it. Louis has great faith in the future of our country and of the beloved community. He's a co-chair emeritus of the faith & politics institute. In the present senator from georgia. Barbara lee. Another african-american in a recent congresswoman from california. Was if we all need remember the lone dissenter in the post 9/11 vote. Authorizing military force. Many called her a traitor at the time. Of course history has vindicated her. We're now being reminded by political commentators that before our misguided use of military force. Against iraq. There was no isis. Or al-qaeda. These lone dissenting vote in 2001. Had to be in some way informed by her training as a psychiatric social worker. Cory booker another african-american. Former mayor of newark presents senator from new jersey won my heart. In an interview after his election to the senate. He said. We have no right. The cynicism or despair. When you consider how far our country has come from the time of lynchings and the struggle for women's suffrage. Mini mazes challenging statement. Democracy is not a spectator sport. So where does that leave those of us. Like myself. In what is now referred to as the silent generation. In a recent nielsen global survey people 65 and over are characterized as belonging to the silent generation. If you're curious as to where you belong according to the survey. Those under 24 long to generation z. Millennials are somewhere between 21 and 34. Baby boomers are between 50 and 64. But this point i need to thank this community for hiring a member of the silent generation. When you hired me at 65 you offered me the opportunity. I'm falling in love with this multi-religious moving. You accepted me as a hybrid. Rooted in catholicism but living outside the institutional boundaries of dogma. Hierarchy sexism and homophobia. Basically. A heretic. I'm really living under the shadow of gary kowalski who who always want to see this down to 1 hour.

uusociety_org

2013-03-17-2Sermon.mp3

So what is unitarian universalism other than a lot of syllables. That polycephalum syllabic name tells a story. A story of faith. A courage of persistence of radical ideas. You know the story of where we came from is to know as well where we might go in the future. You know that story is also tendo deep gratitude for the people that nurtured it through difficult times. So that it could emerge and its present form as a gift to us. This generation of seekers. Once upon a time. Before the merger in 1962 of the american unitarian association and the universalist church of america there were two distinct religions called unitarian and universalist. And before that there were two streams of thought. Extremely heretical theology. Unitarianism with a small you and universalism with a small you. Those ideas are the beginning of our history. Today we take up the first few unitarianism next month we will consider universalism. No unitarian with a small you was a heretic. A word that means to choose out. I just as a side note. Me the dark side of saint patrick's day is the. The story that saint patrick drove the snakes out of ireland is really metaphorical what saint patrick drove out of ireland with the heretics. People who wouldn't grab onto the orthodox theology who wanted to keep worshipping there. Earth. Divinities. Those are the snakes at schnucks. The heretics. The small you unitarians those people who had that idea where in the eyes of the powers-that-be people either to dance or pigheaded or perhaps possessed by satan. To acknowledge and accept the doctrine of the trinity. The doctrine that. In fact in the earliest centuries is christian church did not exist. The earliest christian christians were not bothered much with doctrine at all. They were content to tell the stories of jesus the stories that had been handed down to them and to talk about how those stories affected their own wives it was an infectious exciting. Kind of. Religion. And as christianity grew though and grew large enough in fact to be relieved of official persecution. The leaders of the movement began to ask those sockets rental questions. Questions like what was jesus if he was divine then why did he suffer and die. If he was human then how did he do the amazing things he did. And so the debate began. Fully human fully divine something in between some created creature with a tribute to divinity. The debates became lively and eventually disruptive to the movement. And when the emperor constantine converted to christianity and the roman empire became the holy roman empire. All of that began to change. According to the philosopher alfred north whitehead quoting. When the western world accepted christianity caesar concord. And the received text of western theology was edited by his lawyers. The church gave on to god the attributes which belongs exclusively to caesar. When you are the official religion of the empire you have certain responsibilities regarding the social order. Disruptive debate are not good. Disruptive conclaves one might even say. And so the emperor constantine ordered a church council in 324 and ordered doctrinal resolution about the nature of jesus. That council the council of nicaea was not a neat or polite affair. Although the creed that eventually emerged has withstood more than 2,000 years of. Conversation. The man who crafted it we're far from unified at the beginning. There's was as much a political as a theological debate the careers of church fathers rose and fell on which way the vote would go. One group that helped. To have sufficient weight to carry the day was the aryans. Who felt that it was blasphemous to suggest that jesus was fully divine made of the same stuff as god. These arians are theological ancestors. Advocated for jesus who was somehow imbued with divinity but was not fully kogod. Now i'm going to spare you the finer points of the christological controversies. Much as i would love to share these arcane details with you. But i will tell you that there are aliens lost in extremely close election. When i was in seminary and i was at a methodist seminary i was fond of goulding my seminary colleagues by saying. But for hyouhaku hanging chads. You all would be the heretics and we would have been running the world for the last 2000 years. But the nicene creed. Made the doctrine of the trinity the official creed of the church. And all other positions were condemned as heresy. In the ensuing centuries these heresies were so thoroughly request with the full weight of the empire behind that repression. That organized anti trinitarianism didn't emerge again for a long time. In fact you have to skip from 325 to the 1400s. Define the next unitarian with a small you. Yon hoose. A catholic priest in prague. He was a pastor in the true sense of the word he loves his people and he wanted to make the religion that he was. Bringing them more relevant so he took two radical steps. First anticipating martin luther by almost a century he began to celebrate the mass not in latin which the people no longer understood. But in their own language. The 2nd. Was he offered a communion not just the bread but the chalice of wine as well. Well what's the radical about that you may ask. The doctrine of transubstantiation says that in the eucharist the elements of bread and wine become the actual body and blood of christ. The chalice was withheld from the common people. Left some careless worshiper accidentally spill a drop. Of christ's blood. Songs for the church. Ian who's assumed that each person could in fact. Acts responsibly with the gift that was given to them. He was condemned. For heresy at the council of constantine in 1415. And burned at the stake. With his memory lives on in one of the enduring symbols of unitarian-universalism the flaming chalice. In 1939. When the czech artist hans-georg was asked to design a symbol for the unitarian service committee assembled it was easily recognizable by these folks who were in fact working behind nazi lines to smuggle people out of nazi occupied countries. He designed. A flaming chalice combining the the symbol of the flame. With the symbol of the liberating chalice of ian who's the flame of death became the flame of freedom. The chalice became a safe container to hold that flame. After wwii that design and others like it. Made their way into unitarian universalist churches and have become today. The symbol that we most often associated with our faith. Back to the martyrs. The most well-known of the unitarian with a small you martyrs was a man named michael servetus. The author of a rant engraving book called on the dock on the errors of the trinity. Now i have read this book. In translation and i can tell you that his zeal for correcting the mistakes. As he saw them of christianity are not lost in the translation. He really made people angry. In fact he's so outraged both the catholics and the protestants reformers that he has the unique distinction in history of having been burned at the stake twice. Once in effigy by the catholic church that couldn't find him. And once for real by john calvin who did find him. Less well-known. But worthy of mention here is another early martyr catherine vogel. In the 15 20s. Bogle lives in krakow poland and was branded a heretic. Historians suggest that the label was attached to her because she was known to associate with jews. Radical monotheists then and now. She confessed to believing in the unity of god. And was locked in a chapel and urge to recant. Something she steadfastly refused to do. And when i say steadfastly i mean that she was locked in that chapel for 10 years. Finally in 1539. A white haired woman of 80. She was led out into the village square and burned at the stake. Her last words paraphrase socrates. Me either in this life or the next can anything evil befall the soul of one who stands loyal to the truth as one is given to know it. I hope i have the presence of mind to say something that erudite. In that same year that catherine vogel died. Fastest the finest who would become the leader of the polish unitarian movement. Known as cecenia nissim was born. He'd been influenced by the work of servetus and his followers and he came to believe not only in a unitarian theology but in the necessity of nurturing a religious climate three of corson. A religious climate that would allow each seeker to find their own truth. In poland his movement flourished for brief time. He and his followers established the rack how press in 1585 the first unitarian publishing house one of the first free presses. In europe. Dedicated to making available materials that would assist in the establishment. A free thought. The use of reason and religion. Broad tolerance. In 1591 an angry mob destroyed the sicilian church in krakow and he fled into exile where he died several years later. His followers scattered and within a century the polish diet officially banned socinianism and the movement was completely eradicated from polish religious practice. But not of course from people's minds because. Kill. Ideas. All during the centuries. Following the reformation the idea of anti trinitarianism kept popping up in different places. It was as fiercely resisted by the protestant reformers as it was by the catholic church. But insights in spite of ruse was persecution the idea just wouldn't die. Another hotbed of anti trinitarian thinking was transylvania. We're a fortuitous partnership developed between a far thinking young monarch and a passionate and fiery preacher. In 1568 king john sigismund of transylvania. The only truly unitarian monarch in history. Find the edict of religious toleration. Influenced by his court preacher the unitarian francis david king john enacted into law the revolutionary idea of religious choice. Four different religions were extended legal protection in his kingdom. Catholicism lutheranism calvinism and unitarianism. Now this may seem limited by today's standards but in the days when the religion of the monarch was the religion of the people. That was a lot of choice. So i give him his two. Frances david tot. That god is one. Jesus was not god but an example of divinity to be followed. Not idolized or even prayed to. David preach the merciful and loving god who granted all. Persons the ability to develop morally and spiritually each in our own way and in our own time. He believed that this essential moral development could only happen in an atmosphere of freedom. Freedom to explore to exchange information to share experiences to debate. And to grow. Faith is the gift of god he reminded us we must have the freedom to form it express it and then live it. Each in our own way. Now unfortunately this heady atmosphere in transylvania did not last long. The young king was not in good health. At his death. Orthodox clerics regain control of court and 11 years after the edict of toleration. Francis david a condemned heretic. Died in prison. But the transylvanian unitarian churches that were built. 500 years ago still stand today. They have withstood every attempt to destroy them and to repress their worship. Not only those early attempts but. The temps in recent history. During nazi occupation in during the soviet union. Matter of fact. When. Perfume very very soon after the berlin wall came down in the soviet union came apart. Unitarian universalist association in boston received a phone call. From transylvania. Basically. The caller said. We're still here. We haven't seen a new book in 50 years have you got any. The partner church program started. As a way to provide books and study materials to seminarians. Coming out of the transylvanian unitarian churches. It has developed today into a rich partnership where congregation such as ours have a sister church in transylvania we visit back and forth we send things back and forth. After the services few go into the parlor so you can see on the wall display of the pictures of our sister church. The minister and his family and some of the full guard is there anyone here from the partner church. Committee you're still here of course you're still here. Yes omno right and bill and anna at the sower. I talked to some of these folks if you'd like to know more about it. Reformation europe with strewn. With the charred remains of unitarians with a small you it was a costly. Idea. Their radical monotheism became strongly linked to what the historian earl dwarfs wilbur has called the true trinity of liberal religion. The use of reason religious freedom and broad tolerance. These links ideas could not be wiped out by coercion intimidation or even death. They continue to crossy road taking route next in england at eventually traveling to america. Which gave birth to what we know of today as the unitarian with a capital u. Church. So how has this idea. The unity of god. The unitarian with a small you evolved in the years since and it has evolved radically as you would expect it to. I think woody allen said it best. When he described contemporary unitarians as people who believe in at the most one god. But he's right. He's absolutely right. There are people in these pews who believe. In god. In traditional way. And people in these pews who believe the divinity manifests itself. In the best in humanity or in nature. People who label themselves agnostic or atheist. What we have held on to of that historical and heretical unitarian thread is our shared commitment to a way of being together religiously that embodies that liberal religious trinity of the use of reason religious freedom and a broad tolerance. We may have different ideas about what the word god means or what is of ultimate worth. But what we called. And sacred and in common is a vision of unity. Of oneness. Of homeless. And of course we have in common our debt to those who came before us and blaze this free religious pass. When we think about what it cost. Them back then we're humbled. By their courage and their commitment. We remember that people died. In order to pass on to us the right to gather for worship and voluntary association in the sanctuary of our choice. The best way that i know to honor their sacrifices to treat this faced with the same courage and commitment that they did. At this time and in this place the states may not be as high as they were for the likes of catherine vogel. But our faith is still precious and we still have a saving message for our world. The steaks. For the communities we live in may be just as high as. People continue to struggle to find a way to live together in freedom. To practice justice and mercy. That's a message that we can continue to bring to the world. As francis david said centuries ago. In this world there have always been many opinions about faith and salvation. We need not think alike to love like. Sanctified reason is the lantern of faith. The most important spiritual function is conscience the source of all spiritual joy and happiness. Conscience will not be quieted by anything less than truth and justice. We must accept truth in this lifetime. Salvation. Must be accomplished here on earth. God is indivisible. Edge easton. God is one. And now i have offered you in less than an hour the opportunity. To speak in here turkish swahili and hungarian. And so i feel that my job is done and i'm going to sit down.

uusociety_org

2011-11-13-2%20Sermon.mp3

In the fall of 2002 while i was on sabbatical. Barry and i spent a couple of weeks. In italy in rome and tuscany in florence. We never been to italy before and as you can imagine we started out visiting churches in galleries and museums galore. I got to the point where i felt like i had seen so many pious painting so much stained glass that i couldn't even tell the seasons apart anymore and i decreed no more religious art on this trip. But on the last day of our visit we had time to tickets purchased far in advance for the uffizi gallery. So off we went to view one of the iconic. Works of art in italy michelangelo's david. Reluctantly i stood in line and waited to enter the exhibit hall still believing that i was so ordered out that i wouldn't be impressed. And then standing in front of that magnificent and powerful sculpture i had a religious experience. To this day i cannot find words to describe how i felt which is what i call a religious experience it was beyond words it was beyond reason. What i experienced was transcendence. The passion that the sculptor injected into his work the sheer scale of the statue. The reverence for the human form. All that move me and i had one of those. Moments. An experience of inarticulate. Circling slowly i took in the details of the sculpture and then stepping backwards i began to absorb their totality of the story it told. Spell chorus part of the story it tells is the biblical story of david. Not david the beloved and powerful and wealthy king that came later. This is david the simple shepherd boy. David who courageously answers the call to face down goliath. The epitome of evil. David armed only with his with his face and a slingshot. David who carefully chose five smooth stones to put in his pouch. Knowing that they would be the only thing that stood between him and disaster for his people. I'm not sure how much david knew about the aerodynamics of slingshot technology. I suspect quite a bit. And i suspect that he chose his stones carefully holding each one in his palm considering shape. The surface and the balance. And then off he went to face goliath. Religious liberalism depends first on the principle that revelation is continuous. Meaning has not been fully captured nothing is complete and those nothing is exempt from criticism. With those words the theologian james luther adams introduces the first core idea that provides the foundation upon which unitarian-universalism is built theologically. Revelation is continuous and that is our good news friends that's mighty good news. It is news that this weary world needs to hear over and over again. Revelation is not sealed we can still learn and evolve and improve. There is wisdom still to be garnered changes still to be made in the way we create and recreate our always imperfect human communities. We have not been abandoned. Left alone to our fate condemned to grind out lives of quiet desperation until some magical second coming. Revelation is continuous. And that is good news because it means there is hope for humanity. Hope for better understanding hope for more effective social structures hope for all of us to do effectively. Did the work that the jewish tradition calls tikkun. The repair of the world. Jim adams was the preeminent uu writer and thinker of. The second half of the 20th century. He died a few years ago beloved and missed by all who had met him read his words and learn from him. Now adams wrote those words many years ago at a time when the world was in serious chaos and the liberal church was struggling to find a way to respond. The great evils of the twentieth century had caused. For liberals a huge crisis in faith. The carnage of the first world war followed by the great depression. Had taken a serious toll on our faith in human nature. And then fascism the holocaust stalinism. Nuclear weapons. All of these further challenge the basic assumption of liberal religion. Our confidence in what we were fond of saying was the progress of humankind onward and upward forever. Themed at best ill-placed. And many despaired. Others. Gloated. As orthodox theologians predicted the death. Of religious liberalism. Max stackhouse the commentator and editor of james luther adams work applying that religious liberalism is sometimes at its best when under pressure. 4 then it must decide what must be fought for preserved and renewed and what must be jettisoned. That is exactly what jim adams set out to do when he wrote a series of essays that were eventually gathered together under the title the five smooth stones. Of liberalism. The title comes of course. From that story of the shepherd boy david who prepares himself for his confrontation with goliath by carefully choosing five smooth stones for his slingshot. Five smooth stones of the title referred to five foundational ideas that define religious liberalism. Over the course of the next several months i will be. Once a month doing a sermon on each of those five smooth stones so that. You'll get the full picture. And beginning in january a once-a-month adult education class for five months during the sunday ministers forum on each of those ideas. So if you want to dig more deeply. Stay tuned. Just as james luther adams recognize that the challenge of the vents in the mid-twentieth century demanded that liberal religion return to its roots in order to reinvigorate itself. We recognize that as the task of our age as well. Fundamentalism. Terrorism. Greed on the grand scale tyranny poverty. There is always a goliath. All of these challenges us today to do the work of revitalizing archaeology. Jettisoning whatever is inadequate and articulating and holding on for dear life. To what we believe to be of enduring value. Now that rita vitalization is not just a job for kilonewtons or academics or even ministers. It's a job for all of us. Unitarian universalism is a religion of the people by the people and for the people. You're all profits called to speak the truth forcefully and remind people to live a life aligned with our values. You're all priests charged with caring for each other and for bringing comfort and words of hope. To each other. And to our communities. And we are all philo gence. Privileged with the task of being on the lookout always for unfolding truth. To believe in the continuity of revelation is to believe as an article of faith. That. We need to be cut continuously paying attention. If revelation is unfolding and we are not paying attention. We might miss an important message. From the universe. We need to be mindful of those lessons that life is trying to teach us. Be on the lookout for the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of the times that might reveal to us. Some truth. Of our current situation. So we are prophets priests and filos install. And one more thing if we are all people who believe. That revelation is continuous. Then we are all. By definition agnostic. Not necessarily in that narrow technical way that you sometimes think of agnosticism as someone who has doubts about the existence of god. I mean that we are all agnostic about everything. About all of life. We are open to new ideas and new interpretations of our life experiences on every front. Agnosticism is sometimes interpreted as a skepticism or even a cynicism about life. But the kind of agnosticism that i'm talking about. If we believe that meaning has not been finally captured that nothing is complete and everything is open to criticism. That's a different kind of agnosticism. That is a face that that allows us an open-minded approach to the search for truth. It allows us i would say it impels us to question even our most deeply held and beloved positions. It process to constantly be on guard against idolatry. It encourages us to experiment with new ideas but always with a careful and critical eye. It demands that we pursue our religious past ever conscious of the fact that we just might be wrong. And then. We get to start over. We who challenged the claims of orthodoxy who assert that the cannon if you will is never closed that nothing should ever be carved in stone. And left unchallenged. We too are susceptible to a kind of arrogance. I call it the arrogance of evolution. I'm assuming that we are more evolved than people with a different worldview. Who does that feel familiar. We could if we are not careful make the mistake of getting comfortable with the idea that we are better educated smarter or writer. Then others and you know what. We could be wrong. About that. Another arrogance that we are susceptible to is the arrogance of assuming that we unitarian-universalist are the only ones. Who have any of these ideas we are free example of the only ones asserting that revelation is continuous. Lest you be tempted by that sin of pride. Let me introduce you to the night united church of christ whose catchy slogan these days is god is still speaking. You can subscribe to their daily devotional service called still speaking. I do and everyday a devotional piece arrives in my email inbox from them. Reading it and considering its meaning is a small piece of my spiritual practice. Even though we may not all be comfortable asserting that god is still speaking. We can recognize that like us they are saying that in every moment the universe is speaking to us if we will only listen. Whatever is of altamont worth to you still speaks. So let's be. Agnostics but let's be humble in our agnosticism. Blake robert fulton friend the one who was into simple ignorance and yet dedicated his. Volunteer time for social justice and was willing to risk his life to save the life of a child. He is to my mind a perfect example. Of humble agnosticism. He lived life fully and with gusto. Without ever believing that he had arrived with a capital a at the truth. Skeptical and realistic was how fulgham described him. Not cynical and not pessimistic. James luther adams warren's idolatry occurs when a social movement adopts at the center for loyalty and idol. A segments of reality torn away from the context of universality. And inflated misplace abstraction made into an absolute. Adams came by that understanding. When he went. To germany. To study theology. In the late 1930s. Think about it. You think you're going to study the great theologians like martin luther. And what he came face-to-face with. Was the rise of adolf hitler and the nazi party. Make no mistake he recognized. That he was looking evil. In the face. And he realized that all the thinking he had done until that point was inadequate. To address what was happening then. In germany. Are all the eagles that we can catalogue the evils of both the 20th and the 21st century are examples of idolatry by his definition. All those isms grow out of misplaced loyalty. Of mistaking the part for the whole. Of separating off a slice of revelation from the great jumble of diverse and colorful ideas that he have emerged so far out of the human quest for knowledge. Now sometimes people argue with me and say it was easy then. Everyone. Could have recognized. Hitler as evil. But you know. At the beginning of that movement it wasn't easy. It wasn't. Easy. Hitler was trying to address a terrible economic crisis he was offering people hope. No matter how subverted that hope. Might have been. We have to be careful in our own time to. Not too. Fall in love with false idol to offer simple solutions to complex problems. We have to listen to all of the great jumble. Of diverse. And colourful and chaotic. Messages. That the universe. Speaking to us. The antidote to idolatry is to believe always into act on the assumption that revelation is continuous. That's our good news the news that people seeking relief from the pain of violence and bigotry and greed need desperately. They need hope. They need to know that there is more to this life than we have so far been able to access. Revolution continues to unfold as our lives unfold people need to know that. And they need to know that embedded in that unfolding is the possibility of greater wisdom and understanding. We find ourselves wrote adams to be historical beings living in nature and history. And having freedom. In nature and history. The forms that nature and history take possess a certain given faithful character. And yet they are also fraught with meaningful possibilities. That's good news. That we live live fraught with meaningful possibilities. He goes on to say we put our faith in a creative reality that is recreative. We are living. In a time of great challenge. Who hasn't. It seems that we barely catch our breath from one crisis when we are already onto the next. That's reality and park the goliath are always there. They're always real. They're always big and scary. But we have our slingshots and our pouches. And those carefully chosen stones. In the story of unfolding revelation the ending is not yet written. We can like david's dried out onto that plane full of hope. Envision for better and safer world. A world that will be realized through our efforts and our faith in the future. Continuously. Revealed. And so. We continue to stumble along. Living lives fraught with meaningful possibilities. Sometimes we know that sometimes we don't. But we can always remember. That. And remember to put our faith. In a creative reality that is. Recreative. That's the challenge for our time and that is the tool that this face. Gives us. Let us all. Choose carefully. And use our tools. Well. For whatever is before us.

uusociety_org

2012-01-29-1%20Sermon.mp3

The first question is as a minister do you hold yourself to a higher moral standard than those of us in other professions or lines of work. Yes and no. Yes in that certainly as unitarian universalist ministers we have. Ethical guidelines on a code of conduct that applies to us that may not apply to other people and certainly as members of the congregation you have a right to expect from your ministers and unquestioned ethical standard. Having said that. That those ethical standards are not different than. What i would hope in covenant with each other you would expect from each other. That in a congregation that the leaves and shared ministry that the lyric believes in the priesthood of all believers that you would. Be as willing to say to each other we hold each other accountable. For treating each other in a certain way for respecting each other. 4. Having clear boundaries around what is safe and acceptable behavior and so in some sense. You are asking if each other the same thing that you're asking of me or any minister that would be in this pulpit. It is a part of my written contract with the board. That the ethical guidelines of the intern universalist ministerial association are part of my contract with you. And. Because we're all uu ministers who wrote this. Set of guidelines together it's a rather long wordy document. But basically what it says is that those seven principles that we all agree to that start with the affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The talk about justice equity and compassion that all of those things apply to our relationships with each other and with our congregations. That's a good question. Okay aunt you see ology. Do you believe in reincarnation. I can see i'm going to be answering all these questions yes or no. I guess my my. My personal belief is a belief in. Legacy that innocence. We live on. True our legacy. To the words and deeds that we have. Spoken and done to the memories that people have us through what we have taught our children and our grandchildren. True. The footprint that we have left on earth have we chosen to live. Sustainably have we chosen to live in a way that. That. For instance this building is more beautiful and well-cared-for than it was when we came along. That the natural resources that we have touched upon. So in a sense i guess i don't believe in the doctrine of reincarnation that says. But. In some way i will come back in a different form. But i do believe that we all live on. I just i read a book. That i've just. Passed onto rowdy cleary.. And it's it's about different scenarios for the afterlife. And it's very funny and clever and brilliant. And in one of the scenarios the reality of the afterlife is that. There are two steps to the afterlife that after you die you go to a waiting room. It's not a very nice waiting room it's a linoleum floor and hard chairs. And you sit in that waiting room. Until the last time that your name is spoken on earth. And then when the last person who remembers you. Dies then you move on. And so for some people who have become famous or infamous. This waiting room becomes a kind of purgatory because people continue to speak their names for hundreds and hundreds of years. But for others. Little people so to speak. You wait there until. However many generations it is. Speak your name for the last time and then someone comes in and calls your name and you move on so i think that's kind of. Kind of my. Concept. And now i'm feeling cheerful about thinking about the last time someone will speak my name i guess i'll have to write a book so they. Oh boy this is a whole sermon what was the key factor that prompted your shift from serving as a midwife to serving as a minister. So i'm going to use some theological language here because i really truly did feel a call to ministry. And. When i went to seminary one of the first things we did in our small group with share about our call. And there was one person in my group who who had a very literal literal call. And she said. God told me. That he wanted me to be a minister and i said to god i will only go to seminary if i can find an apartment that has red carpet don't ask me why anyone would. And she said and i did and so here i am. That's not how i experienced my call to ministry. What i experienced is it as i was working with a midwife and it wasn't midway free is very spiritual kind of nursing i was also becoming more and more involved as a lay leader in in the unitarian universalist church of arlington. And i was beginning to feel that the work i was doing as a volunteer was the more compelling work. In my life it was the work that was really feeling my heart and making me feel. At home in the world and. My first thought was. Yeah yeah that's nice and if i had it all to do over again. Maybe that's what i would do. And then it just became a more and more compelling sense that. This is where i belong. And. And so i didn't make any deals with any. God's butt. What happened is i was teaching maternal child nursing and i got ripped. Because the enrollment in the nursing school dropped. Iso. I kind of said to myself i keep saying if i had it all to do over again i'd go to seminary and now i'm unemployed and if this isn't having it all to do over again i don't know what is so i did take that as the apartment with red carpet sign that i was really meant to go to seminary and off i went. And haven't looked back since. Okay. Our historic meeting house. Occupies a prominent location at the head of church street we are a beacon for liberal tradition how do we bring the community into our building how can we make our space open to more groups. And make the space of vibrant well-used space. So that's. I think it's been an ongoing question for this congregation i think that part of the. Identity of this congregation has always been an awareness it by occupying this geographic space this geographic space is part of your identity and support that you can't run away from. It's not like the you know the uu congregations that sometimes we make jokes about that are so far off in the woods that nobody can find them except the people who already know they're there. And that really does in some sense form your identity. And so you have always i believe conducted yourself with the understanding that you are the church at the top of church street that your building makes you visible. And that. You're you are therefore obligated. To live up to that visibility and to be audible as well as visible. Installing a sense i think in many ways you're already doing that you're already inviting group then you have. You share space where you share space at low-cost with many different nonprofits. I think that the the new occupy uu task force it is working one of their goals is to bring more people into our building. For example the the. The occupied burlington spirituality working group does meteor on a weekly basis. We had the teaching a couple sundays ago. I think there are other groups working. On making those connections and and one of the things we say to people is one of the things we have to offer we have this building it's a resource. And meeting space. I have a sense in this now i'm taking off into. The biggest fear. I have a sense that you know during an interim one of the things you like to do is kind of rethink the ways you do all the pieces of your ministry. And one of the senses i get is that it's going to be time to rethink the way you do social action and social justice the way you structure it what is the infrastructure to support it and so my goal is. Maybe. In late spring or maybe over the summer or maybe next fall what i'd like to do is have. Like an all-hands meeting for everyone who has ever done anything it has an idea about doing something that has to do with community outreach and. Talk together about how we could structure that to be more effective and more visible and audible. This one looks like it was written by a shelf. With many competing demands on our time and resources how can we develop a culture of abundance. So. Let's talk about. X first. I just. Gave as a gift to everyone on the council and the board a book about the spirituality of lay leadership written by eric wikstrom. And one of the chapters of that book is called the blessing of no. And what he means by that is the one of the best ways you can. Serve your spiritual home is by discerning when you are actually called to do something and when. You. Say no to something because it's either not something that makes your heart sing or you've already got enough on your place. There's always this conundrum about you know 80% of the work being done by 20% of the people. And you know in my mind that's a systems i'm a systems person you'll hear me say this more than once that in any human system they're over function earth and under functionaries and the over function or thinks that it's the under function is fault that they're not doing enough but if you talk to the under functional as most of them will say. There wasn't really room for me. I volunteered for something but people seem to have it all in hand. And so sometimes those of you who have to do the work so handily and sowell need to just stop. And get out of the way and let somebody else do the work. In a sense i think this year's stewardship committee is a perfect example the fact that you have five former co chairs serving not as tears but as worker bees and. Both supporting and mentoring. Co-chairs kristin who's brand-new 2 stewardship. Is is learning from. Former leaders but is not being. Run over by them and i think that's a perfect model for there's there's plenty of work to do and it can be done. More pleasurably if it's shared then if it's the same people sing. And so. I would encourage those of you who. Have too much on your plate stew. Take some of it off your plate. It sometimes seems like if you don't do it nobody will but i bet if you wait a little while. People might surprise you. So that's a timepiece and then there's a resource piece and the resource piece really has to do with. The stewardship campaign that is starting. And one of the things that i've been saying is that. It is all about. How you understand. The way you're living. If you believe that you are living we use this reading yesterday in the garden of lack. In in then. You will see only evidence. Of what you don't have. Or what you are afraid you won't have. But if you intentionally live instead in the garden of abundance. Then you will find. That there is enough. To do. What needs to be done. And this is not unique to unitarian universalism north unique to our time mean the reason the gospel writers wrote the story about the loaves and fishes way back. However many thousands of years ago it was written is because people were struggling then with the idea that. When when you're afraid that there won't be enough you hoard. What you have. Where is if you just assumed. But if we share everyone will get fed. Everyone gets fed. I don't know if you know if you know this story where you know the disciples say to jesus look at all these people and we only have this much bread and this much fish and. They're afraid and jesus said will you know just. Give it out and of course it multiplies. Now there is one little in the tradition of commentary. In the talmud there's there's one interpreter who has said that what really happened is that. Everybody had a little bit of bread and fish with them and they were hiding it because they were afraid they're going to be asked to share it. And so it appeared that nobody had anything to eat. And then when jesus and the disciples said what the heck let's just share what we have. Started coming out of back pockets and knapsacks and then of course there was enough to share and that's what. That's what the stewardship campaign is about that's what it's always about. It's about we have enough. If we know it and we believe it. And we're willing to share it. How do we maintain hope. In the face of war pollution apathy and we could go on listing things there. There's probably a part of every day when everyone of us. Read something. So here's something in the news and thanks. That's the thing is going to put me. Over the edge. You know that's the thing that i simply will not be able to bear. You not supposed to be. Political in pulpit. But i will tell you personally here i'll step out of. When i woke up. Good morning. George w bush. Azrael. I felt. Lambs. I can't live i can't i can't go on. And. Then i felt like i went to work and there was this. Corporate. Clinical depression. That was happening. The fact is. The way you maintain hope. The way you maintain the energy to continue what appears to be an uphill battle and of course. Innocence is an uphill battle. Is by. Putting yourself in the same room with other people. To also. Feel as you do. Because on the day when you're the most helpless. Someone else may be feeling okay. Today i can do this so i'll share my energy with you. In a sense i believe that. As unitarian universalist. We just have to. When we just have to because that's what we're called to do by our principles and by our values. It's not an option to say. An end some religions organize themselves around closing themselves off from the world. And creating a sect. A closed environment. Some religions organize themselves that way intentionally that's who they are that's not who we are we are the people who turn our face to the world and say even though it's big out there and even though the problems are huge. We. Are morally obligated as unitarian universalist to keep. To keep going. And to remember you know what seed are parker said. Witches. Does the moral arc of the universe is long but it bends towards justice and the long. Means that we don't always see. The results and that's why martin luther king was so fond of that particular phrase you know you don't always see the results of what you do. But. You know. Think about the people 202 years ago who went down to the courthouse and filled out those papers i don't know that they could have imagined. This. And yet here it is. Here it is. We have time for one more. Oh this is an interesting one. How does the spiritual life of uu congregations differ from one to another. Being a. You know something of a vagabond to moose from congregation to congregation i can tell you that every congregation does have a spiritual culture. And they're very very different from each other. And i really encourage you to discover some of that on your own when you're on vacation go visit. The different uu churches in the places where you are i see heads nodding around the room you'll be blown away by the differences and it really it's it's it's so fascinating so if you go to boston for example. Go to kings chapel. Which is. Historically part of their mission is to maintain historical liberal christian worship. And so when you go to kings chapel you will see up on the wall carved in stone the ten commandments you will see you will spieluhr worship. That is in in every way episcopal except for there's no mention of the trinity. You will use a book of worship that used to be the episcopal book of works worship and they just went through and took all references to the trinity out. And they are unitarian universalist. And then. Okay. Go to for example the unitarian society of ridgewood where i served last year. Where's for 25 years kenneth patton one of the most renowned humanist in our movement was the minister. I see what happens if you mention the word god. Baby get the papers i become faint. They too are unitarian universalist. And it's really so some of it has to do with history. A congregation that's 202 years old is unlikely to get communal vapors when you mention the word god even though there are many people in this congregation who don't believe in the god the way that word is generally understood. A congregation was formed during the 1950s intentionally during the humanist movement to be a humanist congregation is going to feel very different so some of it is history. You know some of it is the way it has evolved we now have congregations that were formed intentionally much more recently recently to be earth based it in there across. So it's just kind of all over the place and that's kind of the strength of who we are. And the strength lies in the fact that. When push comes to shove. The people who really couldn't bear to sit in king's chapel for more than an hour and the people who felt when they were in ridgewood that they hadn't been to church will show up together. At city hall or at the state house or in congress to lobby for marriage equality because what is it. That we have in common. What we have in common is in agreement on those principles that say we are the people. Who. Stand on the side of love. Who advocate for erratically. Inclusive. Approach to hospitality. And they'll they'll stand shoulder-to-shoulder. In those areas. It might behoove you who are curious about this to get out the door here not only to go to other uu congregations but to go to say a district meeting. Or to general assembly. And the denomination affairs committee next week after the second service is having a panel of people who've been to recent general assembly has to talk about their experience. Go get a bagel and come back and listen to them and find out what it's like. To really be out there. Don't know what i'm going to do with this stack of cards as i'm going to go through the rest of them and some of them you may find will turn into sermons. Either over the summer or next year. And i thank you all for your. Indulgence and for engaging in this so seriously. But now i the last time i did this i talked so long the religious education teachers rebelled and came running up and said stop talkin we need to go home.

uusociety_org

2010-03-21-2%20sermon.mp3

Hitch your wagon to a star. That was the advice of the illustrious ralph waldo emerson. And his great essay. Self-reliance. The sage of concord and courage generations of americans to defy convention. To chart their own destiny. To resist. The good models into put more faith in their own inspiration. Have an end creed you catechisms of yesteryear trust yourself he said every heart. Vibrates to that iron string. Even mr emerson had his limits. And while he may have counseled to hitch your wagon to a star even he. Might have hesitated. Hitching your lawn chair. To a weather balloon. About feet awaited the advent of another visionary named lawn chair larry. According to the darwin awards and honorary society. Which exists to commemorate those brave and half-wit individuals who improve. The gene pool. By removing themselves from larry walters boyhood. Dream was to conquer gravity but the fates conspired against it. He joined the airforce but his poor eyesight disqualified him from the job of pilot after he was discharged from the military. He sat in his backyard watching the jets. Flying overhead. He hatched his weather balloon scheme while sitting outside in his extremely comfortable sears lawn chair. He purchased 45 weather balloons from an army navy surplus store. Hide them to his tethered lawnchair dub the inspiration one. And then filled the four foot diameter balloons with. Helium then armed with some sandwiches. Miller lite and a pellet gun he strapped himself into his lawnchair figuring that he would shoot to pop a few of the many balloons whenever he felt it was time to just send. Larry planned to sever the anchor and lazily float to hide about. 30 ft above the backyard. Where he would enjoy a few hours of flight before coming back down but things did not work out quite as larry planned. When is friends cut the cord that anchored the lawn chair to his jeep. He did not leave the leaf load up 30 ft instead he streaked up into the la sky is it shot from a cannon pulled by the lift of 45 helium balloons each holding 33 cubic ft of helium. I didn't level off at 100 feet nor did he level off at 1,000 ft. After climbing. I'm climbing. He leveled at 16,000 ft. Epic hiney felt they couldn't risk shooting any of the balloons last peak unbalanced the loud and really find himself in trouble so he stayed there. Drifting. Cold. And frightened with his beer in his sandwiches for more than 14 hours. Across the primary approach corridor of the los angeles airport where startled twa in delta pilots radio din reports that this strange sight. Eventually he. Gathered the nerve to shoot a few of the balloons and slowly descended the hanging heather's. Tangled and caught in a powerline blacking out a long beach neighborhood for about 20 minutes larry climb to safety. Where he was arrested by waiting members of the lapd as he was led away in handcuffs to reporter dispatch to cover the daring rescue. Ask him why he had done it. Larry replied nonchalantly. A man can't just. Sit around. True enough. You can't just sit around is emerson put it without ambition one starts nothing without work. One finishes nothing the prize will not be sent to you you have to earn it. Aspiration plus. Perspiration equals progress success comes to those who dare i don't think ralph waldo. Would have been bothered one bit by the apparent eccentricity of sending. Patio furniture 3 miles into the air after all. Imitation is suicide he declared. Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. Emerson became famous for. Tweaking the noses of the tastemakers is as fashion mavens of his day surrounding himself with characters that others considered to be crying synod balls. Hermit-like. Henry thoreau marching to his different drum. Dreamy. Vegetarians like bronson alcott with his. Ill-fated aptly-named utopia fruitlands. Radical feminists like. Margaret fuller who ended her life. Fleeing from the pope after trying to start an abortive roman republic and italy the kind of. Woman who proved nice girls don't change the world. Was a magnet for people like these that. The misfit the zanies the especially gifted the divinely driven because he was one of them himself. In 1832. Just two years after an aeronaut name charles durant became the first american to risk and a scent in a hand-stitched balloon. Floating gracefully from. Castle garden in new york city over to perth amboy new jersey. Emerson floated off in his own direction leaving behind the safe well-worn respected pads of. Ministry that his father and his grandfather both unitarian clergyman had laid down for him. Propelling in. Supporting himself on what seemed to be little more than his own hot air. Walking away on currents that many consider to be just empty wind but that he was sure we're promptings of the holy spirit. He wasn't alone everybody in those days had. Some plan for revolutionising the world and he described the motley attendees at 8. Convention for universal reform in boston filled he said with madmen and madwomen. Men with beards dunkers muggletonians come out as groaners agrarian seventh day baptist quakers abolitionists philosopher's he could make fun of this. Humans do because he was one of the most exotic species in the menagerie. Headed on wild schemes for revamping society but is also skeptical. Fabs and gadgets and politics claims that. A new diet or an improved appliance or regime-change at city hall would suddenly a sheer in the millennium. We anticipate a new era from the invention of a locomotive or a balloon. He cautioned in his ass a nature. They say that by electromagnetism your salad will be grown from a seed while you're foul is roasting for dinner and that would have been. Organic magnetic lettuce with a a locally-grown game hen no doubt that everyone who was advocating. Changing the world through. Whole grains were better broadband access were other externals emerson admonished real change. Had to start at home. And the strength. Of one's principles in the core of one's character. He was. Suspicious of true believers video longtooth aren't they and they had all the answers. He was trying to formulate his own answers in the only solely was interested in saving was his own he scorned. Missionaries and do-gooders. I tell thee thou foolish philanthropist. That i grudge. The dollar the dime. Descent i give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom i did not belong there is a class of persons. To whom. By all spiritual affinity i'm bought and sold for them i would go to prison if need be. But your miscellaneous popular charities the education at college of fools. Building a meeting houses to the vein end which minnie mouse stand alms for sauce the thousandfold relief societies though i confess with shame i sometimes to come and. Give the dollar. It's a wicked. Dollar which by-and-by i shall have the manhood to withhold emerson was not the kind of personality you wanted heading up your church's annual fun drive and yet he opened his wallet freely. Any donated and liberally to the causes that he believed in becoming for example one of the primary contributors to the so-called. Secret six who were plotting with john browned film in an armed rebellion against slavery in the south. Ralph waldo emerson actually. Came here. The burlington. Back in december of 1858 just a few months before the. Uprising at harpers ferry our congregational historian dells curtis who unearthed this little-known fact was not able to figure it out all the motives behind his visit. But it may have been to give. Moral support. To the minister here. Joshua young who's firebrand sermons have gotten him into trouble with the congregation. Perhaps also to visit the adirondacks across the lake. Where the wealthy boston abolitionist jared smith who donated a large tract of land is a refuge for runaway slaves and where. Emerson and his transcendentalist friends that established a small camp not far from john brown's home in north elba new york. While he was here in the north country. Emerson spoke. From this very pulpit. And if he were to revisit. Our society if he were here with us this morning i can only imagine what he might have to say to us but i think he would say. Don't bother with this church. Unless it helps you fly. Unless. At least occasionally it lifts you above. The mundane. The quotidian. The day today. And gives you occasionally glimpses of how life might be lived on some higher plane. Don't. Contribute. Don't. Deportes. Place because. It's good for the community or because it's politically correct. Don't give because. It's helping people with aids or working for. Affordable housing. Healthcare were giving dignity to. Gays and lesbians are bisexuals are working for racial justice or women's rights don't give because. This building is a beautiful. Historic icon although all of those things may be true rather. Give because it's good for you because this. Pay. Resonates with your values and amplifies and expands your own highest cell. Do it because your natural inclination like a blade of grass like a warm breeze like the sun on a daunting day is upward. Don't pledge to this congregation don't give. A dollar don't give a dime. Don't give a cent. If it drags you down if it's because the preacher makes you feel. Wicked. More sinful or. Guilty or unworthy. But give it this is. One place where a minister can. Express opinions and enunciate views that would cost any other pastor his or her job because this is a place that empowers you to speak. And to think with a similar boldness and integrity get out of your own abundance emerson might stay out of an expanded sense of personal power and possibility because you realize that the most important things in life. Arnot. Things that all. But intangibles. Bike. Friendship. And sympathy. And a sense of belonging and a sense of. Participation and a purpose. It's larger than yourself things that. That can't be possessed or experienced in solitude. But it only exists in, live-in relationship with other people. Principal. I think emerson might say. Principal. Is the only. Sure. Investment. Admittedly we all have. Dreams ideals never get off the ground our best intentions sometimes go flop we can all commiserate with. Lawnchair larry and with with poor hans. Ludwig. Bob linger who. Chose the wrong time and the wrong place to try to levitate. Mistakes happen. Disappointments the norm frustrations accompany every great undertaking. But. It's low aim. Not shooting for the heights that constitutes. The real. Failure. Staying on the ground may be very well and good for the body but the mind the mine was meant to soar because. Every step in the rise of civilization. From. Abolition to. Southridge to marriage equality had its origin in the gleam of the imagination when we dream together then our shared aspirations. They become the updraft of history the updraft that list this toward our goals that makes our prayers. Go airborne. Tickets flight to our common hopes. Tolerance and reason. Freedom and fairplay. The sanctity of conscience. The dignity of each person. An earth where resources are stewarded and shared. These principles form the constellation of our faith and a world where issues or complexed. Work quick and easy solutions have a way of becoming tomorrow's problems. Where human variety. Means that we will never all agree on a single path. These are our. Upsr unitarian. Positioning system. The spiritual navigational. Beacons that guide us if you can find. Better. We're brighter stars. Steer by them. For myself. I'll hit you where i can hear.

uusociety_org

2010-01-31-2%20Sermon.mp3

It said that. Faculty politics are so fiercely combative because so little is at stake. And maybe some of you who teach. At uvm are sent mice can confirm the truth of that i always thought church politics were the worst. But i guess. Academe can be brutal but there are some instances some rare instances when a great deal can hinge on the appointment of a particular professor to a particular chair. At a particular university. And that was the situation. When henry where junior was appointed the hollis professor of divinity at harvard. In 1805. Was important not only because that was the triggering event that led to the creation of our own congregation 200 years ago. Not only because it meant that dozens of other churches across new england. Wood. Flip. And to liberal and conservative factions unitarian and calvinists and not only because it signaled the transformation of harvard. From a provincial bible college into a world-renowned university. But also because this represented a completely unprecedented ship. Inhuman. Don't understanding this was. The dawn of what might be called. Historical. Consciousness up until this moment. History. Did not exist. At least history. Did not exist in quite the way. But you and i usually take for granted people back then just did not know about dinosaurs. Or neanderthals. Or what we now call the higher criticism of the bible. Folks thought that the world was. A few thousand years old at most. Citadel mall. Look pretty much the way it looks now that this is just the way it was and that events were following a plan. That had been prescribed by the almighty from before the beginning of time whose providential hand guided the pilgrims to america where they would found a new israel to outshine the old. And bring about a divine finale to the proceedings on this. Little terrestrial sphere all of this. Headband. Foreordained. But then just about 200 years ago. The realization dawned. Nothing not even. God. It's fixed or unchanging everything evolves. In england by the close of the 18th century. An astronomer named william herschel had built. A gigantic. 40 ft reflecting telescope that let him see farther into the heavens than anyone had ever looked before. And he realized that the objects that he was gazing upon. We're not only very very far away they were also incredibly. Old so old. He realized 200 years ago. Satellite. Must have been traveling for eons that some of those stars he was seeing we're probably. Burned out. Long ago. But this universe was in continuous. Flocks and renewal with stars being born and galaxy spiraling to an end. And then. At about the same time. In france naturalist like buffon we're speculating that the earth long long ago had originally been in. A molten state. Hot. Rock. And that as it started to cool over the course of. Millions and millions of years. Water vapor started to condense out of the atmosphere and. Falling. Formed the first oceans where the residual heat acted on naturally occurring compound in the shallow seas and generated the first. Living organism so the planet. Like the cosmos. Was in flux. And then it was about at the same time that in germany scholars like eichorn and von herder. We're proposing that the bible had also changed and grown. Over the centuries. So that not all the letters of paul were actually written by the apostle for instance. That the gospels might not be based on eyewitness accounts written by people who were. Really there. The might have been based on some older missing documents. That. The song of songs perhaps was not originally written intended to be an allegory of christ love for the church was just an old piece of hebrew love poetry so the scriptures couldn't be read as a simple statement of. God's word to man instead the bible with this complex documentary record of humankind's words. And developing ideas about god. Any insights like these presented a crisis of faith for many people either to embrace this world of constant change. Where. The future is open-ended and certainty is hard to find or the klang. Obstinately. To the past. Interesting words also have a history and the term innovation. Actually changed its meaning at about this time earlier that word had a very derogatory connotation innovators were like. Anarchist. They were people who spread confusion and turmoil who upset the apple cart. An innovation was considered to be particularly dangerous in religion. But then. Sometime in the same. about 200 years ago the word took on a more positive meaning and then to be an innovator was a compliment. On your. Ingenuity and your enterprise. Innovation became associated with creative and scientific thinking and the founders of our faith were innovators in both of these fences first they were looked on as dissidents and rebels. Eminem. Is change agents and harbingers of progress. I need same founders scientist and biblical scholars and linguist. Help to bring together. All of these. Different. Currencies. New ideas of time and nature and god and revelation into a convergence in 1805. So when a unitarian was appointed. Has the harvest professor which was. Very distinguished the oldest established year of divinity in the country this wasn't just a college revolution was also an intellectual and spiritual revolution. Harvard went way back 1636 it has been founded as a place to train the clergy. 4 puritan new england. One chronicler of that time recorded. After god and carry the safe to new england and we build it our houses. Provided necessaries for our livelihood reared convenient places for god's worship and settled the civil government. One of the next things we long for. And looked after. Was to. Advanced learning. But from the very beginning from its very start. Harvard had to official. Models that were. In competition with with each other. Christy at ecclesia. And. Very time. I'm serving christ and the church. Was not also. Always compatible. With dedication to the truth so you found it within. Not too many generations that were people who were beginning to question. Those old puritan. Doctrines like predestination that sentence some souls to hell before they'd even been born and fearing that this kind of. Deviation might spread beyond the student body and even infect the faculty the president of harvard at that time who was. Increase mather. Proposed that all the future presidents and all. The shallows in overseers of the college. Where asylum. Oath. The forever. Uphold the old time religion of strict new england congregationalism and when he failed to impose that kind of task. The orthodox. Left. They established a rival institution. Called yale. Where everybody would swear by something called. The westminster confession you can google that in and and look it up oh it's long. It's convoluted. All the things you have to believe to subscribe to the westminster confession but that was the standard. Ecclesiastical correctness at the time that it's very different. . very different attitude. Prevailed up it at harvard. In 1760 the first episcopal church was built in in cambridge christchurch it was called. And. The harvard faculty there where they were pretty open-minded they said to the students. Well. You still have to go to chapel. You must go to champa but we don't insist you go to the college chapel. Which is. The unitarian church in cambridge now. No you can go to that. Anglican service if you like that's alright with us now at yale it would be another century before they would let students attend services with the church of england and harvard this passion for freedom and for free inquiry was stirring in the questions that were debated in the commencement ceremonies can stir the blood even now 1743. Is it lawful. To resist the supreme magistrate. If the commonwealth. Cannot be otherwise preserved. Samuel adams. Argues the affirmative. Political religious liberty for struggling to be born in the issues were momentous what does it mean to be an educated person. Can vary depends and viewpoint coexist. In one community. What relationship sought to prevail between the individual the church and the state the answers that we take for granted weren't so obvious then. The struggle between revolution and reaction played itself out again. In 1807. Two years after henry where became the hollis professor and unitarians had harvard. Firmly in hand. The conservatives. Walked out the door again they left in mass and established. The andover theological seminary which. Made the adherence to this westminster confession part of your articles of incorporation all the professors had to. Swear their fidelity to it every 5 years. Exact words. Should remain quote forever entirely and identically the same without the least. Alteration. Addition. What diminution. So they were determined to build this fortress against history against change. Against innovation. Up at harvard. It was a more forward-looking approach recognizing. Change is a constant the educators there were turning this small regional parochial college. Indoor modern university. Within a few years of the unitarian. Take over. The school was welcoming its first roman catholics. First jews. The divinity school was established on a non-sectarian basis in 1821 and a decade later in a pamphlet. Written for the corporation. Reported that the faculty included. Six unitarians three catholics one each. Calvinist lutheran episcopal quaker. And. Hacienda manian whatever that is. Of harvard. And 7 out of 10 presidents in the nineteenth century were unitarian it wasn't to keep this institution to themselves but to share it with others it wasn't to impose their own brand of thinking but to open it up to diverse modes of thought and this is what the noise was all about harvard appointment of henry where was a fuse that set off an explosion. All across new england. So that in 15 years. There were over 100 unitarian churches in eastern massachusetts and 10 and others figs the bomb dropped here locally. When daniel sanders who had been the town's first preacher. Resigned to take up full-time duties as the president of the university of vermont this was in. 1806 just a year after harvard faculty fight erupted. Reverend sanders i'm sure. Wanted to. Get out while the getting was good before the flames ignited here on the shores of lake champlain in the burning issue became who would be the next minister here in burlington. One faction which consisted of. The confirmed. Members of. The church. Who considered themselves to be. Among the saved. And who mostly came from connecticut i don't know if there's a connection there or not and they wanted. Daniel haskell. Have ye all to serve the congregation in the other larger. Party. Maybe that was us the unsaved. The other larger party was composed of all those citizens whose taxes paid the pastor's salary most of whom. Came from. Massachusetts to vermont and they prefer to harvard-educated preacher. Name samuel clark so an issue of freedom of conscience was at stake could have majority of the town's inhabitants before start pay for the upkeep of a church in minister that they didn't support they couldn't agree. So. The congregation split. The conservatives formed. The first. Calvinistic. Congregational church. Which. Is now our neighbor. On south winooski avenue. United church of christ. As they call themselves ucc or unitarians considering christ and on january 29th 1810. 135 individuals with more progressive views sign the articles of association that formed. This society they pledged. And you can see the articles of. Association here in the parlor. A-frame check it out after the service years. Here's worth a covenanted to. To promote and in cocaine. Harmony. Friendship. Morality. Christian faith. Religion and piety among the members of this society. And mankind large now there were some theological differences that were important in this separation for. One camp faith was defined is adherence to dogma god in three persons the substitutionary atonement and all that. 44 the liberals christianity. Primarily. Charity to one's neighbor. Contributing to one community. Following the golden rule. But the defining issue in this divorce wasn't so much about doctrine not a dispute over. Original sin or christology or differing interpretations of scripture because. After all it was only a matter of time before our unitarian forbearers would change their minds about. All of these items. By the 1930s. At least some members here would be petitioning the board. To remove references to christianity from our worship altogether the cross. Came down from our sanctuary sometime in the 1950s symbols. Liturgy. Ritual. These were all. Negotiable but something's did. Day. The same some things. Were. Constantin what's distinguished unitarians from the very beginning. What's. Remain steady for two centuries. I think. Has been a distinctive attitude toward time and understanding that. Chase is. A journey. And not a resting place. Invitation to the spirit to adventure and explore. Thank you. Unitarian universalism has sometimes been called. A movement. Rather than a denomination for this reason and this makes it hard sometimes to explain ourselves to other people and sometimes even difficult to understand ourselves. Because. What has remained. 6. Interfaith. Is an absence of. Fixity. What we hold to be unconditionally true. Unconditionally true. Is that all people. Everywhere. Heart condition. By history we are creatures of time and circumstance we can never completely extricate ourselves. From the vanities. And prejudices of our particular era to. Stand above it all and take a god's-eye view of things but nonetheless we have to try. Innocence of of historicity. Has made unitarian-universalism first of all. An optimistic faith believing that revelation. Is not sealed there's more. Cruise. Waiting. To be discovered in the human journey is just beginning is william ellery channing. The minister of boston's federal street church put it in 1830. I'm giving myself as i have done to a long patient inquiry into the subject of religion. I have found caused. To change my views on particular subjects. And i think of this was pleasure. Fresno change has taken place head i adhered pertinaciously to all myerly opinions. I should have great reason to fear that i use my mind fairly and freely we all start with errors channing said. And it's a bad omen if they're not detected. Realizing that today's. Firmly held conclusions. Can be tomorrow's discarded notions. Make stars a humble religion arrogance. It's hard to justify when every. Perspective is subject. The criticism interaction but knowing this liberals still fear stagnation more than change. And secondly. Ours is a cell. Made. Believing that the future. Has not yet been determined. And the past. It's not necessarily. Perfect guide to how we ought to live now. History. Is in our hands. We have an acute awareness. A moving on a stage where the backdrops in the actors are continually entering and exiting being replaced by new and different actors whose dialogues have only a glancing acquaintance with the script that came before and no one. Not even god knows. The final scene in this drama so we. Ar. Improvising each of us has a role in the final outcome of the production maybe and is beyond our personal control history is a chancy of fear. What we're responsible for is our own beliefs in actions whether our successors look on us as heroes or villains. Or buffoons. Won't depend on how we choose to play our part. And finally ours is an evolutionary faith knowing that we inhabit a cosmos that is much much bigger and older than any human purpose can encompass. We experience wonder. In the presence of nature and a creativity. That includes but exceeds our own weekend glory with the psalmist of old when i look up at the heavens the work of thy fingers. The moon and the star said in their place. What is man that thou art mindful of him. Knowing. The science merely magnifies the unlikely privilege of being witness to so much unfolding beauty. If people immersed in the never-ending flow of beginnings and endings we can celebrate our bicentennial hear grateful both for how much we share in common with our forebears and for how much. Has changed. The almost-forgotten folks who built this meeting house. Probably. Would not approve. Of everything that goes on here. But they would understand. That the children's ways are not those of the parents is they handed this legacy down to us knowing that we would inevitably test and leave behind. Things that they held dear. We hope to pass this tradition non-intact coming generations realizing. How. Quaint. Our customs and opinions will one day seem to our posterity their minds. Will change. And. In changing. Remain. True.

uusociety_org

2013-01-06-2SermonRoberta.mp3

I have now lived long enough that there is a lot of useless information floating around in my brain. So much useless information that it sometimes gets in the way of processing new information. I can probably sing the lyrics to every beatles song in order album to album but i can't necessarily remember where i need to be an hour from now. I know this about myself so i was not surprised that when gary first proposed his sermon title a code to live by. I did not think about pilgrims or the mayflower compact. I thought about the lyrics to the song written 40 years ago by graham nash yes you who are on the road. Must have a code that you can live by teach your children well. And i've been singing that song in my head now for several weeks. For which i blame you. All of us no matter what road we are on must have a code that we can live by. Especially those of us who choose the liberal religious road a wide broad path shared with lots of different people all traveling together creating a sometimes joyful sometimes cacophonous and challenging. Pilgrimage experience. It may be that when you were part of a small homogeneous and stable community the code you live by can be left implicit. If everybody knows everybody else if there are no surprises if life is predictable. You can let it go without saying. But if you choose instead to be part of a large and complex and diverse and ever-changing community as most human communities are. You need to make your code or your covenant explicit. Particularly if in the words of the haverford college honor code your diverse community is to prosper. And is that not what we all want for our beloved community. The first unitarian universalist society of burlington we wanted to prosper. The last year-and-a-half we have been talking quite a bit about covenant. Particularly about making the covenant explicit. An explicit covenant is a way to ensure prosperity and health and wholeness. Nobody has to guess that the ground rules and nobody feels excluded being explicit about your expectations of each other is a way to practice radical hospitality. As new people come and join the community we can say to them this is who we are this is how we choose to be together. Will you join us in that choice. Early last fall to groups of leaders here in the congregation went through and explicit covenanting process the board of trustees and the staff. Both groups shared their covenants with you last year. This past fall the interim task collaboration team and i invited you to engage in the start of a congregation wide covenanting process. We gave you blue and yellow index cards. And we asked you to ride on those cards what promises you were willing to make. To this community in order for it to be that safe place. And what promises you would ask of others. You feel those cards with your yearnings and your intentions and out of all of that language. The team crafted a draft of a congregational covenant. That you will be seeing probably later this week. We're still tinkering with the language and deciding which. Which places to put semicolons in which places to put commas. We will send it out to all of you. And then on february 10th. At a congregational meeting in between the services we will ask you to affirm that covenant and make it part of the documents by which you are identified. Mission covenant. Bylaws. Policies. They're all pieces of that identity building identity clarifying work of the interim. In the meantime gary and i have also been engaged in a covenanting process. It is common for emeritus ministers and sitting ministers to make explicit the mutually agreed-upon parameters of the relationship. Between the emeritus and the congregation. We started this process last summer when he returned to the area. We traded ideas in person and by email we consulted with colleagues about about this practices. We asked a colleague to help with facilitation. Highway created. This document. That we feel. In stores that this diverse community will prosper for the duration of the interim. When your new settled minister arrived presumably this summer. Gary will once again engage with them in a covenanting process. I will be long gone. The staff covenant the board covenant this covenant and your congregational covenant are all based on certain assumptions why doesn't assumption of goodwill. That even in disagreement we all come. With an intention. Of doing good. Being good to each other. Meaning well. Another is that we all come with a desire for mutual understanding. Even around diversity and difference. That we all come with the willingness to communicate respectfully. To listen. Well. To speak. Clearly. Your congregational covenant. Is also based on the assumption that the covenant like all human promises will inevitably be broken at time. And that when it is broken. You will hold each other accountable. For the brokenness. You will. Talk to each other and we'll forgive each other. Every covenant is stronger once it is re. Woven after brokenness. In fact. Covenants only become real. After they have been broken. Until they're broken there just an ideal. When they're broken it's when you recognize that they are the call. To your. Life in faith together. To covenant with each other to hold each other accountable. To talk through differences. To forgive each other. Requires that you know how to listen to each other and how to talk to each other. We've done some work on that. The past year-and-a-half. If you would like to learn some very specific tools that will help you engage deeply and with integrity. I suggest that you consider attending the nonviolent communication workshop scheduled here for january 19th. You can see christina in the office about learning how to register. All of these tools. Whether they're written tools or things that you learn or things that you carry in your heart. Are part of what make it possible. 4. Cacophonous. Diverse communities to prosper. Something that i know. Over the next month. As you. Hear more from the search committee as you get to know a new minister as you make yet another transition. I know. That this community will prosper. You have. All the tools. You need to do that. In the meantime. Gary and i would like to sign. This formal covenant. In your presence. And with your blessing.

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2012-02-26-2%20Sermon.mp3

I don't know who. Or what put the question. I don't know when it was put. I don't remember answering. But at one moment i answered yes to someone or something. From that moment stems the certainty that existence is meaningful. That's a quotation from dag hammarskjold spiritual autobiography called markings. This particular. Quotation comes from. Whitsunday 1961. Whitsunday. Is the beginning of the christian liturgical season of pentecost. Pentecost. Is also a jewish holiday. The jewish pentecost happens 7 weeks after passover and the tradition teaches that it was on that day that the law the torah was given to the people. So as the apostles gathered. After the death of jesus to celebrate pentecost because they were all still observant jews at that point. Something happened. The holy spirit we are told to send it upon them here is how it's described in act. And suddenly from heaven there came a sounds like a russian violent wind and it fills the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues as of fire appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the holy spirit and began to speak other languages as the spirit gave them ability. Well that's pretty dramatic stuff and it was confusing to at least at first. Some assume that those speaking in strange tongues were drunk. But peter set them straight. First of all by pointing out and again i'm quoting from act indeed these are not drunk as you suppose for it is only 9 in the morning. Peter was one of the more literal thinkers among the apostles. But peter also knew that what was happening was the fulfillment of a prophecy. A prophecy of a time when your sons and daughters shall prophesy when. Young men shall see visions and old men shall dream dreams. That language. Spoken in acts is actually a quotation. From the hebrew prophet joel. One of the minor prophets of the hebrew scriptures. And minor by the way doesn't mean less important it means shorter. The minor prophets books were short enough that more than one of them could fit on a standard scroll of papyrus. So there's your biblical trivia for the day. So the pentecost for those early christians was an experience of having their eyes minds and hearts open to the amazing potential. Of live lived with the guidance of a spirit. Now this was good news indeed for a group of people who were. Frightened disheartened confused and directionless after the death of their beloved leader. When i think of the experience of the disciples after jesus death i always think of holly nears poem i am waiting for instructions. They were waiting for instructions. Aren't we all in a way waiting for instructions don't we all long for more clarity a greater sense of knowing what we're supposed to be doing and why. Don't we all long to see visions and dream dreams. You might say that the experience of those apostles on whitsunday was the first uniquely christian experience of the idea that revelation is continuous. The good news they received on that cacophonous and joyful day was at the death of jesus did not mean. The end. Of wisdom. For them. They would continue to be able to discern. What they understood to be the will of god. Play could receive further instructions on building up their emerging emerging religious movement because revelation. Is continuous. Now we're going to turn universalist believe that with all our hearts and souls. In fact we believe the pentagon can and does happen over and over again. Usually and somewhat less dramatic fashion. This idea of continuing revelation of course is not unique to us. But what is unique is the emphasis we give to it. We give it the largest place to use frederick may elliott's worth. Furthermore we give the largest place to human agency in that process of revelation. Our confidence in the future comes not just from our belief that we will continue to receive instructions from the universe. But from the belief that we can and will act in a positive way on those instructions. Now i'm hoping that some of these concepts are beginning to sound familiar to those of you who have been attending regularly. One head nod that's all i needed thank you the continuity of revelation the importance of human actions these are of course ideas from the works of james luther adams the uu theologian and the author of the essay on the five smooth stones of liberal religion. Which is the basis of both adult education class and a sermon series this year. This is sermon number three. In which we consider. What frederick may elliott said about our faith in progress. James adams wrote in a similar vein religious liberalism holds that the resources divine and human that are available for the achievement of meaningful change. Justify an attitude of ultimate optimism. Note that he uses the term ultimate optimism not immediately. He cautions us that the state of the world at any given time may not bear out our belief that humans can think and work our way. Out of. A mess and into a better world. Adams was not naive he had seen the worst of the twentieth century had to offer. Up close and personal. And he felt it was essential for us to acknowledge the terrible evils perpetrated in the name of god and country across the globe. But he was equally convinced that it was worth trying for better. That it was possible to bring about a better world by our actions. Adams believe that placing an attitude of ultimate optimism among the foundational ideas of unitarian universalism is justified. Because that attitude grows out of these other foundational ideas. It seems logical that if we believe is an article of faith that revelation is continuous there is a reason to believe that things are meant to get better. But it's those other smooth stones of those five smooth stones that really enforce the case for optimism. These sensible essential principles which we are exploring together make it possible for us to practice our faith. Not just in here on sunday morning but out there. In the world the rest of the week while sustaining this precious community. Adams principles remind us that our congregations true voluntary associations we're all relationships are based on mutual free. Matter. We will consider that idea. A voluntary association in depth later this spring. He also reminds us that our congregations or ideally to be mission-oriented facing outward. We ought to be dedicated not to. Our own satisfaction. But two coming together to bring about the community of justice in love. Now my favorite of his ideas is it in order to be effective we have to pay attention to form as well as ideas. We must learn to embrace and not shun the organization of power and the power of organization. Some of you know me too well already this last principle about power and organization will be addressed in the final sermon in the series it is an intermittent stirs dream sermons happen. But today. Let's ask what it means to live faithfully with an attitude of ultimate optimism. It means feeling and sharing the joy of this face. We sometimes say. Unitarian universalism is a hard religion it's hard work nobody tells us what to believe we have to figure it out for ourselves. But the work is worth it because what we do. With our beliefs. Manners. And that's the good news. The way we live our lives matters. It matters to each of us it matters to the people around you and the fuse and it matters to the rest of the world. So when we talked about this hard religion let's talk about the joy and the affirmation in that religion adult as well. What's not complain too much about the hard path. Each of us chosen. Voluntarily. Austin with relief. Always with gratitude. What we believe in what we do matters. In terms of the personal spiritual orientation being an optimist means approaching life with a sense of openness. Not necessarily innocence. But openness. We are with holly near waiting for instructions. Waiting expectantly for a glimpse of truth. A glimmer of glory. It means being ready. Ready to receive those instructions ready to process those instructions and ready to act. It means being willing. Because we're all volunteers. Volunteers in service to the ultimate unfolding of the kingdom of god or whatever you would like to call the better world waiting to be born. Into our hands. James luther adams said that when jesus talked to his disciples and said the kingdom of god is at hand what he was saying to them is. The kingdom of god is right here. It's not up there it's not out there it's not in some future time it's right here in your hands. Usher it in. Not everyone agrees with that interpretation. But i do. And so we maintain an attitude of ultimate optimism in that requires that we. Live with some appreciation for the continuity of life. Some appreciation for history. We must know that we didn't invent these ideas or this faith or these principles we reap what we did not sow. And it requires that we also live with some awareness of and love for the future in which we will not have a part. As optimus we are obligated to so a new. So that those who come after us may reap. As joyfully at fruitfully as we have. Do you perhaps here in these words an invitation to participate joyfully in the ongoing stewardship campaign. If not. Listen more carefully. I am talking particularly to those of you who have not yet signed up for a cottage meeting answered an email return to phone call asking for a visit those of you ignoring the email and phone please of your fellow members volunteers all to join them in securing a stable financial future for this congregation. Now is the time. And now back to the regular cinnamon. There is strength in numbers. And our ability to be effective agents of change and progress depends on our ability to work together to build the kind of community that can change the course of history. And have no doubt that this community can change the course of history. Because you already have haven't you. In your lifetimes you have changed the course of history by appearing. At the capitol in droves to lobby for marriage equality and what state became the first state. Yeah right now you are changing the course of history because we have a thank-you letter from the governor saying thank you as people of faith for letting us know that you believe in immigration reform that is fair to and honors the personhood of immigrants struggling struggling to make a living. History is waiting. For you. To change it again to change the course towards. Our principal of the inherent worth and dignity of every person of human rights and justice. There is strength in numbers. And we can change the course of history. As we have. James adams sums it up this way. In response to the primary question of whether history has a meaning and a demanded direction or not we answer finally yes. This is the issue that cuts through all others. It cuts through the ranks of those who believe in god as well as to the ranks of those who don't. The affirmative answer of prophetic liberal religion which may be heard in the very midst of the doom that threatens like thunder is that history is a struggle in dead earnest between justice and injustice. Between. Looking towards an ultimate victory. In the promise and fulfillment of grace in some other time. Orion are on time. Anyone who does not enter into that struggle with the affirmation of love and beauty misses the mark and swartz creation. As well as self-creation. Boss with all the realism and tough-minded miss that can be mustered the genuine religious liberal finally can hear and join the hallelujah chorus. Intellectual integrity. Social relevance. Amplitude of perspective and the spirit of true. Liberation offer no less. Well that man could write a sentence couldn't he. Let's honor. Power and the meaning of his words and frederick may elliott's world than all of those people who came before us owing so that we could reap. By living courageously. Today. Asserting our values in the marketplace of ideas. Conducting ourselves in an uncivil time with great respect and civility. But being affirmative about what we believe. And making the choice to be bold and generous and engaged. Faithful. Optimus. Everyone of us.

uusociety_org

2011-10-23-2Sermon.mp3

The gift of autumn. Are so fleeting. Who can tell me what fleeting means. Goes away fast that's right. Autumn is a season that really teaches us to appreciate the fleeting because nothing about autumn left right. The leaves. Turn these beautiful colors of red orange and yellow and then one day. They're gone. The days are beautiful and sunny and crisp. But boy about 5:30 it's already. Getting kind of dark. Next week some of you may collect a big bowl of halloween candy. And the level of candy in the ball gets lower and lower and lower every night sometimes mysteriously and then suddenly it's gone right that's a good thing because something's we can only appreciate if they don't last that's true for candy if we had a big bowl of candy all the time. We get tired of it. Plus. What would happen if we ate candy all the time. We get a stomachache yeah it's true for the colors of autumn also if the leaves were always orange and red and yellow. Please say oh yeah there's the leaves again if the chrysanthemums bloom.. 12 months of the year we wouldn't get excited. Mother earth gives her wild child pajamas that are the colors of autumn. Fiery flaming reddish. Brilliant bursting yellowish. Burnt blistery orange and tawny tarnished goldfish. Now when i was about seven or eight years old i started planning my wedding my fantasy wedding and it all had to do with the colors of autumn. I imagine that my bridesmaids would wear velvet dresses this color don't you think this would be a nice color with a satin ribbon. More like this color. What do you think long and there would be lots of them. And i would wear a beautiful ivory dress and i would carry a bouquet of flowers with color and on the table there would be. Chrysanthemum. And beautiful leaves. I don't remember anything about a groom it was all about the flowers and the colors. It's so happens that eventually i found a groom and we did get married in the fall. But we didn't have. My fantasy wedding. For a couple of reasons one is that we didn't want a big fancy wedding with long dresses and flowers and all that fuss. And the other is my cassie wedding would have cost a lot of money that we didn't want to spend. So you could say that my wedding fantasy was fleeting. Right it didn't last very long. But my marriage. Has lasted a long time because barry and i got married in the something the september 1974. And we're still married. So here's what i think about the colors of autumn. We need. Those spectacular things. That are fleeting. Just like. We need things that laugh. We need. The spectacular colors of autumn to come and go. And we need things like love. And families. And communities like this one. To laugh and nurture us throughout all the season. The colors of autumn teach us to appreciate the fleeting but the ongoing passing. And. Returning of the seasons. Teachers to appreciate what indoors. Autumn expresses itself so much by how it taste. Our story today says it taste like crunchy munchy chewy chestnuts. Lumpy lumpy puppy pump. Snapper lead ackerly cidery apples. And puckering smokery crimson eat cranberries. Once a teacher asked his students to write sensational poems about autumn. These children said it tastes like fruit. Freshly picked. Or even a jar of colorful jelly beans. They said it taste like hot chocolate. Beanie hat. Hot chocolate by a fire. And warm toasted marshmallows. It tastes like lots of pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin pie. Warm luscious banana bread. And hot stew getting warm and cozy. What are your favorite taste of autumn. I invite all of you now to close your eyes for a moment. And imagine. That you are about to enjoy your favorite food of this season. You can see it in your imagination. What does it look like. Now. What does it smell like. Get close to it and take a deep breath. Read in that delicious smell. And now imagine yourself tasting. What does it feel like in your mouth. Enjoy that special taste of oz. And when you're ready. Open your eyes. And now i'm curious to hear from the children and maybe some of the adults to what were those scrumptious autumn taste that you were imagining. Pumpkin pie. Apple. Cranberry relish. Get back there. Apple cider donuts yeah we got that one at the 9 a.m. to i think that's a. My favorite anybody else. Pumpkin pie and apple cider. Yeah they're fleeting to write we're lucky here we get apple cider all year long but. They come and go. We're blessed to live in a place that is filled with farms that grow these foods for us to eat. Despite our floods of the early summer. And hurricane that. Came to us late summer. We are still grateful for the nourishment and the pleasure that autumn's taste bring to us year in year again. Any moment we're going to witness that nourishment and pleasure. Right here in the sanctuary. We're going to share a communion of apples today. I'm going to ask those. For ushers to come forward that i. Ask previously to help us with this. And for you congregants the as apple is passed to you i request that you take the peace but wait on eating it be a little patient. And. So again take your apple take a hold of it. Pick a moment to observe its maybe more carefully than you might normally. How is this particular morsel of food unique. Take a moment to smell it. And what could you discover discover that might be new about it. And then once the music is done and everyone has their apple will eat them collectively in one big collective. So now let's all enjoy it intentionally and fully with all of your senses as we collectively crunch. Work really hard today didn't do it. So what are the sounds of autumn. Crunch that's right crunch when you walk on those dried leaves or jump into a big pile of leaves. What else. Russell's that's right when you walk carefully. The geese the haunting of the wild geese. Crinkle crackle leave snapple cheddar cheddar chipmunks patter slap flitter bird's twitter skitter scatter acorn splatter. So now i would like you. To pick up your leaf. For meditation time today we're going to do a guided meditation with leaf. So begin by holding the leaf lightly in your hand. It's delicate. Treated gently. And now begin to breathe slowly. And deeply. Relax your back your jaw. Your shoulders and your neck. And look at your lease as you breathe slowly in and out. What do you see. A stem. The veins. What about color. Bring it closer does it flutter a little bit when you breathe out. Now. Sincerely. Smells like fall doesn't it. Like earth. Something. Maybe like dirt. Now comes the part where you have to really carefully follow my instructions. What i would like you to do. Is hold your leaf in one hand. And put your other hand underneath that. Okay. And then begin to crinkle and crackle your leaf carefully catching the pieces in your other hand listen to that sound who would have thought that leaves could make that much noise in this sanctuary. When you finished. Look at all the pieces. Thank your leaf. For helping us to meditate on autumn. Now i would like to ask if there are parents here whose children might need to stretch their legs a little bit. If there are. You and your children can come up and get one of these paper bags and help collect. The crinkly crinkly pieces of leaf.

uusociety_org

2013-03-24-2Sermon.mp3

So i want to talk about being intentional. I'm remembering back to when i began seminary. And barry and i decided that we needed to be very intentional about together time. So we signed up. For ballroom dancing lessons. For four years during seminary that evening of our dance class with sacred nothing interfere. Not seminary classes not work commitment not babysitters canceling at the last minute. At the start of each class. The instructor would put on a record. Remember records. Yeah. And say. The next dance will be a foxtrot. And off we would go twirling around the floor and some approximation of a foxtrot. We loved it. One day halfway through the first dance the music stopped and the instructor said. Change partners. Everybody froze in terror and disbelief. Change partners are you kidding me but we were doing so well this will just mess me up. You'll never get anywhere dancing-with-a-stranger why or why are you making us do this. Our instructor mr. bill. Patiently explained. That it is when you change partners that you actually learn to dance. You cannot know whether you were actually doing well until you dance with somebody new. When you change partners you get out of whatever rock you may have fallen into. You discovered the mistakes you've been making that you thought were actually part of the dance you become aware of unconscious habits and maybe you even unlearn some of the least helpful ones. You discovered new ideas and ways of being you enjoy creative synergies that you couldn't have even imagined. The most of us took a deep breath. And agreed to give it a try. One couple refuse they walked out. Never to return. For some people it's sometimes change is simply not an option. But the rest of us decided to take a leap of faith and we changed partners. The music began again and we continue to foxtrot around the room. That song ended and mr. bill said the next dance will be a waltz. And we walked away with our new partners feeling pretty pleased with ourselves. And then in mid-song the music stopped again. Yes he said. Change partners again. We then learned a little piece of etiquette. That has served me well ever since. No matter how badly. You danced with someone. No matter how many times your feet got stepped on no matter how many times you apologize for missing the lead. No matter how clunky you felt no matter the whole time you danced you were saying to yourself this guy stinks he's holding me back. No matter. Before moving onto the new partner you thank the one you just danced with. With a small bowel or curtsy or some little pieces choreography and a few words thank you for dancing with me. And then the partnership is completed and you can move on. Part of the ministry of leaving is taking time to complete. Partnerships. To express gratitude for shared ministry well done. To let someone know what you have learned from them. Or how you have grown. Teixeira final story or one more great idea or one more instructive experience. And yes also to resolve feelings of anger or disappointment. To acknowledge that there are things that will with the end of the relationship need to be left undone or incomplete. Now the transition team invited you to send them your comments and questions in preparation for the service. Very few of you did. I don't know whether that means that you didn't have any or that you assumed someone else would say what you wanted to say. However a couple people addressed an issue that feels incomplete to them. The departure of reverend elaine mumford. These folks acknowledge that they believe that i had done all i could within the constraints of the situation and they are correct. I believe. But still it feels on resolve to them and i'm grateful for them having the courage to name it. Not every issue will be resolved during an interim ministry. Much as i wish it. And around this time every year i wish it really hard i have never been able to hand over a congregation wrap neatly in. Beautiful wrapping paper with a perfect bow on top. The reality is no matter what title minister goes by at any given time interim settle consulting. Congregations are human institutions always changing and always in transition. Sometimes the best you can do with things that feel incomplete is to acknowledge the incompleteness and the discomfort that that incompleteness causes you. That in itself is a huge step towards resolution. The most important thing in completing a relationship is to be honest about the way you were feeling. If you feel sadness then let yourself be sad. If you feel angry about being deserted then say so. You and i both know that from the day i arrived i was leaving. And you and i both know that for some of you might departure will be a relief. For some it will be a sad but navigable transition and for some it will feel like abandonment. Don't judge yourself don't judge each other. Just give yourself permission to feel the way you feel. Too often. Unexpressed or unacknowledged feelings. Turn into anger. Which for some reason is easier to express in acton than sadness. Being angry may make you feel powerful. Being sad. May make you feel vulnerable. In this congregations past there have been times when ministerial transitions have turned into pretty angry affairs. When we did the history wall last year as tom said the members of the transition team took particular note of those angry times. Sometimes the anger was directed against the departing minister. Sometimes the anger was directed against the newly-arrived minister. It would be far better. For the long-term health of the congregation if the expression of all feelings whether it's anger or sadness or whatever. Could be expressed in appropriate and healthy ways in the present. That would not only make your ministerial transitions easier it would transform those transitions into opportunities. For emotional and spiritual growth. And learning. So between now and june. The end of june which is the end of my term let's practice intentional. Parting. Please talk to me. Tell me how you feel about our shared ministry about the state of the congregation about my necessary departure. Don't leave anything unsaid that might cause regret later on. Don't leave anything untended that might subconsciously turn into hostility. Towards the next person who stands in this pulpit. Think of the next few months as an opportunity to practice a graceful and honest release of this partnership. Which will allow you when the music starts again. The dance-off joyfully with a new partner. This work if it is to be done really does need to be done between now and the end of june. Because as an experienced practitioner of the ministry of intentional living. I really do leave totally and completely when i go. I don't stay in touch. I don't check back in. I carefully follow the ethical guidelines of my professional ministry. Guidelines that say that i need to leave you in the very capable hands of the next minister by removing myself completely from the ongoing life of the congregation. Well you were getting to know a new minister i will be busy immersing myself in the life of the next congregation i am called to serve. Just as i did here two years ago. It is always a bit painful for me to say goodbye to people who might have grown fond of. Have served alongside. Have come to care about. Is always hard to let go of the outcomes. Of the work. That this congregation that i've come to cherish continues to do. Even after i'm gone. That is the price i pay for the privilege of practicing intentional interim ministry. And i pay it gladly. In fact it is the price every minister pays for the privilege of practicing ministry. Our shared ministerial covenant. And it is not a set of rules imposed from some above wherever above might be it is a covenant that we ministers right and affirm together. Says that when we complete the ministry we leave the system. So the next minister can establish clear and uncomplicated relationships in the congregation. When i complete the ministry i make room in my heart for new relationships. New challenges new variations on the theme of shared ministry. I'm committed to this process of leaving intentionally. I will make myself generously available to you between now and the end of june and then i will leave. Because by then i will be hearing the music starting up again in another place. Where spring comes in march. God willing. And you will be hearing the music as well as you move towards your next partner. I believe we were waltzing. Yes. Mr. bill when the walls comes to an end put on another record. And says. The next dance will be a tango. And off we all go doing our best tango which for most of us has honestly not very good the tango was a really hard dance to do. We're all feeling a bit clumsy. Even unlovely. So when inevitably the music stops then we again hear the now dreaded words change partners. Some of us feeling almost existential dread. We know we haven't been dancing well. We go back to that place that i might describe as the junior high school. Dance. For the last kid sitting on the bench waiting to be chosen for a team place you know that place. We're terrified that nobody will choose us which brings up all kinds of self-esteem issues and. Magnified for us all that we imagine is wrong with us. We were so helpless back then in 7th grade. So vulnerable to peer pressure and judgment so desperate to be accepted. Validation could only come from others we lack the internal fortitude to affirm ourselves. Luckily. We are no longer in junior high school. We are grownups with a pretty good shared sense of identity. You are grown up with a pretty good sense of your shared strengths as a congregation. You have a vision and a clear mission and a congregational covenant. You have leadership you have driving programs and a growing membership and vitality and energy. And i want you to remember all of that as i share the news that the search process has encountered a bump in the road. On thursday when mr. bill stop the music and said change partners. This congregation ended up without. The partner. In spite of the splendid work of the ministerial search committee we did not make a match. The minister's that the search committee identified as being the ideal candidate for this pulpit. We're also sought after by other congregations. And unfortunately each of them chose to go elsewhere. So let's stop and take a breath huh. Remember as you process this news. That you are not in junior high school anymore. You have resources. You have resilience you have options. You are certainly entitled to be disappointed. Sad. Angry. Confused. But not hopeless. Your ministerial search committee has agreed to try again over the next month entering the second round of the search process. There are two things i want you to know about this one is it the search committee has put in uncountable hours. Over the last eight or nine months. And they really thought that this weekend was the beginning of a break for them. Instead it is the beginning of another month of really hard work. They deserve your support. And your gratitude. The other very important thing for you to know about the second round is it is that it is not it is absolutely not. Second-rate second class. Perfectly good ministers end up in the second round having not made a mess in the first round. I can personally attest to this because i came to you in the second round two years ago. I interviewed with five congregations in round 1 and didn't get an offer. And perfectly good congregations end up in the second round as well. 2 years ago you got me in the second round and i got you and there has been nothing second-best about the last two years of shared ministry remember that. This afternoon especially news blast will arrive in your inbox as with a little more information about next steps please read it. The april newsletter will have a longer and more detailed article from the search committee they are just beginning to understand the parameters of this second round. Members of the search committee will be here at the pulpit after the service. To speak with you informally. If you don't have any questions for them just come and give them a hug. And some encouragement. Please know that no matter what happens in the coming year. Whether you find a settled minister in the second round or take another year to search. And get to meet. Your third interim minister in four years. You will be just fine. You will be just fine i am absolutely certain of this. Because i know. Who you are. I know what you are i know that you are nimble and resilient. You are blessed with amazingly strong and focus lay leadership and an excellent staff. No matter who stands in his pulpit next year you will continue to gather on sunday morning for worship. You will sing together and meditate together and drink coffee together. You will continue to care for each other. And to enjoy fellowship together. You will continue to do works of justice and mercy and you will continue to have fun together. And support each other on your personal spiritual pass because that's who you are. That's what you are. In just a little while mr. bill will put yet another record on the turntable. The next dance he says will be triple swing. And you will jitterbug off with your partner. The partner. That we hoped we would be naming today but will in fact be naming later. And i will jitterbug off with my new partner. To be named. Even later. And we will eat. Enjoy the next dance. We will. We will. Because what i know is that all will be well. And all will be well. And all manner of things. Will be well.

uusociety_org

2009-12-20-2%20Sermon.mp3

The only vermonter to ever reach the white house. Calvin coolidge was known as a man of very very few words. According to one account the president attended. Church one sunday morning where the clergyman spoke on the topic of sin. Coolidge was asked to. Elaborate. What did the preacher say he replied. Iconically. He was against it. The story. Coolidge walmart would have been funnier if only it has been true. Unlike the preacher in that anecdote. This morning i want to go on record. In favor of sin. Or at least to declare myself a strong supporter of guilt. I was the unitarian congregation and certain midwestern state a few years back that made headlines. For the signboard out in front of the church that declared. We don't do. Guilt. Here. But suppose suppose. Is that. Instead of a church. That had been a courthouse. I think guilt. Is it fairly useful concept it's often an appropriate emotion because the world is i see it it's filled. With perpetrators. Victims it's filled with people who trust. And those who abused that trust. It's filled with bullies and the criminally minded. And people they prey on. Guilt is the moral category we assigned to behavior. That's hurtful or antisocial lying stealing. Slandering and other forms of mischief so i have no problem calling. Purse snatchers for investment scammers who steal the pensions of little old ladies. Sinners. Horcrux were scoundrels. In my opinion we should occasionally feel a sense of remorse. For our actions and i have no quarrel with the traditional language of the prayer book. We have done things. We are not to have done and we have. Not done the things we are. But well i believe in guilt. I don't believe in shame. Which is an entirely different thing guilt attaches to our actions to what we do but shame. Invades our identity or who we are. The priest. Who. Molests a little boy for example may or may not. Feel any scruples of conscience about what he's done but that child. That child has been raped will almost surely. Suffer a debilitating stigma of shame of being. Soilder rendered. Deviant or abnormal from being an unwilling participant in an obscene at. I sincerely hope. The guards at abu ghraib. Suffered a twinge of guilt when their atrocities were exposed because i am sure that the prisoners that they. Abused. Who were paraded around with dog collars on their necks and. Photograph nude in. Compromising positions i'm sure that those prisoners nearly died of mortification. A word that interesting lee comes from the root. Mork. Meaning. Death. Shame. Kill shame is it kind of inward. Annihilation. To speak more personally i recall. Feeling guilty as a child when in my one experiment with shoplifting. I was a handed by the store owner and told never to come back on the premises again the paying of contrition at getting caught was probably a useful healthy emotion. I never stole again. On the other hand i recall feeling a terrible sense of shame as a child. After my father died. When father-son picnics were announced today at school. When i saw the other dad coaching. Little league i was liable to get. A lump. In my throat feel short of breath feel estranged like an outsider who could never really be part of the team i was ashamed to be different than. Less than not. Good enough in this was not. A helpful. Emotion but one that made me want to hide or disappear or sink into the ground again it kind of premature burial. So maybe this minor confessional has made you think of times and your own life. When you might have felt ashamed. The day when your parents. Disowned you because you were gay. Are the semester you were held back a grade. Because you hadn't learned to read. Score. How you felt when you lost your job in. Couldn't pay your rent shame. Burdens. Each of us in different ways arising out of the the psychic insults and wounds. And indignities we all suffer in our brokenness and vulnerability but its effect is always the same to chill the joy of living. But if shame is. A powerful force today it was far far. More potent. In the ancient world. When modern ethical distinctions of right and wrong vice and virtue guilt and innocence. We're all secondary. The greco-roman notions. Of honor. And dishonor. End of the raining jewish constructs of purity. And pollution. Back in that classical. when. Jesus lived whole classes of people were considered to be. Dirty. Loathsome. Filthy. Not because of any. Sin they committed not because of anything they had. Done no wrong doing no lapse. A conductor character but rather due to their social station or their economic status or other external so for instance. Physical health and beauty. Were considered to be signs. Honor. Impurity. Call people who were. Maimed or disfigured. Or suffered from disabling diseases or. Or leprosy were considered to be low and degraded literally these individuals were thought to be untouchables. So it's written in the book of leviticus. The leper. In whom the plague is. He shall be defiled. He is unclean. He shall dwell. Alone outside the camp show his habitation be. Often these sufferers would gather in colonies outside the city gates shunned by the better sort of citizen. Giving a whole new depth of understanding to the healing stories like the one recorded in mark. And there came a leopard to him. Beseeching him and kneeling down to him saying to him. If not wilt. Falcons make me clean. And jesus moved with compassion. Put forth his hand. And touch them. How did you notice what the leper ask for. Did he ask to be. Keurig. Madewell. He said. If thou wilt. Down can't make me clean the story goes on it says the leprosy actually did. Get better but that's almost an afterthought this is not about a medical miracle this is about a spiritual reality being. Cleansed i interpret not only in the ritual or ceremonial since but also as a holistic. Response to the therapeutic power of touch of simple. Human. Contact. And kindness. Imagine. A long lifetime of living. Among people who consider themselves to be your betters. Living among people who are physically repulsed. By your very existence and then one of these strangers comes forth. Disappear. And reaches out his hand. And comfort and support the shame of being sick was lifted and dissolved the story says because jesus. Was moved with compassion. Which is a term that involves hebrew and aramaic. Is the plural of a noun that it in singular form is. Usually translated as. Uterus. Or womb. So a mother feels. Compassion. For the child that she feels stirring inside or because this is the flesh of her flesh a man feels. Compassion. For a sister or a brother because they come from the same womb so when jesus advises his listeners. Be compassionate as god is compassionate what he's saying is that the greatest force in the universe. Is like a mother's love for her children indiscriminate. Unconditional not favoring those who are specially gifted. With good health and good looks or good fortune but most of all concerned with those who are lost. Or who are struggling or who were alone. Jesus challenged the religious and social caste structure of his days because he himself was born among the outcasts. I'm being born rich back in those days didn't necessarily guarantee your purity or your honor but. Certainly didn't hurt. While being born destitute almost certainly was a sign of shame and defilement if only because you didn't have the money to go to the temple and by sacrifices in jesus was undoubtedly poor. Doubtful. Parentage. Back in those days women and men had. Differing degrees of. Purity the natural bodily processes of. Childbirth and menstruation being associated with uncleanness but the lowest of the low.. The most. Defiled. Were those who were born out of wedlock of illegitimate. Unions the products of. Incest or adultery who were known in jewish law as. Mom's ears. The orthodox weren't allowed to marry the offspring of. These unions nor could the moms are reman heritor hold public office bastards were typically called. The excrement. It's likely that jesus belong to this. Despised expendable class. The earliest christian writer paul. Says a little of his origins except that jesus was. Born of woman that is in the usual way. And that he had a brother. Named james. Enmark which is usually recognized as the first the earliest of the four gospels. Probably written sometime shortly after the destruction of the jewish temple. In the year 70 of the common era there aren't any birth stories at all but marked as make this one fascinating mention about jesus's family when the residence of nazareth taketh into this teaching. And i asked. Is not this the carpenter. The son of mary. And the brother of james. And joseph. And judas and simon and are not his sister's here with us making for at least six siblings with no hand of a father which is highly unusual for this. when. Yes you are bar yosef would have been the ordinary way of referring to. A young man named jesus whose male parent was joseph. But mark never mentions any. Father figure. And later jewish law would consider a man illegitimate who was referred to by only his mother's name the sun. Of mary. Wasn't long after jesus's death that the little. Christian community. In jerusalem started to spread out. The corners of the mediterranean to north africa to the middle east. And the gospel accounts that emerged from that dispersion were influenced by the folklore of. The region. Where. Deities born of a virgin were familiar figures that was. Horus in egypt. Addis from phrygia adonis from babylon mithra from persian among others always maidens born. What was what was unusual what was slightly scandalous. At least two gentile years. Was not that a man should be. Divine or that he should have a birth surrounded by stars and importance because all the potentate's back in those days alexander. Caesar all of them they claimed at least a degree of of godhood what was. Noteworthy. And hard to believe was that. This particular man and nobody a nonentity in a literate impoverished. Peasant a mom's ear that he should have such a celestial genealogy. The later gospels do recall something of jesus's dubious background in the magnificat. Luke speaks of mary's. Lowliness. Or her. Low estate a greek word that's best translated as. Her humiliation but why mary was humiliated. What had caused her loss. Efface. Why she was ashamed these are matters of speculation matthew says that her husband joseph. Was minded to dissolve their betrothal and put her away privately because he found that she become pregnant before they had marital relations with each other. But both of these gospel writers following the mythic pattern traveling in the ancient near east. Go on to insist that jesus was. Born of a virgin that claimed that would have. Growing consequences. For the church. His sexuality and especially female sexuality became. Associated with dark. Infernal forces. Illicit sex or transgressions like adultery these may have carried some social stain and in judaism. But in a religion that commanded the hebrews to be fruitful. And the x. Sex was never regarded as a bad thing it was a positive good. So. The apostle paul it was supports that you. Testifies that his colleague. Peter. Had a wife he was married. As did. The other disciples according to paul. And. Jesus himself is frequently referred to by the crowd as. Rabbi he's called rabbi at a time when being a married man was ordinarily a job requirement for the rabbinic but gradually the disciples came to be depicted as an all-male band. Mary magdalene who was at least. Close associate and devoted follower of jesus if not his actual wife. Was reduced to the role of. Prostitute. The fact that jesus had. Brothers and sisters and other normal family ties was quietly suppressed. For the virgin birth evolved into the dogma of mary's perpetual virginity. Men around immaculate conception and finally her bodily assumption into heaven until in our own time. Pope john paul to the spiritual leader of a billion catholics around the planet. Could proclaim that a man. Send. Who lost for his own wife sex itself became a source of shame and christianity to engage in it for love. Enjoy. Pleasure. Or any reason except procreation was deemed unholy and the religion of jesus. The religion of compassion where love was like into the womb of the mother caring for nurturing all her children became a religion where only those who didn't have a womb. Could become priests or handle the instruments of salvation a christian morality of purity and pollution a rose that was a hundred times stricter than any practice by the pharisees of old. And this is why it's important to me. Especially christmas. Try to separate the actual teachings of jesus from the myths. That grew up around and jesus taught that sin. It's whatever separates this. From our neighbor. And healing or salvation. It's whatever restores our sins. A sacred self-worth as equal citizens in the kingdom. Enabling us to participate again. And the beauty. And the mutuality. A caring relationships. But the religion. Of jesus is a very different thing from the religion. About. Jesus. And the religion. About jesus. Became the perpetrator. Of new caste system separating the believers from the unbelievers the orthodox from the heretics engendering. Sexism and anti-semitism. Fostering homophobia. All too often. Glorifying poverty rather than challenging the structures that created where the historic jesus alive today. He would condemn these. Social sin that far more than fornication or sodomy or abortion constitute the real offenses against human dignity. Demeaning. Whole religions in whole races of people tangling men. In a warped sense of entitlement. Cramping women in a false sense of abnegation separating us from nature and our natural instincts for intimacy and disrupting the actual unity of the family of god. So i tell the stories of herod in bethlehem. Wise men and shepherds because i do enjoy these tales i was raised with them i find them. Comforting. But at the same time i feel compelled to criticize them and try to distinguish the chaff of fabrication. From. The grain of truth that they do contain precisely because these myths are so enchanting we need to examine them and unpack them. Call me. Old fashioned. Or call me scholarly. But. It's the man behind the legends that i celebrate at this time of year not a pre-existent logos or disembodied word. Butter flesh-and-blood individual. Who was extraordinary not for the manner of its conception. But for the manner of his living. Whose teachings of radical compassion. An unconditional co humanity. Ring across the centuries. Like tidings of comfort and joy.

uusociety_org

2012-03-11-2%20Sermon.mp3

What is the chalice and what does it represent. The chalice that we use combines two ancient archetypes. A cup. Four holder and a flame. Cops chalices right then hotchkis can be found worldwide in ancient manuscript and on altars of all different religions. Sharing generosity sustenance and love are some of the meaning symbolized by the chalice. The flame. Symbolizes witness sacrifice testing courage and light illumination. The chalice and the flame are actually brought together by an austrian artist named x joyce. Cons with living in paris during the 1930s when hitler came to power in europe and he started drawing cartoons that were critical of hitler. That was a very dangerous thing and when the nazis invaded paris he had to flee. And he ended up in portugal where he met charles joy. Charles joy was the director of the newly-formed unitarian service committee. An organization that had been formed. By hour. Group. To help smuggle people out of nazi occupied countries. Jews unitarian. Anyone who was in danger from the nazis. Now this was an unknown brand new organization and it's hard in dangerous times to be brand new and not be known. If you make a mistake and approached the wrong person it could mean that you would be killed. So charles joy ask this artist to create a symbol. That the agents working for the service committee could use that would be it would be like a safe signal. And hans toys drew. A cop with a flame on top. They made it into a sealed for paper and a badge for agents. Who were moving refugees to freedom. And it works. All during world war ii. After the war people so like the symbol and what it represented that it became a symbol of unitarian universalism. So when we light our chalice we're reminding ourselves. Of the values of justice and freedom and courage. We're reminding ourselves that there have been brave people in our history. And we promising ourselves that we will continue to honor those values in our lives. That's what the ritual of the chalices. Ancient as the home is the temple. Ancient as the workbench is the altar. Ancient as the sword is the sacrificial flame ancient as the soldier is the priest. Older than written language is spoken prayer. Older than painting is the image of the nameless one. Religion is the first and last it is the universal language of the human heart. Baltimore argo penso's words to impart the everlasting nature of the human need to worship. Argo who was the unitarian before the merger knew the truth of ralph waldo emerson's assertion that a man will worship something. Now emerson meant that as a warning. That worship be taken seriously. For as he said. That which dominates our imaginations and our thoughts will determine our lives and our character. Therefore it behooves us to be careful what we worship. For what we are worshipping we are becoming. Nowhere is the truth of that more evident today than in the various images of god invoked in different religious movements across the globe. There are some who worship what seemed to be small petulant gods who demand obedience. And violence. And warfare and conquest. Others in the very same faith traditions. Worship of god who seems to invite a mind opening part opening process of growth and transformation. Still others worship a process for life force. Religious humanists seek what is of ultimate worth in humankind when we are at our best. Practitioners of earth-based religions find ultimate worth in the reliable rhythms of nature. Many unitarian universalist say that what is a voltimand worth to them is the slow-but-steady evolution of the human mind and heart. Moving towards compassion and justice and goodness. Like any other human endeavor the art and practice of worship has evolved over the millennia. In spite of those who in every age have tempted to cast it in stone. Religious liberals for the most part understand this evolution although i have to say in every age there have been those among us who have clung tenaciously to some piece of worship that they thought was immutable. But overall we seem to embrace and celebrate. The ongoing evolution of the practice. New times call for new and very intentional approaches. As an ever-evolving and adapting aspect of human experience we shape our forms of worship so that they reflect our values touch our hearts. Nurture our souls and challenge our minds. So what we to do together in our hour of worship is a critical importance. Both to our own lives and to the quality of life in the larger community. It matters that we come together for worship. It matters how we conduct our worship. It matters how much we tend to the quality of worship. Now i know what some of you were thinking she's a minister. Of course she thinks worship is important. But you are unitarian universalist. You believe. In the prophethood and priesthood of all believers. Surely you must believe that what you do here together on sunday morning is way too important to leave to me. Or any other minister. I hope you do i hope you believe that. Worship is a communal activity a structured way of seeking what is of ultimate worth. So let's consider together what it really means to gather for worship. In an old unitarian meditation manual published in 1956. The reverend frank holmes wrote this brief reflection called the art of worship. There is a required alteration in the life of prayer. It must involve the initiative of each of us as an individual. I must face alone the challenge of life's vastness and uncertainty. As also its its richness beauty and hope. And learn to respond in terms of my personal gratitude reverence and courage. However religion is not only an individual undertaking it is also communal. Even people before people understood with any definiteness what they were doing long before there was such a thing as theology. They worshipped together. In song and dance. And united sacrifice and silence they express their wonder and hope. And renewed and deepen their religious feeling there are many ways of worst worshipping. No one way which alone is valid. The important thing is that i share in this communal experience. Let me learn to sing to listen to pray and thus to grow with my fellow worshippers. The homes is reminding us that our communal worship builds on our personal spiritual lives. Now i have often said that a sermon is simply the beginning of a conversation not the end. But i think it's more accurate to say that the sermon is in fact the middle. Of a conversation that each one of you begins in your own minds and hearts. What this means is that our worship service well. Appearing mostly orderly. On the outside. Is actually a cacophony. A voices. In conversation with the spirit of life that moves in each of us and when we are together and moves between us. Because worship begins with a gathering of radically free and diverse individuals planning worship. Requires a mindfulness of the wide spectrum of expectations and needs and hopes and experiences that you each bring to the sanctuary. My mentor is gordon kiman wrote. Years ago to a congregation that was experiencing some conflict around worship. People attend worship services in response to their own needs. Those needs are varied in their specific content throw in a larger sense they are all aspects of the elemental human need for wholeness. It is a sense of being on whole fragmented separated shattered frustrated in pain sorrow fear anguish. Hungering and thirsting after righteousness. The inclines us to attend worship. That neediness is to remind us who we are most essentially and profoundly. Where we are. Most essentially and profoundly. And what we are to be or do. The object is to nail the enable the worshippers to leave. The service feeling renewed in the realization of who and where they are. An empowered to take steps in the direction of what they should. Do orbi. Church may expand our understanding. But it is more vital that it increase our sense of meaning and direction and the resolve to realize that meaning and pursue that direction. When preaching on a topic of specific interest the worship leader is challenged to provide a universal worship context to address the needs. Of those who have pressing concerns. Not embraced by the particular topic. Of the sermon. Of course waste disposal is important. But my mother is critically ill and i need some resources to help me address that struggle. That's gordon. So the moral of all this is is it one way for everyone of us to take worship seriously is to recognize for us that the service does not start at 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. and ended our later. We can all and half the quality of our shirt shared worship experience that one hour by taking our personal faith journey seriously all week. Using the spiritual practice of our choosing to reflect intentionally on our lives. It is also incoming on all of us to be aware of and respectful of that spectrum of needs that others bring two shared worship. When we are most enthusiastic about a particular sermon topics such as waste disposal. We must be equally sensitive to the fact that one of our neighbors in the pews will be hurting. And terribly personal way. And needs to be comforted by some other part of the worship service. We all have to realize that when we come to worship we are sharing not only space and time but the spirit. Of the hour. At no time is it more important to be humble. To beware. We're aware of the fact that in this place and this time it is not. All about me. Now over the years many good unitarian universalist in many different conversations have letting me know that there are parts of the services they don't like. Most often they start these conversations by telling me i should get rid of that part. They. Well you. Have told me that you are uncomfortable with silence. And that you love. Silence. That you don't like responsive readings and that you love having your voice invited to speak. That you don't like singing hymns cuz we don't sing well and that you love. Singing hymns. Some of you prefer an upbeat message with contemporary piano music. Others prefer a more ponderous message coupled with classical music played on an organ. Some of you wanted sermon that provides mostly intellectual stimulation. Others prefer a more spiritual. Message. Some of you love having the children in the service. Others wish for less of the joyous but chaotic energy they bring. So if you want to be able to applaud the music. Others find a+ disruptive and even defensive. My goal. Is to help you understand that what you personally dislike or feel discomfort about. Is there for a carefully thought-out reason. And really cannot be eliminated. I hope you will all move towards and understanding of the truth that the aspect of worship that you dislike the most will be the one that somebody else cherishes above all. Therefore you give a gift to the communal life of the congregation. By graciously allowing even the parts you don't like. To happen. Isn't it mind opening to realize that what you find the least inspiring will be the most precious movement moment or. Maybe more than one moment of the entire week for somebody else. It's not. Mind opening and a little humbling. As well. You see we welcome everyone of you to bring your personal hopes and dreams and needs and experiences to worship. Just be sure that you also bring a sensitivity to the needs of others. An awareness that in order for this diverse cacophony to work. You have to make some sacrifice for the greater good. Everyone of you. When you move from purely personal devotions to communal worship. You don't get everything you want all the time. But. Channeling bob dylan here. You get what you need. Be there is an extraordinary benefit to gathering together on sunday morning. There is strength in community. Together we find the comfort we need when we mourn we find people willing to beckon to us and guide us when we have lost our way. We find people willing to challenges even when it looks like we are going off the rails. People who encourage and energize us when we are feeling discouraged. When we worship as a community. We get back so much more. Then we give up. And that's why there is no place i would rather be on sunday morning. Then in church. I take worship seriously not just because i'm a minister if it's because i'm a battered confused hurting scared human being. Just like every one of you. Sunday worship is the heart of our ministry. It is the source of our determination to practice justice and mercy. It is the well from which we draw sustenance and strength to live our lives in faith. Now the nature of worship here in this sanctuary will be very much the focus of the process for searching for a new settled minister. That is why i want you to think intentionally about worship now. About your role in the worship service not as a leader but as a worshipper. Because what you do each one of you in the pews matters to the quality of worship as much as what the minister does. If you come with an open mind and heart expecting to be moved and challenged and comforted. Then you will find what you came for. If you come with arms crossed and a show me attitude. You will probably be disappointed. It has been said often that great ministers and great congregations make each other. That's your job. A white colleague once said even more pointedly that a sermon foolishly preached can still be wisely heard. Here wisely. My friends. To me the greatest danger in the search process is the magical thinking that if only we get the perfect minister. To fill our pulpit. Everything will be alright. If only. You all. Agree. To share ministry with an imperfect. Minister. Will everything. Be alright. And every sunday when we worship together we're practicing that. So i hope and pray that everyone of you will engage in the work worship life of this congregation with a renewed commitment to the enrichment. Of your ongoing shared endeavor. I hope that you will take worship seriously. A couple saturdays from now i'm getting together with a group of people from across the spectrum of committees here that have some involvement with sunday morning worship music membership. Staff. We're going to talk together about the shape of our sunday morning program. I'm hoping that we will emerge from that with a renewed vision of a comprehensive. Understanding of what happens on sunday morning. So that we can involve even more people. In. The planning. And leading and creation of that sunday morning experience. I want to end with. Sommore. A frank home sports and i hope you will take. To heart this is his prayer. Give us the courage to truly belong to our church. To share our faith with others and to draw upon their inside and hope. To learn a language of the spirit which we and others can both speak and understand. To let our minds be enlightened and our hearts be moved. Buy the larger conscience. And vision of aspiring humankind. Amen. Now you may have noticed that i have actually lifted some pieces out of the sermon and place them in front of the various elements. The explanation of ritual before we lick the chalice. So i want to say. A few things about the history of the offering. In early american history the local church was supported by tax revenue as it had been in england. That was especially true in new england. The concept of the separation of church and straight state actually dawn slowly on our ancestors. And it appears to still be dawning slowly on some of our political leaders today. And that was a theological statement not a political today. But the church was disestablished. According to james luther adams the demands for the separation of church and state and the emergence of the voluntary church represented the end of an era. Dominated by the ideal of christendom. Christendom being a unified structure of society in a church state. That is what i fear the return of. In the new era of the voluntary church he goes on the free church no longer supported by taxation was to be self-sustaining. And it was to manage its own affairs. In accordance with this new conception of religious freedom and responsibility one must view the collection plate in the church service on sunday as a symbol of the meaning of this establishment and a volunteerism. So i want to encourage you as you pass the plate to reflect on what it means to have the freedom to choose your membership in a free church and to act accordingly. I also want to remind you that the other symbol of the meaning of disentangling our religion from our government is the pledge card. The pledge campaign ends this week. If you are a member of this society you are morally obligated to participate in the stewardship campaign. It doesn't matter how much you pledge what matters is that you practice this right of membership by returning your cards. I believe that there are members of the stewardship committee here if you are on the stewardship committee would you stand. You can see any of these people after the service if you have not yet turned in your card and you can give them your card and you can make us so happy that we don't have to spend next week wasting good volunteers time and effort to chase you down because that is what we are going to do. Was that a strong enough statement debbie they will be outside the office gratefully accepting your pledge cards. I want to point out that the. Plate collection this morning. Will be split with the center city little league. Now i just have to say personally that. I have probably spent the largest. Percentage of my time in any one place in church on sunday morning the next largest portion no doubt has be has been spent in bleachers watching baseball games. The center city little league provides full scholarships to about 100 kids from the old north end.

uusociety_org

2010-02-28-2%20Sermon.mp3

Well as you all seem to know you folks are having a bicentennial this year. For me 2010 fox 40 years of being a unitarian universalist. And over this time. In every part of the country where i've lived and in fact even overseas i've learned that we are going to face one question. We get it from friends. We get it from enemies. We get it again and again. What do you people believe. Not you personally. But your congregation as a whole. Why do you keep this building. Why do you give money. Why do bring in one minister after another. What do you expect these people to preach to you. Systematic theology. But most of us don't want to talk about it. And many of us don't even know how. Our questionnaires are not asking us about our social justice or about our personal morals. Those are what is known as the fruits of the spirit. And all religions have many examples of those as well. They even have coffee hour. They have congregational covenants. That's regardless of whether they are liberal or conservative or what they use for scripture. Systematic theology. Is what makes religions different. And here's a dirty little secret folks. We have one. Congregation by congregation. Wii u use our gathering constantly to hornet symbols. Chaifetz language. And yet some things remain the same. I'm your current historian and historians always get asked if there are skeletons in the closet. You have one. His name is jesus. She was a practicing jew. He was also a performing a reforming progressive public figure often called rabbi. He was a human. Which human limits so far as we know in this face. But he's by far number one. In a long line of biblical heroes and heroines. Who gave us a basic message of covenant. And love. But what did he say about god. And then. What did this congregation except. If you're going to be a religion. This is the question. But you have got to answer. And it's painful. For many of us and. I don't know how many of us have been through this. But the names god and jesus. Are shot through with pain. They have been used as weapons against us. And we try to stand up the mind wants to explore. But under attack. Especially over time. The gut tends to either tighten up or run away. Your forebears knew that misery. Their politics were actually pretty conventional for the town. And it was their theology which brought them social troubles. There were even. Condemnations to help for some of our members. Which were sent home by the ministers of other churches by way of. Mixed family members. Trying to stir up fights within the families. Your founder. And the generations. Responded with courage. They responded with praise. They used these cues. That communion set. This puppets. Which has changed physically but which is still this pulpit. Any bible and there's one over there. To shape their rebuttals. Christian tools. To shape christian to liberate. Christian symbols. I want to introduce you to one particular item or set of items you see today. They came with a letter from first church in boston massachusetts. April 25th 1812. To the reverend samuel clark and the brethren of the church of our lord jesus christ. Under his pastoral care. At burlington in the state of vermont. We've the deacons of the first church of christ in boston. Being informed by our brother williams who was lately one of us. That your table for the celebration of the communion was not fully furnished with vessels. I'm having a small sum in our care to be disposed of for pius uses. Take this opportunity to express our christian love and affection for you. I forwarding you a few articles for your table. Of which we beg your kind acceptance. Sincerely wishing that in the use of them you may experience all that divine aid and constellation that the great author of our holy religion intended. In the institution of that holy ordinance. With fervent prayers for your increase. Comfort and prosperity. We subscribe ourselves your brethren in christ. David tilden. James morreale. Deacon's of first church. Enclosing two flagons hard metal. And for silver platinum handle cups. And there they are. Plenty of wear on those edges i invite you to come look. After. They were used every month or so until the pretty recent past. Apparently disappeared from you surround 1960. When gary saw them. He said. These look more like beer mugs l. I'm not supposed to. Our reformation forebears. Wanted and that's the 14 and 1500s. They wanted everyone to see that no priest has keys to god's kingdom in this face. You walk in you see the table. It looks. Different. From the catholic episcopalian table. And that's because of theology was different. Ordinary people are god's chosen. Owning our holiness with ethical faithful. Regular everyday lives and activities. And to demonstrate that they furnish their altars with household items. Or new ones but in the same design. Chalices to come back to our religion later. But as part of more ornate decorating scheme. And that never did seem to happen here. Although you did decorate. Your table still looks like an old family reunions. And that's the theology. A reformation ancestors called it the lord's supper. And that's what your forebears called at this book you see here is the record. Up religious observances in this congregation from 1810 to about 1900. And from that you can see that your forebears never lifted these tankers. To pretend that they were drinking the blood of christ. They remembered it they honored it. But these. Sing. These mugs were passed around to paraphrase. In memory of jesus and fellowship. With all who have endeavoured to live by his example. So they have a theology but the communion structure itself needed some work before it finally settled down here. And so here's the story. That you can read from that book. At first an 18-10 your founder still considered this ritual to be god's gift for folks like me. Because i am here you christian. Who want more than fellowship and preaching. I saw your first two ministers dutifully carefully laid out some compromise statements of faith for folks like me to refer. This would entitle us. Privileged few. To baptism and communion. The rest of you the society would come to the same worship the sermons. But. Not so much the communion. Well unitarians guess what they did not like that. Back in the 1830s not the 1930s in the 1830s across massachusetts unitarians started abandoning any form of communion. Your minister george ingersoll. Took a different tack. In august 1842. He persuaded some of his leading communion takers that's us the little church. To baptize two people who had not subscribed to his document. One was dying. And the other had been sprinkled by the episcopalians. And probably helped that her father chaired the prudential committee. But before you get cynical. Listen to what your minister did next. He announced that it would only be fair. If no one. Ever had to face these questions again. I'm so they never did. If they wanted to be baptized. They got baptized. In 1852 a new minister arrived. Soon these words appeared. These are the words to which the book is open today. Lord's day. November 6th 1853. Preach today a sermon on the following question. What constitutes membership of the church of christ and a right to partake of the lord's supper. Maintaining that church membership is a birthright. And that the desire of communion. Confers a rite of communion. Advocated congregational. Observance of the ordinance. That'd be blended into the usual sabbath service. And the elements. Be passed to all. From this date. Such will be the custom of this christian church. And that was signed by joshua young. It's actually not literally sign but. Anyway. And i want to step over. Just cuz i think you'll like this here's his next chase to communion. July 17th 1859. Began today the practice of taking up a contribution at the celebration of the lord's supper. As the charity of the church to the poor. Amount collected today. 1692. And that was communion here. And that's how it remained. These tankers and trays do not claim to hold the blood of jesus. They are everyone's insurance. Assurance of eating and drinking in happiness. At god's table. Known 1841 a unitarian minister named theodore parker got himself in trouble by saying that every generation of worshipper. Embraces new symbol. It's the underlying fundamentals it's the word of god. Which remains the same. I'm so is i've gone through your bloominous archives. That's been the question i've been asking. Do you have something permanent. A reason that is still good after 200 years. Or is it as our enemies say. You're always chasing the latest fad. When it comes to theology your archives have a surprise i found it pleasant i hope you will too. Despite a huge effort over the last forty or so years. To look as radically different as possible. Your fundamental religion still meet parker's test. You have a theology. It has been saved in a few keisha sermons usually easter down through the centuries. And in consulting them i can give you what i consider this summary. Whatever that big thing is. God nature universe whatever. It isn't out looking for victims. Blood is not its goal. Blood. It's not it's pleasure. And your history has another surprise. Made possible by this. Theology. This congregation became unitarian universalist. A good century before anyone actually noticed. Also about 70 years before the two denominations. Took that stuff. The town of dennis something of a mystery i don't know the answer to this and it's not going to be in the book cuz i'm out of time. Burlington how to universalist congregation it lasted from 1822 to 1844. Andrew crawford. It had a minister. It had me it had plans drawing plans it was going to build a meeting house. And then it vanished. Who knows. You would have to get their membership list compared to our membership list and do some genealogy and i think there's a dissertation in it for someone. Not me. But there is a clue. Downstairs. And it's. What i consider the one key date in your theological history. 1867. Okay 1867. Okay because that's the year that your minister. Loami where. Hitched up a carriage and rode into fellowship with vermont. Universalist. Ministers. He was traded ordained as unitarian. He was the fellowship with the unitarian. But there was only one other unitarian congregation anywhere near us down in montpelier. And i guess somehow that wasn't enough. Meanwhile the universalist we're building lots of churches richmond jericho saint albans barry. We're even took the word unitarian off your printed material you will not see them for thirty years of your material. He didn't put anything in its place. And in 1888 same minister. Your society started paying vermont quebec universalist association dues. And. They kept up their unitarian donations and went to unitarian denominational meetings as well. You were members of both faith. And in good standing. Did where nobody was doing. We can't ask him. But i'll tell you this. When he had been ordained in augusta maine several years before. One of the participants was the reverend. Thomas starr king. And thomas starr king. Is considered to be the person who coined the name. Unitarian universalist. Unitarian universalism. What is this for these pioneers. True love. Or was it. A marriage of convenience. The sermons and texts on both sides of our heritage. Show some fundamental agreement. For the unitarian pierce your own george ingersoll. Easter 1826 remember he's still asking theological questions if you want communion. But this is what he was saying about easter. Unitarianism rejects the doctrine of atonement or satisfaction for the sins of men. By the sufferings and death of christ. For unitarianism holes that god requires no other atonement for sin. Then the reformation of the sinner. November 1855 joshua young. We cannot understand how suffering innocence. Can meet the ends of justice. Now. Compare these words from vermont's first systematic universalist writer. He wasn't a minister. But your founders would have known this person. And don't think that his success at driving out invaders. Cut any ice with early religious fanatics. Fanatics is a little pejorative but they were pretty strong-minded. That's not just our friends at first congregational. But methodists and baptists were coming in to evangelize. And some of their religious views make calvinism look like a walk in the park. Say that we're however very strong abolitionists there's no one without redeeming character. In any case. Ethan allen. Needed 10 years to find a willing publisher for his book reason at the only oracle of man. And when he did the first edition was almost completely destroyed shortly thereafter. Buy couple of fires. The first was never explained. The second was set by the publisher himself. Who then became a methodist. And i'm going to just tell you this ethan allen story i'm going to run over by doing this but ethan allen's brother of course i restore by ben you would wander will did i ever come to church here i wrote the lawyer who sued i were out of his land was a member of the church so i don't think that the ology was that impressive for ira i'm i didn't see him anywhere in our records and i wouldn't be surprised. But nevertheless. Nevertheless. This is what ethan allen wrote and this was some 1784 was when he started the publication process. Here we go hear some universalism. If from the composition texture and tendency of the universe in general. We form a complex idea of general good. Resulting therefrom to mankind. We implicitly admit. A god by the name of god. Including the idea. Of his providence to man. Icymi. That senses saying. You do not need a bible. Well for most of its life this congregation has loved us bible. It's not completely gone yet. That's because we have always believed unitarian or universalist. That you read it as you read any other book. You take it in and you decide for yourself. In this congregation from god's rainbow promise to noah to that last mystical vision of heaven that we just heard in our joys and sorrows. It has been taken as a story of god's love for all creation. Along the way we have added other inspirations and proofs. Science. The instinctual stirrings of the heart. Love of good. Horror at evil. But did these ideas last. Palm sunday. 1953. This pulpit. Robert sheridan miller preaching. Still a member of the universalist ministers association and the unitarian american unitarian. Association at the denominational level. He preached the sermon so good that the unitarians put it out as a pamphlet. See if these words sound familiar. There is more to be said about the role of reconciliation in the religion of the bible. Much will depend for example upon what is believed to be the character of god. It is a matter of historical interest. That the one idea of god most frequently associated. With the traditional belief in the atoning death of jesus. Have been the idea. Open angry. And offended god. If one accepts this claim however. He must somehow reconcile it. With the familiar and repeated teaching of jesus. The god is like a father. The god is love. The last thing that love would ask for to effect a reconciliation. Would be a bloody sacrifice. Especially of one's own son. A thousand years before jesus the patriarch abraham had been restrained by god. From offering up his son isaac and sacrifice. Only a demonic being. Which instead to such wickedness. Whatever it is. It's not out for blood. Our social duty has a model here. The generous life and death of jesus. Who practiced his religious traditions. But also. Lived as a reformer. He found his courage in god's love. And his openness to all seacoast speakers has a swindle here. You see it before you. Reformed. Two denominations. 1 theology. United. By personal freedom. One god. Loving everyone.

uusociety_org

2013-03-03Sermon.mp3

This is the final sermon in a series exploring the sources of our faith as they are expressed. In the statement of principles and purposes of the unitarian universalist association which is printed in the front piece of your hymnal. You see it starts out we the member congregations. Do covenant to affirm and promote. And then atlas. Are seven principles. And goes on to say the living tradition we share draws from many sources. And list the six sources. We embarked on this exploration. In order to strengthen our identity is unitarian universalist. I hope that in reflecting on these sources months after months as they were one by one the theme of the month. You would answer more deeply into this shared covenant. With unitarian universalist all over the continent who read and speak and explore these very same words. I hope that you would be challenged to grow spiritually both by seeking greater clarity about your own beliefs and the sources you draw from. I need to embrace. Not merely tolerate but embrace the very different beliefs and sources that the people sitting around you in the pews draw from. We unitarian universalist 7 corporated a lot of different theological strands into our living tradition. And woven them together into a vibrant tapestry of faith. I also hoped you would become more aware of your unitarian universalist history. The 4th 5th and 6th sources in particular are a history lesson onto themselves. They remind us that we began as the radical wing of the protestant reformation. Dasta for source which size jewish and christian teachings. In the mid-twentieth century when religious humanism became enormously influential. We moved for the most part beyond that protestant fold. And more recently our congregations have seen and significant influx of freethinkers whose primary orientation is toward earth-centered. Spirituality. That's the six source which we. Focused on earlier this winter. So just reading the sources through in order reminds us of that chronology of ever changing and evolving spiritual expressions. Most importantly i hope that if you engage seriously with these six sources you would find yourself transform because why else would you be long to a unitarian universalist church. Just listen to the language in these sources moved. To a renewal of the spirit challenged to confront structures and powers of evil. Inspired in our ethical and spiritual life call. To respond to god's love. Ours is an active faith. It expresses itself with integrity only when it is engaged. So let's engage this final source humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science. And warned us against idolatries of the mind and spirit. Now one of the challenges of religion in the modern age is to hold intention. The surgeons of the rational mind and the yearnings of the mystical heart. It is attention with old old roots. In ancient greek philosophy. For example a difference the merge between the apollonian and the dionysian views of human nature. The apollonian was concerned with form and structure. Exalted human reason as the primary trait that distinguish human beings from other life-form. This school believed in the possibility of a rational and harmonious world is civilization would only give itself over to the development of its cognitive faculties. The dionysian view emphasized the dynamic aspects of human life. Existence was seen as a series of struggles and contradictions. A tragic inability to avoid. Suffering at the hands of fate. This philosophy emphasized the effective or feeling aspect of human nature. As christendom grew in power and became the primary interpretive culture in the later roman empire. The greek philosophers. We're slowly forgotten. Instead of a human focus intellectual curiosity philosophers were urged to look godward. Questions about the nature of humanity were depressed or neglected for a long long time. It wasn't until the renaissance so that's a long time right. That the greek tradition was rediscovered and intellectual endeavor once again turns toward amor this worldly focus. The renaissance in large our western worldview. Replacing a static and dogmatic orthodoxy with a dynamic vibrancy in which human beings were understood to be participants. In a larger harmony. The renaissance worldview was humanistic. Not in that it necessarily rejected the existence of god but in that it emancipated humanity from intellectual exile. The religious reformation and natural outgrowth. Of the intellectual freedom of the renaissance. Gave birth to our faith. In the age of enlightenment that followed the next logical step in the human quest to focus scientific and intellectual inquiry on human experience. Developed. The historian allonbulloch says the great discovery of the enlightenment lighting meant was the effectiveness of critical reason. This face in critical reason brad the characteristic optimism of nineteenth-century liberal religion in america. James freeman clark and unitarian minister in the mid-1800s famously articulated the five points of unitarianism then as. The fatherhood of god the brotherhood of man the leadership of jesus salvation by character and the continuity of human development in all worlds or the progress of mankind onward and upward forever. Some of us think clark may have been a wee bit over optimistic. That banner. Tongue. In the fellowship hall of the community church of new york when i was a child. Not all five toys but. The fatherhood of god the brotherhood of man and the progress of humankind onward and upward forever. It wasn't until after world war 1 the humanism which i see is the next logical step in the evolution of religious thought became a distinct. Movement. In 1933 when the first humanist manifesto was issued. 15 of the original signers where unitarian mostly ministers and one universalist. That manifesto challenge the basic assumption of western religion to that point which is that religion had to do exclusively with god. Leaders such as. john dietrich and curtis reese insisted that it is possible to be religious without being cystic. Dietrich called this the naturalistic prostu religion. Based on. At the time were some pretty radical assumptions about the nature of humanity the nature of the universe and the sources of religious authority. I'd like to look at each of those and turn. The nature of humanity. Religious humanism teaches that every person is unique. Bitlife is a constantly evolving reality. The truth cannot be isolated in any point in history. And each of us can improve ourselves and our world which is what a humanist would mean by salvation. By the intelligent control of materials and ideas. Reset the primary object of humanism is to find out what human needs are and how they may best be met and then to meet them. Humanism is an extremely ethical religious outlook built on marvel value that have their basis in human experience rather than supernatural revelation. Since human experience is constantly evolving and changing. All values must be according to reese. Experimental and tentative. The nature of the universe. Religious humanism teaches that the universe is self-existing rather than created. You can imagine the consternation that statement cost. Reese said that the natural world could condition but could not determine human behavior. Free will is an essential determinant in humanist thinking. We do not. In becoming religiously humanistic replace an arbiter. Arbitrary. Capricious god with an arbitrary and capricious nature. People can change and adapt to changing conditions we say that is what saves us from being victims of faith. All are architects of fate we just sang. That's the primary source of religious authority in humanism is. Reflection on our own life experiences. That's articulated. Religious humanism emerged as the home for people who wish to be religious while integrating the revelations of science and technology. People who another words didn't want to be forced to choose between god and darwin. It was and still is a place to explore. To seek out ethical ways of living to work on social causes with like-minded persons. To create. Using free will. A better world. Within a decade of that humanist manifesto this kind of thinking has swept into unitarianism. And to a lesser extent universalism in this all happened before the merger. Humanist theology predominated. For decades in our unitarian churches. Once again we took on that challenge of the ancient greeks to hold intention to search things of the rational mind. And the yearnings of the mystical heart. In the book a demon haunted world carl sagan illumines that challenge. My parents were not scientists she wrote they knew almost nothing about science. But in introducing me simultaneously to skepticism and to wonder. They taught me the two uneasily cohabiting modes of thought that are central to the scientific method. Don't you wish you could write just one sentence that good in your lifetime. Skepticism in wander are of course the two uneasily cohabiting modes of thought that are essential to unitarian universalism as well. Now it's hard. To live in a world of uneasily cohabiting modes of thought. It's hard for many to accept. The uncertainties and the anxieties. That modernity bestows on us. There are people that we share this planet with who want certainty and assurance clear choices and clear answers. As the people who have benefited enormously from the infusion of religious humanism into our religious history. I believe it is incumbent upon us to be compassionate in our response to the fears and anxieties of those who do not yet share our embrace of reason and freedom and diversity. They live as sagan so aptly said in a demon haunted world. That's a hard world. To live in. Now i want to spend just a few moments on the second part of this fifth source the part that warns us against idolatries of mind and spirit. Because. We. In liberal religion are not immune to the creating of idols. The temptation to create idols is an old and continuous theme in human history. Every tradition has a story. About the making of idols play fertility gods golden calves. Books that are the absolute and only inspired word of god. Creed's encompass all of necessary truth. Scientific formulations that encompass all of necessary truth. Ideologies that cover every life choice. Somebody makes a statue meaning for it to represent their best guess at the nature of the divine. All right down words that express their best guess at how to achieve salvation. Or publishes a theory that is their best guess at the representation of reality. And then that statue or that book or that idea that was a meant to be an approximate approximation of reality becomes in some minds all of reality. An idol. A false idol because all idols are false we know this. We are the religious people that know this about our idols. Knowing this. Combined with our faith commitment to the use of reason may help us. To avoid embracing false idols. Koruna reason. Iq minutes uu minister said all secular issues in their death or spiritual matters. Deserving first-rate intellectual analysis and keen mario response. That way of thinking religiously. Can be applied to many day many modern-day conundrum. And i think we should be doing more of that. I started on this theme last week in my sermon about gun violence i want to. Spin it out a little more. One of the idols that we have been asked to worship in this nation is security. National security. Write a phrase sanctified by decades of fear of terrorist attacks. And it's name we all like sheep remove our shoes in airports. Even though many of us know that we are participating in nothing more than a theater of the absurd. In its name. We allow. Legislation. With ironic names such as the patriot act. To limit our civil liberties. And it's named we stock up on personal. Weapons in its name we allow the use of killing drones. When we questioned any of these practices we encounter a flurry of outrage in the name of the idol national-security trump's all objections. See i think it's time to bring a religious voice to this debate again. Challenge the false idols. The religious voice is that we can bring. Is one that says come let us reason together. Yes we are all afraid. But we can move past that fear into the realm of rational discourse. Which may bring us to a place where good and sensible decisions can be made. We are council to use the guidance of reason and the results of science how can we not respond by trying our very best to bring. Rnation. Ar state. Our city our communities back. To what bertrand russell called the rational habit of mind. And if we take seriously the warning against idolatries of mind and spirit how can we not respond by trying our very best. Dismantle those idols whenever we become aware of them. One of the great. Gifts of religious humanism is the articulation of way of being together. As human beings that brings the most heartfelt of human experience. Into dialogue with the wisest and most carefully reasoned of human thought. That could be one of our uu gift to the world. Our method. Our religious method. Is that method. Mystic heart. Inquiring mind. Essentially unity. I want to close with some words by another religious humanist john cummins who was. Writes very inspirational. May we never rest. Until every child of earth in every generation is free from all the prisons of the mind and of the body and of the spirit. Until the earth and the hills and the seashell dance and the universe itself resound with the joyful cry behold i am. We are. Hallelujah.

uusociety_org

2009-12-13-2%20Sermon.mp3

The month before christmas and all through the land every creature was stirring and wringing their hands how much do i have and how far will it go for the expect way too much and the debt it does grow. So off to the rooftops i climbed in a dash hoping something or someone could help me find cash. And what did i wondering eyes did appear but a message from beyond saying it's okay dear. Calling creative ideas responsible gifts and principles true we can recreate this holiday for me and for you. It might be a challenge but together we can maintain our dignity and really take a stand. So this year let us think as we drink our eggnog. To purchase responsibly and stay out of the fog of ads and sales and demands on our time. Protect your soul from robbers sublime. Make proactive list of what you will give. Poetry coupons for homemade lunch at the place where you live. And before you can blink. A new tradition begin. A holiday cheer sanity and fellowship flowing out of your pin. Each year we barely get through halloween before the retailer sells and televised dad are stocked high with mountains of things that we must have to create the perfect holiday. In all reality there's unstuffing the holidays service should happen in the summer to prepare us for that onslaught. I offer you these thoughts today with hope that it will comfort the afflicted and that will be all of us and probably everyone we meet for the next few weeks. The comfort i offer you today is the knowledge that is thinking doing believing people we can create overtime a saying holiday season. I've struggled for as long as i can remember to get this major holiday right. I don't mean to cook the turkey to golden perfection or to time the various courses so they come out of the oven simultaneously. I'm in something bigger something bigger about me about my family of origin and later my family by partnership. Something about what i believe who i want to be. That's the song of exaltation says. Since what we choose is what we are. And what we love we yet shelby. The goal met evershine afar. The will to win it makes us free. I'm the oldest of five children born. To a catholic father and an agnostic mother. My family wasn't good at establishing traditions around holidays and honestly our celebration during the holidays was pretty minimal. We went out christmas eve with my dad to buy a tree which involve tons of fun haggling remember that. We brought it home decorated it and when we were older we went on to midnight mass. I remember opening my stocking which was full of useful things toothbrushes paperback books pens and pencils. And then we open two or three wrap gifts. I did not feel deprived. My friends christmases were much the same. This minimal celebration continued through my years living communally as a single parent. And as a matter of fact you'd probably grew smaller. Fast-forward to 1980. When i married nick. Nick comes from a family whose christmas is our to say the least over the top. It didn't work out when i tried to shoehorn myself into my husband's family traditions. That's when i progressed into the classic. His family or mine. When we celebrated with my family it was i was the one who did most of the cooking most of the cleaning and all of the planning. When we occasionally spent the holidays with nick's family the excess was appalling to me. I sort of won the battle and lost the war discovering what the holidays meant to me. What i wanted them to be. And what the holiday say about me. So i decided to create my own tradition. But i had to look very little to go on and frankly it's been a work-in-progress ever since. So rule number one personal lesson number one for the holidays holidays are work in progress. I decided to claim parts of christmas i could accept and move away from the parts i can't. I didn't want to throw out the whole holiday since i like parts of it and i still do. Naming the parts of the christmas package that i accept and reject. Would be powerful for me. Being an avid reader i started reading everything i could find on family holiday traditions. The book that proved to be the most helpful was the intentional family. I love the title because it works in three ways one is about the intentional way the author recommends you analyze the holidays you celebrate to figure out what aspect of the holiday its beliefs and celebration and ritual work for you. And what aspects don't. Another is about intentionally choosing who to include in your life is family. Who says the family for purposes of the holidays needs to include the most difficult members of your family of origin. Maybe you can exclude some people. Or maybe dear friends can now be acknowledged just family by including them in your holiday traditions. The last is about making the family you have more intentional in the ways that it celebrates and creates traditions. You do that by working out ahead who will cook. So what clean and how to help the person who often has a bad time or causes others to have a bad time other either because they have a drinking problem or they're just have basic curmudgeonly behavior. Repeat these three types of in intentionality they are intentionally analyzing the holidays you celebrate to figure out what aspects of the holiday and celebration work for you and your family and what doesn't. Intentionally choosing who to include in your celebration. And being intentional in the ways that you and your family celebrate and create traditions. Workout and talk through strategies for doing the work like cooking and cleaning. And being sure everyone gets a chance to participate in the fun part. And of course is all very you you because my sumption is that the parts of the holiday and tradition that work for me and for my family may not work for you. For our family christmas is a time to peacefully enjoy time and good food together with our families in the people we love. Nick believes in a big decorated tree with lights which he cuts puts up and decorate. We have a special white dove ornament at the top of the tree that symbolizes peace. We give each other a few presents we enjoy seeing pictures of saint nick or santa claus and hearing about his elves in flying reindeer and when our children are with us we even put up stockings by the fireplace. We give to strangers who need help. We sing carols and songs this is a fun way to be together and to remember all the other christmases we've enjoyed as a family and in community. This for us is the real spirit of christmas. The spirit of love and generosity. We circulated some surveys in through the through in the parlors and email and with susan and i are going to share the results of those surveys now with you. The first questions we asked were what are your fondest christmas memories and what are your worst christmas memories. Listening to an old tape and hearing my grandmother's voice reading the nativity story with me and my little sister. Going to see a grumpy old aunt who gave us a pain and also powdered milk. Being with family and having wonderful food. The stress of trying to meet other people's expectations. The memory of being just 6 years old and having a cousin from texas visit. Santa came that you're 28 cookies drain coco gave us gifts and left in the snow in the glow of a streetlamp i can still see him. Seeing eye ou's hanging on a christmas tree. Having a small gathering with loved ones friends and family. Discovering that are family rituals had no meaning. Decorating our tree with tinsel one strand at a time. Judging the town's holiday decorations and noticing is that more was always better and usually won the prize. Dinner at our huge long table with our whole family. Drunken relatives. Making a christmas dinner that i shared with others even though i was very poor and far from home i even made some christmas gifts. Getting very expensive gifts from relatives even when there was a clear dollar limit. Seeing the spirit of giving flourish in my child. Realizing that we had not taught the concept of receiving. Relatives return gifts and children cried if they didn't get what they wanted. Christmas music singing and sharing our songs with others by caroline. I cleaned chopped cooked rat and organized everything. When i ask for help to trim the tree no one came forward. I did it myself. And then they complain because i was listening to christmas music. Being together with my family and others who have no place to go. Almost being stuck in an airport and not being able to get home for christmas. So many responses mentioned being with others not just family but friends. And also sharing a meal. Connection with others with primary is a fond memory of this season. So what ideas work really well for you. I've made fabric gift bags which we reuse from year-to-year we save the comics and we wrapped all our gifts with them i have not bought wrapping paper for years i use hand decorated roll ends of newsprint and yarn instead of ribbon. Our whole family goes to the uu christmas breakfast. And have since it started. The christmas breakfast is open to the public. Happens every year here in our community room. He went douglas if you'd like to help. All presents to close friends are consumable maple syrup cheese etcetera. Not exchanging gifts. Getting together as a family with our out-of-town relatives at other times taking a whole week vacation when someone gets married meeting at someone's condo in florida in the winter or colorado in winter or spring. Giving money to cots. Ru12. Women helping food shelf warmth program humane society have her project peace and justice center. Bye. Instead of buying presents but. If you do buy locally and. Buy fair trade items. Only giving gifts to children under 18 mail cards to out-of-town friends email greetings don't work for me. We no longer put up a christmas tree. We decorate a tree in our backyard with strings of cranberries pine cones dipped in melted peanut butter. Enrolled and birdseed and popcorn. We still fall prey to last-minute present fine but we buy a lot less we spend a lot less on purchase presents. We give a lot more homemade. And use the money we would have spent on charitable donations guest at your table etc. We tried to make homemade gifts for friends and family and for each other two we make apple butter and give that away. We do rotating gift wraps with families each year. A neighbor has suggested that we get together for dinner rather than exchange gifts. I buy things for people that if i see something someone would like throughout the year and not because there is a gift-giving occasion. Especially christmas. Which i have come to hate a lot. Christmas in july is work for their family who live in minnesota and australia i come from a large family so we each draw names and really focus on getting. Or making something special for that one person i really enjoy this opportunity to think about one person each year. I've reduced my consumption of alcohol. Which makes me a lot better behaved on the holidays. I reduce my expectations of the holidays now i think of it as a family day together to prepare and share a meal together. We went to a secret santa only one present instead of 8 to 10. My partner and i do not exchange gifts the kids get one gift from santa one from us and stockings. Read out to family from the loan center in each year we ask for a family that's hard to match lots of kids or a mom with older children everyone wants to adopt the young mom with the baby. Many name changes have been to increase handmade gifts. Give things we know the person specifically wants or needs and most importantly to request and to give donations to organizations on behalf of loved ones and friends. I use charitynavigator.org. And or i asked people what organization they would like to support. For stuff i often order online from the store at animal rescue site. com. Church bazaars and craft fairs are great too. So what ideas have backfired. The year my grandmother made covers for everyone's kleenex boxes out of plastic grid and yarn really not a hit. We decided to go to montreal to stay at the chateau frontenac for the few days around christmas we drove up in the late afternoon of the 23rd my birthday. We hit a snow squall my husband became dizzy and later found he had vertigo from the blinding snow. We stopped at a road stop for a break. The cinderblock motel nearby with a possibility my husband said for our knights day. It was a far cry from the frontenac i thought. After that announcement everyone was agitated frustration and sued tempers flared and old arguments were dredged up the snow is coming down heavier and getting deeper. Exhaustion there was an angry silence. After many agonizing minute i called the front mat front desk and they said it was not snowing in montreal. We left the road stop after an hour the snow is lit up we got to the hotel in time for our expected stylishly late dinner reservation. My husband's left. slept off his residual. Real effects of vertigo flat on his back in the room. He was traumatized but. I had a glorious sparkling dinner with my daughters by the window looking out at the festive folks who were promenading on the rampart. A glass of shiraz never tasted so good at it as it did on that birthday evening. The three of us went out at 11 and took a whooping toboggan ride the toboggan ride nearby on the promenade. Racing against two cigar-smoking for baddeck gentlemen and their wives in the parallel toboggan chute. The next evening our daughter pulled out of surprise tinsel tree that we decorated with ribbon and cutouts and we enjoyed a simple evening and the next day of sharing and gifts. It was different but not to be repeated. This is by no means the story of hardship but of unnecessary somewhat empty luxury. The family sentiment was there's no place like home. The next question i asked if you if you've considered making changes what worked and what it was actually what is actually keeping you from making important. Are changes in your holiday celebrations. The main barrier is the fact that i really like presents. I like i like to give them and to get them so it's hard to refrain from getting more than i can afford for people. I consider the donations i make and the ones i request gift to and i can overspend in that department as well i wish i had a lot of money to give away and to get things for loved ones that i believe they would enjoy. Personally i've been asking for an indoor pool for years and no one's come through. Our children like the traditions and rituals we put in place and until recently have not wanted to change much. We tried yankee swap to reduce buying silly gifts for people who didn't want them. Disrespect. Reduce the stupidity a lot but still left folks with stuff they didn't need or want. Find a charter member of an organization called non noel. Some people are offended by this. Our ability to make gifs has gotten more challenging as our daughter gets older. And our lives get busier but we still try. We just have not taken the time to consider other ways to make the holidays less about buying. Some folks cannot seem to let go of traditions even if they agree they are stupid. Useless and have negative side effects. Are extended families with many states away in a rigid about when they will celebrate christmas we would be happy to alter our celebrations but have met with resistance. Want to donate more to those in need but have to convince my spouse. I'm working on it. Well. We are you use. So we no longer celebrate chris christian christmas we think of december 25th as a cultural event. Part of the american culture involving decorating giving and receiving. On the earth calendar it's a time to light candles and welcome the darkness. And now abby nelson will share some of her holiday traditions with us. Christmas memories in new traditions. Family christmas traditions can easily become christmas should. That must be done every year. I grew up with these and committed them to memory and practice. I've struggled it is an adult to stop the should. And instead engage in activities that still maintain the spirit of the season. About 15 years ago. I believe our family found a solution. We call it the christmas wish list. But first the story of the christmas should. I grew up with a mother who was a generous woman. With a civic mind. However her downfall. Was that she believed she did something special for others for the holidays she would let them down if she did not do the same thing year after year. The handmade evergreen corsages. For our elderly neighbors. For our teachers. There were five of us. Became a christmas should. At least we're not slapped together. We gathered boughs of a variety of evergreens and painstakingly tied on tiny bells. Tiny pine cones. Holly and ribbon. The biggest should. What's the christmas cards. There were many and my mother felt if she was going to send a card. There had to be a personal note or letter in each. Fire school april break. The last of these would go in the mail. As an independent adult i fell into carrying on the tradition of the christmas should. With my own swear. I made homemade goodies for friends and neighbors. I engaged in community service. I made handmade ornaments with my young children. And the cards. I even started making them in addition to writing personal notes in each. But i improved upon my mother's record. My last ones often made it in the mail by june. As my children became older i could see that the christmas should we're bringing joy to those receiving my gifts of time and effort. But not bringing much joy to my family. I struggled with how to have holiday traditions without making a sugar. And taking the fun out of it. I tried cutting back on tradition. But somehow they just had a should overtone. I can't remember how we stumbled on this new tradition. That is not become a christmas should. But now we do the christmas wish list. This is how it goes. Every year after thanksgiving we pull out our past wishlist. And read some out loud to enjoy the memories and to give ideas for this year's list. Then each family member thinks up to activities that they want to do with the whole family. And then somehow and that these somehow engaged this holiday spirit. The parameters are. The wish cannot be expensive. Has to be achievable before new year's. And no one make criticizing others wish. Let me read you some. 1999. Act out polar express. Christmas l-3 in my daughter's own words more decorations than just stupid lights. 06. Selling christmas trees for cots at city market. And skating in montreal. Finally. I will briefly tell you of two wishes that illustrates that the best ideas can flop. And the most unlikely ones can be the best. There's a children's book known as the night tree. And with your family makes food treats for animals. They go to the forest at night. Hang the strings of fruit and popcorn. And scatter nuts on the ground for the small animals. When finished they spread out a blanket and happily drink hot chocolate. And sing carols. Our children love this idea and it became a christmas wish. We were inspired by visions of animals enjoying our treats as we strung the cranberries and orange rings even though it was hard and frustrating for little hands. We put on the snowsuits packed up the blanket and hot chocolate and went to the evergreen in our backyard. The treats were hung. The blanket spread out. And then the hot cocoa spilled. Someone started crying. And the kids argued over who would get to pick the first song. In addition they were disappointed that they did not get to see any animals come out to eat right away. On the other hand one of the most enjoyable christmas wishes. Which curiously no one has requested to repeat. Was a pie eating contest. We made fruit tarts and asked a friend to be the judge. Are awards included most creative eating. Most careful eater and messiest. We rarely get through all the wishes though we try we run out of time. Don't want to make it a should. Or the weather doesn't cooperate had to cancel. The family snowball fight when we had no snow. But we have found at the quiz christmas wish-list his turn the shoulds. Into want to. As a result our family and our community benefits. And we get this. Spread the christmas spirit in an enjoyable way.

uusociety_org

2012-02-19%20Sermon.mp3

Good morning. I'm ginger hobbs. President of the board of directors of jump. Since last june. Still learning the ropes and trying to find my way even though i've been a volunteer. For twenty years. This is quite a demonstration of providing for basics. Is everybody kind of honored to be the toilet paper church any objections because there wasn't alternative but i don't think you would like it. Over the 20 years i've had many many opportunities to listen to the stories of jump clients. Enter observe staff and volunteers as they seek ways to help. Enter participate in discussions. About how to be more effective. I find myself both humble and proud of the work we do. I am humbled by the courage of junk clients in the face of poverty. Humbled by the amount of work jumps volunteers do. And humbled by the kindness. Caring. And commitment of jump staff. Jump is work of love. I feel pride in being part of a community that cares. And puts that caring. Interaction. I think this congregation. And each of you. For making this work possible. The challenges that jump addresses. Are not strange to me. I grew up in a family that was doing fine until crisis struck. When my mother became ill. And her family lost everything paying for medical bills. After that. Our help and support came from neighbors. Friends. Family. And from the surplus food program. I still remember those blocks of cheese powdered milk dried beans. And the awful can pork. Frequently though our downstairs neighbor. Had a little extra food at night. And we would find. My dad and me. Something delicious. You're saying through the evening. She is still. A friend. All these years later. And then i remember. How embarrassed i was to are donated clothes are closed purchase at the goodwill store. Well i've come a long way. I love getting my clothes from thrift stores. And even goodwill. Although i never walk into a goodwill store. Without thinking of the horrible green coat that i got when i was 12. There was no alternative i had to wear it. I am grateful for these memories. They have made to be compassionate with those who come to jump for help. I am one of the fortunate ones who made it out of poverty. I also know. That it is but a short step. From plenty. Too little. For many all it takes. Is a medical crisis. Earth sudden loss of income. In 1992 shortly after i joined this congregation. I heard that a volunteer was needed. 2/3 days a month. At the jump drop-in center. Jump wasn't is a perfect match for my need. To give back. I continued as a thursday volunteer. Until last year when i became president of the board. I wanted to go on but i really had to focus on. Maybe the bigger picture. Together jumping you you are part of the fabric. Put my connection to community. Here i am nourished. And there i can give back. A past president of the jump board of directors describe the founding of jump. As inspiration. From an unlikely source. This unlikely source was nathan johnson. Member of first united methodist of burlington. And a familiar face to many because of his activities. Collecting and redeeming bottles and cans. No one knew this. But johnson use the funds he accumulated. To establish a trust. That would upon his death. Be distributed to help people in need. Five downtown burlington churches college street congregational first baptist first congregational. First united methodist and the cathedral of saint paul. Had been discussing pooling resources as a way to respond more effectively. To the increasing number of people coming to their doors for assistance. Leaders from these churches had a vision. A providing practical help. Inconsistent pastoral care. In a collaborative manner with participating congregations referring people in need. To their shared outreach ministry. In 1988. The nathan johnson trust. Provided $10,000. Is a participating churches. Provide $6,000 to launch this vision. Within a short time our own congregation. Join with others to further support this work. In 1992. We had to volunteers. And now we have 12. Are you your volunteers came over 18:00. Last year to the work of jump. And a 2010. You you became a part of the staff. At. Don't bosso. When after an extensive search. We hired are co-director jeanne palmer. Jump has grown into an enduring interfaith collaboration. During its first six months to help 250 households. With $4,700 in assistance of various types. Break 2011 27 faith communities for sponsors who jumps work. With first congregational church providing space and support. For the drop-in center. By that time we had moved from the basement. To the chapel to upstairs beautiful spacious space. We are also supported by vultures free vouchers from the possibility shop first united methodist thrift store. Goodwill. And resource. And we provide books every time a client visits they can take three books with them. With giving away thousands it started as just somebody's idea and we've given away thousands of thoughts. With additional funding we have slowly increase the number of clients we can see. And this year we took a leap of faith. I committed to raising funds to increase our budget by more than 30%. With that will be able to help about 350 additional clients. Still more is needed. We have constant discussions about. How to do more. How to serve my clients how does give extra help when needed. It is painful. To turn away people at the door. We are looking for how to grow jump to meet this need. Jumps mission. Remains unchanged. To promote the physical emotional. And spiritual well-being of those who seek our help. We thank you. For your generosity and giving to support this work. It takes a lot of volunteer time to support jump small staff. Let us know if you would like to explore volunteering. It is challenging and very rewarding. I'm not close with this. Don't ask the mountain to move. Just take a pebble each time you visit. John paul lyrics. Thank you. Morning everybody it's great to see you all. My name is jeanne palmer and i am a member of this congregation since 2000. And a co-director at jump since 2010. I wasn't a social worker by profession and i was working as a case manager at the community health center in burlington several years ago. Woodland douglas asked me out to lunch. Little did i know at that point that that is how jump recruits people taking them to lunch so watch out if you get asked to lunch but she mentioned that jump had an opening and then i might want to consider applying. And i am so so so glad that i did. Thank you lynn. I've worked at a lot of nonprofit organizations and i have never seen one with such a large number of dedicated volunteers. Who give huge amounts of time and energy. And thought and love. They follow through on all their commitments they show up on time. They bring muffins to share. They listen emphasize and laugh with the clients. They are joy to work with. And jumped and all the volunteers are crystal clear about their mission. To give assistance in the most compassionate and practical ways possible. Let me tell you about last thursday at jump. I would call it a typical day but there is just no typical day at jump it every day is an adventure. I'm going to name some names here but you can trust that they are all made up and the stories have been changed. So the first person i saw was a woman named linda she's one of our clients with a serious mental illness and we see her quite regularly. But she's angry about everything and nothing we do is ever good enough. We have to keep very good emotional boundaries to not feel overwhelmed by her. And to continue to treat her with the compassion that she deserves. Then i saw osmond howa and fatuma they are somali family who just relocated to burlington from their original resettlement city in the midwest. They speak no english. Unfortunately there were other somali clients there that morning who helps translate that often happens. It seems that they decided to move to burlington. I don't know they just decided they used all their money to get here. They have no family or friends here. And naturally they are having a very hard time landing. This was one of those moments where i had that opportunity to sort of have any thought i wanted my head but not have it come out my mouth. Which is. What could you possibly have been thinking to just come to burlington in february as it's like don't you know i mean you know you get that opportunity all the time and human services to. You can have all your judgments were all human yet you have these thoughts but clearly it's not helpful. And. You don't ever know really what's behind. The stories and the decisions that people make and i just. You. You just don't. Judge because you don't know what people's lives are. So here they are and i worked with them. And was able to figure out to spending a big chunk of time and a lot of phone calls that in fact they have connected with all the right places in town they have been too caught they are waiting for a case manager they have been to the african association so they will be okay they will land on their feet in a couple years probably it will be rocking for a couple years and that is a very typical refugee story. In burlington. Next episode brenda she's one of our very regular clients comes every 3 months. She's living in subsidized housing in a badly insulated apartment around the corner from jump. She's living on $450 a month in unemployment is looking for another child care job. And her biggest concern was worrying about being able to pay for her heat all winter because even with a seasonal fuel assistance. Which was. Much less this year than it has been in previous years. She basically you know turns up her electric heating that goes out the window so that was her big concern but i was able to help her with a little utility bill money and some food and it all every little bit helps. The next person i saw was jose and he had left prison. Several years ago and we we actually see a lot of people jeff just out of prison like the first day out of prison but he'd been a couple years. I'm actually doing well in the community had a full-time job that was making friends and then he was injured at work. At a job that did not have workers compensation for some very complicated reason that i didn't get into. His employees love him and his job is waiting for him when he can work again but that's like. 2 months away and he has all this orthopedic rehab he has to do. Because he is a single man and has no dependents he's not eligible for any support from the state. As far as like the reach up support he was able to apply and get a general assistance. Which is a very modest income support programme for. People who work. Disabled and cannot work temporarily. So he's getting $200 in food stamps every month. $217 in housing allowance although. Can you live in burlington on 217 dollars now and he gets $56 in cash for everything else. So. Although he's struggling that is actually this is a vermont money and vermont is a very generous state there are many states in the nation where. There would be nothing for him so he's lucky he's here in vermont. At the same time he can't pay all his bills of course so we help with that. And food and supplies a razor toothpaste i also referred him to vocational rehabilitation. In case he finds that he's not able to go back to that same job if he's not able to recover physically. I'm on the last person i want to tell you about is marilyn she was an older woman who had recently moved here from florida and she's living on $731 a month. From soap supplemental security income. That's her that's her income it's all she's going to get for her whole life and let those people get a. Cost of living increase every year she also had done a little like the somali family just sort of came to burlington no family no friends just landed here but fortunately she's in the cox system she's able to stay at the homeless shelter and was doing okay there although that can be a very challenging. Place to live. But her main concern was that she unneeded dentures. And her insurance does not pay for it. And dentures are expensive i'm guessing i don't i haven't got to that point in life yet but i'll know soon i'm sure so i was able to refer her to fletcher allen they have a health assistance program that will. Pay for uncovered medical expenses. For anyone in the county will pay up to $200 a year. So that was a good start for her i know that wasn't going to cover all of her dentures but it's a start and maybe they would be able to. Help her figure out where to get some more money. So where can you jump opens my eyes everyday to the beauty and the challenge of living in a community. All of us together. Women and man old and young. American-born refugee. Middle-class working-class. Christian hindu agnostic church ton church. Here we all are in burlington vermont in 2012. It's the fourth year of a pretty tough time economically. As our middle class continues to disappear. And the competition for even low-wage jobs is fierce. And is the occupy wall street movement has given voice to the frustrated helps with many americans across this country and right here in burlington. A jump i see that the people with the most resilience are the ones with friends family and community to support them. And the people struggling the most. The people really break my heart. Are the ones who tell me that they have no friends or family or community. I know that's a question i managed to get into every interview when i'm talking with people. And i have to tell you that. Just a frightening number people say i have no one. Maybe half the people i talk to. Isolation is a huge issue. And any combination of circumstances could create that kind of situation we see a lot of people struggling with addiction. Incarceration. Simple lack of relationship skills. Bad luck. And some sometimes. Simply the bad decisions that we all make sometimes we are only human. After all. Are these folks are our most vulnerable citizens. The economy of the last few years has shown that many of us are just a few paychecks away from needing the kind of help that jump offers. We are all truly in this together. All the great spiritual traditions have as a common thread to call to compassion for our fellow human beings. Particularly for those most vulnerable the least among us. And that's what we see every day at jump. Don't give me the daily opportunities to develop my skills as a social worker and as a human being. I regularly get challenge to learn more about services in burlington so that i can make better referrals. I get to work on relationship building with all sorts of people. I missed you as patience and creativity and good emotional boundaries everyday and i get to hear the stories. I just stories from jump clients of how their lives are going and i have to say that i have a new appreciation for the amazing varieties of bad luck. And bad choices that exist in human life. We are also broken. It isn't that. The amount of pain and adversity that most of our clients live with can be overwhelming. I'm humbled by the strike some people display just by getting out of bed in the morning. And i feel so blessed in my own life. Aware of the privileges and the good luck i have received. When the stories get hard. Here's how i keep doing the work. I picture myself as a mother tree. With roots deep down into the earth. I'm sustained by the earth below and the sky above. But i'm connected to all beings to the interdependent web. I cannot take away or heal the pain that people bring. I cannot possibly contain within me their pain. But i can be a loving witness and listener. I can stay rooted. In mother earth. Who is certainly able to support us all. And let it all flow through down to her where it is transformed. It's a daily spiritual practice to work at jump. And i am truly grateful.

uusociety_org

2010-04-04-2%20Sermon.mp3

The word easter. Comes from an old norse word. Roster which means the season of the rising sun. In england. There was one to goddess of the dawn whose name was piastra or ostara. And her festival. Was capped at the time of the vernal equinox. When the hours of daylight first begin to outnumber. The hours of darkness at this season. When the sun again warms the sleeping land and. The earth awakens and beauty. People of all faiths look in an easterly direction indeed. Tubi. Oriented. Literally means to be facing east. So it is that in the tai chi we begin standing in silence and our first move is a turn. Toward the east. The hexagram describing this gesture is composed of a symbol for. Sun. Set above the symbol. For earth. The eching or book of changes interprets the meaning of this hexagram with these words the sun rises over the earthy image of progress. That's the superior person. Brightens his or her own bright virtue. The study of tai chi can deepen our understanding and experience of easter at least if we believe the chinese masters who tell us. What is the aim of tai chi chuan. Health and longevity and rejuvenation. To live in an eternal spring. When christian missionaries first ventured into. What's called the middle kingdom in the 16th century one of their first projects was to translate. The old and the new testaments into chinese characters and concepts. This translation was a difficult challenge. Because the words hebrew and greek often had no precise. Parallel in mandarin how for instance should the friars translate. The opening words from the gospel of john in the beginning. What's the word in the word. Was with god and the word was god. The greek term that john uses his logos the unifying. Creative principle behind our cosmos. The hebrew equivalent is. Babar the divine. Generative energy. Translators found that the nearest. Chinese analog. Was the word dow. Which literally means the way. The way of nature the way of the universe the way of the 10,000 things in the beginning was the dow. And the dow was with god. And the dow. Was god. The philosophy of taoism is contained in a slim little book called the daodejing where the way and its power. It was composed by the semi-legendary sage lounge zoo. Who transmitted his teachings to a gatekeeper at the edge of the empire. As he headed out beyond the great wall toward to bet. Although he lived several centuries before the christian era. His ideas as we discovered in our readings this morning we're not so different from the teachings of the rabbi jesus both counsel the life of. Simplicity non-violence humility. Both proclaim the paradox that the greatest. String. Lies in gentleness and overcoming oneself that the superior person. Thinx. Least of himself most of others. It's interesting to recall that the first disciples of jesus before christianity had formed itself into a distinct. Sector institution. Call themselves simply the followers of. The way. And in the acts of john and gnostic gospel from the 2nd century. The story is told that before he was delivered to the cross. Jesus gathered the disciples around him and a ring he was chanting lines to which each of his followers responded with an amen and in the final line he sings out. I am away. 2p. Away. Ferrer. And in this gospel is in the thai chi all the disciples dance. The dance. Have down with some the core of its teaching is represented by the symbol of. The yin and the yang what you see on the banner this morning the circle represents. Wholeness or completion and what makes for wholeness is a balance the harmony of human experience. Hard. Saw. Male female action contemplation being and becoming. You noticed that. The dark half of the circle contains a small point of line. Justice the light half contains a small element of darkness and. A similar balance is found in christian liturgy in the very structure of the church year. Justice we observe the birth of jesus in the depth of winter to acknowledge. The joy that exists even in the seasons of our sorrow. So we commemorate the death of jesus and a time of blossoming flowers and budding trees. As a reminder that. New life. Would not be possible without being the old birth and death or not. Opposites. But interpenetrating parts. Of one encompassing reality. A similar insights found in the eching. Who's first character e. Contains both change and change lessness. The figures constructed of the two characters sun and moon witch. Appear and disappear each day and night still remain a constant feature of the heavens. The story of. Easter likewise asserts that although. Birth and death before all people even the most virtuous still there's something eternal. It abides and indoors seasons come generations go. Nations rise civilizations fall yet the source of life remains. Never exhausted. Forever creative. World without end. Chi-chi's a study in change and continuity every movement. Arises. Naturally without interruption from the one preceding each stance flows smoothly into the next reminding me that there really is no firm point where. Life ends in death begins no. Defining boundary where. I stopped in the universe starts. In chinese. taichi is compared to a long river that flows. Freely and peacefully yet in this steady flow. There is an evolution of three distinct stages the first phase is concerned with. Birth. The rising sun the dawning of conscious awareness. How to be undifferentiated mystery of the dow we emerge into this world of space and time. As matter and spirit body and mind take form. The polarities of yin and yang or drawing a part and we enter the field of activity. Hasting. Savoring the lighting in the new experience of our selfhood. We. Drum the loot. Out of the sheer exuberance of being. The second phase of tai chi has been concerned with. Exploring and developing this new self growing and self-knowledge in mastery of the world in this most. Dramatics action of itachi. We develop our physical and psychic capabilities. Hi. Kicks turns and punches are ways that we display and exalt. In our personal power. And yet all of this is only. Preparation for the third and final section of tai chi which represents. The spiritual journey of the individual. While the theme of stage two with gaining power. Focus to the spiritual journey is. Letting go of power not self-assertion but self. Transcendence is the final goal of the practice. The name. Tai chi chuan means supreme ultimate. Discipline. And the ultimate discipline is. The last returning to our origin to complete the circle of life in the final act. We released the golden arrow of selfhood. Consciousness of personality itself. The spirit. Flies out. Reuniting. The body. With the dow while we. Carrie it's empty shell. Back to the resting ground and return to the cosmic mountain. That vast silence from which we emerge. It was loud sue's greatest disciple transue who wrote. Him death no strange new fate befalls us. In the beginning we lacked not life only but form not form only but spirit. We're blind into one great featureless indistinguishable mass and then a time came when. Out of mass evolve spirit spirit evolved form form evolve the life and now life and its turn has evolved. Death. For not nature only but human being has its seasons it's sequence of spring and summer. Summer. And winter. Living. In tune with that sequence. Is what constitutes wisdom. The tales told that when transue was about to die his followers expressed wish to give him. A resplendent funeral that wants to discourage them saying. With heaven and earth. For my coffin and she'll. With the sun and moon and stars is my burial regalia with all creation to escorting me to the grave. Are not my funeral paraphernalia ready to hand. A similar sentiments found in the gospel of matthew where jesus comforts his disciples with these words as he leaves them fisher. I'm with you always even to the end of time it's not the physical body of jesus which is present to the end of time of course but it says in the first letter of peter. In the body was put to death. In the spirit. He was brought to life this. Everlasting spirit is none other than the creative energy. That that bar. The logos the dow. In the gnostic gospel of thomas a document that scholars now believe may predate our. New testament gospels and contain many of the earliest most authentic sayings of jesus. Jesus makes this point clear. It is i who am the all he proclaims from me that they all come forth and unto me did the oil extend split a piece of wood. And i am there lift up a stone. And i am there the life force. In other words. Is in all of us. In all time and all space in all things his disciples then said to him. When will the kingdom come in jesus replies it will not come by waiting for it it will not be a matter of saying here it is or there it is rather the kingdom is spread out. On the earth. And people. Did not see it so eternity is not to be found in some. Anticipated future state jesus suggested present. It's here. It's now. For those who can live in perceive it. Like other spiritual disciplines. Chi-chi is a method of. Sharpening. Our eyes and improving our perception. When i practice. I sent at an experiential level that life. Is. Process. Every. Moment every movement arises. Dies away passing organically into a successor. We express this with the gesture. No beginning. No wind. If i pay attention i can feel. The sweep. The necessity. Of each movement i'm not separate from the flow but when my mind wanders. Then i tend to lose my balance and become confused about. What's next being present. To every moment. Is how we stay. Centered. In the stream. In chinese legend the seven stars of the big dipper in the constellation ursa major. Are the home of the immortals where we go off when we. Castaway this physical existence and yet i believe we need not wait for death. To taste the imperishable. The everlasting is. All around us. Eternity. Is in each moment. The kingdom of heaven is here. With ennis. And among us. Under our feet. As well as over our heads.

uusociety_org

2010-12-19-2%20Sermon.mp3

On march 31st 1880. Thousands of people gathered in wabash indiana the first american municipality to be lit by electric light. Bands played dunn fired salute. And then the lights spring to life. A hush fell over the crowd. Some people groaned and fell to their knees. They'd moved from dark to light. And no amount of jaded nyan expectations. More than a century later can obscure for us. The wonder of that vigil. For we to whether consciously or subliminally even in the midst of our wildly wired lives. Keep that same digital each year at the winter solstice. The word solstice comes from the latin words for sun and standing still. The solstice occurs literally when the sun stands still. Well that is exactly how it happened but i can see how the ancient people might have seen it that way. Everyone has experienced moments where it seems as though life is standing still. We all have moments in our lives that stay with us forever. Moments that shape us. That are frozen in time. Moments who sites sounds and smells shape our souls and give meaning to our lives. Because we bring with them with us into our present. For many of you it may have been the birth of a child for others made it with the death of a loved one an accident or an incredible opportunity. Maybe it was a choice. Or maybe it was something that happened to you. These are the moments to grab hold of our attention so tightly with their significance. That we understand from that moment forward nothing will be the same. Nothing will ever feel the same. Winter solstice is also called midwinter or yule. It occurs at the instant when the sun's position in the sky. Is that its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equator from the observer's view. Depending on the calendar. The events of winter solstice will occur sometime between december 20th and december 23rd each year during the longest night of the year. This year solstice moment in the northern hemisphere is at 6:38 on thursday evening. Solstice is one of the oldest known holidays in human history. Some anthropologists believe that solstice celebrations go back over 30,000 years. What's so significant about the single moment in time that cultures have been marking mapping and celebrating it for so long. Winter is the time when throughout human history people have feared the possibility that days might forever get shorter nights forever longer ending with the evident evitable demise of life. Down to the agents this late december. has been considered the most dangerous time of the year. And for many without the means necessary to battle the cold and the darkness. The inactivity or the solitude this is still very true. For until quite recently it is in winter when food and fuel might run out. With no means left for survival. And when unpredictable weather might bring dreadful results. When the lights are the heat were taken out by the ice storm of 1998 many of us were forced to combine resources build fires and await the return of the light like our ancestors did in centuries past. Ancient peoples believed that because daylight was disappearing it might go away forever. So they let huge bonfires to temp the sun to come back. The distribution of decorating our houses in our trees with lights. Good at this time of year is passed down from those ancient bonfires. This time of year we are all to some extent consciously or unconsciously waiting for the return of the sun. Let me be clear. Today i mean the sun. Although this is a delightful english accident isn't it. What if we could all hold our religious metaphor so lightly as to let the vowels change with such ease. Because for many this time of year is the rebirth of the. Fon. But in some sense they're truly one in the same. Come christmas we'll all hope for peace on earth and goodwill to people with the rebirth of the sun. So the ideas of birth of hope at this time of year is a course not new and it's not necessarily christian. In ancient egypt and syria people celebrated the winter solstice as the sun's birthday. In ancient rome the winter solstice was celebrated with a festival of saturnalia. During which all business transaction and even wars were suspended. The celebrate saturnalia slaves were waited upon by their masters for the day. Jewish people have for centuries celebrated the eight-day festival of hanukkah. Or festival of lights. Hanukkah recalls the war fought by the maccabees in the cause of religious freedom. Antiochus the king of syria conquered judea in the second century bc. When you get. He terminated worship in the temple and stole the sacred lamp the menorah from the altar. At the time of the solstice the king rededicated the temple to a pagan deity. Judah and the maccabees led a band of rebels and succeeded in retaking jerusalem. They restore the temple lift the menorah. Although they had found only sufficient consecrated oil for 24 hours the lights burn for 8 days. Today's menorahs have nine branches the 9th branches for the servant light which is used to light the others. When a person of the jewish faith sees the light of the menorah he or she gives thanks for the miracle in the temple. Long ago when the light shone through the darkness beyond all reason. The darkness especially affects populations in the northern hemisphere. The depressing psychological effects of winter on individuals and societies are for the most part tied to coldness. Tiredness malaise and inactivity. We are such children of the sun. The insufficient sunlight of the short winter days increases the secretion of melatonin in the human body. Throwing off our circadian rhythm with longer sleep. And whether you have it or not many of many of your notice as seasonal affective disorder. I can tell you that our ancestors were sad and scared of winter for thousands of years. They gathered together they built fires they made monuments created art and told stories. To help them to the cold dark winter. And to remind them and their children that this time of darkness doesn't last forever. Nether is hope. That the sun will return the light will return. This is the moment when things do begin to turn ever so slightly. It is the moment when we mark the time is not frozen permanently in the darkness. Today solsta tuesday solstice will likely be one of those memorable moments of time standing still for some 100 people who are chosen to be inside the newgrange burial mound near denure ireland. This is such a popular place to be at winter solstice that there's a lottery to determine which 100 people are let in. Last year over 28,000 people entered that lottery. Newgrange is a tomb and it's believed to have been built about 5,000 years ago. It's one acre in diameter earth mound circled with white portstone. With a single entrance facing east. The inside is carved with megalithic circles three spiraling circles that are intertwined. The newgrange burial mound is believed to have been actively use for around a thousand years and then buried by a natural disaster only to be uncovered by a professor oak o'kelly 300 years ago on an archaeological dig. George cunningham was among the few privileged people to witness winter solstice at newgrange from inside the chamber of few years ago and he writes. I will never forget my first side of the grand canyon. Or my first exposure to the giant redwoods of california. Or when my wife and i hug the oldest living trees in the world the bristlecone pines on top of the white mountain in the sierra nevadas. I will never forget my first sight of saint peter's basilica in rome. But that early morning of that solstice for something so very special to me. From around 8:40 a.m. i was standing in total darkness with other privileged people in the cross-shaped chamber in the middle of the burial mound of newgrange. Well hundreds gathered outside. The forecast was for a good clear sunrise but just how good nobody could really have imagined. Murmurs from outside noise gradually increase. Giving it even more heightened sense of expectation. And then. At 858 a pencil beam of sunlight appeared on the ancient chamber floor. Ray of the rising sun. Appearing above the hill just opposite and traveled through the roof box above the door along the passage to appear on the floor. Just as it had done at this moment in time. Over 5,000 years ago and for nearly 1,000 years. Gradually the rave broaden to about a foot and wet and then started to flood the passageway until the sun's golden rising filled the roof box above the entrance. For some 17 minutes we were dazzled and humbled by stone age man's ingenuity there hope their precision and by the mark they had left and the story they told. What was their world like. Who stood there 5000 years ago. Still dazzled by the sun streaming in the roof box illuminating the entire chamber we exited to allow those waiting patiently outside to enter for their turn. The newgrange burial mound predates stonehenge by nearly 1,000 years. Stonehenge as well as many of the most ancient stone structures made by human beings. Are believed to have been designed to pinpoint the precise date and time of the solstice. People around the world with no elaborate instruments to detect the solstice. We're still able to notice a slight elevation of the sun staff. Within a few days after the solstice perhaps by december 25th. And so many celebrations were often times for around the 25th. Which is now christmas day. Lawndale chamberlain and astronomer rights slowly at first and then more rapidly as we go into january and february. Days get longer every and everything around us around us helps us to celebrate the increase of light. It speaks well for the human spirit that our greatest religious celebration take place at winter solstice time. As people strive to radiate warmth the fellowship and love on these damn days. The festival's of darker days are really celebrations of life. Shakespeare said darkness has its uses. It seems appropriate that are long winter nights shimmer with the brightest brightest star zorion gemini taurus just to name a few of the beautiful beautiful winter constellations. The light they send at night to inspire our minds. Me make up a little bit for the loss of daylight. When we see these brilliant winter stars migrating farther and farther to the west each evening we know with certainty that once more light is on the rise. For we have passed the point of lowest illumination and are surely headed toward warmer days. Reflecting on the winter solstice and anticipation of this morning surface a memory was teased me. I want to share it with you because i came away from my search for that memory with a somewhat different understanding of the winter soldier. One that resonates with my unitarian-universalist identity. Stick with me this is a pretty secular experience. It's about fraggle rock. A children's television show from the 80s created by jim henson of muppets fame. Are many characters. Ennis ennis program summer human but mostly they're still puppets. A varying sizes just like the puppets in muppet on the muppet show and sesame street. The episode i remembered was called the bells of fraggle rock. The storyline is about an annual fraggle solstice ritual the legend that they all recite out loud for memory go something like this. At the heart of the rock there lies a bell. The great bell. The bell must ring once every year once every year when the rock slows down. If the bell doesn't ring the rock will free. The rock will freeze and stop. Forever. So here's how the ritual works when the rocks close down they have a festival and they all remember and celebrate their customs and rituals together with dances and songs. And then they bring their own little bells. And the great bell hears this. And awakens and rings to although they don't see or hear this. And all is well for another year. It's obviously a soul sister. Told from the perspective that their ritual is what keeps their world from stopping altogether. This particular year gobo one of the fraggle leaders. He's a scientific and doubting kind of fellow. Decides he's not going to believe the religion unless he sees it with his own eyes and he decides to go off in search of the great bell in the caves at the center of the rock. A wise old soul character cantus offers gobo various mystical sayings like. We see with our eyes we know with our hearts. And. Why do you want to look for something that's so easily found. Gogo answers that if she finds the great bell and he can see it. He can prove to all the other fraggles that it really exists and then the holidays will mean something. Other frankel's replied that the holler at the holiday does already mean something. The wise old soul characters tells gobo that he will indeed find the bell at the heart of the rock and offers another saying. The heart of the rock maybe farther away than you think. Then again it may be closer. Oscar's gobo. After making the other five was promised to wait for his return before ringing their bells. So of course. It is a children's show the rock slows down no one celebrates and everything is freezing. They're waiting fraggle start worrying and wishing the global had decided to do this a little earlier. The wise one offers we do the things we have to do when we have to do them not sooner not later. Eventually the wise one goes off in search of gobo and together they reach the cave at the center of the rock. Google opens the door and the cave is empty. He says. The cave is empty it's all aligned there's no great bell. Gobowen the wife character return to the surface and find it all the fraggles have frozen solid. Google show confused how could this be if there's no breakdown. How could ringing the bells or not matter. Then why's when says listen and hear what i have to say for a change. Last year there was no great bell in the cave and the cold came and went just like it always has what's different this year. Sobo realizes that the only thing different was they didn't hold their rituals and they didn't ring their bells. The rings isbell and the fraggle start to thaw. It's working gobo says. The great bill is at the heart of the rock not the center of the rock. I went to the center not to the heart. The heart is here here it's our music that keeps the rock alive. So what are we making this story. Once we understand the solstice scientifically we're pretty sure that our rituals do not influence planetary activity. But i think this title story is a metaphor for all the times we have to take our beliefs on faith and the need for rituals that support our shared journey. This story has the empty k. The not seeing leading to not believing looking at all the wrong places for what gives our lives deepest meaning. There's something here for everyone. That's where i think these winter holidays have evolved in this era when we do understand the astronomy behind the solstice. Winter holiday time whether you celebrate solstice hanukkah christmas or kwanzaa. Our opportunities to stop and remember. Tik-tok join together and then start again as the light returns. This resonates with the first of the sources we unitarian universalist proclaim as the foundation of our living tradition. This source is expressed as. Direct experience of that princess transcending mystery and wonder. Affirmed in all cultures. Which moved us to a renewal of the spirit. An openness to the forces that create an uphold life. My wish. As we reach the solstice this week. Is it each of us is moved to a renewal of spirit. And ready to go forth and solidarity into the new year i had.

uusociety_org

2011-10-16-2%20Sermon.mp3

Like many of you i have been asking myself lately. What am i to do. About the continuing economic malaise in this country. I've become increasingly distressed by the widening gap between the wealthiest and the neediest of our citizens. I'm just made at the increasing power given to corporations over civic institutions. For many people the $5 month charge for a debit card with kind of the small insult that moved them to action. By golly i thought to myself if i had an account with bank of america i cancel it. That would show them. Even if i thought it i knew it was at best a week and inadequate response. And i felt powerless and helpless. And then a new generation came along to lead us. I began to see the pictures of occupy wall street. And then from my living room window on pearl street i saw the groups of uvm students a small group at first. Larger each week marching down pearl street to city hall park with their protest signs. And across the country uu ministerial colleagues have begun to engage with the occupy movement. We remind each other of unitarian-universalism long history of advocating for economic justice. We asked ourselves how we can safely join with this grassroots movement. And we remember something that we had forgotten when we were feeling helpless or powerless. And that is we are better together. Watching the occupy demonstrations has brought back some memories for me. In fact it reminded me of how i met my husband. Freshman year in college. The fall of 1969 the spring of 1970 those of you who were there know what was happening then. We met an anti-war demonstration. A young man named david kelly had been invited for failure to register for the draft and had taken sanctuary in a small. Episcopal church on the campus. He was joined by dozens and then hundreds of students. We all wore name tags that said i am david kelly. When you're taking on the powers-that-be in an active radical advocacy it's best to stick together. I walked into the church one evening and up on the author that this man sporting a bushy red afro playing the guitar and singing that great phillips anthem love me love me love me i'm a liberal. Barry and i have been together ever since that night. We have enjoyed a partnership in parenthood. In many chapters of peace and justice advocacy. And in various approaches to ministry. We have learned over the years that one of the benefits of our relationship is that we really are better together. Today we celebrate association sunday. Across the country during the month of october unitarian universalist congregation are choosing to accept the invitation to set aside a sunday service to reflect on what it means to be part of something broader and deeper and richer than any single uu congregation could ever hope to be alone. What it means to be a member of congregation of a voluntary association known as the unitarian universalist association. What it means to affirm with our minds and hearts and souls that we are indeed better together. That is an idea with a long and honorable history. Take the anabaptist our forebears in the left wing of the radical reformation. They developed a radical doctrine of the church and a radical concept of the relationship of the church to the state. They dare to suggest the two should be separate things. They propose that believers church made up of adults gathered voluntarily on the basis of their like-minded approach to religion. They insisted that only those who had been carefully considered their faith. And been transformed by a personal and unmediated. Experience. Spiritual experience could be part of such a church. No not only did this idea threaten the commonly-held idea that the religion of the king would be the religion of the people it also threatened the patriarchal assumption that the religion of the father would be the religion of the wife and children. In the living out of that outrageous doctrine. The anabaptists started and outrageous practice. Adult baptism. Baptism they argued is a ritual that formalizes the consent of an adult at the age of reason. To a set of beliefs. Infant baptism they said. Could therefore have no meaning. Now the rest of christianity was so outraged by this assertions that they enthusiastically put anabaptist to death as heretics. But they didn't burn them at the stake like the other heretics. They drown them in the rivers. In a cruel parody of their practice of adult baptism. It's important for us to remember that the freedoms we enjoy. The right to choose our own face to practice it without fear to be part of an open conversation about a budget to go to general assembly and elect the president of the u.s.a. to ordain or call a minister. We enjoy those freedoms because our courageous forebears died to secure them for us. They knew something that we sometimes forget. That we gather involuntary association because together. We are better. Now fast-forward a century if you will. In 1648 the puritans of massachusetts wrote the cambridge platform. A document designed to settle differences among the local congregations. In what they called the new world. The cambridge platform is an idea and a doctrine and a. Book that excites you you ministers no end. And puts most other people rapidly to sleep. So i'm going to give you a very brief summary. Building on the principles articulated in the radical reformation. This document actually established the principle of congregationalism. The idea that says that the best and even the most biblically faithful form of church governance. Recognizes the sovereignty of the local congregation. No ordained hierarchy no pope's no bishops. Just you. It also affirmed the importance of the relationship between those congregations. The historian conrad right and his book walking together pointed out that and i'm quoting congregationalism aunt and should still mean not the autonomy of the local church. But the community of autonomous churches. Since we're universitarian universalist today are the institutional embodiment of congregationalism it's important for us to know what those long-ago puritans had to say. Now the cambridge platform name six ways that congregations. Could and should be in relationship to each other. Someday i'll probably do a sermon on these six but i'll just mention them to you now. Care. Consultation. Recommendation that had to do mostly with ministers. Admonition. If the church in the next town was behaving in a way that shed a bad light on your religion you got on your horse and you took a ride and you went and told them. To straighten out. Number five participation. And number 6 relief. Something you still practice this very summer you collected funds and sent them to the uu church in brunswick maine that it experienced the disastrous fire. Spell the language of the cambridge platform. Read quite now and we may even dismissed it as outdated but we do that at our peril. The platform is a very wise document recognizing something that in modern times we sometimes lose sight of. That the way of the rugged individual is not the richest or deepest or healthiest way to carve a religious path. We might use different words instead of admonishment we might talk about accountability. We might talk about renewal of energy. Instead of just participation which sounds kind of blah. Those of you who have ventured out into the larger you uworld to a district meeting or a training or to general assembly would probably use the word synergy to describe what happens when lots of you use find themselves in right relation to each other across congregational lines. Just another way of saying. We're better together. And in fact it doesn't mess we have more fun too. Not only are we better at the things we agree to might by majority vote but we are also better at supporting alternate ideas when there are more of us together. Intentional community. Is the safest place. To hold a minority. View. George rapper sociologist of religion wrote a book called commitment and community and he says the process of interaction among communities may be especially influential when it serves to intensify the self-consciousness of minority or even submerge tendencies. Tradition. Sowell the dominant culture. Is dividing. And judging. The minardi culture. When given a voice speaks of inclusivity. Rough considered those partially submerged tennessee to be essential to the long-term health of the faith community and in fact of our nation. Weehoo gather and voluntary association and practice faithful democracy have a special obligation to people marginalized. By our culture. Today that might mean those who are on. Or underemployed. And i'm against immigrants trying to make a living or a transgendered person. Trying to. Survive. A year ago i was serving our congregation in ridgewood new jersey. One day i opened my new york times and saw on the front page a picture of a young man playing a violin. Tyler clementi. Was a graduate of ridgewood high school who in his freshman year at rutgers. Took his life after being subjected to a humiliating form of cyberbullying. The story was outrageous. Many of you probably reddit. It was powerfully personal for us in ridgewood since he had come from our town. And it got even more personal. When we looked carefully at that picture and realize that it had been taken. In the ridgewood uu sanctuary where tyler had been playing the violin at a concert. A sanctuary is a safe place where the persecuted. Can seek refuge. A number of people around the country recognized. The congregation from the picture and emailed me to ask if tyler had been a member of our youth group. Sadly he was not but i wish she had been. We could have offered him a safe place. A safe group of friends a community united in our affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of every person and determined to stand in solidarity with young people exploring their sexuality. I kind of hope that when tyler was there playing his violin he saw the welcoming congregation banner on the wall. And do that for a short time anyway he was sheltered. In our accepting embrace. The world is full of fear. And when people are afraid. Sometimes they become bullies. They distrust difference. The world is also full of people who are brutally intensively marginalized by the various isms that plagued us. Many of which i'm sad to say are embraced and perpetuated by houses of worship. We unitarian-universalist stand in opposition. To that. Tendency to label and separate and judge and discriminate. We offer education and raise consciousness instead of determined ignorance. We offer compassion and radical hospitality instead of judgment. And partisanship. I spoke of our religious ancestors who lost their lives in service of our faith 500 years ago don't think for a minute that their deaths were part of some ancient and no longer relevant history people die even today for that same cause. The cause of freedom and justice for all. And now i come to the one and only point. I really want to make in the sermon about association sunday. Unitarian universalism is a life-saving faith. We can save the lives of gay and lesbian teenagers. Young people who summon this country would prefer to see. Condemned and shunned and reviled. We can save the lives of people whose only crime is to want desperately to be in a place where their hard work earns them enough money to feed. Their children. There are people in this country who would rather that they die of thirst in the desert. We can save the lives of children who go to bed hungry and leave for school in the morning hungry because their parents minimum wage jobs don't pay enough to cover both food and rant. But this life-saving business is risky and costly and complex it demands our very best efforts and if we have learned anything. From the wise men and women of the ages it is that we do this work better when we do it together. That's why it's so important for us to pay attention. Two lateral relationships to remind ourselves that we are part of something larger. A movement through history that advocates for justice that encourages the use of reason and religion that welcomes progress and embraces modernity. Unitarian universalist association is not some bureaucratic entity to be discussed disparaged or ignored. The uua is us writ large it's us. When are you you a president speaks out on an issue of shared concern his words carry weight because he can bend begin by saying i speak on behalf of the members of over 1,000 congregations in the united states. We are people of faith we are values voters. And we are united in our affirmation of the inherent worth. And dignity of every person and all that that affirmation demands of us. When we support our association and work together we are stronger and more effective. When we join forces with other unitarian universalist we stand on the side of love thousand strong instead of doesn't strong. Working together we created the human sexuality correct him our whole lives and accomplishments that no single congregation could have done alone. We are better together. Reasons for association sunday is not to be found in the question what do i get from the uua. The reason is to be found on the front page of the new york times in the face of the young man who stood in one of our congregations and made beautiful music that transported those who listened. Tyler became at least for a time a real human face on what is too often a faceless and nameless agony. By chance his face at least in that one picture carried our face as well. We are better together and we had better be as good and effective as we can be because there are people dying still as martyrs for freedom. And justice. There are people whose hearts are broken because they live in a world seemingly without pity or compassion. They're alive that needs saving and ron's that need riding and freedoms that need defending. Anabaptist new at the puritans new it. Martyrs in every age nuit. We are better together. The theme for association sunday this year is excellence in ministry. You heard the readings from the members of your denominational affairs committee. Excellence in ministry is a topic that could if i let it make me just a little bit nervous. Do i have to be excellent all the time and everything could i had to go she ate that down to just good enough some of the time. But of course that word ministry is not. A word that talks about me. It talks about all that we do together. Ministry. Gordon mckeeman said is all that we do together. Excellence in ministry is a joint venture. It is a concept the challenges the consumer culture. In religion invites us all to share in the ownership. The decision-making the work and the accountability. For our efforts. Stephen papa said the ministry has changed it is no longer an individual endeavor but a shared opportunity to worship and work together to create or more community care of more caring community and world. The ministry has changed and so must we if we are to be of service. Whatever excellence in ministry means we will best develop it by talking to one another. By sharing our dreams. And our fears. And by standing by this face together. In other words. The only way to be excellent is to be excellent together. On this association sunday let's accept the invitation to work together to create a more caring community and world. Let's occupy. The first uu society of burlington and the rest of burlington and let's occupy wall street too while we're at it and work together for economic justice once again. Let's reaffirm our commitment to be an active part of something deeper and broader and richer than we can ever be alone. Somebody's life may depend upon it. Our own lives may depend upon it. So let's be better. Together.

uusociety_org

2012-12-02-2Sermon.mp3

What are the sources of our faith. As we grow together over the course of this year and our unitarian-universalist identity we reflect on this question month by month. Using the statement of principles and purposes of the unitarian universalist association as our guide. In october we contemplated what it means. For the primary source of authority for our faith to be our own personal experiences of wonder and off. In november we welcome the insights from the earth centered traditions into the mix. Now we come to the third source identified in that statement. Wisdom. From the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life now wisdom is both a generic term a word that everyone knows the meaning of. And a technical term for a thread of theological writing and thinking that is woven through most of the major religious traditions of both the ancient and modern world. Wisdom literature crosses denomination olympic therrien boundaries. It speaks to a universal. Human need for guidance in right living. We hear the voice of the wisdom tradition and judaism and christianity and confucianism and taoism. If we listen we hear it everywhere. Any attempt of people to apply the precepts of their various face to practical everyday questions. How do i live as a decent human being. How do i find joy love and theft in my day-to-day life. Wisdom has built her house she has mixed her wine she has set her table. She has sent out her friend to call whoever is simple turn in here. Come eat of my bread and drink of the wine i have mixed. Leave simple-minded nest and live and walk in the way of insight. Do that comes from proverbs in the hebrew scriptures i could have pulled a similar quotation from any of the world scriptures. Wisdom. Is. Very human and accessible writing. Even in the most patriarchal traditions wisdom is represented in female form. It is the vulnerable imperfect. Feeling side of religion. The wisdom scriptures are written more from the heart than from the head. That wise woman called wisdom is more likely to speak of experiencing and rejoicing then of memorizing. She address is broad and commonly shared human experiences rather than the labor details that petty gods seemed to demand. Details that often seem to trivialize our real-life experiences. It is a literature consumed with delight in right living more than with piety or status. The authors of wisdom literature across the spectrum speak of a consult consumed with longing. Not. Other brain stuffed with creed. Wisdom. Is about deep learning. Not idle curiosity or intellectual gymnastics. Wisdom would not concern itself with how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. Instead wisdom might ask how can we dance like the angels. The consummation of the wisdom tradition is love serenity and. Freedom. Ironically or maybe not the inspiration for much of wisdom literature is human foolishness. The foolishness of ignoring the invitation to live fully and deeply and sensuous lee and with integrity. Life invites us to partake of the truth that we human beings are made to sense and celebrate and relate and love and dance. We have minds and hearts that are best put to use when they are connected to each other. And to the people around us and to the world around us to all that is beautiful and creative and liberating. The problem that the wisdom tradition tries to address is the problem of our foolishness and not jumping at every opportunity to become more fully human. And therefore more fully alive. Huston smith the author of our reading this morning says that there are three facets to the wisdom tradition. Essex. Virtues and worldview. No ethics in its simplest sense has to do with what is right and wrong. The challenge of the wisdom to just tradition is that although it calls went to a supposedly simple choice about right living. The real choices in living art simple at all. People throughout history have tried to live in harmony with wisdom teaching. With some mixed results as even our children story this morning pointed out. We human beings are not all that good at internal philosophical consistency are we. But some try. Think about the buddhist to puzzles over the rightness of killing the snake that threatens her life. Or the chain ascetic who walked so painfully slowly and carefully so as not to step on a bug. Could any of us live with that degree of. Philosophical consistency. Hard. What we know we unitarian-universalist is that we live in a complex world and ethics are complex not simple. It may be that wisdom has set her table but it is a complicated back what she actually invites us to. Immanuel kant years ago positive the existence of the ultimate ethical imperative. That lands of discernment through which all human questions could be reliably filtered. It's an attractive. Siri. But most of us haven't yet found that ultimate ethical imperative. We tend to be situational ethicist. Recognizing that all decisions decisions are made in the context. Of a whole complex of factors. Now there are people who rejects the situational ethics as a cop-out or even as. An amoral surrender. To this. Evil world. I personally believe that the only way to live ethically is to live situationally. For so many quandaries there is no right answer. Much as we might wish it to be otherwise. We don't live in a world of black and white choices we live in the gray area all of us. In that grave realistic place the real question for those of us mere mortals struggling to live with integrity is not. What is the right answer. The question is what kind of person. Shall i be. In this situation. Huston smith tell. The story about the buddha. In his later years when india was a fire with buddha's message and kings themselves were bound before him. People came to him even if they were to come to jesus asking what he was. How many people provoked this question not who are you with respect to name origin or ancestry. But what are you. Only two. Jesus and buddha. When the people carried their puzzlement to the buddha himself the answer he gave provided and identity to his entire message. Are you a goddamn and angel a saint. No. Then what are you. And the buddha answered. I am awake. Being awake. Being alive but being fully human is the spiritual essence of the wisdom tradition. We awaken. First to ourselves. Two are perfectly humans finite vulnerable imperfect self. We awaken to our gifts and graces at 4 limitations. We must be awake to our limitations because being awake is being humble. Humility and its true sense has to carry a balance self-awareness. This balance self-awareness. Is what leads us to that second aspect of wisdom that smith talks about. The virtues. From humility want to choose greatness says the dow. The highest motive is to be like water. Water is essential to all life yet it does not demand a c or proclaim its importance. Rather it flows humbly to its lowest level. And in doing so is much like that now. A virtue often mentioned in the wisdom traditions is mindfulness. Being awake in such a way. That. Your perspective is enlarged beyond your own needs. A broad understanding of being awake is being compassionate because if you are aware. Of. The people around you you cannot help. But feel compassion for them. The familiar biblical story of the good samaritan. Is about that virtue. Or the hindu tradition of the bodhisattva who with nirvana and sight turns back to help people. Behind him on the path. Or the pillar of islam that demands significant giving of one's resources without arguing about whether the calculation of percent of income is before or after taxes. These are examples of. Virtuous living done mindfully. Now mindfulness made mean different life choices in different cultures. It might lead a buddhist monk to choose to leave the world and enter a monastery. Or a christian. Might do the same. But i always remember story tik nahant old about a time during the vietnam war when the monks were at prayer. In the. And the village below the monastery was bombed. Their quandary is it more important to continue to pray or to go to the aid of the injured. And his conclusion was that of course to go and provide first aid. And comfort to the villagers was. To continue to pray. Nephew of us are meant to be monastics. Most of us will find that life. It's best lived. Incommunity the life of wisdom where we can enlarge our perspectives by being. In communication with lots of other people. Enlarge our world you. Not of course is the third facet of wisdom. The smith talks about. To have a worldview. Is to begin with the assumption that you cannot see all that there is or no all that there is to know. You have to acknowledge. That there is beyond your perception something more. We must be awake to both the transcendence and imminent the physical the political of the emotional and the spiritual realities that surround us. Whether you choose to label yourself with sister a humanist or something in-between. Each of you has a worldview. That makes you aware of the fact that there is more to life than any one of us can ever take in or comprehend on our own. We need one another to keep seeing that big picture to have a broader vision of vision. Broad enough to be worthy of our passionate commitment. Being awake to this larger reality is essential it is how we are safe from idolizing some small slice of reality and mistaking it for the whole. The wisdom tradition urges us to be awake to the wonders and the perils of our lives to the needs and gift to the people who surround us. To the glories of the planet we walk on the water we drink and the air we breathe. By living in wisdom. Forsaking foolishness and unawareness we live in gratitude for the gift. Of our lives. That is in brief the theology of our third source i want to add a little bit of history about how unitarian-universalist wove this global thread into our tapestry of faith. Back in the early to mid 19th century progressive theologians began to develop an interest in eastern religions. Inspired by transcendentalist and others they recognize the value of studying the scriptures and practices of other face. They realize that their desire to enliven liberal religion and it was liberal protestant religion at the time. Could benefit from these new and to be honest somewhat exotic perspectives. This relationship between american liberal religion and the world religions continued into the next century. And then in the mid-twentieth century a new generation of. L out of the universalist church of america. Sought to cast of vision of a truly universal religion. Clarence skinner. Universalist minister and educator began the conversation about what came to be known as the new universalism. He and others sought to recast the meaning of the word universalism. Originally it referred to a doctrine of salvation. The new universalist medford to mean in skinner's words. The all-inclusive as far as we can imagine it the entire cosmos with all it contains. His ideas struck a responsive chord with a generation of universalist who clearly intended to expand the meaning of their face. Beyond the confines of liberal christianity that evolution was already happening. Technology was beginning already to make the world smaller soon enough marshall mcluhan would point out that we all lived in a global village. The new universalist help to inhabit that village and in fact to provide the spiritual home for its inhabitants. One of those new universalist with kenneth patton. If you look at the author index in the hymnal i believe he is mentioned more than any other single person. He made it his life's work to integrate the essence of the religions of the world into the minds and hearts of unitarians and universalist. His project was no less lofty than to create a new world religion. A religion for all people everywhere. From the design of the charles street meeting house his first. Pastor it. To the artistic images that grace the walls to the hymns and worship materials that he wrote. He was in some sense starting from scratch to create this new world fake that he hoped. Would catch on. But like huston smith he recognized that the study of the world's religions with the study of millennia of human experience. And so he brought that accumulated wisdom into his new thing. He displayed at charles street all of the world scriptures he had the symbols of the various pay stranded artistically and hanging on the wall. Did you know that you owed can patent a debt. Now to his disappointment it turned out that most of the world's citizens were perfectly happy to hold on to the religions they already had. The idea of a new world single world religion never really caught on. And he was truly disappointed i think heartbroken by that. But the work he did the work of translation and explication and reinterpretation. Made the world's religions accessible to us. And in a time when interface understanding is essential to our very survival. We are particularly well suited to the task. We know even more acutely. Has to be done. Can patent urgently try to convince people that they were living in a global village they didn't quite know it yet we know it now. No matter how desperately some may try to turn away from modernity. We are all here together and there is no going back. Our best chance for survival is to follow the advice of patent at houston smith and others. Listen and learn. Learn to recognize what it is we share with other face. Learn also to honor the distinctive of each phase and to respect those differences. Listen. And learn. I see fertile common ground in the very questions that the wisdom tradition has always and everywhere ask. What kind of person do i want to be. What kind of community do i want to live in what kind of nation do i wish to be a citizen of. What kind of world do i wish to pass on to my grandchildren. This month we will continue to ask those questions and seek answers in the religions of the world. I want to mention a couple specific things. On saturday december 15th we will be having a family hanukkah. Party here. It's for all ages will include the retelling of the hanukkah story. Hopefully a display of menorahs from some of your home. And a communal dinner. You must rsvp in order to attend and receive your cooking assignment you can rsvp to wendy cohu. Surprise me by being at this service and on this side of the room instead of at the 9 service and on that side of the room but that's okay. On sunday morning december 16th our pulpit will be filled by mujahideen bataa. The spokesperson for the islamic society of vermont. When we met last month he told me that he has a particular passion for the subject of islam and science. So that is what he will be speaking about please. Plan to be here. All during this month of december we are offering opportunities for each of you to grow in wisdom and mindfulness. Worship opportunities fellowship opportunities. And of course there are the many many service opportunities that the month of december brings. And just a few minutes you will be hearing from one of santa's elves about the socially-responsible santa program. Next week you will hear from the youth group about the giving tree. There's so much to do. So. Be generous beware. Be open to the invitation. Of wisdom. Come eat of my bread and drink of the wine i have mixed. Leave simple minds in this and live. And walk in the ways of insight.

uusociety_org

2012-09-23-2Sermon.mp3

It's a boy. It's a girl. The very first words most parents here. The very first words most newborns here the very first label a newborn is given. It's binary. Either boy or girl. The assignment of that label. The sex of a newborn baby is based on. Pretty obvious anatomical attributes. Although occasionally a newborn's anatomy is ambiguous. Making it difficult to make the boy or girl assignment. Then parents and doctors resort to chromosomal analysis. To make the determination. And all too often when there is confusion between the anatomical and the chromosomal indications. The anatomy is surgically corrected to fit. The genetic label. Boy girl. It's a simple biological fact it's like an on-off switch. You were either one or the other. At least that's the way most of us used to think and. Some still do. The determination of sex is a short answer question not an essay. More complicated though. Is the concept of gender. Gender is nuanced. There are cultural and social norms involved in gender determination. And expectations. Subtle and not-so-subtle. Boys behave certain ways. Girls other ways. And there is lots of pressure to conform to those expectations. Don't get me started on the story of the time my son broke his arm snowboarding. And the orthopedist. Pointed to all the colors of cast and said you could have anyone you want and when my son pointed to the pink one he said no. Needless to say he left with a pink cast.. But the concept of gender even with all that baggage attached to it suggests that simple biology. Can be transcended. Opening up myriad possibilities. We have now come to understand that in addition to our biological attributes we are born with an inner sense of who we are. Our gender identity. You might define gender identity as the way you know yourself to be from the inside. Ouch. And it doesn't always conform to the binary label that you were given. At the moment of your birth. Gender identity is internal and intuitive and personal. It can be kept a secret. It can be suppressed. Or it can be. Celebrated. Gender expression. Is the outward manifestation of a person's gender identity. How each of us speak and act out our masculine or feminine or both or neither identity. An outward expression. Of an inner truth. Do you know what the definition of a sacrament is. We're very good episcopalians here. So you know that the definition of a sacrament is an outward and visible expression thank you jan of an inward and invisible grace. Imagine a world in which every person's gender expression with considered sacramental. An outward expression of a known and embraced inner quality. Imagine a world in which a transgender person was called. A person of two spirits. A phrase that comes from the notion in native american spirituality that masculine and feminine spirits coexist. For some people. In one body. That phrase to spirit speaks of. Spiritual integrity. Epomis. What a healthy and affirming way to understand ourselves and each other. As people of faith committed to the affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. It is our obligation to build a work world in which all people. Of all spirits. Can live in wholeness. In safety. And in peace. It is our obligation to ask ourselves how we understand and embrace the reality that there are people whose gender identity and expressions transcend the dominant binary labels of boy or girl male or female. For those of us whose gender identity matches the binary sex label given to us at birth. This can be a confusing and confounding and anxiety-provoking topic. Discomfort about gender fluidity maybe one of the final frontier is in our liberal religious quest to confront. And repent of our prejudices. That work. Which is spiritual work. Is required of us by our first principle. We are people who covenant to affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Every person. Even the people we don't quite understand. The people who make us uncomfortable to people who don't fit into the checkmarks on our registration forms. Who don't know which of our bathrooms to use because we still label them. With those binary labels. The people for whom not being able to find a public restroom they are comfortable with is a small indignity compared to the over. Disparagement. The employment discrimination and the violence. But they are subjected to. We need to change that. We do. Just as we have answered the call to change other forms of discrimination we have to challenge the dominant culture. To help people to understand the limitations of the binary labeling system. As people of progressive faith we are called to this work. It is our work to do. When the reverend william sinkford was president of the unitarian universalist association. A pamphlet or a booklet or book of resources was produced to help us understand our movements relationship to transgender persons. Bill wrote in the introduction. These words. Transgender people challenge so many of our assumptions. I write you said as a straight black able-bodied man. But when i say our assumptions here i mean of course the assumptions of non-transgender people like me. Unitarian universalism has done a great deal of work on the categories. Black white gay straight disabled disabled. We have developed some capacity to look at how our society give privilege to some categories. Male white able-bodied anglo straight. And it's oppressive to others. We most often think about this work on categories as justice making and it certainly is. But. It's more than that. We've gotten comfortable in this conversation. And there is a deeper theological issue here. The affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of every person. The theological. Transgender people push us out of our comfort zone. At least he says they push me out of my comfort zone. Their lives challenge the concept of category. I used to think of gender as immutable. Unchanging. Do transgender people are few among us their presents calls us to yet again discern what it means to live out our values. Affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person even those who make us uncomfortable. Call us to examine our assumptions. Directions nice are prejudices and preconceptions. To gather information we need and to move into honest relationship with the other. Our goal is to live as one human family on this small. Blue planet. We have much to be proud of but our work is not done. This is the time of year when i have to admit that there are a lot of issues news items and holidays to clamor for attention. In the preaching calendar. My original decision to preach a sermon on the subject was made back in the summer when i learned that our unitarian universalist united united nations office was sponsoring a program this week about global glbt issues. I can't go to new york i thought that i can do service around the same idea around the same time. And of course this weekend was the pride parade and festival here in burlington so it all fits together. And then i realize that this sunday falls in the midst of the days of all. The time between rosh hashanah and yom kippur on the jewish liturgical calendar. The 10 days each year. When you. Have a chance or maybe it's an obligation. To be intentional about atoning for your sins. These days of our are not to be spent simply in prayer and fasting. They are to be spent carefully examining your life and your relationship and making real amends to people. You have harmed. Before you can come before god and seek forgiveness you must do the work of repairing your human relationships with family friends and community. I think of the jewish high holidays at the 10-day covenant renewal ceremony. Repeated yearly. Jews like us are covenanted people. Their covenant is both with y'all way and with each other. The terms of that covenant set the standard against which jews measure themselves during the day so far. The covenant. Made and broken and renewed. Bestows a religious identity and provides a structure. For ethical decision making. Now our seven principles are also a covenant that bestows and identity. And provides a structure for ethical decision making. It starts out by saying we the member congregations of the unitarian universalist association do covenant. To affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. We also made a promise. We are justly proud of our record record of advocacy for human rights we have kept that promise. We have a lot to be proud of on friday. But we should be careful of being too self-congratulatory because there is still work to be done. Instead of patting ourselves on the back and resting on our laurels. Let's emulate our jewish neighbors. Let's imagine that for us to the book of life. Has been opened during these days of awe. Giving us an opportunity. To ask ourselves where we fall short. I want to start with. A minor example. Yesterday at the run for jump how are you you did a great job running and fundraising. Many people from the congregation where there is volunteers. And as the prizes were being given out i was struck by the fact. That the ribbons for the fastest times were assigned by that binary system. That's nobody's fault. Fastest man fastest woman fastest boy fastest girl. And as i applied and all those sincere and wonderful winners i was acutely aware. Probably for the first time. Of how hard it must be to know yourself in such a way that you would never win a prize in a race. Because you didn't fit. Into any of those categories. A new awareness on my part. Help me to recognize my previous unawareness. Do transgender persons face challenges even in. Uu congregation. Yes they do. What is the search committee here were to recommend a transgender person as the candidates for your settled minister. Which some of you be uncomfortable. I believe you would. Would you give yourself permission to express that discomfort. Without judgement. To educate yourself. To push past the discomfort to a deeper understanding. Would you be willing to repent of your previous unawareness. And if that person were to come here to candidate which bathroom would they use. The one labeled women. The one labeled men. Would you be willing to repent together of your binary labels and adapt the building not just for this one person but for all of the other two-spirit people looking for a safe. Place to call their religious home. With those of you whose gender identities match the sex assignments given you at birth. Join with me and repenting of our ignorance of what it is like not to have the luxury of that match. Would you join me in repenting our lack of awareness of the pain that simple things like prize categories in bathroom signs can cause. Would you join me in repenting of our silence in the presence of unkind words. Furtive glances. Of not seeing. You you marry banky also wrote something for that manual that bill sinkford rodan. She is a lay person whose daughter came out as a transgender several years ago. She wrote make no mistake. Not seeing people for who they are is one of the cruelest punishments. A form of harsh violence. It is like the child who constantly raises his hand in class asking to be recognized and is never recognized. Not in class. Not in traditional churches not even at home. We unitarian-universalist are a covenanted people. And we have no compunctions about borrowing from other covenanted people. And so in the spirit of all. That is this weekend in the spirit of pride and in the spirit of repentance. I invite you now to turn in the back of your hymnals to responsive reading number 637 i would like to suggest that you were if you are able that you stand and that you faced each other across the sea.

uusociety_org

2016-03-20%2011am%20sermon.mp3

My darling. I wanted you my whole life. There have been times when i pretended like i didn't. Like i could live without you. That i would be fine alone in this world. But i don't feel that way any longer. And i'm not afraid to say that i want you. I'm not afraid to say that i want to be wanted. I'm not afraid of you wanting me. Have you desiring me. I remember when we first met. That evening so long ago when we sat together in my bedroom and talked just the two of us about. Nothing in particular. I was just a child. But the memory of that night has been close to my heart ever since it is one of my most cherished. Memories. My darling. There've been times when i thought you were cold. Distant. Disinterested in what was happening in my life. And there's so much going on in this wide universe why would you have time for me. Didn't feel antagonistic as much as ambivalent and maybe it was because i couldn't imagine what i had to offer you. But mostly it was because i thought you wanted someone other than who i was. I thought you wanted me to change for you. I couldn't believe that you wanted me and all of my flaws. With all of my failures. Is only now that i'm coming to see that the walls. I put up to keep you out the walls i built because i thought i needed. To be protected from your rejection. The walls that kept me from you. I built them. Not because. You wanted a different relationship. But because i was afraid. Of what that relationship might actually mean to me. My darling. Well i am still afraid of disappointing you sometimes. I know that i cannot truly love you unless i give you the opportunity to love me. To want me. The hope for me. To desire me. And i'm still afraid. So i'm working on lowering the walls that. No longer serve me. So we might find ourselves. In a lover's embrace. Had my last congregation. There was a question. We tried to hold close. As we explored our spiritual call. A question that was something of a struggle for each of us. Where do i feel god's desire for me. How am i desired. There is a language in our culture that often feels very hollow a language that feels trite. Overused insincere shallow flip even. Specifically it shows up in that phrase god loves you. Which oddly. Can feel more like an insult than bomb. More like exclusion than inclusion. I recently watched a video of a woman who aggressively interrupted a gathering of muslims in texas and ashley was being removed. By the police she shouted jesus loves you. Over and over again. You know the language i'm talking about. Departed. But what i perceive as insincerity on the behalf of some religious people is not really the reason i find myself struggling to be open to the idea of being desired. It doesn't help. But putting it all on them is just a convenient excuse. Not to look into why it is so difficult. To stand vulnerably. For the spirit. This is not something unique to the sacred relationship in our human relationships many of us are far more comfortable talking about desiring someone than being desired by someone. Rarely if ever do we speak on the feelings we experience when we are desired. Sometimes we talk about what it's like to be desired when we don't necessarily return the feelings it's safer to be desired by someone were not that interested in. What is it like to speak on being desired by someone we are. Even when we are in a relationship and we know the person wants to be with us it can still be hard to talk about what it feels like just to be. Desired. Just sit there. And just feel wanted. Brene brown. In her work on vulnerability came to the startling conclusion that our capacity for wholeheartedness her word for capturing what it means the stand before another unguarded can never be greater than our willingness to be broken hearted. That is our willingness. To be open to the possibility of heartbreak is the high-water mark. For our capacity to experience the joys of connection if our willingness to experience heartbreak as a possibility is low than our capacity to experience joy. His own solo. If i willingness. It's high. Then our capacity. For joint is also high. But it is our willingness. That determines everything. It is the measure that determines the amount of joy we feel. Nar bility to feel joy never exceeds our willingness to feel heartbreak. If that is what come. Because keeping ourselves guarded. And safe from heartbreak. Simultaneously numbs all of our other capacities. And one of our greatest fears. Is a being loved and then having that love taken away. It is a deficit is devastating because. I can not always. But it can reaffirm those voices in our heads that tell us that we are not good enough. But we don't deserve love that we are always messing things up. And unfortunately this has also happened culturally to us in the sacred relationship. The primary story for half of the world's people and i include those who didn't grow up in any church or temple or mosque but who did grow up in a culture influenced by those religions is. Adam. Even god. And within chest. The first few paragraphs of the stories opening pages. On page one. Humans have disappointed god so greatly we are thrown out of paradise and it is hidden from us henceforth. We made a mistake. And god cannot or will not forgive us and the rest of the story is about us trying to show that we love god but we are never really good enough. And it's a terrible story to place at the genesis. Of our history. We angered god. We are a disappointment. We are rejected. But the ancestors got it wrong. This story is just the shadow. Of our greatest fear. It didn't happen. But we live as if it could we live even if we don't believe the story. We live with a cultural concept of god as something to please. And if not quite that certainly it feels foreign to think of god as wanting to please us. I mean that's not how the power dynamic works. We're not. Equals in a nurturing relationship. I did this to the earlier. Peoplesoft. I'll do to you guys too i. Add a paragraph here that i cut and then i put back in cup put it back in. I couldn't put it back in because i think there's there is a. Pointed edge of fine edge for unitarian universalist here. Dealing with the story dealing with this cultural concept because. We are very clever people. We have read so many books we know all of the holes in the story. And. We call it education. But i think for some of us not all of us but for some of us. There was a heartbreak. That occurred. There was a point in our lives where we loved. And god loved us and then we got educated. That's what we call it but really there was a heartbreak because it didn't the love didn't match what we were feeling. And we walked away and said i don't that's not i don't. I'm over i'm done. And we don't want to talk about that heartbreak. We'd go on with our. You you live. Not really addressing the heartbreak. That's there for some of us. Reminded me of this julian barnes. But he opened his mom where i don't believe in god. But i miss him. People follow a spiritual path because we desire some relationship with the divine. We give time and energy and money. Practice disciplines we'd hear the rituals. Chandi pray and sing and walking by land. All sorts of stuff and we set aside days-of-the-week and we set aside days of the year as sacred. Devoted to god whatever. God memes. However we encountered.. But so often in all of those exercises we imagine god to be passive. Perhaps open and receptive but standing at a distance waiting for us to do the work why. Why is that why do we not hear god cording us. Every morning. In every face and every blessed face we see. Why do we not turn over. Panda pillow. And just here i am so glad to see you this morning or. You look good. Is it too difficult to imagine a two-way love affair that creation wants us. The creation wants to be with us. The creation want a lava. Perhaps it is not hard for us to talk about the desires we feel for a spiritual life i want. So spiritual. Don't want a spiritual connection. But where is god desiring you. Where do you feel god's desire for you. For some it may seem like a very strange question. Nowhere. I don't feel it anywhere. Why would i feel that. How would i feel that. Really not part of our culture. To be trained to listen. Feel to experience a sense of desire. For us. Coming from the sacred. Not part of our culture to feel desirable. The.. There's been a story that has been handed down to us one created by people who feared rejection and while we may have come to question the veracity of the facts about that story. We haven't questioned the reckoning that that story created. And we are. Very often not willing to risk having our hearts broken again. It happened once. It hurt too much i don't want it i don't want to be lied to again i don't want anything like that. I don't want to stand vulnerably before. The divine and say. This is me. And i really hope you love me. By the way i'm going to risk it. Better to play something. In between our relationship so the hurt won't be so bad next time. The wall that numbs the pain. But also the wall that numbs the joy. It numbs the connection between us in the states. If you cannot feel god's desire for you. Perhaps. Perhaps there is a story. Standing in between. Safeguarding you from rejection. What is that story. The great insight. Of mysticism. Is that god moves from within. Not from without. The feelings we have the ones that tug at our heart. From god the loneliness that you feel for the divine for the spiritual life. It's god's loneliness for you. I desire you feel. For the divine is god's desire for you. You are wanted. You are wanted. In the more we become willing. The stand in all of our vulnerability. Setting aside the stories that have built walls around our tender hearts. Bartender spirits to keep us safe. The more we are able to risk being hurt. The deeper we can enter into the relationship with the divine. God is not waiting for us. Passively. In the distance. God is courting us. Here. In the moment. The people next to you. In every breath. And maybe we should do some courting back. Maybe we should put on that perfume. That we know work so well. Are we should wear that shirt that makes our eyes pop. Or. We get that haircut. That may be a little expensive but we know it looks really good what would it be like to get a haircut for god. What would it be like to act in such a way that you entice. Beloved. Can i say this. Not solely. For the purpose of sacred eroticism. Although. I think that would be enough. I think a little more sacred eroticism would be good for the church. Fillmore fire. That make you uncomfortable. I also say it because something is awry. Something that we are doing is not working and we know this because the world is crying out. For relief. We say that there is a climate crisis. We say that there is a refugee crisis that there is an income inequality crisis that there was a war crisis. And we say if only we empower the right scientists. For the right diplomats then we can rescue the world from these problems but those are not the problems we face. The problems are greed. Selfishness. Isolation. Indifference. And it is not you the scientist. Images not you the diplomat but you the lover. Who is going to solve those problems. We need a cultural and spiritual transformation if i world is going to be rescued. But your capacity to love is equal to your willingness to be open. The love. So where. Do you find god desiring. If not just to satisfy your own ego. This is the first step. In the revolution it is the first stage. Of the transformation. Goforth is apostles of sacred eroticism. There is a heartbreaking breach. Between how horrible things can be. And the more beautiful world we know is possible. But we cannot walk the beam stretching across that bridge if we only kind of sort of want it. The only kind of sort of wanna be lovers. Turn yourself over and be swallowed up. By your beloved. Your kids will dance along. With you. Enjoy. Cheering you on. My darling. I have wanted you my whole life. There have been times when i pretended like i didn't. Like i could live without you. That i would be fine. Alone in this world but i don't feel that way any longer. I'm not afraid. Say that i want you. I'm not afraid to say that i want to be wanted. And i'm not afraid of you wanting me. Have you desiring.

uusociety_org

2010-02-14-2%20Sermon.mp3

We're two lovebirds ever better-suited almost destined for one another. Their marriage would last for 54 years in their names become inextricably linked but it was not longevity that distinguish their pairing. So much is the quality of their relationship affection blended with respect. They shared basic values of preference for plain living and playing speaking. Alike strongly opinionated. With political and religious views that were decidedly liberal. But they also shared more. Lust. Yes they were well-matched in that department in a very unpure tenakill eroticism creeps into many of the letters they exchanged but they had more than sex. Abigail and john adams also enjoyed. A teasing playfulness in their communications as if the two of them were alternate lee. Rivals and teammates but always in on a game together. Although she was born a person's daughter with predictably prim parents. Little abigail acknowledged that she always had a volatile and giddy personality. Which did not concern her grandmother quincy who chiefly raise the last remark king that. Wild colts make the best horses. The young attorney first noticed the smith girl when she was just. 14. Describing her as a whitwell wondering if that was a trade compatible with feminine graces yet. In a very short time that same high-spirited flippant character proved irresistibly attractive. Provoking the first exchanges in a lifelong correspondence. That's when the suitor sent his heartthrob. An invoice. Payable in passion. October 4th 1762. Miss adorable. By the same token that the bearer hear of sat up with you last night. I hereby order you to give him as many kisses and as many hours of your company after 9 as he shall please to demand and charge them to my account. Find john adams. At first they sign their letters. Lysander and diana named for the goddess of the moon and the themis spartan statesman. Later abigail would sign hers porsche. Modeling herself on the wife of the roman patriot marcus brutus. Who slew an ambitious caesar to save the republic. But from the beginning they also called each other by another. Dear vernon. Friend. That would endure through all their years together. August 11th. 1763. My friend. If i was sure your absence today with occasion. By what it generally is. Either to wait upon a company or promote some good work. I freely confess my mind would be much more at ease than at present it is. Yet this uneasiness does not arise from any apprehension of slights or neglect. But if fear least you are indisposed. For that you said to be your only hindrance. Humanity obliges us to be affected with the distresses and miseries of our fellow creatures. Friendship is a band yet stronger. Which causes us to feel. The greater tenderness the afflictions of our friends. And there is a time more binding than humanity and stronger than friendship. It makes us anxious for the happiness and welfare of those to whom it binds us. It makes their misfortunes sorrows and afflictions our own. Unite these. And there is a three-fold cord. By this cord. I am not ashamed to own myself bound. Nor do i believe. You are wholly free from it. Adieu. May this find you in better health than i fear it will. Except this hasty scroll. Warm from the heart. Have your sincere. Diana. Riding the circuit courts between massachusetts and maine john thought it wise to undergo a new experimental medical procedure and not getting himself against the smallpox. Necessitating a. of. Recovery in the sick ward and isolation. This separation. For his sweetheart was hard to bear. Friday morning april 20th what does it signify. Why may not i visit you a days as well as night. I do sooner close my eyes and some invisible being bears me to you. I see you. But cannot make myself visible to you. That tortures me. But it is still worse when i do not come fry and then hunted by half-a-dozen ugly sprite. When will catch me and leap into the sea. Another will carry me up a precipice like that which edgar describes tulear then tossed me down. And where i not then light at the gossamer i should shiver into adams. I'd rather have the smallpox by inoculation half-a-dozen time. And be spread it about cuz i am. Three weeks shy of turning 20. Abigail was finally released from her nighttime torments. Marrying john in 1764 in a ceremony conducted by her father in the parsonage in weymouth. Do technically wives were subject to their husbands. Matrimony for her felt like a liberation or at least a release from parental authority. For abigail would ride her sister mary. I desire to be very thankful that now i can do as i please. The man she'd weds was ambitious. Bring self and his family determined to make a mark on the world. Yet his legal practice and then election to the continental congress meant extended time away. Never 12. Underestimate his own talents. He wrote to his wife. I shall rouse myself are long i believe in exerted industry of frugality a hard labor that will serve my family if i can't serve my country. I thank god i have a head a heart and hands which was once believed hurted altogether will succeed in the world as well as those of the mean-spirited low-minded spawning of shaquita scoundrels who have long hoped. Goodbye integrity would be an obstacle in my way. And enable them to outstrip stripping in the race. I must entreat you my dear partner in all the joys and sorrows prosperity and adversity of my life. To take apart with me in the struggle. I pray god for your health. Entreat you to rodger whole attention to the family to stock the farm the dairy. With every article of expense which can possibly be spared be retrenched. Abigail oversaw the farm and ran the household in john's absence superintending also the upbringing of the growing brood of atoms offspring nabi john quincy and charles. John admonished. The education of our children is never out of my mind. Train them to virtue habituate them to industry activity and spirit. Make them consider every vice is shameful and unmanly. Fire them with ambition to the useful. Fixer ambition upon rake and solid objects and their contempt upon little frivolous and useless ones it is time my dear for you to begin to teach them french. When john elaborated in another letter lamenting the woeful state of learning in the colonies. His wife was moved to speak up. If you complain of the neglect of education & sons. What should i say with regard to daughters. Who everyday experience the want of it. With regard to the education of my own children. I find myself soon out of my depth and destitute and deficient in every part. I most sincerely wish that some more liberal plan might be laid and executed for the benefit of the rising generation. And there are new constitution may be distinguished for learning. And virtue. If we need to have gyros statesmen and philosophers. You should have learned women. The world's perhaps you'd laugh at me and accuse me of vanity. But you i know. Have a mind to enlarged and lived liberal to disregard the sentiment. Iview. Ever yours. Breakfast weights. Porsche. Conflict with britain meant. Rationing. First is american colonists boycotted tea and other products that they considered to be unfairly taxed. And then tightening their belts even further when trade dropped to a trickle. But defiance of the home country also stirred a defiant attitude among many women. Is abigail recorded to her husband. It was rumored that an eminence. Wealthy. Synergy merchant. Who is a bachelor. Had a hogshead of coffee in his store which he refused to sell to the committee under six shillings per pound. Number of females. Some say 100. Some say more assembled with a cart and trucks. March down to the warehouse and demanded the keys. Which he refused to deliver. Upon which one of them sees him by his neck and tossed him into the cart. Upon his finding no quarter he delivered the keys. When they tip tap the cart and discharged him. Then open the warehouse. Joyce about the coffee themselves. Put it into the truck and drove off. It was reported that he had a spanking among them. But this i believe was not true. A large concourses men stood amazed silent spectators at the whole transaction. Porsche. John himself may have been amazed when he received a letter from his wife dated march 31st 1776. Address to him in philadelphia where delegates were beginning to debate separation from the motherland. I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And by the way in the new code of laws which i suppose it will be necessary for you to make. I desire you would remember the ladies. And be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power in the hands of the husbands. Remember. All men would be tyrants if they. If particular care and attention is not paid the ladies we are determined to formats of rebellion i will not hold ourselves bound by any laws which we have no voice or representation. That your sex are naturally tyrannical is a truth so thoroughly established as to admit of no dispute. But that review is wish to be happy willingly give up the harsh title of master. For the more tender. And endearing one. A friend. Abigail. New her complaint would be taken only half seriously and that is how john responded. Predicting that these new demands for equality and civil freedom wood. Eventually wind up with the inmates running the asylum. As to your extraordinary code of laws i cannot but laugh. We have been told that our struggle has loosen the bands of government everywhere. The children and apprentices were disobedient. The schools and colleges were grown turbulent. The indians slighted their guardians and negroes grew insulin to their masters. But your letter was the first intimation that another tribe more numerous and powerful than all the rest we're grown discontented this is rather too coarse a compliment but you are so saucy i won't blot it out. Neither of the two were populous both of them believed that a natural. Aristocracy of brains and talent should prevail. But they were united in their opposition to slavery. Not entirely free of the prejudices of their time but surprisingly enlightened. Abigail gave an involuntary shudder. At a shakespeare play when the swarthy. Othello laid hands on fair desdemona. But when it's cool house in braintree threatened to close its doors rather than admit a black pupil to its classes she became a local champion of. Racial integration. And in the same letter to her husband where she urged him to remember the ladies. Abigail reflected that. Virginia must possess a juice for producing a washington. But she remained wary and suspicious of the slave-holding south. I have sometimes been ready to think that the passion for liberty. Cannot be equally strong in the breasts of those who have been accustomed to deprive their fellow-creatures of theirs. Of this i am certain that it is not founded upon. That generous and christian principle of doing to others as we would that others should do unto us. Touching the subject of religion. Her husband said that his own brand of christianity consisted of following the ten commandments and the sermon on the mount. Complaining that the church had forgotten the simple moral teachings of its founder. Where in the gospel. Do we find a precept requiring ecclesiastical synod's cannot convocations council's decrees creed's confessions oath subscriptions and a whole cart loads of other trumpery we find religion encumbered with these days. How has it happened at millions of fables tales legends have been blended with both jewish and christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed. John was reacting to the cold-blooded calvinism with which he'd been reared but too much warmth in the pulpit can also be nerve-racking. In new york where he was stationed during his tenure as vice president he and abigail struggled to find a church to their liking. The congregational preachers there clung to the old-fashioned doctrines of predestination. And tried abigail said. With noise and v humans to compensate for every other deficiency. Listening to their foaming. Abigail told a friend with like doing penance. Making her long for liberal good since from the pulpit. True piety without enthusiasm devotion without grimace. And religion upon a rational system. More to their liking with the sermons of dr. richard price a dissenting clergyman who services the two attended an appointment to great britain. Although ordained presbyterian prices down to about the divinity of jesus and turned into words unitarianism like his friend joseph priestley who succeeded him in the same pulpit. A superb mathematician price shared the atoms scientific interest. But when the reverend presided over the christening of their grandchild william abigail was so flustered. She had to miss several of his lectures on. Electricity magnetism and hydrostatics researches which she described as. Going into a beautiful country a country which few females are permitted to visit or inspect. Abigail told her son john quincy the traveling the few miles from london to hackney to hear price speak. Was well worth the effort to hear a man so liberal. So sensible and so good as he is. Their eldest son tended to be more traditional in his faith than either mother or father. Back when the break occurred in new england that divided so many congregations like the one in burlington hear down the middle abigail made her position clear. I profess myself a unitarian. And mr channing's since she told her son. The soil of new england will not cultivate nor cherish clerical bigotry or intolerance although there is a struggle to introduce it. In a letter dated may 4th 1816. She staked out her nontrinitarian beliefs even more firmly telling the junior adams. There is not any reasoning that can convince me contrary to my senses. That 3 is 1. 413. Adding in an aside to a friend that her husband considered their son to be. An excellent politician but no theologian. Get abigail's gliders mention religion only rarely among observations on politics and culture more mundane matters predominated. Might be expected they often correspondent about money household finance investing. Which abigail mostly managed with a shrewdness. That enabled her family to retire with a modest prosperity. So different from that of former presidents like jefferson and madison who were bankrupt by the end. From. Selling. Pens to. Buying depreciated continental io used to purchasing land in far-off vermont abigail always had some scheme for turning a profit and slowly the nest egg grew. A tranquil. Old age has been their lifelong dream. Long before during the war years of absence and separation a homesick husband. Had written from across the atlantic longing for the simple comfort. My dearest friend sensible of the difficulty to convey letters safe to you that i am afraid to write anything more than to tell you that after and journey. I am here. In health. It would be futile to attempt descriptions of this country especially if paris and versailles. The building's the public buildings and gardens the painting sculpture architecture music. Healthy cities of already filled many volumes. All the luxury i desire in this world is the company of my dearest friend and my children and such friends in which they do like. Which i have sanguine hopes i shall after a few years and joy and peace. I am with inexpressible affection. Yours. John adams. His partner return the sentiment. June 8th. 1777. I generally endeavor to write you once a week. If my letters do not reach you. Is owing to the neglect of the post. I should greatly rejoice to see you. I know of no earthly blessing which would make me happier. You express a longing after the enjoyment of your little farm. I do not wonder at it. That also wants the care and attention of its master. All that the mistress can do is see that it does not go to ruin. She would take pleasure in improvements. And study them with assiduity if she would if she was possessed with a sufficiency to accomplishment. The season promises plenty at present. An english grass never looked better. You inquire after the asparagus. It performs very well this year and produces us a great plenty. I long to send you a barrel of cider. Find it impractical. Has no vessels can pass from this state to yours. I do not feel very apprehensive of an attack upon boston. I should make them miserable hand of running now. Boston is not what it once was. It has no head. No man of distinguished abilities. They behave like children. Wonder. How you get time to write so much. I feel very thankful to you. For every line. You will i know remember me often when i cannot write to you. Goodnight. It's so dark that i cannot see to add more. Then that i am with the utmost tenderness. Yours. Ever yours. Their last years were. Quiet having survived war and hardship. Maydew and gone without. Having lost one child in the cradle and watch their son charles go to ruin to drink. Machine their grown daughter nabi. Stop for a mastectomy under the knife with no anaesthetic and die prematurely of cancer. Having endured stretches of. Loneliness we're ink on parchment was the only solace. Abigail and john grew closer than ever. Content on the acreage near the homes where they spent their childhoods on the farm they called peacefield. Trials that might of shattered other marriages. Only seem to strengthen their bond. The equality. The candor. The compassion. That mark their relationship for shirley ingredients that. Help keep the romance alive. And in the lesson for our age which has grown impatient with manners. They were. Unfailingly courteous to one another. As much as john adams became a founding father of our nation. Abigail became a founding mother calling for women's full legal rights. And by your own dignity and composure. Proving they were entitled to nothing less. And yet through her loyalty. Gentleness is a mate. She showed the political independence. And relational. Interdependence. Go hand-in-hand. Didn't know charter of freedoms would be complete. Without the command to love. Please a hand for susan palmer abigail adams and john adams tim bardin.

uusociety_org

2011-08-28%20Sermon.mp3

I want to thank our musicians for indulging me. Brian bob and barry i believe it was requirement that your name start with b in order to play in this particular pick up bands and. Well. Martha and i sang backup. When moses. Stood slack-jawed in front of the infamous burning bush. You know the one that was on fire but was not consumed by the flame. The enigmatic yahweh. Was surprisingly clear and directive in his instructions. Moses he said take off your shoes the ground on which you stand is holy ground. As my colleague went under ask what are we to make of this. How do we interpret this instruction for modern-day use. My approach to biblical texts is similar to my approach to dream interpretation i ask myself. What is all of it mean every person every object must mean something. So. What are the shoes mean. In that text. My stream-of-consciousness thinking goes like this shoes. High heels. Pointy toes. Aching feet. Sacrificing comfort for style. Being lured by the temptation that have fantastic pair of shoes will make me. Look like somebody else. Knowing that my feet are two different sizes but they only sell shoes that are the same size. Shoes. Can put us in a bind. So this is a sermon about shoes. Shoes is a metaphor for all those things in our lives that are the wrong size or shape. That are too tight constricting that bind us with unreasonable and therefore unhealthy expectations. Shoes as a metaphor for those things that keep us from being our most expansive cell. Shoes as a metaphor for that which keeps us separate from each other and from the ultimate source of meaning. Shoes the one piece of clothing that is to be removed before meeting yahweh face-to-face as moses learned. But then there are all the other shoes. All of various blue suede shoes in our lives the ones more emblematic of radical freedom and nonconformity and just plain fun. If the poet hunts ostrom is right and god wears blue suede shoes howard wheat wheat to interpret that line. What was carl perkins thinking. What was elvis thinking when he sang it. How would you like to meet y'all way face-to-face like moses did and come back with this message. You can do what you like. But stay off of my blue suede shoes. I'd be feeling really careful about where i put my feet for a while. Play misplaced app get me in trouble. With the divine. Even keep me out of heaven. So this isn't really a sermon about shoes. It's a sermon about heaven. Heaven that place up there. Really nice little fluffy clouds angels with harp. Everybody's happy forever and ever. Surveys of religious beliefs tell us that most americans say they believe in heaven and hell. Believe that they are literal places where you go after you die. An each person's ultimate destination is determined by god's judgment. The criteria it's either predetermined by some mysterious theme. Or dictated by choices you have made. I suspect. Did the concept of heaven above and hell below. Must come from the very ancient hebrew cosmology that. Believe. That they lived on a flat or. Sandwiched between two layers of chaos above and below. In genesis 1 the hebrew creation story the creator establishes boundaries that make the land we are safe to inhabit. Stretching a huge canopy over the world so that the waters of chaos cannot engulf us. There may be a few holes in the canopy right now. It says in genesis 1 and god said let there be a dome in the midst of the waters and let it separate the waters from the waters. So god made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome and god called the dome sky. Then on to the next task creating another boundary to keep chaos at bay below. And god said let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place. And let the dry land appear. And god called the dry land earth and the waters that were gathered together he called seas. And it was good indeed the arrangement still seems to work pretty well all these years later. I would imagine that this three-tiered view of the universe of a safe place. Surrounded above and below by chaos under the control of some supreme being gave rise to the idea of heaven above and hell below. But the ancient hebrews themselves did not believe. In heaven. Or hell. Or any kind of literal afterlife nor do. Practicing jews today judaism is an ethical religion. Like unitarian universalist they believe that the demands of their faith are the demands of right living in the here and now. Contemporary author kathleen norris in her book called amazing grace a vocabulary of faith. Suggested salvation is simply seeking the right path. In your life. North write the hebrew word for salvation means literally to make white. Or to make sufficient. He tells the story of a friend of hers. Who had been. On a troubled past. And when he got out of jail he decided to take a different path. Our friend she's road head recognize that the road he had taken was not wide enough to sustain his life. It was not sufficient. To lead to life only as a way leading to death. She goes on to write that she learned from the oxford companion to the bible that the primary meaning of both the hebrew hebrew and greek words translated salvation in non-religious perm. The hebrew word comes from a military context and refers to a victory over evil or rescue from danger in this life. And in the gospels it is often physical healing that people are seeking. In the stories about jesus released from blindness paralysis and leprosy. When jesus says after healing your faith has saved you it is the greek word for made you well your faith has made you well. North concludes it seems like to me that in so many instances both in the hebrew scriptures and the gospel salvation is described in physical terms in terms of the here and now. Because i believe that that is how most of us first experience it. Somewhere along the way something happened though. The powers-that-be took this very simple and humanistic idea of salvation and changed it they made salvation into something much more literal and scary. And much more dependent on them. Those who held the power. To determine. Edit is this concept of the afterlife that are unitarian and universalist ancestors in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries struggled with. The universalists assail. The idea of harsh judgment and eternal damnation because of their primary belief which is that we are all children of a powerful and loving and forgiving god it would not allow for such a horrible fate for any person. Can you imagine eternal damnation from a loving. And forgiving god universalist theology in the nineteenth century offer to welcome alternative. For those who are looking for something left g then either the calvinist idea of predestination. Which in some ways eliminates human reason and will from the salvation quotient on one hand. And the fundamentalist preaching about the tortures and torments of a fiery literal hell witch. Pretty much eliminates hope. From the salvation equation. The universal them had this very simple message. God loves us all of us. God does not wish for anything for us except for our souls be eternally united. Universal expect that i have to say got into some pretty interesting debates about what that idea of universal salvation actually meant. It wasn't all. Unity and roses. Unfortunately. There were two sides. In the debate. Some shows what has come to be called the death and glory side. They believe that at the moment of death all sins are forgiven and your soul found itself immediately and eternally in right relation with god. The death and glory school was ridiculed by the other side known as the restoration of. Who believed in a limited time of punishment for sin. The langster pending on really just how bad you had been. At the end of your sentence you would be restored and united eternally. With god. Okay so nobody goes to hell forever some people go for a little while. However the details were to be worked out this theology of universal salvation the idea that we could all look forward to a final union of all souls. Priscilla peeling. 2. 19th century american set for a brief. Shining moment in the latter half of the 19th century the universalist church of america claimed the third largest membership of any american protestant denomination. Where did they all go talk about not holding onto our kids. Meanwhile. Back in boston. I will try again. Our unitarian ancestors were also busy putting their distinctive stamp on the salvation debate. They rejected outright the idea of god as the sole arbiter and offered up the idea of salvation by character. Clearly influenced by the humanist thinking of the enlightenment the unitarians of the 19th century believed in a gradual but steady evolution of human thinking and behavior towards a point where the threat of an unpleasant afterlife would be irrelevant because people would want to be their best selves and the circumstances for every child born would allow for that best self to develop. James freeman clarks famous professor confidence in the progress of humankind onward and upward forever. Thumbs up.. Perhaps overly optimistic. Theology. It hasn't at least yet worked out the way clark envisioned it. But we. The 21st century inheritors of both sides. Of our faiths unitarian universalist has managed to hold onto her optimistic you if you mean nature. Placing our faith in our ability to learn evolve. Intuit towards that wider way the sufficiently broad road that invokes the original hebrew concept of salvation. The unitarian side of our faith bequeathed to us confidence in our ability to save herself. Rather than depending on the grave. Of a benevolent god or the mood of. An arbitrary and capricious god. We have opted for the ethical self-guided path to salvation. Now this past does not require the existence of an afterlife at all. It does away with that dualistic thinking that distinguishes between now and then good and evil god and human sacred and profane. It is the ultimate union of all souls with the holy in this world at this time. Unfortunately it is a nineteenth-century orthodox concept of the afterlife that provides american culture even today. Many of you were probably exposed to it in your childhood religious home. The fear of a fiery hell the promise of an idyllic heaven and the complicated rules and regulations you had to follow in order to make sure you got to the one and not to the other. Even those of you who had no religious training as children probably absorbed that picture from the larger culture. I would bet that even our children being religiously educated as unitarian universalist. Can tell you. What that heaven and hell look like. They learned it from their friends. Ask them. If you have children ask them. And then please have a conversation with them about your own beliefs and ideas give him an alternative. To that frightening and ethically debilitating. Cultural construct. Now most of the people who laid claim to that orthodox beliefs about heaven and hell and salvation would probably think that hands ostrems picture of heaven was blasphemous. Emily and dickinson dickinson and elvis presley sharing a cabin. Not married to each other. At what is essentially an idyllic summer camp. Loving each other although platonically. God and blue suede shoes. No way that is worldly and profane and it's ridiculous besides. Yet at least one study has demonstrated that the majority of people who say that they believe in heaven. Who say that they believe it is a nice and even wonderful place and who believe that they are going there when they die. Who believed that the idea of god and blue suede shoes would send you right to hell those same people when asked if they would like to die tomorrow. Which would presumably mean going straight to that wonderful place say no. Rather emphatically. You see there is something compelling. About this world. About this here and now this profane and beautiful and confusing. Place. About a worldly and vibrance. Deity wearing blue suede shoes. It divinity present even maybe in rock and roll music. And that my friends is what we have to offer to people who are looking for a wider and more sufficient way as the path to salvation. This isn't a sermon about shoes or about heaven. Really. It's a sermon about how unitarian-universalist can save the world by putting blue suede shoes on god. Our good news. Is not really that different from the news jesus actually proclaimed. Usa. Can heal you. Our faith. Can make us well. How simply by empowering each of us to live as though we were well. As though we were whole. As though we were already good enough because we are. Simply by reminding each of us to treat our neighbors as though they too were well and whole. And good enough. By freeing us from the fears of judgments and damnation by freeing us from an artificial dependency on a define authority figure who might or might not have our best interests at heart. By setting us free to be fully human to make full use of our minds and hearts and souls. We can live our lives in the secure knowledge that we are saved. We are saved and that means that everyday. There is cause for celebration. For thanksgiving and for astonishment. This is heaven. This is heaven. The genius. Of hands austin poem is not so much. But he chooses such unlikely characters to convey his message though it was certainly. The pairing of emily and elvis that got my initial attention. The genius of his messages that he construct a simple and elegant metaphor for a heaven that we can all aspire to. A place where the sacred and the profane are united in one existence. In this heaven the distinction between culture. Read elite and educated and upper-class on wasp. And popular culture read swiveling hips and loud music and ethnic diversity that gave birth to elvis's music. That distinction is erased. In the broad and generous wave at ostrom rights and that elvis sings. When he sings i taste the liquor never brewed to the tune of love me tender you see the merging of those. Two cultures you heard it here right it works. In this heaven. God of course would wear blue suede shoes the divine being understands and communicates in the vernacular. And wouldn't we expect that. To appear in a burning bush to moses made perfect sense at the time. People in that age expected divinity in miraculous and mysterious disguise. Today to get our attention a burning bush wouldn't work at all. We would call 911 on our cell phone and have the fire extinguished without ever having noticed that it was not being consumed even though it was on fire. But blue suede shoes a strong backbeat music that brings us to our feet now if i were god that's how i'd appear if i wanted to get somebody's attention today. The message of this god would be very much the same as the messaged moses. First. Remove whatever it is that finds you. And inhibits you from being all that you can be. Then. Listen carefully. For the cries of those still bound. Know that you yes you are called to minister. Two down. No further that you yes you. Can harness the forces of justice and compassion to assist you in the work that you are called to do. No further that the god and blue suede shoes did not does not ask you to do this work alone just as he didn't ask moses to do his job alone. This is a call to community. There are no limits to the miracles you can work together. But there are still boundaries between what is healthy and life-affirming and what is not. The creator and the ancient hebrews story. Related in genesis was a maker of boundary. Boundaries bring clarity and clarity is what keeps chaos at bay. So says my imaginary. Blue suede shoes shod.. I knew i was going to have to say that one slowly. Go for it. With all your heart and soul. Make music together. Do justice together. Be merciful together be bold and creative be edgy. Bring the good news to as many people as will listen to you using whatever medium is most likely to get their attention. Just. Don't. Step on my blue. Suede shoes. Annex.

uusociety_org

2010-05-02-2%20Sermon.mp3

Well i fortunately missed the little snow storm that we had that last last week i was in a much warmer climate. And i think we're all getting ready for spring. And we want to see the end of those little smoke burst. But i think today is a good harbinger of things to come that spring is hopefully really here to stay. Is going to start. And continue to be sunny and warm and the buds will spring forth in the days have already been getting longer. I think we all enjoy this time of year especially after the long vermont winters. I don't really know anyone who doesn't enjoy the sight of daffodils and bloom. And the clouds lifting to reveal the sun and the beautiful blue sky. Well this time of year is not only a feast for the eyes outside. It's also a wonderful time for some of our eyes to be glued to nesan and espn on our television screen. That is if you were big baseball fan like i am. That's right spring is not only for flowers and sunshine it's for the start again of america's favorite pastime. I really love a lot of things about baseball i enjoy the strategy involves the artistry of pitching the sneakiness of base stealing the wonder of fielding and perhaps most of all. The power of hitting. Maybe it's because i'm kind of little myself and i hardly ever hit the ball out of the infield when i played softball as a girl. But i truly admire the kind of raw power that can knock a round ball with a round bat. Somewhat defying the laws of physics out of a major league park. Power. That word doesn't always have the best connotations does it. I'll bet if we played a word association game with it we get some pretty bad reactions. Power brings to mind tyranny oppression. Autocracy. Coercion. It makes us think of the famous saying that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. We think of people who crave power as bullies and egomaniacs. I'm thinking i'm feeling. Uncaring. And those of us who were people of faith. Who value the spiritual aspects of our being. But we have received messages contrary to these notions all of our lives. We are taught to value turning the other cheek. Treading lightly on the face of the earth. Leaving a small footprint. Listening for the still small voice of god. And looking forward to the day when the meek shall inherit the earth. We not only don't crave power we do all we can to avoid it. We eschew the very notion of it as incompatible with our worldview. And our lifestyle. Well let me leave you with that thought for a moment and tell you that there is a second reason why i love this time of year. And that is because of the gorgeous greening of the countryside. Fritz during this time of year that i'm reminded again. Why our fair state is called the green mountain state. I drove for my home and williston last weekend down to manchester center. And i relished in the literally dozens of shades of green from the leaves on the trees and the blades of the grass. From chartreuse to kelly green. From olive the deep forest green. The overall effect is stunning. And everytime i look out over this dazzling display of green i'm struck not by the individual leaves or blades of course. But by the great sweep of these shades across the mountains and the meadows after a long spell of the white of snow and the grave bare branches. And to me not only is such a pallet beautiful. It is powerful. There is power in the sheer loveliness of it. There is power in the way that so many shades of the same basic color can overtake a lawn or the landscape. There is power in contemplating how all of these individually small creations of nature. Can come together. To create such a lovely soothing. Inspiring effect. And when i think of power in this way. It is far different from the kind of power that a major league ball player has in his back. Or the monarch or president has in his or her office. And this lesson from nature is an apt metaphor for the kind of power we seek. Nvidia in faith-based community organizing. It is the power of many coming together. Guided by their face principles to create change in their world. Just as the leaves of the trees and the blades of the grass come together to paint a picture of beauty. So2. Can the exercise of power in a collective sense be the coming together of many. To create a beautiful new world. For those of us who have been steeped in traditions where we are taught that power is a negative force and evil to be avoided. We have to change our mindset to do the work of community organizing. We have to wrap our heads around the concept that power in itself. Isn't good or bad it's neutral. It can be used to do bad things to other people. Or it can be used to fix things and make life better for other people. Are community organizing model envia teaches us that power is simply defined as the ability to act. It's neither good nor bad it doesn't necessarily mean that you have to lower power over anybody. It simply means that you were able to take action. You are unfettered by others you are free you are responsible you are engaged you are empowered to use a word that has a better connotation. According to robert linthicum a minister and professor who has written the book called transforming power. You can use your power your ability to act in two different ways. You can use it unilaterally. Or relationally. Unilateral power is what we usually think of when we think of government or fiduciary institutions. Or other public agencies. These have power over people. Relational power according to linthicum is the power derived from people joining together. It is power with. Not power over. It is the power that comes out of individuals working together as a group. For mutually beneficial purposes. It requires listening sharing and participating. In order to function. Melon succumb goes on to say that it is not safe to assume that all relational power is always good. And all unilateral power is evil. When carried out by humanity relational power can become manipulative and destructive. That is why the oppressed tend to become the new oppressors once power is gained. But relational power is never evil or destructive. When we use it in ways that will be both pleasing to god. And transforming of each other. Prince this is what faith-based community organizing that bia does is all about. Using relational power according to the values that we share. Bittern keeping with our view of a world guided by a higher power a larger spiritual being who wants what is best for all people. For what we seek to do is influence the political and economic systems in our world that holds so much sway over us. The create conditions of poverty. They keep our communities unsafe uncaring and unwelcoming. That perpetuate injustice and lack of opportunity. The influence these systems positively. Is all people of good conscience want to do. We must wield power. Without power we have no influence we can create no change. A faith-based community organizing model like villa's brings all of these elements together so that we can exercise influence and create change. Our process leads to relational power that is guided by our faith principles and carried out with the partition participation of many people. Coming together. And the proof is always in the pudding isn't it. This model works. And so to tell us about ways it has already worked in the past is one of our board members and a member of this congregation mikri. Morning. I've been fortunate enough to be involved with vermont interfaith action since before its founding public action in 2005. Like to speak briefly about some of our successes. Making concrete change in our community that reflect those shared values. Christchurch presbyterian was very active doing outreach knocking on doors and holding up the need for community interest to be heard. When the old armory building in the new north end was transferred to the care of the city of burlington. Thanks in large part to their efforts. The armory is now known as the robert miller recreation and community center. Serving youth and an array of multi-generational interest. Within the last year via members of st paul's ohavi zedek. And christchurch presbyterian were successful in first drawing attention. To the lack of public transportation available to the tilley drive medical complex in south burlington. Very recently in action for previously an action last june. Resulted. Recently and cooperation between public and private interest. That led. To a new shuttle service now available to that tillie drive complex. Some similar good news is that members working with their local legislators. Created a bill. Ensuring the transportation needs are addressed as part of. The initial planning and zoning practice so this doesn't happen again in the future. And more good news is that that feel has passed and is now law. With regard to villa and affordable housing you use own local organizing committee or llc was instrumental in strengthening inclusionary zoning ordinances. That came out of the tireless efforts of many in our society. Following the red tape and endless zoning meetings connected with the westlake project now on the corner of cherry and battery streets. You use loc had more than 200 people in this sanctuary to celebrate winning a commitment from the university of vermont. To build affordable housing for its faculty and staff. That includes uvm's lowest-paid employees. We have honored the relationships formed by working to influence the south burlington planning commission and city council to rezone a plot of uvm land. So that the university can fulfill its affordable housing commitment. We have worked through public actions to encourage the governor and legislative leaders to establish a comprehensive health care program called catamount health. To provide coverage to uninsured vermonters. We have knocked on doors in the old north end interview and speak with the neighbors. About their concerns. And later met with burlington police chief mike shearling about those concerns. The sisters of mercy is currently following up on this and it's in the process of researching and addressing further public and safety concerns. You use local organizing committee and members from a hobbies the deck are currently working on ways to bring single-payer healthcare. All vermonters in our state. And have a forum. Scheduled where are llc is partnering with the social action committee. To bring dr. marvin malik from vermont health care for all. Going to happen two weeks from today may 16th. Little plug there. We are a grassroots movement. Our strength is based on our relationships within our society that extend out into the community. I'm grateful to do this work because it helps me to feel and experience an individual faith. That is grounded in a belief in each other. Dentatrust in a process. Guided by our shared values. Thank you.

uusociety_org

2010-04-25-2%20Sermon.mp3

So i'm i'm not going to talk so much about my. Path. Where's the meditation i do although. I do meditate every day sometimes more. Sometimes west. Depends a lot depends on the day. But what i would like to talk about is. Why i meditate. What what brings me. 2 meditation. What brings me most. To sitting down and meditating everyday. Is. This space. That is here. That is. With us all. To come to this place within. Dallas skyline. And. To touch this. Sacred space everyday. And this space. Is it space where. Our awareness. Comes from. And it it's foo. We are. And so meditation brings me to this face. Ethics private a little bit more to describe it a little bit more. When we. Have thought. We're working something out we're planning something. When we think. Who are we thinking too. Yes we we think about something. We. Have a problem we have a situation. But who is it when we think. That we are thinking too. We got to be stinking to somebody otherwise. What's the purpose you know we're thinking. But we're thinking. Actually to this space. And when's sounds,. Voices. Music. Beautiful music. Last service we had the blessing of a spire engine. Out of this out of this space. This silence comes sound. And then back into the sink back into the silent. This sound. Disappears so without. This silence. How could there be this sound it would always. The terrible noise we would hear nothing. But yet this timeline. It's so great and so vast. And here we are again at the core of our being. Same place. And the space. Around us this beautiful church organ. This building that has been cared for 200 years almost 200 years. But what is even more important. Is the space. Because we need. The space. For these walls. For the floors were the people we need the space. And so here again. Wait we have we come back. We have. We have joys we have. Pain sometimes terrible pain. But. Within a there is a place. Where. There is. A place where we experiences pain as we experience our thoughts. Where are we. Are still and can. They're actually. Any pain and sorrow. And finally. Our space our quiet space. Well we have to our sensations in a little bit harder. To get away from these. You know it sensations were almost one with them. But. We seal them. And if we didn't have. This. Bass. This. Awareness. How could we feel how could we be there to feel our body to feel our pains to feel our. Our movement we have this still space. That we can be there to experience. But. Finally and i think most importantly is that. So yes we are all individuals. And we all have our lives and we all come together and we go. But. When we experience the core of our being. We are. Quiet. We are silent. We experienced who we are we experience each other. Are we actually. Different. In that. Quiet. Aware space are we separate. In that space. Or is this space. What unitus are we won. Actually. In this space. The meditation i have been practicing since 1982. Is my zen meditation or is not exempt. I'll tell you how i got into it. For many years i had become increasingly unsatisfied. Find my spiritual practice. In fact i did not have. Irregular spiritual practice. And my ear regular kind of placement of nature. Or other times of silent contemplation. Did not satisfy me. A dimension of my life. Was too shallow. Especially when i could recall. A profound personal experience. I had in my youth. Did 1982. Arbor serving here is your minister. And i was aware that unlike catholicism or some protestantism. We have no specific tradition. For any spiritual practice in are you going to terryin universalism. Elephant when we try to have even short periods of silence in our service. It will not be long before. More than a few begin to be unable to be quiet and immovable. It is almost as though there is some fear of that silence. Animal delivery. Hey what it may teach or show us. In earlier years the 1950s and 60s. I had encountered some zen buddhist and while i was practicing law in san francisco. In san francisco. There's a real underlying influence of oriental culture. And i was exposed to the writings of dt suzuki and alan watts. And incidentally w road effectively about zen. Even though results. Life was not an example. Josen practice or moral character for that matter. Azuki. I'm a san francisco zen center. A few times when it first began. Imagine what it being an orthodox jewish synagogue. I spent a few days at the zen retreat a tassajara. In the mountains near carmel. And that was it. The many years after that i did nothing with them except what we call. Libraries in. That is reading about sin. But not practicing it. It's like reading about riding a bicycle without actually riding a bicycle. Atlanta 1982. Doctor i've been here as minister for 3 years. I decided to ride the bicycle. They went to fresno called his van mountain monastery. In the catskills in new york. For three weeks in the summer. There i found. The real thing. I got up before dawn. Set with the monks. I connected with the man i realized when i first heard him speak. But he would be my teacher. That was john lurie. American son of immigrants sicilians. From new jersey. Do scholarships he became well-educated. A scientist. Guns and artistic and professional. Commercial photographer. Could become over many years and authentic. Fully transmitted teacher of zen. As a student of my resuming roshe. John title lori or simply dido dido is a dharma name. Donna was a very straightforward no-nonsense man. He had been in his you supposed to make in the navy. And if any of you know about what it means to be a bosun's mate in the navy it really means you got today would be. anybody who gives you any trouble but i think one of the things that connected us with our common understanding. Of the usefulness. A limitations. Of self-discipline and authority. Which i had experienced in the marine corps. Daigoro she died last october at the age of 78. A great loss. Exam practice one cannot get beyond a certain point without connecting with the real teacher. Better still radically possible to do on one's own. But it is likely as learning to play the violin well without a teacher. I find it curious that many americans commit themselves to years of hard work. The coach or teacher. To learn to play a sport or a musical instrument. Putting spiritual practice or unwilling to get a teacher for their spiritual practice. Is then it is important. To get a teacher who has received a real transmission to teach. From an authentic tradition. Because there are many who claim to be such without validity. Also let me warn anyone who seeks a teacher. For spiritual practice. Avoid anyone who seems to be trying to cause you to be dependent. Punch him or her. Who in psychological terms. Encourages. Dependency and powder dependency. Guided would not let that happen in so that way. Any understand and in buddhism in general. If you don't like a teacher. You can walk away anytime. There is no such thing as excommunication. I do not have the time here to go into the specific practices of zen meditation. But i need to say more about it. Title never like to use the word meditation. You understand because that word meditation has met too many. Different things to different people. Is then practice you become more awake. We become more aware. But only while we are sitting without moving. But in other parts of our life. The point of zone is to wake up. To be awake. This moment. Anish moment after that. Xander's not a means to escape the cares of the world by escaping the world. I noticed. Over some years after i began my practice that i was more aware. All other people were feeling. Hey when i watch the news on tv i am more deeply aware. Of the misery. And sometimes rarely. The joys of living. But what's an has empowered me to do. Enabled me to do. Sister shay. Yes. Yes to the full reality of life. Do the artist glory and its misery. Just say yes. To embrace life not stoically or grudgingly. Unconditional. Yes. In my medication endings and we have light intellectual thinking. We learn to let go. Open electrical thoughts. That does not mean at all. Does zanders anti-intellectual as some critics have claimed. It is rather that we use. We have to use. Apartment electric in our daily lives or has received. We're getting run over by a bus when we step off the corner. Xanax completely compatible with reason and science. Hope you learn to let go of the intellect in order to stop our using the intellect. Dewey's age. Awareness of what lies beneath the elect. Our spiritual nature. The others wise than has appealed to many of the lecturers. Percents the limitations of using only intellect. Requires van has appealed to many creative artists and musicians. Who become themselves. The paintbrush for the musical instrument. In other words in our meditation. We train our mind to focus. On this present moment. Amazon the next moment. And then the next. To give a homely example. After a meal we may put the dishes in the sink to wash them or. Put them in the dishwasher. What's in soy sauce is. That we miss those moments if while doing dishes. We let our mind wish that we could be done with that. As we think about what we would rather be doing. Or what we can be doing as soon as we finish. Rather. Zen teaches us how to enjoy doing the dishes while we do the dishes. That is our life at that point. To do the dishes. What we do the dishes. After sometime during his van i began to realize how special he had changed my life. It did not make me less practical. You're unaware about what i needed to do then or later. But there was no daydreaming. Your wishful thinking. Although they were in our time when i lapse. It showed me how to be alive. Moments. Zehnder's for the factors for many who are dying. My late wife dory. Who many of you knew. Schedule for central actress was very helpful. In her living her last month with pancreatic cancer. Because then teaches how to be awake. Is ally. Each moment we are granted consciousness. Even if we are aware. Our days grow shorter. We have a group. Here in this church which practice is in. Sponsored by the unitarian universalist. Buddhist fellowship. And farthest benefiel the other vermont and affiliate related to the zen mountain monastery. Democrat for new york. Zen buddhist and buddhist in general do not proselytize. But if you wish to know more about our practice here please contact me and please forgive the plug. And so. Where do you learn how to sit. How to focus our minds on being awake. While we are alive. How to focus our minds without head tripping. How to say yes. Do what store for the greek called the whole catastrophe of reality. I am grateful. Four more than i ever expected to receive. From the gift of my life. Make more real to me by my meditation. Go through all those living. And no longer living. And beneath that. To the source within me. I'm just horse. Risen each of us. Awaken. Waiting to be awakened. Arco.

uusociety_org

2013-02-17-2Sharon.mp3

Morning. My name is sharon lee i'm up here today to talk to you about. My experiences working with people of all ages. To better understand. How we learn. During the weekdays i'm what's called a neuropsychologist. That's someone who. Has learned a little bit about how the brain and our behavior. Emotions are related to each other. And i get to learn about how many different ways there are to do a lot of different things that we do. I get to basically play with people's brains everyday. At the same time hangout. With really cool kids mostly kids. And. These kids sometimes have difficulty. But i have more trouble. Keeping up with them. And they never cease to impress and amaze me. And my job i'm tested each day to find. The strengths. And people their gifts their talents. And their differences. Mostly i have to find ways to help people embrace. They're different abilities. Celebrate their unique perspectives. Using them to teach and grow and share their gifts rather than being anxious or sad about certain tasks. It might be more challenging for them than their peers. So how did i come about doing this job. I grew up in california in the 70s. The hippie era of peace and love and rainbow colored punch buggies. My folks playing joan baez and peter paul and mary. John denver. I watch marlo thomas and i sang freebie you and me is i stand on the coffee table dancing. I came about my interest in the brain by watching. The incredible hulk. Dr. david banner figured out how his brain might change right so i wondered myself. What would happen if i could change my brain. Could i move rocks by thinking hard enough. Can i study by putting a book under my pillow. I also made mistakes along the way and realize that. The power of being open-minded was a lot better than reading a book a lot of time. So i came by compassion also pretty naturally almost to a fault. As i went through boxes of tissues empathizing with jan brady. About how horrible it was to wear braces. Then when the grinch's heart grew three sizes. Adhering the who voices singing. I was all teared up. I also had a perfect teacher growing up my cousin steve. He was born with cerebral palsy. Which is when something bad happens to your brain even before you're born and oftentimes. It makes it hard to control the muscles that you have. Magic grow. My cousin had to have many surgeries and casts on his legs to allow him to walk. What does braces many tended to walk and talk with a stutter. And had difficulty pronouncing certain words. Whoever he had an amazing sense of humor. About the whole process he loved telling jokes he loves pulling pranks especially on my sister which was really fun. He had trouble paying paying attention in school. And school was hard for him. But as i said he had a great sense of humor and he love to. Push the envelope. When we were at the grand canyon one year he was 8 years old he went. Running up to the edge of the canyon. There was a small little you know those days it wasn't big safety rails they just had like a few. And he just went running up there stumbling up there. Anda. Scared us all to death but he wanted to show that he could do it he wasn't going to be timid or frustrated or stopped. Buy anything. Now he has daughter. And he still struggles with his legs some with his backing. But he keeps like her light-hearted. And he. Does these things maybe to take his mind off his own issues or maybe he just. Stands on the side of love and laughter. And either way that's steve's gift. There's been some amazing kids that i've seen my job. That face challenges in there raining in there exploding energy. Or what their ability communicate. And with taking perspectives. There's a little boy who really struggled one day coming in with sitting still working quietly. It's cool we all have that trouble. So when we work together he taught me about his gift of learning through moving. Literally climbing my door frame. And doing cartwheels down the hallway. And he taught me that he could sit in focus though when he was asked to draw. He drew this incredible creature with scary teeth and long hair. They proceeded to tell me a story about how that creature. Crip long in the forest with jump out and scare the hiccups out of little boys. But he taught me to see that he had this desire to move into acting to draw and tell stories and these were not disabilities for him these were gifts. And sometimes i get to see people. More than once. And really learn about how our brains change. If you just keep. Trying and really want something bad enough. We can make it happen. This one way i got to work with once when he was six. They got to watch him playlist soccer. At the age when all the kids are kind of running around the field chasing the ball like ants on a hot dog you know just. Fast as you can go. I worked with him. To know a little bit more about how he saw the world. And he had autism. Does a challenge some people face when they struggle to see the world from other people's perspectives. His struggle understand jokes sometimes they communicate with their faces or use their gestures. But this boy grew and learned and took classes with other boys who had autism. To help him gain that perspective. A little bit better and learn some strategies about how to communicate a little differently. In a few years i saw him again and he was. Tall almost as tall as me. And he was a smiley and bright-eyed and greeted me with a firm handshake. And after we spent hours together working on things he asked if i was tired. Yes. if i would if i needed a little break. This was a surprise because he was showing me that he was thinking about me. And that sometimes hard. I was more impressed by this boys manners than others i knew because he had his autism. He uses autism as a gift. For himself and for others he learned that other people. Needed to know he was thinking about them. And he reminded me that this is often the skill i take granted. Especially those of us who get caught up in responding like we're texting or talking to a computer to do a lot of that too much of that since. And we forget to really engage. So i'm humbled and inspired each day from the kids i see who have so many gifts and some challenges as well. Yet they taught me not to pity their challenges. Or my own. As they grow and mature into adults who see the world through different lenses. They want to be praised for. Who they are and not seeing for what they're not. We all differences and how we think dream. Learn hope play love. These differences help us evolve. And to make the world a better place to live. The kids and adults i've worked with. Have given me new perspectives. With which to view the world and our purpose. It's part of the incredible gift of life. So here i stand on the side of love.

uusociety_org

2010-12-05-1%20Sermon.mp3

You may know tick not han vietnamese. Buddhist monk who. Has held many many retreats in this country. Not only with other. Buddhist monks but also with american vietnam veterans it's been stunning work that he has done. Once he was. Leaving such a retreat with. American veterans there and. One of the veterans confess. That during the war. He had killed. 5 vietnamese children. And he said that since that time. He couldn't bear. To be alone in a room. With children. Tick not han said to him. At this very moment. There are many children. Who are dying. In the world. There are children who are dying because they lacked just one single pill even. Of medicine. If you are mindful. You can bring that pill. To a child and you can save. That child's life. If you practice that. 5 *. And you could save five children's lives. Because. What is to be done. Is to be done. In the present moment. 40000 children die every day. Because of lack of food. Why do you cling to the past why do you think continually about those five. Who are already. Dad. You have the power. To change. The present moment. That story was. Told by sean murphy the same writer who told the two stories that i told her read a couple of minutes ago. The stories i think our invitations. To us all to us. Smart western mines i guess who. Are pretty full of opinions. And speculations in. Information and. Think we know everything. To notice that there are also. Western minds american. Mines. Capable of letting go of all that stuff. So as to touch. The present. So i want to share with you this morning a little of the way. Wisdom of another contemporary american. Buddhist. Teacher. Her name is pema chodron. And if we are to receive her wisdom. In in her image i think we have to come. With a cop that is empty of all that passed stuff of ours. To be ready to fill the cup. With something from the present moment. Pema chodron teaches at a monastery. An abbey in. Cape breton. In nova scotia. It is the first tibetan monastery in north america. Established for westerners. And i came to her. Work by way of her book which is called. Things fall apart. When things fall apart she has written several books but. That was the first that i found. I thought she might have something to say. To last this morning. And i think i was right. She tells about a day in her life. That started out seeming like a perfectly ordinary. Day but before it was over. Her whole reality. Had changed. Had given out. On her. There she was standing outside of her house. Drinking a cup of tea. She heard her husband's car. Drive up. She heard the car door. Bang shot. And then he walked around the corner of the house. And said to her. That he was having an affair. With someone else. And that he wanted. A divorce. Pema chodron says she remembers. The sky. At that moment. They lived in. Northern new mexico at the time and she remembers how huge. Skywise. She remembers the sound of the river. Nearby. And the steam rising. From her tea. And she says. There was no time. No thought. Nothing. Just the light. And the profound. Limitless. Stillness. And then she says. He picked up a rock and threw it. Attic. And now. She says when anyone asks her. How she came to be a buddhist. She tells them that it was because she was so angry. With her husband. Watching means is. That she believes that he saved. Her life. This is true. In the sense that at the time she tried as hard as she could. To get back. Just some kind of comfort. Some kind of security some familiar. Have. Resting. Place. And no matter how hard she tried. She couldn't pull it off. And so. She learned. That annihilation of her old clinging self. Was the only way. Chicago. I believe that if we could put in our empty cup. The image of pema chodron standing there on that ordinary new mexico day. And then having it all shatter. In a second. Then. I believe we would be pouring into our cop. Something of what is to be learned. From that moment what she learned. From it. And i think we would hold in a cup. Something of. Real essence. A buddhist. Think about her standing there. In that sunshine with that teacup. In her hand hearing those words from her husband. Think about the chain reaction. First silence. Stillness. Nothingness. And then drawing. That rock. And this is how. Fear. Works. First. We freeze we can all see martha up here frozen. On the side. And then comes acting out. Hitting somebody maybe. Slamming the door. Maybe lashing out with words. Or a fist. There are of course variations. On the pattern instead of freezing. Some people run. And instead of letting the feelings out in a flood. Some people. Barrett. Act like everything is. Just fine thank you. But remember the second part. Of her story. When she discovered that nothing she could do. Would bring back. The old comfort. The old security the familiar world. As she had known it. That discovery. Is the great gift. That allows the learning. The discovery. Comes when the rug is pulled out. When nothing works. When you can't make sense. Of what's happening. As she says when things fall apart. The first noble truth of buddhism is about some sara. That cycle of suffering. That we keep on looping through. As long as we persist. And thinking that somehow. We can achieve. Endless pleasure. Endless security somehow we can get you a better place somehow we can get to be better. People. Pema chodron asks. What if we tried out. A different idea. About suffering. What is after all suffering doesn't mean that something is wrong what if we didn't have to feel that we brought all this on somehow ourselves. By making some wrong move. Think of all the times you said. To yourself. If only i had. Something-or-other. Or. If only i had route. Something. Rather. And that's the way we think if we're in that samcera. Loop. Think about that urge the seconds of discomfort or the irritation or the boredom comes. To what change the channel change the thermostat change the music. Pema chodron has the idea that. All of these. Signs of anxiety. Are really rooted. Ultimately. Interfere. I've death. And we experienced a touch of it. With every. Single. We experience. Experience it when the marriage is not working. When the job is not working. When the friendship. Seems to be drifting away. And so we ward off. Dad. We think. By warding off. All those little. What's instead. We tried not running away not stuffing. The feelings. Not stuffing the disappointment or the embarrassment. Or the irritation or the resentment or the anger or the jealousy. Or the fear. What if we stopped. Running. Just. Stayed. Still. That's my title for this afternoon you know. Don't just. Do something. Damn there. In those moments. To pay attention. To what happens. Pema chodron says those are the moments. That are the perfect. Teachers. I have an old friend. Whose work used to be. Representing. Faculty unions in there. Negotiations with the administration's of the schools. Where they teach in one day. He told me about a phone call from an attorney someone that he had never met before who was representing a unit university administration. And he had no dealings with this man before and. He called him up the attorney called my friend and in nothing flat he was yelling at him on the telephone calling him names. And i can picture my friend you know the phone out here. Somewhere. And pretty soon when they. Attorney had to pause cuz he's run out of breath. I'm to come up for air my friend said in the calmest voice you've ever heard. Look i don't know what your problem is. But i don't do business this way. Your people are angry. My people are angry. Don't you think it would be a good idea. For us not to get angry. So that we can help these people. Find a way. To work. Together. The next evening. Spoke with my friend on the phone and i asked him how he was getting along with the. Foul-mouthed attorney. And he said oh you mean my new best friend. They had reached a settlement. That is limited limited the need for the hearing that they both did not want to happen. And my friends colleagues in. His office were asking him was he going to send the attorney a bill for anger management training. I've never heard my friends say that he's a buddhist. But i think he had found a way. To live that is truly away. Of liberation. I think he understands as. Peanut children does that whatever is happening at this moment is itself. The path. Things are always in transition so it's a good idea to get the knack. Of living with uncertainty. It's a good idea. To meet. Whatever. Comes along. By moving steadily. Torrid it. And meeting it. With curiosity. And with the intent not to cause harm whatever is coming towards you might have a very tiny hat on his head or or what or antlers. Sure enough. We have a choice every moment we can protest we can complain about how the world owes us a living and it's not living up to the agreement. Or we can hear the child laughter. In the stroller going by we can smell the bread and air. Neighbors. Kitchen. We can feel that delicious breeze. Now i want to mention that living this way approaching life this way. Works not just with the tiny irritants of ordinary days it works no matter how dire the circumstances here is another buddhist parallel. Parable that you may know. It's of a man crossing a desert and a tiger is coming. Towards him and so he flees from the tiger and there it turns as a precipice. And so all he can do is hold onto a route. That is sticking out of the side of the rock. And the tiger is sniffing from above we're back to martha on the rock i think. And and he looks down and there's another tiger down there waiting to eat him. Antelope. Only this vine is keeping him alive and it just that moment wouldn't you know it to my one black one white start tonight at the vine. And just then. He sees a luscious. Strawberry. Just. Within his grasp. He plucks that strawberry. How sweet. It tastes. When i reread that. Parable this weekend. Immediately brought to my mind the movie that you may remember to from a few years back called life is beautiful. Story of a man in nazi concentration camp. With his little boy. You remember his humor he keeps his son's spirits up. With his humor. And the little boy survives to be reunited with his mother. The father does not. Survive. His laughter clearly was not futile for his son. But i don't think it was futile for himself. Either. Jean-paul sartre. Said you can. Go to the gas chamber free. Or not free. I think that wonderful father. Died. Free. Justice the man. Who's favored the strawberry in the last. Moment of his life. Dye free. Pema chodron says we have a choice every moment. Do we meet this moment with bitterness. Or with openness. Now here comes the most interesting part to me. I've heard teaching because it is the very opposite of what we are often taught we are often taught to value hope we know very well that slogan that says keep hope alive and i'm weak probably march behind some banner or other some cause or other. Headed by that. She says we need to get the knack of hopelessness. Which means. We need to give up hoping for a better world a better self we need to give up hoping for a babysitter who will be nice to us when we're good. And who will rescue us when we're not. She goes on to give. But i think is the new understanding of the difference. Between fear and non-theist and understand that. According to her charms this. Difference has nothing to do. With what religion someone affirms. For her. Sears. Are people. Who need some hand to hold someone to take care of them. She comes down pretty hard then. She says this are people who are addicted to hope. And that addiction. Rob's them. Of the present moment. Non fierce on the other hand can relax with uncertainty. Non-serious. Abandon hope which is not entry into hell. But an affirmation of the possibility. Of new beginnings. Non-serious. Make. Friends with their present cell. They catch themselves more and more quickly. When they see themselves lapsing into old patterns. Apps like. Or fight. Or grab. They don't see themselves as. Problems needing to be fixed. Instead. They recognize themselves. As ordinary people. Who can give themselves a break. From their old time. Predictability. So there is. A whole lot. Pema chodron thinking to go in. The cup. This morning. I think i'll stop there. Just remember i hope. That the present moment. Is the perfect. Teaching moment. If we let it be. And we don't have to run all over the place looking for it. Because it's always with us. Wherever. We are. Every moment. Including.

uusociety_org

2011-12-04-2Sermon.mp3

Now faith. Is the assurance of things hoped for. The conviction of things not seen. Those famous words from the book of hebrews. Some less famous words from the tag on a good earth tea bag. Face said my tea bag. Is daring soul to go beyond what the eyes can see. If faith is something that is beyond the reach of our senses. Not demonstrable through physical means. Why am i talking about it in a roomful of post-enlightenment scientific rationalism existential skeptics. I will answer that question i promise. But before i talk about face. I have to talk about freedom. Because in our liberal religious tradition we understand faith only in the context of freedom. No scholars of ethics tell us that there is a crucial difference between freedom from. And freedom to. The arc of the history of freedom in the united states takes the shape of the progressive elimination of oppressive and coercive structures. That. Limited individual freedom. More and more we have freedom from. Coercion. We unitarian-universalist celebrate this kind of freedom we exist because of that kind of freedom. So we have freedom from. But what about freedom to. That's a deeper and more nuanced concept. It asked something of us. It reminds us that in a democratic society it is hard work to take citizenship seriously and practice it with integrity. You have to be informed. To participate. To be proactive in creating communities whose values reflect your own. Freedom to is not passive it requires engagement and commitment. Is not so much about having the right to do with you please. It is about the obligation to do those things that nurture and sustain the common good. This is also true face when practiced in the context is freedom. You might say that faith in. Is the more modest concept. For centuries maybe millennium having faith meant believing in the same things that everyone else in your particular house of worship believed. Or in your family. It meant ascribing to a creed accepting what was handed to you of a tradition of learning and interpretation and then handing on that same tradition. To your children. But when we move from faith in towards faith to. Things get complicated for us. To say that i have faith is not to say that i believe a particular set of things in this context of free fee. It is to say that i live as though. There has always been a lily pad of some sort for me to land on. And there always will be one beneath me. No matter the direction of my next sleep. And lamont uses that image of lily pads to describe her experience of faith. She also used to good effect the story of the man on the trapeze. A man with courage and self confidence and faith in life despite his disability. He had a plan. Flying through the air with the greatest of ease was just a step along the way for him not a place to stop and rest. Always bigger mountains to climb. This is a man who takes seriously. The gift of freedom. His response to lamont that he has bigger mountains to climb with a challenge to her. As it should be a challenge to us. What is the bigger mountain. For us to climb. What willy we ask of ourselves what is the thing that seems unimaginable. That we. Might have the faith to attempt. What will we do with the gift. Of faith and freedom. In the absence of fear coercion theological quibbling. What will you do. In faith. In the absence of certainty and easy answers. What will you do. In faith. Many of you have come from other religious home some. Come from none. We have all as we came here had to sort through. That heritage of religion spirituality or secular. Influence deciding what to keep and what to discard as we made a home here. All unitarian universalist congregation are made up of a considerable number of. Come outers or come inners from other religions. Or from an experience of no religion at all. Is one of the. Factors that makes congregations like this one such a rich and interesting and challenging place to be. In this process of coming in. And sorting through what you have brought with you. Beware of a pencil. You may feel that in order to be a unitarian universalist you must leave behind all of what your prior religious experience gave to you. Not only to set it but to reject it. Not only to rejected put to impose that rejection on everybody else. Oh does that sound familiar to sound. That tendency among unitarian universalist inspired. You you do gray to write this little poem. We are free and liberal church. We do not permit the burning of incense because catholics do that. We do not permit the lighting of candles because jews do that. We do not permit the ringing of bells because do buddhists do that. We do not permit the singing of hymns because protestants do that. We do not permit the offering of prayer because nearly everybody does that we are so free our freedom grows as we make more rules to define clearly what is not permitted until prison walls so sick and hide to find that freedom we think is free. The spirit stifled by the open mind. No i would just like to point out that let that little quote is an example of something i learned very early in my ministerial career which isn't when you want to say something dangerous you quote somebody else i didn't write that. Duke gray flame duke gray. So as we continue to build our faith which everytime we welcome new members and changes the nature of our congregation inside every time we come together we are changed. Let's be mindful to avoid the senseless rejection. Cool sources of authority and wisdom that have come to us from others. And lamont rights of the evolution of her belief in god. Mine was a patchwork god sewn together from bits of rag and ribbon eastern and western pagan and hebrew everything-but-the-kitchen-sink and jesus. We all need to be careful as we piece together our personal face that we do not leave out. Some important bit of rag or ribbon that might still have meaning. Even in this advent season i would say the jesus pieces. Practicing faith in the context of freedom requires so much from each of us. In our free and democratic church it is hard work to be a member. Especially when membership is taken seriously and practice with integrity. It requires that we be informed. That we participate that we be proactive in creating this community in such a way. That its values reflect our own. Having faith requires engagement. In order for our free faith to develop we must each find a way to be present to our inner self. To the sources of holiness and transcendence. In our personal spiritual journeys. We also have to be present to experiences of worship and learning and growth and transformation. Having faith in the context of freedom requires a commitment. We do not only have the privilege of choosing our own beliefs we have an obligation each of us to develop those beliefs develop our personal spirituality in the context of our chosen community. With nobody telling you what to believe you have to do the work of coming to faith by yourself. But not really by yourself because you have so many companions. You have to do that work with integrity. Exploring various sources of authority and wisdom experimenting with different spiritual practices learning from each other as you try on diverse styles of worship and contemplation. So where do we start. It's faith in the context of freedom is such a personal and individualized thing. Where do we start if not with theology or doctrine or creed. We start and end as martha's matt pointed out. With the story of our own life. Each of us. Has a story. That we tell em that we reflect on carefully. That's what doing theology is in unitarian universalism reflection on lived experience. It is my hope that everyone of you. We'll have some kind of personal spiritual practice. Sometime set apart from the busyness of your day when you can be still. Slow down. Reflect meditate pray admire nature. Anything can be a spiritual practice if it is done mindfully. Walking the dog can be a spiritual practice if done mindfully. Washing the dishes can be a spiritual practice if done. Mindful. I hope that in the weeks ahead. As we each navigate the busyness of the holiday season and in our own ways fend off the demands of the commercial christmas machine. We will take some time to look at our own life stories through particular lens. Allen's that allows us to see our lives as stories of faith. Go beyond the rational to the intuitive. The emotive. To what is not seen but sensed. And maybe some of the stories of the season. The christmas story of hope the hanukkah story of courage. The solstice story of faith in the return of light. Maybe one of those stories will inspire you. To understand your own story of faith. A little more clearly. The most of us have probably not taken very many big dramatic leaps of faith. We have probably staggered as an lamott did from lily pad to lily pad. Sometimes i do wear that we were even being buoyed up by something. Go back over your own story even if it means revisiting the swamps of doubt and fear. And see if you can find the lily pads in the story. Ask yourself what is it that has carried me through the hard times. Nudge me in the right direction. Opened my heart to the joy of a new experience. What is it that is ultimately reliable and trustworthy. Tumi. In the story of my life. Some of you will call that thing god. Others will call it by some other name. Some may still be in a place where you reject the idea of anything that is ultimately reliable anything one can have faith in. Another darn eskimo you will say. And that's okay too. When you spend enough time and reflection and you realize just how many eskimos there have been. Perhaps your understanding of salvation will expand to include the most unexpected. Now on the side here about the story about the eskimo. Anne lamott is is reflecting. A prejudice in alaska. About the native. Peoples. Just as jesus in the story of the good samaritan reflected. That prejudice the samaritans were reviled people they were marginalized people so when he told the story and which the good samaritan was the good guy. He surprised people out of. Their blinders. That is what lamotte is doing. With the story of the eskimo is well. At some point in your reflecting. Mixture. That you arrived at this place. Your religious home. How is it that you came to be a part of this community of faith. What does it mean to you to have a religious home. I want to share one more story from an lamott. Goes like this our pastor told us this story the other day she writes when she was about seven her best friend got lost one day. The little girl ran up and down the streets of the big town where they live but she couldn't find a single landmark. She was very frightened. Finally a police officer stopped to help her. He put her in the passenger seat of his car and they drove around till finally she saw her church. She pointed it out to the policeman and then she told him firmly. You can let me out now this is my church and i can always find my way home. From here. And that lamont concludes is why i have stayed so close to mine. Because no matter how bad i have feeling how lost or lonely or frightened. When i see the faces of the people at my church and hear their voices. I can always find my way home. What better time than advent the season of expectant waiting of faith that something good will come. What better time to find your way home. Look around you. Look at this place. Lovingly decorated. With multiple invitations to generosity. Look at these people that you share these pews with. Do you see the face of god and their faces. Or the faces mystery or the face of humanity in all its glory. Whatever word you call it. Have faith that somehow. When we gather as people of faith. We can and will. Together. Find our way home.

uusociety_org

2012-01-22-2%20Sermon.mp3

I graduated from nursing school in 1977. And went to work on the medical floor of a small physician-owned for-profit hospital in washington dc that only. Survive for two more years before it became. Completely unprofitable and went bankrupt. In my first year there the year where i was really figuring out how to be a nurse there were two patients who had a great impact on me. The first one was a man named john. A man in his mid-20s who came in with a diagnosis of fever of unknown origin. John had lots of friends. Oh man. Who were fiercely protective of him. And love him dearly. His physician ordered antibiotic after antibiotic and consult after consult but john's fever just got worse and worse. More and more symptoms appeared. He developed what seemed to be different and unrelated diseases in different organ systems. Finally after weeks of suffering john inexplicably died. It would be another four years before the aids virus was identified in the united states in a year after that before scientists gave it a name. But i have no doubt in my mind that john was my first aids patient. The other patients i remember well with mary. Mary's diagnosis was straightforward stage 4 ovarian cancer. She had no family in the area and no friends came to visit. We the nurses all understood that she had been admitted to the hospital to die. She had a standing order for pain medication that allowed us to administer something every 4 hours. The hospital's policy on it medication administration was that the medication nurse had a 30-minute range and compliance. Policy was written in recognition of the fact that on a bizik medical floor one medication nurse couldn't give all the patients there medications exactly on time it gave us some leeway to be a little late. But it also gave us leeway in this case to be a little early. With mary's pain medication. That was the best we had to offer in the way of palliative care back then. We just kept administering demerol and morphine a little closer together and a little closer together staying within the letter of law & policy knowing. Did it wasn't sufficient to alleviate her suffering and secretly hoping with each dose we administer that this would be the one that would cause her respirations to cease. It would be another decade before hospice care had a serious impact on end-of-life medical management. And i have no doubt in my mind that there were many many mary's whose deaths were. Hastened. By the careful. Administration of pain medication. By many nurses. It seemed to me that our society back then within an in-between place. We have made tremendous advantages advances in disease prevention and cure but had not anticipated the new challenges that would be created simply by having all of us live longer. We were pouring resources into cancer research. But had no idea and seemingly no interest in how to care for the folks whose cancers did not respond to the new. Treatments. In the mid-80s. I got my masters in maternal child health from georgetown university. One of the courses i took was a bioethics class taught by some fine jesuit ephesus. They were by then talking and writing extensively about the conundrum created by the reality that our ethical decision-making simply had not kept pace with our technology. I had a conversation with an instructor one day it was actually it was an argument. About prenatal testing at georgetown university hospital. Why i asked for you offer prenatal testing two women if you want allow them to terminate the pregnancy even if they learn that they are carrying a baby with a genetic defect that is incompatible with life outside the womb. He answered that they hope that the knowledge would give the couple's time to prepare themselves for the loss at the end of pregnancy. But i pressed him don't many of them just go elsewhere. He acknowledged that to be the case and then said that he still thought it was defensible to do prenatal testing in the hope that people would learn god's will for their baby and wood. Do the right thing. I assume what more cynical theory about why they actually did that kind of testing in a catholic hospital. I suspected that if they didn't offer the option of a full range of prenatal testing they would lose too much business. Since the majority of people who have prenatal testing. Get the reassuring news that everything is okay and carry out their pregnancies to term. They couldn't afford not to offer the full spectrum of prenatal services even if those services led some people to do what was in their eyes not the right thing. I thought to myself. I've now spent more than three decades. In nursing and ministry combined. I've seen a lot of life at a lot of death. If i've learned anything in those years it is that bioethics is an incredibly complex field and anybody who thinks they have a simple answer to any of the complicated questions of bioethics is kidding themselves. There have been times when i have very much admired the internal philosophical consistency of those jesuits. The sanctity of life always prevails. This makes the catholic church are most steadfast ally in opposing the death penalty. And one of our most memorable foes in the struggle for reproductive choice. Another conundrum. Unlike catholicism we unitarian universalist don't have a single ethical imperative that. Conch talked about that trumps all others. We live by choice in the gray areas. We are situational ephesus. To my mind situational ethics are the only ethics. Life-and-death quandaries are not theoretical they are real situations involving real human beings. Do time and time again we find ourselves faced with ambiguous confusing and very human dilemmas with no absolutes to guide us in seeking to do the right thing. We made the choice to inhabit that ambiguous place everyone of us. We made that choice hopefully with our eyes wide open and minds and hearts wide open as well. Those of us in unitarian universalism who believe in god would not presume to know god's will for say the parents of an atom cephalic fetus or terminally ill adults facing nothing but unrelenting pain. Lacking a single and defining ethical imperative the best we can do is remind ourselves of the values and that's plural values that we hold most dear even if sometimes those values. Suggest two different directions. Affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person. Being compassionate in our relationships and embracing meaning-making as one of the hallmarks that defines humanity. These are the tools that we bring to end-of-life questions. Do the decisions we make allow for the retention of basic human dignity. Which encompasses both individual autonomy as well as meaningful relationships. Are we making the decisions that reflect a commitment to compassionate pain relief. And symptom relief. How do we deal with the reality of pain and loss of function. Is there a way to understand what we are going through as redemptive. Is there a point at which the answer to that question is simply no not any longer. I am convinced that the death with dignity movement across the country offers an ethical and. Passionate option to adults with terminal illness. The legislation pending in the vermont legislature that gene refer to would allow a competent adult. Within six months of death to request the assistance of a position to provide them with the means to end their own life on their own terms. It is a law that honors personal autonomy and dignified the end-of-life with compassionate choice. When a person feels that their suffering is no longer redemptive. That the pain out walkways the ability to make meaning. That person. Can choose the time of their death. Now there was significant opposition to this bill from the catholic church and from other sources this world as well. As i said i respect the catholic church for their consistency. I just don't want them to impose their consistency on those of us who don't share it. The bill makes clear that there will be no imposition no physician no pharmacist no healthcare institutions that it's is not comfortable with death-with-dignity practices need participate. No institutional practitioner would be required under the terms of the law to do anything that violated their religious or ethical beliefs may to may exercise free choice in this matter. The bill is also opposed by some in the disability rights community. Out of concern that the law would be used. To put disabled people to death. The specter of josef mengele is always in the background in debate. Like this. And i understand that concern. But the law as it is written has many safeguards that would prevent. Us in vermont from going down that particular slippery slope. First of all only the patients themselves can request. Receive. And administer life-ending medication. To make the request you must be an adult who is mentally competent. Depressed request would only be granted when two separate physician certify that the patient is incurable and irreversibly ill. Not chronically ill. Not disabled but verifiably terminally ill and within 6 months of death. Finally informed consent requires that the person making the request be made aware first of the full range of options. In regard to end-of-life services available including hospice and other palliative care. To my mind this death-with-dignity. Movement has much in common with unitarian universalist values. The basis for the legislation is the desire to honor individual autonomy dignity and worth. Its supporters are passionate about end-of-life choice. And compassionate. And their desire to limit the suffering of those who have no further medical options. Last week the social action committee sponsor to form on the subject. Those of us in attendance were encouraged to learn that this bill has some chance of making it out of committee this year. But they need your help. Now i recognize that not everybody will be comfortable supporting death-with-dignity legislation that's okay. But if you are and you would like to know more. The social action committee has a bulletin board setup. In the parlors where you can learn more. And where you can learn how to take action if you choose to do so it could be as simple as putting your signature. On the petition. We've come a long way. Since i sat at mary's bedside all those years ago in my first year of nursing offering what felt to me like meager comfort. In the face of unrelenting suffering. We have come to terms with the reality that we will live longer. And the aging bing brings different challenges challenges that we need to work together to meet. We've come to terms with the reality that we humans are. Probably. The only species that lives most of our lives knowing that we will die. The reverend forest church made a life-work of writing and preaching about that aspect of our humanity. About being alive and having to die. And how that makes us into meaning-making creatures. Being alive and having to die and being intentional about all of that. Is the spirit in which the care network ministry offers you the opportunity to complete an advance directive after the service if you have not already done so. Remember that no matter how intentional you are if you do not communicate your choices to others there may come a day when your intentionality goes to waste. Advance directives protect you and they protect your loved ones by making sure that your choices are honored even when you can no longer start them for yourselves. I've been told by a number of you that you like take homes from a sermon this sermon has to take home. If you choose. You can get involved with the death with dignity issue. And all of you. Make sure your own personal end-of-life affairs are in order. The social action committee offers a monthly form throughout the church year and i chose several of them. To do follow-up sermons on. I chose this one. Because my personal and professional experiences leave me with no doubt. That we who opted for life of intentional choices may also wish. 2op. Ford f7 tensional choice. Death-with-dignity gives us that choice safely and compassionately. This is one of those issues that begs for people of liberal faith to become advocates. Most of the opposition much of the opposition is religious. It would be easy sometimes for them to say that they speak with the religious voice on this issue. It would behoove us. To say that we to speak with a religious voice. I like to. Egg unitarian-universalist on sometimes and say you know where values voters. We don't always. Townlake values voters but we are values voters to we have values we stand for the creation of the society that affirms individual worth and dignity. Encourages communities of compassion. And invest all stages of life with meaning. Those are our values. And this morning even though this is a very difficult topic i invite you to. Think intentionally. To act. On your own behalf. And to act perhaps on the behalf. Of others. Who need. Your support. Those are our values. Let's act on them.

uusociety_org

2009-10-11-2%20Sermon.mp3

Some years ago and there was a movie maybe some of you remember it was. Cold o. God. And starred george burns in the title role of our heavenly father. One of the actors persistent problems is convincing other people that he really is. God almighty. Since most folks don't picture the creator of the universe as a. Balding squinty-eyed cigar chewing old man. I'm thinking about that film makes me ask the question how do we. Or would we. Recognize god if we saw her. Or. Him what is god. Look like would we know it if god were sitting there beside us in the pew this morning. Or if the creator. Panhandle that's on church street. Some people. Think they know a god when they see one the newspaper while back carry the story. About hundreds of worshippers flocking to an oilfield somewhere out in the oklahoma or texas panhandle outlined in the rust spots on one of the big petroleum tanks. There appeared to be a super-sized image of jesus. The woman who saw this was at first a little reluctant to tell others but but then she began sharing it and soon there were cars clogging the roads all around the refinery at night just when when the light was at the right angle for this apparition. To appear. The newspaper didn't say exactly how the woman knew that this face she saw belonged. Did jesus and not to willie nelson. Or to some wino from houston or el paso but it is an interesting question there must have been some way she could. Look at that and say why look over there. Isn't that the second person of the trinity that there had to be some way that she could recognize the divine when she saw it. I know most of us when we think about gone or slightly more sophisticated than that we're not likely to think about god is a crusty old man or imagine that we see a portrait of jesus fried into a tortilla or or think that the virgin of mary's appearing to us in a bowl of post toasties. Unitarian universalist have been defined somewhat humorously is the people who believe in. At most. One god. And although a number of us are atheists and agnostics when we do talk about god is seldom in naively anthropomorphic. Turn. God is spirit. It says in john's gospel and although some of us would prefer more more modern language we tend to agree with that sentiment so in a course and building your own theology. That we offer periodically for newcomers. The class was. Asked to come up with their. Own phrase to describe their own view of ultimate reality and some did choose god others. Higher power others preferred. Ground being or or life force or creativity or. Universal consciousness which brings us back to the question that we started with. How would we recognize. Spirit. If we can't see it for. Touch it or hear it or taste it would we be able to. To identify. Creativity for the life force. If it. Snuck up behind us in. Circus by the arms. Gregory bateson shares this incident when he was teaching showing his students the shell of a crab asking them to imagine they were scientists from another planet. Meteorite falls from the sky and they're stuck to the media ride is this shall submit to the to the to the surface and he asked the students. What evidence could you give that this shall was once part of a. Living organism. Somewhere doctor's others artist. They all thought they knew what it meant to be alive but most were at a loss to explain how they could tell this crab was once part. Have a living thing not some strange rock. Or crystal. So what is. Why what is. Spirit. Or soul. Or consciousness. These were questions that fascinated alan turing. Turing was born in england almost a century ago in 1912. He was one of the inventors of the modern computer to pioneer in artificial intelligence. The question that touring thought about most keenly. Where's the question of whether a computer. Would one day be able to think could have machine have. A mind-altering ask these questions at a point when computer science was in its. Infancy. And even today there are lots of things that people can do very easily the machines can't do it all like reading those squiggly little letters. That show up at the bottom of your computer screen sometimes on gmail and yahoo you know those. Things you have to plug in. Those are called captious. That's that's an acronym that stands for completely. Automated. Turing test. To tell computers and humans apart but presumably it's not going to be long before microchips can start reading those. Squiggly letters the way they can already play chess better than uri or the grandmaster so so the question arises could a machine also. Write a sermon or ponder the meaning of existence or tell a joke or worried that it circuits or one day going to be obsolete can the spiritual arise from a purely material basis could a machine have a soul. And how would you know. If it didn't. Or if it did. This question of whether whether a machine can think is a little like the question of god people have strong opinions they can. Dogma ties endlessly. But instead of dogma teising touring tried to take a more practical approach he invented a procedure to test. For the presence or absence of soul. Come to be called the touring past or the imitation game you take. Two keyboards in two different rooms you can communicate back and forth in the test is to sit at one of the terminals. And to determine who or what. Is at the other. Keyboard under the rules of the game there's no limit to the dialogue. You can discuss literature you can debate politics you can sell life insurance you can carry on a flirtation if the machine. Can fool a human interviewer into believing that he or she is conversing with another person. Vending machine. Passes the test. Said touring if it responds. Like a human being with all the whimsy and wonderful weirdness of a person then for all intents and purposes that machine has the equivalent of a human mind. Now touring was not a theologian but his ideas have some relevance for how we think about god or spirit because it's possible to think of our entire universe is a kind of grand. Touring. Cast. If we envisioned our cosmos laid out on. A video screen. Filled with whirling galaxies and. Planets and turbulent change then the religious challenge for us would be to determine who or what is working the hidden. Keyboard what kind of world. Are we living in. Who's ultimately in charge is the universe. Merely a mechanism and essentially heartless mindless clockwork. Or is there behind this vast panorama of space and time. An intelligence or spirit work. During the second world war touring used his mathematical genius to. Crack the secret codes of the german high command. The nazis head. Designed and encrypting device that they called the enigma. You typed messages into the enigma. I'm into turning gears would crank out a sequence of letters that were unintelligible unless you knew the hidden code. And thanks touring and a handful of other cryptography is the british and americans knew every single transport and troop movement. Have the germans during the second half of that war. But we could think about our world. As another kind of enigma. We could think of oxygen and oak trees and stars and starfish as forming a mysterious code. Awaiting interpretation and translation we could hypothesize that the spiraling of our dna in the spiraling of our galaxy. A part of a single meaningful pattern. Cosmic. Hieroglyph waiting for a rosetta. The problem is that nobody has the key some people think they found a code book in the bible something they can find god signature in the book of nature and maybe there is. A divine author behind the book of creation. Or maybe not. While there's harmony. In the universe there's also. Chaos. Beauty there's also ugliness. While there seems to be. Order and meaning there's much that goes beyond understanding. The novelist. Franz kafka pointed to the dark inscrutability of things in his short story in the penal colony. Like many of his tales it's an allegory of our human condition. Amman. Wakens. Finding himself. Strapped to accrued. Torture. Apparatus. Doesn't know how he's. Gotten their doesn't understand why he's in this predicament. But. He can feel a set of needles being slowly lowered. Onto his back they begin to scratching them penetrate moving this way. That way tattooing. A repeated message. With their points. Maybe there. Spelling out some. Verdict some. Condemnation for a crime the man didn't even know he committed maybe there's some reason for this punishment it's being meted out but if so the man's unable to decipher whatever messages hidden there he only knows. The pain of his situation and the inevitability of his fate. Alan turing. Ended his wife as an atheist he was not able to believe in a god or intelligence that work in the world partly because he experience the world in terms that were almost. Kafkaesque. He might have had a more nearly normal life. Although he was bright and inquisitive as a child he was not a prodigy he came from a relatively. Well-to-do family he had more privileges than some. When he was 13 he was sent to a private boarding school in the west end of england. Marywood known as a shive somewhat. Solitary youth who is classmates noted would rather watch the daisies grow. Then join in team sports and athletics. His first venture into serious friendship came to a tragic end when. Christopher markham an older boy who befriended alan died of tuberculosis. Alan never forgot that first love. Pirelli never confessed his feelings to chris love was. The proper word for it. Although he would care for other men in his life. The passion the. Intensity of that first romance would never be forgotten or surpassed. Experiencing death at close hand allen began to wonder for the first time about the relationship between. Body. And so matter. Spirit while the physical remnants of his friend were gone something. Vital and precious remain and so alan plunged into studies in. Biology and physics and math trying to understand the connection between the living. And the nonliving. He distinguished himself at cambridge university shelly was called into service as a code breaker during the war. Then in 1950 he published his classic paper. Computing machinery and intelligence where he proposed his now-famous turing test. He might have had a productive life for suing his research but. To be a gay man at that time. Was to carry the burden of a terrible. Shameful. Affliction. Homosexuals were regarded as. Dangerous threats to the larger society. So when allen sexual orientation accidentally came to light in 1952 it was a turning point. One theory in those days was the. Homosexuality was caused by an imbalance. After hormones. And the united states the preferred medical treatment up until the fifties was castration. In britain the treatment was less violent but no less inhumane hearing was forced to undergo. A series of. Injections the female sex hormones group breasts. Became impotent. After you're the so-called therapy. Ended but something. Inside of touring. Had changed somehow that. Mysterious entity we call spirit. Had been permanently wounded and damaged. One day shortly after that touring prepared. An apple dipped in cyanide. Bit into it and was dead. It sometimes seems that human beings can be heartless. And mindless. Just like machines. They dehumanize those who were different. And in the process they. Dehumanize themselves are also capable. Of love. And caring. Love is the recognition of spirit by spirit love means recognizing that although we are. Homosexual and heterosexual and bisexual light-skinned and. Dark-skinned in. Bronze town where all. Creatures of the same order. No one has seen. The spirit at anytime it says in the gospel of john but if we love one another. The spirit abides in us and is perfected in us to look. Into another's eyes. And see their kindred soul is to recognize the divine in each other and ourselves. Cuda machine someday express love. Like. A human being nobody knows the answer to that. But if it could that love would be sacred is all love is sacred whether it's the love of men for women or woman for woman or man for men. Love rides the theologian paul tillich. Is life itself. In its actual unity. The forms and structures in which love and body's itself are the forms and structures in which life is possible. In which life overcomes its self destructive forces. And this is the meaning of ethics. To express the ways in which love embodies itself. And life. Is maintained. I'm saved. How then do we recognize. The spirit. We recognize it wherever we see. Love. Protecting maintaining. And enabling life. Love. Is the pattern. That connects.

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2012-01-08-2%20Sermon.mp3

Let me out for the text of my sermon. Boston hungarian and after that in english. Keyboard talk abilitylab. Memory ketotic lanap tomorrow. Gap.com. Punjabi kalam. Affinity green.. Ok google bonbon. Wikipedia caterpillar goshen motocross. We lost track of the utica.. Usd 383. Lottie menu. From the bible. Book of matthew chapter 5 verse 14 to 16. You are the light of the world. City-data set on a hill. Cannot be keyed. Neither the man light a candle and put it under a bushel. Mituna candlestick. I need to give me clients onto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men. That they may see your good works. And glorify your father which is in heaven. Houston audio. God bless you. I greet you with this traditional transylvanian unitarian reading. And good luck. If the minor say to each other in my hometown. My name is zoltan open demon siri. Currently the transylvanian scholar studying in berkeley california. And also trying to be a strengthening link between the unitarian universalist churches in north america. And the eritrean churches in pennsylvania. About pennsylvania. The land beyond the forest. The fairyland. That's one book title says. I have to disappoint you. It is not the home of the count dracula and his vampires. If you smoke the home of unusual crew people. Get long before bram stoker m famous. Pennsylvania bazaar land with deep and controversial history. Allen were three nations germans romanians and hungarians. I'm quite a few religious catholic lutheran. Before. Orthodox jewish unitarians. We're leaving together. For long centuries. I came from romania. But i am hungarian. I came from the silver leaf from a town called lupe. For the past 10 years. I have been a unitarian minister in the unitarian diaspora. For me and for my family to the great honor. I'm privileged to be here. Be here in your pulpit. And i'd like to thank you for your. Invitation. The fight of my sermon is church work in the diaspora. Are you talk about the daily life of the hungarian unitarians of the hoonicorn tape. Southwestern romania. About the unitarians leave-in lupane bulacan and devil. Diy some kind of mecca of the unitarians. Where we make pilgrimage every year. To celebrate and honor the founder of re rotarians. Bishop david parents or a david. I minister to the unitarians of the city. Covering the distance of about 100 miles. Just to have general idea. Maybe we have the same course concerts we have the same life. I ghost people who are cleaning here in vermont. They are minorities or they are immigrants. The hungarian board ap thief. Can hardly be translated into english. Of course there are some synonyms used for this expression. And if you must often use our. Church planting. And church work. Open expression can be used for this hard work like. Buildings congregation. Or truck development or community. Development. Whatever expression to use. Bureau is to describe the complex for congregation for the proposed. Its own growth and development. The hombre expression i want to talk about is the hungarian board. So what about it. The most common. Translation is. Diaspora. And usually means people of certain ethnicity. Who moved away from their home community. And are currently living among foreigners. Divorce comes from the greek word diaspora. And originally means those jewish people were forced to emigrate from the homeland. Who are foreign country. Later. Tell logically. It was the name of the christian community. Which temporarily from the earth. Musquiz original homeland. Is the heavenly jerusalem. The first in the first centuries under dominique. He's gone to geographical meaning. By saying that the members of the diaspora to christians. We're leaving among the pagans. Century. Along with the development of the nation-state. The ward was used for identifying the people of a certain nationality. We're leaving among the ruling commercial realty. Who sing the 20 century it has become an expression used for the members. Certain religious community. Leave amongst other. Religious majority groups. End up canceling unitarian church. Next question is used for people of unitary and faith. What spreads over areas where there is a bath. Romanian natural. And why are in many cases. The amiibo to meet the needs of an autonomic self-supporting church community. They are the unitarians living in the diaspora. Forming the so-called. Diaspora congregations. And being searched by. Diaspora. Mini stuff. I am one of these the aspera ministers. Leaving the one driving now remote area of the real valley. My congregation is a fairly new one. Being established 102 years ago. Looking back i can say that doing is one century. The members of the congregation and they. 19 ministers have. Donna rio a successful church planting. Before work was significant in communist time. When the economy was booming. But the state had an anti-religious policy. Greatest meaningful to know what days when the economic climate is not good. And the number of hungarian unitarian people. Is decreasing dramatically. Church planting or. Community building. Orisons professional professional terms. Activities which indians have always had a significant role in the life of the church. There has been much more dumb. Even when the people didn't think about in such terms. Preaching. Education. Counseling building maintenance youth activities. Or indeed. Community building activities. And provide a certain spiritual growth in the life of the congregation. Map. Professional. Church planting. Equally clear little bit more than tea. It is an organized. And deliberate action of the entire. Community. That's one of the scholars. Goat zodiac sad. Community building headphones. What the holy spirit works. The atmosphere of the faith is tangible. And there is a hope for change. This war. Start with establishing biblical context. Drawn from the experience of the first christian congregation. There are particular marbles of congregation of work. The two most famous are the mobile from jerusalem. And the model from antioch. The first model was a classical congregation. What according to acts 2:42. The apostles. What devoting themselves to teaching the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The second model. Was based on a congregation for in the diaspora. Where the people have to be very strong in their beliefs and everyday action. In order to be successful in their mission. In spreading the word. Itachi neupane. Can be considered the follower. Of the anthea congregation. The founding of the church. Began when the first hungarian coal miners. Arise interview valley with the hope of a better life. She's done. It was always a matter of excellence. It was always hard. To survive in area. What are unitarians are in multiple minoriti status. There was only the strong faith. And well-defined identity. To promote that unitarian ids of love. Intolerance. You're not always friendly environment. Mother determination of the people and the hard work they have been doing. Got the reward lasting 100. And 2 years. I became minister. 10 years ago. Exactly on the horrible date of 9-11 2001. My first encounter with my congregants happens exactly. When the first terrorist attack in the twin towers. Teamsnap. That day. Has a double meaning for me. In one hand. I feel deep compassion toward the victims and the suffering families. Other hand. Iconnect for cannot forget the loving and caring welcome i received from the people of lupe. How's things life can be. That date has brought on a new era. I remember that from the beginning i tried to focus only on the good and beautiful things around us. Mitre. Was one great source of inspiration. Jesus cities located in the beautiful valley. And if fruit of the soccer carpathians. But it was hard not to observe. The hopeless and depressing environment. Did he-man support yourself. Communist education. Indy discouraging environment. We meet with the leaders of the unitarian church and as the poet says. Two seats and to love it. It was a matter of seconds. I climb the poopy steps of lupane wukong. And evil. And it's like to convince my parishioners. Follows me. To be a congregation full width of enthusiast. And self-esteem. I was lucky. To continuing the work of my fedecaces. The congregations needed only a new kickoff. A new inspiration. And soul. In the past. In the last 10 years with your help. We have removed the personage in lupin. Reorganize more parties and volunteer activities. Where we could build strong. And loving community. I will never support i will never forget the catholic priest. On the phone. What our first encounter ask me loudly. Hey kali. What have you done that you were sent here. I didn't do anything wrong. I responded. I came here voluntarily. To try to bring some hope. Sunlight to the unitarians who deserve. A better life. If i look at them. Aqua discovered a tender soul hungry for inspiration and love. Ready to receive. Affair light. When i think of my. Theresa nurse from lupe. Welcome to my mind the worth of jesus to watch his disciples. Has the 50 built on not on the hill. Cannot be hidden. Select community built on the foundations of jesus teaching and love. Cannot be denied. We have to speak out loudly. The duties at community of hungarian unitarians still living at the age. We have been there for more than a century. And view bead astia for many years. We are part of the hungarian nation. We aren't unitarians. We carry the light of all religion. And we try to live a decent life. If you light a candle. Bblunt put under the bus lot. Read the review putting on the candlestick. Because it will give lie to everyone. We don't have to be ashamed of our faith. We don't have to stay shadow because all religion. Has so many values that we can be proud of. One of our tasks. Is to encourage people. Let your light so shine before. People. That they may see your good works and glorify your father. Which is in heaven. 10 years ago. The community building started with establishing a bichon for the years to come. I think in church planting it is essential. Who have the attitude of the visionary people like martin luther king. Queen 1963. Preached his famous storm in washington. We started with. I have a dream. Divorce every congregation. Needs to start with a. We have. A dream attitude. The dream must be big. But also. Realistic one. Speak about the way. The congregation imagines on church in 5 on 10 years. After this. Every church must evaluate. It's on. Strengths and weaknesses. Ellis thomas define turkey project. Which can lead to a strong community building. He's hard work. Demands devoted ministers and lay leaders. It takes time and patience. If you have. Ups and downs. Discouraging moments and wonderful moments. But if you'll be successful. If he's gone by people who believe. That they work is ladd. My god's providence. It is not always easy to be a good exam. There are many trans. Many challenges many problems which tempts us to stop. Bieber. But you something easier something else. But something. Make us start again. And this is the strength of the community. The feeling of togetherness. And the continuing guidance of god. You know life. And you can move. What's lit. In 1990. When the partnership movement was re-established between. American and transylvania new victorian churches. In the past 20 years. Be strengthened an ocelot. We feel that we are not alone. We figured that we have sisters and brothers in faith. Who care about us. Define inspiration in visiting and getting tomatoes to know each other. The many projects. The batteries programs the pilgrimage. The personal relationship. Have made it clear. That we belong to each other. Dear sisters and brothers. We belong to each other. We have to feel this in our inner self. We have to strengthen and he's feeling. Every time we have the chance to do so. We have to be campbell's. Who's lights are shining to other people. Who macy or good actions. And my glorify god. Let's be stronger communities. Better people. Make a difference in their communities. Florida bar. In the end. Anthony pooping congregation from transylvania. Your partner church congregation would like to give a little gift. Pizza. Copia phone. I may symbolize or partnership. Now what. Future.

uusociety_org

2016-01-10-11am%20Sermon.mp3

I've heard it said that it's stories that make us human. One of the people who says that is the writer jonathan gottshall author of the storytelling animal. Tens of thousands of years ago he writes when. The human mind was young and our numbers were few. We were towing each other stories and. And now tens of thousands of years later when our species team the globe. Most of us still use strongly to stories and myths about the origins of things. We thrill to the grape varieties of fiction. Murder stories sextstories war stories conspiracy stories stories true and false. As a species he says we are addicted to story. Even when the body goes to sleep the mind stays up all night. Towing itself and us stories. This morning's sermon is full of stories. I am going to tell you the story of jacob and the angel. I'm going to tell you a story about a rabbi in california. And finally i'm going to tell you the story of a young female writer named emma forrest who struggles with demons to stay alive. I'm going to tell you their connection to each other. And to us. First the story of jacob which comes from the book of genesis in the hebrew bible. You may remember as the story goes that isaac the son of abraham. Had twin boys and even though they were born just minutes apart as twins typically are. Jesus being the firstborn was the older brother and jacob the younger. This birth order between the two boys over the birthright. Eventually resulted in a suit showing his birthright to his younger brother. Complicating things even further. Was the blessing that isaac in his old age. Intended to give his older son but jacob tricked his father into blessing him instead. A sewage we might imagine was enraged by this the betrayal. And he threatened jacob's life and so in the heat of this family crisis jacob does the cowardly but sensible thing and he flees to the safety of his uncle's house in a foreign land. However the drama continues when jacob becomes engaged to marry rachel his uncle's younger daughter. Only to discover on his wedding night. The key himself has been tricked by his uncle into marrying the older sister. And what does jacob do a week later but makes a deal with his uncle that allows him to be married to both daughters. It's remarkable to realize that the hebrew bible is about 1600 pages long and all of this happens before page 35. Jacob continues to live with his uncle and two wives for the next 20 years but then finally sends word home to his brother. That he wants to come back. And it's on this trip home where he has the famous encounter. With the angel. The passage begins. And jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. And when the man tried to break free jacob said i will not let you go until you bless me. And when daylight came the first continues the man said. Your name shall no more be called jacob. But israel for you have striven with god. And with men. And have prevailed. Rabbi volpe of sinai temple in los angeles interprets this story for his congregation. By saying that the most salient aspect of the story of jacob and the angel. Are these four words. Jacob. Was left alone. But if that's so. Then who was he wrestling with. Until dawn. Who's blessing was he asking for. We know the answer because we know from our own lives with whom we struggle. The greatest struggle of all is a struggle we have with ourselves. It's our struggle to feel loved. To feel accepted. To feel good enough. To feel worthy in spite of the mistakes we make and the regrets we have. And sometimes we struggle just to get through the day. And to believe in tomorrow. The power of the story for jacob and for us. Is that at the end of the long dark night of the soul. Jacob is different. And here's the thing. He's not different because someone or something happened to make him different. Is different because he had the possibility within himself. To be different. It's about here in his sermon on jacob in the angel that rabbi volpe says this to his congregation. If you're sitting in this congregation. You are among the 99.9 something percent. Of the luckiest people who ever lived. Even if your 401k is tanking. You still are. And here's why the members of rabbi volpe's congregation are the luckiest people in the world. It is he says because a religious worldview. Is an anti deterministic. Worldview. A religious worldview he says. Is one that understands that even though much about this world is given or determined ultimately what is not determined. Is a disposition of your soul. That. It's for you to decide. That. Is for you to choose. Dickey's right. Think about it. Think about all of the factors that go into making us who we are that are predetermined through the genes or through the dna we have. Or height or care color are shoe skies. Our skin color are birth order. Whether or not we're prone to cavities the circumstances of our family of origin. And to a certain extent riq and certainly certain personality factors. But we also get as our birthright. And it's a blessing that no one can take from us. Is the ever-present possibility of renewal. But rabbi volpe tells his congregation is at the angel jacob struggled struggled with that knight was the angel of his better nature. And through that struggle. He received the blessing of self-transformation. You don't have to be jacob. Anymore. You've struggled. And now you can change. That doesn't mean says the rabbi that bits of jacob won't cling to you of course they will. But now they're subsumed into something greater something better something more beautiful. You may be wondering how i know so much about rabbi volpe as angel sermon. But i know about the sermon because rabbi volpe is emma forests rabbi. And emma is the young writer who spent her life wrestling with too many dark nights of the soul. And her and her remarkable memoir called your voice in my head. She writes of her lifelong struggle to be healthy and whole. And it was hearing that sermon. At a shabbat service one night. That helped her heal. Because what she heard and understood was that like jacob. She didn't have to be emma. The way she had been emma. In the past. She too had struggled mightily. And she too. Could change. She would always be emma. Like jacob would always be jacob. But she knew in her soul. That the past did not have to determine the future. And she understood. She understood for the first time. That it was possible that she would know. Something greater. Something better. And something more beautiful. Read this book. My daughter stephanie told me. There's a sermon in it. And right she was because right there on page 168. With my own unitarian universalist theology. My own understanding of the nature of god and of life itself and what it all means right there and the story of jacob and the angel as inter as interpreted by a jewish rabbi. In the faraway land of southern california. I'll confess to you that when i first read that sermon in emma's memoir i close the book and i thought. How could someone be that good. Write so well. That his sermons change lives. But then i discovered through a quick internet search that newsweek magazine had named rabbi volpe the best rabbi in the united states in 2012. And i felt so much better. It's hard to know whether this is urban legend or actual fact but it's often said that the fastest way to lose your faith. Is to go to divinity school. But that's not always true. And it wasn't for me because it was in seminary where i learned about process theology. Which is the philosophy that says. Everything is in relationship to everything else and everything is always. In the process of becoming. But that means to me is that nothing is ever entirely new. But that every second of every moment brings space for the new. The different. Space for change. Isn't that how life works we honor the past and we learn from the past. But the future beckons us forward. Providing just enough of an opening. That the past can never entirely determine the present. This month is the first of the new year and it's as if time is giving us another chance to begin again. It's what we do. The possibility in life's power of renewal is life's great gift to us and not just this month. But every second. Of every moment of every day. I will close with one last story. The reverend patrick o'neill was my mentor when i was newly ordained 27 years ago and was a brand new minister. Patrick tells the story of his having grown up in quite a large family and what he describes as a. Crowded urban neighborhood in northern new jersey. And one of the neighbors in his apartment building was an elderly french woman who taught piano lessons. One winter day when patrick was in the first grade. A small gang of what he calls second-grade thugs. Ganged up on him. And pushed him face-down in a snowbank. Rating himself he began to cry tears of indignity. And outrage. Madamba to yawn had witness this injustice from her kitchen window. Educate him downstairs and taking young patrick by the hand she brought him up to her apartment where she made him a cup of hot cocoa and fussed over him in a way that helped make his universe right again. And she said to him. Patrick you are angry at those boys for what they did to you. And it's natural that you should feel that way. But now. You must let it go. For this day has other things for you. It was years later that patrick's older sister during one of her piano lessons ask madame about the number tattooed on her forearm. It was she explained. Her identification number from off sweats. And she told her young pupil that she often covered the number with long sleeves not. Because she didn't want people to see it but. Because being a concentration camp prisoner. Was a past identity. And it was not. What. She was. Anymore. It is life's blessing of renewal that allows us to say. This day. Has other things to give. This day. Has other things to give. To you. Tumi. And to us all. May it be so. Amen.

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2011-10-02-2Sermon.mp3

We are in the midst of the days of all. The time in the jewish liturgical calendar. Bookended by rosh hashanah. The beginning and yom kippur at the end. Rosh hashanah the new year marks the day when the scrolls of fate roll open. Before god. Anonymous scrolls yahweh finds every life as it has been written by each individual. Choices made words said and unsaid deeds done and undone. The rabbis tell us that god reads every entry and passes judgment. This may sound onerous. It's all of you. But your way. That god is both judgmental and merciful. Josh the days of off everybody has 10 days in which to search their hearts and lives. Repent. Do good deeds. And learn from their mistakes. The end of this grace period is yom kippur the day of atonement. On that day the scroll roll shut again for another year. Destiny sealed. As a child i celebrated the jewish holidays with my father's family and. Not surprisingly what i remember best is the food. Rosh hashanah the jewish new year. The time when apples are dipped in honey. Eating with relish in the company of loved ones while speaking the simple simple blessing. May god grant us the sweet life. In the new year. I shared this ritual at our staff meeting earlier this week. It was so good for us to share sweetness together. And then i remembered lake huff that dance honey cake. Now those of you who follow the society's facebook page. I probably already having your mouth water. Because there are several different variations of honey cake bake by several different people who got into a little online bake-off competition. That you. Benefit from because they're their apples dipped in honey and honey cakes for. Coffee hour. More recently. I recall the high holy days of 2001. That's fall rush hashanah fell very soon after the terrorist attacks of september 11th. And i remember reading about a jewish congregation struggling to celebrate the new year the article i think was in the new york times. Struggling because sweetness and joy and hope felt so out of reach. At that time. 1. Of the members of this congregation commented that they are prayer in that terrible time was only for safety not for sweetness. How heartbreaking. The saddest and scariest times of the times when it is most important to pray for sweetness and gladness. That's why i liturgical calendar matters because rosh hashanah comes every year no matter what is happening in the world. And it comes. Remind us the joy really does come even to those who mourn. And it's coming requires us to pray for sweetness. No matter how bitter the taste in our mouths maybe. The regular coming of the days of all in the jewish calendar and ramadan in the muslim calendar also remind us of the importance of a regular practice of self-examination and atonement. The discipline of repentance which is so important to our. Emotional and spiritual well-being. It's particularly difficult for folks like us. Unitarian universalist children of the enlightenment dedicated to the use of reason in religion. But even for us some form of regular ethical and moral housekeeping is needed. Puertas only by turning. Ever so slightly that we are able to find and reclaim our higher self. In one of the recent loss and transition groups we talked about and unfortunate you you tendency to assume that we are more evolved than other people. That's arrogance. And that arrogance is the shadow side of our bold doctrine of human nature. We sometimes mistake the idea that affirming the worth and dignity of every human being means none of us could possibly ever be wrong. And we need to repent of that arrogance. How. By turning from. Ourselves. To the community. Here's another description of how jews understand the high holy days. We pause in reverence before the gift of self. The vessel shatters. The divine spark shine through. And our solitary self becomes a link in israel's golden chain. For what we are we are by sharing. And as we share we move toward the light. That is a powerful expression of the movement from the individual to the communal. The novelist herman woku was practicing orthodox jew. Wrote about that sense of communal in relation particularly to yom kippur. He wrote a whole book about why he. Was an orthodox jew it's really an excellent. This is what he said there is no machinery in judaism for confession to a human being or for release from sin through an agency on earth. Confession in judaism is a whisper of the entire congregation at once. It is confession informal unison. No outpourings of one's own misty the wording throughout is plural. We. Us. Our. Such usage in a piece of liturgy at the heart of a holyday cannot be an accident of rhetoric. It means. And quote. What it means is that religious and spiritual. Death is found. In right relationship as a people. If you look at the seven principles that encompass. The ethical boundaries of unitarian-universalism you see that same movement from the individual to the universal. Our first principal affirms the inherent worth and dignity of every person. And then we moved to affirmations of the ways we will be together in community. Justice. Equity. Compassion acceptance encouragement the use of the democratic process. Then we cast our eyes outward to world community. Of peace liberty and justice for all. And finally in the seventh principle we recognize our interconnectedness to all of life. The prophets of the hebrew scriptures long ago did something similar they did not address themselves to men and women one by one offering personal salvation it was unheard of. They dress themselves to the entire nation of israel insisting that the israelites had to reform together. To remember what made them. A people. The prophets reminded their fellow citizens that when they were frightened of powerful enemies they could not depend on military might orwell. For safety. Or tall fences. Or anything else. Only by keeping covenant with each other and their creator would they be safe. When those asian people long for an end to war their profits told them the peace could not be found in political maneuvering or. Pact or military might. Peace comes they said in the act of creating a just and compassionate society. Shalom is not the result of the recitation of prayers of the repetition of rituals it comes in living together by the terms of the covenant defined for jews by the teachings of the torah. So often those ancient israelites trade. From the foundational ideals. Of their nation. As do we. In america today the practice of capital punishment. Anti-immigrant sentiment and hardin ideologies on all side are. Cause for repentance in my mind. So often the ancient israelites were tempted by the riches and glories of the world more powerful weapons bigger armies taller buildings gold and silver. Need i say. More. About where america is today. Need i even speak of it. I was taken by a recent facebook posting one of those little posters that you. Passed on. And it said this. Pharaoh was a rich job creator. So how come you always sided with the community organizer. Comeback. To the foundations. And show off in the ancient israelites remembered that when they turn from their covenant with y'all way grief befell them. They would ask him to spare what god could possibly want with them. These words from micah with what shall i come before the lord and bow myself before god on high. Shall i come before him with burnt offerings with cavs a year-old will the lord be pleased with thousands of rams with ten thousands of rivers of oil shall i give my first born. For my transgressions the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul. And the answer. From that prophet micah. So clear and simple he has told you immortal what is good. And what does the lord require of you but to do justice. To love kindness. And to walk humbly with your god. That message is powerful. While it is simple. Remember the covenant still has your identity remember the principles upon which your community was established. Let your lives be the embodiment of those principles. We unitarian-universalist share with judaism and understanding of salvation is something that happens in the here and now. We're both deeds. People. Deeds not creed's we say. What we don't have is a liturgical calendar that regularly calls us to account for our deeds. So i'm borrowing from the jewish calendar i hope they won't mind. My friends now is the time for turning. As an interim minister i'm grateful to be able to borrow the imagery of the high holy days every fall at the beginning of an interim year. Your participation in this intentional enter a ministry means that the scroll of fate has rolled open here at the first unitarian universalist society of burlington. This is an opportunity to do the work of the days of all. To acknowledge what has not worked. The heel hurts to let go of resentments and to make things new. The good news is. You get more than 10 days. You can take as much time as you need within reason. And the really good news is that i'm not yahweh. I am merely a guide. A companion for you while you're on your journey i make no judgments. I simply. Open the scroll for you. As your guide i ask you to reflect on the ways that you have lived your life in faith together. For some of you that woman thinking back over many many decades. For some of you that will mean thinking back to perhaps 30 minutes ago when you first walked in the door. No matter how long you have been here you are now part of this people. Part of this journey. Shared together interning. Maybe you have been hurt or disappointed or angry or afraid or confused. Maybe you have been disillusioned and are finding it hard to trust again. Some of you may be carrying grudges nursing resentments raining in your passion. And compassion. You may be hanging back wondering if this will ever be a safe place to be a unitarian universalist. I believe it will i believe it is. The fractions of ministerial transition is always to some extent. A grieving process. When members of any congregation learn of the departure of their minister they experience a range of emotions as anybody faced with the loss denial sadness anger guilt. Resistance. Bargaining. The grieving process is more acute and complicated here. In a little more than a year you have dealt with the departure of three ministers. Each left for different reasons and in different circumstances. Each made their own unique contribution to the overall ministry of this society and each will be missed. How will you navigate together all of these losses. I firmly believe that the only way forward is a path of honest dialogue. Speaking and listening with respect and humility. The recent loss and transition groups were one way to do that work. Some of you came to those groups some of you indicated that you were not yet ready to sit in a room with others and have that conversation. No worries i will schedule another round of those groups in the upcoming months. So take your time. And in the meantime be present. Be present to the present. Because the goal of this process is to move forward not backward. The goal is to arrive at a new place of shared understanding a new identity that reflects the growing and changing the characterizes all. Human communities. The movement towards the new reality is very similar to the movement required of the faithful during the days of awe. Honest self-assessment atonement forgiveness shared remembering of who we are called to be as a people. That movement. For the jews was helped along by prophets. Those. You have a picture of him right it's probably charlton heston but it's your own black hair beard standing on top of mountain. They shout from mountain tops or at least they did back then. About the foundational principles out of which. Their face evolve. We2. Need prophets people who can remind us of the foundational principles upon which our faith. Has evolved in upon which this society was built. In are radically free fake we all can and should be profits to each other. The uuc lojen james luther adams wrote frequently about the prophet hood of all believers. Every unitarian universalist congregation is or could be the embodiment of his vision of a prophethood of all believers. Everyone of you. A prophet. Someone who speaks the truth. In love. Adam fishing with a vision of a people gathered and voluntary association who sharing the work of casting a vision and calling each other back to the ideals of that vision. Now is the time for turning. If you have been hurt or angered by past events it is time to speak that anger honestly and listen respectfully to those with different views. If you are lying low i encourage you to pop your head up and re-engage. If you have said or done things that cause harm it is time to acknowledge and repair the damage where possible. And get back to the business of building and sustaining a healthy liberal religious community because my friends we are needed. We need to be a strong. Unitarian universalist society of burlington. So that we can bring. To the civic discourse our faith commitment to respect. Each other. To speak and listen to each other and to advocate for human rights and for justice. Now is the time for turning. Turn towards full engagement of mind and heart. Turn towards the responsible exercises membership. Turn towards the embrace embrace of innovation and evolution and transformation. 4 is jack weimer reminded us in that reading if you fail to turn you will be forever trapped in yesterday's ways. And i know that even with the rosiest glasses you could where you do not want to be members of the old and tired unitarian universalist society of yesterday. I want to close with an adaptation of. A prayer. From the jewish liturgy for the days of awe. We pause in terror before the human deed. The cloud of annihilation the concentrations for death. The cruelly casual way of each to each. But in the stillness of this hour we find our way from darkness into life. May we find our life so precious that we cannot but share it with the other. That light may shine brighter than a thousand suns. Is the presence among us. Of the spirit of life. Ahmed.

uusociety_org

2011-02-20-2%20Sermon.mp3

As we begin to move from the first 200 years of this. Amazing congregation to the second seemed to me a wonderful idea to bring. Reverend. Gary kowalski. Presence in our midst. With a reflection on his wonderful book. Revolutionary spirits so let. Players begin. What a testament to the wonder of this church. That we have four very special guest with us this morning. Choose them. Have come with their wives no small feat indeed considering that they all died. Almost 200 years ago. What a joy to welcome them in our midst on this day when we lift up our fourth principle of unitarian universalism. Which of course you all know. We very kindly helped use morning. First. I would like to introduce to you a woman who never had any formal schooling at all. Yet who learned to read and write and who spent much of her life. Convincing men that their women needed to be educated. I give to you the first lady ever to occupy the white house abigail adams. Beloved wife of president john adams the second president of united states of america. Thank you so much. It is a special joy for us to be with dedicated unitarian universalist today. After so many years of keeping silent. Mrs. adams. Why did you think educating women was so very important. So it's playing really. I think all men would be tyrants if they could. If in our new country we would have heroes statesmen and philosophers. Then we will need to have well-educated women to hold them accountable. Now how many of you boys and men present have been to school. Let me see some hands. Thank you. And how many of you women and girls have been to school. You see today you know why it's so important. And now mrs. adams. Which of our distinguished guests would you like to present to us first. Well i should think it's a good idea to begin at the beginning. Or rather the ending. You see. Back when i was a girl some. Well. 250 years ago. We in this country were still subjects of the king of england. But he was a tyrant taxing us without mercy. Telling us what to do without ever listening to our needs. Do we rebuild. We revolted. Our revolution against tyranny 28 years. And then. Then we had to start building a country that stood for the democracy the democracy you believe in today. I am proud to be the one to present to you the man whose brilliance at war strategy. Freed us from the tyranny of king george. I give you the first man ever to hold the title of president of the united states. His excellency. President george washington. Your excellency thank you for coming. It is entirely my pleasure to. Mrs. adams i know you held president washington in the highest regard. What questions do you think we should ask if him today. Your excellency. Please tell us what you think of religion. At worst. Religion has been used throughout time. Divide. Two separate. Separate them one from the other. Religion brings us together. Stand on common ground. Working together. You call yourselves you use do you not. Yeah that's today to uphold your fourth principle. I believe you. Remember. We helping you out here. A free and responsible search. Gruesome meaning. It is this principle. That led me to believe. That every man serving in our revolutionary army. Choose a chapter. His own fake. Why the rhode island red. Chose your own john murray. The first man in this country. Say that a loving god. Will save all souls. The first universalist. That principle led me to move this country from a mirror. Toleration. Joy truitt active embrace. Spirit. Variety. Your excellency you just use the word god. A name you seldom use during your presidency. How do you understand god. I understand god as the giver of life. Grand architect. Universe. He told i was never much of a church-going man. Sunday was my day. Relax. Hunting foxes. Playing cards. Enjoying good friend. Speaking of truth your excellency. Is it true that you cut down a cherry tree when you were a boy eager to try your new hatchet absolutely. But if i had. I would never have lied about it. Each one of us has been given a gift. Have a great celestial fire within. I call it conscience. If we are true to ourselves. Enter the conscience. Then we will do right. To end with. One another. And on that ground. We can build a great union. Oh your excellency forgive me for breaking in here. But look who is coming down the aisles to join you. Why does my own dear beloved husband and your vice president john adams. My dear fellow how good it is to be in your company again after all these years. Mr. president. Georgia please. It is good to be. I still believe. Smartest things i ever did. Nominate you'd. By golly. And one of my great decisions was to choose you as my vice president. My friend. I know you to be a man of truth. So let me tell you this. I think. Position. Vice president. To be the most insignificant. Ever invented by man. I wonder if it is changed over the years. A president. Are you indeed i did. Cuz you know. I thought your title should have. Who's jaime. President of the united states. The liberties of. For myself. I certainly would have considered monarchy. Yes well. Speaking of truth. Would you tell these people about your face. About what you believed in back in the day. After all. You and abigail. We're buried at the unitarian universalist. In quincy massachusetts. I've always been at ruth chris. Still vip of a creator. You could imagine into being the vastness. Universe. Also creating. Firing help. Would make most of humanity suffer miserably forever. The love of god. Of his magnificent. And love of my neighbor. Ten commandments. I wonder if everyone here knows what. My dearest and most beloved husband. My own president adams. Your work for this country separated us for many many hard years. Of longing to be in your arms again to hold your hand. I know why i love you dearest partner in life. But please. Tell the people what of all your work for this country most pleases you. Today's goodbye. I willingly. And joyfully. For being our greatest. And. We're having the declaration of independence. It was the greatest. You all have been most gracious guest. And you must be tired. I'd like to invite you to rest with us and it's in the pews as in a moment some dear friends of yours will be joining us. But before you sit down. This is how may i ask you just one more question. Well you were the first lady ever to occupy the white house. Is it true that you're used to hang the family laundry in the east room to dry. Oh my yes. Ecologically minded way. Laundry dry in the winter time. Back in those days women husband and our resources. Well again thank you all for being here. Please take your seats and we will sing to you cuz it gif simple and him that comes from the quaker face of mrs. adams childhood number 16 found in your hymnal please rise as we will. As for our next guest who can tell me. Who's the third president of the united states was. Thomas jefferson yes and who was his first lady. No one's even taking an logical guess here. It was not mrs. jefferson but that it was a logical guess. His first lady was dolley madison. You see thomas jefferson was a widower when he was elected president back in 1801. His beloved wife martha had died in childbirth. Some 17 years earlier. Dolley madison was renowned for her grace. And tack. She had big blue eyes and beautiful hair. She loved people and they loved her. And here she comes now. Mrs. madison we are so glad that you could be with us today. We know you and your husband we're dear friends of credit president jefferson. Now what did you most admire about. How he was such an accomplished man. So deeply perceptive. He was a musician philosopher a biblical scholar and he was dedicated to the search for truth and meaning. He once said to his nephew. You must feel free invited even. To question the existence of god. Because if there is a god i believe he would want us to reason our way to him not to accept faith blindly. 200 years ago that was an extraordinary statement. Perhaps it still is today. Will mrs. madison in your eyes. Did president jefferson have any blind spots in his search for truth and meaning. Back then i didn't think so but today. I know how hard you unitarian-universalist have worked for the equality of all people including the children and the grandchildren of former slave. Here comes president jefferson now why don't you ask him. President jefferson welcome we are honored by your presence today. Suggesting you ask me. Questions. Yes you did the question is this. Why didn't you free all your slaves when you died. Yes please. Well as you know it was i who wrote the first draft of the declaration of. It was like a road with all the passion of my face that all men are created equal. I truly believe that slavery was a monstrous crime against humanity. I must tell you i did not really believe that all men. Let me ask you the same question. How many of you really really believe that all people not just men women and children tall people short people. Gay straight like white native american. Are really absolutely. And how many do live.. In the way you treat every other purse. Every single day. Never putting anybody down. Never judging. We not all there yet. But maybe you maybe. Maybe. Can take the world where i could. Well said mr. president and bravery to. Let me ask you about your face. I know you and the adamses had a falling-out over that. Dreadfully partisan election of 1801. What you want and president adams lost. Back then the partisans called you an atheist and him a man of god. Were you really an atheist. I was actually looking. During my presidency i even went to church. But the idea of the trinity. Make no sense. In your way of thinking. Does 1 + 1 + 1 equal. Does it follow that three. I read the bible every night. Thing was it was the bible. After all how many people can you feed with. 5000. But i did. I still do today. Helping those who are. Welcoming those who have wandered away and. Then one day,. Vincenzo. And mr. president. What are you most satisfied with. And your long dedication to service to this nation. Perhaps it would be. I work hard. And i'm honored. There i was very clear about how wrong it is for human being. Look mr. president here comes my dear husband to join us. Jamie madison how good is he. People have been asking when we. You know tom. That god of nature you wrote about the very first. Remember the god fish apostrophe. The one who started working on creation october 26th. In the air for 04 bc. At 9 in the morning. Well he just didn't do it for me. But nature's god as you said. That god which. See you in the wonder of life. An evolution of nature. In the powers of gravity. And in the falling rain. Now that. I've heard there's a buddhist meditation group. Two regular. Is that right. Perhaps today's you understand that god. As the spirit of life. The ground of being found in the interdependence. Of every aspect of life. What's a. Mr. president what do you hold most. I believe. With all my heart. That this country. Only thrive. If there was a complete separation. Upchurch. The state cannot tell a person what to believe about a god. For the spirit of life by whatever name. Only the heart and direct experiences. You know tom. Laws demanded. Pay their taxes. Support the state religion back in our time. My greatest joy. See those laws or both. And it was vermont. That led the way. Among the new england states. 1807. Why it didn't happen in new hampshire. Until 1817. Connecticut and 1818. Main and 1820. And in massachusetts. 1833. These new englanders. They're real die-hard. Vermonters. The best. Unitarian universalist vermonters. Dedicated to the search. Truth and meaning. Here's what i cherish about the you use. Your people are fake. That believe listening to. And learning about other people. Is the right way to quest. Deepen your own. Isn't there a group of young people. Here who have been visiting other houses of worship this year. Let me see who you are. Well. The beginning of school vacation week. Tolerations never. They are the light. That will lead us to a mutual understanding. And world peace. Tall. Dude i remember you saying once that you believe every young man living in. United states with diane unitarian. Yes i did. Now that the unitarian universalist. Join forces. I wonder what. I wonder too. What say you we sit down and worship. No i can't help but wonder too. Why it isn't that more people now are unitarian universalist. For this face as expressed by the people sitting in these very puce. Is a faith that heals. Aphasia. That reaches out. A faith that inspires our best. And now won't you please join me in acknowledging our gratitude these folks have come not just from far away but from a long-ago lettuce a song.

uusociety_org

2009-11-08-1%20Sermon.mp3

I'm good morning if those of you in the back can't hear me wave or something. This i believe. Well first of all i'd say i'm still searching for what i believe so my believes aren't really set in stone. But basically i would say i believe in a god and i try to follow the seven principles the ten commandments and the various other forms and other religions of. Principles that would guide you to delete a better life. And. I thought i'd start with a little bit of background where it came from i wasn't a unitarian. All my life. I'm i was raised in a lutheran church in milwaukee wisconsin in the office what was then that augustana lutheran church. Which is now the evangelical lutheran church of america or it's been absorbed into that which is the most liberal synod of the lutheran. And much of my life out of school. Revolved around church activities such as sunday school vacation bible school loop. Youth choir. Lutheran league. Etc. And if you ever listen to garrison keillor. One of our youth group activities was always put on the lutefisk dinner at christmas i mean that's not like. Made-up thing that's real thing but you have to be swedish or norwegian to really appreciate it. I've been 21. And we met weekly with our advisors and we talked and we went bowling and we decorated. Trees for people for christmas and etc so that was a large part of my life growing up through high school. And everybody i knew just about was lutheran or catholic i probably thought those were the only religions there were. And i was really satisfied with my church membership i wasn't unhappy or anything and i have put when i went to college i applied and was accepted to both saint olufsen august anna. And university wisconsin also which is where i eventually went. And i i think probably if i had gone to either st. olaf's or august anna i probably still be a loser. Or if i'd stayed in wisconsin after graduation. Cuz i really know no reason to change. I i certainly didn't want to be catholic and i saw it is my only other option at the time so. On one side. And then in college i joined the lutheran fellowship i didn't join it really but i went to the lutheran fellowship on campus some. And it wasn't. It wasn't the same synod i was in so it was quite different and i never really was. I guess had time with sports and things to be true involved in that. But interesting lee i also attended the first unitarian. Society of madison if your times and that was before it was a you you it was just the unitarian. And i think mainly the first time i went was because that's the. It's very famous historical. Right now it's a frank lloyd wright church. Then it's showing in all the architecture books and everything. And one of his i was looking on it. Website last night about what that church is doing now and one of the things about that church. Is that he was all triangles 60 and 120 degree angles in all the rooms and thanks it also in the pews and i distinctly remember the first time i went there cuz when you sit down in the pew. It's like you took these pews and you are going back 30 degrees. So you're looking out these windows it was a rural church at the time it's now in the city. But i just remembered as a college student trying to get up out of the pews to stand and sing of him and i was running with the older people did. But it's a very very well-known church and now they've got over 2,000 members. I was much smaller when i went there so i attended there some. And. Now what did i do with my notes you. And then after college. I moved to connecticut and i taught there and there's a really. Black i guess i would say there aren't very many lutheran churches in kinetic. I never found any so i ended up not going to church. But when i went home when i visited my family in wisconsin at christmas and always attended church. But now my family was going to the missouri synod cuz my father had remarried. My mother had died and. The woman he married was in the missouri synod which is the most conservative ended it's like here in here august anna and. I'm in missouri so i really never felt comfortable there. May i knew all the liturgy it wasn't that different and i knew the hymns. But i really i can just remember going i was always home a christmas which is my favorite holiday. Going to their church at christmas on christmas eve and just feeling sad. And that was my very favorite holiday i mean i waited months for christmas when i was a kid. And you know at so i really never felt at home in that church. And then i moved up here and i can't i taught at uvm and i didn't have a church but i was coaching and i was teaching skiing on the weekend so i really didn't look for a church but eventually. And i attended on holidays with friends and other churches around town. But in the early nineties i felt like i needed a spiritual home and i visited various churches. Including this one and i knew people. Like martha martha fitzgerald midnight and maggie hayes and some other people that went here. And we're very active in the social. Service-type activities and that appealed to me. So i started coming here. At first i felt really strange. Because without the liturgy it was just very different. In fact one of my. One of my friends that used to crew for me on my cell phone who was catholic said what he went to the congregational church it was like going to the grange. I mean it was kind of like it was sort of the same feeling it wasn't didn't seem like the church you know but then i got used to the letter g. And i really love the organ in the hymns and. Actually a lot quite a few of the hems are. Lutheran hymns. It with different words. But. But i was very enticed by the community aspect in the social service and my first involvement was. Really with the. Christmas bazaar. So i came over it was before you had put this edition on there was a. Kitchen upstairs in the back. So i went up there and it was after school so people apparently had gone for dinner or something they're all these. Rees piled up and stuff piled up in there with two people in there a little kid and this. Older very long time well-known member of this church. And i said. Well i'm new here so what are the instructions what are they really want us to do and she said. This is a uuss society figure it out for yourself i've been on the board and on committees and then i joined. And work worked at the christmas breakfast and now i'm helping inari and i'll have to say that teaching 2nd graders is a lot different than teaching at the university. Even though a long time ago i did teaching elementary school. But. That's quite a change but i've really enjoyed it so i think i'm here to stay. And i would say that being a u u is challenging. You really need to think about what you do believe in what you don't believe. And encouraged me to explore the spiritual aspect of my life. Throughout discussion group such as building your own say ology and of life discussions. I work with rowdy when we brought in a series of women theologians to speak. And i've been exposed to authors like diana act that i probably would have never read otherwise. Cause we did really think about other religions and how their beliefs are similar to and different from mine. Couches fit into our society. The one thing i do miss his hamster my childhood but as i said i found a few in there. And. I love the choir in the organ and i also love the variety music. Annette last the summer before last when i was in wisconsin visiting my college roommates. They have a summer home in door county that's like the cape cod of the midwest. So i said i wanted to go to see what do you use society was like the local used aside so i whip so i went to the uu fellowship of door county and they decided to go with me now there's two people i don't recall him ever having ever been in the church except for a family funeral. But they came with me and that fellowship has about 100 people who are. A large majority are summer residents from chicago. And. They really enjoyed the service and they talked about maybe going back and i thought well then it's just kind of interesting and one thing i noticed i was looking up the fellowship on the website just to see. How large it was asta. Flashlight. If your seven times in an interesting thing that they have on their website. Does he have a carpool schedule. And it's kind of like. What we use for the women uvm hiking it's like meet at such and so like at homegoods at 9 and you wait 5 minutes if nobody shows up you just go. And i have that for their church and it's posted. And so anybody that wants to save gaster. Obviously you have to be able to get to the carpool site. But i thought that was interesting. Anyway after that experience the summer before this past summer when i visited them at their home in milwaukee. They pick me up at the airport and they said. We hope you don't mind but we're going directly to the united you do society of mukwonago which meets at 12:30. And it was like. 11:30 at the time. Because we wanted we're trying to find a church to go to. And this church mason 12:30 because there. Renting from the united church of christ cuz they're building a new building. And apparently after many years of non-attendance. They want to find a church and they kind of waited until i showed up to get up the courage to go to a church wasn't know anybody and then you know when we got introduced a course you know i said i was from here but i think maybe they're going. The things that i value most in this society i would say. Are the hour of quiet reflection on sunday. Especially. I like going 11:00 on the choir singing. My small group ministry meetings and a feeling of community and our society. And enclosing i would just say i feel that my membership anuyu society has expanded my worldview and develop the spiritual aspect of my life and they're still developing and i expect to be here hopefully for a long time. Following no less bright lights in janis and i feel a little like. Grace slick on if it was sunday morning of woodstock she said. Okay you've heard the big groups now it's time for morning mayhem music why me. I really don't have a lot for you this morning maybe some questions. A one. Suppose that you are reading or. Quietly engaged or just sitting there. And your wife or your son or your granddaughter. Walks up to you and asked you a rather general but serious question. What do you believe. What's the first thought that occurs to you. Or rather rum. What kind of thought. First thought. May be sarcastic. Bible even long walks on the beach and sunsets. Maybe spiritual. I believe in god. I do believe in christmas or. Maybe funny maybe political. I believe in health insurance for all. Loves a good one how about greek food. One of my favorite signs hangs in american flatbread quick food helps it says. Maybe sports i don't believe in the designated hitter. For some reason large issue at your work what i'm wondering is. If not necessarily the exact author rather the type of that first.. Is the key to your character. My first response to myself was that i believed in hot dogs. Then of course i thought come on get serious. Now you know what my main character might be young. You're sarcastic or have bad taste in. Healthy food. Am i defense i would say that my devotion to hot dogs has a lot to do with my worship practice in the cathedral of the baseball. You know was going to baseball right back. Well that's easy to say but i i really do love it and i do try and live it and maybe the purest form of ritual theater available to us and it's a lot to teach us about relaxation. Impatience. Uniquely american. Hot dogs are a major part of it can go to a baseball game. I believe the baseball however is more than just a sport more than simply the national game. Absent the commercial aspects. It's a very relaxed insufferable game. Compared with bestial football simplistic soccer the others. And it's our history and our sos. Playwright. It really is spiritual for a whole lot of people a spiritual activity. Foreign spies in wwii learn some baseball trivia to try and fit in. Never worked the game is too complicated and impostors are too easy to trap. No less a light than jacque barzun said. Roughly. If you want to know the mind and heart of america. Learn baseball. Don't you find it boring should take any game with someone who knows how to place the event into a larger spiritual construct. Imagine these rituals fly balls arcing into the lazy summer sun. Being played out in backyard little league field middle and high-school diamonds. Across the country modulus scope of it. Note that you can find eight-year-olds. Who knows so much baseball history that they can quote statistics far beyond our knowledge of any other histories. Did imagine me sitting in fenway park that. Relaxed house of baseball worship. Explaining the nuances of the game to my british son-in-law. Who knew a little bit about rounders in a lot about cricket. Imagine this 3-hour bonding. Not spiritual just a game. My larger notion here is that it has to do with a spiritual constructora framework of belief setting yourself your work your feelings your energy. In a spiritual framework. The dickens with hot dogs hear something i believe in something i try to do as many levels look at. Large-scale analysis big picture scene setting. I believe the one spirituality must be a practical thing. Kind of what janice was talking to. Something you learn to practice as much as you can. After i follow my stream-of-consciousness from hotdogs i believe that it is better if i make every attempt to find the larger spiritual framework in which the 5th things i do. And think things i think. Things i think i think. I try to make a well-settled well-fitted set of guidelines for myself. After all what's a set of beliefs if not a framework of guidelines with what you can make choices. Example. Another question for you. What are your feelings about. Choices for women. About legalized abortion. Usually this opinion or belief is based upon one's feelings and is arrived at spiritually. We decide based on what we think is right or moral. Especially where one's moral compass pinpoint one way or the other depending upon the circumstance imagine. For me the whole idea of abortion is pretty horrible. However i'm not a woman and. I have never had to make that choice except in support of another so as a man it's pretty easy for me to place more importance on a woman's right to choose and control her own body. So i'm a supporter of roe versus wade the 73 decision in this matter. Reason i bring this up is. To demonstrate what i have in mind when i speak of a practical framework beliefs. In the book freakonomics dubner and levitt point out that regardless of the legislation. Abortion remains easier to procure in some states than others. This is a quote. From the period 1985 to 1997. When the post rocor cohort. Is reaching peak crime ages. Hi abortion states see a decline of 30%. And their crime rate relative to low abortion states. Evidence from canada australia romania. Also support this connection that abortion reduces crime. So turns out that might believe. Arrived at spiritually fits in a larger framework. There is also a spiritual belief. The crime most often results from frustration at lack of control over one's life. Lucky for me this time anyway. This time i'm not faced with evidence that a belief of mine may be in conflict with another of my beliefs. If it were. Re-examination would be necessary. How about accepting that it's okay for the television. World of fundamentalist sex to believe what they believe as regards women. Another question. One of our seven principles implies that i could find a spiritual framework that encompasses these guys. That's a little more difficult and frankly i've not been able to square that circle. But that's what i believe i believe one's beliefs need to be constantly re-examine. For alignment in larger spiritual frameworks. And the framework that really works for me and works for us i think is that one on paychecks that we just read at the beginning of the service together. Are seven principles.

uusociety_org

2012-02-12-2%20Sermon.mp3

So. What kind of love is it that makes the world go round. Last week you heard from. Several members of this congregation talking about the kind of love that creates and sustains partnerships and families. Romantic love yes we heard about that creative love. Long haul love. This week i want to talk to you about the kind of love that creates and sustains communities. This community. I begin with a story. Once upon a time not so long ago and environmental activist who just happens to live and teach right here in vermont named bill mckibben. Rhoda book. Actually wrote a lot of bus. And articles. That inspired a movement. Call 350. org. Whose purpose is to bring about changes in human behavior. Individual and communal and corporate. That will reduce carbon emissions. And save our planet from. The effects of climate change. Many people have been inspired to action by mckibbin's works. What are the people who read one of his books was the reverend elaine bomford who preached a sermon about it from this pulpit. That's our man helped raise consciousness among you about the urgency of the sustainability movement. And the need for this congregation to work in face. To do something together. The green sanctuary committee has done a lot of great work in education and consciousness-raising. And gathering members to take direct action on sustainability issues. And to take effect focus look at the way we here in this meeting house can reduce our carbon footprint. Their work helped inspire and incredibly generous donor to come forward and offered to cover the cost of installing solar panels in the parking lot. Solar panels that would harness the power of the sun and allow us to reduce our use of electricity produced by other and much. Dirtier means. That single act of extraordinary generosity led to a careful process of discernment and decision-making led by the board of trustees which culminated in an unheard-of well-attended midsummer congregational meeting. People keep telling me nobody comes here in the summer but i think people do. And that meeting was attended by lots and lots of people buy you. Who voted unanimously to accept the donation and proceed with the project. Then the property committee and several staff members took up the work of making sure that the project was implemented. Many many hours of staff and volunteers time went into the planning and oversight. It took patience as the usual glitches in any construction projects were encountered and met with good humor and persistence. It took more patients as our carefully laid out parking rental scheme was disrupted by the construction. And apparently unheard-of law here in the city of burlington involving who could park on their own laws. There was mud noise and mess more mud more noise and more mess. Those of us who dealt with a noise and mess on a daily basis watched enthralled out our office windows as the solar panels arrived and were installed one by one. There's a sermon in this place all to myself one day as i stood watching that happens to me a lot. Finally one day last week. Years after bill mckibben started writing books and. Dwayne preacher sermon. Many months after our donor made their offer months after the congregation affirmed the decision and staff and volunteers. Implemented that decision for small miracles happen. A switch was flipped. Those panels began to absorb and redirect the energy of the sun. And the meter started running backwards sending a much-needed infusion of energy into this beloved building. Now that my friends is a love story. A story of the kind of love that creates and sustains community. The love that sent that meter spinning backwards that is the kind of love that makes this world go round. That is why i decided it was the perfect story to illustrate a sermon about stewardship. Because you know. Stewardship. Is not. About money just as that story is not about money. It's about much much more. Is the story about race consciousness and inspiration and vision. More importantly is a story about having a place to share inspiration and turn vision into action. With companions. It is a story about amazing generosity and clear communication and carefully planned discernment and shared decision-making. It is a story about shared work and shared accountability. I'll be bold and i will call that all shared ministry. It's a story about patience and persistence and flexibility. And the willingness to allow change to happen even though change causes disruption to routines. And ultimately it is a story about power. Solar power. Electrical power. The power of community. The meter is running backwards sending an infusion of energy into this building because you together were able to recognize that when you work together and pull your resources you have the power to make profound changes. Life-saving changes world saving changes. And if using that power isn't what stewardship is all about. Then i don't know what is. The theme for this year's stewardship campaign as you know is reigniting connections. The committee chose that seem not because they wanted to make it happen but because they recognized that it was already happening. Long before the meter started running backwards on the solar panels there were much-needed infusions of power surging into this beloved community. Where did that power come from came from you. After a hard year you chose to be present. And your presence. Was and is a powerful gift a gift of love. You are present at worship services at adult programs at forums at teachings at potluck meals and small group conversations. You were present at committee meeting. And board forums and congregational meeting. It hasn't always been easy. I know. It's some of you experience hurt feelings and anger and disappointment. Personal relationships with frayed hard words were said. And accusations were made. But you persisted in being present in the spirit of reconciliation and love. And the product of that persistence is exactly what the stewardship committee has named. Connections among you and between you reignited. The fire of commitment once again calling you and recalling you into intentional community. A community whose purpose is transformation. Change minds changed hearts changed lives changed world. This morning we kick off our annual stewardship drive. And i know that some of you will be rolling your eyes. I know and i'm now talking to the people that aren't here that some of you stayed away this morning. Cuz you didn't want to hear about it. You know i've been writing stewardship sermons for more than two decades. I rarely have anything new to say about stewardship in fact last year my sermon. Was a list of platitudes about stewardship that i thought i would recycle and an amusing way. But this year is different. Cuz this year i have been so inspired myself by the time i have spent. With you. On this interim journey that i too have received an infusion of much-needed energy. For the work. A shared ministry. I'm grateful to you for that. As part of the way i'm showing my gratitude. Is by making a financial commitment to this congregation far larger than we usually do an interim settings. Deborah and i try to type we give 10% of our income away over the course of each year. And we make sure that fully half of that goes to unitarian universalism. Our faith. Our spiritual home take priority over all other charitable donations. We belong to the church of the larger fellowship so we pledged to them yearly. We give money to the friends of the unitarian universalist association. And to the unitarian universalist service committee. And we pledge to whatever interim congregation we find ourselves journeying with. In my stewardship conversation last week with my visiting steward i was reflecting on how grateful. We have felt for this opportunity to practice interim ministry in burlington. And how impressed we have been with the poor health and resilience here. As so we pledged accordingly. We will give $3,000 to this society in the next fiscal year. Now i know that just talking about money from the pulpit is inviting trouble let alone speaking out loud my actual pledge. Some of you are probably thinking. We don't talk like that about money in here. It's unseemly it's worldly it makes us uncomfortable. After all roberta money is the root of all evil. So here is my response honed over decades of having the same debate. Year-after-year indifference. Settings. You know for a group of people who in all other aspects of your religious life reject the dualisms that plagued much of western orthodox religion the dualism between good and evil this world and the next world the sacred and the profane. People who reject all of that to suddenly get all riled up about bringing the profaned talk of money into your suddenly sacred worship space. Well isn't that just a little bit philosophically inconsistent of you. Talk of money in a sunday service is to my mind no more or less spiritual than talk of justice or wonder or ethics or volunteerism. And furthermore since i'm having this imaginary debate with you i'm going to tell you that if you're going to quote scripture you should quote it accurately the saying is not that money is the root of all evil the quote from 1st timothy is that the love of money. Is the root of all evil. So there. A uu minister tony larson wrote an essay about. Generosity is a spiritual practice in a book called everyday spiritual practices written for and by unitarian universalist. This is what he said. Money is one of those things that a lot of us have trouble with. We don't want to see materialistic but we don't want to be ascetic either. The struggle i believe is essentially a spiritual one. Some say we should just admit that we like having money instead of pretending to feel guilty about it. Others quote the bible and say money is the root of all evil. However. Again he says the bible doesn't actually say that it says the love of money. Is the root of all evil. It's not money itself it's being overly attached to it. Tony concludes by saying my own belief is that money is neutral neither good nor bad in itself but it can be a tool. A vehicle a means to a spiritual purpose. So can we put aside the notion that money isn't inappropriate. Topic for heart-to-heart conversations with each other about our values. Our commitments our heartfelt passions. The basis of the stewardship conversations either one-on-one or in college meetings is not money itself. Or the love of money. It is the love of the first unitarian universalist society of burlington. That we will be talking to each other about. Many of you have received an email asking you to sign up for a cottage meeting. If you have received this email. Do it. It is your ethical obligation as a member of this society. The self-sustaining community to respond. And to sign up and to attend. Some of you will be receiving calls from specially trained volunteers for a personal conversation. If you receive such a call in the next week or so return their call. Make the appointment and have the conversation. It is your ethical obligation as a member of this self-sustaining society. To do that. As you prepare for your stewardship conversation remember this. You are not being asked to talk about something evil. You are being asked to talk about a tool that we all possess in some quantity. A tool that can be used to nurture and sustain this congregation that we love. A tool that in our giving. Gives us the opportunity to embody our values. Some of you can pledge a lot. If you can. You should. Some of you can pledge only a little. And if you can pledge only a little you should. All pledges are equally valued as long as they are made in the spirit of generosity and love. Do not think that because you can only pledge 5 or $10 a month that you shouldn't bother. The goal of the stewardship campaign this year is not a numerical. Dollar number it is a participation number. We want every single person who belongs in one way or another to this congregation to have a stewardship conversation. And make a financial commitment. Of record. The famous theologian. Gloria steinem. Merced. We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs. Remember checkbook stuff that's how you know how old that code is. The stewardship campaign is an opportunity for you to look at your checkbook stub that quaint and outdated image and ask yourself honestly whether that was stubs reflect your values. If the answer is yes good for you keep it up. If the answer is not sure. Then we have good news for you. Because my making a pledge in alignment with your values you can live up to gloria steinem's expectations for you and how many times do you get that offer and relax time. So when your invitation to participate in his stewardship campaign comes. Welcome it for what it is. An opportunity to grow in mind and spirit. And to transform the world. Do pledge fairly and generously to your beloved unitarian universalist community is a privilege. It is a way to repay those folks who 202 years ago. Came together to form. This society. It is a way to leave a legacy to those future generations who hundred years from now we'll be looking back and thanking you for the work you did here. Think of your stewardship conversation as an invitation to write a love story. One of the many love stories that have and will sustain this congregation. Through good times and bad. It is an invitation to practice a generosity of spirit that grows out of our experiences of love. In the stewardship training sessions we have been talking about making the choice between cultivating a garden of abundance or garden of scarcity. Ironically a couple weeks ago we had an opportunity to make that choice. For ourselves. We got a frantic email. From the sixth grade. Soup lunch organizers saying that they had scheduled. The suplies for the same day as the stewardship kickoff. Now technically there is a policy that says no other fundraising can happen during the stewardship campaign. They wanted to know if they had to cancel their lunch. Garden of scarcity. Garden of abundance. It took. 20 seconds. To decide that there was enough goodwill in this room. To both support. Finable soup. And kicking off the stewardship campaign. We live by choice. In the garden of abundance. The stewardship campaign. Is an invitation. 2 practice a generosity of spirit. The grows ad of our experiences of love. That truly is the only fuel. That makes the world go round. Love. Love. It's a form of renewable energy. But only. When you give it away.

uusociety_org

2012-03-18-2%20Sermon.mp3

Each of us is unique. With our lives one grand unfolding journey. And within it how are years and days hold smaller journeys. Thresholds and revelations are ever emerging as we walk. Multiple varied paths at once. The gift in this notion is that any moment contains qualities of beginning. If we choose to see them. But wonder with me for a moment. What precedes the start. What sets the stage for that first intentional movement forward. What is the terrain that births a beginning. There is a change or shift. Sometimes caused. From the outside and sometimes from within. Sometimes it comes massively like an eruption. And sometimes it is a mere whisper. With mysteriously distracting qualities. Always at the core there is some form of the question. Why. Eruptive changes crack our lives apart in a senate vote sudden volcanic event. A beloved dies or we suffer a terrible loss. Our relationships are shaken to the point of strangeness. Our world becomes crumbled. Ruined. Unfamiliar destroyed. The smooth clear solid path of life we once took for granted is now. Clogged with broken rocks. And the branches of downed trees. Our instinct is often. To restore it. There's a hunger for equilibrium. We yearn to feel lonely dark caverns with something pleasurable. And reassuring. In the days following my mother's sudden death. My sister's dad and i met with a family friend who is also a geriatric social worker. She urged us. No big changes. For at least a year. Because you will want to make them you will be hurting in a harder ways than perhaps you've ever known. And you will naturally look for pat's out of the grieving journey. Because it is a journey. It's a hard one. Painful. Lonely exhausting unpredictable. Full of ambushes. But hang in there. It's your journey to go through. The death. Have someone we love is the beginning of a journey. Have grief. Sometimes the setting for the journey is not. A massive external life eruption. It's more like a tiny interior fisher. In the words of the poet john o'donohue. In out-of-the-way places of the heart. Where are your thoughts never think to wander. This beginning. Has been quietly forming. Waiting. Until you were ready to emerge. For a long time. It has watched your desire. Feeling the emptiness growing inside you noticing how you willed yourself on. Still unable to leave what you had outgrown. It watched you play with the seduction of safety and the gray promises that sameness whispered. Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent. Wondered. Would you always live like this. Then. The delight. When your courage kindled and out you stepped onto new ground. Your eyes young again with energy and dream. A path of plenitude. Opening before you. So what is it. That kindles are courage. I've been working recently with the idea that. Inclinations toward action. Will be preceded by clarity. Of what success looks like. I'll say that again. Inclinations toward action will be preceded. Buy clarity of what success looks like. The flipside of this ideas that. When the way forward is uncertain. Even if you're itching to get going it's wise to wait. For clarity to develop. In college. Some friends and i had dreamed about traveling the country together after we graduated. I really wanted to go but when i tried to plan with them. They couldn't afford it. Nor could they leave their jobs and join me. Lamenting this reality over lunch with my mom suddenly a nuvision snapped into clarity. First. My grandmother had recently willed me some money. I would use that. Her down payment on a car for the trip. Second. I would stop waiting for my friends. The clear realization of these two key elements. That i could afford a car. And possess the courage to go solo. Freed me. To move forward first with eager plans then with the journey itself. The mind's eye is a powerful and essential tool for the journey. When we can visualize the scene of our destination and the path and manner of getting there. It fuels our whole system. With its energy. To better fulfill the reality. What's more. There's a pole on a remaja nations when we can see part of the vision drawing us forward. When we can see part. But not all. There's an impulse to imagine what fills the gaps. And more so. To imagine ourselves as connected somehow to that vision. For sure. This was what pulled me forward on the trip i took around the country. Every single day was an adventure full of possibility. And oftentimes the vision must go beyond what we can see either with our eyes or with our imaginations. It must align with our other senses and synergize to trigger the first movement. My partner lucy and i once lived in an in an apartment. Whose main living space had a cathedral ceiling spanned by several 3in beams. When first we moved in my cat. Button-up. Exploring his new home hopped onto the counter. And from there to the top of the fridge. As he appeared about. I imagine how he'd love to get even higher. Up onto those beams. So i built him a ramp with little treads to span the gap. And showed him what it was for. Instead. In one smooth move of feline grace he left. To the beam. The height and distance looked impossible but he repeated it flawlessly. Two are wrapped amazement look here we go. We'd say. And our conversation with stopped as we witnessed his preparation. Perched on the edge of the fridge his eyes bound with intent to his destination. Then wriggling up and down his spine to his haunches electrical impulses lubricating his entire system to readiness. A sudden spring of flight. And a soft shore landing high over our heads. But of course the first move isn't always like that. Last summer i was excited to try a new trail up mount mansfield. My guidebook captivated me with the roots description it red. This route. Has some rather difficult sections. Including a short clip and a crevasse jump. Making it one of the most exciting trails in vermont. I had to give it a shot off high winds. Curious as to when and if i'd recognize these noted features along the way. Oh i noticed them. On the way to the summit suddenly across the trail with a gap. About 15 feet deep and 5 feet wide. The crib asleep. I am not built like my cat. I stood there alone on the rock. And contemplated my next move. I had an instinct to leave across and it seemed i could clear the distance. But the depth of air below spooked me. Too bad there was no space to get a running start. I sent my pack would throw off my balance and momentum if i tried to leap so i thought about throwing it across first then following. But worries forwarded me. What if it slipped off the rock and fell way down. Or my water bottles fell out then what. I scouted about for an alternate route. A way to scramble down and then up the other side. Nothing. It occurred to me i might have to go back the way i come. No i thought i just need to muster my courage psych myself up. I tried. Couldn't. I just could not do what my cat button-up had done. Gather that vision of success in my haunted and just go for it. And then. From behind me cayman older couple. Hismile. And stepped aside while he tall and long-legged reached his hiking pole across and then vaulted easily to the other side. Then he turned and reached a hand back to his partner who with his steady graph. Made the leap look easy. Want to hand he offered sure i heard myself say jettisoning some pride in exchange for the grace of unexpected help. In all my puddling i had never even considered. The possibility of a stranger's helping hand. The truth i learned. Is that having a hand to hold. Can transform the impossible. Into the possible. Once my sister was enduring the ragged sudden breakup of a relationship. Her heart ache terribly. She was unsure and had lost all confidence in her inner wisdom. Uprooted she was drifting fearfully and weekly along. I would talk to her on the phone and she would lay your tears upon questions and phrases of futility. Does she was far away or voices exchanging over the line held our connection secure. So i told her to imagine i was holding her hand. I said that where she was. She couldn't see the sun. But from where i was i could. I said that i believed the time would come when she'd glimpse the sunshine. But for now she could trust in my word. This was her journey to go through. And i was a friend along the way who held her hand. A friend who's footing with a little more sure. At a time when she had pretty much. None. Words exchanged and love and trust. Canby the hand-holding. We need to move on. And words spoken with intent. And promise can catalyze. Our intent to begin a journey. Precisely because of the risk. We hesitate. Two speaker vision until our readiness. He's sure. Like many others in our culture i have come to times when i wanted to lose weight. A few years ago was one of those times. During a vacation with my sister and her two kids i told my young niece rachel that i was going to work on losing weight i said. See this round pudgy belly i have. The next time you see me it will be gone. So say goodbye to my belly. And she did she waved and said bye-bye martha's belly. This served as a promise to her. Someone i really loved. Whose trust i have that i was going to do it. And i spoke to his only after having the conviction that i really wanted to do it. Could do it. And had a means of doing it. I remember this interchange with rachel because that promise began a weight loss journey that ended in success. Of course with journeys like hikes or my trip around the country. Accountability as an essential measure of safety. Telling others where you were going and when. Links them to your journey. People who love you. In-home yo you place your trust. Will pick you up when you stumble and fall. Or seek you out. When you're lost or missing. Speaking the intention of the journey the vision of it the fears in it. Giving voice to it build strength and power and helps. With focus and direction to. I find it so cool that the word articulate. Means two things. First. To speak about clearly and distinctly. And second. To join. So as to allow movement. To finding the words that tells the story of our journey actually lubricates. And connects the possibilities. For its future unfolding. When our lives are itching and stretching to move and change. We can tell stories about now. Which illustrate the present quality that we want to move away from. The more fully we can name describe and flesh out where we are now. The current state of our lives. The more we will hear ourselves begin to speak of the state. We wish to bring about. The place we want to go to the new quality and purpose we want to bring forth in our lives. As we go through life. People. Are a big part of the terrain. That is a glad thing when they help us along. But some people seem only to get in our way. And oh how we wish they would simply go away. Or change. One thing i'm trying to learn. Is that i cannot change other people. Despite how much i want to or how hard i try. The serenity prayer. Helps me with this. God. Grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change. Courage to change the things i can and the wisdom. To know the difference. If people would only communicate better be more predictable be more responsible always do what they said they would do be nicer. I could go on. But consider what we might learn. And where we might go on the journey when we accept. That we can't change others. These hard interpersonal journeys have a lot to teach and to give. Think of classic miss. Where in the fearsome dragon. Conceals. The treasure. Or the fairy tales where the heroines kiss of the slimy frog. Reveals her prince. The thing that we are desperate to avoid is precisely what we must engage directly. For it conceals the next threshold of growth. So what about. Yourjourneys. Your dreams your visions. What form of becoming. Awaits you. Our lives are full of things to do. Most of the time. What we need to do our things that other people need us to do now. Or soon. It's true isn't it. So i invite you. To imagine a different to do it. Then that one. What would you write on a list with the heading. Things i need for myself. Eventually. Think for a moment. About what you would put on this list. What. Do you eventually. Need. For yourself. Imagine. Building that new list. And visiting it regularly. Because the other one. The list of things everyone else needs from us now. Is not the place where journeys we need are born. Give your dreams some time and attention. Play there. Imagine bear. And tell others about it. Reach out a hand for help. If you need to. The beginnings will come. From without and from within. All we need. His readiness. And vision. May it be so.

uusociety_org

2013-03-31-2Sermon.mp3

So when i was a little girl. We used to celebrate easter every year down in virginia with my uncle bob and my aunt mary. And they were episcopalian. And on easter money.more my morning. When we all came down to the kitchen. Instead of saying good morning to each other. Uncle bob with a big smile on his face would say christ has risen. And we would all answer he is risen indeed did anyone else. Grow up like that. Yeah okay. So that's what the easter stories about for christians. It's about. Jesus who had been in the last weeks of his life quite a troublemaker hadn't he. He's gone to jerusalem and he was stirring up quite a bit of trouble he was challenging the religious leader is there in jerusalem to treat poor people better and not worry so much about himself and he was. Trying to get the political leaders to think about. Peaceful solutions instead of. Bigger armies and more weapons does any of this sound familiar like we might still be having that same argument. And that made him very unpopular. You know peace and justice. Are not as good for business. As. War and greed or at least that's what people thought. And so. They had jesus arrested. And he had a very quick trial. And was convicted. And sentenced to death. His followers were devastated how could someone who could speak so powerfully and inspire them. Die. How could someone who had so many good ideas he was so kind to people. How could he not be there anymore. How could the corrupt politicians win. So is the story goes his followers took his body after he died and put it in a cave. Until they could bury him properly. And 3 days later when they went back. To get his body it was gone. And the message they got was that he had risen. He had been born again and gone up to heaven to live with god forever. That's what christians celebrate on easter that christ is risen. Now even back then when i was a child and uncle bob's house. Immediately doing what i was told to do i wondered a little bit about that story. I was getting a good unitarian universalist education in my sunday school back in new york and i kind of like things to make. Sense. And that story didn't make sense to me. What's it mean that christ was risen. I thought about. Things levitating. Off the ground maybe. Or. Coming back to life after they just looked like they were dead. Now that's a story i could believe in that's the old old. Story that nature tells every spring. Isn't it. Think about it. How many people saw the crocuses come up just before we got a foot of snow through if you do. How many people saw them. Crocuses taking risk every year they pop up through the cold hard ground they don't know whether they're going to be greeted by warm sun or by a foot of snow. But they bloom anyway don't they those crocuses all bloomed. Into colorful beautiful flowers. See the old nature religion. From before. Christianity. All celebrated the arrival of spring as a kind of rebirth. A kind of being born again or coming back from the dead. In fact some of those old celebrations are actually part of our modern easter celebration although not everybody knows it. For example. Did you know that the celtic and dramatic goddess of spring is named ostara. Then that sounds a little bit like easter. And you know what the symbols are. 40 sarah. When she comes in the spring. Eggs. And. Bunnies. Eggs and bunnies aha. And then there is the northern european goddess named audio. Audio. Takes the form of a bear. What do bears do all winter. They hibernate and what do they do in the spring they rise up again. Yes. So the time that jesus was living on the earth in the his followers were. So upset about his dying. They were already celebrating spring as a time when sings rise up it wasn't a brand new idea. Now the other thing that you probably know about jesus and his followers. Is that they were jewish. And that week when he got into so much trouble. Was during the holiday called passover. So how many of you were here last night at the seder. Good so some of you can maybe help me with the next part of the story. The senator tells the story of a time when the jews were slaves wear. In egypt. That's right. And they had a leader named. Juice. Yes. Moses. I know moses. And moses got a message. From god it said go to the pharaoh and tell. The pharaoh to let my people go. So that's what he did he went to his people first and he said it's time for us to rise up. And free ourselves. I'm going to tell the pharaoh to let us go. Now if you are at the seder last night you know the answer to this question was it a smooth and easy letting go. Know what happened. Play such as. Frogs. Locust. Boils. Blood in the rivers. It was a really messy kind of. Liberation as liberation often is. But eventually. The israelites got to be free. And every year they celebrate their freedom during passover with a seder. A special dinner. Whereyoueat special foods and tell that story so you'll remember until the children will learn the story and always know it. Now remember i told you that when jesus was arrested he was having. Dinner with some friends he was having a seder. A passover seder. Celebrating. That's freedom. And you know. At a stater there's always a plate in the middle of the table that has special foods on it that have special meaning. And you know what one of those foods is. Yes a hard boiled egg. How come that egg keeps showing off in this story. The jewish passover seder reminds us to be thankful for our freedom. And to always work for justice. The earth base spring celebration. Remind us to be thankful for life itself. And tell us that there are always cycles. In our lives. Cycles of birth and death and rebirth. Sadness and joy darkness and light. Cold and grey. Warm and colorful. The christian easter celebration. Reminds us to have faith. But even in the hardest times. There is always hope and the promise of new life. So i would like you all to help me. End this sermon. Remember i told you at the beginning that after uncle bob said christ is risen we would all say he is risen indeed. I'd like to try a variation on that. I'd like to say something. And i would like you all to say. They have risen to life. Would you do that. Look the flowers have bloomed again out of the cold ground. The animals that were hibernating are running around again. Listen to the birds that went south for the winter are in the trees and they're singing in chirping. The israelites that groaned in slavery have risen up against their oppressors again and walk to freedom. All over the world the people who followed jesus are celebrating that he still inspires them to work for peace and justice. Let us all rise to life this morning and then we can all say hallelujah. Hallelujah.

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2010-08-08%20Sermon.mp3

Reading. The reading this morning will be. From the power of now. Buy a car. Holy. None of you i am sure are familiar with this book. The format is in his book. There are questions raised by a variety of people. And he then supplies the answer. On the. Question that will be addressing from the book this morning is the subject of. Time. The question. But without a sense of time. How would we function in this world. There would be no goals to strive toward. I wouldn't even know who i am. Because my past. Makes me who i am. Today. I think time. Is something very precious and we need to learn to use it wisely. Rather than waste it. And. Toys answer. Is. Time isn't precious at all. Because. It is an illusion. What you pursue. As precious. Is not time. But the one point that is out of time. I know. That. This precious indeed. Devore you are focused on time. Past. And future. The more you miss. The know. The most precious thing. There is. Why is it the most precious thing. Firstly. Because it is the only thing. It's all. There is. The eternal present. Is the space within which your whole life. Unfolds. The one factor. But remains constant. Life. Is now. There was never a time when your life was not now. Nor will there ever be. Secondly. But now is the only point. I can take you beyond. The limited confines of your mind. It is your only point of access. Choosy timeless. And formless realm. Of being. Have you ever experienced done thought or felt. Anyting. Outside the no. You think you ever will. Is it possible for anything to happen. Or be outside the no. The answer is obvious. Is it not. Nothing ever happened in the past. It happened in the know. Nothing will ever happen in the future. It will happen. And i know. What you think of as the past. Is a memory trace. Stored in the mind. Of a former. No. When you remember the past. You reactivate. A memory trace. And you do so. No. The future. Unimagined all a projection of the mind. When the future comes. Becomes. Asda no. When you think about the future you do it. No. Past. I'm future obviously have no reality of their own. Justice the moon. Has no light of its own but can only reflect. The light of the sun. So our past and future. Only tail reflections of the light. Power. And reality. Of the eternal. Present. Their reality. Is borrowed. From. The know. The essence of what i am saying here cannot be understood by the mind. The moment you grasped it there is a shift. Unconsciousness. From mind. Tubing. From time. To present. Suddenly everything feels alive. Radiates energy. Ammonites. Being. So. Spica. Eckhart tolle. The subject this morning as was written in the sky. Is acceptance. Our path. Our paths through life seems and is. Totally. Unpredictable. We cannot. With any certainty. Predict. What lies ahead. Events. Plans. Love. All. Stand ready to defy our visions. Our hopes. The best laid plans of mice and men. We will consider this morning. The one. Irrefutable choice we have in life. A choice. But constantly confronts us. Dewey. Or don't we. Except. Or reject. Our reality. Our present. Moment in time. Life's realities are not which we choose. For while we experience. All realities. They're not part of us. Rather. Reality happens. To us. Indeed. The acceptance. Or rejection. Of this moment reality is r1. Basic choice in life. This moment in this moment only. Is when. We live. The last moment is already history. It is unalterable. We cannot relive it. Changes in any way. We can only bring it with us. As a memory. And the next moment. If it arrives. Is our future. And while we can make plans for it. We cannot. Live in it. For it is and will always be. Before us. A moment we can reach for. But you're not. Levin. For we live only. In. Our no. By rejecting this moments reality we stand still. Looking behind us. Doing battle. With our unalterable past. Becoming angry. Frustrated bitter side. Trying to grasp change. That. Which is unchangeable. We become part of the past. Which is. No longer present. We become our memory. Not tangible. Not real. Not present. There is a totally different experience between living in our past are memories as opposed to visiting. Our memories. Our nostalgia our river is. 4life is for creating beautiful. Memories. Are there can be deep joy. In our reflections recollections. But not. In our abiding there. And what is our experience. When we accept. Our reality this. Moment in time. Do we become. Poor blissful. Do our aches and pains. Dissolve. Do wrong. Become rights. No. No. None of life's experiences change. As with the rejection of our reality. Our past. Is. On ultra ball. But what does change. Is our attitude. About both passed. Unfrozen. We no longer live in our past. Your urine. For our future. We live in the present. This. Our only moment in time. Our reality. Our acceptance provides the clarity the ability to see life. As it was. And how we fit into it. On the consequences. Osgood. Angry bird lol. Toulouse. In the know. Our acceptance of reality provides. The opportunity. Or changing. Redirecting. This moment in time. For we cannot. Change. All reality. Until. We accepted. Let me repeat that. We cannot change. Our reality. Until. We accepted. The critical word action in our acceptance of reality. Is opportunity. For we now have the ability to choose. To be in control of our direction. It's complicated. Is that night be. But we are no longer looking backwards. Or living in the future we are present being guided by our past experience but not living in it. To illustrate. Excuse me. Thrillist read this point when i was a very young man. My life changed my late teens. The early twenties. I developed the habit of visualizing life. And my place in it. Not with any specific objectives. Or goals. But rather. With a philosophical view. My mental picture. Was up a mountain stream fulling from its source. At the summit. Toward. It's larger body. The sea. During its descent. Its course. Very regularly. Pulling to the left or to the right depending. On the obstacles. Before it. But always. Continuing toward its larger body. Silver rapids. Creating. Much agitation. Unsound. And there were unforeseen unpredicted. Falls. And there were quiet. Tranquil areas. Surrounded by nature's beauty. And pawns. With overhanging trees where the stream would gather. Before continuing. Its course. The ponds offered uninviting opportunity. To leave. The stream. To be quiet. Reflective. And embrace. The total scene. My image hadley resting under the bowels of a weeping willow with a full realization. That i had left. The streams flow. That it was passing me by. And that was fully acceptable. Since. I had the awareness. Of my choice. Uncontent. To stop. Unrest. As we have observed our acceptance of life. Of reality provides the opportunity. Of choice. And that can mean. Fully accepting. Where we are. Uncontent. 2 remainder. Or. Choosing to stay in life's flow. Towards ever new moments in time. Either way. It is. A conscious. Choice. Are conscious acceptance of reality is not to be confused with complacency. Or resignation. But rather. Presences. With the only way. We can change it. By embracing it. We have the opportunity. I'm moving forward. Being complacent or resigned hold us fast. To where we are. And without. Are choosing. The possibility. Of a new direction. Another facet of acceptance involves. The acceptance of self. And in so doing we are accepting life. For we are life. As manifested. In our being. Life. With all its flaws its imperfections. Our habits of which. We are less than proud. As with all dolls. We cannot change who we are. Until. We see ourselves clearly. And accept. Ourselves. For who we are. When my task is that not condoning being complacent with that. That is. Less than good. What's the nut that would benefit from changing. The answer is yes. If. It means we recognize the need to change. For improvement. And do nothing about it. Bing. Self-satisfied. Is akin. Tubing. Shellfish. Which is the opposite. Of self-love. Unlimits. Our ability to love another. For we cannot love another. Until we love. Except. Self. This list can be understood when contrasted with the true the real. We honest. Acceptance. Of who we are. In life. And our willingness. To attempt. Changing. With that acknowledgement we become positive with self. Recognizing. I am less than i could be. But i am willing. To begin. The task. Of change. The willingness. To begin the journey. Difficult. Though it may be. Denial. Is. Behind us. We accept who we are. Engine brace. They potential. Of appositive. Tomorrow. Sometimes called hope. Recognizing. Attempting. Accepting who we are provides the insight the understanding of our relationship with others based on our understanding love of self we can better understand except others we recognize that any change comes from within that cannot be imposed on us nor on others they must we must have the willingness to change we must embrace love self for who we are at this moment in time not who we wish to become and through this understanding we can love another for who they are at this moment in time and not who we wish them to become this frequently requires forgiving forgiving of self. Play forgiving others. Paul tillich. Define forgiving. Beautifully. In his sermon. On. Forgetting. And remembering. He said. Forgetting. In spite. A remembering. This. Is forgiving. The wonderful let me repeat that. Forgetting. In spite. Of remembering. This. Is forgiving. Because we don't. Forget doing. We do indeed remember so in spite. Is forgiving. And to forgive is. To accept. There is one reality we each share equally. Regardless of the path. We have trod. The flow of life. Calories each of us. To the same. Final. Destination. Play we rich poor. And good. Or ill-health. Regardless of our faith. We each. Are confronted. Play lives. Final. Reality. Duff. Before we can accept we must be aware. Of what it is. That we are accepting. And so it is with them. As a child we know nothing of it. Until we experience it. Either by the death of someone close. World pet. That we have loved. But even then a child sees death. This happening to someone. Something else. But not. To oneself. At summerly point. We become aware. The duff china happen. To us. And we go into. The denial mode. I'm most of us stay there. Throughout our lives. Until. We have no other choice. But to accept it. What was great. Right reluctance. Our denial our share of death. Casts a shadow. On how we live. For we cannot fully live. With fear. Ethan. If it is in our subconscious. And what is the answer to this dilemma. Yes. As with all else. The answer is. Acceptance. Of our mortality. For money. It involves the promise of their faith. Been a beautiful. Immortality. A reward of living a prescribed life. And also the punishment. For not having followed the prescription. Resulting. Inferior. What is this the same as fully accepting embracing our mortality. Arda. Or is it a way of escaping. Denying or just. For the promise. Of immortality. Or are not living in the now. But in the future. To accept. Yes to embrace death is to accept the reality that our life ends. As we have known. Experienced it. To accept the reality that death has been a constant. Companion. Throughout. Our lives. Willing to aid. Or assist us in our lives. Become too painful. Or continue or. Continue or we take conscious chances. Which i conscious chasis. But my ended. Either way. The. Cuz they're for us. Not as the grim reaper. Put as a faithful. Friends. This is a death we can fully accept embrace. Parcels. As for those we love. And have both. This. Is the living in the dying and. Canal. Are having a presence. A willingness. To go with life's flow. The word. Our larger body. The wonder. Even the adventure of entering into the unknown alone. But with duff. As a friend. A knot. As we have stated. The grim reaper. In concluding. But accepting of our reality in life. And endure. Is our opportunity. For our conscious. Choice. To have a presence. Tubi. In life slowed. To be a participant not a bystander. To live. And have fully. Lived. In our now. And not. In our past. Or. In our future. May this be. Your experience. So big.

uusociety_org

2011-01-09-2%20Foster.mp3

Hi i'm lynn flower foster and this i believe. I believe that the mystery that defines us. It's something that cannot be named. And yet. It echoes within us it awakens in those moments when we transcend. What we know. And rest in the heart of the sacred. Those times we all have when we are filled. With a sense of wonder. Of joy. Oar peace. It is there. They're in the contrast of shadows cast long against snow. By the moonlight. There in a universe of stars that door fuss. And recalibrate all that seems so huge to us. And they're as we bear witness to the gentle beauty of a sleeping baby. I believe. That forgiving. And reconciliation. Free us from the weight of our own bitterness. I believe that justice. Creates fertile ground for peace. The great disparity in a society. Will yield hostility. And a community that struggles with crime and social issues. I believe that while we might not be capable of great change we must act for justice and that majorities have to stand up. For minority causes or those will flounder. So much believing. And yeah there is more. I believe that there is something more. That is pure and sacred. And stirs within all. I love our him spirit of life for me it really rings true. Because of my belief. I'm very disturbed by the fact that too many. Spend too much time. Trying to define it. The capture it. Toolbox it into some narrow belief system. Didn't turn gets a life of its own. Farr better in my belief to open yourself to the wonder. And the beauty and to actually connect. With the divine whenever and wherever possible. I believe. That what we look for is often what we find in people. Imagine if this is true. How powerful it is that we might bring forth. The very best in someone and shape their future. Just threw our kind words. Our support. And our faith in them. There is no better gift. So what seed. Brought forth so much believing for me. Perhaps that very same quality. Someone lovingly looking for the best in me. And my parents. Definitely gave me this gift and i hope that intern. In every way i possibly can that i pass it on to my children. Primarily i would have to say. My mother has always been a great influence. She brought me up to believe that religion should not be for show. But rather it should be evident in the way that you live your faith. I remember her traveling wants to see her parents. And she came back and shared the experience of being seated next to the southern evangelical type. Who tried the whole trip down to save her. And in contrast. She was seated on the return. With this lovely missionary who stay. Was embodied in their action and who intimated the details of that. Only. As she inquired. How tiresome. And annoying if not expensive. She found her evangelical to be. And then the missionary renewed her faith. That evangelical makes me remember a bumper sticker that really struck my air reverent side. It said. God. Save me from your followers. Although we attended several different methodist churches through the years my momma always allowed me to question and explore my faith. I remember her sharing passages from the prophet and from poetry that demonstrated beauty and faith could be intertwined. Ought to realize now that i actually have you you in my blood that my father was a humanist and a pillar in his fellowship in los gatos california. But he did not really shape much of my religious beliefs. Up until 2004 when i go to visit him out in california my stepmother would have me attend her episcopal church with. With her she like to show me off. So. When i came here. I actually had not been attending church since high school. This church first called to us in 1997. With its wayside pulpit outfront declaring support for civil union. A church. Committed to compassion and social justice. How could we not check that out. Well we were newly transplanted from north carolina. And we'd really lost our connections with community from the beginning though we knew. We knew that we would find a liberal. Group of people kindred spirits. And a faith community that nurtured individual thinking and expression. We also knew that our kids. Would be given opportunities to learn and explore their own fee. It's always easier to find discipline to start something new when you're doing it for your children but be warned. Mannequin for their children and their hair long after the children of moved on. Beliefs. Let's hit the heavy questions. Heaven. Or hell. Seriously why should i even care. I believe that we should live each day. As this as if this. What we're living right now. Maybe the only expression of heaven. Or as if we might actually awaken. Heaven and others. Through our own compassion joy or creativity. Maybe there is no more. Nothing to gain points for nothing to get a demerit over it all counts right here in the present and in the future. Here. No i'm not great at it i can still aspire and i can be inspired. And let me personally go on record. As saying that there's a multitude. Inspiration. To be witnessed right here in this sacred place. I think so many of you for your beauty. For your inspiration. For your service to this church and to our community. I remembered about catholic friend of mine trying to figure out unitarian-universalism and this was not easy for him. He knew my thinking on having dinner at haven't haven't been on earth and not really buying into the health thing. Annie could not figure what belief system. Had me working so hard and doing so much charitable work. The concept of building your own theology was. Truly foreign to him. But. I appreciated that he could have that discussion. And somehow feel that he came to appreciate that my faith. Was personal. And that unitarian universalism. Cultivate common sacred threads that run through mini face. I believe that faith. Is not about the destination. It is about the journey. I'm shaped by and continue to be shaped by. My unitarian-universalist experiences. My father attended our church in his brief time living here in vermont. He came in october of 2009. And after marking all the holidays with us. And his birthday together. He passed away. He came here. Before he came here. He was very very much involved and his uu church in los gatos. And i spent every sunday i could in my many many trips out there with that community. They were actually my home away from home. One particular lice service planted a seed for me. Hey maybe one of those seeds. I didn't even buy that from jesus but it was a see it planted a seed. It was about starting a blessing journal it's an idea that was really simple. And we know that simple is actually a blessing in itself when it comes to being able to execute. Idea was to reflect upon a day. Either in the evening of the day or in the next morning after. And then draw on your reflection. And. Po3 blessings out and record them not in flowery prose just so that you personally are able to remember them. So they could be huge. Today. Maybe i might record. Peace on anniversary of my father's death. Or acknowledging someone successful recovery after a major surgery. Or they might even be small. They might be some delicious chocolate that you ate or a small kindness or a beauty that you witness. Usually one single six sentence will do for each. Oh yes. There's one little other twist to it lest i forget you aren't supposed to repeat so i can't just go. You know it's a blessing to have my mother it's a blessing to have my son. I have to think about something specific specific enough that i can draw it out each time. The idea. Is that. As you acknowledge blessings both large and small. The lens you start to see the world through tents to filter them out more. And what you look for cosmically is often what you get. Imagine the lesson to sit with pen in hand looking at a journal and you can't sit through the day. And call out 5. Us-23 blessings usually i do 5 actually. I would have to chive myself. Thinking that i really wasted that day. Wasted a day. Not to be able. To observe kindness. Beauty joy wonder or something sweet. And three forms in my waking hours. And that stirs me. It stirs me everyday to watch watch for good in life. To be in the moment to be blessed by what i witness. What i received. Or what i'm able to offer. They say you can build a habit i don't really remember how long but i'm thinking it's something around a month. And i'm blessed by this habit and i share it because it's so simple. And it makes for a lovely ritual to awaken the sacred and all. Things large and small. I believe. That we can find our center and peace when times are tough. As i passed through the hard first on this day after marking a full year since my father's passing. I remember the blessing of finding balance. And re-centering that inspired this poem. That i'd like to share with you i wrote it while struggling through his difficulties. With late-onset bipolar disorder. And i leave it with you now. Light dancing through shadow. Find the place. Where the shadow is cast. Unbalanced falters it's pushing you. Threatening to lose you to the darkness. And there. They're just wear the colors fade. Ink flowing across across mindscape. Moving like a whisper. Penetrating cold like a knife. This. Do this. Is the place where you know the fear of falling. And if it would swallow you. Sway gently there. Schiff. Between shadow and light. Find the worm. Let it flow from all you touch. Let it illuminate all that flows. Before. After. And especially within. Remember gentlemen's wondrous mysteries that stir in the depths of your knowing. What a blessing. So many mysteries. To awaken to this your light. And it and this the same light that caresses you in the stillness of time and space. It will dance gently. Across summer waters. Warm the earth. Entice the scent of spring from tender tender. It will embrace and call forward. All that you hold dear. Softening. Now the shadow. Softening this your fear. And intern. The fall.

uusociety_org

2016-03-13%209am%20Sermon.mp3

This morning as we kick off. Our stewardship campaign who steam is sharing the fire. Of commitments. It feels a little off message to begin with this observation but here goes. I am not really a fan of fire. Unlike some of you apparently. Now some ministers some of my colleagues ages love what my colleague rob hardie is termed in a pentecost sermon last spring the pyrotechnic arts. I thought that was pretty good. In rob's where these are ministers who know their way around a matchbook. Now mind you what followed was a story of almost burning the church down by accident but we won't we won't go there. These colleagues look forward to any occasion. When the lighting of candles is our sacred ritual. And truthfully given how much chalice lighting we uu ministers are called upon to do. A little fire love in our profession is not a bad thing. Not as much for me though. Perhaps in might be attributed to childhood nightmares about house fires. Or spending my college summers at the star island conference center. 10 miles off the coast of new hampshire where an understandable fear of burning down the historic buildings when the fire department is a long boat ride away. Led to weekly fire drills and made lighting a match indoors a fireable no pun intended offense. Any other star island alums out there this morning so. And jane. And wendy. Or perhaps it is something to do getting back to churches with a fact that for the past decade or so i've worked in mainly 200 year old plus buildings. Which wouldn't fare so well if a fire truly erupted in our sanctuary. Or perhaps my lack of ministerial pyro server is best explained by being its elemental opposite what elsa water sign. I don't think i've ever come across a water metaphor i don't love. And don't get me started on the water hymns. I've got peace like a river. Shall we gather at the river. In our beautiful blue. That was fun. But alas for me our stewardship team this year this year is not let the dollars roll down like water. Although. Stewardship team take that to note for next year. Then i can return to my elemental comfort zone but. Today it is fire and i thought let's do this so we've got some fire hymns and fire metaphors and for good measure in honor of fire i went out and got some red nails to preach in today. And i will have you know that when i looked at the bottom of the nail polish bottle it's listed the color as so hot it burns. And i will tell you idly they spelled that burn with an e but that is not a political endorsement from the pulpit. Thank you for bearing with my need to explore all that with you this morning. So for all my grousing is a water person. I want to thank our stewardship. Team for forcing me to branch out a little bit. For starters fire. Which since ancient times has. Pain associated with bravery and courage and passion. Yes i think the perfect metaphor for this month at first uu when we are exploring in our theme circles and elsewhere passion. And if you did a wordsearch on this month's path fire pops up quite often. Further and related fire has some degree of significance in each major world religion if we went touring through the banners this morning. We would be able to find something important about fire and we do actually have a. The menorah there. For the ancient greeks fire was one of the four classical elements which were believed to comprise the entire cosmos. The philosopher heraclitus believed fire was the best of all the elements or i should say the greatest. And that fire was a noble part of the human soul. And the life force within nature. Leader in the hebrew scriptures fire often meant that god was about to show up like if you saw a fire get ready. There was. The burning bush. Calling to moses. And a pillar of fire. That led the israelites through the wilderness. And then there was the lamp in the temple that was meant never to go out. And then in the new testament as our pentecost reading earlier reminded us. Fire can also signal a divine or otherworldly presents. When the holy spirit descends on the disciples a few weeks after jesus's death it comes as tongues of fire one landing on each head can you imagine having a dinner party with your like-minded friends of faith. And suddenly you had a tongue of fire upon your head. Has that ever happened at a first uu auction dinner. No. We got a amp up the spirit of those i guess. As rob hardy's lays out in his pentecost sermon which i love and mentioned earlier. Pyrotechnic arts. The arrival of the holy spirit as fire has a transformative effect on the disciples in the moment it allows them to speak in those tongues where everyone hears in their own language. But it is an event that. Causes them to come out of their grief. Come out of that confusion that followed those terrible weeks. Enter feelnu their commitment to the message. Of their teacher. And it called them at call them forth to go out and share that message with the world. Now that extraordinary fire from the christian tradition may or may not capture your spiritual and imagination i think it's a pretty good story. But there's another fire followed by renewed sense of purpose story i want to share with you that comes from our transcendentalist. History. Did you know that before he went to the woods to live deliberately. Henry david thoreau set fire to 300 acres of them. No. How many of you knew that. One of you you knew i mean. Okay. So i'm going to confess that i only came across that when hunting for sermon illustrations i was googling various combinations of famous unitarian names in the word fire. So that's how we have discovered that but. In all seriousness this fire was a huge deal. It meant not only the loss of beloved woods but also valuable lumber from which people made their living. And the town of concord apparently only narrowly escaped. Being burned down. The fire started inadvertently thorough and his friend had a campfire to cook some fish. And a spark ignited a flame. And for years people of the town would whisper woods burner. Whenever thorough passed by. Interesting lee though there's a theory that the fire. For whatever else it brought. Was the precipitating event that led thorough to undertake his experimental retreat to walden the year later. So many of us know about walden but so few of us know about the fire. And you'll have to read more in john pipkins novel to learn more about. His thoughts on how that fire affected the recycle but suffice it to say like those flames of pentecost. This apocryphal tale from concord. Features fire as a catalyst. For change. Now maybe you were thinking that this. Biblical exegesis and exploration of our history is all well and good but what on earth does this have to do with the stewardship campaign. If you are wondering let me reassure you that we are getting there my friends this is after all the sermon on the mount. We all awake. Girl got here at 9 which is pretty good this morning. But first we need to circle back to the disciples dinner table. Because well we've all affirm that none of us have had that particular form of encounter. With the holy spirit. Spirit of life. So i could be wrong. I'm equally certain that each of us could think of a moment in our lives that was shall we say. Filled with the spirit. A moment when we were touched. My colleague rebeller isaac's calls these. Holy. Moments. Times when we feel a sacred presence. Touchdown in our ordinary life. Instances when our minds are suddenly a blazer our heart is warmed. Buy a renewed connection to something larger than ourselves. As if you were on fire from within rights pablo neruda. The moon in the lining of your skin. Holy moments are those times that refill our spirit when we feel like our tank is empty. Or rekindle our passion when we're feeling the greenest all around us. Returning to last sunday. The spirit-filled experiences return us to our zest for life are in love nest with the world. When we may have lost sight of it. And if you were here for my sermon last sunday i think the cacophony of preschoolers in there handbells was for me. A holy moment. I want to invite you to now take a moment in the quietness of your heart. And think of a holy moment for you. To look up when you have one. We don't have enough. For sharing. But you're sure leader. Now whatever our particular theological framework. Whichever of these banners. Is your home. And tugs on your heart. Whether you are a buddhist you you boo you. Or humanist. Or christian you you are a pagan or a pan and theus. Or an eclectic combination of all of the above. Our faith teaches us that we can have these kind of sacred encounters. Anywhere. Anywhere. We can encounter the mystery. At a diner counter. Or when we're sitting in a 12-step meeting drinking coffee or when we have climbed camels hump. And look out over the valleys below. We can suddenly find ourselves on fire at a dinner party and maybe not in the way the disciples were or at a rock concert or at a retreat in the remote woods. And we believe our soul can come a blaze on her yoga mat or in a chairlift or. Sleeping over in the meetinghouse hazard amazing youth coordinator did last sunday. We can find them anywhere. While there may be no limit to the venues where spirit can show up. There is a place where. We should be able to find it if we show up. And you are looking at it. Right. Take a minute to look around. Here we are. At their very best faith communities like are you you should be filled with a sense of spirit. They should be deeply alive and life-giving. And should be places that kindle in us that fire. That sense of purpose that enduring connection to life. In his pentecost sermon rub parties gave which he titled church on fire. Rob says this too. As some of you know all souls where he serves. Was the first church i went to as an adult and it was a place where over the course of many sundays. My weary soul was tended. And my passion for life was reignited. It was a portal back to that for so many of us. What is rob points out that. Far from the case for many people in our country. Surveys tell us that every day on average 3500 people leave their faith communities. Now we are an outlier in this because we are growing not shrinking and we don't have 3,500 people to leave other wouldn't that be nice if we did. There are many reasons people leave some of them because of the judgment they experienced but more for many of them it's a lack of relevance. People aren't finding in their faith community substance that is meaningful to them they're not finding that feeling that brings them back to life. People come looking for fire says robe. Rob and all they find is a stone. A cold stone. So i want to say this morning to you first you you here. At the early service. But i believe we are a face community. On fire. Are we on fire. No not literally but can i have an amen to our sense of fire. Amen okay good we got to get the choir back up here to sing more and then will we will be back in that spirit. I have served you now for almost 3 years. And i'm going to tell you. I have felt that warm. And seen that spark of your fire. Come alive in so many holy moments. I've experienced them right here and. Downstairs in the community room. I have experienced them when we have mourned. Great and terrible griefs together. And when we have celebrated extraordinary joyce together. Just in this past year i felt fire in february when i visited rre class. And sat with the preschoolers as they wonder. About a story they heard. And then i felt it last march when we collectively filled out hundreds of postcards. In support of earned paid sick days. And what is now the law of the land in our state. Amen right. And i felt them last june when we shared our moments of wonder here in the sanctuary how many of you were here. Some of you. And i felt it in august. When some of us gathered with flickering candles in the summer wind. In remembrance of mike brown. I felt that fire ennis. Returning from my maternity leave on my first sunday. And i was a little out of sorts by the end of worship and i forgot those chalice extinguishing words not sure how that happened and i looked out and you all just smiled and. Went right on with those words. And i felt the fire about 15 minutes ago when i sat right in that pew. And looked at the faces of you choir members and heard your music. And you the power of that song. You know about this time last year we looked around to the community and we realize that yeah we had fire. But it wasn't burning as brightly as it could be. We realize that we were understaffed for a congregation of our size. This is where we're leaving the metaphors and getting down to the brass tacks here. And we realize that among other challenges being understaffed left us unable to properly welcome people who are new to the community. And help them find their way into the society. And we also realize that we needed to better serve our youth. And that we needed to better be able to communicate as a congregation. So last year at this time we decided to add some fuel to our fire. We hope to raise enough funds through stewardship to be able to. Hire a membership coordinator and the youth ministry coordinator and reorganize our staff and does anyone remember what happened. What happened. We did it i'm leaving at nina back there. Nina you were but a dream a year ago. And it is good to have you here in the flesh. Okay. What is many congregations do when adding new staff to the team. We had a little help from our friends y'all. The collective increase in all of our financial commitments was amazing. It was supplemented. By a grant from our district. And some special gifts from members who were passionate or dare i say on fire. About the vision. This week a colleague told me a story from her life that struck me as an apt metaphor for where we find ourselves at the start of this year's campaign. So my colleague has a young daughter who's about 6 or 7. And challenging year as a family one of the parents has. In treatment for cancer and do in remission it was a lot for the family to go through this year. And my colleagues daughter said to her mom mom i have a surprise for you. You can't come in my room. So she was waiting outside her daughter's room and she heard noises and clanking. And her daughter came out and she was holding crumpled. $1 bills. And her daughter said i'm treating you to the movies mommy. Oh yes. But the only trick was. They were about $7 bills there and going to the movies is. A little bit more than that. So they got to the theater my colleague not wanting to. Take the wind out of the sails of her daughter's passion to treat her to the movies just slipped to 20 under the pile of ones. Quietly. And it was great and they went to the movie and they even got change back. And her daughter sotto change. So her daughter after the movie said mommy i'd like to take you for some special snacks. And then they went for snacks and over snacks her daughter said can we go out to dinner to i'll treat. Okay so here we are first uu it is march. And as we embark on this year's campaign our goal is to keep this fire burning brightly. But this year we are needing to do it without those special gifts and grants that got us started. If we take a metaphor for my colleagues story. We have our dollar bills. But there are no twenties getting slept under are there. Okay. Which means that each of us in this community have to go back. To our piggy banks. And find what is there and i believe that if each of us do. Weekend together. Commit to this congregation. And keep this fire burning. We won't have to start it again. Now i know that this is tricky business. Deciding what to commit to the society every year and each year ministers everywhere cinco boy we didn't go to cemetery to talk about money from the pulpit. But we do come here because we believe in the ministry. And vitality of our congregations. And here is the thing. The amount that each of us puts on our card will differ. And whether or not we can check the box to increase our pledge this year. That won't be the same for each of us. Because in our congregation. Our circumstances are as diverse. As our beliefs about the truth and meaning of the universe. And it is also true that the gifts of treasure we are called on to share this month. Are nothing if not joined by the gifts of time and talent and passion. That each of you give to the society in so many ways. And i can look at it each of you and think of what. All of those gifts are. It takes each of us and it takes all of us to keep our fire burning. Now on the way to the finish this morning i went to return to the story with which we began. And one more piece of wisdom i think it offers us here. As we rekindle the fire of our commitment. In a pentecost sermon she gave a few years ago my ucc colleague molly basket points out. That when fire appears. It often means something is going to be asked of us. Okay. So in the burning bush god ask moses to go out and just lead his people out of slavery. And in the flames of pentecost was a commission to those disciples. To go forth. And preached that message at great risk to their own well-being and safety. And this march of course something is being asked of us as individuals. What internet wonder what is being asked of us. As a faith community. To what ends will we direct our spirit our vitality in our passion. What are we on fire about. What is there in our community that calls for our ministry. What in the world. Needs our help. To turn around. And i will tell you if the last few months have spoken any truth to us. It is that our world needs turning. We are of the spirit truly of the spirit. Only with the spirit. Turn the world around. Friends you receive one of these when you came in. So there is a pentecost practice. In italy. That on the sunday in commemoration of the flames of fire. Rose petals are released from the rafters of the church. I invite you to take this with you this morning. As a symbol of your fire. Commitments. And the shared ministry that we are called to do in the world. May we be on fire. Now and in the days to come.

uusociety_org

2011-02-13-2%20Sermon.mp3

I'm wondering if you've noticed. When i call the children forward for the reflections for all ages. Are you special language. To refer to. 2. I don't even want to say it. To their teachers. Instead of using that word i say something like. The adults who will be leading their classes. There's a reason i do this. Language is powerful. These are volunteers. To take seriously their responsibility. As stewards of our children's faith development. I need to treat them with care. And respect. If i'm going to name them i want to name them carefully. I have good reason. To think twice about calling them. Teachers. Because the way we commonly think about teachers. Could actually. Scare the wits out of them. Why. Parker palmer. A teacher of teachers and one of my own heroes. Knows that teaching can be petrifying. Even for the pros. The way he sees it. When we set out with the intention of teaching. Whether we are pros or volunteers. Too often what we're really trying to do is to. Perform. To put on an educational show. So as to be. Like. By our students. And the reason why we prepare this performance. Is that. We're. Afraid. We are afraid that our students will notice how stupid. Unprepared. Insecure inept or boring we are. God forbid they actually pick up on our fear. Palmer continues humbly. And courageously admitting about himself. Quote. Driven by fear that my backstage ineptitude will be exposed. I strive to make my on-stage performance flicker and smoother. I conceal my own heart. And when i seek my identity and integrity what i find is not always a proud and shining thing. The discoveries i make about myself when i remember the encounters that have shaped. And revealed myself hood. Are sometimes embarrassing. But they are also. Real. It's that real true sense of self. That interest me. It's the fact that who uniquely are. Has been shaped. And revealed through all kinds of encounters in our lives. The most meaningful teaching we do. Is when we share our authentic selves with others. The real unadorned me. Meets you. Entrust. And in love. That's it. That's all. This encounter moves us both. And by this i mean two things. 1. There is an emotional component. And. 2. Through it we are changed. In other words we are moved. From where we were. Into a fuller sense of ourselves. When this happens. You. Become a little more you. And i. Become a little more me. As learners. We are like the earth. A bed of seeds and sprouting plants. Ennis there are seeds already present. Perhaps. They may be blown or scattered into us. Seeds. The potential dimensions of our self would. Our teachers. Are the gardeners. They notice and care about the sprouting shoots and unfurling leaves growing. Has the many aspects of our identity. If our tendrils needs space to spread out. They will clear a path. If. In our rapid growth we need a little propping up. They will give us their support. If they see us lost in the shadows. They will take care to allow the warmth of sunlight. To shine on us. They may shower us with rain to wet our thirsty roots. The for the luckiest of us. Are teachers are observant. Impatient gardeners. Knowing that the unique magic of our growing spirits is sourced within us. Little plants all. We emerge when and how we will. Both. Because of their care. The care of. Those teacher gardeners. And yes. Despite it. Fun we are young. Our identity begins to sprout. Like little spring bulbs. These first. Mysterious fragile shoots are ideally nurtured by the love. Of those closest to us. Especially family. Let me tell you about when i was a little sprout. When i was born. I was named after my mother's mother. Martha. I called her. Bammy. By the time i was three bam and i had a special way of sharing our love for each other. She would be sitting in her chair and i would come over to her and she would take both my hands. In hers. And we would swing our arms gently. From side-to-side. And we would sing to each other. We love each other. We love each other. It was simple. And gentle. And this special way of saying i love you. With just hours. Only for her and me together. So it made me feel special. At the same time as feeling loved. For her. And loved by her. Another person who made me feel special was my fourth grade teacher mrs. phillips. In her class we did a play based on the book. The nearsighted night. In the story there is a dragon who is a very under aggin like. He is anxious fearful and cries at the drop of a hat. I wanted more than anything to be cast as the dragon and to where mrs. phillips amazing head-to-toe dragon costume. When we held auditions for the parts i gave every ounce of dramatic flair i had to my performance. When it came time. Her mrs. phillips to announce the actors and their and their parts. My heart. Pounded with. Patient please. Please let me be the dragon. I just beamed with pride and excitement. By giving me the part yes she affirmed my acting skills. But much more importantly. When she cast me of that dragon. I felt her trust and her love. I was a kid who didn't ask for spencer's special attention and i didn't usually get it. But in that moment i felt really. Really special. I remember that feeling today. Deep inside me. Over 30 years later. These are stories of people who loved me. And to affirmed and nurtured the young sprouts of my growing identity. But. There were those who also shaped me by. Nipping off. My eagerly growing buds and burying the remaining growth. In a dark mound of heavy earth. Where it was left. To shrivel. As a result. There is little flowering on these branches of my being. I was subject. To a decisive chop. Have a rough gardeners pruning shears the year after i graduated from college. I was working in a health food store and trying to discern my next academic step. In college. I studied anthropology and i'd become curious about the hands-on field of applied anthropology. Which i'd heard required a master's degree. One day. At the store i was cutting a big wheel of stinking stilton cheese into wedges and wrapping them up for sale. The owner of the store. Harold. Was nibbling up the crumbs of stilton that escaped my meat cuts as we discussed my educational ideas. Don't bother with anything less than a phd in anthropology. He said hockley. He cited the story of his daughter or someone who'd apparently wasted her time with a master's degree. The new jobs for people that just a master's degree in anthropology. He scoffed. And that did it. In less than 20 minutes. Harold. And his opinion. Killed my dream of pursuing applied anthropology. You see at anytime. Any of us maybe someone's teacher gardner. It doesn't matter at all whether this role is formal or in the case of harold. Not. I believe we never can tell for sure. Has someone sense of self. Will take a formative turn in response to what we say. Or don't say. For what we do. Or don't do. Therefore our words and actions must. Be gentle. Patient. Hen respectful of the unfolding lives we encounter. Yep sometimes his gardeners we feel the urge to help our little plants along. In our eagerness we press them for growth and development before they may be ready. Perhaps we sweep the soil from around their sprouting top or. Rush to yank out. Weeds. They're actually keeping them safely sheltered as they emerge. Hurry up we say to them. I think i can see who you're becoming and on what does seymour. But authentic grow. And development happens in its own time. Left to unfurl in response to the inner life spirit. Fit naturally seeks the goodness of air. And sunshine. During my sophomore year in college i was home with my parents for a visit. When sitting around the kitchen table after dinner they asked me. Martha. Are you a lesbian. I responded immediately me no of course not. And this was true. At least his crew as myself understanding would allow at that time. I hadn't yet begun to come out to myself. But mom and dad saw signs in my appearance that they took to suggest an emerging lesbian identity. And to address their curiosity. They decided to ask me point-blank. The thing is. I felt that my response let them breathe a sigh of relief. For me on the other hand. Their question. Combined with their collective. Cute. Made me worried. That maybe i wasn't straight. By asking me out right before my own truth was more fully formed. Their fears were quelled. Yet my fears. About who i was. What aroused. Part of what fueled my fear of possible lesbian identity. With what i observed of lesbians on my college campus. The lesbian group did an awareness campaign in which they hung large pink triangles all over the place that red. Have a nice day. And one of the most prominent lesbians on campus was tall and strong and sported a buzz cut. She road crew. And to top it all off. Had a prosthetic arm with a metal hook. Hourihan. Call me naive but that lesbian scared me the image of her alongside the message have a nice day with dissonant to me. And i certainly couldn't yet see a place for myself. In that image. It was six years later six years. That i found the quaking courage. To come out to my parents and i did so with language that left room. For further growth and discovery. I feel that i am bisexual i told them. They're gradually came a time during the first lengthy relationship i had with another woman. When being in the relationship. Became more important to me than how i was feeling in it. Which wasn't very happy. At that time i had a brief visit with an old minister friend from my high school days. As soon as he saw me he said. How are you. Are things okay. You don't quite seem the bright sparkly martha that i know. With those words. Team names. What he saw in my soul. Something no one else had done not friends or family. No one. In that moment. I felt the surety of his loving trust. Relaxing into the safety and confidence of his honest words. I began to unveil the depths of angst i've been carrying four months of uncertainty. And that relationship. This wise mentor noticed a growing part of me that was tangled. And choking. It was more withered then i realized and it took his objective loving courage. To tell me the unpleasant truth of what he saw in my spirit. No doubt. That day he also planted a little seed in me that eventually. Grew into my courage and acceptance to find an end. In that relationship. Of course some powerful teachers can come not in the form of people. But of experiences. Once i was on a subway platform in new york city. I don't even recall specifically what was on my mind but it must have been causing me some fear. And anxiety. And out of this moment. A transcendent message came to me. Go where the fear is. Over the years the idea to go where the fear is. Rings true again and again. For example there are things about myself that i'm afraid to reveal to other people. Like the fact that i have an essential tremor. It sometimes causes my hands to shake uncontrollably. Which can be really embarrassing. Going where the fear is. Means not staying safe by attempting to hide my tremor. But rather telling people the truth. Like i'm telling you right now. Going where the fear is. Also applies when i realized attention has developed between myself and someone else. The tension-filled awkward and painful and the thought of telling the other person about how i feel. And trying to address the situation feels risky. And really scary. But i think to myself. Go where the fear is. Find the courage to go right. Into that scary situation. And speak to that person. Doing this is the only way i'll ever hope to stretch and learn. And grow more fully. Into myself. The pier. Never goes away. But each time i hear this wisdom. My confidence grows. The little bit. More. But growth is not always a strong and sturdy thing. One day in the car with lucy i was talking about how i wanted to learn woodworking. When suddenly i found myself sobbing. Uncontrollably it all just. Build fourth from a place whose passion i've never encountered before. I wanted to work with wood in my hands. I wanted to cut and chisel and carve and join. Tears don't come easily to me. So i took my unhinged crying as a sign that this was a powerful yearning. For new growth. I promised myself i would pursue this passion. And i have. Taken steps in that pursuit. But my woodworking growth. Is still young. With much waiting. To unfurl. Sobbing. It's such a physical experience. It's uncontrollable. Or at least when some mysterious cry. Cheeks are corn its quest to be express. We are wise to set it free. It speaks who we are. And who we are becoming and so. It teaches us. This is why we stay. Follow your gut. Listen to your heart. I don't know the science or the chemistry or physiology of what happens inside. When we become unhinged. But i know. I feel. That the yearning we sense when we're on the cusp of new learning. Is rooted here. And down the road of our life's journey when we reflect. Deeply. And who we've become so far. We tap the rooted memories of the many teachers. Who witness. And nurtured our seasonal sprouting. And bluemynx. When lucy and i. Moved into our home almost 8 years ago. The property was mostly lawn. With only a few flower gardens. Behind the shed was a little mysterious vine. Whining out. In about. Reaching for the sunny spots. Who are you. I wondered aloud to it. The reply i got was. No matter my name. I am here. And i am happy. I smiled. And looking at it. I was suddenly inspired to move some orange daylily. To a spot near it. And then some siberian iris. And finally. A little clump of lilies of the valley. I created. A little garden there with a vine. And then. I2. Was happy.

uusociety_org

2011-01-09-2%20Kany.mp3

Good morning everyone i am kristen caney. And this i believe. My father lay dying in his hospital bed. His life was ending. Parallelly. Mine was indeed falling apart as well. My father had been a brittle diabetic for 40-plus years. His loss cuz i say too few times and it never fully returned. He was plagued by parkinson's rheumatoid arthritis osteoarthritis. Neuropathy in his feet and in many organs. And now at the age of 72 he had fallen and broken his hip. During the 10-week hospitalization my father contracted septic shock and pneumonia he was induced into a coma for a week. Requiring a respirator to breathe. He also battled a few infections. Required a tracheotomy and a feeding tube. His kidneys were failing in his foot is about to be amputated. Due to a bedsore infection in his heel bone. At the time. My son jackson was not quite one-and-a-half. I had just had surgery for a ruptured achilles tendon. I was suffering from postpartum depression or perhaps it was just severe sleep deprived. Deprivation with jackson waking find five times a night since his birth. My job at work. As i knew it. Had been cut. And my relationship of 9 years was ending. My life in vermont was falling apart. But my father lay dying in a hospital bed in tucson. And that meant more to me. He had been an amazing human being. Although he was a force for sports star athlete in high school he was not a large man physically. Yet he had one of the biggest heart to ever grace this earth. During the 10-week hospitalization. My dad lost a great deal of weight. She had also lost. So much strength he could not even reach out to his head to scratch. Nor could he speak because of a drink. However. She did have the will and desire. Demonstrate an active love. That i will always cherish and hold still close to my heart. Each morning. When my mother visited him in the hospital. My father would watch for her to enter his room. And he would slowly lift his hand toward his mouth. In an attempt to blow her a kiss. I was lucky enough to witness this gesture of love one morning and i will never ever forget it. This gesture. Was a defining moment in my life. And i relive that seem quite often. The gesture triggered a profound understanding in a sudden resolution in my heart. I knew at that exact moment. I was forgiving my father. For all the things during our life together that can be exacerbated. Within a typical father-daughter. Energetics. All the unmet expectations and disappointments we had caused each other. And caused within ourselves. No longer held that oppressive anchor within my psyche. My father was a great man. To new love and kindness. To be among the greatest gifts. In the most. Powerful forces in existence. Despite the physical pain he was undoubtedly feeling. They were never able to actually do the surgery on his broken hip. Despite that pain. My dad wanted my mother to truly know how grateful he was for her. And how much you loved her during their 48 years together. That gesture spoke volumes to me. And in no uncertain terms impacted my perception of life in general. Although i love my dad and measurably. For the good-hearted and kind man that he was. That day. His gesture of love for my mother. Actually triggered a larger deeper more enlightened appreciation for who he was. Honestly. Viktor frankl popped into my mind. When mr. franco was surrounded by torture hate in the sound sights and smells. Abduction notes fiendish concentration camps. Yet both men. Despite their individualized horrors. Chose to focus on love & hope. And goodness. Anyway. My father gave birth to me that day of that gesture. I had always felt the universe. To be benevolent. Yet. I truly learned an embrace that day. That the flow of love. Undeniable. And all-powerful on so many different levels. Throwing up. I don't think i actually believed in god while my family attended the first congregational church in waterville maine. The concept just didn't quite make sense to me. When i look back. My minister really should have been in you you. His sermons always dealt with empowerment as a little guy. Acceptance of everyone. And helping our fellow man. Even as a young girl. I was often move to tears during his sermons. Who knows. Perhaps it was the way i heard his words that touched me. Regarding the concepts of acceptance of all and honoring of each other. 90s. What stood out for me. Was the love thing. And not the bible references northern religious traditions. As i continued through my life journey. My professional choices spiritual leanings and sports affinities. All tended toward. We are all one. Playing rugby throughout north america and around the globe. Really drove home this perspective. And playing in the 1994 world cup. Totally solidified it for me. Although i love smashing bodies and bringing up bodies with the best of my rugby opponents. Both foreign and american. When the games were over. We broke bread together. And sang songs as a single group of one. Not if two opposing teams. Many. Opponents whom i despised on the field. Actually have become a good friends. Despite our differences in native languages skin color. Religion or sexual orientation the list goes on. Play these differences who is obvious to me. We were all the same. An interesting lee my pursuit to reach my athletic pinnacle. Coincided with my spiritual quest for truth. My search for personal purpose for existence. And that. Oh so elusive. Comfort of inner peace. Essentially i presume i was seeking to return to who i am. And at last my journey brought me home. To the union safe. And the new age and the new thought thinkers. It's become very evident to me recently because i'm about to turn fifty can't believe i'm turning 50 this year. It's become evident. That contemplating spiritual truth is a necessary natural. And enjoyable endeavor for me. The concept of god or higher spirit or great spirit. Allah jehovah divine providence source the light whatever the title. The concept is making more sense to me at this point in my life. The commonality and thought throughout history of humanity no matter the millennia. And no matter the culture. Even among those indigenous types with no knowledge of others. These similarities in basic understanding of what is. Have become too coincidental for me. Although i have not quite settled on a title or name for the concept of universal energy. I have become comfortable with. And comforted by. The idea of a greater truth. Which for me. Is founded in the concept of oneness. That in turn is propelled by the most powerful force in existence. Namely. Left. And that holiness to spirits. Is within each of us. I gratefully bear witness to this on a daily basis. A kind word from a co-worker. A genuine thank you. From a cashier. Helping hand from another single mother neighbor. Espectacular crayola sunset over the adirondacks. And unconditional greeting of joy for my dog. Late one night this summer. I was able to bear witness again. My son jackson and i had been in the emergency room for 5 hours after he had broken his wrist in a playground accident. It was 11:30 at night. Way past his bedtime. In the poor little guy was exhausted and very much in pain. As we were shuffling past the waiting room at midnight on our way out. Jackson stared at a weatherman in a wheelchair and whispered to me. Mommy i really hope that man feels better soon. I look around. And i am surrounded by these role models who view the world through heart colored glasses. And show the goodness of abundance and all its forms all its sizes and shapes. All ages all religions. And yes even all political parties. I am grateful for all that is. It has fostered my belief. That goodness is indeed our light and our accents. It is the core of who we are. Stress away is down and displace our essence we may fall off the wagon. Of our true nature at times. And choose instead to focus on negativity and the fear-based illusions we can talk. But. I do believe. During their journey. We can all come back to that shared place within. That common that place of common hope. And that even pain and fear. Can ultimately provide. The possibility for progress. To that place we all sink. I do believe this. Martin luther king jr.. On the night before his death. He informed the world that he had indeed been to the mountaintop. He had looked over. And he did see the promised land. I may not get there with you he said. But. You see. He was mistaken. He is there with us. Because. He is in our hearts. And i believe. That we. Oh are in the promised land i do. I believe that we human beings. Have so much power. Because love is the most powerful force that exists. I believe. I know. I trust. We can put it to good work. In this land of ours. There's so much promise and all of us. We hold. So much. Promise. The day after the 9/11 atrocity. I felt an overwhelming need to write. This year. What's the 10th anniversary of that historically tragic day. I'd like to end by sharing the last stanza with you. Anna's darkness retreats with don's bright rays crowning over the twins ghosts. Shadows become light. In ground zero birth. A world. Of 1.

uusociety_org

2010-08-15%20Sermon.mp3

Our first reading this morning is from. The rose journal an entry in 1851. I. I call it my profession because in it he outlines what he feels to be. His life's work. And which turned out to be. His life's work for the remainder of of his short life. The art of spending a day. If it is possible that we may be addressed. It behooves us to be attentive. Just by watching all day and all night. I may detect some trace of the ineffable. Then will it not be worthwhile to watch. Watch and pray without ceasing. We are surrounded by a rich and fertile mystery. May we not probit. Pry into it. Employ ourselves about it a little. My profession is to be always on the alert to find god in nature. To know god's lurking places. But i'm going to be talking to you about today is ferro's last. Manuscript. Rediscovered only 10 years ago. It's called wild fruits. And. It consists primarily of his observations in great detail of the. Wild plants. Around his native concord. And. It's it's pretty heavy reading i mean it's a lot of detailed i'm going to reach you the section about the milkweed. Which goes on for three pages but i have condensed it for you. But i wanted to give you a feel for. For the book. The earliest milkweed begins to fly about the 16th of september. And the pods are in the midst of dispersing their seeds about the 20th or 25th of october. If you examine both inside and out. It's part is a fairy like casket shaped somewhat like a canoe. As they dry the pods turn upward crack. An open by the seam along the convex or outer side revealing the browns seeds. Within silvery parachutes like the finest unsoiled silk. Closely compressed and arranged in an imbricated manner. And already right side up. Some children called these names of seed and silk fishes. And if they lie they somewhat resemble a plump round silvery fish with a brown head. At length. When the seeds are matured and ceased to require nourishment from the parent plant being weaned. And the pod with dryness and frost bursts. The pretty fishes loosen and lift there brown scales. Somewhat bristling a little. The extremities of the silken threads detach themselves from the core and from being the conduits of nutriment to the seed. Perchance to become the buoyant balloon witch. Like some spiders webs. Beer the seeds to new and distant fields. I let one go. And it rises slowly and then certainly at first. Now driven this way then that by invisible currents. And i fear will make shipwreck against the neighboring wood. But no as it approaches it it surely rises above it. And then feeling the strong northwind it is borne off rapidly in the opposite direction. Ever rising higher and higher and tossing and heaved about with every fluctuation of the year. Tillett 50 rods office in 100 feet above the earth. Steering south. I lose sight of it. Toward night perchance. When the air is moist and still. It describes its promised land. And settles gently down between the woods. What are whistle all of the wind. Into some strange valley. And its voyage is over. Yep. It's stupid. To rise. That's from generation to generation it goes bounding over lakes and woods and mountains. Think of the great variety of balloons which at this season are buoyed up by similar means. How many nereids go sailing away though. Hi overhill and meadow in river. On various tracks until the wind laws. Play a race in new localities. Who can tell how many miles away. And for this and the silken streamers have been perfecting themselves all summer. Snuggly packed in the slight chest. A perfect adaptation to this end. The prophecy not only if the fall for the future springs. Who could believe in prophecies of daniel or of miller that the world would end this summer while one milkweed with faith matured its seeds here into readings in which you please join now and singing him number 175 we celebrate the wealth of life. Pregnant. Patient rooms we are the song. Please be seated. Today's talk really started with my lawn. Is he mine is not your typical line if you think of a lawn as a uniform planting of one species of crass. Short many years ago i spread some loam and scattered grass seed but since then. Nature has taken over. Planting wild seeds that have grown into many different varieties of grasses. Mosses wildflowers. Ground covers. And what some would call. We. Each of these wild plants is perfectly adapted to its own smallness of the yard. Funny or shady. Damp or dry. With soil of sand hummus or clay. I've come to enjoy this botanical buffet nature has provided. And my human instinct to name what i saw it led me to my local library. As i perused the two or three shells dedicated to the natural sciences in search of a guide to the identification of wild plants. The name henry david thoreau immediately caught my attention. Since then i've learned that. His name is properly pronounce. Borrow with the accent on the first syllable. But since i've always said it the other way i'm not going to try to change otherwise i'll get thoroughly confused. Hunter parole that one away i guess i had not expected to see the name of one of the giants of american literature there in the science section. I first became acquainted with the row in the seventh grade when i read walton his masterpiece and his essay on civil disobedience which i referred to in the story for all ages as a young man i read a week on the concord in merrimack river. Maine woods a volume of his journals. I thought i was familiar with the titles of all his published works. But not wild fruits. Copyright 2000. I soon learned that it was the rose last manuscript which he began writing in 1859. And continue to work on until his death from tuberculosis in 1862 at the age of 44. It reflected the task he had sent for himself a decade earlier in his journal. To watch for describe all the divine features which i detect in nature. Bradley dean the late bradley dean edited and annotated the manuscript. What's the row head wrapped in a bundle along with other papers and it wouldn't chest before he died. Also among these papers was a manuscript called dispersion of seeds. Which team published in 1993. Faith in a seed. In both wild fruits and faith in a seed the rose keen observation of nature fills the page. For a decade he had spent hours each day walking through woods and fields or paddling his canoe. Observing nature and collecting plant specimens in the lining of his hat which he called his botany box. He wrote there is something in the darkness and the vapors that arise from the head. At least if you take a bath. Which preserves flowers through a long walk. He wrote in his journal. I soon found myself observing when plants first blossomed and leafed and i followed it up early and late far and near several years in succession. Running two different sides of the town and into the neighboring towns. Austin between 20 and 30 miles in a day. I often visited a particular plant four or five miles distance. Half-a-dozen times within a fortnight. But i might know exactly when it opened. Besides attending to a great many others in different directions and some of them equally distant. At the same time. It appears that the role plan to assemble his observations into a comprehensive natural calendar of the archetypical concord year. He would answer in detail the question emerson had posed in his book nature the transcendental is credo published in 1836 and quote amerson foregoing generations beheld god and nature face-to-face we through their eyes why should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe. Why should not we have a poetry and philosophy of insight. And not of tradition. And a religion by revelation to us and not the history of there's the sun shines today also rather than experiencing god as handwriting. By reading about god and scriptures written long ago by unknown prophets in faraway places. A transcendentalist must behold god directly. Here and now without intermediaries of any kind. Observing the annual phenomenon of a muskrat house appearing on the river throw wrote. There will be some reference to it. By way of parable or otherwise in my new testament. One of two possible introductions to wild fruits uncovered by bradley dean is an eloquent suggestion of the shape of the rose new testament. And i quote. To you from it at some length. The opening to wild fruits most of us are still related to our native fields as the navigator to undiscovered islands in the sea. We can any afternoon discover a new fruit there which will surprise us by its beauty or sweetness. So long as i saw in my walks one or two kinds of berries whose names i did not know their proportion of the unknown seemed indefinitely if not infinitely great famous fruits imported from the east or south and sold in our markets as oranges lemons pineapples and bananas do not concern me so much as many an unnoticed wildberry whose beauty annually lends a new charm to some wild walk or which i have found to be palatable to an outdoor taste the tropical fruits are for those who dwell within the tropics their fairest and sweetest parts cannot be imported brought here they chiefly concerned those whose walks or through the marketplace it is not the orange of cuba but rather the checkerberry of the neighboring pasture that most of b the i and the pallet of the new england child we do not think much of table fruits they do not see the imagination as these wild fruits to put it would starve on them the bittersweet of a white oak acorn which you nibble in a bleak november imported pineapple the cells may keep her pineapples and we will be content with our strawberries which are as it were a pineapple with going a strawberry and stirred into them infinitely enhancing their flavor for the road divinity could be found in the nature in sticks and stones as much as on the mountaintop. A muslim shrine in mecca toward which muslims turn to pray. And which contains a large meteorite. Or aerolite us throw calls it descended from the heavens long ago. There are square rods in middlesex county. Just where concord massachusetts is. Has purely primitive and wild as they were a thousand years ago which of escape the plough in the ax in the size in the cranberry rake. Little oasis of wildness in the desert of our civilization. These spots are meteora. Paralytic. In such matter has an all-ages been worshipped. Hi when we are lifted out of the slime and film of our habitual life. We see the whole globe to be in aerolite and reverence it as such. And make pilgrimages to it. Far off as it is. How happens how happens it that we reverence the stones which fall from another planet. And not the stones which belong to this. Another globe. Not this. Heaven. And not earth. Are not the stones and hodges wall as good as the aerolite at mecca. Is not our broad back door stone as good as any cornerstone in heaven. It would imply the regeneration of mankind if they were to become elevated enough to truly worship sticks and stones before they were national parks and during a time in our nation's history when wilderness was seen by most as something to be exploited. Pharaoh pleaded with his contemporaries to conserve these oasis of wildness in his hometown of concord and throughout the country. He writes. What are the natural features which make a township handsome. And worth going fire to dwell in. A river with its waterfalls. Metal. Lakes. Hill. Clips. Or individual rocks. A forest. And single ancient trees. Such things are beautiful. They have a high you switch dollars and cents never represent. If the inhabitants of a town where wise they would seek to preserve these things though it considerable expense in some countries precious metals belong to the crown so here more precious objects of great natural beauty should be long to the public let us try to keep the new world new so if there is any central and commanding hilltop it should be reserved for the public use think of a mountaintop in the township even to the indians a sacred place only accessible through private grounds a temple as it were which you cannot enter without trespassing that area should be left unappropriated above himself as well as his native valley and leave some of his groveling habits behind the reference to the mountain holds special significance for me as i live only two miles from mount watatic which is located just south of the new hampshire border in the towns of ashburnham in ashby massachusetts and many times since with my children friends with my dog or now with my grandchildren and often alone is small ski area once occupied chain link fence. To block the development of the mountain. Forming a campaign for what headaches they worked tirelessly for two years to put together funding from state and local governments. As well as a million dollars and private donations. To purchase the mountain and make it public land. Forever. I played a small part in that effort and have since joined the board of the ashburnham conservation trust. Which has continued to protect hundreds of acres of wildlands for the enjoyment. And the spiritual nourishment. Future generations. Which brings me back cicero home dean calls the photo ecologist. So ahead of his time was he in recognizing the value of wilderness. Thoreau might well have been advocating for a modern-day conservation trust. When he wrote. I think that each town should have a park. Or rather a primitive forest. Five hundred or a thousand acres. Either in one body or several. Where is stick should never be cut for fuel nor for the navy. Nor to make wagon. But stand and decay for-hire uses. A common possession forever. Her instruction. And recreation. Prophetic words. As we witness the continued pressures of development on our open spaces. In conclusion. Let me add that the role was not only a gatherer of nuts seeds and berries but it gardiner to. Wild fruits describes corn and pumpkins as well as blueberries which brings me once against my own backyard si harvest the fruits of this year's garden and roam the slopes of mount watatic in search of wild blueberries i'll be on the lookout for the year's new revelation of god's handiwork cu of marion.

uusociety_org

2009-11-15-2-1%20Sermon.mp3

There's a cartoon strip called hagar the horrible. This particular strip depicts hagar standing in the back of his. Viking. Vestal. As confusion reigns aboard the ship some of the crew or paddling in this direction summer paddling in this direction some have their oars down in the water summer waving their oars up in the air. Haggar. In frustration finally explains will you stop saying different strokes for different folks the comic makes a point people have to paddle in unison to get ever anywhere you have to to pull together to make progress. Power. The ability to get things done. Need. Numbers and organization one little pinky cannot do much. But five fingers working together can do almost anything this hand can form a fist it can reach out in friendship. It can pull a trigger these fingers can learn to search suture a wound or master a musical instrument because power is an instrumental value is not an end in itself it can be put to good or bad purposes. It has. Gordon tyrannical form the viking ship with a crew all pulling on the oars like galley slaves well that's a very effective tool that slices through the water like a knife but. Hagar there was a reason. You're called horrible that's a form of. Ab despotic. Power the strong bullying the week and all through history power based on domination and control has made its mark according to the bible that's the kind of power pharaoh used. With the hebrews forcing them to build the pyramids that's the kind of power. The soviets. Exercise building their gulags where modern corporation used to build their empires of industry in finance but there's another kind of power to what you might call. People power. And people power comes about mainly through a change of consciousness and altered perception of what. Possible. So. In bible times it occurred when the israelites stopped thinking of themselves as indentured laborers and began to imagine that there was something other than a life of constant toil in places like czechoslovakia and poland it happened when people simply stopped cooperating. With the commodores or in places like germany 20 years ago when the wall fell without a shunt. In our modern economy is bubbled up in late labor organizations in the consumer protection movement is people demand the right to have a say in their own working two conditions. Heather. Dollars are used in. What they purchased. People power. Arises. Here in the mind whenever people start to think of themselves not as subjects. But as citizens when individuals who spent their lives is passive followers begin to see that they can be active leaders. With a hand in their own destiny. And when they start to act together people can have almost anything they want they can bring down a wall they can stop a war they can win an 8-hour working day they can even start a revolution because they have the numbers to do it. But power. Needs numbers and organization. To get things done you have to have bo. You can see that demonstrated historically in our own american revolution that conflict started on the 19th of april in 1775. British troops headed out towards concord where they knew stockpiles of munitions have been stored. And the previous night two men had written out from boston. To warn their countrymen. As they headed west one of the men was named. William dawes. He took a southern route down to roxbury in brookline and. Watertown waltham the other well-known is paul revere cross the ferry into charlestown in. Took a northern route. Through cambridge in medford. According to historian david hackett fischer. Along paul revere's northern route the town leaders in company captains. Instantly triggered the alarm. On the suddenly circuit of william dawes that didn't happen until later. Some towns it didn't happen at all. Hop in the north. Where did reached lincoln by one it was in sudbury by 3 a.m. bells were ringing drums were beating all across the region a marked contrast to the silence. And the territory the doors covered. We're only a few farmers mustered out it wasn't at the colonists down in brookline and waltham or pro-british or less patriotic instead there was just a communication breakdown the folks down on dawes route never got the alert. There's a reason why paul revere was more effective at mobilizing people. Then the other guy he was a natural-born. Community. Organizer. After the boston tea party when tensions between the colonies in the mother country started the mail. There were dozens of caucuses committees of correspondence homegrown congress is springing up all over new england but they didn't have any way of coordinating their work the patriots had numbers but they didn't have any internal connection in revere supplied that missing link he was riding between the rebel hubs in new hampshire and new york and philadelphia and boston to he was a connector there were at least seven separate revolutionary councils there with about a 250 men belonging to them. The vast majority belong to just one of those councils but revere. Belong to 5. He was also. A mason who was fisher says had an uncanny genius for being at the center of events. Boston imported its first streetlights revere was the pointed to the committee that made those arrangements when the city market had to be regulated revere was appointed clerk. Malcolm gladwell right it's not surprising then. Like when the british started its campaign to root out and destroy the arms and ammunition held by the fledgling revolutionary movement. Revere became kind of unofficial clearinghouse for the anti-british forces. He knew. Everybody. He was the logical one to go to if you were stable boy who on the afternoon of april 18th. Overheard two british officers saying that there would be hell to pay in concord tomorrow and it's not surprising that when. Revere set out for lexington that night. He knew how to get the word out as far and wide as possible when he came to a town he knew exactly whose door to knock on who the local militia leader was who the key players were he met all these people before and they also had met him knew him and respected him. I don't think it's completely an accident the paul revere. Was it unitarian who's foundry forged the first bell that hung in our steeple here because his methods of getting people organized. And mobilized are very close to the heart of our faith. Because we believe that ordinary people can do extraordinary things we believe that everybody has a story. It's worth listening to and we believe that history which is simply our common story the larger narrative. Of human events. The history can be altered. As we start to pay attention. To those stories to listen to each other particularly the stories of people who are different from ourselves the stories of the poor for example or women or the tales of latinos or if the descendants of slaves were heretics or religious minorities in the disenfranchised it's out of those kind of stories. That we began to imagine ourselves in a different kind of drama we're not. Bit players. In a script has been written by the pharaoh we're not. Helpless colonists who can only mail the lines that have been written by some far-off parliament. Instead. We're actors. Who can write a fresh chapter in this tired old chronicle of might makes right. A brighter. More hopeful chapter of justice and peace. But it's in 121. Relationships it's in building our personal connections with each other that they that more democratic community takes root. Those were the techniques that paul revere used. And are the methods that are still at the core of faith-based community organizing. The methods that vermont interfaith action employees for example its efforts to turn. People who are used to sitting in the pews. Into. People who can stand up for what they believe. More than. Just networking or politicking these. One-to-one conversations are a kind of soul work their spiritual practice. It was in this kind of. Personal sharing is a young community organizer that our current president sound what he called. Sacred stories aluminess world always present under the surface a world that people might offer up as a gift to me. If only i remembered. To ask. Do you think there might be sacred stories. Here in this congregation. In this room. Do you imagine that. If we begin to talk to people talk to each other. Listen to our neighbors on. A little deeper level. We might understand we might learn to. To trust. Each other and begin to. Add together a new creative ways. We unitarians always been a numerically. Small denomination but if we're organized our faith can be a powerful agent. For change. Our vision may never be shared by a majority but when we link across denominational lines with those who have shared values we begin to multiply our strength recalled that it took just. A handful of people back in 1775 to leverage events. So thanks to paul revere that were 4000 minutemen. Along that battle road with their muskets loaded peppering the the redcoats as they ran back to boston that was people power. In action. Yet too often we unitarians are like william dawes we have a message but we go riding off in our separate directions calling out in the darkness but. We're disconnected from our neighbors we don't really reach the people who need to hear. And it doesn't have to be that way. So i invite you this week to experience the power of connection simply. Bye. Parking. With someone else. In this congregation scheduling a conversation with. Someone here who you may not know well. Take half an hour. To sit down. Ticket. Acquainted. Find out what that person's hopes and dreams and passions are in some of the disappointments that have kept their dreams from coming true learn what. Worries and problems keep them up at night and where they find the strength. To keep on going find out what keeps them coming. To this religious society and ask them how they imagine that this congregation might make a difference. Not just in their lives but in the wider world and then when you finished listening. Be silent. And then. Take your turn. To tell. Your story also. Now this is a challenging assignment this is not easy listening deeply can take us outside our comfort zone is obama wrote of his experience in chicago these interchanges. Go far beyond small talk and sketchy biographies but it's out of these real encounters. The solidarity starts to emerge that we discovered that what. Connexus is much deeper and stronger than what divides us. Become too expensive. Sharing a single goal. But lots of saul begin. Pull on the oars together not different strokes for different folks. The differing gifts and personalities all on freedom's journey. One by one. 1. + 1. Change happens. Together collectively we have the power to tell old pharaoh let my people go but it's only in the ever-widening spirals of relationship. It will really get to the promised land. And poet marge piercy words it goes on one at a time. It starts when you care to act it starts when you can say we. And know who you mean. And each day. Mean. One more.

uusociety_org

2015-08-16%20Sermon.mp3

I have to. Acknowledge. What did. But hot magnificent. Events that we had here. On friday. I thought it would be anybody here on today because everybody was here on friday. And it was just. So magnificent is the only word. That i can think of. And i. Then would lose his presence is so among us now it has to be. Has to be. And i'm so honored to have mama bear his mother with that. I didn't think you could make it thank you. So. As someone who confesses. Quite frequently being directionally challenged. There is no one more enamored. How about we call the global positioning system commonly referred to as a gps. It would have been so hard to imagine before the 1990s as system. Get that could simultaneously answer these five questions. Where am i. Where am i going. And where are you. And what's the best way of getting there. And when will i get there. I didn't make these up these are all true. I never cease to be in awe of what to me is still the mystery of a space. Based navigational system. That provides location and time. Info in all weather conditions. Anywhere on or near the earth. Depending upon whether there is an unobstructed. 9. Site to four or more gps satellites. There are. Anywhere from 28 to 31 satellite. Each in its own orbit. About eleven thousand nautical miles above the earth. We control segments that make sure the satellites are working properly consist of jessie. Just 5 ground stations around the world. I asked him how many ground stations do you think we have and it'll probably thousands. Just fine. So. Only since may 1st 2000. Did president clinton. Lift all restrictions for civilian users. In this awe-inspiring system. So nice last month my niece. Invited me to go with her to uncharted territory. We're neither of us had ever been in maine. And much as i really love my nieces. My favorite among many. And also my namesake. We are so much alike. I and i really was told that the dacian i didn't know how we would ever find our way but then she arrived with a gps. Their brother had given her. And my fears subsided when she got it to work. But truly i was not i was not looking forward to our time together. But that experience really prompted me to reflect on how. Great it would be to have an internal gps. A spiritual positioning system that would let me know where i am in my life where i'm going. What's the best way to get there and when will i finally get there. I have to remember that the gps can only function when there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more gps satellites. So i. I was very i was painfully aware of a condition to which i am prone if not mildly addicted. That could be a major obstruction to my being in touch with my interior gps. And now there's even an acronym for it. When i found of that. Word i said that clarifies the meaning of my experience. And as you heard before right out for mary piper it's fear of missing out. It's an addiction. And as she says we receive an enormous amount of information everyday and we just don't begin to have the emotional resilience to deal with all this information. So we just do. Triage as best we can. Still. It's not without crying which creates in many the anxiety that they are missing out. We're missing out. Something that could. They should be doing. Which tends to the only socially acceptable addiction in our culture and many of you know what it is. It's workaholism. Then there's the anxiety of an aroused by posting on social media website. That there is an exciting. Or meaningful event happening some place where i'm not. And the worry is the worried is that people are having more fun. Can i am or or they're becoming. More enlightened. This this makes it sound a little more. Human that fomo is characterized by a desire to stay continually connected with what others are doing. Thomas merton we frequently quote acropolis and spiritual guide for many in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Woodsy fomo as a way to lose our connection with our own internal gps. He wants road. That over busyness is a contemporary form of violence. It kills the root of our inner wisdom. Another great feature of a gps it to let you know when you've chosen the wrong turn. And we're also familiar with. Recalculate recalculate. And at times you can always detect a little of note of annoyance in that voice and that automated voice did you really need to stop for that cup of. Starbucks. Or. Or whether or not it was the wisest choice it is not it's not really a question. Audi external gps is equipped to answer. And whether we ourselves are equipped to make the best choices. Is it x questionable. Just recently the unpublished text of the doctor seuss children's story. You all made a read about it was discovered sitting in the files at his home. Entitled what pet should i get. It caused all kinds of excitement in the media. As one reviewer put it. The little boy in the story summed up the books central point. In these. Deceptively innocent words. He said. Oh boy it is something to make. A mind up. The reviewer went on to say that this statement was written many years before the psychologist very schwartz's 2004 book. Entitled the paradox of choice. Wymore. Is less. The author nailed what he described as the sole exhaustion are so exhausting. Oblate capitalist culture. And it's frantically. It's is ratatouille poop proliferating menu of options. Even in 1960 when the new yorker ran a 23-page profile on theodor geisel alias dr. seuss. Many of these pages had one skinny column of text. Flanked by ads. The reviewer counted 11 perfumes alone. Among them shalimar lair blood taboo. Opium chanel number 5. 55 years later. Just a visit. To your local supermarket. Will find shoppers. Diamond. By the seemingly endless choice. I mean i've done it. I've seen people doing. Choices of cereal. Chips. Beer. Different brands of kitty litter. In the 1960s. Spiritual secrets were faced by another menu of options and this time in the field of religion. How often i heard the expression. Cafeteria catholics. And it was more like a banquet than a cafeteria. The history behind this menu of options as well chronicled by diana at. Who's religious scholar and founder of the pluralism project at harvard university. And she writes in her landmark twerk encountering god a spiritual journey from bozeman montana to banaras india. Brake places in montana. At this point i think i'll take a drink of water mara does it so well. That was so graceful. So this is what she says. In 1965 a new immigration act initiated by john f kennedy was signed into law by lyndon johnson. Robert kennedy in supporting the act before the us congress said and i quote. Everywhere else in our national life we have eliminated discrimination based on national origin. Yet this system is still the foundation of our immigration law. The new policy eliminated national origin quotas. And open the door again for immigration from asia. In 20 years the ethnic makeup of our country grew to include many more immigrants from asia the pacific and the middle east. Diana access. These new americans have changed the religious landscape of the united states. Today there are hindu and buddhist temples and muslim mosque. In virtually every american city. In a very real sense the world of multi-religious america is a new frontier. A frontier in which we are all still pioneers. The banners around our sanctuary here. Testify to our multi-religious faith tradition. And they are a challenge they are real challenge. I was thrilled in the 1990s to be able to invite an asian feminist theologian to uvm. The 1988 show me hong kong. Stop korean. She has spoken at a conference of the world council of churches in canberra australia one that they hold every 10 years. Where she had really rocked the theological world in the way that she integrated concepts for eastern religion with western theology. Princeton she's liking guanine. The buddhist goddess of compassion. Did jesus. A son of god. When she spoke to and we we invited her and she spoke to an audience of uvm students and religiously curious person from the broader community. Maybe one of you were there. And it also number of clergy who i think we've sort of drawn by her notoriety. Because of her dating back to the world council of churches. I will always remember how she described herself unapologetically. As saying i am shaman in standby.. I am buddhist in my heart. I am. Christian on one side of my brain and i'm presbyterian on the other side. And i know that that gave everybody out here. Everybody there was still. Pretty impressed. She was beautiful and saying it to. She testified to what another seven is clo jen had written years before. Katherine zappone. Said the feminine spirituality is intrinsically diapers. Dian-anic with concur. In her book she reminds christians this is a quote. There are faces of the divine that must lie beyond what we ourselves. Have glimpsed from our own sheepfold. It is god's transcendence drives us to find out what others have known of god. Seeking cruelly to know. How god has revealed. Him herself in the other. It is a quote and it's a quote from the world parliament of religions in 1893 which some of you may remember was held in chicago and connection with the world's fair. They actually had this wonderful. World tournament at religions and that's how they were speaking in 1893. Echosonda say it is divine transcendence which drives us to inquire more deeply. End of the insights of those british. Who did not speak of god at all. I appreciate x perspective about not needing to erect some universal canopy. The gather in all the tribes under the same roof. Actually that was some. At one of our president thomas jefferson said everybody couldn't understand why everybody wouldn't end up becoming unitarian universalist. No just at that time unitarian. He thought everybody would be that and i have to. I have to confess that my. My. Husband thought the same thing. And we briefly talked about this. But this woman after i resonate with. And she sees the multiplicity of religious ways. As a company or as a companion to the many sidedness of the divine we're not all going to be one according to this. It cannot be limited by anyone prediction. So she says therefore. The boundaries of our various traditions. Need not be the places where we hot. And contend over our differences. But might well be the places where we meet. And catch a glimpse of the glory as seen by another. So how do we find our way to the multiplicity of religious ways and the diversity of spirituality. How do we cultivate our interior gps. And cope with all the obstruction. Presented by fomo. Pinnacle way back to the author of the book of ecclesiasticus. Also known as the book of sirach. And it was written somewhere between 190 bc and 180. Sober thinking well over 2000 years. Interact offers some pretty. Solid advice. And i quote. If you wish you can be wise. If you apply yourself. You can be shrewd. If you're willing to listen. You can learn. If you pay attention. You can be instructed. Stand in the company of the elders. Stay close to whoever is wise. Be eager to hear every discourse. And let no insightful saying escape you. If you see the intelligent. Seek them out. Let your feet wear away their doorsteps. I find that i was a bit i find it amazing to think that well over 2000 years ago. Somebody was writing that kind of thing. And the reason why i find this ancient scriptures so insightful. Because those were really schooled in the life of the spirit. Tell us. Listening. And learning to pay attention is the ultimate spiritual discipline. And finally i resonate with the inside of the buddhist scholar rita gross who tells us that community. Is the indispensable matrix otherwise known as womb of enlightenment that's taken from the latin matrix means womb of enlightenment. And that was actually. Quoted some years ago. By stephanie caza from this pulpit and the head of the environmental studies program who's the buddhist yourself she she was the one that put me on to read a gross. So when i was putting my thoughts together for today. I purposely chose the title finding our way not finding my way. Because i like to think of us all. Developing and coming to birth. Becoming enlightened in the indispensable womb. A community. Altogether the wise sayings of thomas burton. Mary pipher diana act. Rita krause. Show me junction. Answer rack. They all help us to find our way home. Which as john o'donohue. Has told us. It's what the art of spirituality is. It's all about finding our way home. So thank you for your kind attention.

uusociety_org

2011-09-18-2%20Sermon.mp3

When i was about 7 years old i wrote this poem. We built the castle at the edge of the sea. Only my two cousins in me. Then the tide came in and set it free. My beautiful castle by the edge of the sea. My beautiful castle by the edge of the sea. At the time i didn't know anything about interim ministry. But i had obviously intuited some things about impermanence and change. The coin of the interim realm. We are beginning a time of building sand castles. At a time of letting go of those things that are inevitably going to be washed out to sea with the tide. A time of creativity and joy and sadness. And regret. And liberation. An affirmation. It won't always be easy. We may need a little help. As the year unfolds. I suggested those times we call on the god janus. In the ancient roman pantheon. Janice. Was the god of beginnings. His two-headed image appeared over gates and portals and the doors to the city's a symbol of protection as well as newness. He had two heads because in order to be the god of new beginnings he had to look both backwards. And forwards. He also held in his right hand ackee. The key. Closes and locks the door of the old. When it is time. And then it opens unlock the door of the new. When it is time. This coming year we will look backwards in order to understand the feelings events and ways of being that have brought you to this point. And we will look forward carrying your strengths and your healing into your future. My job. The job of an interim minister is in the words of a wise mentor to render more secure the passage between yesterday and tomorrow. That passage has been called the magical interim in which we always live. The sacred place right smack between yesterday and tomorrow. Is that not where we all. Live. It's key to navigating that passage well is to embrace it as a gift of potential. Don't hurry through. Don't linger too long be here. Be present. And keep moving. I will be walking with you that is my calling. If you are new here perhaps for your first time or your second time you may find all this a bit puzzling. But i assure you that you are gift. The gift of new eyes a new perspective. Could be the greatest gift of all in this process so please accept our invitation. To join us on this journey. I want to tell you briefly how i got into this interim business. It will started. Back in the early 1950s. When my family ritual every sunday morning was for the four of us my father mother brother and i to pile into the oldsmobile it was always an oldsmobile. Drive across queens through the midtown tunnel into manhattan and pull up in front of the community church of new york. A unitarian universalist congregation. We started with children's chapel where my mom played the organ. And then off we went to our sunday school classes. And then it was back into the car for the long drive home. What is my parents spend all those hours driving back and forth volunteering at sunday school teachers and accompanist and so many other things. My father was a first-generation american. His parents fled poland in 1911. Not a good time for jews in eastern europe although of course it got much worse. He was culturally jewish. But to the end of his life he could not bring himself to eat milk and meat in the same meal. He didn't pray or feel the need for worship. But what he wanted with a community of open-minded people who shared his ethical values. He wanted us. To be religiously literally. Literate spiritually aware and marley invested in the world around us. After we were grown. He joined the ethical culture society. But for all of our childhood. Alloyly attended the community church and supported it with his time and talent and treasure. My mother on the other hand traced her roots back to the mayflower. The great disappointment of my grandmother's life was it i declined to join the dar. So did my mother. My mother's sunday was even longer than ours because she went to the early episcopal service every week before the journey into manhattan. She wanted us to grow up in a community that provided a broad and generous religious education. Opportunities for hands-on service and advocacy. An affirmation of the worth of every living being. So here i am the product is my parents determination to find the religious home that would allow them to return retain their unique and radically different individual spiritualities. Well offering the entire family opportunities to grow together in face. And to be transformed by our experiences of taking our faith out into the world. What i learned growing up at the community church was that i was a worthy human being. Even as a somewhat mouthy child. Even as a know-it-all adolescent. Even as a disaffected young adult. Eventually i learned something even more important. I learned it a religious community that offers all of that to kids like me and families like mine is worthy of all the passion and commitment that i have to offer. That is why my parents made the sacrifices they did to bring me and my brother up in that church. That is why i do the work i do today the work of intentional interim ministry. I attended the community church from cradle roll through youth group. I was a member and lay leader of the uu church in arlington virginia and i have served in some ministerial capacity in congregations in virginia maryland new hampshire florida and new jersey. And now here i am. Unpacked yet again. And ready to spend a year or two with you. Just like me everyone of you brings your own personal and spiritual histories with you into the sanctuary. The work of creating. This intentionally diverse community. Of melding all those theologies and experiences into a cohesive and functional unity. That is work for all of us. Whether there is an interim minister standing here or a settled minister or no minister at all. The quality of your community is your shared responsibility. Always. Right now there is work specific to the transition that we can tackle together. In this brief time that we have. And i say brief knowing full well that for some of you two more years of interim feels like a long time. But trust me. In the blink of an eye. I will be packing boxes again. And you will be welcoming your new settled minister. Well i'm here. I'd like to work with you on clarifying three questions. Who were you as a community of faith. Who are you today. And who do you wish to become. The craft of interim ministry has been carefully developed by people who have studied congregational life in various american denominations over many decades. They've applied the concepts of systems theory and organizational development to life in faith communities. The research. Did they have done. What weeds to an experiential consensus as to what needs to happen when a congregation is. In between ministers for rabbis. What needs to happen that is if the next settled ministry is to thrive. I would sum up that consensus by saying that you need to know the answers to those three questions. Who were you. Who are you. And who do you wish to become. To know who you were. Is to tell and retell the formative stories of this congregations history. To share the narrative arc of your history. Don't assume because you know the story that other people do. The congregation is always changing. How were you founded. What have been the consistent strength. The consistent challenges. What are the highlights. And the lowlights in your 200-year history. What lessons have you learned from your past. Are they the right lessons. That's me is the most important question. Let me illustrate this with an example from new england church lure. The story goes that a new minister came to a congregation here in vermont. And noticed at the first service that everyone sat on the left side of the room. Halfway through the sermon to his surprise they all good i got up and moved to the right side of the room. This happened week after week. When he asked about it the answer he always got was oh that's the way we've always done it. The choreography he decided was apparently a part of their liturgy. Finally on a visit to a homebound elder he was enlightened. The elder told him that long ago before central heating had been installed. There was a wood stove on the left side of the room the only source is heat. At the beginning of the service it wasn't fully fired so people sat close to be warm. At about the halfway point it got so hot but they all moved away. Now there is nothing wrong with the congregation claiming a move from one side of the room to the other as a beloved part of their liturgy but i would argue that it would be helpful to know the reason. So that the congregation today sitting in a centrally heated sanctuary could make an informed decision as to whether it was essential to their identity and worship to continue that practice. Who were you. The first task identified in my contract with the board is to assist you and claiming and honoring the past and healing your grief and conflicts. I begin that work with the series of lost in transition groups that you can read about in your bulletin. And that i hope that you will participate in. I'll be taking signups after the service if you would like. Later on in the fall i will expand that work to include and appreciative look. At your long history. So that we can explore those things that are part of your congregational dna. The assumptions and practices passed on from generation to generation and make no mistake just as in families children. To the next generation know things. Did everyone thinks their secret so2. In. Congregational systems all those things do get passed on. What is the legacy you have inherited. Are there secrets hidden in old archive boxes secrets about unresolved questions. In your shared identity. The philosopher santayana said it best. Years ago. Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I want to make sure that the only history you repeat is the history you want. And that will bring us to the next question who are you. In my contract again the language is about assisting you in illuminating your unique identity strength needs and challenges. This is what we might think of as the looking in the mirror and seeing clearly task. What is your mission. Really. Not the words on the paper that you call your mission statement but your real understanding of the reasons that this congregation exists. Are there needs. Out there that you see yourselves as uniquely positioned to address. Are there needs in here. And what is your covenant with each other. Is this room truly a sanctuary. A safe and accepting oasis in an increasingly angry and strident and fearful world out there. The question. Of who you are in the present. Is inseparable from the question of who you intend to become. In this transition you have a chance to rediscover. Who you were. To clarify. Who you are. Enter dream bully. About who you might be in the future. Clarifying your identity as a congregation involved several aspects one is understanding the multiple dimensions of leadership both ordained and lay and navigating the shifts and leadership that a company times of transition. In the last year-and-a-half you have had some dramatic shifts. That is inevitable when a longtime minister retires. Lots of things change. Along with the board and the council and other leadership i will be assisting you in evaluating the structures that you have in place. To institutionalize the things you most want about the congregation. What kinds of decisions we will be asking ourselves will best support you all in living out your mission. Finding your passion. Growing in faith being inspired and transformed. To thrive and to grow you need to have structures in place that nurture and enhance. Membership and leadership. This process of evaluating. The way you do your work together can only take place in an atmosphere of trust. A mutual empowerment. Good and honest and mutually respectful communication is essential. In that spirit i hope you will attend the open forum sponsored by the board after the service today. They're planning to have an open-ended conversation with you about empowerment. No vote will be taken no decisions will be made nothing will be solved. Except the question of. How can we be together and share. In the visioning. And the moving towards the future. Here's the question i would like all of you to ponder. When you choose leaders whether it is by election or assignment or request. Do you allow them. To do their best work. Our nation has been crippled by a dysfunctional understanding of leadership relationships lately. We elect people it seems and then wait gleefully for them to fail. That toxic attitude has filtered down into other institutions in our democracy including the traditional new england town meeting. The last town meeting i attended in portsmouth new hampshire. Ended with the calling of the police. The protector. The people facilitating the meeting. Voluntary associations at all levels seem to be hobbled. By this. Hardison toxic. Practice. Would i help flooring every congregation i serve. Is it we will be countercultural. In our insistence. Untrusting. And encouraging our leaders. It expecting not perfection because leaders are human being. But. An assumption that everyone is doing their best. I hope for an openness to bold experiments in leadership even though that means risking failure every once in awhile. Everyone knows that an institution that never fails. Never changes. I promise you that i will to the best of my ability act and trustworthy waze. Will you give me the benefit of the doubt. Will you let me know. When i have let you down. Will you talk to me and not about me. To trust. Is to communicate directly and honestly and respectfully. Even when you are disappointed. Even when you were angry. Even when you are afraid. If we can practice that ancient and fragile art of trustworthy shared leadership. Then all of us. Minister staff board officers council all of us. Will feel empowered to do our best for this congregation. Including taking risks on behalf of this congregation. We won't worry about making mistakes because we're all going to make them. Everyone of us. Because we're human beings. We won't worry about being criticized behind our backs because we'll trust that when we do make mistakes someone will come to us and gently hold us accountable. We will all be able then to get on with the truewerk. Of this society. The work of affirming the inherent worth of every person. Of supporting each other in their search for truth and meaning. Apparent reach other in times of need. And bringing about the beloved community of justice and freedom. And love. What will this congregation look like and sound like and feel like. When that work is done when those three questions have been answered. I have no idea. That. Is up to you. The first unitarian universalist society of burlington belongs to you. Not to me. How will we get those questions answered. I have no idea. Well. Actually i do have some ideas. But the strategy. That we agree upon will be a strategy worked out in collaboration with the leadership and with all of you. What i can tell you is that my work with you will reflect. The passion and commitment that i learned from my parents and my home congregation in new york. All those years ago. My commitment to unitarian universalism is lifelong. My commitment to ministry is as deep and heartfelt today as it was. On the day i was ordained. I can promise you that i will be professional. Professional and ethical in all my relationships with you. I will work with the staff and the lady leadership as a coach. And as a resource person. And as a pastor. I will tell you when i think you were on the wrong track. But i won't take it personally if you decide to keep going down that track. After all in a year or two i will be. Piling into the family car no longer in oldsmobile. And heading off to my next adventure. And you will remain here. Nurturing and sustaining this beloved community. Secure in the knowledge that you are indeed walking together toward your freely chosen. Future. That's my plan. That's my intention. And all it will take. For that plan to come. To fruition. It's for everyone of you. To work with me. And with bill and with the board. And with all the people who have volunteered to do the various things that constitute the true ministry. Of this congregation. Walking together. Working together. Toward you are freely chosen future.

uusociety_org

2010-01-17-2%20Sermon.mp3

It's been said that martin marched because rose us a sandbrock ranch. Because martin marched in more than one president obama. Has paid tribute to the man who more than any other single. Individual helped catapult him. And office. He got rid of those. Decorative china plates that i guess laura had chosen for the oval office and he replaced them with a frame program. From the 1963 march on washington where king delivered his famous i have a dream speech. And one of his first acts in occupying the white house. Barack obama gave back to the british people. A head and shoulders bust of winston churchill. And replace that with a bust of the civil rights leader it's a telling measure of how far our country has come. The last time. That boss was on display in the white house. Would not in the oval office it was in the presidential library. Bill clinton had asked to borrow it from the smithsonian in the year 2009 at believe it or not that was the very first time. But the image. Have any african-american. Had ever been on public display. In the white house. Ever since john and abigail adams moved in over 200 years ago. So the fact that a black man is now occupying this house is nothing little short of a miracle. And. Obama's inauguration is scant 12 months ago felt more like a moral. Redemption than just a partisan political victory. We've come a long long way. Since georgia. 19. 63. And in his nobel prize acceptance speech last month. President obama referred to the sacrifices. I've windy. And that generation. As someone who stands here as a direct consequence of dr. king's life and work. Mr. obama told the audience in oslo. I am living testimony to the moral force of nonviolence i know there is nothing weak nothing. Passive nothing naive. And the creed of the lines of. Gandhi and king and he would call dr. king's own words on receiving the same award years before. He said violence never brings. Permanent peace it solves no social problems it merely creates new more complicated ones. Shirley. The presidents. Homage to king's legacy. Was real but then he immediately began to distance himself from that legacy. Noting that is the head of a state. Sworn to protect and defend my nation. He had the face. Real and present threats from abroad. For make no mistake. President declared. Evil. Does. Exist in the world. Curious observation is still martin luther king jr hadn't quite noticed. The presence of. Malevolence. Around him. Or fully appreciated the demonic. Destructive dimensions of human history but dr. king knew about evil. Over the course of his career he was stabbed with a knife and had his home. Bomb twice once with his wife and children inside. He was. Thrown into jail. In albany georgia. Thrown into jail. In birmingham alabama. Wire tapped by the fbi who tried to blackmail and. Bully him into committing suicide. King received death threats almost daily he was hit on the head with a brick hurled at him during a march in chicago he was spat on had crosses burned on his lawn did martin luther king jr had encounters with a kinds of. Lowlife thugs. Villains. It's someone like barack obama can only imagine and it was precisely king's deep analysis of evil. With its twisted capacity to distort the personality. Deform the soul. That enabled king 2. Fight against. Hatred and violence without himself becoming vengeful or violent in the process. One suspects that it's rather the president who hasn't personally wrestled with such dark forces who. Ken's rather to assume the best about human nature. In his 2006 book the audacity of hope. Obama said that he had been. Personally insulated. From what he called the bumps and bruises. That beset many other african american men although he had suffered his share of what he called. Petty slights. Security guards tailing me as i shop in department stores. White couples who taught me their car keys as i stand outside a restaurant waiting for the valet. Police cars pulling me over for no apparent reason. Perhaps having this. Relatively relatively. Sheltered background accounts for obama's reaction last summer when the harvard professor henry louis gates. Was arrested. By white police officer in his cambridge home on suspicion of burglary after initially accusing the cop of behaving. Stupidly which i think is a fair assessment. Obama tried to diffuse the situation by inviting everybody over to the white house for a friendly beer and whether the issue happens to be racial profiling or healthcare reform. This seems to be a guiding instinct that beat down people are good trying to do the right thing it's only they can be controlled to sit down across the table from each other shirley. Dialogue and sweet reason. Can overcome whatever. Misunderstandings in ill feelings have arisen. Bipartisanship. Compromise. Cooperation easier to watch words for this kind of. Idealism. Can we all sing kumbaya. Hopefully obama is. More realistic than that and there are reasons to believe that he might be the conservative new york times columnist david brooks for example has recently written about obama's intellectual debt. The reinhold niebuhr who was one of the more influential religious thinkers of the last century. The founder of a tough-minded doctrine. He called christian realism. I remember back when i was in college i don't know how many of you have. Encountered reinhold niebuhr he's not a household name. He was born in missouri in 1892. Went to yale divinity school and then he was. Sent to. Detroit. To become the pastor of a lutheran church there that was square. Henry ford was union-busting. Auto workers on the assembly line and where large numbers of african-americans it started to migrate from the south to work in the plants. This. Northern. Industrial city gave niebuhr the perfect laboratory for the study of social conflict for the push and shove. Between. Capital and labor between blacks and whites and niebuhr concluded that these kinds of simmering conflicts. We're not going to be resolved or adjudicated. By sharing. A budweiser. Or through mutual. Goodwill these were fundamental antagonisms he said it would only be resolved through some form of power struggle. Because he said every society is based on. Power it's the concentration of power. And the political sphere. That enable some degree of law & order to prevail it's the concentration of power. And economically world that lets. Factories function it's the concentration of firepower in the military that enables the nation to defend itself against foreign enemies but power also corrupt by its very nature niebuhr said it corrupt. Even. Good people. Even good people because all of us. Are egoists. To some degree we are not. As impartial. As fair-minded. Is even-handed in our dealings is perhaps we imagine ourselves to be our loyalties to our own kind our own family our own tribal stronger. Then the duty we filled the outsiders and strangers and self. Whoever happens to be in charge. Whatever party. Is in the oval office he said. Powers going to exert itself in the very forces. That enable the country to defend itself or going to be turn to war like in the creation of. Fast economic wealth. It's going to result in poverty. For others. The same powers of government that insure the domestic tranquility also have a tendency to be turned towards. Tyranny and totalitarianism. Ansonia a philosophy was. Was marked by irony. Buy paradox. Buy sense of inescapable. Trajan. We're human motives. Are never entirely pure or disinterested and we're the very best of intentions always carry this undercoating of naked self-interest. He was a complex thinker. And christian realism had a profound influence on martin luther king junior to appreciate. Just how profound let me read you a passage. This is something that reinhold niebuhr wrote in a book titled. Moral man and immoral society. Was published back in 1932. When king was 3 years old. When the montgomery bus boycott was still a quarter-century. And future this is what niebur wrote. It is hopeless. Hopeless. For the negro to expect complete emancipation from the menial social and economic position into which the white man is forced him. Merely trusting in the moral sense. Of the white race in other words. Peels. To fairplay or brotherhood or christian charity. Wouldn't supplies these tactics have never worked in the past they never would pressure. Would have to be applied. T'force. White people to give up their privileges. On the other hand niebuhr continued. Any effort at violent revolution on the part of the negro will accentuate the animosities and prejudices of his oppressors. Since they outnumber him hopelessly. Any appeal to arms must result in a terrible. Social. Catastrophe. A new work. And all the other cities that. Exploded and burned in the sixties prove the truth of that prediction. Brittany burgos on. The technique of non-violence will not eliminate. All these perils but it will reduce them. It will. If persisted in with the same patience and discipline obtained by mr. gandhi and his followers. Achieve a degree of justice which neither pure moral suasion or violence could gain. Boycotts against banks. Which discriminate against negroes in granting credit. Against stores. Which refused to employ negroes while serving negro trade. Against. Public service corporations which practice racial discrimination would undoubtedly be bet with some measure of success. One waits for such a campaign neighbor says. One waits for such a campaign with all the more reason and hope. Because the peculiar spiritual gifts of the negro endow him with the capacity to conduct it. Successfully. You can bet that martin read that passage when he was in seminary. And perhaps obama's reddit to according to david brooks. He was interviewing the candidates back on the electoral trail in 2007 both of them got tired about talking about primaries and the horse race went out of the blue. Brooks asked him if he'd ever read reinhold niebuhr and obama's tired tone suddenly changed. I love him he said he's one of my favorite philosophers. Joe brooks. What do you take away from him. I take away obama answered in a rush of words. The compelling idea that there is serious evil in the world and hardship and pain. And the we should be humble and modest in our belief that we can eliminate those things. But we shouldn't use that as an excuse for cynicism or inaction i take away the sins that we have to make these efforts. Knowing they are. Hard. Teacher license that i hope our president has taken to heart because. The moral quandaries that cesar world now. Require leadership. It is both clear-eyed. And compassionate. Afghanistan. Is in danger of turning into obama's vietnam a war that both king and neibert denounced. But the challenges here at home or equally difficult particularly. Regarding civil rights because despite the the euphoria of last year's election. Racial justice remains an elusive goal for our country. A report released by the ucla civil rights project. Just a few days before the president's inauguration. Warned it in america school segregation is on the rinds. With black and latino students more likely to be isolated from their flight fears in the classroom that anytime since the dawn of the civil rights movement. Young black men living in this country today. Are more likely. To go to jail. Then to go to college. Here in vermont. There are. 10 times as many people of color behind bars. Is might be explained by their numbers in our population. Compared to wife. Blacks have double the infant mortality rate twice the risk of stroke. Twice the rate of diabetes in or just half as likely to be insured and when it comes. 2 money. The net wealth of the average blackhawk household. The average wealth is one dime. For every dollar on by whites these art. Systemic problems that go beyond the elimination of personal bigotry there symptoms of a dilemma that niebuhr new well upstanding. Conscientious enlightened folks who would never think of using the n-word who nonetheless. Tolerate. Class and social structures that perpetuate savage inequalities where is king put it. It's not. The bad people i can't forgive it's the good people who do nothing. Addressing these kinds of. Institutional inequities demands more than learning how to mix with other people at a party or work in an office with diverse ethnicities. Requires. A redistribution. Power. And money. And resources. At the very time that the supreme court is dismantling affirmative action and saying that even voluntary school desegregation is unconstitutional. Whether we call ourselves. Christian or not i think we all need to be realists in the manner of king and niebuhr. Because while the president campaign on a promise if. Change you can believe in we need to realize that any genuine change always requires struggle. Beginning with the struggle to reform ourselves but not ending their those who have a vested interest. And keeping things. The way they are. Will never give away anything of value without a contest and so the question is what kind of change. Do we believe in. What kind of. Hope. Do we have. What is our dream and are we willing to struggle define. To sacrifice for that dream the way that earlier generations did whether america continues to progress to a brighter day of justice and opportunity or backslides. To the shadows of yesteryear. Depends last on who's in the white house. For whose. Head is on the bookshelf. And having hard heads. About the task before us.

uusociety_org

2013-04-21-2Sermon.mp3

I sent last week in texas. At the. Meeting of the uu interim ministry guild. Our annual meeting is part continuing education part pierce support. Fart spiritual sustenance. Import anxiety about the interim job search that gets underway. As soon as the meeting an. The fact that we are all in some sense getting ready to compete with each other for available interim jobs. Create an interesting emotional and spiritual conundrum for us in our quest to be together in collegiality. This meeting had at the add an angle. Anguish for us of being. Away from our congregations as the events in the boston area unfolded. I particularly felt for the minister whose 6th grade coming-of-age class arrived in boston on friday morning. For their annual trip. Talk about agony of worrying. I'm grateful to martha for putting together the prayer vigil here in my absence. So in addition to talking about what congregations need interims. And how to best lead a congregation in the mission planning process. We all talked about whether or not we should. Toss out our plans sermons for this sunday. And do something else. I decided against that. Not out of laziness mind you. But that of the conviction that. This sermon about universalism would be as relevant to our state. Of minds and hearts. Could be. Some of you may remember that last month on bring a friend sunday i gave a sermon about unitarianism with a small you. The idea of unitarianism rather than the institutional history the idea of the unity of god. Initially in opposition to the doctrine of the trinity but eventually expanded to. Be a holistic vision of contemporary liberal religion. This morning i want to continue in that vein. By considering universalism with a small u. The idea of universalism rather than the institutional history. Initially and idea formed in opposition to the doctrine of original sin. Eventually expanded. Create a holistic vision of liberal religion. What was the idea of universalism with a small u. A big heart filled with the love of god and neighbor. An awakened mind push beyond the boundaries of class ethnicity and race. Hands quicken to the work of justice by the deeply held conviction that every human being is created with inherent worth. And a face turned toward a troubled world of face infused with hope. That's the essence of universalism. That's what universalism brought to the merger. 50 years ago. And today are liberal religious movement is still infused with that universalist spirit. If you think about those values. The conviction that every person is created with inherent worth every person. Even the young man accused. I'm setting off the bombs at the marathon finish line. Even the factory owner who took advantage of the deregulation. In texas to allow safety concerns to go unnoticed until that fertilizer factory floated. You see it's hard work being the universalist. And that. Philosophy of turning towards a world of violence and despair with a face of hope. You see immediately household ali relevant. That idea is. To this week's events. Are opening words by clinton lee scott tell the story of a broad and generous approach to life. Scott wrote from a place of humility. An awareness that the sun did not rise and set on just his little slice of the earth. He wrote his own awareness but laborers in the field has as much need for blessing as the well-educated. Class that frequent did the unitarian churches of the time. And acknowledgement the poverty and inequality and violence make a claim on our religious energy. And his final words in that opening reading or words of hope the son having seen. The world as it is. Yet arrived unsullied. The harbinger of a new day. Universalism is both a modern movement and an ancient heresy. The underlying theological assumption the big idea of universalism with a small u. Is it god. So powerful and good. Salvages all souls. The god of universalism is benevolent. Way too good to create any creature and then condemn that creature to eternal damnation. Standing within the providence of that benevolence god the only response we humans could possibly have is to do likewise to love our fellow humans to work to eliminate the various hell's on earth that we have created. At 2 except with good grace. The news of our own salvation. The language of our first principle. The affirmation of the inherent worth and dignity of every person comes to us directly out of the historic reads of the universalist church of america. But i'm getting ahead of myself because before there was the universalist church of america with there was this idea. Universalism with a small u. The first. Small you universalist was one of the early fathers of the christian church. Known as origin he was born sometime between 182 and 185 of the common era. Like the early anti trinitarians i spoke of last month. In the sermon on unitarianism with a small you origin. Was convinced that the truth of christianity was found in the stories that had been handed down from generation to generation. Rather than. The doctrines dictated by the powers-that-be in the early church. He rejected any literal reading or interpretation of the gospels. He understood. That the power of metaphor and story was that it could communicate that which was otherwise incomprehensible and ineffable. And he developed. An interesting theory of all souls. Stay with me as i. Is siri posited that all souls were created at the beginning of time. A spirit or finite. Rational and self-determining. Some of these souls fell away from their creator. And became. Demons. Angels. Ann.. Humans. This happened because god the creator respected the in autonomy of all those created creatures. And refuse to impose salvation on us against our will. The world as we know it was created later. As an educational laboratory if you will. Where those fallen souls could work out their fallen this and return to their original state of grace. Redemption according to this theory of origins meant the restoration of all those spirits to the original state of harmony and unity from which they had chosen to turn away. Now you can imagine this man was not popular with those who were pushing the christian movement towards an idea of salvation based on the acceptance of jesus christ as your lord and savior with no other option for redemption. Universal salvation floated around the christian community for several centuries. Mostly underground and often repressed. Before being finally condemned at the council of constantinople in 381. So thoroughly was the notion of universal salvation removed from the orthodox canon. That you have to move forward more than a millennium before it began. Begins to become part of the religious conversation again in western see ology. That does not sound familiar. Last month i believe i said the exact same thing about unitarianism. But that's what happened so let's fast-forward to 18th century england. Where we will delve more deeply into the essence of that universalism with a small you through the experiences of two people. Georgia to bentonville and thomas potter. The devil was born in england in 1702 to french huguenots parents. Who had fled. France to escape. The vicious religious persecution happening there. He was a sensitive child. Tortured by visions and dreams of burning in hell. You can probably will imagine the vividness of the preaching he was subjected to. In order to create those dreams. Preaching determined to convince people of their wickedness and degeneracy. As a first step in convincing them. To accept the salvation. Christ. But one day the better bill had another dream. A dream in which. A vision of jesus led him away from the flames. Forever. This dream for the vanderbilt turn christianity on its head. He became convinced that human beings are not craven and sinfield but simply imperfect. We are what we are. God knows this and god in. His infinite love and wisdom. I'm speaking for george now. How to plan for redeeming us. Our response to this reality this plan should not be. Self-loathing. Or fear or other loving. But love in return. Love of ourselves love of our neighbors love of god. So did that event will became a universalist with a small you. Any activity universalist with a small you because there was no capital you institution yet for him to become apart of. He returned to france. For some reason to preach this new and dangerous gospel and was arrested and condemned to death. He'd already been led to the guillotine. And was contemplating his eminent demise when a reprieve was rushed to the platform. This traumatic experience of deliverance only confirmed his sense of being in the hands of an active in loving providence. Eventually the beneville had the good sense to make his way to america. Where he continued to preach his mystical visionary brand. Of universalism in the more. Welcoming and fertile soil. Of that new society. In america universalism with a small you became universalism with a capital u. And the person we can most thanks for that is thomas potter. Potter was another man. Driven by visions. The farmer and what we now call the pine slats is new jersey. He'd become convinced of the rightness of the universalist vision. As he labored on his land. He saw something. He saw a little church. With a pulpit waiting to be filled by the right preacher. The preacher who can bring to life the convictions that potter held in his heart. And so he cleared one of his fields and built the chapel. Anticipating by 300 years kevin costner's active faith. You know it right if you build it he will come. And, he did. One dark and stormy night i'm not making this up a ship ran aground on the new jersey shore. The passengers waited through the muck and mire and arrived thomas potter's door hungry and wet. He took them in. Offered them hospitality. And around the dinner table that night the talk turned to theology. And potter discovered that one of his guests john murray. Had fled england with an angry mob at his heels. Calling him a heretic and a traitor. They had forced him to leave his home renounce his pulpit and come to america to seek a new beginning because of his universalist belief. Potter then began to earnestly plead with marie to preach from his waiting pulpit. Murray initially declined he had sworn off preaching as far too dangerous of a profession. He might also have seen the glint of fanaticism in thomas potter's eye. After all when you live and work in the isolation of the new jersey pine flats trying to coax a living out of the mud and you take it upon yourself to build a church in the middle of your field. You have to expect people to be a bit suspicious. Perhaps marie thought the thomas potter's eyebrows resemble jack nicholson's just a little turd. But finally marie agreed to deliver a sermon. And pilar gathered a small band. Of mostly i imagine unwilling. Herrschners. Who have the privilege of hearing the first. American sermons from the father of american universalism john murray. Now those of you who have been around unitarian-universalism for a while maybe familiar with some of. The most famous words marie left us. Go out into the highways and byways of america and give the people something of your nuvision. You have but a small life uncover it let it shine. Give them not hell. But hope and courage. John murray eloquent and convinced of the rightness of his universalist theology went on to town the first universalist church in america in gloucester massachusetts. I just bought many more churches across new england and into the frontier. In the latter half of the 19th century universalism caught the spirit of the american pioneer and grew amazingly quickly. The idea of a regenerative sinner condemned to eternal damnation just wasn't congruent with the sense of adventure and possibility. And limitlessness. Encouraging optimism and hope that the settlers of the american west sing 22 gus. A message of love and hope with a welcome one at one point. Her brief shining moment. The universalist church of america claimed the fifth largest membership of any americans in nomination. Can you imagine that. That spirit. The spirit of love and hope. Compel the universe was to arrive much earlier than their unitarian counterparts on the front lines of the anti-slavery movement. And the women's suffrage movement. And other issues of the day. That came to be known as the social gospel. Knowing themselves to be loved and redeemed by a powerful and benevolent god. You only response our universalist forebears could conceive of was to live one's life and gratitude for that love. And to attempt to bring that message of love to all of humanity. By the beginning of this century. The doctrine of universal salvation had begun to make its way into the preaching of the mainline protestant churches. Rarely did one have to sit through an interminable sermon about how bad one was. Rarely did one have to regal in one's pews considering the flames of hell looking at one's feet. And so the universalist church of america began to decline. Victim you might say if its own success. The theology went mainstream. And the separate churches began to disappear. But it survived as a small stream in the american religious current. And we are lucky to be its inheritors. Universalism brought to the creation of the unitarian universalist association. The steadfast conviction that god is good. That people are good. And that good people need to be about the business of making themselves and the world. A better place. Not hell but hope. Knots in. But potential. Not despair. But possibility. Some say that unitarianism with his emphasis on reason is the mind. Of ruu faith. Universalism with his emphasis on love is the heart. Of our faith. Combined these two ideas form the basis of unitarian universalism today. We each make what we will of these ancient heresies. Updating them. And reinterpreting them to fit. Our particular theological understandings and life experiences. But we are all in agreement. With. That basic assumption of clinton lee scott. That the sun arrives unsullied each morning. Inviting us. Once again to engage a new day.

uusociety_org

2009-09-20-2-sermon.mp3

Probably since the very very beginning. Uptime. People been looking up at the starry firmament the luminous moon the bright beacons of the planets the immense orbit space. Pausing. To ask themselves. I wonder what's on tv tonight. But sometimes. Sometimes when there's nothing on. More cosmic questions go through. Our minds as well people inquire where we came from where we're going. Why it's all so beautiful how it all got started are we alone here. Or here by accident. Or are we participants and some larger more meaningful story. And the answers. To those questions the answers that are emerging. Today. Are not the answers that would have satisfied our forbearers. Who imagined. God. Reaching out to touch adams finger. At the very beginning of things. When dory and i visited rome a few years ago we saw many. Splendid churches there besides. The sistine chapel there were. Magnificent edifices. Filled with michelangelo's and caravaggio beautiful works of art depicting the creation of the world and scenes from the life of. Christ and the apostles. But the one site where i felt truly moved. Touched. Stirred by a religious spirit. Was not. In a church at all it was in. A rectangular. Piazza called the campo de fiori. The field. A flower. It's a bustling vegetable market now. But this is the site. On this cobblestone square where. 400 years ago back in the year 1600. The italian philosopher giordano bruno was burned by the inquisition. The dominicans not the passionists. He was burned for the heretical teaching that the universe was much much larger. Van either aristotle or the authors of the bible had imagined. For teaching that the earth was not. At the center of the cosmos. For teaching that all of the stars. In the night sky might be. Sons very much like our own son that they might be surrounded by their own rings of planets and most shocking of all for teaching. Let those planets. Like hours. Might harbor intelligent. Life. Unlike galileo who a few years later under the threat of torture. Recanted his theories bruno refused to. Go back on his teachings and contemporary witnesses say that. He responded to his death sentence. By saying that god. Would judge. His. Accuser certainly. Time has judge them for. Now there's a handsome statue that sits there and the campo de fiori we're at the age of 52 bruno was immolated a martyr to modern cosmology. And it was standing in front of that effigy. Dad i experienced the little. Shutter. I've reference. And gratitude for this thinker who was so courageous in his conviction so fully executed and so far ahead of his time. It took just over. For centuries. But last year in the spring of 2008. The vatican observatory finally issued and acknowledgement that bruno. Was probably right that intelligent beings do exist elsewhere in the cosmos according to the jesuit astronomer. Jose fuentes. An interview titled. Aliens are my brothers. Which raises the whole interesting questions the aliens. Have sex gender maybe they're more than. 2 or 6 or 11. Who knows. Aliens are my brothers he said that. Catholics should be prepared to embrace their extraterrestrial siblings. Who are also a part of god's creation and who do not necessarily require the church or its sacraments. For their salvation is father when he's explained. Gone. Freedom. His unlimited. And creatures elsewhere in the universe might very well be part of the divine plan might have been created. Without the tank. Original sin. Remaining on good terms with the creator from the beginning so to speak and so needing no extra redemption. From. The holy see which makes me think that space aliens are a little like jews and unitarians more advanced life-forms who don't need hail marys or the nicene creed but as usual the vatican was just playing catch-up echoing a growing consensus. If we have company. Just last march nasa launched a probe that they called the kepler. Whose mission literally is to seek out. New life. And new civilizations and to boldly go where no one has gone before is gene roddenberry would put it. Currently 11 million miles from earth. Kepler is in the business of surveying. About 100,000 stars in the vicinity of the constellation cygnus. Where scientists think that earth size bodies. Might be orbiting at suitable distances to make them suitable candidates for species. Like betazoids and klingons to evolve. The results will not be known until. Near the end of the three-and-a-half-year mission. But nasa's working assumption is that most stars. The majority of stars. Probably do have one or two. Earth sign satellite. Spinning around the proper range for liquid. Water to be present as we know it to have been present on the surface of mars in the recent past as researchers discovered it in the form of. Vapor geysers just this past summer on enceladus which is. One of the moons of jupiter. I may be pronouncing that incorrectly does anyone know. Insalata that sounds like a dish at a mexican restaurant doesn't it. Maybe that. But nasa's. Baseline estimate. Is off. Maybe by an order of magnitude maybe by 2 if maybe only 1% or even half a percent of those. Stars that are surveyed will turn out to have earth like planets but still there hundreds of billions of stars in the milky way which means that lies. Is everywhere flourishing persistent. Variegated it's like the grass coming up through the cracks in the city sidewalk it's like the weeds. And your garden that you can't get rid of like the the moss. That establishes a foothold and is so hard to get rid of on the shingles of my garage there's nothing unusual about organic evolution there's no stopping it. Amino acids. Chemical building blocks for. Are proteins the essential ingredients for making improbable being. Like you and me. They're all over the place they're made out of that the simplest stuff carbon. Nitrogen oxygen. Hydrogen these are elements that are. About as rare. As blond headed swedes. Or african americans in the nba they have been. Discovered. Amino acids have been discovered. In. Meteorites. Slap down-to-earth. From the. Tail with stray, amino acids have been discovered in the depths of. Interstellar space in those great clouds of gas and dust where planets like ours take form so it's close to being correct he might not have. Technically. Ben wright. The universe may not be. Infinite as he taught but it's very. Very. Big. And whether or not he ever makes contact we can be. Just about certain statistically speaking. The et and all of those other little green men from science-fiction are not. Fiction at all they are hard-nosed fast. And if the italian philosopher was right about that then he may have been right about some other things too like his. Theology. For example because if either stars are suns like our own and it means that. Heaven is not. Out there. Somewhere not. There is bruno road in one treatise there is no absolute. Up or down no. Absolute position in space. So god's not a. A celestial. Personality dwelling in some zone. Timeless perfection just beyond the reach of our. Telescopes now. Bruno said that god is. Eminent in the world. Mix. In. Creation. On the inside and not on the outside of sun and wind and rain present as the principle of growth and vitality and all of nature. Whose material forms are always changing like the soft wax if a candle can shipshape well the light. Stays steady and ever constant. And what this means historically speaking is that. Supernatural religion including the religion is based on a literal reading of the book of genesis. It's part of a bygone era. They are god. Create adam takes the. The mud the clay the dust of the earth and. Shapes adam like a potter shapes. Hot makes a. A lumpish. Inert mannequin and blows into that. Yin. Forum. With the celestial magical animating breath of. Consciousness. And why's that. Human spirit. Its origins are otherworldly it's destiny is also. Beyond this world but falling bruno in the scientific revolution that he started i would advise you to. Forget. Otherworldly. This. Is. The only. World. There is there is not going to be. A. Rapture. Earth. Is our home. We need to take care of it. This is all we've got because we have grown out of this universe the way. Leaves grow out of a tree. And by a process just as natural which doesn't mean that the cosmos is. Designed that way but doesn't mean that it's all accidental either. It's no accident. That oak trees. Grow. Oak leaves. And not some other kind of foliage and it's no accident that worlds like this one produce such an amazing array of people and pandas and peonies it's no accident that there are planets and asteroids galore no accident that a supernova occurs when a star burns through its nuclear fuel and explode spewing all those lovely elements out into space to form more amino acids and more nasa scientist. To study them. It's no. Accident. It's. Just the kind of thing universes like ours do. On the whole our world is much more fertile more luxuriant extravagant creative and otherwise and more so than past generations could have possibly imagined who can explain that. Bruno tried to. In one thought experiment. Giordano bruno imagine himself. Rising from the surface. Of the earth. Floating higher and higher in space. Any imagine himself going to hide that he began to approach. The moon which grew in size until finally it was filling his whole horizon and and bruno's thought experiment he said well if you were. You were standing on the lunar surface that would seem to be. Terra firma and if you looked off. That would be. Our little planet it would seem to be a mirror. Satellite. A tiny. Dot in the sky what bruno was imagining 400 years ago what's with the apollo astronauts finally glimpse. 40 years ago. Imagining.. Powerful photographed are in the foreground of dry. Desolate. Pockmark kreider mart. Lunar surface to sea of tranquility. Off in the distance. Sapphire blue. Filled with. Dynamically churning clouds. Little earth hung in the. Deep. Deep. Indigo. Space. Turned out of course. When the astronauts got to the moon it was just a. Sphere of. Uninteresting. Rubble why anybody would want to go back there to look at neil armstrong's boot printed. Is puzzling. But. We found out that our moon is also. Probably. An anomaly it's it's. A weirdo if it doesn't really belong in the solar system it does seem to have come about by accident probably when some object collided with the earth long ago after our planet. already begun to form. Turn off into the sky but but most other objects planets and moons most other objects. In our solar system seem to a form the same way out of. These spinning disks. Gradually flatten themselves of gas and dust and through gravitation lumps begin to form in those discs into. Circle the central mass most astrophysicists an exobiologist now agree that our own planet is a much more. Ordinary objects. It's a much more typical indicator of what we might expect once we get those warp. Drives up and running and actually begin to explore other worlds the earth it's beginning to seem. Is actually a fairly. Average. Place. And knowing that we are average. Beings on an average planet circling an average. Star. In the outer spiral arm of an average galaxy which contains. Hundreds of millions of other average stars does nothing to lessen the wonder it only increases my sense of appreciation and thanks giving me the same kind of little. Shutter. That i had back there in rome knowing that the universe is filled with a multitude of. Conscious beings. Does nothing to lessen my sense of. Reverence for creation and the intelligence that creation. Manifest. It makes this universe seem like. A slightly more. Neighborly. Place it makes me feel more special not less more. Embrace and embedded in nature and its laws like i belong here it makes me more likely to. Go out at night and. Linger for an extra. Minute or two. Underneath those stars underneath that. Great. Canopy of the nighttime. A little less inclined to come back inside into the basement to. Switch on the cable to see if. Star tracker. I love lucy is on. More reluctant to switch on those reruns after all. You never know who's listening.

uusociety_org

2012-10-21-2Sermon.mp3

There's a delightful irony in megan story because that public school that i went to was in ozone park queens just a stone's throw from flushing. They seem to have forgotten. In the. Centuries between what they started there. When i was a settled minister. I had a liturgical practice. Of doing a sermon on the separation of church and state. On the first sunday after the first monday in october every year. Now. This was when burying r430 years lived inside the washington beltway i don't know if the first monday in october automatically means to you what it means to us but it is when the new supreme court session begins. Each year. For many of us it was a time of anticipation. What would the court take onto its docket. What dramatic decisions would be handed down. Would the court perhaps move. Right or left or towards the center. What there be hope that reason. Might once again prevail over ideology. As citizens these are questions that we all care about a great deal. But why should we care as people of face. On sunday morning at worship. Because we practice are freely chosen faith in a nation. That promised religious freedom. And yet we live in the time. Where many of us have become concerned that. Our government is unduly influenced by one particular version of one particular religion. We hope. Then for a return to the traditional values of our founders. Values that recognize the validity of both religion and statecraft. And recognize also that they are best practice separately. And to be honest we here. That h. Religious values the affirmation of the worth of every person the celebration of diversity that commitment to universal understanding might have some influence. On matters of national deliberation. The problem is we people forget. From the time of the ancient hebrew prophets up to the present the people have needed urgent reminders to pay attention to what matters to remember the covenants that bestow identity to remember the core values upon which communities and nations and houses of worship established. This is true about austin this congregation as people of faith. And is like likewise true for us. As citizens of the united states of america. As citizens it is our obligation to make sure that our founding principles are more than empty words and lofty ideals we need to make sure that they are actualized in day-to-day life. We want america to remember the bedrock principles upon which our nation was founded. And to reclaim the living of them as the true work of the people. Today i want to look at one of those principles more closely one that directly affect our very existence as a religious community and that is the separation of church and state. What thomas jefferson is said to have referred to as the glass wall. An image of two institutions firmly separated yet visible and audible to each other. That is exactly how i believe that government and religion should relate to each other in a free society. And a side here. Contemporary scholarship about thomas jefferson makes it harder and harder to refer to his words without deep ambivalence. He was a flawed man with a brilliant mind we may say. But the more we learn about his flaws the harder it is to admire the products of his brilliant mind. I honestly don't know what to do with that ambivalence so i'm just going to acknowledge it this morning. The founders of this nation those flawed men and yes they were men and binders had not yet been invented those men shared a commitment to the separation of church and state. They had a unique opportunity. The chance to create from scratch. And with intention a new kind of government and society they weren't burdened you see with the inertia of we've always done it. That way. Heavily influenced by the principles of the enlightenment they set out to create a system of government that would actualize the ideals of the human mind freed from the bonds of tradition the human spirit freed from the bonds of oppressive religion. They emphasize emphasize the rights of the individual person and champion the use of reason in human affairs. Their embrace of rationalism reflected a philosophical confidence in the innate human capacity for self-improvement. The logical outcome of this philosophy of the enlightenment was a society based on freedom and tolerance. In what other environment could every person possibly exercise their free mind. And so our country's founders heady with these free and concepts set out to create a system of governance that protected nurtured and sustained those inalienable rights. Already so clearly articulated. Life liberty the pursuit of happiness and the exercise of conscience. They believed that religion could stand separate from civil government. And make its contribution to a moral and ethical society. Without being part. Of the civil establishment. Civil and religious thinking practices and structures were both important. And it was important for each one to be protected from the other. Only in this way could the free exercise of conscience be guaranteed. Now america's founders were not anti-religious story religious they believe that religion was an important part. Of life and society. Belmont the founding fathers were nominally christians they recognize how valuable it would be to establish religious freedom and diversity as basic tenets of the new nation they were crafting. George washington for instance practice. An eclectic approach to his personal religious life. According to the author forest church. When washington attended church he was not particular about the house of worship. Attending quaker german reforms and roman catholic services as well as those conducted by mainline protestants. He was justice inclusive in his personal hiring welcoming in washington's own words. Mohammedan's jews or christians of any sect or they may be atheists as long as they are good workman. As commander-in-chief of the revolutionary forces washington rejected a request by other army chaplains to preclude jean-marie a universalist from serving in the chaplain corps. Samuel adams. You thought he just invented beer. But he did more than that. He wrote in 1772 in regard to religion mutual toleration in the different professions thereof is what all good and candid mines in all ages have practice and both by precept and example inculcated in mankind. That was an optimistic assessment. James madison who has said he was said to have been the most devout of the founding fathers went even further. When the first colonial declaration of rights was being drafted he objected to the phrase. Oh man should enjoy the fullest toleration in the exercise of religion according to the dictates of conscience. His objection was again according to forrester to the word toleration. Which could be understood to mean to abide with repugnance. Instead he proposed using the much simpler phrase the free exercise of religion. These men had seen the damage that can be done when one religion is given special status in a nation's political life. James madison wrote. If the church of england had been the established and general religion in all the northern colonies as it had been among us here in virginia. An uninterrupted tranquility had prevailed throughout the continent. It is clear to me that slavery and subjection might and would have been gradually insinuated insinuated among us. Union of religious sentiment baguettes a surprising confidence. An ecclesiastical establishments tend to great. Ignorance and corruption. All of which facilitate the execution of mischievous projects. The church when it gets too cozy with the state loses its prophetic voice and becomes the apologist for all kinds of dreadful things. And the state. Made comfortable by the imprimatur of the church. Fails to recognize its own failures. All those quotations from the founding fathers you can find in forest churches book called the separation of church and state. I highly recommend both that book. And another one called the american creed which is church's lovely and lyrical p onto the declaration of independence. So our founders took religion seriously in spite of their determination to keep religion and government separate. Taking religion seriously was a concept. It arrived on these shores with the puritans. The uu historian conrad wright says one mark of the puritan was the conviction that serious matters should be taken seriously. Religion first and foremost among them. Luckily for us madison and others held on to that idea that religion be taken seriously. Even more luckily for us there thinking about the place of religion had evolved beyond the original puritan. Vision for america. Which was. Of a theocracy. Of course a christian government defined by the particular puritan interpretation of christianity. That would embody the teaching and principles of their faith alone. A theocracy is one way to take. Your religion seriously. But there are other way. Our founders widely understood that. And knots the wall of separation between church and state was erected. We unitarian universalist. Have incorporated. Some of those sounding philosophies into our principles are 5th principal talks about the democratic process as being essentially at the heart of our faith. The reverend earl hold in his meditation on that fifth principle road. Political and religious ideas interpenetrate. For example the political notion that the people have a right to self-government. Grows out of the religious conviction that human beings have the capacity to shape their own destiny. That they are not mere puppets on a divine string. Democracy to put it another way as more than an mechanism of governance it is an expression of faith in the power of human beings to shape their lives. A face that is most explicit in the ideals of our unitarian universalist religious tradition. So we are blessed. To live with both a democratic government and a free religious system. Both are important. Each have separate functions. The wall of separation between church and state insurance the health and prosperity of both. Quoting forest church again he said madison and jefferson designed the first amendment. As a necessary if not sufficient wall to protect the government from religion. And religious minorities from a government responsive to the religious demands of those in the majority. The clauses regarding religion in the bill of rights suggest no hostility to religion nor did they several religious from legal values. They insist only that the government not impose any single code of religious teaching on the members of a pluralistic society. It is a question of balance. So balance. It is in balance that we find the metaphor of the glass wall so useful. A government always needs to be grounded in ethical. And moral principles. Those who govern constantly need to hear from people with faith regarding the ethical dimensions of public policy. Church and state in other words need to be able to see each other and hear each other and converse with each other. What oral holt said about the interpenetration of religious and. Political ideas rings true to me. That is why i support and participate in faith-based political action and social justice and i encourage you to do the same. Barry and i were at dinner last night at the moveable feast which was the vermont interface action fundraiser. End. We were at a table with some people we knew and some people we didn't and i was explaining that although unitarian universalist clergy don't. Wear clergy collars i do own one. The only place i ever where it is in the state house or the capital. When i go to lobby because that makes it clear to the people i'm talking to that i'm speaking to them. As a person of faith. It's a kind of a visual symbol. I've worn my collar in richmond virginia which is a scary place to go lobby on the things i was laughing for. I've worn it in new hampshire i've wanted here i've worn it in the united states capitol. Never wanted to church though. When you write a letter to the editor or speak at a public hearing identify yourself as unitarian universalist. What we do. Not just in our private lives but in our civic life can be a powerful faith statement. I should be. The wall of separation. Create a safe place where different religious ideas can be in dialogue. My public school growing up with not a safe place. For people of faith. First of all there was that unquestioned assumption that everyone was either jewish or christian. Thinking back now i know there must have been. Children who were neither. Children who were perhaps buddhist. Or muslim. And then we're never allowed to say a pink. The wall of separation between church and state makes it safe for everyone to be the religion they want to be it protects all religions both majority and minority from the favoritism of a potentially bias government. And it is the primary sentry guarding. Those most precious of human freedom. Freethought free association and the free exercise of conscience. And remember also woodforest church said as you. Go out to protect that wall of separation about the matter of balance. Weehoo champion the separation of church and state need to make sure. That in doing that we don't. Dismiss religion completely from the civic conversation. It's important. That. We allow religious voices to speak. Not just ours but all religious voices. You know for many years i administered in virginia where my. States. Colleagues included the likes of pat robertson and jerry falwell. And i would protect to the death of their right to speak as people of faith just as i would protect my own. Earlier this week i attended a meeting of. The clergy caucus of vermont interfaith action. We watch the brief film about. Faith-based organizing. I was particularly inspired by a quote in the film. Did i not heard before from the reverend dr. martin luther king jr.. The church must be reminded that is not that it is not the master nor the servants of the state. But rather the conscience. Of the state. It must be the guide and the critic of the state and never its tool. I can think of no stronger active faith than to bring your deepest convictions out of this sanctuary and into the civic arena. Paypal davies wants to this about patriotism and citizenship. The truth is that in the end true loyalty is never an attachment to something external so much as it is at allegiance to something inside yourself. That which commands you outwardly has first to possess you inwardly. That is why a bad human being is never a reliable patriot. You're a good human being ever a bad citizen. There is no surer testing this. Your loyalty will always be to what you secretly love and serve. It is for this that the glass wall was erected. To allow every person to develop free of encumbrance a sense of what they love and wish to serve. And to allow each person to bring to the civic arena those opinions and hopes and fears that are formed in faith. So that policy can be forged not just out of practicalities but out of principles. A nation said davies like an individual. Must have a soul. Now you may be aware of the fact that is not just the supreme court session that is going on right now in our nation. There is an election. Coming up. I would encourage everyone of you. Of course. Devote. And to act in whatever ways you care to as citizens. Citizens. Loyal to. The principles of our faith. Citizens. With soul. It's not clear to me right now that the tarnation knows where it's soul. Is. But we can help. To create a civic dialogue that is civil and respectful and better than tolerance. If we live out our principles. I saw a quotation. From george mcgovern this morning. And i wrote it down on a little piece of paper that i've lost. But i'm going to paraphrase it. He said. Politics is something of an active faith. You have to assume. The intelligence and integrity. Of the public. Let's be. Those people. As unitarian universalist and his citizens let's be. Those people. Mind body. And soul.

uusociety_org

2016-02-21%2011am%20Sermon.mp3

So a few weeks ago right here in the sanctuary members of our youth group offered up their prescription for fighting the winter doldrums does anyone remember what it was. Kindness. That has gotten us warmed up so let's say it together. Kindness. So this winter are user undertaking what they're calling the random acts of kindness project they're working on being more kind and they're trying to help us come along and they made it super easy for us by giving us a lift. A possible random acts of kindness last sunday how many of you saw the list. How many of you did something on the list. Yeah alright. So despite what the alignment of that project in our first reading this morning might suggest we were not in cahoots the youth group and i are about this. But i think there's an undeniable serendipity about having a random acts of kindness project going in the same month we are grappling with the spiritual team of grace. No grease have many meanings including the deeply feel logical ones we wrestled with last sunday. Friday did anyone follow up with you to wrestle further after the service no. Good. Rowdy is our resident theologian on these matters we discovered. There is also the meaning of grace as in physical ease of movement the kinds that madonna was talking about in that early 1990s hit. Vogue. Gene kelly fred astaire ginger rogers. Dance on air thank you. They had style they had grace i've been waiting many years to get madonna into the pulpit. I'd like the word grace is in that song we're going with it today. There many meanings of grace but among the simplest of them. Is that it is simply an act of kindness. Grace is something like what we saw in those 13 slides. And like it's synonyms mercy. Charity and clemency. Grease can also be understood not just as a single act of kindness. But as an overall disposition toward it. Being disposed toward kindness. So if. It's this last meaning of grace i want to take on today. And if last week our task was to consider how grace shows up in our lives. And to notice it. Today i want us to consider how we might be grace. In someone else's life. How are we called to be agents of grace in the world. When it comes to this version of grace at first glance we might think of. It as a character trait that some people are just much better at than others. If you were to imagine somebody that is filled with grace and kindness i wonder if you would think of somebody who. I would consider a compassion superhero. Can you think of any examples of compassion super. Rowdy cleary i knew someone was going to say that at this. The dalai lama. Jesus right. Basically a person whose compassion is showing nate and infinite that we could never think to be on their level. Someone we can never imagine them losing their temper. Or cutting someone else off in traffic. What. Yes yes your teacher barb. Thank you yes. Should we think of these people as exemplars of that kind of grace. But it is too easy it lets us off the hook if that is our only example. Because i think to be an agent of grace you don't have to be a compassion superhero. I'm going to say that even the most grumpy. Even the most curmudgeonly. Even the most cranky among us. Is capable of a little bit more kindness. And sometimes the best chances to act with grace are not something we have to go out and find they fall into our lap. In her recent book the art of grace the washington post dance critic sarah kaufman tells a story. In 1962 the film director stanley dolan arranged a dinner with audrey hepburn and cary grant. He wanted them to team up on a new film project. And when that film came out a year later it was charade it was a success and everyone marveled at the chemistry between the lead actors. But that night in the restaurant they pepper and grant were meeting for the first time. And hepburn well-known for her grace was apparently so nervous to meet cary grant that as soon as they sat down at the table she knocked a whole bottle of wine into his lap. I have knocked over bottles of wine and it is never good. So everyone around them is buzzing what's going to happen and cary grant apparently did this key just left it off. And continued with a conversation. And proceeded with some meal in his wet pants. Mindful that heparin was still embarrassed the next day he sent her a note and a box of caviar. She showed her that kindness. Bad example reminds me a little bit of the weary subway riders patients from our second reading. When their evening commute is held up by the sick passenger. My god he's talking about me thanks and mcdermott when she hears the announcement. She writes, anytime that i cursed under my breath when trapped underground. I tried to get up but i couldn't. Another woman rubbed my back. She said there's no hurry. Just take your time. For a few minutes there and mcdermott. Gets by on the kindness of strangers. From the women who huddled. To the cops taking her vitals to the woman who likes her necklace. Each in their own way. An agent of grace. What was that we saying earlier. When i was sinking down. Friends to me gathered round. That seemed kind of everyday grace suite c on the subway platform comes alive and another story from new york city it's a new york city kind of morning here at first uu. It was a posting from humans of new york how many of you know humans of new york. So if you don't. I heard you i assigned the homework of checking it out after today's service. It is a collection of photos and stories of human beings. And it is moving and it is real and you should bring kleenex to everytime you check out a picture right. Yes. So at any rate. There's a photo of a young man handsome man he's in a red construction hats my son would love it. He's wearing his construction gear. And next to it is this story in his words. Both my parents were in prison when i was growing up. And i've been in prison for like 90% of my life. Mainly for drugs. When i got out in 2014 there was this old lawyer in the bronx who took an interest in me. His name was ramon jimenez. He's kind of like a community activist. I don't know why he cared so much but he sat down with me. And tried to map out my life from here. And when i started trying to sell drugs again. Ramon came out. And stood on the corner with me for 3 days straight. Here's the seventy-two-year-old dude shadowing me wherever i go screaming at anyone who tried to walk up to me i'm calling the cops. I was so mad. But after three days i had to give it up. The beautiful picture of ramon under this. Photo. Of him propped up at his desk with his feet. In front of him. The persian poet rumi right. Something opens our wings. Something makes hurt disappear. Someone fills the cup in front of us. We taste only sacredness. So these two sacred stories are different circumstances but they show us the power of a single. Action of grace or a single agent of grace. But sometimes grace needs us to get together. To join forces and acts together on its behalf. Like a harlequin when all the friends are needed to make that beautiful new costume. Or if the writer joanna macy puts it. Grace happens when we act with others on behalf of our world. And i think a moment of grace like that happened a few weeks ago in flint michigan. So we know that the residents of flynn have been and are living a nightmare. In the form of their poisoned water. And the politicians who ignored their plate until they could no longer do so. Due to the politics of it. And we know it will take years to fix the city's water. And we know that the babies and the children whose bodies have been harmed by that led will live with that for the rest of their lives. We also know that city officials have been trying to help by giving residents water filters. But many of the filters don't actually fit on the faucet. So on a saturday in late january some of you probably know about this. 300 agents of grace also known as union plumbers. From all over the state of michigan. Came to flint. And they joined their friends from local 374 who'd been working all fall on this problem. The fan out to the neighbors houses. They gathered in the cold before setting out for the day. And then they visited 1100 homes. Someone filled the cup in front of us. We taste only sacredness. So there's something there in that story. And in some of the other stories we talked about. That is a complex truth about the power of grace. And its limits. Because acts of kindness whether ordinary or extraordinary have an amazing capacity. To heal broken neck. And that i think is what joanna macy is writing about. But grace even at its most potent its most powerful. Is not a substitute for justice. So we applaud the kindness of the plumbers who donate their time to their neighbors and we should. But we also have to demand accountability for the officials who caused this crisis. And we admire the tenacious compassion of ramon jimenez on the street corner with his friend. And we should. But we have to work 24 senior drug policies in this country. And to end the epidemic of mass incarceration. That said his life on the course it was. And thinking back to harlequin we need a living wage for his mama don't we. And she needs some earn paid sick days as well. As agents of grace we must also be in the words of our mission actors for justice. And doug i think that's what you were trying to say earlier. But there's also this it is sometimes and we are most despairing in the face of the world injustice is. That we most need our capacity for kindness. Because when we are overcome with the hills around us and we are not sure that anything we are doing is actually changing it. We need to remember that we are still and always capable. A kindness. Ab doing one good act and starting their. So late last november a blogger named katherine fritz who is from my hometown of philly. Published a posting called. 15 things for when the world is shity and terrifying. How many of you saw that. Some of you. And i debated on the language of the posting but we went with it anyway. Cuz it seemed right. So her words at the time ministered to me. And i think speak of this kind of grace. She writes. Laquan mcdonald. Was 17. And murdered by a police officer. In cold blood. And i watched a video of his murder. Along with most of america. Right in between between reading about how americans are terrified. Of letting in refugees from war-torn syria. And then reading about how a man with a rifle open fire at a planned parenthood in colorado yesterday. And i can't think of anything else to say that hasn't been said about how horrible. An awful and bleak these things are. So instead here are 15 things you can do. To make your world just the tiniest best bit. Less terrible. So frisco's on to list her things and summer random and some are purposeful. Then she concludes her posting this way. Acknowledge that you're probably just going to close this browser tab. Without actually doing any of these things. I get it i probably won't either. Except that there are tons of incredibly easy ways to make the world a slightly less shity place for everyone. And that you probably won't do any of them. Or at least not many of them. And while it's not ideal. That doesn't make you a terrible person. It just makes you human. But then. Take a deep breath. Of gratitude. For the people who are out there. Doing their part to make the world a better place. And then. Challenge yourself. To be that person. In whatever small way you can manage right now. Something opens our wings. Something makes hurt disappear. Someone fills the cup in front of us. May we be agents of grace. May we be that someone may we be that person. When the wine bottle spilled. When the subway grinds to a halt. When our new friend is struggling. When the world calls to us to act together on its behalf. May we be. Disposed to kindness. So may it be. I'm in.

uusociety_org

2011-12-18-2Sermon%20Conrad.mp3

When steven first asked me to speak today about what i believed i was panic-stricken. Good grief. What do i believe and where did it come from. I've been reading a book of poems by one of our past national laureate. Stanley kunitz who happened to grow up in worcester massachusetts where i spent most of my childhood. He writes in the first lined with lines of a poem title. The layers. I've walked through many lives some of them my own. And i am not who i was. Do some principle of being abides. From which i struggle not to stray. It's some principle of being. Like unit says some inner compass. This help me god my life. My formal religious training with minimal when i was a child and young adult my father was a southern methodist by birth but not by practice. The observe the sabbath by reading a detective novel in bed. In his opinion most preachers were hypocrites and charlatan. On the other hand. My mother was a true student of christian science. Who believed i should have at least some experience with a religious education. So i was hustled off to sunday school each week until my late teens. I spent most of sunday school dreaming about the boys in the older classes mesmerized by the large shiny jewelry worn by my sunday school teacher and being completely befuddled by what i was hearing. When i was brave enough to ask a question i had no idea what the answer met. But now looking back. 60 years it was an atmosphere of loving-kindness in that church. Everyone meant so well. I realized in that long-ago christian science sunday school we were trying to talk. About platonic ideals. Ideals at work all god. And the power of those ideas to make us good people if we lived up to them. In some ways that's not too far removed. From the seven principles i try to follow now however imperfectly. Isn't only timid child a very reserved parents i was the quintessential quintessential goody-goody. My folks were both good loving hardworking people who didn't have much formal education but we're highly intelligent and resourceful. Our household was patriotic with my father generally making the important decisions. Although my mother knew how to exercise her power by controlling the purse strings. She was a thrifty new englander who kept a strict budget. Made many of our clothes and kept a very orally household. As a child and young person i spent much time alone. I had some close girlfriends but was terrified of boys my own age. They were strange creatures. But either seem frightening lee aggressive or timid. Like me. We had a neighborhood posse. A kids who are younger than i being older i could borrow some all around. So when we played cowboys and indians i could choose who i wanted to be. I remember i had a wonderful cap gun that i love to shoot. At some point i decided i wanted to be a crusading newspaper reporter when i grow up. With the encouragement of a kind teacher my parents agreed i should go to college. Now neither of them had had that benefit and i blessed them now that they had the faith that i could succeed away from home and away from them. In my in april of my freshman year at boston university my father died of a heart attack at work. The person who always knew what i should do with gone. My father was not a believer in life insurance but somehow we piece together the next year's tuition. Off again i went to boston university but this time knowing i did not want a career in journalism. I had become enamored of existentialism james joyce and ts eliot. During his personal dark time formal religion was totally uninteresting. What's amy was a community of women who helped me get a job at the bu bookstore. Gave me a sense of belonging and recognize my latent leadership abilities. It was now the mid-60s. I had missed the youthful social rebellion of the time. In fact was almost totally oblivious to it. But kennedy's charge to use. Make not what your country can do for you but think what you can do for your country. Challenged me to practice the idealism. Unconsciously born in christian science sunday school. And reinforced by the way my mother lived her life. I began to volunteer at an adult literacy program in the basement of the arlington street unitarian church. I knew nothing about unitarian universalism and cared less. But helping adults learn to read was thrilling. It was putting love into action. Our students reveal their vulnerability and gave us the chance to learn together. Those were precious gifts. I could never repay. Our students were some of the best teachers i ever had. Babe i'm at 5 was teaching at arlington street. He was involved in volunteer work to. And was a graduate student education. Day was the first man i met who could carry on an intelligent conversation about something other than himself. He taught me to take life less seriously. To trust that he wasn't going to disappear. And to have a loving and mutually satisfying relationship. He's been my teacher soulmate and best friend for almost 45 years. In the space of three years we married both finished graduate school move to burlington and gave birth to our only child susan. Is susan grew older. We felt she should have a sunday school experience to help reinforce our values as a family. A close burlington neighbor with evelyn carter. A longtime member of this society. Noticing dave activism in the in the community every recruited him. Four-chair of the social action committee but there was a cat. To be a chair dave had to be a member of a church dave joined and i did not. Maintaining my inherited prejudice against organized religion. But as a regular attendee i became involved in the work of the congregation. In the mid-seventies we lived in rural japan for three months at a christian missionary college. Susan went to kindergarten there. Where she was the only english-speaking five-year-old. All three of us made when many wonderful japanese friends. As part of our time there we went as a family to the peace park at hiroshima. And all three of us were powerfully affected by that experience. Susan saw the bodies of children her own age devastated by that horrible bombing. Her questions were on answerable. All we could say was that his loving parents we would commit our lives. It working against violence in all forms. All three of us. Have continued this work for many years. In the early 1980s greatly helped by family and friends i want to see in the vermont legislature. Answer for 8 years in the vermont state senate. A life choice my father never ever would have foreseen for being his wildest imagination. Opportunities for acting with justice equity and compassion cropped up bailey. Often the right decision was not the easiest decision. After susan was ordained as a uu minister in 2005 it was time to accept responsibility for my own spirituality. I realize that unitarian-universalism with not for the faint-hearted. For me to be a you you meant i had to combine thought and action. I had to be on a spiritual path consciously mindful of working toward living a meaningful life. Central to meaning for me is trying to make the world a little better in some small way. The question is how to do that in my last decades. I want to nurture my two beloved communities. This first uu of burlington in the wakerobin living community. I want to practice thinking optimistically about people and situations so i can bring my best self to challenging experiences. I want to help others be their best selves to. I want to order the creative process so i can celebrate. Those rare moments of solitude when a painting seems to be painting itself. Without benefit of my ego. I want honor the odd that is part of the natural world. And i want to remember to be grateful every day for it's continually unfolding beauty. I want to be more effective. I putting love into action by speaking my mind with 4th. Pampered by sensitivity now when nature and humanity need to be defended. I want to continue to get to that place of stillness. Vet centers in guide me guides me. And i'm determined not to be a crappy old lady i know myself and others are continually learning and changing. Thank you.

uusociety_org

2013-1-03-2Sermon.mp3

I'm very happy to have been invited back. Mara is enjoying. A little rested vacation. And when i was asked to. Hours for the title of this. Reflection. I let the memory of what. Jeff trumbauer said to me. When he was on my ministry committee. But something about. I thought i should just call it the kitchen sink. Because he said you just throw everything in. And as i read it over i told my it is the kitchen sink so i took your name in vain in the first service def so i thought i'd better come clean. I'm recently a niece of mine. Told me how deflated she felt when she last visited her mother. After a very long flight that you taken with very little sleep having been up half the night. On duty before. One of the first things her mother said to her. After she came into the door was. Did she had an appointment at the beauty salon for her to have her haircut. And my my niece said that she had just she felt really terrible because she had just had her haircut and was feeling kind of good about herself. Where she was in her life at cetera. But she got in this disabling message from her mother. And her confidence just dissolved into tears when she was out of sight. It wasn't hard for me to relate at all. She and i are terribly alike we were we are genetically bonded she even has my name. And her story brought back a bivet memory of how i felt when an older brother accused me. A being a parent. Like the bird. Yeah he told me that. I had an original thought in my head. Did i hit just at that point i just quoted some author who shot-i really resonated with. And i felt pleased to have remembered it. I ended and the source etc. But like my niece i felt totally deflated and insecure. Some years later i saw a full-page ad in a glossy magazine. The ad was sponsored by a very prestigious corporation and it was extolling the ability of a person who could recognize a good idea. In the corporation saw this ability as an asset in the business world and even even part of the creative process. So this really helps to validate and restore my confidence in my parrot self. This is all by way of. Disclosure or by way of a preface just sharing with you and idea that has stayed in with me first moment i read it quite a while ago. By the spiritual author and psychologist. On renewing. I resonate with it because it clarifies the meaning of my own experience. Now on road. Death is the event that gives ultimate meaning to life. Time and again at memorials i find people saying the most profound and inspired things. Especially edifying when young people. Speak about the departed sibling or friend or parent. And they seem to get in touch with the root of their inner wisdom. It's as if grief and the pain of lost reveals what really really matters in life. Love. Friendship and relationship. Recently i dedicated a bench in oak ridge park in burlington to the memory of a young man who died tragically at the age of 26. His family chose the bench is a fitting symbol of the man's love of nature. The location was really spectacular. A place where he and his younger sister and brother frequently visited and often swam. It was clear from the words of his younger siblings spoken with great. Great courage. Call the wild they were choking back their tears. But it was very clear that their brother's death and deepens the meaning of their own lives. The claim that death is the event. They gives ultimate meaning to life is related to another thought with which again i resonate i better be careful there's somebody here. Caught me a poem saying resonate once too often. But she's not here today so i know where she sit but i have to say this idea once again rings very true for me. Thesaurus is john dewey. The great american philosopher and pragmatist. Some call this a dvd revolutionized our educational system. And his home of course as many of you know it's designated as a historical site in burlington and his ashes are buried to the north of. Ira allen chapel. Dewey road. That quote meaning emerges from experience. As much as i resonate with these words i am challenged by them. I find that experience doesn't always divulge meaning quite so easily. It takes paying attention to our experience. Which those schooled in the spiritual life say is the ultimate spiritual discipline. That that is paying attention meaning time spent in reflection. Study reading. And that that weird meditation always scares me because i think it's so stuck. I'm not good at it. But i think that we really have to know that meditation takes a different form and every single one of us. It's somewhat analogous to childbirth. A comparison to socrates introduced likening the role of the teacher to that of a midwife. Assisting in the often strenuous birth. What ideas. Simone bile the french philosopher and jewish mystic said that the whole purpose of education is learning to pay attention. Imagine. The bridge is another event that gives meaning to life. It seems. As if we're becoming in our society and our culture more evolved and enlightened with regard to these two pivotal events birth and life. Our culture is moving toward reclaiming death. Convert. Steven kiernan who's no stranger to our society has spoken from this pulpit. And you wrote a book a few years ago by the title last rites that's. Not rites but rights. And the subtitle was rescuing the end-of-life from the medical system. And if he compares the experience of his father's death tooth out of his mother's. At the end his father's life was painfully extended by the medical system. In real contrast his mother refused all extraordinary means and she died peacefully. Certainly the hospice movement has contributed mightily to this rescue operation. It doesn't see death is an emergency he is simply sees it as part of life. I do see a disappointing difference in the preparation for birth and death it it's it's as if death doesn't hasn't really caught up. The preparation available to expectant mothers makes childbirth less fearful than it was in the past. There. Told you pacifically exercise and also meditative practices are recommended to women. And i actually my own daughter-in-law my son and daughter-in-law. California had a place where they went called the sanctuary and it was meeting for expectant mothers. By learning to focus their attention women are ideally made more able to deal with the inevitable pain and thus avoid being sedated. During her pregnancy my daughter-in-law walked 5 miles a day. Everyday back and forth to work. This practice i know had to contribute to her positive birth experience which was in the company of a sikh sikh asik midwife. And also of course her for husband. Unfortunately. I don't see all that preparation for the end of life is as developed. And i sometimes wonder am i am i being utopia. Envisioning a future in which people might be relieved of the fear of death. I'm afraid our culture is a little help in this regard i think it compounds the fear of death. Some years ago william a flinch describe the attitude of this culture and i've said it before in this pulpit so forgive me for repeating myself but he wrote a seminal article called the ponography of death. It is thesis was just that as inhibitory and age the reality of sex was covered up. In a similar way our culture covers up the reality of death. Was somewhat the same consequences. Whenever we attempt. Has he explained to cover up part of reality it manages to rear reappear emerge and kind of awkward and broke ask forms. In our media in all through literature and art and also drama of course and film. A short time ago. A couple living in retirement community shared with me they're very real concern about the way in which the end-of-life was almost a taboo subject. Even a program dealing with the issue was not appreciated in their place. At this point. You're probably more likely to be in sympathy with those persons would be just as happy to ignore the whole subject. How often we hear others and have said ourselves myself included we wish the end would come in the form of a big truck. Or even even a small asteroid with a direct hit. Who wants to deal. Much less welcomed the inevitable diminishment that comes with age. Who wants to be a burden to their loved ones. My mother would frequently put little prayers under her statue and this this was under a statue of the blessed mother. I said please don't let me be a burden to my children. And she never was she died in her sleep. Happy to be on her way as she told me it's a day and a half ago. I mean a day a half. Before she died. I'm sure she's happy remember but that was 40 years ago before people stop smoking. And there and she was a lifelong smoker. And there were very far fewer elderly people at that time just at the beginning of last month. A headline caught my eye in the burlington free press. Quote. Study. Colon. World's not ready to support. Beijing population. Unfold. And i thought not unlike my mother. I don't want to be a burden to the world. I think it's so much easier to see birth and death as events that give meaning to life. But how do we find meaning in the process of aging. For diminishment. As the prince judgement paleontologist ar de jardin. Describes it. Diminishment. Last year i heard an interview on npr with a scientist by the name of xavier left sean and i here i have to rethink pam mcpherson for introducing me to this program i'm totally addicted to it. 7 on. Sunday morning and now. Now it's on monday and wednesday 2. But anyway this woman is admitted with krista tippett is amazing interviewer. I have to laugh only because my husband couldn't stand the sound of her voice. And then i'd get to hear it secondhand. But anyways i have it on two different radios in the morning or not. But she interviews everybody from the dalai lama to the indigo girls wonderful spectrum. And this particular interview. Focused on fragility and the evolution of our humanity. The pichon was ingenious and he really inspired in the meaning that he found in the aging process. Xavier location is one of the leading geophysicist in the field of plate tectonics. He helped create the field he was the first to build a model of moving plates. In pursuit of his research you do vanda submersible. 3000 m in the middle of the ocean. And there he encountered complete darkness likening the experience to being at the beginning of creation. 1973. Experienced a major crisis. At 36 years of age. You'd become so immersed in his work and his research that he lost touch. With the other. He was not seeing or able to connect with the other this is he married with a family. Consequently. He resigned from science. And went to calcutta. While working with mother teresa he had an epiphany. It came while he was. Caring for a child was dying. Dying of starvation. And in the moment he and the child became one. The scientist felt a deep empathy with the starving child. He spoke about how in the past science had focused on physical evolution rather than psychological evolution. Spoke on behalf of needing to evolve in this area. Lucky sean said. By letting oneself be immersed in the suffering of the other our heart gets educated. We become and pathetic when we enter into communion with our neighbor. He sees our humanity as a potentiality that we need to develop has to be constructive. The pichon science undergirds his spiritual thinking. In studying the way that played separate and crack. A process that surfaces nutrients. This. Cease how weakness in part of our system. That is a lie system is alive and weaknesses built into it. This weakness parallels the fragility of human life. When xavier returned to france and happily to his science. He and his family moved into a large community. And that's one in which dedicated people are inspired to live in community with the mentally and physically naturally. In physically disabled. And in the process i emphasize i emphasize i do. But this these large communities are not just in europe they're also in the united states actually revisited one in albany. Unusual people. But in the process. Does caretakers learn to embrace their own limitations and their own vulnerability. And they can also they growing self-knowledge. And he makes a strong and really beautiful comparison. Between the way in which a newborn. Is ultimately. The boss in the home. By virtue we we just witness it. By virtue of their own weakness and vulnerability they become the center of attention. And likewise likewise he says. Andy bach society the most vulnerable and disabled. Rather than being marginalized will become the focus. Of those who care. Quoted as saying of the 14th century mystic meister eckhart and i have. Footage. All too often. I sent. As often as i said it i said something was missing. Simply saying and this is what he said. To be able to participate. In the joy of another is heaven. Beautiful. Much as i love the idea it sounded a little thin. In reflecting on fragility and the evolution of our humanity. I feel as if i really have discovered the missing piece. The other side. A necessary underpinning. Maybe maybe we can participate in another's joy. If we are equally ready to bear the burden of the other. According to paul and his epistle to the galatians if we bear the burden of the brethren we fulfill the law. The lock of love. There's another analogy to be made here in what. Has happened in the field of physics. On october 8th. The nobel prize in physics was awarded to 80 year old. Francois englert of belgium. + 80. Together 84-year old peter higgs. A britain. For their siri. On how the most basic building blocks of the universe. Acquire mass. Eventually forming the world as we know it. Pigs together with angler. In teams of thousands of scientists. Solve the riddle of. Why does matter have mass. I never do that as a riddle. I thought. It's got this matter. What are we talkin about. But i wrote it down cuz i said that that's amazing why this is a big riddle in physics. Why. And i'm sure this. Physicist here knew it inside out. But it's intriguing why does matter have mass. They discovered. Dogs research. The sub-atomic. Party. The acts like molasses. Causing the other building blocks of nature to stick together. Slow down to form atoms. In the press. Burlington free press. This subatomic particle has been heralded as the god particle you seen it on the front of time magazine. This phrase was coined by another nobel laureate lee on letterman. Other physicists of course they exist in the phrase and they just liked it because it implied the supernatural. Later. Letterman leon betterman said. It's a phrase. Was mostly used by laymen. As a way of explaining the siri but what he really meant to convey. When he said that he felt it was the goddamn particle. And that's because it proved so elusive. It was so elusive. Finding. Funny that particle required. Thousands of scientists. Mountains of data this is truth from trillion. Acolyting. Proton. In the world's biggest. Atomic. I'm tempted to making another analogy. Likening. The idea of meister eckhart. To mater. That needed the goddamn elusive particle. Empathy. To provide mass. And the fattens up my meister eckhart. Quote. So we could further think of empathy. As the divine spark. That needs to be fanned. Buy any bulb. Humanity. So that once we're truly evolve. We may look forward to the day. And there'll be a nobel prize awarded for empathy. Nikki cell.

uusociety_org

2010-03-07-2%20Sermon.mp3

Today i want to talk about. Joshua young one of the ministers that this congregation. What i have to say today mostly repeat what i said here in 90 1890s 1981 when i served as your minister here with net10 1981. And i welcome the opportunity say most of it again. Partly to revive the memories of many of you heard me then and i see many of you here today and because many probably most of you were not here then. Also i welcome this opportunity because i recently heard distortions. What happened to joshua young here. Distortions on vermont public radio and in the burlington free press. His rich old faulty statements were simply repeated. And so i present this not as an exercise in nostalgia nor in an attempt to place. Joshua going on the list of our saints 2. Whom we may offer a litany of unqualified praise. Railroad do this to help make him and our ancestor congregation. More flesh-and-blood to us. And to help us understand the lesson in our history. It is a story that does not reflect altogether favorably on this congregation. Nor on the city of burlington itself. I enjoyed the preparations for this account. I dug into the old records of our congregation and its books. And i must back my late wife dory for some research she did today in the university of vermont library. I also need to thank everyone in carter junior who were suffering super superintendent of the historic site. John brown's farm in north elba new york. For materials he furnished. First. Sabri fire graphical notes to set the stage. Joshua john was born in pittston maine. September 29th 1823. And incidentally i discovered that both of dayton place they've been misreported and various accounts and i rely upon the best authority. Which is the handwriting of joshua going himself in our church records. He was the youngest child. Of 11 children. The family moved to bangor. When he was four years old and he grew up in bangor until he went to bowdoin college. From richard graduated 1845. From bowdoin he went to harvard divinity school in cambridge massachusetts is other people we know have. Where he graduated in 1848. His first ministry was at the north church on hanover street in boston from 1849 to 1852. The later in the same month in 1849. But he began his first ministry he married mary plimpton. Daughter of sylvanus plympton a prominent position of cambridge and they were later to have for children. In 1852 joshua young was called here to be minister to this congregation. Any stranger for 10 years until his resignation became effective in march of 1863. Please note the date of the resignation. March 18th 63. From burlington he went back to massachusetts and the remainder of his ministries were in massachusetts. Five years in hingham. 5 years in fall river. 27 years in groton. The last two years of his life were spent living in winchester. Freddy died in 1904 at the age of 80. 1890 he received the honorary doctor of divinity degree from boonton. It has been noted that except in the matter of dr. young's involvement in the anti-slavery cause. Especially the events leading. Relating to use involvement here in burlington. Around the anti-slavery issue. Nothing of that appears to have been anything particularly dramatic or unusual about joshua jones life. He apparently lived a life characteristic of this time for unitarian minister in new england. But it is the anti-slavery issue which made young a controversial figure in burlington. That is that issue which i now turn was still a student at harvard divinity school. Young ed becoming abolitionist. Interspersed ministry in boston. He made his house on unity street a station on the underground railroad. Which help runaway slaves escape north to canada. And indeed it may well be the part of its interest in coming to burlington. Was the fact that burlington was the major point on the underground railroad. When was the last before the canadian border. We do know that after y'all moved here in 1852. He did join others in hiding runaway slaves as part of the underground railroad. It has been estimated at. The runaway slaves came to burlington at the average rate of one or two per week. Although there were times when the frequency was much higher. Joshua and mary young did not keep the runaways in our house at the corner of willard and college streets. Probably because it was too dangerous. But they did hide them in their barn. There were slave hunters in burlington and secrecy was critical. Young spoke out against slavery. Strongly from his pulpit. And that romanian are there were some at least in our congregation who did not appreciate this message. Many people today do not realize that even though abolition. What's supported by many in new england. Including this area. There were also many in new england and in burlington to oppose evolution. If some of them were in this congregation. It was not in the economic interests of those who derive their livelihood directly or indirectly from cotton mills. To do anything which might jeopardize the availability of cheap cotton for the mills. Also many were more afraid of a social upheaval. Evolution might cause then they were concerned about the social evil of slavery. We have seen and still see similar reactions regarding. The civil and economic rights and liberties. A black. Women. Gays and lesbians. It was widely thought the most of joshua young's problems stem from his attendance at the burial service of john brown. It 1858. And i will come to that in a moment. Our church records do show that he had had troubles here before that took place. In a letter to this congregation dated november 28th 1858 note that date november 18th 58. Young submitted his resignation as minister here let me redo that letter. My dear sirs incidentally of course. All the voting members were men at that time. Hear this congregation. My dear sirs the condition of our society has for a long time. Wayne of the heavy anxiety on my mind. It is not necessary that i should mention the causes of this anxiety. Or enter into any examination of the state of the case. They cannot make one hair white or black. Nor alter the record of duty's done or emitted by either party. Ignorant i cannot be. What does circumstances adverse to me which are giving us trouble in the past. Which bird in the presents and darken the prospects of the future. And therefore all the willing myself to suffer opposition for the truth sake. For sure with the society yes every trial is scheduled to do its will to the best of my ability. I am persuaded for the reasons that i have but glanced at. The tender the resignation of my ministry. To the parish. To take effect on the 3rd sunday the 19th of december. That was 1858. The sixth anniversary of my settlement. I do sorry supposed to carry relief to the mind of the parish. The break suspense to give my friends exemption from alfeld obligations to me. And freedom to the society to do a respect of any of any more personal consideration. What bulbasaur disinterest a motorcars. I'm liberal christianity in this town. Only one request i have item makes this young. Spirit of seriousness of a divine wisdom. A christian charity may harmonize aldous chords. That meno misguided friend of mine. Profane the sacred convictions which i believed to have actuated both my actions and my speech in my ministerial relation. Volume dosing in one unkind word. Or another. 41 contrary feeling. Be at peace be united. I am happy you said to believe that our party will not be without mutual pain. Surely it will be hard for one to leave these beautiful scenes of nature. And many a true and faithful heart. Here even to go back to older friends until the spot hello to me by all that is injuring an early association i guess he couldn't wait to get back to massachusetts anyway but the world is wide. God over us coming before us and our dear hopeful joyous faith. This more than any personal interest in the spirit of our religion. This submission and self-sacrifice. Question to you gentlemen of the committee. The assurance of my warmest team. And through you to all my dear parishioners the love and best wishes of their friend ever and for a little time longer. Their affection pastor joshua yarn. Now in response to that resignation is special congregational meeting was called on december 11th 1858. The resolution was proposed. Which requested going to withdraw his resignation and remain as minister. Let me know where you from the minutes of that meeting. Best rewetting sudan the discussion of that proposed resolutions these are all men of course. Mr western them supported the resolution it says. Byron martin favorite mr. young as preacher and pastor taking the majority of the society would be better united on him. Go to try another minister. I was followed by mr. charles adams as in favor of retaining mr. young. Mr. henry loomis then requested that any member of the society. The new the state of feeling of those that had left us. Would inform the meeting what course that portion of our former members would take it. If mr. young went or stayed i called upon mr. and parker for information. Mister parker stated then that he had conversed with some two or three of that portion of the society there's the ones that bugged out. And that they seem disposed to return under mr. young or any other man provided. Purchase could be made that in future there should be no political preaching or another words no sermons on slavery. Delivered from the pulpit. This was received in most merited silence. No person feelings are supposed to discuss her entertained such a proposition. The minutes go on with one criticism express that yelling had not attended the convention which he and others until for kanai's that was actually bigelow who was. Persons in the congregation. Apparently going to back off from the rutland convention. When others were included in the program they're that young get on wish they had his name associated with actually done his name was on the program because he was through it too late to have a taken off but he didn't. Vanity that was a wise decision of young since that rutland convention. At the end of june 1858. Included only a few appalachian to speakers which is why he would have gone. The number to other supporting free-love spiritualism anti-religion and radical feminism that it was radical 4004 that time. Dorchester grandma to choose whether to have a baby or not and all that anyway others others defended young was strong statements of support. The resolution asking him to withdraw his resignation test. 502 42:3 and young remainders minister. I was thinking 58 he was less than a year later. Was john brown's body to place. Is there like relying on the account that joshua young himself wrote about the event. An account written just before young died in 1904 beverly this is much later he wasn't much later, before you died. Youngster under similar to. Speaking. About himself in the third person to understand birth to 1859 john brown was hanged in virginia. Force construction at harpers ferry. A template for small band to obtain a military arms there in support of the radical abolitionist cause. On wednesday december 7th. 59. Lucius ibig along with this congregation a strong abolitionist. Inform joshua jogging the brown's body was being brought back for burial. That is homestead in north elba new york. And by the way if any of you. Have not yet visited brown's farm. Which was just outside the town of lake placid i heard you to make that pilgrimage to his house and grave. Anyway. Duncan children's bigelow told young the thrones body was being brought up through through vermont. That would be taken across lake champlain at virgins. It's a nor'easter storm had already begun and on their arrival at virginia's they learned the funeral entourage. Good already passed through and across the lake the prior evening. Young & bigelow hired a driver who took down the six miles to the ferry and panton. Because of the lateness of the hour. Authority of the store. The ferryman who ever refused to take them across the lake to barbers point. He also was not at all sympathetic to brown's cars. For 3 hours doing and piccolo pleaded with the ferryman to take them across. Suddenly the storm cleared in the clouds broke. No young continuous is a cow. At this point over to the ferryman. Can you explain this the stars in their courses split against cicero. Seamaster ferryman gospel or blue moon estimate of bridge of silver across the lake. He probably just go and who shall hinder. Remember those words were recorded by youngstown 45 years after the event. There's the possibility that they were somewhat embellished in the other room i have some suspicions brother the ferryman had any idea where the biblical sisera was about at any rate the ferryman den relented and agreed to take some across whether it was because of those dramatic words. The breaking of a storm or the three hours with bigelow and ian were enough for him. It had begun to freeze. And it was a drenching 3-mile fairy with a frozen sale on the masked this is december now. They arrived on the new york shore after midnight knocked at a house where they saw a light and were able to persuade the man inside to drive them to elizabethtown. Were they change horses at 2 in the morning. Then on thursday december 8th. They rode through the through the valley of keene and arrived at daybreak at brown's house in north elba. Really arrived they discovered the gun was the only clergyman present this is for the funeral. Wendell phillips the famous boston abolitionist. What's mary with others. And on behalf of mrs. brown and the other families would lost men at harpers ferry. He invited young to conduct the funeral service. The funeral was that very afternoon i want to. Young conductor the service and the committal which followed it immediately in the ground next to the house. Weather craves remain to this day. The major part of the funeral was the address given by wendell phillips which is actually quite lengthy. It was all over by 3 and yelling and bigelow left immediately for to return home where they arrived the next day. That next sunday. Young precure. On a femur later to let it happen. Sirius description later. Of what took place. A remark pieces. Of the sunday service the appearance of the congregation. Many new faces. Seldom or never seen her before. Very familiar once conspicuous by their absence and in the atmosphere a certain unmistakable indication that things were different. The next day i learned he says what it happened. 6 of the wealthiest families of my parish had taken an oath. How's it going over to a neighboring church. Others not a few of the class to follow in the train of the rich. We're equally disaffected. Also i see arrows in public rebuke began to fly. On the street i observed pcs in old friends seeing they coming suddenly remembered that they had forgotten something and turned back. Or crossing-over passed by on the other side. When the next issue of the burlington sentinel appeared the pro-slavery sheet. It opened batteries upon me with a full broadside. Every woman stepped in to serve with the guns. And their shots were sharper than the men's. My motives. My wife ames. My principles were made. The target of insinuation. Misrepresentation ridicule and abuse. I was called all manner of names. I was an anarchist. A traitor to my country. I was an infidel. A blasphemer. Pedophile associate of garrison and phillips. Going to the burial of john brown i left a respected and beloved pastor. I returned. Define myself in disgrace. An exile in the place of my residence and little better. Going to social outcast. Honorable men underwear who suggested. Thought it would be a spectacle not for tears. To see me dangling at the end of a rope from the highest tree on the common. Swinging and twisting in the wind. But. Young continue to hang on so we continue to hang out as minister here even though its effectiveness was impaired. The initiative which resulted in his leaving came out from him but from the congregation almost three-and-a-half years after his return from north elba. The university of vermont library contains the menace of an informal meeting as it was called. Of this society. Cold weather cork on april 22nd 1862. Got that meeting attended by 35 men men of course only. At the time permitted and some discussion after some discussion of ballot was taken. 21 voted that they were not content with mr. young. And that he should resign. Well eight motor did they were content with mr. young. The meeting appointed a committee of three. To wait upon mr. going and inform him of the vote of the meeting. But he might take such action as he deems proper. Well the actually mr. young apparently the improper was just submit his letter of resignation. This is the second one now course. Richard read from the pope on april 27th 1862. The congregational meeting was called to consider the resignation at which objections were made as they said. To what they called the spirit and correctness of statements. In the letter. And it was decided to appoint a committee which. Wasn't there words to confer with mr. young with reference to procuring such a modification. Call the physiology of his letter of resignation that shall relieve it from objection in regard to the terms and puts his expressed. Don't agree the modifiers. Treasure quest. And he agreed to resign at the end of the fiscal year which was not until the following march of 1863. 10 months later. Unless you the church agreed on an earlier date. The records do not indicate anything that would contradict that he did indeed remain here. Westminster until march 1863. No i did not come across the original letter resignation in my research that is the letter which done took back. But the second letter which was accepted in the university of vermont library. It is not in joshua young's handwriting. Except for the words at the end very affectionately yours. Heather signature. Your handwriting is distinctly feminine. But i suspected is that a merry clinton young. After his signature. Younghitz crippled. Burlington april 27th 1862. Which is the date of his reading of his original letter which you took back. And the back dating shows that what you substitute for the earlier objection of a letter. More important are these words in the letter itself. You should all rejoice that no braver charges made against me. Does that i have pushed the principles of general justice and benevolence too far. Farther than a cautious. Policy would warrant and far further than the feelings of some could go along with me. Every action that which might happen through life in pain and sorrow and depression and distress. I will call to mind is this accusation and be comforted. Season ends with these rather unforgiving words of forgiveness god forgive the irving. And may the light of his countenance guide are dividing ways to meet again in heaven. Joshua young left us in march of 1863 and we are left with the question of conk understand what happened. What happened in order. They're in order for us to get a better perspective on our own history and if we ordered. In order to guard against falling into the same error again. Should another joshua going come among us. But when i first began to look at of the question of joshua young i thought i would find a rather clear case. Another minister having to suffer at the hands of the congregation. Which did not want to hear the words of a true prophet. Crying out against the major evil of his time. Most of what i have said today is compatible. We're such a picture of joshua young. Yes i got further and further into the subject. Possibility began to emerge that there might. Do some other factors present. Which cast at least the shadow of a doubt that the matter of joshua young was quite that simple. Let me hear summarize what i found it be clearer if i found a betta not so clear. Just clear. The post before-and-after joshua young change of burlington he was a strong anti-slavery activists. Already preached against slavery from the pulpit of this church. To the discomfort of some. Is clear. So young went to north elba. I conducted the funeral of committal services for john brown. I got upon his return he suffered some social ostracism. Heavy objects consist of the members of his congregation. It is also clear it over three years after he had returned from north elba he was forced to resign. There's also clear. But you're so young himself. Then and for the remainder of his life. Believe that his resignation had been caused by his conduct of john brown services. And that he had been martyred. But brewington and buy this congregation and then the cause of anti-slavery. There's also clear. But that is the conventional and generally accepted understanding today of what happened. But. Although it is clear the guns anti-slavery and participation in north elba elements. In this congregation is just out of specks in with him. It is not clear to me at least. Brothers that were other factors also present. In march of 1902 on the retirement of joshua young from the active ministry in groton massachusetts the burlington free press ran an editorial which considered his unhappy experience in burlington. That editorial denied the duncan panache corsage that ultimately forced to resign. Because it was anti-slavery agitation. Decoding a strip to north elba. Triple h metcalf then the minister of this congregation. Took exception to that editorial. I brought a letter to the editor of the free press. Did ritchie state of the defense of joshua young. Fighting the facts i've already given today. And here was the response which the free press editor gave immediately below. Very pretty mr. metcalf sweater. Our friend mr. metcalf muscle loss. With all respect and kindly feeling toward himself. Disable or information as to what took place in the matter referred to. So far as our community was concerned is it firsthand. Focus is that second hand. We have been aware. That it was mr. young siri. But he was a martyr to his anti-slavery principles. And that the discovery that his resignation of his pulpit here. Was caused by his devotion to those principles. Does illustrated in his officiating at john brown's funeral. But discovering not promulgated until a good while after the event. That discovered have been growing on him in later years. But we think she exaggerated the case in that particular. The word we are not mistaken. Other causes of friction between him and a portion of his church. I just passed right here might not have. Lasted longer than a dead if he had never gone to north elba. That is the point which need not be discussed at this late date. We are regarding the matter solely with reference to its building on the good name of this community. Social ostracism is defined to be banishment and good society. Mr. john says the editor was never so banished for any cause certainly not for the cause mentioned. He did not monopolize the anti-slavery sentiment of his community. Did washington prevailing sentiment. Several families left his church doing after john brown's funeral. But some of them may have been seeking an occasion to leave before that event. The other says the majority in this community that strongly sympathize with john brown in his effort to make kansas a free state. And though they regard his weight as a rash and misguided effort. Fish are just at florence slavery. And honored him for his self-sacrifice in the cause of human liberty. Before mr.gun resign. He said the old prejudice against abolitionist had for the most part going up. In the smoke of a great war. Pictures of sorting the heart. Stolen strengths about people. The first rosters together that's just not altogether complementary to mr. ian. You're supposed he held onto his pulpit here for three years after he had been expelled from good society. Any rated come so near to take a slander upon the good name of this community. And it's so far from the truth. To say that he was banished from good society here. Because he performed the part of the christian minister at the graveside of a martyr and the cause of human freedom. If we are not disposed to let the statement go unquestioned. So that's what the editor says. Show us will have to close leaving part of the issue and doubt. You have heard the evidence and you will have to be your own tree. Clearly joshua young suffered to some extent because it was anti-slavery sentiments. The weather there were other factors which led to his resignation we do not know and perhaps never will know. It was a matter of dispute in 1902. 40 years after the event. And today almost 150 years after the event we are no closer to the truth. I left for the revolution has uncovered we can go no further. The minds of a number of members of this congregation. Trains for being supportive of joshua young. In his first proposed resignation in 1858. Do being in favor of his leaving. There's nothing of 1862. And that an image. Of the great emotional wave of support of abolition here in the midst of the civil war. Perhaps. A letter in a trunk in one of your attic says the answer. Was joshua young a martyr to the cause. Or was he a minister who failed his congregation or was he both modern and failure.

uusociety_org

2012-10-07-2Sermon.mp3

Perhaps some of you have had this experience. You were talking to a friend or neighbor about something going on here at the meeting house. Your enthusiasm and passion are obvious and they say to you tell me more i've never heard of unitarian universalism. Or they say it sounds great i thought about giving it a try but i've never really understood what you were about. Do you start to tell them about our faith and after a few moments you falter. It's that blank stare. Or the look of utter confusion on your friend's face really hard to set to explain you say apologetically. Perhaps even more of you have had this experience. You're chatting at social hour with someone new in fact this is their first time at a unitarian universalist worship service. They are bubbling with enthusiasm and they say this is just great i wish i had known about this 20 years ago has the church been here long. Why do we have so much trouble talking about our faith. Why is it such a challenge to get our good news out to the world. No part of the problem is our own reticence. An unfounded fear that to share our passion is inevitably to fall into some kind of unwelcome indoctrination or even. Evangelism. If you want to become an evangelist talk to ken swearingen he's putting together a new group of you you evangelist right can. Amen. But even those of you willing to share our good news. Face that further challenge that unitarian-universalism just doesn't fit into 2 digit traditional religious categories. It doesn't tell the way many traditional religions do. The academic discipline of systematic theology teaches that one can approach the study of the world's religions with a template of sorts a set of questions that each religion has an answer for. Kind of a classification system. What is the source of authority for this religion what are the core beliefs and doctrines who's in charge. Unfortunately. Unitarian universalism is difficult to pin hole with this system as i can attest from my own experience of taking systematic theology and seminary. Core beliefs. For most major religions these are found in creadles statement. The shema hear o israel the lord your god the lord is one. The muslim affirmation. There is no god but allah and mohammed is his prophet. Or the nicene creed which many of you still know by heart i believe in god the maker of heaven and earth. So. We have no creed. Strike one in the systematic theology. But we are brave and persistent people so we plow ahead with our explanation and we say we are a non credo faith the beliefs of the people in our pews cover a rich and varied fee logical spectrum. Huh. Are earnest question termite reply. And then there was a source of authority for one's faith. For many it is a book. The torah. Quran the gospel. For many it is a leader deemed worthy of following either because they are blessed with charisma or ordained or otherwise called out as being trustworthy. And powerful. There is we say no one book. We do not have an ordained hierarchy we don't even have a founder. Strike two. But wait. We do have an answer to the question about the source of authority for faith we do. It's not a short answer. Of course. It's a bit of an essay. Is another spectrum. A set of well. From which we draw our religious truth in varying degrees depending on our personal spiritual path. We articulate six sources which represent a rich treasure trove. Of. Resources for our personal religious work and our communal religious worth. This is the first in a series of sermon about those sources of our faith as they are expressed in the statement of principles and purposes which is part of the bylaws of the unitarian universalist association. You have them. Does an insert in your orders service. For the next 6 months. Each of these sources will be the theme of the month. Staff members will be writing our newsletter comes about each of the sources i'll be preaching about them and hopefully all of you will be considering them. Discussing them and getting to know them as they inform your personal religious quest. Just to make it interesting even though there will be one source as the same of the month each month we're not doing them in order. It just. Didn't work out that way when we looked at everything else that was going on each month. But at the end of six months we will have traversed the mall. Now this statement of principles and purposes is not a creed. It's not a creed because noah sent to it is required. For you to call yourself the unitarian universalist. Taken together they are an expression of our historical commitment to freedom of thought and to diversity of leaf. The particular genius of the statement to my mind. What sets us apart. Is it personal individual experience is named as the primary source. What is the source of your faith you are you are. You are. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder. Affirmed in all cultures. Which moves us to a renewal of the spirit. And an openness to the forces that create and uphold life. That's a bit of an essay all by itself isn't it. There are three important pieces of that statement the first is the naming of direct experience as a legitimate source of authority and religion. This is the legacy of our ancestors from the radical reformation. The radical reformers today's baptist and unitarian universalist among others were adamant that religion is something that must be freely chosen by every individual. They advocated as a result of that belief adult baptism. You choose your religion at the age of reason and then. When you was sent to it you were baptized into it. You've heard me say this before especially if you've been to a new uu class this may not sound radical to you. But the implication of adult baptism. Was it a person might choose not to follow the religion of their father. For their king. It was a huge challenge the patriarchy. They might choose a different religious path. So radical and frightening with this idea that many of the practitioners of adult baptism during the reformation were put to death as heretics. And it twisted only the deeply religious would be capable of. These particular folks were not burned at the stake along with their fellow heretics they were drowned in the rivers. In a cruel parody of adult baptism. Even so. The principal of freely and personally chosen religion survived. It more fully flowered in the minds and hearts of the american transcendentalist. Most of whom. Were unitarians. People like. Emerson channing margaret fuller in that vast array of literary lights of the transcendentalist movement. Develop this idea of the possibility or i think for them it was really an obligation. To seek out and counters. With the holy and mysterious. In nature. In conversation with each other. In prayer and meditation. Grow your own soul. They are just their words still living and breathing life into our religious movement today. In fact i chose that phrase about growing the soul from transcendentalist literature to incorporate into the questions about covenant on the index cards. That have been floating around which many if you took home and see you if you have brought back by the way. What promises do you need. In order for this society to be the place where you can safely grow your soul. The language in the question connects us directly to our transcendentalist ancestors. So direct experience is not only the genius of our free faith. Something we appreciate it firm in the present we also recognize it as a privilege. A legacy handed down to us from people who made it their life's work or even died. For it. We receive that inheritance with gratitude. And humility and with a sense of obligation to use that gift that they've given us we do not take it for granted. We do not leave it on the back shelf of the closet gathering dust. We grow our soul throughout our lot. Now the second important message i hearing that for a sources captured in the phrase transcending mystery and wonder. Affirmed in all cultures. Mind you this language. Is not a rejection of the rationale. After all it's one of the principles of our faith is freedom to choose religious beliefs another is the embrace of human reason. In the religious quest. What this statement reminds us is that balance is essential in this as in all human endeavors including. The spiritual. Yes we celebrate the rational mind. And the use of reason and all it brings to our life but we also acknowledge that there is more to human experience than just. Thinking. The left side of the brain. There is feeling and intuition and spirit. This too is the legacy of those transcendentalist. Who believed that the application of their considerable brain power. Would bring them just more than a compendium of verifiable data. The mind. Engaged in the transcendental quest would also bring them to a deeper understanding. Of the human soul. The scientific method seeks to probe the mysteries of the universe in order to find the reliable patterns on which it operates. The transcendentalist message seeks to probe the mysteries of the universe. In order to find what lies beneath every identifiable pattern. If you think about it it sounds a lot like contemporary chaos theory. Sometimes what you find there in the mystery looks an awful lot like chaos. And it reminds us there is something greater than us that transcendence thing whatever you call it. That touches us with awe. And with humility. Furthermore there is in this phrase. The germ of an idea that the dominant contemporary. American cultures way of experiencing life that western left-brained linear way is not the only way. All cultures we are reminded share this human experience of encountering the transcendent. Of being surprised by the complexities of life on earth. All cultures share the experience of mystery and awe. Of yearning to be in communion with something greater than themselves. Experience differently. But still a part of a common human experience. How badly we need that reminder at this time in our history when it is clear that if the earth is to survive we must make more of an effort than ever to understand each other across cultures across religion. Across the globe. How apt that reminder on this columbus day weekend. When columbus arrived on these shores he apparently. Had not had the benefit of any training in multicultural competency. He was a man of his time. He therefore was incapable of seeing. Let alone appreciating the rich religious and cultural diversity driving. Among. The people there he met. Of course greed and lust for power and ownership of new lands and access to resources my also has had something to do with it. But that's sad history. Part of our heritage is the reason. Why martha and i have been talking about this alternative holiday and digital people's indigenous people's day. In sorrow we look back and acknowledge that those people who walk this land when columbus arrived had their own traditions of experiencing transcending mystery and wonder. And being moved. To renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life. And that of course is the last part of this source statement the part that beckons us to our growing edges. Because what we experience. With her own eyes and ears and fingers and minds and hearts. In order for it to be a truly religious experience is must move us. We must be. Changed. If we are not moved by what we see and hear and feel. Then we are in danger. Of being exactly what are foes in the religious and cultural wars over the years have sometimes accused us of. And that is being navel-gazing elite has two or more interested in an academic debate than in the life deeply lived. Now i'm going to poke a bear here. Many of you are very fond. Of the joke that says that if there are two signs and one says heaven in the other one says a debate about having the unitarian universalist would all go to the debate. I think that's a mistake. I think if you were given the option of seeing and experiencing something different. And perhaps deeper than anything you have ever experienced before you should take that option and thence instead of just going to another discussion with the same people that you've been agreeing with and discussing things with your whole adult life. Don't go to the debate next time go to heaven. Thank you. The difficult truth is that the genius of our faith. The centrality of personal experience. It's also what makes it so hard. Because it means that for a true unitarian universalist religion. Is not a spectator sport it's not a debate. It's a life deep lyrics. Deeply and richly lives. In complex relationship with other people living their lives deeply. It is up to you every one of you to live out your faith in your own way. Nobody will tell you. What to do. What to believe. Or how to even do any of it. Let's imagine together what it would mean to allow ourselves to be moved spiritually moved towards a renewal of the spirit and towards those faces forces that create and uphold life. First of all before you can be moved. Buy mystery and wonder. You have to be aware of it. You have to leave time. In your daily life. To pay attention. To look and listen and smell and taste and feel and to respond. That's spiritual practice. Whether it's metang or praying. We're singing. Or walking. We're doing yoga. Some kind of spiritual practice that takes you out. Of the busyness of your mind and into a reflective place. Second. You must be willing to be changed. You must be willing to be transformed catapulted into action stunts. Buy unexpected beauty. Rendered speechless by the enormity of unexpected pain. In short you have to be present to life in all its glory and all its agony. But the ultimate test of your ability and willingness to seek wisdom from this first source. Your own experience of transcending mystery and wonder. Will be in the way you live it out in your lives. Sam keen and his book him to a dancing god. Talks about what people most needed in. At the time he wrote it the second half of the twentieth century but we can update it to the 21st century he said we all need a spiritual bs detector. Something that will tell us what is true and what is not true. And he reminded us that in fact. Jesus had given us in one simple phrase that spiritual bs detector. By their fruits shall you know them. The way people act and live in the world tells you. About their spirit. Insults for each of us then it's up to us. And since for each of you it's up to you i'm going to let each of you in a moment finish this sermon for yourself. I want to invite you now to contemplate in silence. What it means for you to be moved to a renewal of the spirit. How would your life change in the days ahead if you were to allow yourself to encounter mystery. Peel off. To heed the call to work in concert. With the forces that create. And uphold life. Take a moment. Write the final sentences of this sermon. In your own. Minds and hearts. The next time you find yourself trying to share your face with somebody else remember. What you just wrote. Today. Remember that you are the ultimate sources of sorry for your faith. We don't have an authoritative book or a creed. Or priestly class to give credence to our religious lives. All we have is ourselves and each other. And those who chose this path before us and those who will choose this path. After us. So we gather our experiences together and we weave them into our religion. As it is today. And together we pray that our religion will move us to live that speak to my stribley to a hurting world. Assuring all. That the forces that create an upheld life are urgently seeking. To work through us and with us. As indeed they have. In every age. Let that prayer. Biso.

uusociety_org

2016-01-31%2011am%20sermon.mp3

Thank you all for coming. For being here. I don't take it for granted. For taking the time to wonder. According to the english historian thomas carlyle. Wonder is the basis of worship. And worship is all about stopping. And paying attention. To the beauty of creation. And remember that our lives. Re-gift. I love the way annie dillard says it she says that we are here. To abet. Creation. I bet means to encourage. It has all kinds of. Different connotations but. John updike when he was asked. Why are we here not why are we here in a sanctuary. Why are we here it's a wonderful question. And he's he is the author said we are here to give praise. And you can take that whichever way you want. Please one another. Deprez. The source of all being. I think the comedian lily tomlin says it best in one of her routines i don't know how many of you are familiar with lily tomlin. Okay. She's one of my favorites but she recommends that we need to practice. Aerobics. Selling awer aerobics. Just as aerobics is a system of physical conditioning that increases our oxygen consumption as well as are endorphins. Does morphine like little proteins that are found especially in the brain. That's what i'm not. Aerobics is really a system of spiritual conditioning. That increases your sense of wonder and gratitude for what is. On my way to church not as much this morning cuz i had to be here for the night service. But i'm so. Inspired. By the people that i see. Bicycling jogging walking briskly. And they remind me of how important it is to exercise our bodies as well as our spirit. I'm not one for multitasking i think it's a myth. But i think that maybe i'd like to thank the sanctuary of the future might be filled with treadmills. And stationary bicycles for those who. Actually you should know there is a program called soul cycle. How many view soulcycle soul you can google it it's there it's big. It's revolutionized indoor cycling and it's taken the world of fitness by storm. It recommends 45 minutes. on your journey to find your soul. That makes you feel very grateful to be living at a time when dualism. That philosophy that has haunted religion in particular i think for our culture in general for over 2000 years. Because it's we are now this. Dualism is giving away to holistic thinking. The separation between mind and body. Human nature and the natural world are becoming a thing of the past. I like to think of it. As. Putting humpty dumpty back together again. I think it's that revolutionary. Some of you were here the sunday that reverend fellers preached the sermon entitled the lucky people. I'm so glad that i was. And you're going to hear a chunk of it here. The tenant she tells the story of jacob and the angel. That's out of the book of genesis. The story takes place. Twenty years after jacob had run away from his home for fear of his older brother esau and he had very good reason for. Running away. Because he's always in rage. Jacob had tricked him out of his birthright and legacy. And now jacob sent word he saw that he was returning home. And it's on this trip home where he has the famous encounter with the angel. And the passage begins. And jacob was left alone and a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When the man tried to break free. Jacob said. I won't let you go until you bless me. And when the daylight came the bruce continues. The man said. Your name shall no longer be called jacob but israel. For you have striven with god and men and have prevailed. Rabbi wolpe of sinai temple in los angeles interpreted the story for his congregation by saying the most salient aspect of the story of jacob and the angel. Are these four words. Jacob. Wiz mack. Alone. Now is that so. Then who was he wrestling with until dawn. And what blessing was he asking for. According to rabbi volpe. We know the answer. Because we know from our own lives with you whom we struggle. The greatest of all is the struggle we have with ourselves. Is our struggle. It's your love. If you accepted if you're good enough. If you're worthy in spite of the mistakes we make. And the regrets we have. And sometimes we struggle just to get through today. The lead-in tomorrow. Power of this story for jacob and for us. Is it at the end of this long dark night of the soul jacob is different. And here's the thing. He's not different because someone or something happened to make him different. Keith different because he had the possibility within him to be different. But rabbi volpe tells his congregation is it the angel jacob struggle with that night. Was the angel of his better nature. And through that struggle. He receive the blessing of self-transformation. You don't have to be jacob anymore. You struggle. And now you can change. That doesn't mean says the rabbi the bits of jacob won't cling to you. They will. But they are now subsumed into something better something more beautiful. And here i have to. The credit to my son who put me on to the pros home from leonard cohen. Lines from my grandfather's journal. Because. Leonard cohen. Only heard from from before. Acknowledges the transformational power of inner struggle. Protects it from a different way. He writes. Desolation means. No angels to wrestle. Carl jung the psychologist describes these bits of the old you that playing as your shadow. That side of you that just needs to be acknowledged and managed. I'm very grateful to phyllis for introducing us to this inspired interpretation of the story of jacob and the angel. Straight out of the book of genesis. And like phyllis. I became more and more curious to know about who this rabbi david wolpe was. The source of this committee inspired understanding of the biblical story. Ty followed her example and i google the rabbi. And i found copious material about this man who reminded me of other prominent rabbis i've known. Invariably they were. Gifted. Storytellers. I remember particularly during the days we were so excited about interfaith dialogue. And in the sixties we didn't buy it. We'd invite a protestant and we would invite a catheter we would buy a jewish person to talk about their faith we didn't read at that point didn't deal with muslims and hindus. Really come a long way. What was so interesting was that the rabbi story. Always. Totally disarmed. And it was really amazing to see. I never wanted to go up against the rabbi. But i couldn't resist in the. When i was doing my research about rabbi pulpit he headed he had a debate and you pick it up online. With these what we called the new atheists. Upload them sam harris christopher hitchens. And the question was for the debate. Is there an afterlife. Now this sermon would be far too long if i repeated the compelling story that the rabbi told within the context of the debate. So i'll just further. Entice you to learn more. Google the rabbi. But he wrote a famous article. And if they're good quotation of it is why jews should not accept jesus. Whatever george w bush states. Time constraints did not allow me to give an adequate reading of this provocative article. But i really sense that the author would be comfortable with rabbi jesus. A gifted storyteller in his own tradition. Not the jesus defined by the institutional church. As divine. And the only son of god. In the latter half of the twentieth century a very charismatic rabbi came on the scene. And he had a profound impact. What was happening in our country and beyond. To this day his voice resonates theologically. Politically and an ongoing struggle for justice. He's frequently quoted on inspirational cards. For rabbi. Abraham joshua heschel. The practice of wonder. Is a sort of prayer. He writes. To pray is to take notice of the wonder. To regain a sense of the mystery. It animates all beings. I sure came by his prophetic vision in the midst of the holocaust. Descended from a long line of hasidic rabbis. He felt called to connect two worlds. The mystical world of hasidic judaism in the modern world of what he called. Man's search for meaning. Today he would have said men and women search for me. A1938 is a foreign jew. He was expelled from germany and forced to return to warsaw. Fortunately just weeks before the nazi invasion in 1939. He escaped to this country. He taught in a series of jewish and christian seminary. Astro emerge as one of the significant voices of his time. His writings we called christians to their jewish roots and their common fate. He was a passionate champion of interfaith dialogue and cooperation. In the latter 60s. I was very fortunate to be on sabbatical right across the street. Broadway from where heschel was teaching at jewish theological seminary. And i met with him personally to consult on a topic that he encouraged me to explore. Take it was something like this the theological ramifications of the reconstitution of the state of israel i was totally out of my element and sad to say i never did. Life in my own limitations got in the way but it was a wonderful opportunity to meet with this they used to call him an earthy mystic. And that's really what it was. He's wonderful he's well-known for challenging the catholic church to overcome the shameful legacy of anti-semitism. He met with pope john paul. Pope john the twenty-third and paul the six. And ultimately he became an official observer at the second vatican council. And he was really credited with being a strong influence. In the council's historic statement. About the church is kinship. Was judaism. Besides being a forceful religious voice and a very close friend of dr. martin luther king heschel was totally. Immersed in the protest against racism. Who's also like king and early critic of the vietnam war. And he said this. To speak about god and remain silent. On vietnam. Is blasphemous. Explain his engagement and political issues by what he had learned from the process. That morally speaking there is no limit to the concern one must feel for the suffering of human beings. That indifference to evil is worse than evil itself. In a free society. Summer guilty. But all are responsible. I think it's this point. Take a drink likes grabbing maura.. I have to say that it really surprised me how quickly the sermon topic came to mine. Usually i have to. Really stew over it. You sleep. But i have to say no wonder. Because wonder. Is that $0.06 that i my cert myself we need to cultivate. And why do i say this. Because like love. It expands your heart and your soul. Something heschel knew very well. And these are his words. They attached to it. I did not ask for success. I asked for wonder. You gave it to me. I need to call to veit my sense of wonder because ever since i heard the word pusillanimity. I felt it fit me. I related to it as a shadow self. Which which i need to wrestle. Just the way jacob did with his shadow. And what does it mean. You know it means. Small sold. Small-minded. Steve hardin. Pusillanimity. Besides being hard. To pronounce. It can be more easily understood as the opposite of magnanimity. Some years ago my husband bill. How to make. Repeated trips to new york city for medical treatments. And one of these occasions we stayed on the campus of. Marymount college. That's my old stomping grounds. In the motherhouse of my former religious order. Religious of the sacred heart of mary. We couldn't have felt more at home. Step into the elevator we noticed that it had its very own whiteboard. Much like the one we many of us have hanging on our refrigerators. The word for the day on the board was. Pusillanimous. And i thought you know is this a coincidence or is it kind of homecoming. To this community of educators. Stretching minds and hearts. An innocence. I'm thinking our whole lives are in a process of homecoming. Coming home to ourselves. To one another. And of the source of our being. So it's often as we gather in this sanctuary is often as we gather in a community. May we experience.. Sense of belonging. Maybe draw strength for the struggle. And maybe call upon the spirit of wisdom and love. Dispatch our hearts and minds. And may we take time. The wonder.

uusociety_org

2011-01-23-2%20Sermon.mp3

Our responsive reading is number 609. And it is by the sufi the great sufi poets sunday. We're choosing roomy inside these are some of our music and readings because. They are from citizen which is the mystical tradition of islam. So i will read the regular font and we can read the italics together. To worship god is nothing other than to serve the people. It does not need rosary prayer carpets for robes. All people are members of the same body created from one essence. The fake bring suffering to one member. The others cannot stay. As i said to the kids one of the things i love about this tradition is that we get to benefit from the wisdom of all the world traditions. And as a unitarian universalist minister i feel really grateful that i've had an opportunity to myself in these religions and i can say honestly i love them all. There is wisdom begin from each one of them. And today i want to focus on islam. In part because i think islam is one of the most misunderstood and most missiles most maligned. Religions in our world today. We went through the awful experience this fall with the fellow in gainesville florida who had threatened to burn the quran. And they were there so much negativity toward muslims. And i feel that it is our collective responsibility as a religious liberals to learn. About our neighbors including our muslim neighbors. And to be informed. So that when. Negative comments are made about muslims that. You can stand up. And to say that's not my understanding that's not my experience. Because if we don't do it. I feel like it's our responsibility as religious liberals to be. Vehicles of peace in this world. And i want to share with you a little of the story of islam. Muhammad peace be upon him was born. Around 5:17. In arabia. And in that time. There was no law. There was no unifying. Regime that was no unifying religion it was chaos. It was just one tribe fighting another tribe all the tribes fighting each other. Violent incredibly violent time many many widows many orphans. Tremendous suffering a lot of hunger starvation. So much turmoil. This was the environment that he was born into. And he himself was an orphan. But by the time he was six he had lost both of his parents. So he knew what it was to be more july. The only in this chaotic environment the only thing that mattered was the tribe and your membership in that tribe that protected you and that was it. He was very fortunate cuz his uncle took him in. And he was after his parents. he was. Raised by his uncle. But he knew what it was to be on the margins. He was a remarkable person. It was very fair and very wise and people turn to him when they were conflicts. Small conflicts like dates or big conflicts. They turned to him for advice to help them find a way to live in harmony. In the community. And when he was a young man in his twenties he got a job working. With a caravan. Commencement of trading in arabian trade routes he lived in mecca and the trade routes came through mecca. And he was hired by this woman named khadijah. Mohammed himself he was illiterate. Poor. Not a personal prestige at all. But khadijah. His employer this woman she was educated she couldn't reach you could write. Literate she was wealthy she owned this caravan business she hired him and. He did really well as a traitor parton partly his is fairness his personality something about him that. People were comfortable with and attracted to. And he did very well in the business and cathedral notice this very capable employer-employee. And. He caught her eye. And she proposed marriage to him. And muhammad agreed. And they live together for decades many many years. And in this time when he was living in mecca he had the habit of going out into the area around method or many caves. And he would go there to be by himself and meditate and fast and pray. Just a habit he had a way of living. In one time when he was there doing this in the in one of the caves. He was gripped by this power that just squished him and said to him recite. And he was terrified by this. To know what to do. And the power again ripped him and. Assured him and said recite. Any thought i can't recite. I don't know anything. I'm not an educated person who read books and memorize them and can recite them i'm not literally like this. I'm not a reciter. He was terrified he said no no. In the power again gripped him and put pressure on his chest and squished him and said the site. It was twirling and fear in these beautiful gorgeous words. Paint on his mouth. And they were not his own words he didn't know what was going on where these words have come from. Absolutely terrifying experience. And you ran out of the cave and he looked back and there was. Humongous figure there was the angel gabriel. And he ran home and terror. Oransi khadijah shaking. Inside khadija cover man. And he was too afraid to tell her what. And she just tried to soothe him and when he finally calmed down. He told her. What happened. You see he was afraid. He's gone insane. He was afraid he was possessed by an evil spirit that has. These words which were not his own head come through him. Absolutely terrifying. Is oakland a's and listen to what he said and she sent him no. No. She's a very wise woman she said no you're not. Crazy. You haven't lost it. She said this. Words from your unschooled mouth. Will be repeated. For more than a thousand. And those words that was the beginning. Of what we know of today. And over the next 22 years did recitations. Would come through him. I have a copy of the quran here it's a beautiful beautiful book if you've never seen one you're welcome to come up. Afterwards and take a look at gorgeous there 114. Soros or chapters. Truly. Beautiful. And there's another copy here which has the english as well as the arabic. Look up book if you want. Muhammad. Took these teachings then. And he began to share. With the people around him i would walk around ali and other friends and relatives in the circle and they were teachings about justice and compassion and love. And the people around him were very taken by it. And they started saying yeah this makes sense of this crazy insane violent world that we live in. This is a way to livwell. And create a more peaceful world. Until. He became their spiritual leader. And from that. Islam grew. To become what is now the second largest religion in the world. And i want to share with you i feel so fortunate that is a unitarian universalist minister i've been able to study is. And i want to share with you what i love about it. What strikes me most. It's immensely practical. It's not just a theory of theoretical argument of theological argument. Kind of pie-in-the-sky stuff is very practical is about how to live well. And the first thing that strikes me is. That it encourages us to get our priorities straight what really matters. In your life and i want to just pause for a moment. And ask you to reflect on that and answer that quietly for yourself. What's your highest priority what really matters. Is it well. Is it stop. Is it power is it prestige. Self-importance. The friendship is it love. The connection community. Your family what is it that's most important. Of course in islam. The answer is. The source the one. Over and over again in the quran it says look around you at this amazing world the trees the blue sky the snow. The water the river slick. Did you make it. I'm part of this mystery is much bigger than me. But i can't understand. My small ego can't comprehend the bassinet. N2. Remember. The source. Which is not my own little ego. The source which is greater than me. That's what's most important. And the thing is about us humans. Even when we get her priorities straight. What we very quickly do. Will you forget. For brief moment we might have that clarity of this is what matters and then we get caught up in everyday life and all the demands and we forget. Here it is january how many of us made new year's resolutions. How many of us have already broken them. We have those moments of clarity for some of us is new year's day where this is what i'd this is what i need to do and this is what really matters and then we get going into our daily life in our. Clearest resolution. Out the window. So the the clarity about what really matters that's the first pillar of islam. La ilaha illallah. Lalalala lalalala. There is. The source. Muhammadan crossword. So even when we get that clarity about what matters. We lose it. What and what i love about islam is very practical. It says. To keep yourself from losing that clarity when you do get it. And remember. Come back to it. So if you start your day with the clarity this is what i'm going to focus on this is what matters. And if they don't fritter away your whole day and at the end. What was that about. Stopping regular basis and reboot the system. And come back right right right that's what matters that's what i that's what i want to be focusing on. And this this is. The second pillar of islam salat or prayer. Stopping for starting the day with that clarity about what matters is stopping periodically throughout the day. And kind of regrouping and saying okay let me refocus here before i. Do something dumb and waste my energy on silly stuff let me refocus and remember. So i can go through the day. Creating more love and harmony in the world rather than. The opposite. So this is the second pillar of islam salat. Prayer so in islam. A muslim stops five times a day for prayer and what and again what i want about it's very practical so you don't waste your life i'm nonsense. Reboot your system. Regularly. And do it not just in the head. Put in the body and i want to share with you the motions that go with regular prayer. And that's east. Allahu akbar. Can you imagine how limber you'd be. If you did that 17 times a day. Truly good for you. It's good for your back your kidneys. Your muscles. And it's really really good stuff your body is good for your soul. Cuz i i touched my forehead. To the ground. Is the reminder of. The value the beauty of the earth the gift. That the source has given us this beautiful planet. And everyday just touch your head to the earth. Remember i. Me and my big either i didn't make it all. I'm just. A little person on this huge. Beautiful. That is a gift. Four new walk on this. To remember to bring us to that humility. That's a very powerful practice so prayer not just in the head. But in the body. The second pillar of. Billie lovely. What i really love about islam to. Over and over and over in the quran it says be concerned about folks who are less fortunate than you. And again this is really practical. Cuz what happened to the community when you have some people. Who have a lot. In other people who don't have enough. The people who don't have enough. They're going to be suffering they're probably going to get sick. They maybe start hungry starving. If they get sick they are diseases are not going to stay with them it's going to spread the whole community will suffer. And the people who don't have enough. They might steal. Because they're soft. So you create chaos and imbalance in the community when you have people who are greedy we have more than enough in the others who don't have enough. So the teaching is there over and over again be concerned about those left fortunate. I brought up a can with i'll donate you all have a box your food. For those less fortunate than us. I brought this is our visual reminder for us you know when when you go shopping when you go out of the store there's almost always a box there i try to every time i shop. Buy something that i put in that box as a reminder to me. So that that's the third pillar of islam. Charity almsgiving. Being concerned about those less fortunate is it so that's how you create more stability and harmony in the world. By that compassion for everybody. What i really love about islam to. Is it encourages us. The gift stuff. Go without sometime. Most of us have too much. When living in appalachia. We don't even necessarily appreciate what we have because we've got too much of it. It's really really good for us to take a break. To stop doing stuff. The fact this is the fourth pillar of islam fasting. Soda stop. Eating. Drinking. Sex using the computer. Shopping. Whatever we're doing too much of it's really not good for us. And over and over again in the quran it says. Fast. If you only knew how good it is for you. In like with food. If there's no medical reason why you shouldn't fast it's a good thing to do to try. What happens when you fast you clean out your body. Medically it's a really wonderful thing you're healthier. Our body our bodies can deal with all of the stuff we're putting in them. And when we fast we click we clear them out on our body actually works better. And what else happens when we try to fast. What if i can't. What if you can't put down that cup of coffee. What if you can't turn off that. Or stop at shopping. You're addicted. It's got you you don't got it it's got you missing is in control of your life. In his practice of fasting. It helps you see. Who you are and what's going on. And also when you fast. From food sample food. You feel what hunger is like in your body when there's not a steering in the head it's a feeling in the body it's it's a duck. At first. And then when you walk down church street and you see someone begging there. It's hard to walk by and ignore. Because you can empathize you think you feel. That's what's going on here. Practical. Fasting helps us be more compassionate and helps us be healthier people. And that's the the fourth pillar of islam. What i also really love about islam and encourages us not just to take a break from. Food and other. Substances. It encourages us. To take a break from where we live. To go out. To leave what we're comfortable with. And to do so intentionally. How many of you went away for christmas. The holidays. When you go away you come back you see things differently don't you. You got a fresh perspective. It come back and meet you at your home your work your family whatever you see it. With new eyes. It's a very good thing to do. To leave with intention. An islam also teaches us the power of place. The places retain. The impression the energy of what has transpired there before the people who have walked there. I myself have never been to. The holy land was called the holy land jerusalem in that whole area but i understand from people who have that is very powerful to be there you can still feel. The energy the vibration of the gray. Prophets and saints. Who have live there. The words of jesus are still. Reverberating there. And for some people. This is the fifth pillar of islam pilgrimage. Soda travel. Consciously. Away from your usual routine. To a sacred place. For some you use it might be walden times have you ever been there. Powerful play. Can you still feel the rose presents. Bear. I myself am irish i've never been to ireland but i would love to go and walk where my ancestors walked. And feel the presence. The energy of those great celtic teachers. Islam teaches us the power of place. And of course. And islam the pilgrimages to mecca. My muhammad. And that area. And the ghost. To take this trip. Let go of your ego. And your agenda and let yourself be changed by traveling you come back not. Islam teaches. Power. Place. And i love all of this about isla. And i hope. But you can find residences within your own life you probably won't ever go to mecca. Probably won't become a muslim necessarily. But i hope you can feel. The connection with this beautiful powerful faith the second largest in the world. And that it can call you and remind you to live your life with clarity why are you here. What matters. And to not lose sight of that. The go through your dad. Remembering. And focusing on what matters and not fritter away your beautiful valuable life. And that you can do so with compassion and concern not just for yourself. But concern for other people. And other beings. And that you can be careful with your own body. And what you consume. And to do so with intentional. And that you can. Take the pilgrimage that's right for you to leave your comfort zone. And let yourself be stretch by traveling. An enriched by dea. And sacred spaces. Even if you don't. Ever go to mecca. So i hope. That your heart and your mind and your body can be open to the beautiful t-shirts. Of this great. Religion. And that it can help you. Maybe you're being who creates more peace and more light. Amor love and war harmony. As you go through your day. Wherever. You are with whatever your.

uusociety_org

2013-02-24-2Sermon.mp3

The subject of the sermon this morning is gun violence. And it's. A subject that i have struggled with mightily. These last couple months. Kept thinking of different ways i wanted to go and different things i wanted to say to you and amassing data. And then i realize that. That wasn't really the way i wanted to talk to you about that. What i really wanted to do. Was tell you about the gun in my childhood. It lived in a drawer in my father's night table. And i was afraid of it. I always knew it was there a silent reminder of the potential for violence and chaos. In the disordered household i grew up in. Now i've told you through the children. One-story. About one of the times that the gun came out of the drawer. It was a sunday morning when we were going not to the community church but to my mom's episcopal church. Along with the african-american family who had recently made history. In the early sixties by purchasing a home in howard beach queens. My hometown. At the unitarian universalist committed to living out our first principle. Affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person we had befriended this family and so it came to pass that we offered to escort them to their chosen church one sunday morning. I was more excited than afraid until i saw my father slip into the bedroom and put the gun in his pocket. That is when i understood the seriousness of our undertaking. The congregation that morning was silent and hostile. The priest turned his back on us in the receiving line after the service. We walked to and from the car through a sea of fear and hostility. Now did my father's gun make us safer that morning i doubt it. In fact the things had gotten more heated than they did i'm pretty sure the gun would have made things much. Much worse. The neighbors dog will not stop barking. He is barking the same high rhythmic bark that he barks every time they leave the house. They must watch him on on their way out. The neighbors dog will not stop barking i close all the windows in the house and put on a beethoven symphony full-blast but i can still hear him muffled under the music barking barking barking. And now i can see him sitting in the orchestra his head raised confidently as his beethoven included apart for barking dog. When the record finally empty is still barking sitting there in the oboe section barking his eyes fixed on the conductor who is in treating him with his baton. Well the other musicians listen in respectful silence to the famous barking dog solo. That endless coda that first established beethoven as an innovative genius. What in the world does this poem by billy collins have to do with the subject of the sermon. It's the title. The title of that poem is another reason why i don't keep a gun in the house point made mr. collins. And it's a good point. A similar point is made by geoffrey canada in his 1995 memoir published by our own beacon press entitled fist stick. Knife gun. He describes growing up. In the culture of violence of inner-city america. Canada who is now the director of the harlem children's zone. Bemoans the fact that in this culture of violence the escalation of weapons has had a tragic tragic impact on generations of families and children. When armed only with their fists or with a stick. The fight for respect. Simply will not have the tragic consequences than it does when our children are armed with guns. For many people in america the urgency to do something about gun violence was a response to the shootings in december in newtown connecticut. But if we were shocked by that tragedy it was only because we hadn't been paying enough attention. We had missed the fact that for example in the year 2012 in the city of detroit alone 506 people died of gun violence 121 of them children under the age of 18. The statistics are similarly g in chicago and philadelphia in any inner city. In his new york times op-ed entitled who pays for the right to bear arms david cole's road. In the days following the newtown massacre the nation's newspapers were filled with heart-wrenching pictures of the innocent victims. The slaughter was unimaginably shocking. But the draw dirt broader tragedy of gun violence is felt mostly not in leafy suburbs but in america's inner cities. Racial disparities in gun violence far outstrip those in almost any other area of life. Black unemployment is double that for whites as his black infant mortality. But young black men die of gun homicide at a rate eight times those of young white men. Could it be that the laxity of the nation's gun laws is tolerated because it's deadly costs are borne by segregated black and latino populations. Of north philadelphia and chicago southside. He asks. It's a fair question to ask. And it's a hard one to here. But i think it's one we have to ask ourselves even as we move forward inspire to action by the pictures of the young white victims of newtown. Did an unconscious racism prevent us from acting sooner. Did it keep us. From noticing. Let us resolve that we will from this moment forward pay attention to the death of african-american and latino children. With the same fervor that we paid attention to the desk in newtown. It's never too late. Get on the right side. Of an issue. It's never too late. To pay attention. My father kept his gun until almost the end of his life. When at the age of 86 his hip was shattered in an automobile accident and he had to move into a rehab facility he asked me to bring his gun. It was one of the only personal things he wanted. I refused. I told him firearms were not allowed in the facility and that i would not help him to break that rule. I told him i would be turning it into the police. What ensued was something of a. Drawing-room comedy. First i didn't know where the gun was in his apartment but that was easily taken care of by phone call to my brother who is here.. Who knew exactly where it was. I called the police department and ask them what the procedure was in the policeman said is the gun loaded i said how can i tell i called my brother. The policeman said i am not making this up. Carefully put the gun in a paper bag. Bring it to the police station. When you get to the door tell someone that you have a gun in your paper bag. So i did that stood at the door the police station holding his paper bag with a gun in it. I said i have a gun to turn in that you squirted me in. They looked at the permit. And he said oh i'm sorry. This permit was issued by the county not the town you have to go to another police day i put the gun back in the paper bag carried it back out to the car. Finally. Got it to the right place. My father had angrily insisted that i bring him the receipt as proof that i had really turned it in as though i might want to keep it for myself. When i brought him the receipt he looked it over slowly and carefully. And then he wept. He loves that gun. Irrationally. It gave him magical powers. You might even say that he worshipped that gun. And he was not alone. James allwood the author of america and its guns a theological expose rights. The gun empire. Which includes manufacturers distributors dealers and the vocal extremists and elitist to control the nra. Have deep emotional even religious attachments to their guns. Their lifestyle choices indicate idolatry. Now the definition of idolatry. Is. Innocence mistaking the part for the whole. It's worshipping some small piece. Of something that may represent what is of ultimate value we're thinking the statue is actually. The god. Here's how it would. Defines the symptoms of gun i dial tree. People who practice gun idolatry one nurture deep emotional attachments to instruments that are made to kill. 2. Girlfriend angry when gun values are questioned and refused honest dialogue about the place of guns in society. Free support no preventive measures. To stop gun violence. For show little or no grief for society's gun victims. Five big grizzly opposed any laws that restrict sales of guns even to the most dangerous members of society. 6. Play man absolute unrestricted unregulated constitutional right to use their guns against our government if they consider it tyrannical. 7 claimed the blessing of a loving god on their weapons. At 8. Believe that the solution to gun violence is to have more guns. Does that sound familiar. Does it sound accurate. As former nra executive lauren cassidy said. You would get a far better understanding of the nra if you were approaching us as one of the great religions of the world. Can you think of other organizations in our nation's history that acted with religious fervor while providing. Values that may not have been in our best interest. The ku klux klan for example. Comes to mind. In case you haven't figured out where i'm coming down on this subject yet. So it's all good and others are right about what he calls the gun empire. If they are a great religious movement and he uses the term great not so much to mean wonderful are awesome but large and powerful. And great like the great oz. And if this great religious movement is unbelievably well-funded. Bicycle people whose own personal god is named mammon. Also known as the almighty dollar. Then we wish to see an end to gun violence in this country need to change our strategy. We will not prevail against religious fervor by marshalling statistics and prevent presenting reasoned arguments. We are going to have to respond with our own religious passion. What i know to be true is it in all face and in all scriptures you hear the words of god who who values love not hate. Compassion not indifference. Justice not vengeance freedom not fear. And ultimately life not death or destruction. We as people of faith must find our allies across the face spectrum and we must speak. From our ultimate values. We have to be willing to say. If your god demands the sacrifice of innocence then your god is too small. We will not sacrifice our children to your petty god. We have to be willing to say. The second amendment is not scripture. Interested. Just the common-sense gun-control violates the constitution is in fact to practice the worst kind of fundamentalist proof texting. If i'm honest dialogue about common-sense gun-control make your god angry than your god is too small. We will not sacrifice our right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness to your petty god. It's hard. To say those kinds of things. It's hard to stand up to religious fervor. Especially the religious fervor of the well-funded and the well armed. But we can do it. When i was in florida with my ministerial colleagues last month. Taking a workshop on. Prophetic preaching. From. The rev dr. james forbes. He had a divide ourselves into sections. And each group was given an assignment and that was to create. A sermon. By the entire group. Based on one of what martin luther king called three great evils of american society. Racism materialism and. Militarism. My group was assigned to militarism and we expanded that. To mean the culture of violence. In america. I again struggled to think what am i going to say i don't know how to approach this topic. And then i heard doctor forbes say something he said when you're planning a sermon. Figure out what the symptom is. That you want to address. And then figure out. How to move past that symptom. And i realized it's for me the symptom was fear. I'm afraid of people with guns. I'm afraid of guns. And i'm afraid. To stand up to them. And once i realized that and once i realized that my fear went back to that gun in the drawer. In my childhood which i hadn't remembered in a really long time. I realized. That. I could do it. And that we can do it and that is time. It is time to stop being afraid even if our fear is well-founded. It is time to stop being intimidated. Though the opposition is by design intimidating. It is time to stop thinking that because they have won so many times before we can never win. It is time to speak our truth the truth of our hearts and souls. Is time for us to say what we. Worship. What is of ultimate value to us. The life of every person. It's time for us to say. That collateral damage is not an acceptable excuse. For children dying. In our cities. In our streets. In our homes. So how do we begin. We will gather for a covenant of conversation on sunday march 17th. 12:30. To talk to each other about the the way each of us feels about gun violence and about guns. Allwood says that in every congregation in this country across the denominational spectrum. There are people who own guns. There are people. Who. Have never. Set eyes on a gun in their life. And there are people all the way in between. There is middle ground here on this issue. So we'll listen to each other. And we'll learn from each other. And we will acknowledge that to deplore gun violence is not necessarily too. Deplore all guns. I myself i want you to know i'm the proud owner of an nra junior marksman certificate. Funny story about how i got it. We were to summer camp one summer that my mom was working at that was a very competitive athletic now. And i soon discovered that there were very few activities where i could actually hold my own. I thought i knew how to play volleyball until i got to this camp. And so i signed up for riflery. Because rifle real reason is something we're only one person at a time goes. I was really bad. At riflery. And. I didn't learn much. Don't think i ever. Came close to hitting the target. So i was a little surprised own award knife. The last night of camp to hear my name called when the junior marksman certificates were given out. Who's really proud. Until i. Spot true the fact that the riflery instructor was the older brother of the boy that i had been dating awesome. Now that's funny but it's kind of scary to it isn't it. I was able to get that junior marksmanship certificate. Under. Those. I didn't consider it a license to ever pick up a gun again. So we will talk. We will listen. We will seek common ground. Is my hope that out of this gathering. Will emerge a new task force of the social justice web who spoke puth focus will be on finding ways. To witness faithfully. For reduction in gun violence by keeping dangerous weapons out of dangerous hands. I want to close with some final words from james altwood. Inspiring words. We need to walk together into the future in order to build the america we all want for our children and our grandchildren. Neither side can have what it most desires for our society without respecting and accommodating the other. We must learn to speak the truth and love to those whose views are different. What are we waiting for. Let the discussions and the healing. Begin. Which i can only add amen brother.

uusociety_org

2010-05-23-2%20Sermon.mp3

The 1960s. It was a time of high contrast. Hope and despair. Opportunity. And social action. And a time of songwriting. On 1st planning this service my thoughts went first two major events like silver civil rights. The vietnam war. The feminine feminist movement. The draft sexual revolution the hippie movement. But it was some music that got me into this. But seem like rapid social change. May have been a crossroads of times past sometimes to come. But it was. Very close to my experience and to all of us who were. Either in school entering adulthood. For higher education starting. Careers family. There's nothing like music to transport us in time. Listen to the tunes of pete seeger joan baez. Bob dylan. Ray charles. The beach boys. The beatles. Simon and garfunkel. Jimmy reed the rolling stones. And in your mind your back somewhere in the 60s. You might have been sitting at a. Parkour hootenanny concert. Or you might have been. At. Woodstock in the mud. Whether you were marching on. Washington demanding equality for african americans are merely. At one of these concerts. We shall overcome and blowing in the wind or forever. Engraved in your mind. The berlin wall was built. 61. Cuban missile crisis. 60. Malcolm x was assassinated. Betty betty for dance book feminine mystique male turns your head. We lost our young president john fitzgerald kennedy. Who inspired us to fitness to be number one. To be first on the moon. They were protesting the never-ending escalating war in vietnam. 50 to 60,000 soldiers came on dead. Civil rights act of 1964 brought marches and demonstrations and challenges to its enforcement. The assassinations of martin luther king jr robert f kennedy in 68. Added to the intensity of the time and. The music. And the media. Accentuate it all. The beatles had us captivated. We're passionate about everything. Media and the music. Always. Accentuated. Personally i started high school in 1959. In the east and went to california to seek my fortune where i'm at gary mack. They were friends of mine who. Confidently burn their draft cards. Medical students burning their draft cards. Soon after that i drove my brother to travis air force base where he was deployed to vietnam. Three months later we got news that he was wounded and in route home. He now is married and has three grandchildren. With a silver star and a purple heart. No matter where any of us were. In that decade we are forever bound together by the events. And our response to those events. And by the music. I took a look at what happened here and are you you said society in the 60s. And jean ashley betty van buren and martha fitzgerald. We're here raising their families who were members of this society. They will tell us of their experiences. And. The national. Significance of those. Show the first is gene ashley. He'll speak about the vietnam war. I'm here too long. Morning. Mary ellen is a loaded. Some of the events of the 1960s. Which made the decade so memorable and so unsettling. The assassinations of president kennedy followed by those of his brother and martin luther king. The riots in the city civil rights activities in sulphur. So forth. But i think none of these had more direct effect on us. Congregation members. Then the vietnam war. Anyone over 30 years old at that time had memories of wwii in korea. Some had been more directly involved than others. As for myself i had served in world war ii. The infantry division i was in had fought in france and germany. So i had witnessed wars are combated and in germany. I had seen the terrible devastation and hardship inflicted on people in whose country awards fought. And my only brother two years younger than i have been killed in the fighting eastern france. So i had serious misgivings as i saw a nation initiating a war. The causes of which seem to me obscure. Others felt as i did but not everyone. Many americans supported the war and believe that justified. This was true in our congregation as well i knew members who supported the war. And didn't share my feelings. I don't intend to argue the war here. I left for these remarks only as background. In reflecting on how our society. Continue to serve our members in those difficult times. As i look back now i realize that we did wonderfully well here. We retain the spirit of personal respect for one another. Even if we knew we had differences. We were there were no acrimonious do white debates or confrontations in meetings that i remember at all. There were no acrimonious for schism and not split over are different. Is that happened on other occasions in our 200-year history. Gaston carrier was our minister during those years. And whatever his own conviction is he wisely avoided. A confrontational or divisive approach in his sermons. One of our members lydia taylor initiated a discussion group where people concerned over the war could meet. And discuss their feelings in an atmosphere of understanding and respect. And he's in these ways we were able to preserve our society and this wonderful space around us. It's a spiritual refuge in really difficult time. I look back with gratitude that i was a member of this congregation in those difficult years. I feel real. Flexing unitarianism. Universalism at its best may always be so. Our next speaker is betty van buren. We'll talk about planned parenthood. I'm elaine bumford with celebrating the uu women she mention priscilla welch who started planned parenthood in vermont. Betty was on that committee and part of that founding effort. She was a member of the league of women voters at the time and she and her husband had started. Very young family. Good morning. In the early sixties priscilla welsh my good friend and i. Both of whom both of us are members of this church. Head often limited our discovery upon moving to vermont that there was no planned parenthood. Affiliate in the state. Priscilla's mother had been director of planned parenthood in rochester new york and i had been social worker. At planned parenthood in syracuse. So we had long talks filled with dreams of what we would do in the future when our children were a little older. We put at the top of our list to explore bringing a planned parenthood affiliate. To burlington. This all happened sooner than either of us anticipated. When gaston carrier then pastor this church. Invited a representative of the bananas channel planned parenthood to speak at a sunday service in the spring of nineteen. Defy. Priscilla was thrilled with this golden opportunity. I was very young children was less so. Nevertheless we planned how we could make use of the time we had with this emissary as he was willing to spend the weekend here. Another you remember jodi thomas now jody babione. Was interested in became part of our planning session. A local obstetrician mary jane grey was also an enthusiastic. We had many concepts. Around priscilla's kitchen table. Plan the friday night community meeting. And a man and a nuts-and-bolts session for those interested on saturday afternoon. Prior to sunday service. Always in motion. And do our happy surprise the friday night open meeting held at this church. Was well-attended. The enthusiasm was strong and some highly qualified people such as nursing administrators. Indicated their interest in serving on our board. We were able to outline what needed to be done and really get going. Within a year we had a small budget of $5,000. And a weekly clinic staffed mostly by volunteers at the then mary fletcher outpatient department. Started with the support of dr. john macaluso. Chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology. A variety of attitudes toward these services. Surprises unsurprisingly existed. Contraceptive clinics even discussing birth control in those days were radical steps. A promise a prominent local obstetrician who supported planned parenthood. Would not prescribe contraceptives to his patients unless they. Perfectly ask. A local catholic priests who work with families in the downtown area. Quietly supported us as he saw the need so strongly. In 1968 one of the planned parenthood staff members refused contraceptives to a young engaged girl. But in 1970. The vermont planned parenthood started and under-21 program with the support of the vermont department of health. This was one of the first affiliates to run such a program. Within 10 years. There were 12 clinic. Around the state and in 1984. Vermont new hampshire and maine affiliates merge together to form planned parenthood of northern new england. Just what we need to know today. And it deals with much more than birth control. Professional training and education teenager keishin. And the spectrum of women's health services. Of our original group. Jody served on the state board and was in charge of volunteer training. Priscilla remade very active she was the really the. Linchpin behind us all. And she was on the national board actually. In the end. It all started here all of this our contribution to vermont started right here. And now martha fitzgerald was speak about mainstreaming of children with disabilities in the public schools. Out of the civil rights act of 1964 came grassroots efforts for change. Here in vermont significant work was done. To give everyone equal rights under the law and in this case in education. Martha was. In graduate school in special education and also raising a family. Good morning. In the sixties. I listen to the album you may know. Free to be you and me just people remember that. Over and over. And i followed margaret mead's child-rearing advised pretty freewheelin that was. We travel the northeast with four children on a piece of plywood in the backseat. With no seatbelt. In vermont revisited on pladask uncle john and their son george most weekends. George was my husband's age. Could not look at it cuz i stretched george stayed home. He didn't walk or smile. Or recognize his parents. Didn't expect to do this. About time i was teaching in burlington. Fred was one of my students. He had been held back because of learning and behavior problems. I tutored fred and did my best as a first-year teacher. But fred needed more than i knew how to give. Fred dropped out of school at sixteen. They never recovered from those early years of failure and frustration. In montpelier director of special education gene garvin and uvm professor to mackenzie had a radical idea. They propose that children with disabilities like george and fred. Be provided special education in their regular classrooms. The time was right and vermont was ready. The supreme court had ruled in 1954. That. That separate education is not equal. That education is a civil right. Behavioral research was showing the aplicacion of new ways of teaching and learning. Parents were calling for their children's inclusion in the mainstream. In the mid-sixties sister janice ryan in the association for retarded citizens took up the cause. Citizen advocates organized. There were many. You use among the early advocates in the sixties. Betsy schneider. Lois holbrook. Abby carter. Paste ambler. Did ethan corrigan pam k. Liz waldman nancy and norman band golden. And others. Groups were formed people spoke out for change. In 1972 the vermont legislature passed. S988 a bill to reform education. That bill provided the framework. And 1975 but the national. Education of all handicapped act. S98 was a major step forward. Vermont's plan was threefold. To serve every child with disabilities in their home schools. To provide ongoing training and support for regular classroom teachers. And to support the work of a state interdisciplinary team to reach out to homes and schools across the state. Amy and tom. Were among the hundreds of children. Born after those reforms that benefited from those reforms. Amy was born with spina bifida. A mother recalls her son sharing his excitement about a day at kindergarten. He said mom. You would not believe what happened in school today. For the first time ever. Amy fed herself her own cheerios. In music class. Amy has a bell ringer. Her classmates says. Amy plays her own music. Another child tom had trouble speaking and reading and focusing. Tom was referred for special education in first grade. After three years of special health. Tom became a dedicated student. And later became a position. Because of a radical idea are in the sixties. Vermont is now a national model for full inclusion. And. I looked at the church directory and there are at least. 50 people that i could see in there who are involved in this great. Work. 50 that i could come physical therapist special educators consulting. In sapulpa. Position. So we are still involved. Many times over. Are schools across the state are places. We're all children. Are welcomed and celebrated. For who they are and all their glorious complexities. So let it be.

uusociety_org

2012-01-15-2%20Sermon.mp3

Martin luther king often use the phrase beloved community. I'd like us to think about what that phrase means for us. The theologian james luther adams wrote that religious liberalism affirms the moral obligation to direct one's effort towards the establishment of a just and loving community. A beloved community would have to be a just and loving community. I'm using adams essay on the five smooth stones with liberalism as the basis for a 5 sermon series. You may recall from the first sermon in the series last fall that the title of his essay comes from the biblical story of david. The shepherd boy who armed himself with five smooth stones for his slingshot as he prepared to do battle with the evil giant goliath. You might think of these five smooth stones these five foundational ideas at the heart of unitarian universalism. As the things we support ourselves with as we prepare everyday to lose meaningfully in a world filled with both beauty and ugliness good and evil. The five smooth stones are the tools we use to create and sustain beloved community. The first stone i preached about was the concept that revelation is continuous. This is an idea to which you give intellectual assent. Yes i believe that there is much still to be known that truth is not finally captured. That creation reveals itself to us everyday in many different ways. That makes sense it is reasonable. And so our minds ascent. This morning in honor of dr. king's birthday we take up the second in this series of ideas. This smooth stone that we call the creation of just and loving community. Now adams introduces this idea with some pretty strong language. Therapy says inherent in being religiously liberal a moral obligation. To work towards. The justin loving community. This is an idea to which i would say we give spiritual ascent. It requires more than just a nod of the head or. A saying yes that makes sense. It requires us to move out of our comfort zones to confront the reality that all is not well around us and that we bear responsibility for some of that on wellness. And that we've been do something not talked about. But actually do something. Tonight's our community closer to the ideal of justice and radical inclusive love. A face that is not the sister of justice is bound to bring us to greece atoms continues. It supports creation the divinely given possibility. It robs us of our birthright of freedom and an open university rob the community of the spiritual riches latent in its members. It reduces us to beast of burden and slavish subservience to a state a church or a party. Twitter selfmadegod. That's a pretty powerful statement adams makes. And pretty dance. So let's unpack it a little bit. A fake not committed to justice he says will bring us to grief. That is at best an insufficient fee. But no it's it is worse than that even by passively ignoring the moral claim on us because people of faith to do the work of justice we risk. Warden creation. Inherent in adams assumption is our belief in the nature of creation the nature of humanity. Centuries ago as unitarianism and universalism were evolving out. Of. Liberal protestantism. We. Got into an argument with our orthodox neighbors about. This thing called original sin. This idea that just by being born. We were going inevitably to be bad or do bad. Not so said our ancestors we reject that idea. We believe that people are born with the capacity for both good and evil. Addend is incumbent upon us to nurture the good and discourage the evil. This is our first principle write the inherent worth and dignity of every person we believe the people are under the right circumstances inclined to be good. A tap on that principle we build our congregations with the intention that they be places that bring out the best in people. And discards the worst. A face that is not committed to justice. Not only will bring us to grief it will rob us of our birthright of freedom in the open universe. Does adams really mean to say that if we turn our backs on the moral obligation to work towards justice we are less free even if that obligation sometimes feels like a burden. Well the transcendentalist preacher theodore parker. Was fond of saying that the moral arc of the universe is long but it bends towards justice. Actually what parker said was something. More complicated and less accessible. It was martin luther king who took his words and created that more understandable paraphrase. That we are so familiar with. If we ignore that assumption that built into creation is an inherent movement towards a more just human society. Then we distance ourselves from the truth of creation itself. We find ourselves living and working in opposition to the intention of creation or the direction. Of the universe. Well we may believe that we are free because we choose. To turn our backs on the call to justice. To be concerned. Only with ourselves and not with others. That choice vines us and limits us. In the richness with which we can live our lives. A face that is not the sister of justice rob the community of the spiritual riches layton's and its members he goes on to say. So the cost is not just individual and spiritual. A congregation to disassociate yourself from this moral mandate loses the ability to bring out the best in its members. And what a terrible loss that is. Our free churches founded on the principle that the inherent good in every person needs nurture and encouragement. Would be empty places indeed. If we were to forget that the primary purpose of the church. Is to elicit the good. I've news for you. We are not in the satisfaction business. The purpose of this church is not to send each one of you home satisfied. We are in the justice and radical love business. And we forget that. At our peril. Jim adams connects this mandate to work towards justice to the history of prophet hood in the judeo-christian tradition as did martin luther king. The ancient hebrew hebrew prophets were not people who spoke from positions of power or authority. They were outsiders who lived on the margins of their communities. They were heretics who challenged the establishment. At great personal cost. Unitarian universalist are also heretics are we not. Heretic means to choose out. Haven't most of you deliberately and consciously chosen out of something and into this face. Even if you grew up you you as i did. Even if you are fourth-generation member of this congregation as i know some of you are. We're all heretics. As such we are bound also to be prophets. That's what adams meant when he talked about the prophethood of all believers he meant that everyone of us. Heretical. Practitioners of the space are obligated to be prophetic. Those ancient hebrew prophets adams wrote repudiated the idea that the meaning of life is to be achieved either buy exclusive devotion to ritual. Or by devotion to blood or soil. For by self-serving piety. The holy thing in life is participation in those processes that give body and form to universal justice. The ministry of jesus was in historical line with those hebrew prophets jesus to with an outsider his power came not from money or position but from the undeniable and often uncomfortable truth of the message that he was speaking. Jesus said over and over again that the reign of god was at hand. He was reminding his followers that it was in their hands it was in their power to help usher in that rain it was in fact their sacred duty. To bring about a more just and loving community. I don't recall any of the gospels telling stories about jesus. Quoting him as saying follow me and i'll make you feel good about yourself. His ministry was prophetic. In that it called people back to the exercise of their power and their freedom in service of justice making and compassion. For others. He knew that the holy thing in life with participation in those processes that give body as form. To universal justice. That is real. Incarnation of theology. Throughout our history there have been others who have spoken in the same continuity of that prophetic tradition many unitarian and universalist. Julia ward howe. For example. Theodore parker. Where did they get the cars in the inspiration. How did they overcome the temptation of the comfortable status quo. Adams believes it is by having faith in freedom. By aligning yourself with what he calls the sustaining transforming commanding reality. That one finds the courage to be prophetic. The power of god he says it's like a seed that grows if itself if we will use our freedom to meet the conditions for its growth. We don't. Give up our individual freedom to live prophetically we use our freedom. To its fullest extent to create the conditions under which justice and love. Can properly grow and flourish. The fruits of this seed when planted and nurtured are to be found in both the individual and the social realm. Adams believed that the exercise of this power and freedom. Leads us to an integrity in our personal lives. Indeed it is the only way. He knows to achieve true personal integrity. He also acknowledges that the exercise of this power leads to the struggle for justice and social and institutional life. And he recognizes that there will be tension in that struggle. Prophethood has always been costly. Jesus lost his life and it's service at has have many many others. James reeb and viola liuzzo where unitarian universalist to died during the struggle for civil rights in the 1960s. Medgar evers emmett till. Martin luther king. Too many martyrs. Adams was well aware of the power of evil in the world in fact he understood it that its destructive power if allowed to reign unchecked could bring us all to grief. All the more reason reason for his urgent call to unitarian universalist exercise power of good. In history and in the human heart he says there are then destructive as well as creative powers. These destructive powers are manifest in the social as well as in the individual life. Individuals egotism fights under the camouflage of the good of the nation the race the church or the class. These destructive impulses theme veritably to possessed people. Blinding them inciting them to greed. Damaging the holy gift god provides. This is precisely the reason for the need for redemptive transforming power. Indeed the pious are often most in need of transformation. Still relevant perhaps. My personal encounter with the civil rights movement in the 60s was also an encounter with piety lacking a dimension of justice and radical love. My mother knew full well that her own congregation was in need of redemption and transformation. And she had no doubt. Did she was obligated to be the bearer of that power. She continue to be a thorn in the side of the episcopal church until the day she died. And the church in fact. Did transcend those early. Racist sins. At my mother's memorial service the people who came up to testify. Were. Among the earliest out gay and lesbians. Her. Wheelchair to fact her. Forgiving them. A voice and being an ally. She taught me that the cause of justice and peace must be actively engaged by everyone of us mind and heart no matter the cost. We cannot allow others to dictate our beliefs we cannot allow them to tell us who our friends and who are enemies. We must each engage the world in all its glory and all its ugliness. And make those determinations for ourselves. And we must each take responsibility for our share of the work of creating the conditions. Under which good can flourish. An evil languish. Often uu congregation shy away from truly prophetic deeds. Due to a fear of conflict. We don't want to risk alienating folks so we stay low key & safe. This is not been the case in your congregations history i'm pleased to say and you can be proud of that. There have been many times when you have in fact engaged. With difficult issues. Not being afraid of. Getting into a good argument with each other about the right thing to do. What you need now is some infrastructure to support bold new initiatives and social justice. Right now there are several groups working on. Relatively new issues the green sanctuary. Croup. The occupy uu task force. I hope you will return tomorrow to the sanctuary at 6:30 for the occupied you you teaching. I hope you will join with the group that wants to erect a banner on our front lawn proclaiming our support for economic justice. Right now this group is struggling to figure out the right process for getting consensus on having permission to express that sentiment on behalf of the congregation. If you would like to be part of this struggle talk to lucy will you wave. Or sally conrad or jeanne palmer you here. Couple other folks. I would love to see that banner. There. Now. Sometimes. The failure to commit radical act of justice has to do with. The kind of laziness or passivity. I don't want to make you guys feel bad. But. I learned something at the first service. I learned the denominational affairs committee distributed 125 guests at your table boxes. On the sunday before thanksgiving. And as of the first service they had gotten three back. Go home. Find the box even if you forgot about it as soon as thanksgiving was over. Why did jack put it in the box bring it back next week it's not too late. If we give out 125 boxes we should have 125 boxes back in fact there's no reason why every single member of this congregation shouldn't either through their box or through those envelopes sitting there right by the door or by going online to the uu service committee every single member of this congregation should be a contributing member of the service committee the service committee are the people who are doing the work of human rights in our name around the world. And of guilt trip. Although i am going to get a report next week. In order to. Live with integrity. As a beloved community a uu congregation must provide two things. 1 is a safe place where individuals can come to be healed to be reassured to be encouraged and comforted. A place where we can repent. And be transformed. The other is a place where we can come on a weekly basis to be refreshed for the work we need to do in the world. Not just the work of personal fulfillment they're making a living but that piece of the larger work of justice that we are called to buy the moral arc of the universe itself. That work of establishing a just and loving community. I've always understood my call to ministry to be. A call to that work. I believe that you will understand as the congregation your call to ministry to be a call to that work. Your mission statement says so do you know what your mission statement says. Do you know where your mission statement is. I invite you to find it on the front of your orders service where it appears every week. There is right under the picture of dr. king. I think it would be good for us to speak it together would you do that with me. We gather. Now you see i promised the kids that if they learned the child sledding words by heart i give him a sticker. If you learn your mission statement by heart and come recited to me i'll give you a sticker to how's that. And of course learning the words is only the first step because it's incumbent on all of us make sure that our actions are congregate with our words. Donuts. i want to close with one more quote from james luther adams. The community of justice in love is not an ethereal fellowship that is above the conflict and turmoil of the world. This one that takes shape and nature and history. One that requires the achievement of freedom with respect to material resources as well as with respect to spiritual resources. Indeed the one kind of freedom is not fully authentic without the other. Freedom justice and love require a body as well as a spirit. We do not live by spirit alone. A purely spiritual religion is a purely spurious religion. It is one that exempt its believers from surrender to the sustaining transforming reality that demands the community of justice and love. There it is the second smooth stone for our little sack. The one that we must sent to spiritually. Let it lead us and keep us in the realm. Of real religion. Always.

uusociety_org

2009-11-29-2%20Sermon.mp3

Good morning. And thank you gary for the kind. Personal invitation. To share your pulpit. And the introduction this morning. It's always a pleasure to return to the people's republic of burlington. After this became the fourth state to grant the right of equal marriage i should say it's always a pleasure to return the people's republic of vermont. That recognition that equal marriage is gaining momentum in our nation is one of the things i'm grateful for on this weekend when we were call and acknowledge. Our blessings. In that same category of rights. The recently-passed hate crimes bill in the senate. Mark the decade of struggle to include crimes motivated by gender sexual orientation or disability. Of the victims. Obama has recently publicly committed. His administration to dismantling don't-ask-don't-tell in our military. And although we have to search for good news. Amid the larger and often gloomy headlines about iraq afghanistan or those shouting that healthcare reform is nasir communist. Inspired. There are a lot of good things happening. In this country. And broad. And it's money want to talk to you about one of them small headline about good news that. Perhaps you miss a muscle larger noisier ones. To make a complete sense of that headline to fully appreciate it i have to take it back to 1977. Before the civil war in el salvador has started. That civil war lasted from 1980 until 1992 and claimed more than 75,000 lives most of them civilian. The vast majority of them according to united nations truth commission killed by the military or death squads. 75,000 lives over a dozen years seems comfortable in some ways. To the loss of the u.s.. Suffered in vietnam. We're 58,000 americans died over 15 years. All wars are tragedies. Beyond imagination unless you. Experience them. But those two even more so perhaps because. I'm not sure the reasons for which they were waged. Made any sense. I experienced both of them as gary mentioned as an airforce pilot in vietnam and as a civilian physician in el salvador. And they're both powerful influences. And who i am today. Today vietnam has most favored. Nation trading status with united states and is our ally. And in el salvador the fmln political party which represents the gorillaz. From the us spent more than five billion dollars to defeat. Recently won the presidency. That's the headline of march i want to speak. Our secretary of state hillary clinton. Was there in a bright red dress the colors of the fmln to help celebrate the occasion at the inauguration of mauricio funes. The fmln candidate. I too was a special guest at the inauguration. Both because of my role as a as a physician during a civil war but more importantly you usc's role. The servicemen he's role in that civil war. This morning i want to thank you. For your. Assistance. And tell you. Some of the story of that. War on behalf of the salvadoran who also want to thank you for your rolls in it. Contributions perhaps that you weren't even aware of or have. Long ago forgotten. Gic was involved in el salvador at the very beginning of the civil war before the conflict started because on february 28th 1977 several hundred peaceful demonstrators at the plaza libertad. Protesting election. Blatantly stolen by salvadoran general. We're surrounded by a military cordon. 4/4 exit through one end of the plaza where they were then massacred. The us media barely took notice but a small human rights or an organization in boston did. And you usc's executive director dick scobee and its director of human rights education john mcelroy travel to el salvador. But already the bodies the next day had been quickly carted away at night. And the evidence destroyed blood washed away from the streets with fire hoses to cover up this atrocity. And they met with the newly appointed archbishop a man named oscar romero who had only been in office a week. Dekalb me that one of things that touched him. On that trip and there were many was that they attended a funeral that day of a priest. Who had been killed. And his church was only blocks from their hotel. When they asked oscar romero how could their organization be of assistance he asked them to bring influential americans to el salvador so they can understand with their own eyes and ears what u.s. tax dollars were a betting. A powerful military that was killing anyone who attempted to bring about social change school teachers doctors community organizers leaders of cooperatives and even priests. Less than a year later uic would lead its first of 17 congressional fact-finding missions to el salvador. This one led by robert drinan. Who is both a member of the house of representatives from massachusetts and a jesuit priest. Vocal critic of us policy in el salvador anjali was ordered by pope john paul the second to get out of politics and leave congress. In 1980. Oscar romero who i mentioned have been a priest. To the wealthy before becoming archbishop. Became an inspiring voice to the downtrodden. And his homilies williston who carefully every sunday and practically every village in the country. Government snipers firing on his funeral procession. Was the action siddur by many to be the opening salvo of a brutal 12-year civil war. I want to briefly revisit those casualty figures though that i mentioned earlier. They'll perhaps give you some context. For some of romero's words. In his last two homilies. At the time of his assassination 1982 talalay golf the human rights office of the archdiocese. Was recording about 1,000 salvadorans a month being brutally murdered by government-sponsored death-squad. Or being disappeared only to have their mutilated bodies dumped in public places to send a message of fear to their families and friends. Without a contact. 1000 is neither a large or necessarily a small number. But in el salvador that time. There was a population of 5 million. In contrast to our population of 250 million. Don't understand the magnitude of thousands. In comparison to. American. Saturday of the * 50. 1000s a month are equivalent to 50 thousand deaths a month here what we lost in 15 years of vietnam. They were losing monthly not in combat. But in the purposeful targeted destruction. I'm leadership of cooperatives a profession such as lawyers who dare defend anyone of spiritual leaders who spoke out against injustice of school teachers who were declared an enemy of the state because their union call for a strike to better classroom conditions of healthcare workers because they were were people turn when they were wounded or tortured. By war's end. As i mentioned we would have left 17 fact-finding missions taking many representatives and some senators including senator leahy to the region. To meet with people on all sides of the conflict. And measure what their own senses what role the us was playing. For brief year during that. Civil war the early part of it i would serve as a volunteer physician in a rural area about 25 miles from the capital of san salvador. And on a clear day i could see the hotel where the journalist stayed but none candid was supper the name of the volcano on the whose slopes i worked that year. Because he had become a free fire zone. Meaning of astray rockateur bomb daily by salvadoran. Air force. And you are supplied aircraft. Over the next decade the us invested more than five billion dollars in military aid to defeat the ragtag guerrilla army known as the fmln. To no avail. And finally when the fmln almost top of a government us finally permitted a negotiated settlement which it had blocked for a decade. Midway through that civil war i was hired by uusc as a director of human rights education and i began to lie congressional delegations to the region. Because of the role i played is a physician and more importantly because of the role uusc it played. I was a special guest at the signing of the peace accords in mexico city in 1992 that formally ended that war. One from about 20 feet away i saw the pens of the gorilla comandante's and the military generals touch the paper i was overwhelmed with emotion because i understood too well the horrors that were about to end. This church. Many of you and lots of people in burlington as well as in vermont played important roles in helping in that war and in rebuilding their lives and communities in el salvador. You declared yourself a sanctuary in divide the us government. You helped other refugees in an underground railway to reach canada. You declared sister-city relationship with rural towns that bore much of the brunt of the military repression. You supported medical delegations to el salvador to assist with refugees and clinics. Your company salvadoran. Through witness for peace. Or to resettle communities at the military did not want repopulated. You demonstrated against us policy in el salvador you stood in silent vigils in the rain. You visited your members of congress and senators urging them to suspend military aid. And i was reminded during the break. Winooski 44. Preoccupied senators average office were weekend cuz he refused to even talk to them by phone from washington dc about their concerns about us policy in el salvador. You support the usc with your individual memberships with your guests at your table and your special collections. You supported organizations like cispus medical april salvador the salvadoran medical relief fund which i founded. You prayed and acted as peacemakers even when it seemed improbable that these could ever come to the bloody country known as the savior in spanish. One-story munch mini that could never be told in the war years was how we helped bring a number of guerrilla leaders to cambridge uic that is. Four-week to be tutored in the basics of conflict negotiation by rodger fisher and harvard the author of getting to yes. They could only enter the us with assumed names because of that time the state department has calling them terrorists. But that was before 9/11 so security was lacked and they could come as high interest with forged passports. A few months later rodger fisher would get a call from the salvadoran ambassador to the united nations. Rodger. Our government doesn't know much about negotiations. I took your short course in january and thought it was terrific. Would you come down and coach our government and the basics of negotiations. In quote. Of course he did but he never told either party who was other client was. The fmln party. Was formed under those peace accords of 1992 to represent the gorillas and their civilian supporters. With the help of the united nations into a more limited united states the struggle which it always been about poverty and privilege. Was transformed into a political conflict. In the first post-war election and vermont sent observers down there the fmln captured of polar plurality. Of the national assembly. Mean i have more seats than any other party. But it took them until 2009 to capture the presidency. 17 long years. I was on a train returning to boston in march of this year when i heard mauricio funes. The candidate representing the fmln give his speech to supporters as the vote count was to finally declared in his victory and his favor. He said quote i will commit my government to the preferential option of the poor of archbishop romero in quote. And that's what the civil war was about. Someone in el salvador being a champion the plight of the poor without losing their life. And without. Their supporters fearing for their lives if they publicly campaign. For him. For her. Theodore parker first told us. Martin luther king made it famous. And barack obama reminded us that the moral arc of the universe is long but it bends towards justice. And indeed an el salvador it took more than 32 years after that stolen election. Marking the beginning of usc's involvement there. For the arctic been towards justice there. Call you want sets the great events of world history are at bottom profoundly unimportant. In the last analysis the essential thing is the life of the individual. This alone makes history here alone to the great transformations first take place and the whole future the whole history of the world ultimately spring is a gigantic summation. From these hidden sources in individuals. In our most private and most subjective line we're not only the path of witnesses of our age. And its sufferers. But also is makers. In quote. Yes the courageous hard-working. And generous salvadorans carry the baton across the finish line. And they were primarily it suffers. But many of you helped in that gigantic summation as makers of history and your acts of solidarity in your acts of protest and your financial support through this church or individual. You did help create the conditions that enables salvadorans to bully stand up and shoes mauricio funes. When i was there for his inauguration in june. I can't remember a week. In which i have cried or laugh so much. A lot of crying was about remembering the people who didn't live to see the ark of the universe been towards justice. But it was also about being sank constantly. For the role that. Is that usc or that all of you played in helping them get to where they are today. And that's why i'm preaching the sermon on the weekend of thanksgiving because i promised them i would think all of you that i would carry their gratitude back. There are many stories i could tell about their generosity courage and determination if you've ever met any salvadorans you. Need to hear them. I gained much more than i gave in that year i'm alive because. People nursed me back to health when i had malaria and there was nothing to treat it with. I'm alive because people would slip be there egg or their tortilla because they were so worried about my well-being. During those warriors i met a lot of interesting people. As well as the meaning scary people. But why the more interesting when was the governor of. Nebraska which activists had arranged an appointment for me to visit. He's a vietnam veteran a medal of honor winner named bob carey. He listened earnestly and said he would do what he could. And when he was eventually elected to the senate. He did votes in the war. Once i was a hollywood when bob kerrey was there raising money for his first senate campaign. At a fundraiser someone put her face right in his. Up close. And asking allowed seneca manor don't you think we ought to quit supporting all these lazy people living high off the hog on welfare. Carrie look her right in the eye. And said very gently but very firmly. Then in vietnam half of his foot was blown away. But he language for months and hospitals. Helpless unable to walk and is a former navy seal. Unsure if he wanted to go on in life as someone who would surely never run and perhaps never walk without crutches. He said. If it weren't for the welfare system of the us military i might not be here today. There may be time in all of our lives when we are physically helpless or emotionally overwhelmed and perhaps need a hand. And that's what the welfare system is about. Not reaching down to us but reaching across to us and being there for us until we can be on our feet again in quote. The woman who asked the question was caught up in the emotion of his heartfelt answer and applauded with everyone else in the room. I like to think that's what we all collectively did for el salvador. We reached out to them in a moment of dire need. When our government was sending messages of death and destruction. We chose this in one of dignity. And worth. Switching back to the recent presidential election you can imagine though he was a journalist in the war and never carried a weapon. The propaganda against mauricio funes was fierce. It included some members of the us congress. Who hinted that if he was elected the us government would prevent salvadorans here from sending home the small regular remittances from their paychecks. The small remittances almost. 20 or $25. Amount over 1.2 billion dollars a year and a largest source of revenue of their gross national product. Of course it was against international law steven contemplate that. But it was part of the propaganda to defeat this man. There were rumors that this man who visited and pray that removes to the morning of his inauguration would destroy the church because the right-wing accused him. Like obama of being a communist. We help in the war. We helped rebuild lives and communities. And salvadorans only stood on their own feet again but they went to the ballot boxes in the face of death threats and intimidation giving voice to oscar rose promise. To rise again in the salvadoran people. That election was truly. A resurrection. In our time. The winning the election by only the slimmest of margins. 51%. Apple 6 months after the election showed that sooner had the support of nearly 72% of salvadorans. When i discovered that after all. He did not have horns and a tail. Usa does not work in el salvador today but we do work in 25 countries around the world. Gaza. The westbank. Iraq afghanistan burma. And though we are known for our work abroad we are very active. Here at home. Last we played a decisive role in helping to raise the minimum wage in kansas city and then the whole state of kansas from 265 an hour. To the federal minimum. Earlier this year we passed the bill in the california assembly and the senate. It would have guaranteed the human right to water to all residents of that state. Nevermind you can't cut off someone's electricity or gas in the winter coat. It would be detrimental to your health. And we think that there should be that same. Privilege about water that you can't cut off water to children because it'll be detrimental to their health this bill would have guaranteed that it had the unanimous support of the los angeles and san francisco city council's. But the governor refused to sign it. But we'll come back. We do this work. Around the world and end. Around the u.s.. With your support in two of those that helped us a lot in this congregation of the conrad's i'd like to ask them to. Sound. They are our local representatives here in. Help us to make people aware of what we do. + 2. Make special collections for katrina and rita or. The earthquake in pakistan or the tsunami in in south asia. I work at made possible. Because of your generosity. You can help a youth become a member for $10 a year. Seniors can become members for $20 a year and adults for $40 a year. Most people don't know that we do not receive any direct financial support from the uua the unitarian universalist association. We're independent of them. So on this thanksgiving sunday i thank you for what you have helped. Make possible both in el salvador over several decades and i thank you for what you made possible today here in burlington and. Throughout this country and around the world. We think of ourselves as a human rights organization that represents you. And your values everyday. In many parts of the world where oppression is being confronted. And justice is in short supply. May i continue to be so. I'm in.

uusociety_org

2011-11-06-2%20Sermon.mp3

So i looked at the liturgical calendar and i realized that there was going to be election day so i thought i would do this sermon faithful democracy in elections a reflection but it turns out. Not much of an election day. Not like the election day we had three years ago say. Or the one i suspect we will have a year from now. So maybe that's a good thing. It gives us the luxury of reflecting in a non frenetic. Non-partisan fashion. I'm what it means to be a religion that places the democratic process at the heart of our ethical principles. Outfits principal says we. The member congregations of the unitarian universalist association. Covenant to affirm and promote the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large. Two points there. One is about the ultimate source of authority. In matters ethical spiritual and religious. We give ultimate authority to the mind of the individual. The other. Is it a particular form of decision-making known as democracy. Is important enough to be elevated. To an article of faith. My calling ken collier. Wrote some commentary about this principle. He directs us back to the hebrew scriptures to locate early references to the primacy of conscience. Infirst king. The prophet elijah. Weary of trying to call those recalcitrant israelites back to their covenant. Please do the mountains and hides in a case. But he does not find refuge there. A voice tells him to go to the mouth of the cave. For the lord is about to pass by. Here's what happened. A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the lord but the lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake but the lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire but the lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. That gentle whisper. The still small voice of conscience we might call it. That was where the divine spoke. And guess what that gentle whisper said to elijah. And i'm paraphrasing now and not quoting. Elijah what are you doing up there. Get out of that cave and go back to work. And so he did. That same voice. Prompted michael servetus. To read the gospels and to say out loud what was so obvious and so dangerous. That there is no reference to the doctrine of the trinity. Theron. Just last week our association president peter morales traveled to spain to join the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of michael servetus. He wrote this in his blog. Imagine that an unknown twenty-year-old were to write a book today taking issue with some point of religious doctrine. Basing his arguments on his interpretation of text in hebrew greek and latin. I doubt anyone would notice. Michael servetus did that almost 500 years ago and it caused a firestorm. He was instantly condemned as a heretic and forced to live the rest of his life pretending to be someone else. His books were burned. Eventually he was burned at the stake and john calvin's geneva. His real crime of course was thinking for himself. He challenged the authority of the church and its hierarchy. Peter says i write these words from zaragoza spain where i just attended the two-day congress commemorating the 500th anniversary of servetus is birth. What amazing change. Servetus is now a cultural hero. Political leaders attended the opening and closing ceremonies. Spain once a bastion of the most conservative catholicism now allows gays to marry. Thousands come to villanueva every year and pay homage to servetus. Amazing change indeed. And reason for hope. Another you you call a girl who writes about this 5th principal. It is the elevation of individual conscience to the primary category of religious authority that has been the uniquely uniquely distinguishing characteristic of liberal theology. From william ellery channing time to our own. We believe that the individual conscience is the only legitimate source of religious authority. And that the purpose of the church is to grow and nurture individual conscience. The voice of conscience speak still. That voice has recently pushed me. To explore ways that we could be part of the grassroots movement for economic equality known as occupy wall street. Now we you use have a long history of support for economic justice delegates a general assembly is going back. In my memory to the early sixties have affirmed and reaffirmed that commitment in various statements is conscience. Uu minister dick gilbert several decades. Ago wrote a book and adult education curriculum about this called how much do we deserve. He talks in that book about a covenant approach to economic justice. Continental pragmatism he calls it which asserts that the needs of the poor take priority over the wants of the rich. The freedom of the dominated takes priority over the liberty of the powerful. And the participation of marginal group take priority over the order that excludes them. Now that language very much resonates with the language being used by the folks involved in occupy wall street. If you've gone to one of the general assembly's here in city hall park you've heard some of that language. Marginalized groups their voices step up other step down. This quote from the occupy wall street educational website says this. We are the ninety-nine percent. We are getting kicked out of our home we are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care we are suffering from environmental pollution. We're working long hours for little pay and no rights if we're working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1% is getting everything. We. Are the ninety-nine percent. Now occupy wall street is a diverse movement it's a lot of things but among them. They are alive lee and enthusiastic demonstration of the use of the democratic process. Strong democracy is benjamin barbara calls and participatory democracy. The process that we covenant to affirm and promote. It is also a movement that embodies both the right of individual conscience and a commitment to the common good. Occupy wall street is an awful lot like unitarian-universalism. Particularly in the way the movement is holding in dynamic tension those two polarities of. Individual rights. And communal living. Now maya directions with occupy wall street have inspired me to look at our 5th principal in a new way. To ask how do we hold those two polarities individual conscience. And the need to live together in community. How do we hold them in a creative tension in our congregation. How do we teach each other to balance the individual with the communal. I suspect that the people who crafted the statement of principles and purposes back in the 70s knew all too well that although the individual conference conscience and the practice of democracy are both essential to our health and well-being. As individuals and. As. A community. Neither of them by themselves are sufficient. To ensure a truly healthy and whole spiritual community. The promptings of the conscience may be enrolled hopes world words the primary category of religious authority. But i believe that left unchallenged they may not be sufficient as the only source of authority. It is too easy sometimes to be seduced into what i think of us and idolatry. Of the human mind. Mistakenly believing that anyone single solitary human mind can think it all. Mistakenly believing that because my mind has started it must be right and you must be idiots if you don't agree with me. That's idolatry it's mistaking. The part for the whole. Everyone of us. Needs. Everyone of us. In order to avoid that idolatry we need one another to correct the enthusiasm and excesses of our individual thinking. We need one another to keep ourselves honest. To make sure that the still small voice is genuine. And it's speaking with integrity. We need one another to be clear about what it is that is worth living for and sometimes worth dying for. We need one another to remind ourselves that practicing democracy faithfully sometimes means giving primacy. To the common good. Rather than our own individual. Wants their opinions. Covenant will democracy does not promise you that you will always get your way. If we all insisted on our own way all the time we would not have democracy we would have anarchy. Continental democracy is the assurance that though we may not in the end have our own way on a particular issue our voices will always be heard. That. Is what democracy sounds like. Now the practice of democracy of course has drawbacks and limitations as well. Winston churchill famously commented some of you know this that democracy is absolutely the worst form of government until you look at all the others. Thomas jefferson in his first inaugural address warned. All too will bear in mind this sacred principle. That do the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail that will to be rightful must be reasonable. That the minority possess equal rights which equal laws must protect. And to violate which would be oppression. Beware the tyranny of the majority. He said. Today he might look at the political situation in this country and stay with equal order. Beware the tyranny of the well-funded and fanatical minority. So the right of conscience. And the practice of democracy went into the same sentence the same principle because they act as correctives to each other. What we embrace and celebrate in this principle. Is a gathering. This gathering. Of less than perfect human minds and hearts. Committed to the practice of a less-than-perfect system. Of democratic governance. And there and we have the means to create. A less than perfect but good enough. Religious community. A religious community that offers of freedom. Well keeping us grounded and centered and connected to each other. Earl holt again said our religious lives are works in progress. This is obviously true individually but it is also true of our religious tradition as a whole. So we are organized. As a democracy. Because democracy to is a work-in-progress. It changes according to the changes desired and expressed by its constituency. Conscience and democracy work together. Though sometimes uncertainly. And always imperfectly. William ellery channing knew that. When he said that the purpose of the church was to develop the individual conscience the word he used was actually. To grow our souls. He called us to hunger thirst and seek after righteousness. To discover everywhere the radiant signatures of the infinite spirit. At the same time he warned us. To resist usurpations of society and the bondage of habit. Did the light in virtue and sympathise with suffering. Direct igniter in all human beings the image of god and the rights of god's children. In the practice of liberal religion today. There are times when the free individual mind. Offers itself up. A willing sacrifice to the cause of humankind. Enchanting say this matt resisting the evil of slavery. Which was. The democratically chosen law of the land. What does it mean in our day. George lakoff whose work i admire and some of you i suspect admired as well recently wrote a blog in the huffington post. I'm going to quote him at some length cuz. He's better at this than anyone i know. Democracy starts with citizens caring about one another and acting responsibly on that sense of care. Taking responsibility both for oneself. And for once family community country people in general and the planet. The role of government is to protect and empower all citizens equally via the public. Capital t capital o capital p the public. Public infrastructure laws and enforcement health education scientific research protection public labs transportation resources art and culture trade policies safety nets. And on and on. Nobody makes it on their own. If you get wealthy you dependent on the public. And you have a responsibility to contribute significantly to the public. So the others can benefit in the future. Moreover the wealthy depend on those who work and who deserve a fair return for their contribution to our national life. Corporations exist to make life easier for most people. Their reason for existing is as public as it is private. A disproportionate distribution of wealth robb's most citizens of access to the resources controlled by the wealthy. Mint & maxwell. He says is a thief. It takes resources from the rest of the population. The best places to live the best food the best education is the best health facilities access to the best in nature and culture the best professionals and so on. Resources are limited and great wealth greatly limits access to resources for most people. It appears to me that occupy wall street has a progressive moral vision and a few of democracy. And that what it is protesting is the disastrous effects that have come from operating with a conservative malik anomic and political worldview. I see occupy wall street as primarily a moral movement. Thinking economically and political changes to carry out that moral movement. I find laycoffs analysis compelling. And if i didn't know that he was writing about them i would have thought he may be with writing about us if you take out operation wall street he is describing exactly what we claim to be about as well. A progressive moral vision and view of democracy. We need to take this moral movement. That is so closely aligned with our unitarian universalist values seriously. And ask ourselves how we can more actively align ourselves with their causes and their actions. A small group of us have begun a conversation here about how to do that and i hope that some of you will join us on thursday november 17th in the evening. When we have the second round of that conversation. Help us think through the ways that we might work on issues of economic justice. A letter recently written by uu clergy in massachusetts and signed. Prominently by gary kowalski. Urges us to find ways to support. The occupy movement locally. In three ways logistically politically and faithfully. We. Here. Represent the faithful piece of that. How will we do that. Is there a still small voice to be heard on this issue. Is it telling us to leave our safe havens and get back to work. On the issues that have always been. Dear to our hearts. I want to tell you what still small voice i've been hearing these past few weeks. It's a voice that sounds an awful lot like pete seeger. Singing the refrain of an old song from the civil rights movement and the union movement before that. The refrain is which side are you on on yeah which side are you on. Pete seeger. A member of all souls unitarian church in new york city who at the age of 92 and leaning on to canes walk 30 block through manhattan last week. In an occupy wall street march. Which side are you on. Follow the promptings of your conscience. Pay attention to what is happening around you. In this congregation in city hall park. In the nation. Democracy is breaking out all over. I know it because i was in the gym at essex high school on friday morning and i saw 16 and 17 and 18 year-olds practicing. Democracy. I know it because i've been to city hall park. Because i've been in rooms with people who are deeply committed. Correcting the inequities of our current economy. Not in. Strident ways but in caring. Compassionate. And consistent ways. Democracy. Is breaking out all over do you see it to hear it. Let's join benjamin barber and pete seeger and the thousands of others around the nation. Who are saying. Faithfully. Democracy. Strong democracy. Now. We have a year. Until the next election day. What can we do. With that year. So that our next election. Really is an exercise in civil. Civic. Participatory. Democracy. Democracy.

uusociety_org

2012-04-15-2%20Sermon.mp3

Who knows how queen sip tea. Bay city with their pinky. Send it. So when the very regal queen in our story who clearly like to think for herself invited the enemy queen 2t. She was committing an act of radical hospitality. She confounded her advisor by making an enemy into a friend. Using the tea party. As a structure for. Bipartisan peace talks. Remember the good old days when the phrase tea party. Evoked polite conversations and well-mannered contentment. Don't get me star. Back to the story. Do two queens sip tea together. And by doing so they made it possible for their queendom to be transformed from warring animes. To conversing allies. From people living with a narrow-minded fear inspired dualistic kind of thinking. To broadly inclusive and relaxed. Sybaris. Ensure the children story this morning was about far more than just a very smart queen. It was about the creation of a radical associational infrastructure. What is she talking about this morning. Well i'll tell you. The theologian max stackhouse explains. Some religious political and cultural traditions have allowed and encouraged the development of an associational infrastructure. Exercising a minimum of coercion and interference. In these traditions the genuinely human is found in the twin reality that we are both social creatures. Requiring relatedness 2bwhole. And creative individual agents capable of making significant choices about that relatedness. We are in short. Associational beings with wills. So associational infrastructures are groups made up of people who freely choose to be together and freely determine the nature of that togetherness. Now can you imagine that anyone would be moved to wax poetic or philosophical about associational infrastructure. Give them time. It is here continue stackhouse that persons are decisively formed and brought to decisions about their lives. It is here that wider human sensibilities about justice beauty hope or meaning are nurtured or stunted. It is here that the deepest religious loyalties become concrete. Or dissipate. It is here that personal and social freedom lives or dies. Max stackhouse whether being poetic or philosophical or. Dance. Edited the set of essays written by james luther adams that this sermon series around the five smooth stones of liberal religion is based on. These ideas the focus of this irregular series this year. Pointed toward the philosophical sources out of which our faith emerged. My purpose is bringing them to you on sunday morning and an adult education on the first sunday afternoon of each month. Is to strengthen your faith. To reinvigorate this society to energize you for the work of personal spiritual growth. Community building. An outreach into the wider world. One of the identified tasks of interim ministry is to help you recognize and reclaim your unique identity. And i would be remiss if i didn't remind you often. That your primary identity. As individuals of faith is it you are unitarian universalist and that communal eura unitarian universalist. Congregation. James luther adam spencer significant portion of his life. Studying writing about and talking about the idea that people went allowed to both choose their groups and direct the nature of these groups. Blossom. Adams approach to study of voluntary association convinced of that there are two dangers that consistently threaten human freedom. Radical individualism on the one hand. An unthinking authoritarianism on the other. He saw the voluntary association as the structure that mediates between these two tendencies. People involved in intentional communities. Are unlikely to fall into the trap of isolation or excessive individualism. An intentional communities made up of people who freely choose their association are unlikely to fall victim to the practice of idolatry that adams had seen first-hand. In nazi germany. A major principle of religious liberalism wrote adams is it all relations between persons are ideally to rest on mutual freaking said and not coercion. Such a simple concept that it almost goes without saying. Most of us take it for granted. Most of the time not only because we're unitarian universalist people who have been truly exercise our right of conscience and religious matters. But also because we are americans. People whose entire political system is based on the principles of individual right free speech free association free religion. We in this sanctuary affirm the right of conscience both as religious people and as citizens. Now americans tend to think sometimes that we invented political democracy. And the philosophical ideas that undergird it. But one could argue that the philosophy of mutual on free consent developed first in religious institutions. Most particularly the free churches of the radical reformation. The basic beliefs of those early free churches was in adams words god works in history where free consensus appears under the great taskmasters i. In other words human beings are meant to be free and we were meant to work out our freedom. In groups. Those free churches that i speak of where the creation of our religious ancestors the anabaptists and others in the radical reformation who insisted that only at the age of reason. Could a person choose for themselves their own religious faith. You heard me say this before in the 1500s the idea of every adult choosing their own religion was quite radical. Proponents of this practice lost their lives and it's service. Birds at the stake as heretics or drowned in the rivers in a cruel parody of their radical churches practice of adult rather than infant baptism. We are the inheritors of their courage and their conviction. We've also unheard inherited that freedom from other people. Yesterday barry and i were walking down the church street marketplace place in. We saw park. In the circular driveway of the church here. Some. Suburbans. Now if you live in washington dc for 30 years you see a suburban you think. Secret service. What i said to bury what's the secret service doing parked in our driveway. We went and talked to them there were a couple of. National guardsmen in uniform there until i've went up to them and said jokingly so are you providing security for the largest cowbell ensemble in the world. And he said no. Ar. The vermont national guard has a diplomatic relationship with the defense department of macedonia. And the defense minister is here visiting we're providing security now i got to tell you who would have thought that i would be having on saturday afternoon i told them that they could park in our driveway anytime because one of the things i noted is that there weren't any drug deals happening on the steps of the church yesterday afternoon. And then. One of them asked me not said that i don't know much about unitarian universalism what's to sermon about tomorrow morning. And i told him and i told him about this idea of. Reminding ourselves to be grateful. People had died for our freedom. And he said. I would like that sermon. So let's think for a moment about what it means. To have received that legacy. Freedom. Right here. The stewardship campaign just ended. Now it's time to refine the budget for next year. Many of you i know gabe careful thought to what it cost to nurture and sustain this congregation and participated in good faith in the campaign. Two weeks from today and if you are a voting member you know this the board will ask you to gather in meeting to decide how to proceed with the budget process. Now to gather involuntary association to exercise your freedom. In deciding how to fund the operating budget for this self-governing self-sustaining voluntary association. Well that may sound boring but it is in fact a precious privilege. And i hope that you will treat it as such by being present. And being informed. And being civil. This is how you receive the legacy of religious freedom by exercising it. And you are presents. Such a precious commodity doesn't cost you a cent. Every sunday. Everyone of you make the choice to come to worship. In so doing you essentially reconstitute this voluntary association with your presence. More than that. To my way of thinking you make this room holy by your presence. People suffered in an earlier age so that today we could freely come together. Physical torture broke their bodies but neither prison or banishment or death could break their spirit. Or the ideas behind that spirit. And the spirit of the principle of free association lives on. And you know what. Every time you show up. For church. Every time you wake up on sunday morning and make the decision to grace this room with your presence. You redeem. The lives of those who sacrifice themselves. On the altar of freedom. Simply by showing up. Like every freedom given to us this freedom laser clement us. An obligation to exercise it regularly and gratefully. Don't take for granted this privilege of choosing the location and style. And philosophy of your worship life. Don't take for granted this. Privilege of associating freely with those people who share the sanctuary with you this morning. Don't take for granted. Concept. That. In america there is no established religion anymore there are those who would like. Change that. And we can't let them. They can't let them. Would you take a minute right now to look around this room. Look at the people who have exercise their freedom and chosen to associate with you today. And now if you're looking around. Look for the people who are not here. Think about the folks who were members of this society at one time but for various reasons have drifted away. Perhaps some of them would drift back if they knew they were missed. If a particular individual or family comes to mind somebody used to enjoy seeing or talking to. And you realize that you haven't seen them for a while. I'd like to ask you to make a commitment to jot down their names on your lovely liturgically purple order service. And then go home this afternoon and give him a call. And let them know that they were missed. And now. Think about the people. Who have been here once or twice or maybe you're here for the first time this morning. And they're not yet comfortably apart. Of this society. Would you be willing to reach out to a newcomer and try to make this congregation more welcoming to them. The membership committee just completed a new uu class we will be introducing our newest members to you early next month. But you don't have to wait for a formal ceremony or a special day. I'd like to ask you to make a commitment this morning to seek out somebody. You don't know. Whether they're brand new or just new to you and talk to them after the service. Instead of making a beeline for your friends or worse yet the people you need to conduct business with. Make a beeline for the people who need you most. The people who are standing there with a coffee cup in their hand looking around hopefully. Thinking maybe someone will. Tumi. Remember that nifty phrase every member is a member of the membership committee. In a radically hospitable voluntary association. Live that out this morning and every sunday morning and we will be that warm welcoming place. Historically going back to jim adams. The more profound forms of religious liberalism began in the modern world at the protest against the khleevi obstacle pecking orders. See i can't order you. To be nice to new people. I can only suggest it. Contemporary unitarian universalism with his radical commitment to the power of the local congregation and its membership is a perfect example of an associational structure that lives out that protest in a positive and healthy way. This protest he continues often found its action in the basic see logical assertion that all our children of one god. Or perhaps to use the language in of our first principle. Everyone. Is born. Within her parent worth and dignity. What adams meant by that he said is it all persons by nature potentially share in the deepest meanings of existence. All have the capacity for discovering or responding to saving truth. And all responsible for selecting and putting into action the right means and ends of cooperation for the fulfillment of human destiny. Okay that's a big. Order isn't it. That by choosing to come together on sunday morning you are in fact responsible. For selecting and putting into action the right means and ends for the fulfillment of human destiny. That we were only responsible for a little slice of it not the whole thing. Unless you feel overwhelmed by that. And we did that this morning. Some of you perhaps arrived an hour early so that you could take part in the dedication of our banner. The new banner that you voted for that says we stand freakonomics justice. The banner that are. Hardie group marched up and down church street you see some of the signs still placed around the room. It's out there now on the front lawn and all its glory if you haven't seen it yet take a look after the service today. The banner of course is just the beginning. Banner isn't the end it's the beginning. Or the middle of a conversation about how we do infact bring about a more just economically system here in burlington here in vermont. Hair donation. As with all other things. We. Begin with the belief. That all human beings have the potential to be good persons. In search of their own truth. But for a religious liberal belief is not enough. We. Have to ask. The action peace requires that we come together and relations based on mutual and free consent. And that together we seek out the ways in which that inherent worth and dignity can be actualized. In all of us. And not just those of us in this room. But all of us. We think we into it we believe we gather. We speak. We act. And therefore we are. We are a prime example of an associational infrastructure. Maybe you don't like that academic language maybe we should go back to. Lynn ungar. Pay.on to crabgrass. Don't you think there are things worth holding onto with a thousand arms. 10000 gripping toes. The first unitarian universalist society of burlington. Is such a thing. So let us follow lynn's advice and. Consider carefully. Where we have put our routes.

uusociety_org

2011-12-18-2Sermon%20Finkelstein.mp3

I want to start out by assuring you that i love being a minister spouse. Even when it requires a quick change of plans. You see i was in washington this week thinking about the music i was going to fly at the second service this morning actually practice in my head looking at the music which i read other people do too. When i got an email from stephen telling me that someone. Name with your interim minister reverend roberta. Suggested that i would be a good emergency fill-in candidate for this morning service. So here we are saying that i would frame this this talk about my beliefs on both religion and my marriage to said reverend roberto. Kind of like that you'll see that's other sally and i noticed this morning that they were quite a few parallels in our in our stories but. Like sally i grew up in a in a home that didn't have much in the way of organized religion. Are we we practice kind of cultural religion but didn't really. Going for the the beliefs or the face side of things so. Some of this is is relatively new to me all learned as an adult. Both us any single thing that i've learned in the 37 years of our marriage and the more than 40 years that we've been together. Yes indeed that marriage is a religious experience. One that requires and embraces all of the important religious ideas. I think of faith and trust and hope. And love and joy and sorrow and struggle and grace. And maybe most important hard work. I understood all of this at some level even before i discovered organized religion. And certainly long before i was the minister spouse. The marriage means building a religious community. That is two or more people coming together and sticking together. And committing to each other to do wonderful things. To use another religious word it is a covenant. So far about three things that i wanted to share with you that i find. Help make. Our relationship work and i think from what i've seen they helped make our unitarian universalist congregation work as well. How the force is embracing our differences. And recognizing that we complement each other in so many ways. Whataburger and i have a lot in common we are also very different. Learning to understand and even love the differences not just accept them but really love them. Is a key to our marriage. We speak quite a bit in our congregations about diversity. Well for roberta and me embracing our differences makes our relationship stronger and more unified. Okay little bit about some areas where we're different. For those of you familiar with myers-briggs. Roberta is a very strong jay. I see i see a lot of heads nodding roberta is a very strong jay while i'm a pretty solid pee. And without the gory details what that means is that roberta is very organized disciplined tidy. Always on time and so on. And i well let's just say that i'm none of those things. Go to court sometime for this difference not to drive either of us crazy. Or really i should say not to drive roberta crazy because i don't think weepies are driven crazy by much of anything. Which is a good thing i say nothing was to figure out compromises that we both could live with. I'm content to let roberta apply all of her janus to some parts of our lives. And she has left others to me on my casual ways. This works because for the most part were able to avoid second-guessing each other or trying to change one another. I'm not saying we don't fight about things but we're able to do it in a spirit that recognizes that we are different. On the pulse of our ways of being contribute to the relationship. Music is another interesting area where we're different. We both love much of the same music although might taste to run a bit more eclectic. But what i've learned is that what's most important to roberta about music is the words. While i pay very little attention to the lyrics. I see them nearly as vehicles for carrying melody and harmony and rhythm. So i'm content to sing the dumbest of lyrics really loud. In the car if i like the music i just don't care what it says. And i'm quite sure that even after all these years roberta just doesn't get that. Do i become aware that over the years we've become more open with each other about our differences. We really do try to go beyond tolerance and move toward embrace. Creating a ritual unity from our diversity. As lesson that i'd like to share with you is the need for what i call mutuality. Supporting one another's biggest dreams. I think of terms like life partners in soulmates to use it a phrase that that's. Sally used. Please do not characterize the way we feel about each other. As much as they described the relationship we've consciously work to build. I'm only on roberta and i decided that we would be partners in just about everything that we do. We share responsibility for all decisions. And make major decisions only after carefully weighing the impact on both of us. We also have a deep commitment to pursuing each other's dreams no matter how wild they might sometime soon. I'll never forget the exact moment when roberta told me of her decision to become a minister. We just finished lunch in georgetown and we were out taking a walk and some washington dc. And she just dropped this bombshell. Out of nowhere. That she was going to go on to seminary and become a minister. Likely to do that. What were some moments of shocked it became obvious to me that this was really what she had to do at this point in her life. And i quickly lined up to support her. By the time our walk was over and we we had the start of some vague plans about how to make this happen. And she did the same for me when i announced also out of the blue. But i could no longer stand to run the company's subsidiary of which i was president. It was more than a little scary to give up a stable well-paying job and start down the unknown path of being an independent consultant. With no clients and only the vaguest of plans. In both cases we were able to talk with each other share our dreams at our fears. And figure out how to realign our lives to make the dreams come true. This facet of our relationship holsters are self-confidence and and each of our individual strengths. And i know with absolute certainty that roberta will be there for me. And do whatever can be done to help me pursue my dreams as i do the same for her. I'm reminded of the words from a grateful dead song ripple this is one i do pay attention to the words of. It goes like this if you should stand then who's to guide you. If i knew the way i would take you home. We may not always know the way. But we are there standing for each other helping us. Be strong and see our dreams come home. And maybe the most important thing is a sense of priority. There's nothing more important to me than my relationship with roberta then my marriage. Not my career not my financial security really nothing. Priority means taking time for each other. And it also means making decisions that put the relationship first. We both have many interests hobbies friends. But we are always sure to make time and energy for each other. Thinking of our marriage has the highest priority simplifies our decision-making process. Thunderbird was planning to attend seminary. She didn't seriously consider going to one of the unitarian universalist seminaries which were out of town one in chicago and wanted in berkeley. Even though this would have offered some obvious advantages. When the choices the better compromise seemed to be to stay in the washington area where we were living. And not sprained or relationship or our family. I'm not saying this is the right kind of choice for for every couple every partnership. But the keys are to have clarity about your priorities. Make the choices that reflect those priorities and put your most important relationship first. So i've learned that like religion marriage is a process not an in-state for a goal. It's fluid open ever-changing ever-growing. It's like a living thing. I like all living things must grow and change to survive. It requires acceptance of some chaos. Which inspires the new growth. It requires nurture care and work. The successful marriage doesn't just happen. And being in love is not enough. To stay together in love through the hard times as well as the good times requires hard work and deep faith. Both in oneself and in one another. I've also learned. That the future will be nothing like the past. And yet will be everything like the past. We'll see new challenges to be dealt with a new dreams to be nurtured. And we have no idea what these will be. When roberta started in ministry we had never heard of interim ministry. And yet here we are. On this path of moving around the country every year or two. And loving every minute of it. Well almost every minute except for the moving part. And while we may not always know where we are headed. We do know that we'll be there for each other. We've done it before we know how to do that. And we have to face and love to continue on the journey.

uusociety_org

2012-09-16-2Sermon.mp3

An old friend emailed me recently with a tongue-in-cheek question. Stair roberta. I sort of a unitarian. The sort of count in these troubling times kindly provide theological counseling for me after you've weighed the evidence. Be evident with typical of him he provided in some considerable detail was genealogical. He had discovered in his family tree a different real distant relationship to william ellery channing. I emailed back and said this is certainly an interesting story but i'm sorry to tell you that nothing about this sort of makes you a unitarian unlike some religions where religious identity is inherited. With unitarian-universalism you have to actually choose it. William ellery channing your distant relative set of our faith. No one can be excommunicated but by the death of goodness in their own heart. The obverse is also true. We are a classic voluntary association. Or in the words of reverend forest church. Unitarian universalist are neither a chosen people nor a people whose choices are made for them by theological authorities ancient or otherwise. We are people who choose. For most of us our faith did not choose us we chose it. No that is true whether we have been unitarian-universalist for generations as is true of some of you in this room. Or since birth as is true with me and probably others of you in this room. Or since the time in your adult life when you chose out of your previous faith in into this one and for some of you that may have just happened half an hour ago. The classic definite but you chose out the classic definition of heretic is one who chooses out. As a religious movement we did that. We chose out of orthodoxy out of doctrine and dogma out of religious hierarchy and out of creed's. But we also choose in. Do we not. We choose into a community of faith. We choose into a set of shared ethical principles. We choose into a way of being together that is mutually supportive and respectful. That nourishes our souls and challenges our minds and offers us opportunities for acts of kindness and compassion and justice. Well we proudly and rightly a from the inherent worth and dignity of every person we also know that we are made whole in relationship. We are each and everyone of us worthy but we are better together. That is why we seek out and join congregations. As worthy individuals we need the encouragement and thus energy that comes. From companionship. Now we did not invent the idea of choosing our faith companions. The earliest christian communities before christianity became the religion of the empire. Were voluntary associations they knew that the way to nurture their emerging movement was to stick together. They gathered in order to strengthen and encourage and sometimes protect each other. And spread their good news. Their persuasive power came not from institutional authority but from the integrity of their message and their way of being together. They were a covenanted community. As are we. At least implicitly. I believe that congregations are strongest and healthiest and most effective when the members make an explicit and intentional commitment to each other. When they covenant together. You you historian conrad right says that in a free church it is the covenant that gives form to the group. A covenant he right involves a sense of commitment. Even the freest a free churches needs that much discipline if it is to last long enough to accomplish anything of value in this world. Throughout our history we religious liberals have struggled with detention. Between honoring individual autonomy and creating communities strong enough to achieve something of value in this world. Part of the impetus for the founding of the american unitarian association back in 1825. What's the desire to be as effective as the evangelicals had become at the time. Does that sound familiar. The formation of the american u-turn association wasn't facts followed by a period of unparalleled. Progressive impact on society known as the golden age of unitarianism. We were active in all manner of social reform movements from abolition to women's suffrage to public health and education. And now i will for you an opportunity to best your companions at 9. Because after that sentence i said. Public schools public libraries public health clinic we built that. Not if you watch the republican convention did you that was their model we built that i'm taking it back okay. Everybody fails the republican convention junction. Sometimes you gotta pay attention. Back to what it says here. Walter harris. Wrote a book about the power of covenants in unitarian universalism. And he urged us not to mistake the legacy of radical freedom for a chaotic anything-goes approach to our congregational life. He wrote it is a mistake to assume that embracing. Freedom excuses us from exercising institutional effectiveness. We are and i quote. Individual overachievers and institutional underachievers. Now the corrected to that of course is to be intentional about. Our connections to one another. That is why i believe explicit covenanting is so important in your life and faith together. In the context of freedom. Giving some structure to your relationships will make it possible for you to experience. Congregational life that is fruitful affirming and safe for all of you. A decade or more ago i served on the commission on appraisal which is a nationwide body elected by the general assembly and charged with studying any aspect of association of life that we thought needed attention. We had undertaken a study of the meaning of membership. In our movement. We noted that the word community had become something of a catch word in american religion. Yet many people who expressed a yearning for spiritual community wanted nothing to do with organized religion. The reality we wrote boldly. Is that you cannot have one without the other. And it is part of the church's job to lead people to that discovery. It is the job of this congregation to lead its members to the discovery that in order to grow your souls expansively and to be an effective force for the values you espouse you need to make some promises to each other and ask them things of each other. Promises that will give form to your shared life in faith. Promises that will ensure that this. Flawed imperfect. Human community. When covenanted. Can make you all better than any of you could hope to be alone. So what is it that i'm talkin about this covenant. Here's the definition that i learned. Years ago. Covenant. Is the central unifying promised for commitment that binds our religious community together involuntary loyalty. It grows from an affirmation of shared needs values purposes and principles. As such it is rooted in the past in the tradition of the congregation. And reflects the embodiment of the promise through history. It is a promise made in the present with implications for the future. A central unifying promised finding a community together involuntary loyalty. Something that emerges organically out of an ongoing conversation about shared needs values purposes and principles. Rooted in the particular history of a particular congregation reflective of the narrative arc of that particular congregation. Made in the present. With implications for the future. So how. Does a group of people create a covenant. Well. You have. An ongoing conversation. About what you have in common. What you yearn for in common. What you are willing to be loyal to. And what you are willing to sacrifice for the common good. You tell the stories of your past and you ask yourself what is to be learned from them. Even when the learning is pointed or painful. You make room for all voices to be heard particularly voices from the margins. There are two spiritual practices essential to the creation and the maintenance of covenant. And they are trust. And forgiveness. In the most recent uu world magazine president peter morales wrote about trust. I'm going to re-quote from him. A little bit at mike's here. Reflect for a moment about a time someone put his or her trust in you. Recall a time when someone believes in you enough to say i know you can do this i have complete faith in you. What an empowering message that is. What a precious gift we give. When uri place trust in someone else. We talked a lot about the centrality of covenant in our faith about how we are united in covenant rather than by creed. Trust. Make covenant possible. I cannot enter into a covenant with someone i do not trust. Where trust is strong a covenant is durable. Where trust is weak. The words of covenant mean little. Yet there is a strong tradition of distrust in our movement. We were born in rebellion against religious oppression. Religious and civil authorities who in fact betrayed trust. We have inherited a strong anti-authoritarian streak. Sometimes that is good. Often. It is. Learning to earn one another's trust and to empower one another is ultimately a spiritual practice. I can only trust you if i am willing to let go of some control. I can only trust you if i stop insist stop insisting on doing everything my own way. We can only earn each other's trust. If we take the time to know one another. Trust has to grow over a. of time. It has to be nurtured. Trust is what love looks like when it has matured. When love has deepened when love aspires to a common purpose. The next time you gather with your fellow you use ask yourself how much you trust them and how much they trust you. What can you do to grow trust. To empower one another. Together we can do amazing things together we can create the world we dream of. But we can only do all this if we learn to trust one another. And quote. So you talk together about your aspirations your disappointments your hopes and dreams. And you walk together. In worship. In teaching and learning in advocacy in raking and weeding. In making music. And you learn to trust each other. And you create a congregational covenant. This morning and for the rest of this month you will have the opportunity to reflect on two questions. That will form the basis of your shared covenant. First. What promises would you like people here to make to you. In order for the first uu society of throwing to be a. To be a safe place where you can grow your soul. And second. What promises are you willing to make. Two people here. In order. Where the first uu society of burlington. Tune to be a safe place for everyone to grow their soul. You're not allowed to answer the first question and not the second. Members of the interim task collaboration team and i will be circulating in social hour and it meetings. Over the next month with our instant covenant kitces blue-and-yellow index cards. You'll be given one card of each color and ask to answer those two questions on the cards. What promises do you need what promises will you make. If you give them back to one of us you can put them in my office door and the color coded envelopes. You can even email me. The answers and you don't have to worry about color coding. We will call it your responses. Look for commonalities and then present to you a draft of a congregational covenant for your reformation. I don't know what it will say because it will be your covenant. Not mine. I hope though. Did it will say something about. Your intention to bring your best self to this place. I hope it will say that you will honor the diversity of opinions and experiences amongst you. That you will listen. More carefully even then you speak. And that you hold each other accountable for the quality of your shared life in faith. I don't know what your covenant will say. But there is one thing i know for sure. No matter what it says. Or how enthusiastically you affirm it. The time will come when it will be broken. John morgan and tom sulak. Write about covenants the power of a covenant is its dynamic capacity to confront broken promises. Engender forgiveness re-establish relationships and renew commitments. No matter how profoundly you trust no matter how hard you try. You are at some point going to have to forgive yourselves and each other for breaking your covenant. And i can tell you from experience. That your covenant will be much stronger. When it has been broken and repaired than it was when it was something of an imaginary ideal. If. And this is a big if. If you are courageous enough to acknowledge the brokenness. If you can find a way. Hold each other and yourselves accountable for the brake not through blame. But through mutual acknowledgement. If you're willing to put aside self-righteousness and. Make and receive amends. If you can forgive. Cuz forgiveness is the second essential spiritual discipline of a covenanted people. And forgiveness. Is another whole sermon. For another day. I will just. Offer you this from. Dag hammarskjold wonderful spiritual autobiography called marking. Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle. By which one is broken is made whole again. What is soiled is again made clean. The dream explains why we need to forgive. And why we must be forgiven. So dreaming. And making miracles. Are not necessarily the business of the rational mind their business. Of the heart and soul. As we begin the exercise of creating covenant. I earned every one of you to bring your minds and hearts and souls to the process. It's september. The new church year is beginning. And the theme of the month. Is covenant. Let's pause for a moment in silence. So that i can give you some time to imagine what you might write on those two cards. About. The promises you make and the promises you hope for. The theme of the month. This covenant. The making and exchanging of promises. What better way to begin a new year together and trust. In faith. And in love. May your aspirations. Become. Your reality.

uusociety_org

2012-03-25-2%20Sermon.mp3

Back in the 1980s and i were the co-chairs of the social responsibilities committee at the uu church in arlington virginia. We became aware of the plight of salvadoran immigrants who. Black and proper papers were facing deportation back to a place of chaos civil war. Economic probation and possibly deaths at the hands of cruel men who had. Undoubtedly been trained and armed by the united states of america. We began a process of education and then advocacy that let us to join the sanctuary movement. Declaring that are. Sanctuary they are in arlington would be a safe place for refugees to stay. The sanctuary movement was inspired by a verse from hebrews a book in the christian bible. Do not neglect to offer hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. By our actions we were invoking an ancient notion of hospitality common to all the abrahamic faiths to judaism christianity and islam. We're also involving the right of asylum illegal. Idea that can be traced back to ancient egypt. And the hebrew hebrew and greek civilization. And we were invoking the notion of sanctuary common. In early christianity. Where it was understood that someone who feared for their life. Could. Take refuge in a church. And their pursuers would not follow them through the doors. We assume that even in america in the 1980s that comment agreement would hold. That federal agents would not enter a church to arrest someone who had. Committed no crime other than being in a place for which they did not have and could not get the proper papers. The distinction is often made between political refugees and economic refugees. Unfortunately for salvadorans back then our american government wasn't willing to recognize that our regime we were supporting could produce political refugees. And the notion that someone might be entitled to our protection just because they came from a place where no matter how hard they work they couldn't feed their family. That notion was dismissed out of hand. We learned a lot back then about a complicated issue. We learned enough to make the decision to commit congregation wide civil disobedience by welcoming those. Mented refugee families into our religious home and protecting them. Since then the issue of immigration has become even more complicated and more ideologically partisan more steeped in fear and disinformation. And for all those reasons more urgent for unitarian universalist to be involved in. Because we are people safe to celebrate the use of reason. We are not deterred by an issue too complicated to reduce the simplistic sound bites. We are people of faith who was who have always understood the distinction between human rights. That is those rights inherent to all persons. And the civil rights that a particular state or nation deems appropriate. For particular groups of people at particular times. Theodore parker. Was it fiery unitarian preacher who risked his job and his life when he. Declared his public opposition to the fugitive slave act. It is sad and i always think he should be my role model that he wrote his sermons with a pistol on his desk next to his manuscript. For protection. At the time. Many northerners were silent on the issue of slavery. Since they no longer allowed the legal holding slaves in northern states. Folks of goodwill in the north had convinced themselves that. It was not their problem. Despite the fact that the simplest economic analysis would demonstrate that norther is still benefited economically from slavery. Every garment made from the cotton. Planted and harvested by slaves cost less. That it would have if southern plantation owners were paying a fair wage for work done. Which were while many northerners were able to convince themselves that they were free of the moral taint of slavery. The fugitive slave act was one act too far it compromise that carefully drawn. Moral line by forcing citizens of northern states to return fugitive slaves to their owners. The moral repugnance. Of being actively involved in the slave trade galvanized many northerners to join the abolition movement. Peter parker wrote and spoke extensively on their behalf. Saying at one time i do not pretend to understand the moral universe. The ark is a long one. My eye reaches but little ways i cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by experience of scythe. I can divine it by conscience. And from that i see i'm sure it bends towards justice. Now when he wrote those words keep in mind it was legal to own human being. And to work them to death in order to maximize profit. It was illegal to teach them to read. What to offer them assistance as they fled across borders. Whether that border was the mason-dixon line or more relevant in this community the 59th parallel. Canada. But our faithful ancestors were able to make the distinction between inherent rights and capriciously. Ordained and denied civil rights. They knew something. About transcending boundaries. Now fast-forward. A little over 100 years to the 1960s. Martin luther king often peppered his speeches with quotations. From those abolitionist. And he invokes parker's words although more concisely and poetically i have to say. When he said the moral arc of the universe is long but it bends towards justice. According to christopher walton the editor of the uu world. Unitarian universalist association was not quite four years old when the reverend doctor martin luther king sent an urgent telegram. To its boston headquarters on march 7th 1965. Asking religious leaders and concerned citizens to join him in selma alabama. Where african-americans marching for their right to vote had been brutally attacked. By police officers. Two of the unitarian universalist who responded to king's appeal paid with their lives. Anyway that's you deaf do the murders of the reverend james reeb. And. A layperson viola liuzzo help change the course of history. We've had been in alabama less than a day when white assailants attacked him and two other uu ministers on a selma sidewalk. Fatally injuring him with a blow to the head. Ribs death on march 11th 1965 inspired nationwide protests memorial services and called for federal action. Giving president lyndon johnson the political cover he needed. The introduce new voting rights legislation. 4 days after reeves death johnson invoked his memory calling him that good man. As he introduced the voting rights act. To joint session of congress. That good man who gave his life in selma. Is the man one of your rooms downstairs is named after. When you have a meeting in rehab do you ever think about jim reed walking down the sidewalk and selma. Beset by angry men armed with baseball bats. Do you ever think about the fact that in 1965 jim crow laws were still in effect. And the actions of people challenging them were illegal. What a great way to honor james reeb not to name a room after him but to reinvigorate the movement that he died for. The movement for inherent human rights for all persons. A movement of courage and compassion. That helps us to transcend boundaries. Now fast-forward another. Forty or so years. Fear mongers have whipped up a frenzy of anti-immigration sentiment among people who legitimately are anxious. About a week and unstable economy. The solutions to our economic situations are complex and require patience and sacrifice. How much simpler to heap blame on the most vulnerable and marginalized persons in our midst. They are taking our jobs they are leeches they get benefits they don't pay for they are criminals. They destabilise our community their needs will overwhelm our educational and health care system. Anti-immigration rhetoric cast of frightening vision that closes minds and hardens hearts. Fortunately. We have role models offering us alternative visions. Visions born out of compassion and faith rather than fear and disillusionment. One of them. Is an organization called no mas muerte's no more death. Their slogan is humanitarian aid is never a crime. And this is the preamble to their statement of principles. We come together as communities of faith and people of conscience to express our indignation and sadness over the continued death. Of hundreds of migrants attempting to cross the us mexico border each year. We believe that such death and suffering diminishes us all. We share a face and a moral imperative that transcends borders. Celebrate the contributions of immigrant peoples and compels us to build relationships that are grounded in justice and love. Are tucson uu congregation is a member of this organization. Which provides water. And other life-saving supplies to desperate people attempting to cross the desert. To arrive at the promised land. That do you know that you live in the promised land. That's us. We are the promised land. How sad and absurd it is that these volunteers from nomas birthday. Have been ticketed and charged with littering. Of all things. Boy shades of alice's restaurant in the anti massacree movement. But the reason they've been charged with littering is because. Our government could think of no other crime. To charge them with. And felt that they had to do something. They had to do something. Because the darker side of that image. Their crime is leaving life-saving jugs of water. Along known migrant routes. So that. Children. And women and men don't die of thirst in the desert. To call that littering. Suggest that the water. As well as its intended recipients are no better than garbage. And now another song comes to mind. The radio says they were just deportees anybody remember. Look it's complicated i know immigration reform is complicated. But it's worth the effort to learn something about it and to make educated decisions. In fact doing just that is downright countercultural these days. Nothing is more appalling to me about contemporary american culture than the anti-intellectual backlash. Which seems to be gripping our nation. When teachers are denigrated as leeches. When science is dismissed as part of a war on religion. When emotion and reactivity and fear are elevated above reason. Then it's time once again for liberal religion to assert itself. As the champion of the well-thought-out and informed. Decision making process. It is hard i know to visualize a way through the current immigration morass. But we owe it to ourselves and to our neighbors and to our ancestors and to our principles to do just that. Now i'll warn you that if you did get involved with this issue you may find yourself in the heated conversation with a friend or relative or neighbor. All too often you will hear a variation on this. It's simple they're here illegally they have no civil rights they're not entitled to anything from us and helping them is against the law. Perhaps you could respond. The underground railroad was illegal. But it was moral. The young people who sat down at segregated lunch counters in mississippi we're breaking the law. But their actions were moral. Our faith ancestors in every generation have known that sometimes what is legalism morrow. The inherent human rights trump the short-sighted. Legal denial of civil rights. And compassion. Trump's legal technicalities. Tell them all of that. And then left you start feeling a wee bit self-righteous as avanti on did. Ask yourself how do i benefit. From the migrant labour system. Because it's simple economic analysis suggests that without a doubt every one of us does. Do you eat. Fresh fruit. Who picked it. Do you drink milk. Seaweed in restaurants. Everyone of us benefits. From that system. Just as surely as the citizens of non-slave states benefited from slavery so do we all benefit. From the exploitative system of migrant labor. Just one more reason. To get involved. Messing with you probably know that added general assembly several years ago the delegates you. Voted to make immigration reform the subjective a multi-year study action project. As a result study materials have been created for congregations wishing to delve into the issue. After the service in the parlors you can find several. Tables of information. One of them has a little half-page handout with links to all the websites. Pua has created. Giving you more information about this issue. The other. From. Dave clark and tell me what organization we have gas. Migrant justice of vermont. Yes okay. And so you can speak to them welcome thank you for being here this morning. If we stand they will be happy to speak with you afterwards. In june of this year are general assembly will be in phoenix arizona. The epicenter of the immigration. Reform movements. We agonized we in our denomination about whether to go to phoenix or to move the general assembly to a more. Politically congenial state. The decision to go with made by the delegates. Significantly influenced by a personal plea from leaders of immigrants rights movements in arizona who came to general assembly last year and asked us to come rather than boycott asked us to come and stand with them and speak with them. Could you are interested in learning about this issue and doing some local advocacy work lead you to phoenix for the first-ever justice general assembly in june. I'm excited at the thought of being part of this historic experiment. Will you join me. I'm going to phoenix to stand with no mas muerte's. And the arizona immigration ministry and other community partners. I know that theater parker and james reid and viola liuzzo will be there standing with me. We will stand with those who most need us. Those who were denied the inherent human rights that we enjoy. And you don't need to be in phoenix to stand with us. All you have to do is take one small step. If this is a relatively new issue for you. Look at one app website. Read one pamphlet read one book there's all kinds of materials out there learn a little more. If you already feel like you were informed. Talk to someone. That you haven't yet talked to about it. There are so many things to do so many ways to help. We have information we have resources and we have ideas. Will you talk with us think with us engage with us. Will you stand with us. Once again on the side of love. Here's something you can all do. This morning one half of our loose plate will be donated to the vermont refugee resettlement project. An organization that helps refugees and immigrants gain personal independence. And economic self-sufficiently. It must be spring. In the moment. The offering baskets will. The cast from hand-to-hand i invite you to give generously. Both for the ongoing work of this congregation. And for the month vermont refugee resettlement project.

uusociety_org

2009-10-18-2%20Sermon.mp3

Great works of art. Ar. Sometimes very often. Anonymous nobody really knows the names of the craft people the masons who built those. Wonderful cathedrals of the middle ages. But it's curious it's surprising that there still a controversy over who exactly. Designed and helped to build this meeting house. That stands here at the top of church street. This match is agreed on. Our congregation prior to that point was holding its services in the local courthouse. But in the spring of 1815. A meeting took place in barnard's tavern. Where presumably malt beverages were available to help elevate the spirits to purchase 5 acres of overgrown pasture known as a lot 17 to the north of pearl street is the side of a future to church. But those present quote. May be enabled to worship almighty god conformably to the dictates of their consciences. In a manner suitable to the religion they profess. Why you can't have a church gathering without a collection and one was taken 57 subscribers. They came up with $11,585. I have a second collection a subscription that had 14 more contributors that raised about another thousand dollars but it was still well short of the money they needed to begin their project. Been three extremely generous. Donors came through we do know their names et inglesby. Horace loomis and john pomeroy but their help. Another. 10000. Was raised enough to actually hire an architect. And begin to build. A very. Bold. Because burlington at that time was not at all the largest municipality in this state it was still a relatively primitive outpost the population was about 2,000. This lot where the meetinghouse now sits. Was forested there was a gully or ravine just off to the west. The headlines from the northern sitting all which was the town's newspaper that time remind us that this was a different era. President madison. Was asking congress for power to enforce the neutrality act. In. Danville vermont and indentured servant age 15 head runaway his master promising to pay $0.01 reward. For his quick return. This report from london. All reports about the escape of bonaparte. Are unfounded. A local apothecary advertisers anti bilious pills. Well travelers are informed that the trip from washington to quebec can now be accomplished in only. 7 days with a degree of ease unequaled anywhere in the world. But despite these signs of progress vermonters were suffering. A letter dated from midsomer complains. Night before last. Beans. Cucumbers. Squashes. All. Kill this was the summer that it frosted. In july in fact when there was frost. Every month of the year here in the green mountain state mount tambora had exploded in indonesia the greatest eruption in recorded history. Drought added to the cold belts for tightening. But our ancestors instead of flinching or faltering decided to forge ahead they erected the structure from the cornerstone to the spire in only. 7 months. In his address to this congregation a century ago on the 100th anniversary of our founding our minister at that time reverend charles staples had this to say. Ever since coming to this town. Becoming acquainted with this building i have been amazed at this expenditure. Where i asked did the money come from. Certainly not from outside sources it wasn't borrowed what the bill left for others to settle. This undertaking was interred on immediately after a burdensome war that would have been the war of 1812 alternate lee. Unsuccessful and disastrous which must in this region have left values. Alarmingly unsettle. There was much loss of property guild to be spared in a frontier town many out of work all enterprises commercial and education aladdin abandoned the value of currency was inflated. The site where we gather now he says. With almost wild covered with a scrub locust and pine. Streets hardly discernible the house is widely scattered only a few standing yet between. The top of church street in the lower area of the lake. Make these facts vivid to your imagination. And you'll realize that these people our forbearers win. Deeper into their pockets than any of you generous folks have ever done there's only one conclusion he says. The builders of what ida liked think they called their brick meetinghouse believe. In their religion. And its importance. And it goes on to relate how. Timbers work. Hewn from. Nearby browns river valley for the roof 66 ft long 14in by 14 how. 60 thousand singles were needed to cover the roof half-a-million breaks all the nails hammered out by hand. But who actually. Conceived this edifice. It's been for many years something of a mystery to whom we are indebted for the design of this building staples can find. The mystery has been lifted but at the same time deepened by the discovery of receipts. From to boston architects of the.. Both for plans and drawings of a meeting house in burlington their dated within two days of each other and 18151 june 28th. One dated june 30th the ladder. From charles. Both finish already renowned as the designer of the massachusetts state house. Soon to become even more famous is the architect of the capitol building in washington dc his receipts for the sum of. $50. Most of both inches drawings were destroyed when he decamped from boston for the district of columbia. So we have no record whatever of. Structure that he envisioned for the first unitarian society. The other receipt. 4. $25 half of bullfinches. Fe. Is from peter banner another prominent designer from boston who designed the park street church. It's now they're on the common he also designed the president's house and lyceum at yale college. The contracts for the finished work here. Specify that the structure be completed according to the plan drawn up by mr. banner. But maybe his planned might have been overseen or reviewed in some way by his older more experienced colleague we really don't know neither. Signed his name on the lower corner of the canvas. So we can have a hundred percent certainty who deserves. Full recognition. And maybe that doesn't. Matter. Any more than it matters that we remember the names of all the 100-odd congregants who signed the original articles of association that formed the society in 1810 who were. John collins or amos lawrence or. Gideon. No biographies attached fees. Founding members known and unknown. Are like the pillars. Embarrass. Sanctuary there fashion. In a plain style. They're so. Well proportion to their tasks. That they don't call out attention to themselves. I patiently. Quietly. Bear up the weight of the passing years. They're like. The windows. In the sanctuary filled with a large. Clear. Transparent. Haynes they enable us to see more clearly they bring illumination precisely because they make themselves. Invisible. They're like the stone. Foundation. Abyss building went to do their job and support the brickwork of the tower in the stifel because they're buried deep. And resting quietly in the earth you're like. The doors which perform their work properly only when they swing outward away from our gaze. The welcome us into this wider congregation that they guard and pretend. Whoever they were. Our forbearers they weren't building for themselves. But for their posterity they weren't just mindful of their own needs but of the needs of those. They were building not so much a shrine for their private devotion. As a temple. Republic. Enlightenment. Because both. Bullfinch and banner after all republic. Architects they were known for. Legislative chambers for schools. And also for churches which were seen as institutions for the inculcation of civic virtue as much as colleges or state capitals. They both practice the style that was known as. Federalism. Which blossom. And the early days of this american experiment in imitation of classical models. Greek democracy. Roman republicanism that were inspiration to our nation's founders and their own quest for self-government. So buildings like this one. Where are reflections of. An egalitarian spirit they were special embodiments of people's aspirations for a life governed by. Symmetry. Valence yearning for liberty. Combined with mutual responsibility and the scale of this building for sunday worship but for town wide events. The gathering place. In times of crisis and celebration. It was intended to be a free church for a free. People. Which is what it's still remain. Although the members of this congregation. Legally and technically own this building through their elected board. It would probably be more accurate to say that. All of you all of us together. Hold this place. Entrance. For the public good. South america. Why is that. Elected its first african-american president. There was a meeting house here in burlington. It would open its doors where blacks and whites could come together to reflect and rejoice in that historic milestone. So that when. George tiller. Who provided abortion services to women and candice was shot and killed as he attended his own lutheran congregation. On a sunday morning last spring. There was a church. Here in burlington. That would open its doors. Where people of all faiths could come together to express their grief and outrage at that crime. This is a place where you can hear out of the mainstream opinions. From journalists like. Amy goodman. Who's stood here on this chance of jeremy scahill music sprint from the pulpit that would cost any other minister his or her job it's what it's designers intended it. To be a building accessible to all offering citizens and very viewpoints the spiritual resources they need for inform self-rule. Very architecture of this place. Expresses a new england heritage that include. Religious tolerance. Respect for learning and a feisty tendency to question authority. But freedom of course is not free justice the construction of this building required. A sacrificial investment from those who built it. It's ongoing preservation requires something of us. As we approach our society's bicentennial therefore. Your elected leaders are board of trustees has launched. A planned giving campaign to ensure that this legacy which is come down to us will still be there available for our children and grandchildren. Each of us has encouraged. To remember this society. In our financial planning. How did the values that have been important to us. In this lifetime of endor. Not only for this lifetime but also be on. Personally if i am fortunate enough. I'll leave the world. With assets to my name. I hope i will pass on a good portion of my. Material wealth to my children. After. Caring for my wife. Guarantee their well-being that's the way my wheels written. Max. Probably as it should be. But it's apparent. I also know that the most important. Things i have given to my children. Aren't. Things. At all i hope they are. Watching. Character self-reliance respect for their own worth. The worth of other people. That are at the heart of our liberal faith. As i watch my own children maturing into. Thoughtful young adults. Friends with. People of all races and nations. Critical invested interest ready to change the world i know that unitarian-universalism. Embarrassed growth is it's made a difference for me and so many others until i i feel i have some kind of debt and obligation to make sure that this tradition survives and thrives. To be there in two hour third century and beyond. Because this meeting house. Was built to last it's going to be here a hundred years from now and 21-10 standing at the top of church street the only question is. How will our successors 100 years hence. Remember us. Chances are they won't remember us at all not by name not as individuals we are going to be anonymous. Almost all of us whether our ashes are in the memorial garden or scattered to the wind will be gone time i moved on as individuals or not. Our legacy. It's still going to be felt by those who come after we will be known either is. Generous farsighted people who sees the challenge and opportunity of their historic moment. Or is a generation. Who shrugged and turned aside when tomorrow was beckoning them forward. For myself i am. Sure i will not have much lasting same and in any case to me. Then my little ego. I was banished. But if i can remain. As a pillar. Or window and seen unnoticed. But helping to bring light and support to those who follow my life will have made a difference. For my part. Let me be. Adore. For others to enter. The foundation. Where they can build.

uusociety_org

2011-10-30-2%20Sermon.mp3

Religion. Wrote forrest church. Is our human response to the dual reality of being alive and having to die. Knowing that we are going to die not only places and acknowledged limit upon our lives it also give the special intensity and poignancy to the time we are given to live and love. The fact that death is inevitable give meaning to our love. For the more we love the more we risk losing. Love power comes in part from the courage required to give ourselves to that which is not ours to keep. Our spouses or partners children parents dear and cherish friends even life itself. It also comes from the faith required to sustain that courage. That face that life howsoever limited and mysterious. Contains within its margins often at the very edges. Meaning. That is redemptive. As far as we know we are the only species blessed and cursed with the sure knowledge of our own mortality. Is that cause for despair or is it the inspiration for our ability to seek meaning. Different religions are organized around different answers to that question. We voted for the ladder. We are with the people who age after age asked the essential human question. How can we find meaning in life lived in gordon allport's words between two oblivion's. Forest church answered that question by talking about the power of love to save us from despair or cynicism. When we give ourselves to others in love. When we care. We are saved. In his book inside and responsibility erik erikson identifies care is one of the inherent strengths that defines a mature adult. Care he says is the widening concern for what has been generated. Whether by love necessity or accident. It overcomes the ambivalence and hearing to irreversible obligation. Now irreversible obligation is an owner's sounding phrase no wonder our ambivalence is aroused. But surely all of you who are parents remember the first time you thought to yourself. There is no place to return this baby is there and then of course you overcame your ambivalence and you attended to your squalling infant and went on doing that for years. Much like parents composers and writers and artists. Boulder. People creative people that the children medicine to tell stories. Scientists and mathematicians. Make that kind of commitment. To what they must care about the commitment is irreversible because the thing that we are committed to. We'll die if we do not continue to follow through. Pairing allows the mature adult to transcend the ambivalence that arises out of these irreversible obligations. Gives us the strength to persist in our task in orders our lives and keeps us in place in our world. Linda are the current chair of the care mystery network. Wrote to me about the way her volunteer experience helped her be at home here. She said through various roles in this ministry i've developed a stronger sense of community in our society. And i've been able to have meaningful communion with those in need and with others in the congregation. In erikson writing about care he talks about the interlocking of human life stages. In that phrase i hear an echo of our language in our principles about the interdependent web of all existence it's a metaphor for connectedness is not just special but temporal as well. Every sunday morning in sterling virginia one of the. Symbols on my stihl the congregation ended worship by joining hands and speaking together. By heart. These words from the reverend dave bamba. This church is dedicated to the proposition that behind all our differences and be nice all our diversity there is a unity that binds us together and makes us one. In spite of time and death. And the space between the stars. We pause in silent witness to that unity. Speaking that affirmation and pausing in silence to consider what it meant to each of us every week was a spiritual discipline. It was a liturgical element that helped us to create a community of care out of a cacophonous and diverse group of people. Those words reminded us that what we do as individuals affects the quality of our shared life and the quality of life for future generations. That interlocking of human life stages that erikson reference is not just about the. when children are dependent on their parents it is about the ongoing need of all adult parents or not to be needed. To be needed as opposed to being self-absorbed. We need to teach to guide to share our passions we need to care because others need our care in our chosen communities depend on that care. And we also need to care because to do so. Completes our identities. And dare i say it because it saves our souls. The psychologist milton mayeroff considers caring to be a process and ongoing relationship. That results in the development of the person or object being cared for. To care for another person desmayar off in the most significant sense. Is to help her grow and actualize herself. Caring in that sense it's the antithesis of using or manipulating or accumulating. It is not about the satisfaction of one's own needs but about the appreciation of the needs of others. Mayor of little book on caring is a classic in the field of humanistic psychology and one of my favorites. The first section is subtitled caring as helping the other grow. This other can be a person a process and idea and ideal. When entering into this kind of caring relationship you must be able to experience the other. Both as an extension of yourself in relationship and as something separate to be respected. In its own right. Mario of rights the worst experience in the other is something over and above any value it may have for me because if its ability to satisfy my own needs. Bouncing smirnoff wrote those words many more words have been written about the value of unconditional love especially in child-rearing. It is so essential that we have the experience of being loved for what we are rather than what we do or don't do it any particular developmental stage. That kind of love experienced in childhood allows the mature adult to turn around and care for others rather than being fixated on getting his or her own needs met. Marilus identify several ingredients in this process of mature caring. The first is knowing. It is not enough simply to mean well or to have warm but ignorant regard for another. You must get to know another's strengths and limitations and how to respond to them. What are the pieces of wisdom i took from my days as as a midwife. Is the store knowledge that a woman in labor is not helped by a room full of people yelling push push. Her body will send a signal. At the right time that says it is time to push and then she will push. As a midwife i assisted the birthing process by helping women to read the signals from their own bodies. By being present in a caring and attentive way i was able to help people make decisions about the course of their childbirth experiences. You might say i helped them to find their own wisdom. Presence is the essence of midwifery as it is the essence of ministry. Presence means the ability and the willingness to sit and listen. Not to advise or fix or intervene. Over the years i have learned many things about what a caring present means and what it doesn't mean. It doesn't mean knowing exactly what to say or do. It means just being there in the presence of whatever joy or sorrow or anger or confusion is being experienced. It doesn't mean fixing people or fixing situations it means just being there. Humble. In the awareness that these moments of shared presents are holy. To be entrusted with the vulnerability of another is an awesome. Inspiring gift. That kind of knowing is not something they can teach you in seminary. That ability to be present to another is something that we each learn from our own lives. And in this particular faith founded on the assumption that the gathered congregation is the priesthood of all believers. All of us can practice that ministry of presence. We can be present to each other in so many different ways in worship in meetings. In all the places where individual spiritual growth and the creation of community. Happen. Mutuality of presence is the essence of religious community. Religious community is the essence of congregational life and therein lies the essence of shared ministry. Another ingredient in this kind of caring is patience. Enabling the other to grow in their own time and in their own way. Much as we would like at times we cannot force our children to grow up any faster than they can. Just as we cannot force a group of people to grow into their future and a faster than they can although i have been sorely tempted on that one more than once. Being patience means being able to tolerate chaos and confusion. For as long as it takes before somebody finds their way. It may mean for me sitting back and biting my tongue even when i know i have the right answer. It may mean taking the time to be with somebody else in the support of way as they struggle to work out their own. Right answer. Mayor of discusses two other characteristics of the caring process that are to my mind inseparable and those are trust and courage. A pairing for another we trust them to grow in their own time and their own way. We trust them to learn from their mistakes and hope that this awareness of our trust will empower them to be bold to take risks. Trusting the other is to let go wrote mary off it concludes an element of risk and a leap into the unknown both of which take courage. The more we trust. Those we care about to go in their own direction. The more we ourselves are pulled into that unknown. The more intensely we care the more courageously must be in letting go of what we care for. Ultimately then we need to trust not only those we care for but also ourselves. Fortis entrusting our own ability to care that we will find the courage. That we need. In the last year of my midwifery practice i found myself hesitating outside the door of a hospital room. A young teenager in my practice had suffered a fetal demise. This was a sixteen-year-old who already had a two-year-old son. It was hard for me it was hard to make the diagnosis to share the news with her and then to be with her during her labor and delivery. It would be hard because only a few years before my own firstborn baby had been stillborn. And for most of the intervening time i had avoided. Coming face-to-face with that situation again. It was so painful for me. My two colleagues in the practice were worried about me and both of them called and offered to come in and take over but both of them had been on call already for 24 hours and it just didn't seem fair. I paused outside that door. And i prayed for courage. Then i walked in and sat down next to her bed and took her hand. All through that long evening she talked to me and cried as she labored. Next week i saw her again in my office she asked me about my own children. I showed her a picture of danny. And i told her about brian the baby who had died. And then she took my hand. And she said to me. Now i understand. Everybody was nice and tried to make me feel better but you were different. You knew. I am sure that the seeds of my ministry were sown in the aftermath of brian's death. I don't mean by that but god decided in order to make a minister out of me he had to subject me he it would have been he that kind of god just do all now i'm in trouble i didn't say that i didn't mean that god decided then in order to make a minister out of me i had to be subjected to some terrible travail the kind that build character and teaches you humility. What i am saying is that i was profoundly wounded and i was lovingly cared for by communities of faith. And that experience prepared me to enter into the grief and bewilderment and fear of others in a profound way. I trust myself to be present in the most painful and scary moments in your life because i know from personal experience that those are also the holiest moments. When any of you practice the ministry of care you to risk standing on holy ground. And that takes courage and trust. And patience. Those are things that are not the exclusive realm of professional ministers. You too will find them when you pause at the doorways of your own. Caring challenges. Some of you may be concerned that was only one professional minister on staff this year there may not be enough care to go around. It is true that i am only one person but this room is filled with people week after week ready to practice the ministry of presence. Members of the care network ministry cultivate that practice intentionally and i am working closely with them to make sure that all calls for help or answered. All of you can help the care network in the simplest way and that is by asking for help when you need it. For telling us about someone in need. We are organized to respond but we are not organized to read minds. Let us care for you. And let yourself care for each other. You can talk to linda or daniel or one of the other folks here after the service if you'd like to more know more about how to get help or how to give help. Years ago. The holocaust survivor eddie cazale was asked. What is important for everybody jew and gentile alike to know about the holocaust. His answer was this. The real danger. The real evil the major issue of our times is indifference. In the end what is literature but to sensitise people. What is art to sensitise people. Religion to to sensitise people. The opposite of love is not hate but indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness but indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy. But indifference. And after all the opposite of life is not death but indifference. That's what it is important for us to remember. To be indifferent is to have nothing to care about. The opposite of indifference is caring engagement with the world. So come friends engage with passion and compassion and trust and courage. Come into this human circleware caring is a calling and all of us are called. Come. And you will be. Refreshed.

uusociety_org

2011-11-27-2%20Sermon.mp3

Nice to be back in burlington. This is my fifth thanksgiving sunday in his pulpit. And i thank you for the invitation as well as the honor and pleasure of being with you all again. It's been a rough fall from indian vermont. We reach out to those who are still suffering the effects of the floods from irene. Which ended up being one of the 10 most destructive natural disasters in american history. Largely because the damage in vermont in new york. Despite that there's much to be thankful for. We have troops coming home from iraq. For good. The president also announced that by the end of this year 10,000 of the american troops were part of the surge in afghanistan will be coming home. It's a beginning. I'm sure everyone of their families will be grateful for their return. What i was told this morning that we would have a paperless service i was reminded of the drive-by baptist church i used to go to as a child. Because my parents will drive by and drop me off and i would have to go to church and the order of service was essential because it was like you know following a game and you knew what was going to be over with cuz you could kind of check off one more thing and they're their only be too laughing to be very near the end of the service. But you used to enjoy the services that we decided that you wouldn't need a. A scorecard to keep track of it. But when we get to the hymn we are gentle angry people were very near the end so you have a hint. Are many things that. I can write a sermon about today that i'm thankful for. But one of them is that the vermont is a place where people have the right. To marry whom they love. You hear about the young woman who was about to marry her female sweetheart of many years. She went to dressmaker yards and yards of very sexy material to make a negligee for honeymoon. And the dressmaker was puzzled and. It's a material and she said well. My. My fiance is a is a you you when she prefers searching to finding. Well this issue of. Same-gender marriage has always resonated strongly. With you use in our denomination. Two of the plaintiffs in goodrich versus the department of public health. Argue before the massachusetts supreme court in the fall of 2003 were unitarian universalist. That decision shook both the conservative and liberal worlds in america when it ruled in favor of same-gender marriage. The court ruled that was unconstitutional under the massachusetts constitution to allow only heterosexual couples to marry and became the sixth jurisdiction in the world. After the netherlands. Belgium. Ontario british columbia and quebec. To do so. I think they're 150 joyce weddings in the arlington street church where i attend on that day that such unions became legal as a reverend. Crawford harvey and her staff were kept very very busy. Vermont important victory on the same gender marriage came in 2009. What y'all revisit in a few minutes. Today there are six states in which same gender marriage is legal. There were two additional states. Where it was briefly legal. In california the supreme court legalized it. Andaman the legislation was passed in the governor signed it. But both decisions were subsequently reversed my ballot initiatives. And that's why i wish to reflect upon today. What black salve got in the boat in 1965 and alabama and georgia and louisiana or mississippi if we left the matter to statewide ballot initiatives. Of course not. So why are we asking voters today whether two people of the same gender should have the right to marry. Let us briefly visit 1920 when women were finally granted the right to vote. When the legislature in tennessee. Voted affirmatively for the 19th amendment. Making. Two-thirds of the states that approved of the 19th amendment to the constitution. When we celebrated the 90th anniversary of that momentous event. August before last 42 quietly i should add. Gail collins road of wonderful editorial in new york times switch reminded us. I bought that victory meant. That's 70 years struggle had involved 56 referendum campaigns directed at male voters. Bus 480 campaigns to get legislators to submit. Suffrage amendments to voters. 47 campaigns to get constitutional conventions to write women suffrage. Into their constitutions. 277 campaigns to get state party conventions to prove women's suffrage planks. 30 campaigns to get presidential party campaigns to include women's suffrage plankton party platforms. And 19 campaigns with 19 success of congress's. Is this where we're headed for equal marriage. May have think the courts or the place of our rights are ultimately protected. And it seems appropriate to ask why should bigotry at the ballot box be allowed to override equal protection. Or rights really immutable. Are they able. Are they said that the so-called states rights. Of course the rights of same-gender couples to marry allegedly tied up with the rights of the lesbian gay bisexual and transgender lgbt community. And that's where our own supreme court of the united states to date has failed us and them. By refusing to give the lgbtq community college judicial protections currently afforded racial minorities and women. When the court has ruled on issues of sexual behavior such as in 2003 when it struck down the texas statute that criminalized sexual intimacy between two men. It did not afford gay rights to the gay community. But rather is said that the statute violated the fundamental rights of all persons. Straight or gay. To control our intimate sexual relations. That court strenuously. Resisted a quality claims by a subset of the population. And rather focus on what they call liberty claims. Those plans by subsets of the population are called civil rights. Emily legal ferris. Think that such right the same gender marriage will only be protected when the supreme court. Shifts. Toward the more universal concept of human rights rather than the more narrow concept. I'm civil rights. In california the supreme court legalized same gender marriage. In 4,000 people exuberantly remarried. And then the ballot initiative known as proposition 8. Overruled that decision by defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. A federal district judge in california. Von walker then struck down proposition 8 saying. Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed the evidence shows proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the california constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. His ruling has been challenged. And will be reviewed by the 9th circuit federal court of appeals. And from there regardless of the outcome it will be challenged and taken to the supreme court g of writing. Before the end of this year. That is good news. This issue will finally be hurt and judged on its merits. And those are the proposition 8 violates the equal protection of the clause of the 14th amendment. The proposition 8 violates due process clause of the fourteenth amendment by impending on fundamental liberties. The proposition 8 singled out gay and lesbian individuals for a disfavored legal status. Thereby creating a category of second-class citizens. The proposition 8 discrimination on the basis of gender. The proposition 8 discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. This will be the brown versus the board of education. For the lgbtq community. And there are many reasons to be hopeful about this. Pending decision. A year after. Probably. Pass in california. Restricting marriage to a man and a woman. 60% of california said they favored same-gender marriage because of the. Hatefulness and meanness that came out in that campaign. It was certainly piece of good news which we've seen in other places like massachusetts if the supreme judicial court have been subjected to a recall initiative. Which was blocked by democrats who didn't want to allow it and 2003 it would have rescinded. The right of xander people to marry 58 to 42%. However with each year that is past we've seen those margins are road and today the numbers are reversed. About initiative supreme same-gender marriage in massachusetts would pass by 58 to 42%. I'm sure there's a similar trend here. Pulling has demonstrated that heterosexuals who felt like the institution of marriage was threatened. By same-gender marriage or seen that is not the case. Did the sanctity of their marriage is not affected. By the marriage of two people. Of the same gender. But the claims made by the catholic mormon and other denominations. Important millions of dollars in the proposition 8 simply do not hold up. And in fact we're seeing open rebellion and some denominations. Is this fall more than 100 methodist ministers in new england pledged to defy their church hierarchy and perform same-gender marriages where it is legal in places like. Vermont. Bishop's natitude remind me. Of the words of the first openly lesbian assemblywoman in vermont. When she spoken on the floor of your legislature before the same gender marriage vote. On april 2nd 2009. She said. This is indeed a fight for civil rights. It also has a spiritual dimension which is to say it's a conversation about generosity of the heart. I've been blessed to be in the same sex marriage relationship for 30 years. I'm fortunate to live and still be in love with a woman. Who i think is the most wonderful human being in the world. Many of you may be able to relate to this. The joined challenges of a long-term relationship. Do we have a civil union. No and part this is because of the time civil unions came around we been together 21 years and already had a. In place most of the legal protections that civil unions afforded. But it was also because. It's not the same thing. And i haven't been involved in the freedom of mary effort though i admire and i'm normally grateful for their courage and all the work they've done. In recent weeks when i've been so touched by their efforts i've given more thought to why. I realize it is because it's too painful to have to ask. For legal right to others have. To be a supplicant. My own approach to this has been to pretend like it doesn't matter. I asked you to imagine what it feels like to kneel metaphorically in the center of the chamber and ask for something. Illegal write that others have. And that you don't. It's maybe try to imagine what it would feel like to be in that position to not want others to have that right i have. That is 2. Not want to share the joys of marriage. Imagining this made me feel pinched. And tight. I felt sad for the people who. Feel their own marriage will be threatened by including me. How painful. It must be the fear that sharing what you have diminishes your happiness. And then i realize how lucky i was and how grateful i am that so many people don't feel the need to protect their marriage from me and people like me. I'm grateful to those mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers and families with children who don't want to keep me out and who live in a world of generosity. I'm grateful to those who want to extend what they have. The right to marry whom you love and the understanding that so enriches the institution of marriage. For all of us. I hope that everyone will support this bill and i thank the members for their open hearts. The bill passed by one vote. That legislators my sister-in-law susie was it ronnie. And she was newly elected to the. Vermont assembly of that deer. I think she's capture the essence of this debate when she said how painful it must be to fear that sharing what you have diminishes your happiness. Susie would you wait everyone so they can know who you are in case they don't. So where does this leave us those who yearn for this right for everyone in all states. Requires us to remember something at call young once said. The great events of world history right bottom profoundly unimportant. In the last analysis the essential thing. Is the life of the individual this alone makes history here alone to the great transformations first take place in the whole future the whole history of the world. Altamonte springs is a gigantic summation from these hidden sources. An individuals. Innermost private. And subjected lies we're not laying the passive witnesses ever age. It suffers but also its makers. Each of us can make history by accepting and celebrating same-gender couples whether they are married or not. And doing so affirm their worth and dignity. Nfl laws in 44 states do not. We can hold services like this one that raise up their right to marry. We can help others become more comfortable with this threat to their happiness. Because we know when same-gender couples become real. Not abstract faceless threats. The people's attitudes toward same-gender marriage shifts. We could continue to look for moments from activism will matter. We know what a critical role the unitarian universalist association played in the struggle and we can look to its leadership again. We can support the american foundation for equal rights afer. Which is driving force behind the legal challenges i just described. We can remember is carl jung said in our most private and most subjective lies we're not laying the passive witnesses of our age. But it suffers and also its makers. And that's in our everyday acts. We can make a difference. We must remember that change. Does not come easily. History teaches us that most changes about as welcome as pulling teeth. But it does come. One of our uu hams in the greyhound reminds us. Time will make ancient good. Uncouth. Time will make ancient good uncouth this is a young struggle. After all it's only been eight years since the supreme judicial court of massachusetts made the home of unitarian universalism. 1st april people of the same gender could marry. And in only eight years six states have legalized equal marriage. Recently. President obama has instructed the solicitor general. Not to defend the marriage. Defense of marriage act in court. This is the 1966 federal law. Which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. In the present order the solicitor-general not to defend that in court. There are many small victories to celebrate along the way. A few years ago the us senate approved a hate crime bill that extended. Protections to the lgbtq community that had never been provided before. It was only a few weeks ago. That the. President united states lifted. Don't ask don't tell. And the military is even telling military chaplains they may perform same-gender marriages ceremonies in jurisdictions like this. Were they are legal. A new york times article. Recently described what had to be quote one of the strangest days in the history of the us marine corps. In quote. Marine corps recruiter in kansas city arrive. Go to community center the day after don't tell. Don't ask don't tell was lifted. Only discover the place where he said it was recruiting booth was right next to a gay pride organization. To the recruiters uniform. Total reported he went outside to read park his car in such a fashion he could reach it quickly to protect his safety in the event he was physically threatened. The big marine in full uniform. At the end of the day. He said he had had a series of pleasant and engaging conversations with lesbian and gay men. But i have been forced to leave the military and interested in reinstatement. Are more surprising to him lesbians are gay who want to serve their country. It was a new york times. Reporter not the recruiter who chose described it as one of the strangest days in the history of the marine corps. The times they are a-changin. And it's not. The people who do not have these rights should be patient. They should be impatient. And we need to be impatient with them. The stand with them. And help guard against cynicism and despair because those are the enemies of hope. And hope is what fuels the march of history. May it always be so.

uusociety_org

2012-04-29-2%20Sermon.mp3

Several weeks ago i have the honor of sitting around a table. In a room downstairs here with the young people in our coming-of-age program. Coming-of-age gives our youth an opportunity to explore their beliefs and develop their uu identity. They do this through workshops reading and talking together but the real heart of the program is one-on-one mentoring. Each youth gets an adult mentor from the congregation. A mentor who accompanies them through their year of face exploration. On this particular evening the topic was spiritual practice. And several of us have been invited to be on a panel presenting or personal perspectives on spiritual practice to the youth. As you might expect in the approaches and practices those of us on the panel talked about we're wildly diverse. But we were all in agreement with scott alexander that is spiritual practice. Can be anything that is done with intentionality and depth. Since then i've been thinking that i'd like to add a third component to that definition. A spiritual practice is one that not only benefits the practitioner. But also contribute in some way to the common good. The humanistic psychologist erik erikson. Understood human. Growth and development to be the result of a complex interaction between mind-body or genetics and cultural context. He was one of the first to trace developmental tasks past childhood and into adulthood. Erickson wrote that the main task of middle adulthood. Was generativity. Generativity means being productive. Creating something of value by working at it. But generativity versus almonds being pairing. Being able to care for and about others. Caring for family and friends and community caring. For the common good. Caring enough to engage in ways that ensure that whatever it is. Each of us holds. Value. In or believes is of ultimate value. Ken. Be passed on. To the next generation. We. Erickson taught that what we say and what we do. In that stage of generativity is to make sure that our most deeply-held values. Survive. If we fail to achieve generativity in this stage of our life we. May fall victim to a kind of terminal self-absorption. Unable to reach out. Our lives. Become stagnant. No daps. No intentionality. And no way to figure out how to contribute to the common good. In many religious traditions. Generative adults hold a place of honor and even veneration. In judaism. What most important rabbinic functions is to teach. To interpret the torah to students to pass on the stories that comprise the history of the nation of israel. To impart the wisdom of the ages to younger people so that they can make sense of their jewish identity. Rabbi. Means teacher. Much more than it means leader of services or any of the other roles we think of. Today. In oral traditions across the globe storytellers. Assume a generative role as stories are told and retold the essence of the tribe or culture is imparted. A new to each generation. Building on the work of erikson and others. James fowler then proposed a schema for understanding the stages of faith develop. Fowler also recognize the complexity of human development his theory like erickson's took into account the many ways that. Every individual interact with their environment. When seller spoke of faith he wasn't necessarily referring to. Participation in an organized religion. Or sent to a creed. He his stages of faith describe the process that we each go through in the course of a lifetime. That bring us to a deeper and deeper understanding of how. We are each related. To the whole. To have such a holistic or i would say spiritual self-understanding. Requires an ability to intuit beyond the literal. Faith in things unseen. We have to be able to trust there is something. Beyond. Are limited comprehension. It requires us to commit to that something. Something outside of ourselves and to reach out in search of relatedness to the enormity of the universe we inhabit. Fowler stages are not as linear as erikson's and all people do not pass through all the stages. But one can look at fowler's work and find relevance in those stages that he identifies most closely with middle and late adulthood. In the conjunctive stage. Generally reached. In midlife. However you choose to define midlife. You have come to terms with the realization. That. Reality is complex. A lot more complex than they generally told you in sunday school. To navigate this stage is to welcome the possibility that there are a lot more ways to understand truth. Then anyone narrowly-defined system can account for. It is in this conjunctive stage that the classic midlife crisis may occur. Asset existential question. Is this all there is. Begins to insinuate itself into your consciousness. If you seek and find an answer to that question is that all there is. An answer that is not related either to a small expensive car or a younger partner. You may arrive at the understanding that your midlife crisis is actually about spirituality. You can then move beyond. The quick fixes. And the package dog must have been bequeathed to you. And embrace a world you that is multi-dimensional and recognizes that we are all part of an interdependent reality. No this is not mean rejecting or leaving any particular organized religion. It simply means interpreting that religion metaphorically and mythically. Rather than literally. Beyond the conjunctive stage there are those rare persons. Who arrived at the stage of universalizing which is also known as the stage of enlightenment. This stage is defined more by actions than by beliefs. The enlightened person. Acting on universalize principles of compassion and justice and love that are found in all of the world's religions treats all beings. With care and respect. In mahayana buddhism for example the bodhisattva for the one on the path to enlightenment. Promises to work for the complete enlightenment of all sentient being. You cannot achieve enlightenment by yourself or at the cost of another. That would by definition the unenlightened. The truly enlightened one will with nirvana inside. Turn back. To help those. Behind him or her on the path. So what does all this have to do with mentoring. Well i see meandering as the embodiment. Of mature adult development whether it's psychosocial or. Spiritual. The act of mentoring in a deliberately chosen and carefully structured relationship is the active one who embraces the challenges of generativity. It is the active one who understands that wisdom closely-held is of no value. A mentor is one who turns and helps those who are still on the path. To be a measure is to take seriously what oscar wilde said wants tongue-in-cheek. The only thing to do with good advice is pass it on it is never of any use to oneself. The word mentor itself comes to us from greek mythology mentor is a friend of odysseus. When odysseus goes off to the trojan war he leaves his home. Palace and his son telemachus in mentor charge and care. Now odysseus is gone a long time. And he is for some reason unable to text back to telemachus to let him know. How things are going nobody at home knows how odysseus is faring in the trojan war. And rumors begin to circulate that perhaps. He has died. Sensing an opportunity suitors begin to show up at the palace seeking the hand of penelope. The goddess athena. Intervene. Visiting the palace disguise as the old man mentor. In this disguise she encourages telemachus to venture out and find out for himself the truth. About odysseus is fate rather than believing the rumors carried by penelope's suitors now it gets really complicated. The story i'm leaving out a lot. I'm sort of. Picking and choosing. What's most useful to me you might say. Proof text. In the form of mentor. The goddess athena helps. This young man. Find the courage to learn the truth for himself. From that greek myths we have taken the term mentor. To mean somebody who imparts wisdom to another. Athena disguised as mentor teaches telemachus to think for himself much like the lion in our children story this morning. Taught the little rabbit. To think for herself. The results of mentoring is a younger generation blessed. With wisdom and perspective. Giving them the confidence to make life-affirming choices and take courageous. Positive action. But the mentor is also blessed. Blessed with a relationship that fulfills the need to care for another. To generate value-laden practices to grow in depth of understanding by sharing one's own deeply-held values with another. And of course. The community is also blessed. And sophia father's story all of the creatures. Are relieved of the anxiety that the little rabbit had mistakenly been spreading. Through the woods. We know. That we are more connected in healthy and wholesome relationships. Across the generations. When we. Are intentional. About those multi-generational relationships and when they happen. And when they bear fruit. We are all more able to appreciate and celebrate our shared lives in community. Mancers are teachers. And that an aspect of mentoring is imparting knowledge. Not so much book learning as knowledge game. To experience. Manswers our companions. Walking with their protege through the. Challenges that life presents to them whatever they may be. Inventors are role models. Doing rather than telling. Living in the way that they hope their mentees will learn to live. To be a mentor is to choose with intention a relationship. That deepens both parties. I would be curious to know how many of you have been. Or are now mentors. In summer. Formal program. And how many of you have been mentored by someone at some time in your life. Whether you were part of one of the many formal mentoring programs under the mobius umbrella. Or whether you have in less formal ways taking somebody on under your wing and showing them the ropes. You have had the opportunity to grow your soul and deepen your spiritual life. You've had the opportunity to make a tremendous difference in the life of another. And you have made this complex and multi-dimensional and interconnected world a better place. Blessed are the mentors for they shall know generativity. Icare. And compassion love. Justice wisdom. Community. Universality.

uuneedham_org

20121021_0133_christian_who_sermon.mp3

Do here three weeks ago you have some idea what i'm doing. This year. I'm talking a bunch of big questions cuz i like the thinking questions that's how i process things. Think of questions and answers on. When i was a journalist those questions were. Pretty straightforward they were who and what and when and where and why and how. I guess they still are sort of straightforward because each of the sermons this year is going to have one of those as its title. If you are three weeks ago you heard why. If you weren't here three weeks ago can go online listen to it i thought i was pretty good. Today is who. That might seem like an easy question it might be the people here or. Me or. Whatever. What is a very complex question i think. I think it's impossible to talk about who. In a religious context at least for me and not think of that parable i shared with you earlier. Who is my neighbor. Who is our neighbor. I believe i truly believe that this is at the core of our faith is unitarian universalist. We have to be in relationship. To truly be human. At something easier said than done i'm sad to say. A few weeks ago in that sermon about why i started to touch on this idea. I talked to them about connection about how all of us with all our many reasons for coming to church. Might share that one small thing all of us felt a connection to something and that's really why we come. Even if that something is many different things. We come here because we're connected to the worship or the people or the religious education for our children and we just come up here while they're busy. Or for ourselves. For the refreshments at coffee hour. Connection isn't strong beginning for the religious life i think. The next step is to talk about who. And for that we have to go a level deeper. To relationship. To be in a relationship is supposed to be both connected to have that connection. But also to be affected. In relationship we see each other and we are changed by each other. It's more than just a connection it's deeper than that. And i think that's amazing. The idea that each of us just by knowing someone else can be transformed. So again if you were here three weeks ago you know that i ask something of you and. If your. Particularly observant you might have noticed that there is a list. Of 10 numbers in your order of service that have nothing after them. That wasn't a mistake. It's that i have a task for you again today. Last time it was to take a minute to share with one other person while you go to church. This week it's a little different. I want you to take just a minute to think about who you are in a relationship with. Are you connected to who's changed you through that connection. Yeah 10 places to write those people down. If you have more go on if you don't have time that's fine. Take a second we have more pencils if you didn't get one on the way in. Stick any scrap of paper if you don't have an order of service. Brenda. You have one minute go. Okay. Good enough. You have more you can have them later. But quieter this week than last week man i kind of like the buzz of energy. Body talk more each other some other time. To look at your list. Cuz these are some of the people that jesus spoke about in that parable. Story of the good samaritan. If these people probably many others to in your lives that matter. Fight night. I love that story about the good samaritan. Really makes me think every time i read it. Psychoda james luther adams earlier today to start the service and i have something else from him it's really beautiful. He says that the special quality of jesus's teachings is to be discerned in those parables in those short stories. By devising these parables jesus points beyond himself. To the gifts. The potential rain of the mysterious good that is beyond our comprehension. This mystery is a creative sustaining commanding judging community forming and transforming power. The grows not old. Ever calling for individual and corporate response. And i'll send the quote. I like the last part especially calling for individual and corporate response. Because i think that's what's happening right here. Once you've realized you've taken note of who your neighbor is. Who are the people in your life that really matter are. The people in your life that could matter. There's nothing to be done but respond to that call. I think this is true for us as individuals this is true for us as a church. We have to respond. To those people that affect us. That's where things get interesting because sometimes it's really easy sometimes it's easy to say hi to a friend to take somebody to coffee that you've been thinking about. But our culture today makes it awfully easy to forget who your neighbor really is. I'll be the first to admit i've lived in a new apartment for a year and a month. And i still don't know most of my neighbors. The actual people who live next to our family. I go to work i go home i go to the store i take care of my son and i don't often speak to my neighbor's very much. It seems like i have to actually go out of my way sometimes to speak to other some facts. But i don't think that means we aren't connected it just means that it's awful easy in today's world to ignore those connections. To deny that chance of real relationship. Have a wonderful stories from a professor of mine from seminaries name is ben valentin. He told us once that every time he goes to the grocery store. Any standing in that line. And the register goes beep. Beef. Fief. For every beep. He says a little prayer. Dear god forgive me. Not because he's spending too much money that may be the case. But because he's worried about something. That little can of pineapple for instance. Didn't just appear out of nowhere. It was a pineapple on some farm in some. Country far far from here at 1 points. It was picked by someone who doesn't get paid enough. It was processed by someone who doesn't get paid enough. It was putting the can in a factory where people don't get paid enough. It was probably transported by someone who doesn't get paid enough to the grocery store with people make minimum wage to put it on the shelves and to check him out. At the store. So he worries each time that he doesn't really know where some of that stuff, so he doesn't know who his neighbor is his neighbor who has done the work of preparing that for him and his family. So that he can pay $0.99 for a can of pineapple. So why do i bring up the story. If you've been listening to me for a while you know that i don't like to try out big theological vocabulary words and then the ideas i learned i try to be a little more subtle than that because. If you're not a theological nerd like i am it may not be that interesting to you. Which is how i always preface that i'm about to share something illogical nerdery with you. It's actually sort of a simple idea and it's got this really big sounding name. It's called systemic sin. S10 always freaks out unitarian-universalist somewhere. But here i don't mean something that will necessarily condemn you to hell or that you should feel really shameful about. So maybe. Systemic send means that we are part of large systems like the pineapple industry i just described. That does harm to some people. We don't even know about it there's nothing wrong with spending a dollar at the store to buy that can of pineapple. But the systemic consequences it has down-the-line have real effects on people's lives that we never think about that we don't think of as our neighbors even though we're in a system with them that affects with us and them. It's about a broken relationship we are affecting and being affected by people. No muscles will never me. Most of us probably never even think about. We're part of a system that connects us to others in a ways that are harmful to all of us actually. Certainly it's harmful to those pineapple farmers that live in poverty but i think it hurts us too. Because we are like the priests to walk past that injured man. Too concerned with our own lives to worry about others. But here's the good news. We can all be good samaritan by the way i love i love that that term has entered. Common vocabulary good samaritan such a beautiful idea. We can all be good samaritans showing mercy to those who need it. Because we're all connected more so now than ever before in a global society. When we reach out and help each other when we connect to each other. When we change and are changed by each other we can be good samaritans. We can be in relationship in the best way. So who is our neighbor is a question all of us have to wrestle with. For ourselves and for our communities. I do believe we're called to love our neighbor. So i have a challenge for you today. You know you're that the list thing wasn't over yet right. I want you to look at that list. And just identify one person on it. I could use a call or a meal or a friendly word from you this week. And i want you to do that for them. I will to i filled out my list. 13 names on it right now cuz i was in a hurry. But there's one more thing to. Because i want you to find someone who didn't make it onto the list. Name something you know baby so you don't even know yet. And do something nice for that. Even if it's just a friendly word to someone you're passing on the street. In other words i challenge you to strengthen your relationships and to create new ones. Cuz i think this is the most transformative thing of all. The coup we are here for is all of us. All of us in this community. Those in needham. All people around the world. Who is our neighbor. I think all people are neighbors. Even if we don't see them everyday. I think it's time that we live like we actually knew that. Because i hope we do. Goforth. And find your neighbor and say hi.

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20110703_Freedom_Not_Free_Molly_message.mp3

This month marks. 4 years. That james and i have lived in the boston area. Making our migration up from the no-man's-land at least so you would think here in the east of oklahoma and arkansas. And so we've become by now. Very with three years of those for living in cambridge we've become skilled. At measuring the very scientific. Cambridge quotients. Which is. You will find measured by bumper stickers on cars. Five points. For a coexist sticker. Five points for hate is not a family value. Five points for the evolved fish on legs. 10.4. Plant trees. Uproot bush. Five point spread obama sticker and another ten if it's placed on comfortably next to a hillary sticker. And then add five points willy-nilly here and there for anything to do with the environment education religious tolerance. An extra 20 points if it has to do with palestine and you've got the cambridge quotient. Of course as i said i come from oklahoma. And one of my goals here in the east is to. Educate people who might be ill-informed about. My home state. I have actually no tolerance for some of the jokes that i hear about my part of the world some of the prejudices i hear about my. Back in oklahoma. I want to hear that from anybody else. But i. Can go there. So don't go there but i am going to. Because. Actually i come from a place with some really wonderful. Friendly. People. Who value their families. He values the way of life that has been passed down to them through a. I'll be at short history. And with some of these people i can i can relate i can share a worldview. What's some. Not as much. I know it might be hard to envision this. Exotic land butt. One big difference. Is the bumper sticker. The big white. W on the black backgrounds. Keep working. Millions on welfare depends on you. If you must burn your flag please wrap yourself in it first. Or at the christian fish eating the evolved fish. English learn it or leave. Anything to do with patriotism hardwork the right to own firearms. Christian fundamentalism. These people have their beliefs to. Sadly sometimes my mind is closed. Today's. Bumper stickers the oklahoma quotients. Any one of them for me canid validate whatever other message. They're trying to put across. And that's too bad. Because sometimes i see a sticker that has some truth. Many times on these cars in oklahoma you'll see a sticker that says freedom isn't free. Freedom isn't free. And of course since they're on these particular cars. And since i'm where i am i will discount these stickers. As. Ultra patriotic jingoistic. But then. Recently i developed a friendship with an army lieutenant. He served in afghanistan. Can i heard about his experiences there. And then recently i read frederick douglass's. Fourth of july oration. And i'm not sure i can write that bumper sticker off so easily anymore. Because. Freedom is costly. Our soldiers have and do pay dearly for freedom. Sometimes it's hours. Sometimes it's someone else's. And sometimes it's not in the way that many people would think. An oppressed people of every age to know that freedom is dearly paid for that freedom is costly. And hard-won. This year we celebrate the liberation of our country 235 years ago. And i think. We can give some thought to the freedom. That has never been free. We could think. Hard for many of those for whom the 4th of july is a dubious celebration. For descendants. Of american slaves. For unjustly imprisoned men and women victims of our broken justice system. For undocumented immigrants who live in prisons by the fear and the very real threat of inhumane deportation practices. For gay lesbian bisexual and transgender people in any environment where they are compelled to hide or downplay important parts. Their identity. 400. 1000 americans who labor under every ism that enslave. Racism sexism. Class ism. For every isn't that limits the full expression of their humanity. For what is freedom for. But the full expression. Of our humanity. This. Fourth of july let us remember that freedom is neither free nor assured. These people are working hard to make it so. And we should be working with them. In this community of faith let aspen 4th. Remembering james luther adams warning. A face that is not the sister of justice. Is bound to bring people to grief. It's worth creation. And robbed them of their birthright of freedom. Desmond tutu. Says liberation is costly. And he knows. But here in our liberal enclave. I feel like we often take it for granted. And you think walking in maybe freedom really is free. When frederick douglass and floors that the feeling of the nation must be quickened. The conscience of the nation must be roused. Still needs to be a vocal part to make that so. And maybe we should start with a new bumper sticker or two. Freedom is not free says the migrant worker. Freedom is not free says the inmate. Freedom is not free says the transgender woman laboring under false pretenses. In solidarity to. Let us proclaim. Freedom. Is not. Tree. So freedom. The free church as descendants of our unitarian and universalist forebears we are inheritors of what is called the free church tradition. It's historically refers to the radical wing of the christian reformation. Including anabaptist. Spiritualist. And the religious rationalists. From which the unitarians descend. These traditions were called free because they were voluntary. Unattached to the state. Before the check separation of church and state became a viable idea. And because they're into ed sheeran's believe that faith should be chosen freely. That is by adults who have reached the age of reason. And consent. In the days of the reformation these ideas. Or radical. But today they've been institutionalized. Both into our national life. And into our unitarian universalist congregation. And so i wonder. As people of a free face. As people who enthusiastically celebrate. Our religious freedom and our heritage and the free church tradition. What is it that we are free from. I take some clues actually from the him we sing earlier. It has these lines. Free from the bonds that bind the mind. Gennaro fox. And lifeless creed. Free from a social code that fails to serve the cause. Of human needs. We are at tradition probably free of creed and dogma. Most religiously and socially we value our freedom of conscience. The perhaps. These phrases show us less about our present freedom. And rather more about what we are striving still to be free from. And this is actually the question that interests me because it is a prophetic question. What's shackles. Weather in societal form or inhabit of thought. Must we free ourselves from in order to reach the world of our vision. To be free from the bonds that bind the mines. Yes we have no creed. But are we free from all the bonds that bind the mines. From all the thoughts. Belief. Social systems handed down to us that limits. Our openness. Of mind and heart. To be free from the bonds that bind the mind means to be truly open-minded to be open and loving to our neighbors. Whomever they are. Whether they are in cambridge massachusetts. Bar tulsa oklahoma. And i know i'm still working on that. Perhaps we all are. And to be free from a code that fails to serve the cause of human need. That means to be truly living in a world where all our valued all our beloved all are lifted up. I don't think we live in that world yet. We are still working to free ourselves. From hundreds of social codes. Small and large that hold people down and apart. From each other. Are him continues to call prophetic church the future waits your liberating ministry. Go forward in the power of love. Proclaim the truth. That makes us free. What is that truth. Ask it sincerely what is. That truth. What is the message we have. What is the liberating message you have. Deep within you. What. Is the truth that you are called to proclaim. To make us free. What is that core message. That will set. Are spirits free. Free from the bonds that bind the mind free from the social codes. That limit. Our ability to answer human need. I hope as we go forth. Into the 4th. This year. We can truly think. About what that good news is. But it's pushing forth from us and whatever it is it's worth celebrating. We do have much to celebrate this fourth. Because there is. Some. Truth of love and freedom pushing forth from us. And when that good news comes forth when it is made real by the power of love. When it awakens in each of us. We do have the ability. The possibility. To truly be a free church. To truly be partners. In creating the free world. Of our vision. But i celebrate that possibility today. Freedom is worth celebrating wherever we find it. And it is also worth. Being incredibly grateful. Recently i watched an interview with a man named rodger. Who has been falsely imprisoned for an act of rape that he did not commit. He spent 20 years in prison. Before he was cleared by dna evidence. Assisted by the innocence project. A nice relief. 20 years of his life. The prime years of his adulthood. He spent in prison. For a horrible crime that he did not commit. I learned a lot from this interview about the brokenness. And racial bias of our justice system. I learned a lot about the importance of organizations like the innocence project. Which uses contemporary dna technology to clear the names of wrongfully convicted people all over the country. But what i took most clearly. From this interview with rodger. Was an incredible lesson. Ingratitude. Freedom. And grace. Because rodger has every reason to be bitter. Cynical and angry. And i'm sure in moments he is. If he isn't he's far more loving and merciful than i could imagine being. But in this particular interview. Do you know what he wanted to tell us about. He wanted to tell us about the time he was going to spend with his son. He wanted to talk. Not the meaning for work. But he was finally going to be able to do. I think we hear a lot in our national dialogue about the things we want to be free from. There are those who want to be free from all taxation. Those who want to be free from responsibility to the least among us. And before we start feeling smug about what other people think of freedom. We in our circles tend to want to be free of anything that smells faintly of dogma. Free of any demands of the community that infringe upon our own personal search for truth and meaning free of christian mysticism and free of humanist rationalism. And i think of rodger. And the 20 years he spent in prisons. How all he wanted to talk about with the time he was going to spend with his family. The meaning for work. He was going to do. Where is our gratitude. For the fact that we wake up free people. And live free live connection and meaning. Freedom from is absolutely essential to the fullness of our humanity. It is hard earned. It would be an affront to all those who have been or are enslaved in any way to say otherwise. But i think we could also learn a lesson from rodger. Freedom. Is important. To the extent to which it means we can spend time with the people that we love. To the extent that means we can build relationships. To the extent it means we can do meaningful work. An exercise our creative potential. Because whatever we are free from. Only matters in light of the things it makes us free. 4. And so i want to ask you today. To whatever extent you have been given or have taken for yourself that hard-earned costly thing called freedom. What are you going to do with it. For me i want to follow rogers both example which is both simple and profound. I want to move in my freedom with gratitude in order to connect more deeply. To act more compassionately. To live. More meaningfully. Dr. martin luther king jr. preached it best he had a dream. That one day this nation will rise up. To live up to the true meaning of its freedom. We are still working on that dream in this nation and in this church. And so today let us recommit. To the hard work of making it so. Are earlier him calls us forth. Prophetic church the future waits your liberating ministry. Go forward in the power of love. Proclaim the truth. That makes us free. We are free people. Part of a free church tradition. Living in a free country. What are we going to do. How will we live up to its promise. My prophetic church that you. The future awaits your liberating ministry. Together let us pledge ourselves to greater service. The forward in the power of love. Proclaim the truth that makes us free and use that freedom well. To the end that all together may live in freedom. All in the service. Of love. Go for sandblasting. And be a blessing. Amin.

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20130331_0192_easter_who_is%20Jesus_christian.mp3

Jesus went with his disciples to the villages of says arya phillippe. And on the way. He asked his disciples this. Who do people say that i am. But who do you say that i am. Who do i say he is. So i have to give you a little backstory here. I start seminary in texas at austin presbyterian theological seminary which. If you weren't listening the first time is there presbyterian there. They're very reformed theological. And one of the first classes i took was called the systematic theology which is a survey of theology that attempts to relate a bunch of different concepts and how they interact with each other which is the systematic part of the supposed to be a system. Can i have a professor the rev dr. cynthia rigby or cindy as we were. Instructed very strongly to call her. Do i love. She is engaging and she was interested in what we had to say and funny and brilliant person. Gt5. So few weeks into that first semester in that class there was something that happened that really made me think about myself and about everything. I'm at the unitarian universalist and someone who would not grown up as a christian despite my first name. Or. I haven't even gone up in a church for that matter i i wasn't eager to write a paper about jesus and that of course was the assignment. What's the write a paper on christology. The study of jesus christ. And one of my classmates also auu i had even less interest than i did and writing this paper so we went to talk to cindy. And sort of explained where we were and you know what we didn't want to do and if there was some sort of alternative assignment we could do instead. And she listens. She thought for a second. And then she said this. If you're going to be a minister. People are going to ask you about jesus. Even if you're you you. What are you going to say. And that pretty much ended the conversation because i thought. Well i need to figure out what i'm going to say to that and i don't know today. So i wrote that essay. Or rather i sat down to write that essay and wasn't exactly sure what i should write. What on earth did i think about jesus. I knew something i didn't thing like i didn't think he was a god or part of a trinity of god beings. I was always skeptical of the miracle healings and such. But. It occurred to me very quickly the talking about things i didn't think wasn't the point of this paper. It was rather what was i. Dipson. Who do i think jesus is. And just as importantly what does that mean for me today if anything's. I need more information. So i reread the gospels especially matthew and luke which i'd always sort of connected with pretty strongly. I asked some friends who were further along in the program for suggestions of theologians i should read who might have some. Ideas like i was thinking even though i don't know exactly what those ideas were. And they gave me some great suggestions they told me to read howard thurman's jesus and the disinherited. Which i recommend to anyone. And hosea baloo the gray universalist theologians a treatise on atonement. Which is more interesting in the title mixes sounds. And somewhere along the line i really sort of fell in love with jesus. This was someone that i could admire someone who lives a life of principle. Who did what he felt was right. Even when it ran contrary to the edicts of his religion. Even when it ran afoul of the law of the land even when it meant his suffering and eventual death. He lived a life of simple acts of deep faith and great love. Is one example is my primary example of how to live a life that means something and to have a lasting legacy in our world. So i know my answer is not the only one you'll he'll steer some more today. But this is the answer that lives in my heart even so today. When kaley asked me to give the speech i told her that it gives me both great solace and great concern. To read the passage that we just spoke up because shortly thereafter it becomes really obvious and throughout the rest of the gospels. That jesus's disciples have no idea who he is. Just not they're they're as wrong as you can be at virtually every turn and jesus doesn't mind pointing this out to them. So it makes me feel better that if those guys were wrong. But i'm certainly no more wrong than they were. And they mostly turned out okay. So who do i say he is. Jesus is my way of making sense of a world that often doesn't make sense. I'll leave you with that.

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031026_Larry_Ladd_Socially_Responsible_Investing.mp3

Welcome to first parish on this first day of. On seasonably warm morning. This morning we have larry ladd. Larry is the uua financial advisor. And that position one of three nationally elected officers of the unitarian universalist association. He has a history of lay leadership within unitarian universalist congregation is dating back to the late 1960s when he was the president of the unitarian universalist. Large role in getting the unitarian universalist association into socially responsible investing. And making choices for its investment funds that reflect the values of the religious community. Larry has work today. Central financial officer for the woods hole oceanographic institute also the cfo for tufts university. Keeping the budget director for harvard university and currently he is the practice leader in higher education for grant thornton llp which is one of the nation's leading auditing and consulting firm. It's a joy to welcome. Larry here this morning for congregation to talk about socially responsible investing. Larry. Good morning have a very slender connection with the first pair that i am. A third-generation unitarian-universalist in when i look over on the list of robert scott. Church of providence. Married my parents. Symbolic significance for me classic. Career path for the. Highly promising minister was disturbed for a short time in aurora paris. I think this would have been. The time. And then the rest of your career. At that church so he served in. Providence from 1930 131:2 1968. A very long time and that was a classic. Career for the great minister of the time. So that is that is a connection that i have contacts not about how you might use your personal funds although i find every time i do talk i get those kind of questions but i am not in spite of a title financial advisor for the uua i am not. What is conventionally considered a financial advisor i don't advise people about how to invest. Their money out of aligned are personal resources or anything like that. So i will try to avoid. I've been involved in berkeley responsible investing for a very long time. When i was active as a youth leader in our movement. Money became a fascination for me i sometimes give us another context called everything i know that's important about money i learned in the usa in the late 1960s. True. I would heavily involved and always been his mouth characterizes a black empowerment controversy which was a controversy largely about how. Budget and assets would be used in relationships. To the black empowerment movement was going on at that time. And i found it whenever i would put on a board or committee. I wanted to be involved in questions relating to how. Assets were used and trying to make sure that those assets. Were aligned with and reflected the values and purposes. Ivar movement. University. And we're going to put you a course on the student affairs committee. I said no thank you. I want to be on. Finance. Committed. Because that's where the area where the students are most likely to be benefited. And where were most likely to make the most difference. So ever since those early days in the ua. Money has been important one of the things i wanted to make sure i grew up to be. Person different than the folks who manage the money in the late 1960s. Different than them i saw these middle-aged men. And that's what they were. Feeling. Very confident in the way they manage money very conservatively and with no regard to what was being preached. Weekly in the pulpit of our congregation. And i said. Movement becoming a minister. But i realized what the movement really needed was not more ministers like me. But what it needed was more finance people. Like me it had but not enough of those and so that's in fact how i chose the career that i ended up choosing. Irresponsible. Great. Granzin's in socially responsible investing one is called social screening. Social screening is with respect what assets you have deciding. That you will not invest in certain kinds of activities or that you will invest into another kind of activity. Most common is what it called screening. Which means that an institution with its endowment or you with your personal finances chooses to not invest. In certain kinds of financial instruments are certain company. You might say i don't want to invest in any firm that does defense-related research or swords produces weapons. Or that are polluting the environment to avoid that has bad human resources policy. So there are many agencies and outfits that produce list. Companies that you should not invest in. And infected uua which does use negative screening among other techniques has a list of companies. But it will not invest in based on certain criteria. And those. Those lists are given to the investment managers we chose choose so that they know that they cannot invest. In those particular. Company. Kind of social screening has what's called positive. Specifically. A company because it does good things as opposed to refusing to invest in a company that does bad things. That's a little less common and much more challenging because it's sometimes hard to find. Companies that actually juju. Good thing terms of social justice. What they do is not. But not positive that make a positive difference is difficult to do. As. Strategy called community-based investing. And that's taking a proportion of your assets. Investing them in your community. Some form is most commonly comes about. Providing financing to low-income housing or similar kinds of. Essentially banking activity but the kind of banking activities that your local bank might not choose to do. So it's making assets available within a particular community. Has done that you write the negative screening. All the way in seabrook the late 60s. I actually has done community-based investing since around 1970 9th and 71 when a vote was taken to assign a certain proportion of its assets. 2. Community investment. Was to put money. Community-owned focused on specific immunity. I remember once when i was in lry we. Tnemec that a decision by the uu way we decide to take our money out of the local boston bank and put it in a community-based thing i have a vivid memory of walking with the tar treasurer. Bucket the block from 25 beacon street. Taking all of our money out. I'm getting on the arm. To roxbury to a banquet had something like roxbury freedom national bank and putting all the money in groups. Over the last 30 years. Between queen. Nightfall 1917 around the turn of the century. That money was not very well by the way. And so when i looked at it again. The names roxbury freedom national bank in places like that with no longer on the list because there had been mergers and fisher no banks. And so we were able to state of being invested in community bank who had our money and cds and fleet. And citizens. The money back to it's his primary purpose and i'll talk to you a little bit more about that but that's the second strategy. Investing for people of. Scarface. What's called shareholder activism. You could argue the case of positive and negative screening you can feel good at night my money i don't hold stock in general electric because the defense contractor. But you really make. No real difference. On the other hand shareholder activism does make a difference. Case where you. Either. Prevent prostate issues yourself. Or support others were grazing proximity. There is a theory generally not followed in practice that corporations are owned by their shareholders. And in a legal sense that is true. But if you look at the behavior of most corporations they do not behave as if. The shareholders are the owners of those corporation. Shareholder activism. Become an active. Shareholders place motions on the agenda of the annual meeting to speak at those annual meeting and just generally to raise as much hell as you possibly can. And be a pain in the neck for these. Dakota corporate management in the corporate ford. This is a kind of socially responsible investing that has grown very rapidly over the last 30 years. And particularly actually since. Some of the recent corporate scandals the introns and rite aids in anderson until 4. There's a lot more support for it after those than they had been before. Again the day was a very early leader on this. The word forecastle engaged in shareholder activism over corporate governance issues or the actual business direction of a corporation before 1966. But in 1966. Participant. Beer holder action that was based on social justice issues that i'm aware of in any event that was the eastman kodak. 1966 where he joined with. United methodist church tiaa-cref and several other. Organizations that help significant stock in eastman kodak and supported. An effort adult community organization organized by saul alinsky called fight. In rochester to get eastman kodak to higher. Folks from the african american community in rochester with the most part did not do. Biggest shoe in rochester do you add eggs and head to general assembly. A past motions instructing. The board to vote it. Shares in a particular way. And to my knowledge that is the first. Time. Bet. Group that held stock in corporations actually. We're advocates for social justice was corporation. Is there is a list actually on the uga website of all of all of the various general assembly resolutions that relate to investments. And corporate governance. Corporate behavior in english to see a long history. General assembly resolution starting with back eastman kodak case. Until around 1999 or 2000. We only that it wouldn't even come universal sociation we only supported other people's practice that is when somebody was raising a proxy issue. And now we're trying to change the environmental. Behavior this particular corporation will you vote with us. And most of the time we would say yes sometimes it would say no because it's not easy to vote your proxy. It can be quite a challenge to get on the ballot to cast your votes in favor of. Of resolutions of one sort or another but sometimes we didn't do it just because it was too difficult. But for the most part we did with what i considered passive proxy voting. When somebody else castor we would participate. And we have changed to become an actress. Proxy voting that is raising issues ourselves. Working to build alliances with other organizations to press. For change. Why we support a variety of issues. One where we. Seems to have become more of a leader has been issued about. Benefits for same-sex partners. Ending employment discrimination gay and lesbian people and he shoots like that. Where. Groups like united methodist while they vote with us. Drawn to that issue in input that particular issue less strongly. We have become a much more active proxy boulder and we had ever been before we've have resumed leadership that we used to hold in a group called the interfaith center for corporate responsibility which is a. A nonprofit organization which combines a whole host of. Religious organizations that support. Socially responsible investing in one form or another i'm going to pass around a copy of their annual report. And their newsletter. Which. Detail some of the kinds of issues in specific proxy issues. But they were holding on because i suspected you might ask me give me example and i wouldn't be able to give it to you unless. Baptist around for you two to look at in the area of community investing we did cuz i may have mentioned before change how we did it so that were once again. Investing in in the community residents in fleet bank and we did it in a way. That would. Put some responsibility and hopefully elizabeth some commitments from congregation. Somewhat typical universal. Most of the money. Set aside to be mashed. By actions taken by individual congregation. So if a congregation chooses. To engaging in community investing that meet certain criteria. Do you weigh wilmack those contributions. It creates an incentive and doubles the power of the local congregation. In the case of. Of the screening and shareholder activism. We've begun to encourage congregation. To put their endowments. How do you ain't down with basically functions like a mutual fund. Do that. Congregations don't have to worry about how all the details of positive and negative screening shareholder activism themselves but for those who. To want to be socially responsible investors. And have their money invested by people who know what they're doing about that investing. They can can buy shares in the ua endowment effectively with their their own endowments and and have it professionally managed. I am in a socially responsible way consistent please values of the congregation presumably. Until we expand our encouraging it in various ways kardasians to do that there other alternatives. How to reduce socially responsible investing in this handout mutual funds and investment companies prince instead of made. Their mark. Bye. By doing so she responsible investing domine walden asset management trillium asset management. Their number of them and i only get some. But a quick web search including on the ua website will yield more names of firms that do that so you don't have to. Lucky you you i do it others can do it. As well. Look at this handout activism and i listed first some of the actions that usually took. Back in 1966. And then in 1999. At our own practices a can what is sometimes called refreshing are socially responsible investing. Took the community investing money out of fleet and put it in there playing in better. Places of we reinvigorated our shareholder activism as opposed to complete. Supporting proxies file by others. And we involve congregation policy suites. Adopted with community investing in through beginning to promote. Using anyway endowment. Then in this handout i just list. A variety of a kinds of issues. Vet. Responsible investing is usually concerned with. 1 or hold federal government issues. Don't have anything directly to do it. Social justice has traditionally defined but which are critical to the. Affecting the behavior corporation. Executive compensation one that you certainly read about quite a bit in the paper. Elections is another one. It's relatively easy. Compared to shareholder motion on the bore on a. On a ballot. Still hardly can be done. If you want to stay a shareholder resolution and changing employment practices you can do that. But if you want to. Elect. Director. Practically impossible. In the case is when you want to lock the director it's almost always done. When there's a disagreement by a major investor in a in a company about the strategic direction of the company does not have to do with social justice. And. That major institutional investor or coalition of investors. Have to spend millions. Abdallah. Have a chance. Lots of legal costs lots of causes of mounting a campaign. Because the corporation can spend corporation money. Supported candidates among other differences. You have to spend your own money. Nothing like. System of campaign finance reform. Regular political election. The board elections is one independence and conflict of interest if another transparency and disclosure practices. What does the corporation disclose about its behavior. There's a phrase that that i use often in any board i serve on. I don't know who percentage of sunlight is the best antiseptic. If you have information about how you're behaving. You put it on the website you put it in your annual report on anyway you can too. And if somebody doesn't like it at least they know about it and they can pretend raised the issues in some way. But corporation generally speaking. Don't like disclosure disclosing record-breaking profits. Relationship with the public accounting firm. Is often very important. And i wanted to mention briefly the sarbanes-oxley act. In my role at working for a public accounting firm right now touring the country on a for-profit organization. Carbon dioxide is a. An act passed. In the year 2002 as a result of all the corporate scandals. In reims and rite aids in sulphur. That was co-sponsored by paul sarbanes a liberal senator from maryland and michael actually a very conservative congressman. Ohio. And it was intended to make sure that scandals like enron don't happen again. And it does have significant impact in certain areas of financial governments. A relationship with a public accounting firm. Mandates that audit committees have to exist is required if crates of variety of laws. It have very few but have limited impact. Important impact. What i would call financial governor. Some folks think that corporations going to behave better because. Then they're just a set of social issues the social and environmental impact of the organization. There are organizations they were a group of researchers now and research centers. It produced. Per share profit it actually measure. Social and environmental and economic impact of corporate behavior. I am trying to get corporations to adopt some of these in addition to their earnings-per-share numbers. Is another example of things that shareholders activist my to. Of course there's always concern about what products companies might. Produce. Various religious organization concerned about alcohol alcohol is not on our list. Perhaps it should be but it's it's not. Given our our behavior tobacco is on our list is also not on our list usually known as gambling but this is a gambling gambling sound. Inoffensive. Defense witches are on our way. Labor rights of one sort or another including job outsourcing. Employee relations and workplace equity and diversity. Are common issues in our selection of. Pittsburgh donna our investment committee back in 1997. We're middle-aged white men. And now in 2003. Half of them are. Which is a little bit of improvement as you may know if you have know anything about banking and investing. There are plenty of women. And some folks from nrt groups who now own and are significant management. Because we've been proactive try to find them. We met most of them. And one of these slides i don't recall where let me see if i can find it. Addresses. That is for your flight number 3 the lower left-hand corner on that first page. Numbers can be tricky when you do this. Generally speaking. Socially scream. Investments. Either do just as well or in the last 15 years have done better. Turn on purple screen. Investing. That's not just because. Goodness wins out in the end has nothing to do with that. Starscream out. Investment portfolio. Have just plain not done well. In the last 15 years big their smokestacks manufacturing companies. Author defense contractors are degrees of kind of company. Screen.. I have not performed well. And the kind of companies that are not screened out like microsoft and every. Microsoft microsoft. Because it's. Environmentally. Good. Not damaging as far as good employment practices for the condos kind of clean company. Have over the over the course of 10 or 15 years. I've done very well so right now hopefully screamed investments. Do just fine. Go back. They do well or they don't do well depending on when you started when you end. But certainly in the last 10 to 15 years because of the nature of the companies are screened out. Animatrix. I took the responsible investing is done. Just fine if not better. I've been up than others. So i will. With that i will stop and let sarah. The rest of the event. Well now is time for questions and i'm sure that many people have had ideas common things that you'd like to hear of it came up for you i just want to start off by asking you to comment a little bit more about how do you you a socially responsible investing practices are aligned with. And so there is a talmudic process that goes on taking. General assembly resolution since 1961. Responsibility. To make sure that when an issue comes up. It is consistent with and there is at least one specific vote. It supports that i know corset contradicted. They're even studied issue perhaps it's the most often voted. Race anti-racism of 14 minados i think the second-largest. Mccain lesbian concerns years. That they're benefiting.. There is a consistent. Effort to make sure that nothing. At the union rate does. Do everything anyway. just supported by. Pacific general assembly resolution. Washington office that does lobbying effectively. Investment committee. All follow. Talmudic. Feels like to me. And we specifically make sure that there is a mandate. And if not. No one speaks the president does not speak on social issues if there's not a mandate. The washing office does not do anything and we don't. Do anything in our investment paul. Isn't. Any questions or comments. On program now the other night it was so friday night. There was a company called tyson that was featured in the program. They are trying to lower the. Amount of money that the other employees make so they can make more profits and be more competitive. What's your thoughts about. That's what i'm saying and. Organizing a boycott of companies like that. Send a message. I have no objection obviously boycott. In one form or another there. It's just my personal opinion terms of the amount of time and effort that goes into this activity. I bet the shareholder activism is going to be a much more effective way overtime. Behavior. Then our boycotts now doesn't mean the boycotts are not effective i mean if you think of being backed over a long. of time but boycotts had on. Albert unionization of grape workers on. South africa and effective for cuphead in this country on. After those are very significant. Activities but if you look at the amount of time and effort. That went into those compared to the shareholder activism. I like the idea of. Raising a lot of cain at these annual meeting. Because these corporations hate bad publicity. Generate a. Danielle. Institutions. To have money. The shareholder activism. Route. I think it's just going to be more effective if you get. 5% of the voting manual media. Corporate managers get very very nervous and usually their behavior changes. That suggests the techniques to me is buying sometimes buying stock in companies that you don't approve of the practices of. Annual meeting. And we we find it. I just love that picture of it we find a local minutes with mr comes up. I'm here to see speech and it's a way to have the voice of unitarian universalism. In an entirely different arena. And not usually the usual arena which if we gather together in rooms like this and congratulate ourselves on our purchase. Arena where i've use are not as welcome and and and doing genuine witness. Comet. How you spend your money but how do you get a lot more money to spend. And i've always been involved with tricks about 20 years or more surprised that the subject of getting. Money by abba. Bequest will do a proper activity on the experiences. It seemed to me that are actively after. Encouraging their folks to leave property moneypak what percentages of their states wilden taunt and do it in a very effective way. Promoting face that i have no. Doing that whatever they have in endowment. Necessarily has to do what they're doing. Avoidance of that. Your monthly or yearly tithe. This is one of the issues that i believe very high very strong views on. Which is that in general liberal protestant i don't include just music and universalist put in general liberal protestant. Don't want to talk about money don't want to do anything about money but don't believe in the joy of giving i believe in the joy of giving that it is a. It is an act of. Your religious conviction. To give. And give a w. To whatever religious community you choose. Evangelical community. That's generally. Tithing in many cases. The normal part of. A business in emotion attorney universalist congregation. Many other liberal process. Algorithm. You're not.. I believe it's a park. Passing out your religious faith. How to give a significant amount of your resource. The religious community you choose to be. Evangelicals do it. I do it. College do it. You want to remember the turk. . now baby that wouldn't work in archiving conversations like this i know but the expectation that. Is that a proportionate the cultural expectations that are proportional. Well it's a good idea we just had a case of a very. Strongly. At the general assembly it was held in boston this year. The president of the u.s.a. propose that we hold a collection. At the general assembly. App for certain kinds of ministerial aide but he proposed. Spur of the moment. He proposed that we do a collection for the friends of the u.s. support. And the resistance to that was quite extraordinary including resistance on the uua board. But that's not what we do we don't ask people for money. I'm a believer you asked you asked. But. That's that's my view. So we're going through a lot now. Butts. Feelings. That we feel they have about money. Even though we are at associates in terms of socioeconomic circumstances. Second richest. Denomination after the episcopalian richard and proportionately just like if it's drying we give the least. It's all and it's not about our religion activates about every study shows. Religious and other philanthropic purposes. The poorer you are the more generous you are. And we are trapped in our economic circumstance. Nothing to do with. The fact that we chose to be unitarian universalist it has to do. The fact that we ask we were gifted. By being in the upper middle-class and upper-class. I would love to like a comment on that specifically on plans giving a very good friend of mine is the associate director of planned giving at the unitarian universalist association and they have been raising funds through will remember and also i'm giving of estate. And that sort of thing is definitely underway to try to change that culture that larry is talking about and also within this congregation semi we can be that changed as well to talk openly about how in needham we can talk with people about what kind of gifts they want to make to the congregation and also how they might want to remember the congregation in their will. Why don't we wait for the mic to go right up there. I really appreciate very much what you've been sharing but powerful. And efforts that are made in in good spirits that you're talking about. This is the dent. Enterprise. Now. And maybe groups of union might be able to do. Kind of balance though. Power. I really do get concerned about the extraordinary power of corporation. I couldn't agree more. In corporate behavior but it's what we can do. That's why i like to call it. We stand up and we can. But it's not it's not like a revolution i would mention. Effects of the union's of ero. Handbook i'm passing around and all the groups like that they are effectively forming unions of shareholders it's just a. Still the shareholders majority. Shares are owned by the folks who voted for george bush. Workers and their pension funds. But. By very very rich. Those organizations that do own the union pension funds the public employee pension funds. The religious. Endowments and pension funds. In constant conversation now. And to the extent that they. Have power. They're increasingly using it in unity together. One of the biggest good things i think it works like calpers which is the california retirement employee retirement board i mean like us. Which is the largest public employees. Pension fund in the country. Does going. 5% of sun corporation. And the new york state public employees pension fund owns a lot. Amateur. But still there menarche. But i was just at an event. Call the green mountains. Changing world effects. All in all in one place. Talkin about strategies. So that kind of activities going on. Will take one last question.. Put it into words to death there is the greater good and then there is self-interest. And. Corporations in ogden it's the bottom line. Regardless of what. Evergrey platitudes they have in their mission statements. Estimated by shareholders investors everything bottom line what are you going to give me. And i think about great ability and self. Interest. By global economy. And you think about walmart which is become just an incredible retail powerhouse. The impact on local realtors. Retailers. And what happens in a typically tubidy. Business district. Walmart lowest prices. Everything gets manufactured overseas. Typically. They say assembled in china assembled whatever. And i guess my question to you is one walmart. M green. Expectantly how do you reconcile the greater good in the tendency for self-interest. I don't i don't remember whether walmart. There's no getting around the fact that the bottom line is this week going to be the primary. Motivator of corporations there's no getting around it. But corporation. Who want to protect their image. And actually their image and how they're seen in this community does affect their bottom line even know that. Walmart. There's a betta fish discovered how many undocumented aliens there. They're hiring and probably unbelievably low wages with no benefits. That's embarrassing to them so that you'll feel see them start to fix it so that extent it. Ar. Our shareholder activism creates embarrassment. And hurt their public image that will change their behavior. A little bit but it doesn't change it. Indiana. But i talked to one story. This job i have with grand parking at the first for-profit job. I ever had in my life. First time one of my first consulting engagements. But i joined a sperm was with alabama state university. Starkly black college in montgomery alabama. Visiting montgomery alabama i never been there before. What's a truly moving. Experience i got to see the. Martin luther king's parsonage that have been bombed. State capital or jefferson davis inaugurated president of the confederacy and where george wallace was inaugurated governor and the dexter avenue baptist church and it's all the. Symbol. Our struggle. Country. So i went. Against. All kinds of. Endemic racism. Alabama. And i went back to the apartment meeting. I told about the. Expecting. La. Empathy back. I got one question. How much did we make on it. And i knew i was not in kansas anymore. Thank you very much for sharing your perspectives with us and sharing all this great information with our group today really appreciate you being a part of our series. Next week the series will continue on economics and values with phil villiers who is from families usa he's also a unitarian universalist family if usa is one of the largest consumer organizations in this country and phil has played a large role in organizing that and phil will be speaking on reforming the healthcare system. Which is definitely an issue that touches a lot of our lives. So i'm pleased when us next sunday at 12:15.

uuneedham_org

20111120_justice_seeking_people_9_John_homily.mp3

You've heard some great stories. But i feel moved to add just a little bit of commentary. Seems a big one. How we can be more effective as a people. In seeking justice. In the bible one. Justice. Justice only should you pursue. Moses said to his people. That you may live. And not long ago at a church in downtown boston. Have to admit i spoke for a whole hour on this thing. It was a lecture that you can watch her here. Online at men's lectures.com but today i'm going to be very brief. Our congregation does the big one we look particularly in this morning service. Neither are most congregations in our denomination. But there are over 1,000. Of our churches in the united states alone. And surveys of religious identity. Show the. Broccoli. Three-quarters of a million people. In the united states identify as unitarian universalist. For the most part we're better educated. And we're more comfortable better off. Been a lot of folks. We have enough diversity of thinking that one unitarian once asked his minister what do you think you use have in common across all of our differences a background. Believe. The minister replied. Well. Where to claim to be pretty skeptical you know. To which the man said. I'm not sure i believe that. Proving the point. I think i would answer that we underestimate. Are potential power for good. And our influence. Because if we were to admit how great it is we might actually feel obligated. To get better organized. To serve the needs of the world. Actually we're so inclined to be skeptical and self-critical. That we often don't know. Just how well-organized in influential we sometimes have been. And candy. In the pursuit. Of a more just world. Take the stories you heard this morning. No those things were happening. On our behalf. That a comic book. About dr. king. That we helped public. Play the role. In the revolution in egypt staying bus far. In sha allah as they would say. Nonviolent. Bet you didn't even remember most of you the back in 1963 with dr king himself was alive needed interfaith support. For his civil rights marches and samba it was. Are churches. The organized the interfaith response. The march with more clergy and more volunteers to selma than any other faith. Uusc isn't a big organization either. Dedicated staff. Members. An annual budget of about 6 million. But like this church it has a bigger influence in its community of other human rights groups. Then it's relatively small size. Would predict. Because around the world at pioneers. In finding partners. That are themselves effective. Multiply. 10 find 10 find 10. And messaging issues that really make a bigger difference. When a humanitarian disaster hits a place like haiti. Quickhelp. But uusc states. Finding people who are going to make. Haiti a better place to live in the long haul. Years later it's still working. With people like patrick. Helping people recover spiritually and organize effectively. Then pursue sustainable community solution. The human right to water. Which we take for granted. Environmental justice. Is a key priority. And the service committee has helped to push it through the united nations. And now here in the united states through the legislature in california. Economic justice for workers like maria. And for people in the global south who need. Fair trade not just free trade. My friend bill schultz who preceded me as president of our denomination and then handed up amnesty international usa. Is now head of our service committee. And last june that are general assembly he gave a talk about what makes four. Ineffective. Movement for social change. Innit he had an interest in quotation from a surprising source. Guess who said this. To bring about social change. Requires a strategy that is vertically and horizontally integrated. Spanning everything from ideas. The policy creation to education in grassroots organization. From the collection. That's from charles koch. One of the koch brothers. Wealthy family who have helped to fund a lot of very conservative. Causes. From denying the reality about global warming. Did anti-government and attacks movements in the tea party. Bill self. Mister coke left out one important element of effective social change that's more and more necessary. Pushing for corporate accountability. Which is a field in which we unitarian-universalist have been doing more and then. More effective leaders then we probably realize. Helping other religious groups and nonprofits and pension funds use. Bespeak the payphone. To organize resolutions at corporate meetings. That will shame. Corporations that are behaving badly. Into changing their policies toward the environment and toward their employees. And toward their consumers. Here in america we have been at the heart of a movement. That has been i think integrated. Up-and-down broadly. The one i've taken part in for 10 years. To allow all loving committed couples both straight and gay. To marry and be treated equally. We have strategized and pushed effectively enough that now a clear majority of all americans. Support. Marriage equality the final victory is not yet one but it seems to me almost inevitable now. And when i think about other things we've done i remember that overseas in india. Our unitarian universalist holding india program. Has built up one of the broadest and deepest networks of human right activist anywhere in the world. Organizing literally millions. Of women and marginalized people into cooperatives and unions and think tanks. Freeing people from bonded labour asserting the human rights. People who were once called untouchable. And now the service committee has taken some of the most successful methods there to places like haiti. And east africa. We're better organized than we know. And hundreds of unitarian universalist congregation to become active in the congregation ali bass community organizing. Two groups like greater boston interfaith organization. Gpio which played a key role here in massachusetts. And making health insurance. No. More universally. Available. And another network of feisty. Social change networks has been. Social change groups has been nurtured by our unitarian universalist of each program. Out of one of our congregations on long island. Which is able to give away nearly 10 million dollars in grants. Every year for social justice. One of our great leaders and thinkers. Lake james luther adams. Used to say that we must not believe in the immaculate conception. Of our own virtue. Rather we must. Realize that we are called to practice the social incarnation. Of the good we seek. We can't do or be everything. Each of us has to try. To discern carefully just what our particular personal part is. In seeking justice. And practicing compassion. And walking humbly is something. That is bigger than any one of us. But justice making. Wrote the poet march percy. Goes on one of the time. It starts when you care. To act. It starts when you do it again. After they say no. It starts when you say. And know who you mean. And each day. You mean one more. So when you invite dahlia. And patrick. And crisantos in moorea. To be guests at your table this season. When you say we each day. The mean one more. When you drop a quarter or a dollar into that box at dinner or better yet a generous check. I hope you also. Go to the usc website. Uusc. org. Find out. A bit more about being part of a network. Of. More effective. Justice. Seeking people. Then you probably realize. And i asked you to open your hymnals one more time. And to look in the back. At number 457. Written. Over a century ago. Buy a unitarian minister. Whose portrait happens to hang down in our church parlor. Number 457 the words of. Edward everett hale. Won't you join me in saying in unison. I am only one. But still i am one. I cannot do everything. But still i can do something. And because i cannot do everything. I will not refuse to do the something. That i can do.

uuneedham_org

20100919_can_you_say_im_sorry_john_sermon.mp3

Let me begin with a concession. This past week despite a lot of demands that a very busy time of the year. And things that i know i should have been doing for some of you. I took time to read a whole novel. It's one of my guilty pleasures. But i had heard jonathan franzen interviewed on. Fresh air with terry gross npr. Talking about his latest novel. Freedom. Two years ago he'd received the national book award for an earlier work of his called the corrections. And caused quite a stir when he declined the honor of going on the oprah show. Saying he was afraid that oprah's endorsement. Would cause men not to read his novel. Sole protector book offer list. But you must have forgiven him. Because the new book. Was announced this week as one of her latest selection. Friends rights the kind of fiction. That makes the connections. Between the texture of. Interpersonal. Domestic. Relations in life in our culture. And the bigger. Cultural public trends we all live in. I'd already chosen. My sermon title for today. Can you say i'm sorry. It's something i heard a parent. Saying to a child. On the beach this summer. The child had taken a sand pail belonging to another youngster. And a little scene of crying and tears have been sued. Until the parents intervene. Can you say i'm sorry. I was sitting nearby in my beach chair reading the new york times. I was focused on a piece about the financial crisis. It was written by david stockman. Some of you may remember his name. Stockman was the budget director in the reagan administration. In the early 1980s since then he's been a big weekend wall street. I first knew him about 40 years ago. When he and i were fellow students at harvard divinity school. His article was a rather remarkable 14 a staunchly partisan republican. It blamed the collapse of the economy on the policies of his own party. It was an effect of mia culpa. It started off by saying if there were such a thing as chapter 11 for politicians. The republican push to extend the unaffordable bush tax cuts. Would amount to a bankruptcy filing. Smoker first time. My old acquaintance stockman has recalled that. Confession is good for the soul. Back when he was in office in the 1980s when he and mr. reagan work. Presiding over a doubling of the national debt. He was unguarded enough to admit to william greider of the atlantic that he had never really believed. The tax cuts alone. Would cause output or employment. And the economy to rise. And that the deals cut in those tax cuts with groups like the oil industry. Constituted letting the hogs really come to feed at the trough. The public trough. Now he's prepared to go a lot further. Blaming all of the borrowing from abroad. The huge public debt. The speculative bubbles that caused the collapse shipping of jobs overseas all on what. George bush senior once memorably called. Voodoo economics. And he was saying how much he regrets. Its popularity. Especially among groups. Like the tea party. Without ever ever quite safe. I'm sorry. Just that it's unseemly for the senate minority leader mitch mcconnell to insist that the nation's wealthiest taxpayers be spared even a 3 percentage point increase. In a time that quote. Screams out for sacrifice. I sat there in the beach reflecting. Tempting it is. To just blame. But this is democracy. The mess we are in as a country is one in which few except responsibility. Many ways been complicit. For thirty years now led by my own generation and stockman's. The baby boomers. We have preferred electing politicians. Who have indulged in a collective form of entitlement. We've chosen leaders who would tell us what we wanted to hear. Basically that we could have something for nothing. That we could live beyond our means with no consequences. And that we're entitled to that is free america. And then if something goes wrong well there must be somebody to be angry. Blame. The tea party is just the latest manifestation of that tendency. As the australian-born critic robert hughes said in his 1993 book the culture of complaint the fraying of america. We americans seem to have raised. Blaming others. Almost to an art form. Especially in our politics. Which are not only nasty. And polarized. And frequently irrational. But today almost atomized with fingers of blame pointing in every direction so that clear majority is capable of following through on clear principles with any consistency are harder and harder to come by. A country harder to govern. Last december in his speech to the nation about escalating the war in afghanistan. President obama expressed great concern about. The costs of all of our. Interventions role in the world. And then said in a massive understatement we have not always been thankful for our efforts. And we have at times made mistakes. Mistake cindy. Mermaid. In france novel that's the title of a several chapter length autobiography of betty berglund. They said the reading was an excerpt. And it was composed at her therapist suggestion. It begins predictably enough. With her reciting the mistakes the patty thinks her parents made. Right. This met when we start by blaming. As philip larkin memorably wrote they mess up our moms and dad. They may not mean to but they do. They handled all the folks they haven't had some extra just for you. But then in a move toward forgiveness. And compassion. But they were messed up in their turn. By fools and old style hats and coats who half the time. We're southeastern and half of one another's throats. Man. Hands-on misery tamanna deepens like the coastal shelf. Get out as quickly as you can. And don't have any kids yourself. If a critic puts it larkin so accurately captures the nature of human despair and our time that he renders it absurd. And so does jonathan franzen. Is protagonist's patty and walter. Get back at their parents by. Trying to raise their kids with the kind of freedom thought they were entitled to. And end up like so many parents who overemphasize freedom raising rank weeds. Kids when they indulge but can't abide. All the idolatry of freedom. Minus the responsibility. And then they rage at them. Out of their own depression. You remember that icky. Baby boom novel love story. The film with ryan o'neal and ali macgraw. The one in which her line is love means never having to say i'm sorry. Well i'm here to tell you mistakes were made. By my generation. Like every other. And i'm sorry for. And i know even if i mean it's so what. Like the pope speaking in england yesterday. Apologizing victimized by priests or than protected by the hierarchy. Sometimes like. Patty's. I'm sorry is not what we want to hear. But one of the things that france and talked about. White movingly to terry gross was. What's the cycle of anger and depression between generations. How the blurring of boundaries between adults and children. Creates a culture in which its. Not just so many adults never seem to grow up. Straight. In blaine. Entitled. Without taking responsibility. Seeking cheap forgiveness. It's also in my observations of too many children. Are kept from growing up overprotective over programmed. And seen by their parents chiefly as narcissistic projections. Of their own sordid dreams. So they never get to be free. Enough to make the mistakes. It would help them grow and learn. Branson does a very good job in portraying patti and walter who comes from. Mixed religious backgrounds. Walter from an alcoholic lutheran family on the edge of lake wobegon. And patty from a jewish mother and a wasp father who get married in the unitarian church. That they never seem to attend. And he does a good job of showing how educated lefties. Who despised the conventional religious ideas of many ordinary people. Miss how important it is for people to have a structure. In which to confront. And confessed. And forgives human salability. To say i fallen short. I've spoken or acted out of my depression. Anger. My blame of others. Let me know resolve at least. To offer to reconcile with those whom i know or suspect i've offended let me grow up. One always tells me that. No matter what title i put on my sermons. They all come down. Would everybody please grow up. To which she says you know the answer is probably not. Who really wants to. Why do friends never explicitly. Says anything about the need. 4. The rituals of confession. Unforgiveness. That's me reading in between the lines. What he shows is what happens when they're missing. My colleagues. We were talking about how this sunday. False. The day after yom kippur. Talking about a reading. In our hymnal that's actually bothered us. And which i didn't use. In which. The response to every recitation. Of salability is. We forgive ourselves and one another. We begin again in love. Cheap grace said friend. Sometimes it's not enough to say i'm sorry. What france in dramatizes at both the domestic in. Public level. I think it's occurrence. Epidemic. I'm cycling anger and depression. Anger. From folks in the tea party depression among liberal. Now seem to think. Well i meant well. Only toward the end of the novel does he suggest what i have. Felt for years. Could it be that we. Are so polarized in our society we don't talk to one another. Don't really listen. Keep ourselves and self-righteous enclaves. And then he brings it all back home. Actually being a mature responsible for adult does. Heavy at times to say. I'm sorry. And admit one spell ability. And lay aside any entitlement to forgiveness. Depressed people unaware of how angry they are underneath it all off and say i'm sorry i'm sorry i'm sorry i'm sorry for existing. Everything i do or have done is wrong i'm sorry i'm sorry. And that happens in monopoly more than once. The words meaning little. So please understand me. I think that to use a theological term sucks. And will not do. Here's the trick. We have to accept. Are fallibility. And that of our fellow human beings. Psychologist in a pathologist mary piper the universalist out in lincoln nebraska. The author of reviving ophelia in a dozen other brooks. Once put it quite succinctly in the line some of you've heard from me before. She says that the way to stay in a relationship with others. With a spouse or partner coworkers. This community. Maybe me. Maybe in relationship with the democratic process. Itself and which were all three. If not entirely responsible for this offense is to try getting up in the morning and looking in the mirror. And then saying to yourself several times. You know. You're no prize either. It'll help you. Face the day. And turn towards others. With greater openness. And society. And yes that elusive thing called. When reminded music. In june we both attended. A farewell service for our friend and colleague carolyn edge retired after 10 years has pastor the methodist congregation. Particles energy. Was one in which carolyn said to the whole of her flock. I'm sorry if i've let you down in any way. And her congregation. Responded. And we are sorry if we ever let you. Because in doing so we probably let down ourselves. And our god.

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030928_Chuck_Collins--Economics+core_values.mp3

Good morning. Part 4 of ar15part series here at first paris on economic issues and enduring values. I guess this morning is chuck collins. Founder and program director of united for a fair economy. Found a 1995 united for a fair economy is a national nonpartisan organization that draws attention to the dangerous consequences. Growing income and wealth inequality in the us. Inspired action to reduce economic inequality. Income disparity the racial underpinnings of the gaps between 6 and 4. And the yawning chasm between the salaries of corporate ceos and those. Working american. United vacations. Legislative campaigns research and media work and creative direct action organizing. In 1997 our speaker found a project for a fair economy to bring together business leaders and investors to publicly speak out against economic policies and corporate practices that worse than economic inequality. And recently he coordinated the call to preserve the estate tax. Signed by over 1,100 prominent americans including bill gates senior george soros and others. Articles on egypt. His latest book co-authored with william gates senior his wealth and our commonwealth america to tax accumulated fortune. Decompress book. Darken copies outside chair. And he's a member of first church unitarian universalist in jamaica plain and he's married to rev patricia brennan. Join me in welcoming. Morning. Thank you. Congratulations to you on having the series and. 15 part series i don't know how many churches have taken that on so. Tonight i got to know your senior pastor john durance because he was a member of our church first person to make a plane before he was here. President he was always called upon to preach around the country but on christmas day that was the day that the home pasture usually wanted. And he was without a place to go and become to first church in and then we would go caroling at the. Shattuck nursing home. And as you know he's a terrific singer so we really relied on him to carry us as we wanted to the halls of the shattuck nursing home. And i think it's a very. I wish more congregations are doing what you what you're doing which is. Start from our values and look at the changing economy i think it's a really important discussion to be having right now. And i'm i wanted to start by giving your congregation a gift which is. Book a couple years ago which is for young people and a lot of people matter. And it's up to the book of about 21 activities. So while you're having this discussion. You might want to wake your teenagers to do that's all i'll leave that with the. Sarah. But i'm. And one of the activities to have you become human quintiles. To dramatize some of the changing. Information in arcana mean you'll see that's the kind of thing that we do with with you. And if there's a tie right now i'm. I guess i'm getting a morning off from teaching sunday school chapel. I miss but i'm really. John invited me because a couple years ago i helped start this organization united for a fair economy. You wonder what that means is sometimes say that. Are you can summarize our concern with a t-shirt that i star recently that said. I live through 10 years of unprecedented economic prosperity and all i got was this lousy t-shirt. I think that. Heard of the concern is that we lived in a time of tremendous economic growth and economic change. But it hasn't been a particularly even growth and its back. We pulled apart more the society. And we can come. Much more polarized. Part of what i want to do is start by jessica start the conversation by. Talking a little bit about what's the picture. What happened to wages to work too well. What. Why has this changed. And more important what can we do about it. And i'll probably be fairly. I am assuming that as part of this discussion your could have staring a lot of this information in the face so i won't be talking so much about the data but more about the sitter. Solution. I wish i think it's harder discussion. I brought a pack. For those of you who are. Hurt and visually oriented that i left in the hallway but it's a little chartpak that has. Much much more information than i would ever. Look upon you in a discussion but that i think. A really good sense of the picture of some of the trends that you don't always see in the evening news. Let me start by just saying that. Yesterday's paper there was some interesting stories one about the changing census data showing an increase in poverty. And also showing our friends at the very very top of the economic ladder. A reference that that. Story of wages what's happened to wages. I want to show you an illustration which. I want to a lot of these but i think it's sometimes a picture does tell 1000 words. Right up to the front. And. I'm right up here now. The lineup imagining that there the entire united states population. To the highest income divided into five equal parts or what kind of tile. Bottom husband. Hearwell household income. Under $24,000. And then the next fifth 24,000 to about. $41,000 household income and 41002 about 61,000. And about 60 1002 91,000 of the 4th and the top fifth. 91000 and up. And this is household income so what does picture doesn't show as. It how many incomes there are in a household. You could have two. Very low-wage workers. Earning the minimum wage combined income bumping them into that second fifth. Are you can have two school teachers at the end of their careers has combined incomes bumped him into the top film. Along with. Citigroup. What i want to do is a scar. Are here to illustrate the changes in income since the late 1970s. Taking a step forward to represent. 10%. Increase in real income. The bottom fifth takes about a half a step forward. Which. And this isn't last year's number so if we factored in. The information that we just learned yesterday about the census you'd actually go back to the starting line if the backup. 70s the bottom fifth. Actually saw their incomes go down and then in the early late 90s. Other income to go up a bit. And now they're back at the starting line. Really that the bottom fits real income. Have not changed since richard nixon was president. Yeah looking really since the mid-seventies. Step forward. Representing about 11% increase in real income. The middle of stephanie half-forward. The electric until the 4th two-and-a-half the forward. And the top quintile five steps forward to representing a 50% increase in real income. Card out from behind that one. And actually right where you were to pick another three steps forward from where you were. About an 80%. Increase in real income. If we were to break out the top 1%. So that's what the picture is. This is over the last. 25 years. Income growth has been very uneven. The bottom really 60% has pretty much seen their income wages stay flat. Where they've been an enormous income. Taking off in the top-end. Back to the everybody come back to where you were. Address for comparison's sake. Let's look at the 30 years after wwii a totally different. in our economy. Any guesses what happened to the bottom fifth. In that.. How many steps did they move forward or backward. Since wwii to the mid-70s. How about 30 years after world war ii. Step forward. 2 steps would be 20% increase in real income was actually 11. Every other fifth moved ahead 9 or 10.. That's the picture is the 30 years after world war ii. The rising tide lifts all boats and infect the bottom boat. Actually rose saw their real incomes go up a little bit. Faster pace. Not to say with any fun to be in that bottom quintile. But. Whereas we groove ananda if you see the actual chart it looks like a picket fence bright. Wwii notion of shared prosperity. We're at the last 25 years we've seen this kind of steep staircase. For the top-tier get higher and higher. It looks like our human quintiles here. One picture. And i think you probably heard. Stories relative to the changing. Income. The gap between highest paid an average workers is that. In the early 80s was about 42:1 meaning. The average worker and the average chief executive officer a top manager at company the ratio with about 40 121. If i was paid $10,000 on the. Epimedium is 410,000. Over the last 20 years that that ratio has increased 12:50. Support your 501 is going up and down the last few years. It's traumatically pull-a-part. And i'm. Those are some of the trends related to wages. In terms of work. I would just say that. The nature of work itself has changed. Over the last generation more and more people are working in. The temporary workforce the contingent workforce. One of my favorite cartoons is a politician is speaking at a banquet. And. He says my administration has created. 8 million jobs. And the waiter at the banquet says i know i have three of them. That's the new economy job you need a couple of them. Hold it together. And that also helps explain how is it that wages the picture we just looked at how is it that way just could be falling. Or flat. Applebee holding it together. Targeted people are working more hours. More hours per household. Anna going deeper into debt. Which brings me to the third w wages work. Well what happened to well. And if we had more time and and more flexible chairs. I would prefer looking at how. The distribution of wealth has changed. In the last 20 years. But essentially what's happened. Has grown. But the share of the wealth pie. Top 1% of household. Systematically in free. So. 25 years ago. The wealthiest 1% had about 40% of the wealth pie today their shares 40% of the wealth pie. Wealthiest 1% starts. Household wealth of about 3 million dollars and up. That is where the enormous percent of the wealth game. Of the last decade-and-a-half, which is not to say. More people are not in the stock market more people aren't sharing some portion of. Wealth ownership. Lower and middle really up to that. Fourth quintile. Experience. For most people is actually. Why. Does this matter. Actually did a program discussion like this at trinity church in boston. Where. Why are we talking about this in church. And. I didn't have to answer that because fellow congregants for the child in and said well actually it's quite irrelevant discussion. Because we're concerned about poverty. But why. Tremendous amount of focus on how do we lift the floor. But does it matter. How concentrations of wealth. Where can i buy society. And i would argue that it does matter it matters one because. Concentrations of wealth. Are also concentrations of power. Power to write the rules in society the power to. Take the culture. Federer. And that if you want to have a democratic society. Louis brandeis who said. Century ago. We can have concentrated wealth in the hands of a few or democracy but we can't have both. Another reason we should care about any quality is economic it actually too much any quality. Backfire. On after the stability in the house but a condom when you have. Economic capacity in few hands. It distorts the economy. Answer of what is it due to the culture. What does it do to a culture when we as a society pull-a-part where there's a sense of almost an apartheid society. Where the distance between. My neighborhood. Jamaica plain. North dorchester 2 miles away. A crow flies. I really other worlds. What does that do to us as a culture. And i think so i think that there's. There are reasons why we should. Not only be concerned with. Growing poverty at the census showed us on friday. 1.7 million. New households have gone into poverty. We should be concerning the relationship between. Greater concentration of wealth and power. So. What should we do about this what's. What's the. What what are the solution. I think that part of it is understanding that this did not come about because of sunspots or. Hypnotized that there were over the last 30 years. There have been. Public policies. The rules have been changed. To benefit. Asset owners and large corporations at the expense of wage earners. Small business. Pakpol. Global trade policy. Whether the government raises the minimum wage or whether to give corporate subsidies to. Corporation. Incorporating offshore. The rules that govern the economy. Are humans created. They have values and beliefs systems. Systems that underlie them. And they have been tilted. So. When we look at the income here. When we look at how. One person walk. Right up the middle and saw their incomes go up 80. 90% over the last 25 years. What happened there. Was income. Took off. Income from owning a. With where the real growth was come from going to work. Didn't move you ahead. Wage earners lose asset owners. Macedonia home but. Cancel it. Took off. And that was not an accident. That was really a function. Warming up in here for me. Really a function of the rules cutting capital gains. Allowing the minimum wage. Was formed almost 9 years ago. To do education work on these trends. What is the picture. Why does it matter. And we can muster come out of research and. Advocacy. I want to tell you a story though that i think it's been. Interesting around with one thing we did was. We. Found a lot of business owners and individuals came to us. And said you know you're one of us talk in a program like this and they say. One gentleman came up to me and said i'm getting on the retired ceo of a. Division of kodak. And then mike model. We would have been embarrassed have been paid. 300 times are employees because of that would have. Undermined our ability to leave the company. Another person came up to me later and said. Actually in the top 1%. 1/10 1%. I'm really upset about these trends in this is not the kind of world i want my grandchildren to grow up in an apartheid society like brazil you know with people living behind wall. It's not the kind of america means to me. I found it interesting to find. Stepping forward. And. With a little bit of. Coaching and all that. We started a project of responsible well. Are business owners. And high-net-worth individuals people who could have self-identifies being in the top 5% of income and wealth owners. Concerned about any quality. And for two years we. Pay a living wage. Corporate responsibility executive pay. We also got involved on issues around tax policy. And in 19. Congress eliminated repeal the estate tax inheritance tax. Some people called the death stare. And at that point. Are members responsible wealth members a lot of them said. I think it's wrong that there should be an inheritance tax if that's part of. Part of the payback for a living in america. And i think it's a really bad idea to repeal it and sell some of our members were very vocal. In opposition. You know they say what reformatory sarita i'm out of 5 million 10 million but don't eliminate. The dynastic america. So that was kind of interesting in. And i definitely president. Rent-a-center clinton attack. Eschew. And right after the presidential election. When president bush was elected. I got an email. From bill gates. And i have a couple of co-workers who are kind of prankster so i just thought they were. Playing a joke on me. The father of the founder of microsoft. And i say. I've heard you all have been working against the repeal of the estate tax and i'd like to. Help out. How can i help. Toil in the vineyards for years and years and then a moment like this happen. I tried to stay calm and say well. No you could we could we can issue a call to preserve the estate tax. Assign. Ipads and letters. Get media attention we could. Testify before congress and he said i'll do it all. I'm a busy i'm running the kids foundation global health problems but. Let me know. Plug me in. So got weak back from a week later with a draft of a call to preserve the estate tax. Basically was our third attempt to say. For the reasons why you should get rid of. Why would you what would be the case to keep it. And. He signed he was a great statement. I said well i'll call martin reichenberg and. Restaurant owner judy wixom. Some people i know. Call warren buffett ted turner and paul newman in. You call your friend i'll call my friend and i'll work your network. Significant. Valentine's day 2010. 150. Multi-millionaire. And what that could cause the. Media to take a second look. Staywell. Why on earth shouldn't we get rid of the estate tax. And i won't go into that detail and discussion if you got something you want to talk about i'm happy to talk about it. Our basic. Argumento. Is the three reasons why we should eliminate. The inheritance tax. What is fiscal. We don't have five hundred billion dollar budget deficit. For the next several years. State taxes actually. Most progressive tax. That we had. Less than 1% of households. Appointed. Hustle starting at a million dollars but in the next couple years that exemptions going to rise the three and a half million and up. And it generates not-insignificant amount of revenue. 30 billion dollars last year. About 9% of the non-aggression aerie federal budget. And wear it if you eliminate it. You're going to shift the tax burden. The group is most able to pay. On to those. Who are less able. Difference. A different discussion. Because i could tell you if i could be a libertarian who believes that we should shrink government to a third of its current size. Figure out how to pay for that. And i would argue. Inheritance tax should be part of how we pay for whatever it is we decide we the people decide. Be the size and scope of government. Eliminate the most progressive tax you either shipped it or you forced budget cuts. Adversely affect. Nan multi-millionaire. Boost to charity. People who are already inclined to give to charity. Will give more. Because of the incentive of the estate tax. There's no question about it. We've looked at the history since 1916. And we talk today. Planters. Not that. Technology makes people charitable. Start with an impulse. A generous impulse. But then a particularly if they have 20 million dollars more. The fact that there's an estate tax. Greatly increases the bequest to hospital universities charitable institutions. That's another reason. Purpose and discussion. Which is. In a democratic society. How great a concentration of wealth. Could a democratic self-governing society have. And undermine. The republic. The republican small are republicans character ever. And he has a rich tradition. Going back to the founders but it's regional theater roosevelt in. Andrew carnegie and others who said. Inheritance tax. Is a good idea. In a democratic society. That we don't we spot a revolution 2. Eliminate a hereditary aristocracy. And we are allowing remember 100 years ago with the first guild today. Tremendous. Qualities were emerging for the first time and in our nation's history people were fearful. For the health. Of the american experiment they were worried that. We would create our own homegrown dynasties. And that we would become subjects. Two new dynastic rule. Here we are. In the middle of the second gilded age in american history. The concentrations of welfare approaching inequalities of 100 years ago. We're talking about eliminating. One of the few taxes that is actually put a break. On the great concentrations of wealth. And power in our midst. An interesting thing happened along the way in this. Discussion on your state tax which is. By the way it's not. Not all over congress voted in the year 2000 and 1/2. Phase out the estate tax. And have it. In the year 2010 january 1st 2017 state textbooks completely away. One year later it returns. The lost sunset. Back to what it was prior to 2001. Now. Imagine that. Planning point of view. Create. Just wondering ali. It's some kind of duelist an area. One year completely it's back in forth. Unless congress between now and 2000. Can can make it permanent. But i'm going to report that the highly unlikely scenario given the the. Political and budgetary situation. That creates an opportunity to talk about reform not reveal. But one of the things that was interesting was when we got our responsible wealth people have to testify in congress. And write stories. What they told was a story that i think is relative. Is a is a useful contribution to this dialogue. Which is the cold. What i would call a. In american culture. What's the myth i would call is the. The great man theory of wealth creation. Is the notion that. Accumulated. I've done it myself. And when martin rothenberg stood up next at one point in the hearing he said look. I'm. I met a guy who grew up in an urban. Neighborhood. My family was poor but i went to good public schools and i went to libraries. Museums that were free but somebody else had paid for. And i went to college on the gi bill. Even though i actually i got it. i wasn't in wwii but i was. In the reserves you know. And i. Education benefits. And i. Went to. In technology computers. Feel that was largely built republican. Somebody else and paid for. And then i went into business for myself and i hired smart young people who can train from publicly subsidized education system. And. And i made i started my company and i sold my company few years ago for. $40. And. You're telling me that i don't know something back to the society so i don't have a problem paying my annual income tax and i have a problem i'm going to continue to give to charity and give to the institution. That i think are important. But i would be nowhere if it had not been for the public investment. Butthead created the fertile ground upon which my fortune was built. Ayo something back in the country and i don't resent that. So what we found were more and more people coming forward with telling their story. Not as if their fortunes were the result of. They're just their own individual effort and i could save these people. Their individual efforts were considerable so. This is not to. Denigrate or. Miss the role of the individual. The role of the individual. Creativity. People who played and people who took risks. But it's just to acknowledge there's another piece of a story that we don't talk about much as a society. Which is how. The role of luck. By god's grace. Other people's work. People who came before us. And of our society and god forbid even our tax dollars. In creating. Incredible. Vibrant. Fertile ground. Health and wealth. People don't tell their story. That way. And i'll close with a story that i think. Cuz everything. From my. It's not just. When the super bowl is not just a responsible wealth group is having this discussion. I spoke at just down the road. In norwood at a retired men's club there. 150. Manning retirement age. And we had this conversation and. One of the guys. Discredit stood up and said i want to ask my fellow members here question. How many of you guys. Got a debt free college education after world war. you were in the. Service or not. Reduce the cost of your monthly mortgage payment. 2/3 razor hand. How many of you guys are helping your kids. Buy a house or get starting life. And everybody laughed. They're all helping her kid. Do you live in the boston area and you want to buy a house in your my age. You got to apply to the parental down payment assistance program. I better hope there's something there. Forgot household. We would be nowhere without the parental down payment assistance program. That was a. That was a bad investment after world war ii. Nobody thought that was a bad investment. Brought. Giving opportunity to homeownership. Why can't we do that again. Why the society can't we make a commitment. To having. How broad middle-class a viber middle-class that's inclusive. In the years after wwii people of color were largely let off let left behind by those well for adding program. First mortgage. Largest loans. Discriminatory college benefits or not. Not available african-american man returning. After wwii where could you take your g.i. bill and go to college in a in a gym pro racially discriminatory education system. For the benefit. About that post our country's greatest. We're not inclusive. A people of color. But that's not to say that they're not. Hundreds of thousands of. White and people of color. Who have no very little saving. Who have not shared in the boom of the last 20 years. Who's savings is negative or not enough to purchase a home or report or really participate in the american dream. Where education would be the key to their ability to get. Into meaningful work. Why can't we do that. Do we want to become. Do we want to become a society. Move toward a brazilian society. And i've been to brazil. The wealthy live behind walls. They take their cars and helicopters to the wealthy enclave shopping district. And their children go to the wealthy enclave school. And then they go back behind their wall at the end of the day is that where we want to go. Try to finish the onions. Unfinished american experiment. What you do in your life matters. Not your station of birth. Not your inheritance. Inherent worth. Not your inherited worth. Your inherent worth. Dad. Is the american experiment the best of america the things we've done. To lift. And create isn't perfect as it's been opportunities for everybody. That's the question what kind of society do we want to become where do we want to go. And we have. Tremendous opportunities now. To weigh in every day on that direction. But thank you for listening and i welcome your comments and comments and questions we have about 15 minutes. For the folks watching from home i'm curious what your analysis is about why people seem not to vote in their own self-interest. Because the people at the. You know over here. Statistics. You know that broad middle. They tend to vote. Republican or have in the past. Are more recently and when in fact the policies are not benefiting that. At the multi number pieces at work there. 1 is. Conservative wedge issues in social issues. Have work to. Divide people. Who might have a common class or economic interest but but don't steal no head. Divide that. So if she's not i remember when i was a young journalist. I like arbor day. The national political conservative political action conference which is sort of the year. Neoconservative. Had it charged. Karl rove kind of guidance lisa look our job. It convinced people. This is a 1981. Who will be hurt by reaganomics. To participate in the conservative coalition. Based on social issues school prayer. Abortion. And that's that's been. That's worked very fifth effectively. I think there's a lack of leadership within and i don't mean just you know when you look around and see who's running for president what are there saying i think. People run for office in some ways are a mirror of the. Of what people that they talked to are saying to them you know there's only so far that. Real prophetic leadership move out ahead of where people are at. And. I deputized you always leaders here. To stand forward intuitive. More forcefully about what we see happening in the society. And i'm connected. i'm instruct by. The tax issues and the state budget cuts. Which are affecting every community in the country. Turkish disconnect. You know my daughter goes to the boston public schools. And we just had to cut 10% out of her school budget last teacher. And the parents are mad but who are they mad at their mad at the school superintendent. We live in very small local. Livin our little boxes and very localized. We don't always have connected.. Cross the country. There are bored. Library boards and town council sitting around trying to figure out where to make the cut. Feeling discouraged. And yet we're not saying. Congress the problem could have been solved we don't have to weigh out that our teacher you don't have to lay off those firefighters. We don't have to have the state park fees go up to. We don't have to do that. We just don't have to give. Enormous taxes for multi-millionaire. Between and in our democracy between. Local. And how these national rule if you will. Do really trickle-down and affect the quality of life. Picture having this conversation with my circle of friends which does not include warren buffett either. Expression that it takes money to make money. Go back to your point which i thought was was a very insightful one that over the last 10 or 15 years income did not grow from going to work but from investment. Going back to the statement it takes money to make money as i try to share that insight with my circle of friends i'm sure they're going to just say to me that's always been true. Was there a disproportionately large game this time around from. Your assets than in the past. Could you comment on that so that i can. Skippy on the first rejection is i try to share this with people. What happened in alaska. 25 years is there's been. Accelerated return-on-capital meaning. Assets the sheriff. Income percentage of returns to assets has grown. The return-to-work has gone down. Simplistic way of describing some very complicated economic theory. And the pace of inequality has accelerated the nature of the gap has grown. We had. But we have to seen a tremendous acceleration. Now how do we get more people. More money or at least have a decent life. That i encourage you to look at who wrote a book called the stakeholder. And his proposal. Our society. Opportunities too much depends on inheritance. Large inheritance. It could be small inheritance. Middle class white family who lends their kids the down payment. Or provide. The money to help him go to college. Small amounts of assets. Can be transformative. Terms of opportunities that people can then take and run with. And. Every young person when they graduate from. Call her. Thousand dollars take. Inheritance. Wealthy kids get them. But here. The time when. The inequality of opportunity. Is addis one of us a piece. 20 year old 6 year olds not going to go to college. 75% of the population don't go to college. And they're 20 years old and they're now in the workforce. And. What are the rock. I got to go to school for extra extra training or am i going to. But i can't pay the childcare costs are we want to get married. House. Those. Junction. That's a place where people really feel their opportunities for clothes. Society. Why don't we make steak. Every young person at that age. And then when they are at the end of the life that pay back into that state fund. Now it's probably lack of concerns that you have if you think about that like my 20 year old kids $80,000. But you died. What would it mean to really honor the values to profess values that we have. And. It's on my mind cuz i went to new haven and had a chat with him last week just to her. Interview him about this but. But you need to make the world safe. For ideas. In our in our lives. I've gotten involved working for an organization that help the poor. Federal family education loan program. And one of the things that. Again more familiar with. Paint for a college education. And the degree. The problem is just expanding in norman. Durability. Number for society. Butt dial. The debate that i'm hearing about. Has to do with what role federal government. And helping. The cost of filling up. It's so steep. Relationships are more than government pacing to it. Education system. Responsibility. Curious about. What is completely have about. Yeah boy sounds like you probably know more about this tonight if so you should. Barriers. For access are rising and they're going to ride continue to rise i mean. Again. You look around cracked the country. Raising tuition raising school fees creating more barriers for opportunity for people who are not wealthy to go to college. I just was reading the history of the gi bill a little bit. If you go back and look at here's the gi bill right now you will find very you will not find it and we can't find very few people who will say we shouldn't have had the gi bill. But at the time it almost didn't happen. Because. Deposed provide reasons a concern that that he's returning g eyes were going to become education hobos. Eric is going to take up space in the college's. They're going to bring down standards president. Investment. And. And there's also this concern that we're going to eat the cost of education because these institutions are going to have cost containment. And that's why. And i suppose we just have to bring market principles to bear on higher education in a way that they haven't been. Turn on the piano. Ahmo ahmo people over in. You know it's got to be a way to hold institutions accountable for that way there using our money in a way that they haven't been. If you had a new gi bill. Fortification traditional college. Delivering more trent usable good that will create some competition and some accountability there. It sounds like you. You should be the person we should interview about. If you have some ideas on how do we make. Critical massive. How do we make a national commitment again to having access to education removing access education barriers. Good food for thought. But i haven't heard much reference to the fact you were living in a world economy. At least people in the lower quintiles many of them. Are completing overseas. Or with migrant worker. And. This week. There was an article written. Emphasizing the 10. Most attractive. One of them was manufactured by united states. And i look at the clothing. Particularly. Where was it manufactured. The weekender forget. The congress isn't going to solve all these problems. By legislation what happens. In this country. As consumers. Where. Encouraging. Purchase of goods and services. Royal. I don't think for a moment. They're going to eliminate that problem. The money is going overseas for a long time. But i do think we've got to be at least aware. What does international competition is doing to it. I don't have the answer. But i think we have to face up to this. Thank you very much for reminding us of that point and i realized as i talk to her that. I did something i don't usually do it pretty much on our. How we look at this end. I would come back to this notion that the rules of the economy. Are shaping echopark underlie the city's growing inequality that the global economy. And we are at a. we're kind of at a constitutional moment in the global economy where the rules that will probably be. And. They are ruled that will either worsen. Global inequities by fueling that competition that race-to-the-bottom you know everybody. Every worker in america will be bidding. Who ever been to the lowest. Globally lowell. Will get the work and this is what i have some of you heard professor derbur here last week. The bottom. So we need to keep one eye on this global rules writing process. The world trade organization. Central america free trade american the cast of 3d which is going to be negotiated. Aspen stall out at the world trade organization. They're going to be more regional treaties like nafta like free trade area of the americas. Think of those ads. The rule writing process. The constitutions are being written. And. Ordinary people are pretty much being left out of those processes. And so i think we need to. Be there to make sure that these standards are part of those environmental standards are part of those agreements. But they don't just pissed. Countries whatever country can pollute the most. Have the least regulations in terms of pollution and the lowest wage conditions. So-called always win the bed. And that's the current. Regina we need to address that. What can people like us sitting around in there are millions of us in this country. One of the things i encourage you to do coming out of this. How to get 15 weeks. Is to form an ongoing. Committee on education and action committee. I know there's probably 20 or 30 of them within uu congregation that i'm aware of. Done this kind of education work and then. Have. Taking on and become a. Action no reflection in action. How do we reflect you know act hunter valley soap and i would be happy to come back. And discuss. How to help how how do you type organize yourself to be most effective. And it affecting the rules. That are currently affecting the economy. And there are things that you can do locally. You know when the greater needham area around the state budget cuts and about educating about. How this is affecting us locally. As well as how do we influence somebody's global tree writing process. How can you be most effective so i would encourage you to to. Discern and then those of you who are a subgroup of people who say i feel called to ask i feel called to witness on this. Come together and make a commitment to work together that is how important has an economic justice ministry. That. It influences way beyond. Number. They just made a commitment to do that. Individual. Have to create. Organizations and we have to link up with each other. But then you know and then. Strategically pick three or four things that you're really going to three or four balls that you're really going to watch. And make a difference.. I'm in degrees like to write letters to editor. Warhol. Maybe you'd like to be part of a speakers bureau. And talk to other congregation. Or either community organization so they're all things that i've seen other conversations to. I heard you to pick that the handout that i alluded to. That i left out here has a couple of pages of some of both resources for education but more important what are the kinds of campaigns of people are currently working on. Turn massachusetts. I'll keep the budget from the next round of budget cuts are going to be even worse in terms of how they affect. Low-income people. Children and husband access to education. At the place where we can all. Make a difference. I'm in your elected officials from this area are have been fence-sitters on some of the. Hockey state budget host that. Either have. Lean the way of cuts or. Revenue. Heartbeat of general. i think that. Expedite question. Actively involved in exploring the kinds of things that you're talking about. Me to say how i think about that i think about presidential politics personally. As about 1. Percent of 1% of my. Work in the world. So concerned about how. Make the world safe. For people to take leadership on these issues. Unconcerned then whether jardin or dennis kucinich or somebody rises up. I think the good news is. I'm thinking about. I don't need to be overly part of the night i think when i look at the democratic field. There's a lot of really good people there. And a lot of good but the debate over whether we should. Completely repeal the entire bush tax cut or just repeal the. Provisions for. People with incomes over 200,000. I'm glad it's over there i suppose you know so i think. Concerned about her brothers and sisters citizens. And the kind of level of discussion that's not taking place. At the local level. Connecting the dots between. But these questions what kind of society do we want to become. What kind of community do we want to have. And what's the relationship between some of these national policies and global policies. And quality of our life here. That is where i work lied because. Never have. People letting the president. Dog attack put the challenge back on all of us to search for the great leader who's going to lead us out of the woods here. We are the leaders we are the you are the leader. We're all on the hook here. Some of you may have heard that jim wallace. Who's the editor sojourners magazine but the. Because of talks with the star witches. Better hope is believing in spite of the evidence. And watching evidence change. Hope is believing the change is possible in spite of the evidence meaning sometimes it's looks kind of bleak. But any evidence chest pain. And i think that's a place where both our faith in our actions can come together to help change the evidence. And help. Moving forward. So thanks for listening. And thanks for inviting me to your church thank you very much for joining us this morning i want to invite you he did bring a number of pieces of literature and also copies of the book welton are commonwealth and they are on the table in the. In the parish hall just around the corner when you go out the door.

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20120122_radical_hope_fred_small_sermon.mp3

Any serious consideration of climate change and the human prospect. Is necessarily. I meditation. On holt. Great unitarian preacher and abolitionist theodore parker once asked. What is transient in christianity. And what is permanent. We must ask. What is transient in human life on earth. And what is permanent. What is transient. Snows of kilimanjaro. Glaciers in glacier national park. Vermont maple syrup. Cape cod. Boston. Polar bears in the wild. Tropical diseases. Confined to the tropics. Ancient forest. Cheap gasoline. Shopping malls. Stable food supply. Stable government. And much much more yet beyond our comprehension. What is permanent. Love. Love and its attendance faith and hope. Meditation on hope. The rise in the earth's temperature is accelerating and with it the ferocity of the weather. Warmer air cools more water vapor and the extra moisture leads to heavier storms in some areas while warming causes droughts in others. Last year the united states experienced unprecedented extremes in temperature and precipitation. Across the country. Texas was hit by record drought. Fermented by heatwave texas new mexico and arizona suffered billion-dollar wildfires. Meanwhile seven northeastern states have their wettest years on record. How long is mississippi and missouri rivers. Melting snow and heavy rains triggered flooding that caused billions of dollars of damage. The impacts of climate change. Is even more dire. East africa and northern europe are both gripped by record route. Last year thailand's worst floods in a half-century. 730 lives. Arctic ice this year is closed with all-time minimum. Has arctic sea ice melts darker water is exposed. Absorbing more sunlight. Which melts more ice. A self-reinforcing feedback loop. As warming continues higher sea levels from melting ice and the expansion of warmer water will displace entire populations. As low-lying coastal lands and islands are inundated. Heat waves and droughts. Will decimate harvest. Shrinking mountain glaciers imperil the water supply of hundreds of millions of people. Heard enough. Congress hasn't. Or rather they proved too much. From the oil gas and coal industries who ply them with campaign contributions and manipulate public opinion with slick advertising campaign. How the 32 million dollars the us chamber of commerce spent on the 2010 elections 94%. Went to climate deniers. Legislation addressing climate change is dead in the water. President obama's last state of the union speech didn't even mention it. While he deserves credit for ruling last week against the keystone xl pipeline at least for now. His administration is still calling for massively expanding coal mining. Do the american people care. According to the polls. When americans are asked what issues are important environment comes in dead last. When they're asked which environmental problems worried than most global warming comes in dead last. While nearly half say the whole thing is exaggerated. Find media. Meditation. Mount hope. I confess i've had an ambivalent relationship with hope. Buddhist teachers i admire cautioned that hope can distract us from the reality of the present moment. Voltage dangerous. And it's troy. By keeping us fixated on an imagined better future. Given the threats we face. Is hope. Just pie-in-the-sky. But i have to tell you i have been converted. I come before you a born-again apostle of hope. Martin luther king junior was an apostle of hope. Everything that is done in the world dr. king told us is done by hope. Van jones is an apostle of hope recalled and dr. king's assassination the green jobs activist proclaimed we are not going to let the hope die again on our watch. Nick voyager. Is an apostle. Of hope. Nick is a 27 year old australian born with no arms and no legs. I'm not constrained by my circumstances. Neck incest. Most of the hardships we face provide us with opportunities to discover who we are meant to be. And what we can share of our gifts. The benefit of others. I never heard of nick wojcik when i saw a photograph of this smiling good-looking young guy on the cover of a book in a bookstore. As i look more carefully at the picture i realized. He had no arms or legs. Just a partial foot. Protruding. From his torso. Allowing him to stand. The book was titled life without limits. Inspiration for a ridiculously good life. I bought it on the spot. Nick has an indomitable spirit and an incredibly upbeat personality. He travels the world bringing his inspiring story to audiences large and small young and old rich and poor of every color and culture. His message is incredibly effective because nearly everyone responds the way i did you know whatever complaints i have this guy has got to have it worse. But not only does he persevere. He triumphs. Hope is a catalyst nick says. He can move obstacles that seem immovable. When you keep pushing. Refusing to give up. You create momentum. Hope creates opportunities you never would have anticipated. Helpful people are drawn to you. Doors open cavs are cleared. Defeat happens only to those who refuse. Try again. Confronting obstacles i can barely imagine nick has met them and overcome them. Butthole. Life without arms or legs must be. Climate change poses challenges of a different order entirely. Ecological agricultural economic and social collapse. On an unprecedented scale. What kind of food can companions through the perilous decade. To come. To answer that question. My turn to get another apostle. Of hope. Electric chair. The last great chief. Of the croatian. Also known as plenty crew. Who led his people. As white conquest turned their world upside down. In the 1850s. When he was a boy. The crow were powerful tribe of nomadic hunters. Shortly before he died in 1932. Pontypool recall. When the buffalo went away. Hearts of my people. Fell to the ground. And they could not lift them up again. After this nothing happened. There was little singing. Anywhere. Put under plenty cruz leadership. The crow ally themselves with the united states against the crows traditional enemies the cheyenne and sioux. When the wars ended. Plenty crew took up farming at urged his people to do the same. He encouraged young crow to educate themselves in the white schools and be open to the white religion. Rather than following the suicidal path of armed resistance for the millennial escapism of the ghost dance. 20 crew preserved his people their best land and the essence of who they were in the face of catastrophic change. Where some might understandably see and plenty coups strategy mcraven collaboration. Philosopher jonathan the most profound. Courage. We are suggest that in their most desperate hour perhaps what the crude or the crow needed most. What's not another warchief to fall. Inglorious.. But a new crow pot. How creative maker of meaningful space of a new fuel the possibilities. Take up the crow past and projected into the future. And project into the future vibrant new ways for the crow to live. And to be. Given the devastation they endured. We are rights. Either they had to give up the idea. If there was any longer a courageous way to live. Or they had to alter their conception. Of what courage. Watch. Young boy. He went on a vision quest. In a dream he saw the passing of the buffalo. He saw himself as an old man. In a terrible storm the four winds made war against the forest and not down all the trees save one. Then a voice said listen. In that tree. Is the lodge of the chickadee. He is least in strength but strongest of mind among his kind. He is willing to work. For wisdom. The chickadee person is a good listener. Nothing escapes his ears. He gained successes and avoids failure by learning how others succeeded or failed. 120 cool returned to his people and told them of his dream the elders agree that it's message was that they should think for themselves. Listen and learn from the experiences of others. And thereby escape. Destruction. The dream did not say exactly what would befall the crow. Or what they should do. It told them to listen. To think. And to adapt. Inspired by this dream plenty who embraced what leader caused radical hope. A commitment to a goodness that transcends one current understanding of the good. How commitment to the bare idea that something good. Will emerge. It is basically the hope for revival. We're coming back to life in a form that is not yet intelligible. Hope is held in the face of the recognition that given the abyss. One cannot really know. What survival mean. Climate change is a certainty. With profound consequences both predictable. And unprotected. Stopping it is impossible. Responding to it is inescapable. Radical hope offers a faithful courageous. And creative way. To respond. We did not choose. This calling. You and i. We would not choose it. That's why it's called. A calling. And not a choice. Moses. Paul muhammad scripture is filled with stories of people that just going about their lives when god calls them. Purpose. We are called not so much. To save the earth. Is crucial. As to save our soul. As the earth changes. Despite our best efforts. It's as if we were passengers on the great ship titanic. On its maiden crossing. Of the north atlantic suddenly vessel. Shutters. Gradually with agonizing slowness we come to realize first that the ship has been struck. Then that it has been breached. Then possible. But it's in trouble. And finally. But it is inexorably sinking. At each stage we might feel shocked. Disbelief. How could this be happening. How could he have been so reckless. Is it too late for me to get a refund for my ticket. But eventually some of us. Cross the threshold. From shock disbelief and outrage. Into an acceptance. Of our circumstance not an acceptance that it is acceptable. Or just or fair. But an acceptance. That it is. And then. If we are wise enough and brave enough. Return from complaint. To commitment. How do i live my life. For the rest of my life. To what purpose. Am i faithful. How courageous lee and creatively can i respond. To this. Disaster. How can i serve. How can i. And in that turning. There is a moment. When we find ourselves standing on the tilting deck. Lashed by wind and spray and gripped by awhile extravagant even fearless. Joy. It is sometimes complained of unitarian universalist that we celebrate easter while ignoring good friday. That we want the sweetness and light without the suffering and darkness. Whether that charge is true or not. It will no longer. Be possible. Good friday. Is coming. Good friday. Is upon us. But easter 2. He's coming. Easter 2. Life without meaning says nick voracek. Has no hope. Life without hope. Has no face. If you find a way to contribute you will find your meaning. Face. Will naturally follow. And accompany you. Into your future. Against our will. But where's our faith. We are called into a future. Beyond our dreams. Beyond our nightmare. Beyond. Our comprehension. We are called to devotion. And sacrifice. And imagination. We are called to radical. And blessed day.

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20161002_0442-catie-sermon-mostly-plants.mp3

In the mid-90s the popular cartoon show the simpsons aired an episode where in the middle daughter of a family lisa became a vegetarian. In the first act lisa and her family visit the local petting zoo and she's particularly taken with the smallest lamb. It where is a little pink bow eats right out of lisa's hand licks her face. Lisa's in love. And that same evening the simpson family is eating a normal dinner for them. Mashed potatoes and. Lamb chops. Everyone else's happily munching away but as lisa stares at the two chops on her plate she envisions the little lamb in the pink bow. And the lamb says to her please lisa i thought you loved me. Lisa says aloud i can't eat this i can't eat a poor little lamb what's the difference between this lamb and the one that kissed me. Her brother bart replies this one spent two hours in the broiler before he takes a big bite. In act 2 of the show bart and both parents sing lisa conga line song about her choice you don't win friends with salad. Nex 3 leases hindu friend a poo and the actual paul mccartney reassure her that vegetarianism is the right choice but she needn't make a fuss about it to her family and her friends. And so after last year's church auction when i was asked to preach about ethical eating and the meat industry i'll admit i was nervous. I was trained early not to talk much about being vegetarian. I was taught that if i talked about diet from a moral and spiritual standpoint other people would consider me judgmental and self-righteous. I learned that when i did talk about it people would make illogical and incorrect excuses like that. Lesser animals can't really feel pain. Or that nutritionally all humans need to eat meat once even twice a day. They wouldn't care if fax contradicted their feelings. I learned that people would box money for my choice just as lisa's family didn't saying things like. Bacon's too tasty to give up ali twice as much to make up for you. I fear i'll hear these things in the receiving line today. The sermon topic was bought and so here i go. For me eating a vegetarian diet is mostly a choice from the heart. We've already heard lisa's story. And there's this one from rj nomination or magazine the uu world laywoman christine organ rice one spring morning a couple of years ago returned from church walked into the kitchen and were greeted by an army of ants. The tiny little critters were everywhere on the counter in the tile grout under the radio. I've reached under the sink and pulled out the raid pointing it at the ants. My oldest son he was about 7 but i'm saw what i was doing and came running into the kitchen respect all beings. He grabbed the raid from my hand and gently scooped the ants onto the paper towel before setting them free outside. I stared at him for a minute before reluctantly but gently ushering a few ants outside myself. When i asked him about his passion for saving ants. He told me his religious education class it just talks about the seventh principle. Of unitary universalism. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are apart or. In second grade language. Respect all beings. I noted. Saving and suddenly didn't seem so odd. Not killing ants not killing animals for meat is. Showing basic respect. For all beings. And then there's the mahatma's story. I believe we're gandhi and other hindus buddhist in jane's believe that if we kill other beings to eat we bring violence into our bodies. As he said there is a great deal of truth in saying we become what we eat. The more violence the food the more violent the body. Gandhi wasn't the only vegetarian activists who believe that non-violence apply to all areas of life. Gandhi's friend russian author count leo tolstoy wrote if a person be really in seriously seeking to live a good life the first thing from which she will abstain will always be the use of animal food. Because it's use is simply immoral. As it involves the performance of an act which is contrary to the moral feeling. Killing. And it's called forth only by greediness in the desire for tasty food. Labor rights activist cesar chavez road. Racism economic deprival dog-fighting bullfighting in rodeos are cut from the same fabric. Violence. Only when we have become non-violence word all life will we have learned to livwell ourselves. I believe it my diet is part of my spiritual practice. To become more kind. Compassionate. Empathetic. There are these deep spiritual reasons for a suing meat and animal by-products but there are also ethical reasons. For the facts of the meat producing industry in america are alarming and revolting. Do humans have domesticated and eating certain animals for generations in the past 50 to 100 years we've industrialized meats milk. And eggs. Beginning in the early 1900s chicken farmers realize they could keep egg-laying hens confined and small battery cages eating corn. Because of scientific advancements in antibiotics and vitamins. In other words they could keep hens alive and laying eggs even though the hens never went outside. And never eat what chickens had evolved to eat. Answer the whole united states meat industry rapidly transition to factory farming to accommodate american taste. With americans today eating on average over 200 pounds of meat a year about 70 billion pounds over all the meat industry must slaughter about 9 billion animals annually. Animal welfare has been of little concern during this transition. Confined animal feeding operations cafo factory farm there could be twenty thousand chickens living in a single indoor enclosure as as pictured on your order of service. Pigs and cattle at feedlots experience similarly crowded and inhospitable living arrangements. Male offspring about dairy cows and egg-laying hens are near immediately taken from their mothers and sent for slaughter the boy cavs to become veal and the boy chickens simply to be ground up and disposed of. And all these cases the animals involved are intelligent enough are emotionally intelligent enough to know that something is terribly wrong. That they are being mistreated that they are. Suffering. Social social psychologist an animal rights activist dr melanie joy rides. From the moment they are born these animals are kept in intensive confinement where they may suffer from disease exposure to extreme temperatures severe overcrowding violet handling and even psychosis. From a business standpoint animal welfare is a barrier to profit. Is it cost less to produce animals and discard those who died prematurely. An estimated 500 million animals a year. Then it does to care for them adequately. The reality of factory farming disgust me. Perhaps you've heard the hindu term for compassion himsa. Which literally means do not injure. The meat industry in the united states is full of hymns. Full of injury. For the nine billion animals a year who are killed in our country for food. And the most obvious in the meat industry is of course the animals but there is a terrible human cost. To factory farming those for slaughterhouse workers and for all of us impacted by industrial-sized farming felucian. As i mentioned many states have laws that protect slaughterhouses from investigation by journalists are activists actually realise probably as i had mentioned that yet but it's true. But that doesn't mean that some folks haven't snuck into watch what happens to the animals and 22 workers. One university professor timothy patria went undercover for at a cattle slaughterhouse for half a year. And noted that one worker would be responsible for shooting a towel between the eyes every 12 seconds. Another professor james mcwilliams right slaughterhouse employees are not only exposed to a battery of physical dangers on the cut floor. But the psychological weight of their work a rhodes their well-being. As one former employee attested the worst thing worse than the physical danger is the emotional toll. If you work in this stick pit where hogs are killed. For any. of time. You kill things but it doesn't let you care. You may look a hog in the eye that's walking around in the blood pit with you and thank god. Isn't such a bad looking animal. You may want to pet it. Pigs on the kill floor of come up to another me like a puppy. 2 minutes later i had to kill them. I can't care. Professor mcwilliams continues it will come as no surprise that the consequences of such emotional dissonance. Include domestic violence social withdrawal. Drug and alcohol abuse and severe anxiety. Slaughterhouse workers in essence we're desensitized and their behavior outside their work. Reflected it. In our modern society we who are of relative privilege enjoy the fruits. Or should i say the meat. Of the traumatizing labor of those workers in the emotional devastation in their homes and communities. And of course 9 billion + animals a year produces a lot of waste. In a 2010 report the united nations determined that raising livestock for meat milk and eggs accounts for 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The meat industry worldwide has enormously negative impacts on water and air quality requires major deforestation and causes significant biodiversity decline on land and in the sea. Just earlier this year tyson's foods the largest meat producing company in the world was discovered to cause more water pollution than any single fossil fuel company. And i know that you all have heard about cow flatulence and methane. A greenhouse gas produced in cows digestive systems because we feed them cheap. Wrong food. If we formed our cows more ethically we'd have less methane clogging up our atmosphere and heating up our planet. Overall the un wrote that agriculture particularly of livestock is second only to fossil fuel use when evaluating the human impact on our climate. The report said impacts from agriculture are expected to increase substantially due to population growth increasing consumption of animal products. Unlike fossil fuels it's difficult to look for alternatives. People have to eat. A substantial reduction of impacts would only be possible with the substantial worldwide diet change. Away from animal products. And so what can we do. If we decide we will care about animal welfare worker welfare. And the effects of our diets on climate change. There's the obvious drive of the sermon from when we heard first about lisa. We can change our diets to more closely reflect our principles of equity justice and compassion of respecting the interdependent web of all existence of recognizing the inherent worth and dignity of all beings. Is journalist and activist michael pollan put it we can eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. As people living in the united states with such a high average of meat consumption. Any number of us becoming vegetarian or even vegan would make a big difference. Indeed one recent study predicted that the global adoption of vegetarianism would reduce feed food-based emissions by 63%. And free up resources to feed billions more people. It going vegetarian or vegan doesn't feel like it's in the cards for you and your family. Reducing meat intake the one meal a day also makes a difference. We can also buy that meat and plants for that matter from smaller local fairly staff more sustainable more humane pesticide and antibiotic-free farms. That's what my meeting better-half does. And we can even do that together here at church committing ourselves to our collective purchasing power to use our collective purchasing power to support companies certified as humane and fair trade when buying food for fellowship events. A social hour. International denominations 2011 statement of conscience on ethical eating unitarian-universalist were encouraged to a number of actions beyond diet. We can support access to ethically produced nutritious food for people of all incomes by lobbying for proper grocery stores and food deserts and supporting community gardens and food pantries. Like the ones we have here and meet them. We can participate and marches and protests in solidarity with agricultural and other food workers to seek safer working conditions reasonable hours and fair wages. There's a fightfor15 movement right here in greater boston. Lastly we can advocate for labeling measures. With robust standards that alert consumers to whether farm animals are being treated. Humanely. Here in massachusetts we can even vote this fall on this issue and don't worry i can talk to you about ballot measures do not about candidates. She won't ever figure out who i'm voting for. Ballot measure bella question three is an act to prevent cruelty to farm animals benning both the cruel confinement a veal calves egg-laying hens and mother pigs within the commonwealth itself. And even the import of meat and eggs produced in such inhumane ways. But to give up or reduce meet an animal by-product consumption means we have to make a change. Means we have to defy social convention of american society. And that's not always easy. I'm reminded of the words from rabbi jack reimer on the occasion of the jewish high holy days which begin tonight. Now is the time for turning. The leaves are beginning to turn from green to red and orange. The birds are beginning to turn in are headed once more towards south the animals are beginning to turn to store their food for the winter. Believes birds and animals turning comes instinctively. But for us turning does not come so easily. It takes an act of will for us to make a turn. It needs breaking with old habits it means admitting that we have been wrong it means recognizing that we have the ability. To change. These things are hard to do. But unless we turn we will be trapped forever in yesterday's. Waze. God help us to turn from callousness to sensitivity from hostility to love from pettiness to purpose. From envy to contentment from carelessness to discipline from fear. Two-face. May this season indeed. Inspire us to turn. Away from callousness. Sensitivity away from violence. Away from consumption to sustainability. May it be so. Blessed be. An amen.

uuneedham_org

041128_John_Buehrens--A_Progressive_Interpretation_of_the_Bible.mp3

Anybody. You doing on their own. Knowledge. Circle. And jerome. The fall of rome. Luther german translation. Oxford university press. For the new revised. Lemonade. Durable. Can be described. People who are in following up with one another and with liberating court. Jesus. Predictable. People who were. Define. Who were born. They're looking. In. Render unto god the things that are gone. Everything. Noodle. Before the common era. Valley grand. Including. Weather. Which included. There are. Whataburger another. Yung booke.. Hey pikmin. What are the universe. And the early. There is a kind of a chemical. Kind of environmental stewardship. Illinois. Do that them of. And responsibility for the natural world. Through. Archaeological. Who was a dumb. We're trying to figure out how are you. Story. Denver. Denver. In wicked. The meaning berry. That is. Get out. Really finally comfortable. Weren't the only beloved one. The people in the pinion. Of their burial. Denver. And. Going through. Aperion capitol. Empire. Hollywood pool. The development of language. And tomorrow. Literature. How are you. 1. Optimal man. Certain attitude. And the first of murphy. Google. Christian interpretation of the hebrew bible. And in particular. And don't forget enough. Your ongoing. Google. All the way through though. Then we ever. Triple murder. In the hebrew bible. Moana. And loyal. Wicker. Biological. The religion. An understanding. Would have their history pole. Adorable. Bluetooth standard. Universal moral law. In order to be fair. Even earlier than that. New york time. Videotape. Hartford connecticut. There's an old friend of mine.. Iraq war and with the phantom palestinian leadership. And get it over with. Kind of.

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20110327_spiritual_discipline_john_sermon.mp3

So this is for those of you that my sermons are sometimes too intellectual for high falutin. An older man was lonely. And was advised to get a pet. So you went down to a pet store foley on route 122 pet is unique and as unusual as he was. After much discussion he came home with acidity. Houses in a little box. That night the fellow decided to take his new pet down to the neighborhood pub with him. To show him off. He bent over the box asking the furry little bug. Would you like to go down with m franks and have a beer. There was no response. This worried. He waited. And then asked again. Beer. The lack of an answer this time just made him feel lonelier. The never. So after a minute or two he put his face closer to the box and hollered. And a tiny little voice came from the box. I heard you the first time i'm putting on all my darn shoes. So now let's get serious. Think about your own impatience lately. I don't know about you but i've impatiently been trying to improve this part of my character. For longer than i can recall. Without much in the way of success. Don't you think it's been getting harder for us all with the pace of life ever accelerating in the voicemail so far refused. You know me i speak in 20 minutes not 140 characters. But i digress. Oh and i've already violated the scriptural admonition i read do not say why were the former days better than these. So recently i took a two-day retreat. With some fellow ministers. Next weekend. I'll lead one for lay people how did roll. Camp & conference center in western mass and if you'd like to come it's not too late. And last sunday i preached at the old unitarian church in newport rhode island. Dedicated as a memorial to. Shannon. And there is a stained-glass window there up behind the pulpit. That shows a farmer. Going out in sowing seed. Representing of course one of the most. Repeated. Pick of the spiritual parables. Attributed to jesus. The one that in the gospel of mark owes this way listen. Azure went out to sow. And is he sowed some seed fell on the path of the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where did not have much soil and it's spraying of quickly since it has no depth to spoil. And when the sun rose it was scorched and since it had no root it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns. And the thorns grew up and choked it and it yielded no brains and other seed fell into good soil. And brought forth abundance ring growing up in increasing in yielding 30 + 60 + 104. His disciples didn't get it. Not when he repeated not in any of the gospel he had to point out that the seed. What's spiritual. The good news is the kingdom or commonwealth of god. Tell them was already here. Already prison. Whenever we allow it to take root. Germinating us. Not just. Down the road. I learned in india years ago that if you hear that phrase just now coming it really translates as abandon all hope. The philosopher nietzsche in his book human all-too-human observed. This for us being able to wait is so hard. But the greatest poets. Have not disdain to make the inability to wait. The central theme of their poetry. Take shakespeare murderous macbeth muttering tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day to the last syllable of recorded time. And surely all our yesterdays may have lighted fools down the way to dusty death. But that is no reason to put out lights brief candle. Which is more than a walking shadow were a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then be heard no more nor is it a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury. Signifying nothing. Not. If the seed. Patience and wisdom. Is given half a chance. To take holden. Not if we give it the spiritual ability. To wait out long protracted whitters late arriving springs. Plant the seeds nerd should with the early in the rain sometimes even of our tears of joy and sorrow. Until the harvest. When in shala. God willing. Within and among us we at last. Feel. Arising the fruits. Spirit. Which say the same scriptures are love. Joy. Patience. Forbearance kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness. I'm self control. Against which. Goes on to add there can be no law. What if we. What we most need to do is what dana ferrell is in the midst of her screaming children in demanding dogs. Realize i have the power to control myself i have the knowledge. Pick up the babies let the dogs out. Let's go to the park and have some fun the rest can wait. I have. To be sure there are conditions. Most of them we can be so stony hearted. As to provide no. Good. Nurturing soil for anything spiritually. To even potentially. And potentially fruitful to take holden. The random events of life like the birds of the air can come and snatch up some of the good seeds. The ones about to germinate. And life's many distractions are materialistic and selfish worries. Can easily smother and choked out the spiritual seedlings in one soul. So what to do then. The cavern i love that. Inside your own head. Call me if 7. And then go out once morning each morning like mary oliver to once again. A beauty you did not make him cannot disturb. Trying again. To be welcoming. And to be good fertile buck. For spiritual growth. This my friends is spiritual discipline. In another poem oliver says. The one thing i have learned this far in life. Is degreaser morning. Let other people emphasize repentance. You do not even have to be good. Refusing the toxins. Seeking the reconciliation that comes when we acknowledge our own rotten mistakes and then plow them under. Never forgetting that they're there and become. Part of the rich compost. Upper lip spiritual life. This is patience. I know i've not a painted yet. Have you. Or perhaps we have it. And don't attempt to. Yes i know we do. Or you wouldn't be so patiently listening just now. So i try to remind us that all of our lives comes from the same root as hummus. Meaning of soil the earth come from. And to which we at last all return. Meaning that whatever religion we claim is. More than a mere form of words because i real religion universally even if we. It's just a human response to this dual mystery of being alive and knowing that we too will die. It is red in our lives and not for my words is jefferson. Last week on. Krista tippett's npr show. On being. What you can tune into at 1 p.m. especially if you've missed being here. I heard joanna macy. An environmental activist and buddhist teacher. At our unitarian universalist seminary out in berkeley. Age 81 now. Speak about this moment in history from her perspective. On the one hand said macy. What is going on is the great turning. Demonstrated in the rebellion against dictatorship. And democracy. The attempts of so many of us. Green sanctuary congregation. To turn away from earth. Exploitation. For more sustainable. And on the other hand there is the great unraveling. Industrial post petrol colonialism. Of the impatience of greed the short-sighted selfishness motivates. So much power politics. Current collapse capitalism in political credibility. Neither of us. Tippett. Damacy to know which will prevail. And i immediately thought of the old pogo in the cartoon. One saying we have met the enemy. And he is us. Buddhist miseno's that what lies behind so many of our human problems dissolution. The illusion of separateness. Ourselves as. Wanted. Kravers. Consumers. There's a perfectly beautiful reminder we are not our own. Earth formulas. Kevin leaves on nature's growing vine. Fruit of many generations. Seeds of life divine. Therefore let us make thanksgiving it goes on. Then with justice. Willing and aware give to earth and all things living. Liturgies. We are not our own. The minister's retreat. I took heather this. Who's am i. Switch the quaker teacher douglas fear once said. Is the deeper question behind the endless identity question who am i. Who's am i. Since there is no real identity outside of relationship. It is the more profound supposed to ask. 200 my accountable to whom do i answer whose life is altered by the choices i make with whose life with whose lives are. It's mine all bound up. So whether you think of your spirituality is birth center tour human-centered god-centered. For centered is buddhist and voltaire would have it in a circle whose center is everywhere cumference is nowhere. We are not our role. You and i. And this is not always easy or welcome news but it is news that we are here to cultivate. In the sanctuary that we belong to a mystery greater than. Ourself. Is every patient parent learns our children do not belong to us. The very end of our lives. We belong to those who will follow us in this place. Not merely to those. Fr 300 years. So when i began that retreat most of the exercises in silence meditation. Dialogue journaling made me feel dammit i belong to too many others. Not just about your wife when with her blessed patience. To my children. Mg child. But also to the ministers in training that i mentor. To the causes and organizations i serve as a trustee. To my colleagues published. To the people who email and phone and friend me on facebook and asked me to come speak. And then my retreat partner fletcher. Handed me this poem by denise levertov. Air swimmers. To the sky. And water spare them. As hawks rest upon are. Ender sustains them. So would i learn to attain. Free fall. Since float. Into creator spirits deep embrace. Knowing that no effort urban. That all surrounding grace. Makes me patience. Creator spirit. You need not to do it. All at once. As i slowly. Freely float. Into your embrace. Let the wisdom in the patience. Slowly fall into me as well. Give me the discipline to take time like this to be in relationship. With others who know more about it than i. To take some regular time to talk to my better self. Putting our spiritual shoes on one. 1 centipede legs. Pair of pants. Having told each other how we first felt called we ministers. Talked about how we first sensed that we belong to something bigger than ourselves. And then i remember to him that i first heard 40 years ago. When did age 23 i realized that i really did. Still called the communities like this. To learn and to teach persistence. And making. Justice and human wholeness. But also patience. Because it spoke of a piece already present whether we know it or not. Whenever were wise enough to open ourselves to. So however and patientslikeme you've been lately. You have patience.

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20101010_nehoidens_bargain_john_sermon.mp3

Yesterday i spent. With a gathering of historians. Much of the discourse revolved around. Regretting. What many analyzed is. The american. Constant temptation to historical amnesia. And it's real. I stopped on the way to. The conference 2. Have a cup of coffee at a diner. Found myself conversing with. Man next to me. Who is looking for a job. We discussed the depression. He was an average joe. And seemed to prove what all the polls suggest. At the most basic facts about that earlier. Economics. Timer for session in our country. Ordinary americans. And the major lesson that the government has to spend money. Including. Creating deficits. To jumpstart the economy. Absolutely rejected. And forgotten. If indeed it ever sink in. We moved on and our discussion to discuss the fact that this was the ninth anniversary of the. Beginning of our current war in. Afghanistan. My interlocutor denied it was the longest war in american history. He was certain. Others have been far longer. Comparisons to vietnam. He utterly rejected. Why do we forget. I wonder. I think the fact is that history can be embarrassed. It can challenge or mythic ideals about individual self-reliance. Or the notion that america doesn't have any. Imperial ambitions. Among other illusion. I'm reminded of an onsen my family. Terribly interested in family genealogy until she discovered some documentary evidence that there was a native american in the family tree. Oh and by the way. That her own birth had come. Sooner after her parents marriage. Then was entirely conventional. In her somewhat puritanical. Point of view. So she dropped her study of family history. Even before she came across the family horse please. That's okay another more courageous on. To uncover. I think this is a phenomenon that could be found even in church history. And local history. We discussed. Call. Even with unitarian universalist sometimes cover-up or forget. Conflicts in our own pass. 2 years ago i was involved in some of the early planning for the celebration of the 300th anniversary of our town of needham. And this old parrish. Which made the town possible. And someone handed me an official program from the 250th anniversary which was celebrated in 1960. Now some of you may recall that during the cold war needham. Rather prided itself on housing a nike missile base. The anniversary slogan for the town in 1960 red. From redskins to rockets. You cringe. But lest you think that i am about to launch into a humorless diatribe of political correctness. I want you to know that i immediately turned to the person sitting next to me when i saw that program. And said oh great. Maybe for r300 the slogan can be from puritans to pan. Which in case you've forgotten is our town flower. Later i discovered. Again to my embarrassment. That to this day the official seal of the town of needham. Shows. Handing over a person of money. 21 solitary native american. Remembering the purchase of all the land side of the charles river then called north dedham. From that one man. The intent is pretty clear. It's to try to legitimize. How our forbearers. Derived their scent. Of ownership. To the territory that we now call needham. Wellesley. And south natick. In other words. Looks like the story of the dutchman peter minuit purchasing the island of manhattan. From its native inhabitants for $24 worth of beads and so forth. Our forebears made a mark. Here's the fuller story. Some parts of which. You may know because your children have brought it home. From school i hope. But as samuel johnson wants to require rather more often to be reminded than to just be informed so let me know i'll remind you. But even before the pilgrims landed at plymouth from 1620. Or the puritans at boston and salem a decade later. The native population of new england. By epidemic. Caused by contact. With europeans diseases. Brought by fishermen. Who stopped along the coast to trade. Without even settling. Had killed tens of thousands. From influenza and smallpox and other plagues. To which native americans had no immunity. Survivors like massasoit help the english settlers survive. Themselves first harsh winters. Teaching them not only indigenous methods of agriculture. But also pointing them to bury stores. Indian corn. Since there were not enough native. Left. But the first settlers of plymouth simply took what had been the site of a native village where everyone who died and made it their settlement. Plymouth i'm out on the schaumburg peninsula which. Later became boston. 1 governor winthrop in his puritans arrived they found only one human being. John braxton. Hope you're in cleric who had preceded had set up his hermitage. On the edge of what is now the boston,. Sarius polka dialect of the broad language group known as algonquin. The indian survivors. Refer to themselves with the word massachusetts. Which meant great seal. From the blue hills. Down route 128. Marking the very edge of the boston basin. These were the people that john elliott. To be concerned over. His first convert was named waban. And lived in that section of what is. Now called newton been known aumsum. Those two. Came into contact with elliot. Heated his. Efforts to. Give them christian shelter. Became known as praying indians. They self-governed towns from pensacola on the south now canton. Abstruse. Hopkinton. Grafton mendon marlboro littleton called nashoba. Chihuahuas. And what's now lowell. Made it was kind of a hub. The native settlements constituted something of a buffer. Or defensive ring. For the white settlers of massachusetts bay. That is until in 1675 war begin. Who started massage down rhode island plymouth colony between. Settlers of the. Narragansett and wampanoag bands of the algonquin. The precipitant was an accusation by one of the praying indians it even gone to harvard. Set massasoit son medical. Bisaccia mobile wampanoag with play planning revenge on the settlers. For the unexpected death of his brother and predecessor one soda. Who had died while visiting governor winslow of plymouth. The accuser was killed. And settlers hung 3natives for that murder. And soon a cycle of revenge was on the. Spun out of control. There were eighty thousand settlers. Versus atmos. 20000 natives left in all. Of this region of new england. 800 colonist died. Vs3000. Native americans. But half of all the white settlements were attacked at one time or another. And even converted indians. Being suspect. We're taking out onto island boston harbor. And that's left there without food for the winter. And many of them died. At the end there was only one massachusetts native left in all of what the english came to call north dedham. So the pound steel is historically accurate. At least in that regard. Convert at natick his name was. Or perhaps no hunting or haha. There are varying transcriptions in the mini. Many documents related to him. 1671 john eliot had sent him to try the lessons tensions. With medicom. Or king philip. After whom the terrible war. Took its name. And in 1680 when the transaction took place he was indeed all alone. He was induced to sell the more than twenty-five square miles of what is now needham wellesley in south natick. For the princely sum of 10 pounds sterling. With. 40 shillings worth of corn thrown in. And the right to use for his lifetime. 40 acres. Along the charles river. Near what is now echo bridge. Just to give you a sense of what he received. 30 years later when the 40 from the 45 households. Who had moved into north dedham petition the great and general court of massachusetts bay to become a separate parish in town they were offering a perspective minister 70 lb sterling salary per year. Plus the right. To a substantial farm in a settlement fee. By the way that wasn't considered enough. Notice it took nine years before they could induce jonathan townsend. Age 22. To come here. 480 pounds a year. Sona heiden. Bargain. Of all that land. Now worth millions. 410 lb sterling. Might be something we should remember. He died in 1717. After the paris. And thompson gun. But before jonathan townsend drive. And i guess i feel like i want to ask. And raise a few moral quest. Questions like. Will this year's anniversary include anything like a public apology. Dimension. In our celebrations. This morning. Or will this expression simply have to do is there any chance i could even begin. The appropriateness. And the moral meaning of what's on its town seal. I think i have heard and seen the great spirits i and weeping over these things. On wednesday as i was writing this sermon the heavens opened as in a deluge and i had to tell. The bride's in harts that's whose home wedding i was officiating that afternoon. Set the standard minister's response to. All complaints about bad weather on celebratory occasions is simple. I'm in sales not management. But i don't think the great spirit is always pleased. Scyther with outraged human expressions of righteous. Indignation over the past. Or even its continuation into the present 10 years ago at the general assembly my last is. Denominational president we were meeting in cleveland. In june. In a convention center near the home of the baseball club called the cleveland indians. Who use as their symbol. A caricature. Known as chief wahoo. Our cousins in the congregational is churches. The united church of christ. Have their headquarters nearby. And with their staff and their president john thomas. I helped to lead. A quiet protest. At the beginning of a ballgame one evening. Encouraging the team to rethink. They're insulting. Caricature. And mascot. To this day by the way they refused to give it up. As we were walking around. Stadium. Bucc president and i. With well over 1,000 people following us. A multiracial. Multi-ethnic delegation. We had no sooner set out on our 2-mile route. Then by heavens. Drenched. Coming down in sheets. None of us had umbrellas. I ruined a perfectly good suit. A lovely store which i finally replaced with this one. Good pair of shoes. John thomas and i just had to laugh. He quoted to me god make us the sun to rise like today on both the evil and the good. And then send us the rain on the just and the unjust alike. Or. So. John elliott. Would have reminded the indians. Citing matthew 5. 45. Another words never expect rewards. Raising morale issues. I try not to. But i also don't think that just because you and i have enjoyed such great benefits and blessings in this life. It is solely because of our own. Self-reliance. Hard work. Or moral superiority. We dwell literally. On the good earth prepared for us. Unless to us by others. Beyond our dessert. You & yours. Me and mine. And yes even the man i tried to dialogue with is a diner. It probably stolen more of our chance. Then we will ever adequately acknowledge. Even if we decide today not to. Just look back the try to pay it forward. And that's okay. I encourage you to look forward. Not just back. May we spread that message not one that says you have to be. Guilt-ridden. Like me or like my forebears. That's a false mission especially in a rapidly changing world. Interpenetrating cultures. And find our own mission. In shaping a world that is more truly inclusive. Grateful. Let us each find our place within a i think. The hoyden. And his cousin. All around the continent would have understood that. Let the sacred. This is not only an all. The sacred directions. But also within. For what. Bargains is. I promised a covenant that is still to be fulfilled. As it should be. Before the great spirit. That made the lab that made us all. May we be. Proven more worthy. Of that covenant. Then some who have gone before.

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041017_Lyceum5_Eck.mp3

Good morning. Call jackson morning is rebecca dianna agron. Professor compare. American global contact. On the other hand by the time i reached the 90. Jamal. Have brought not only their economic. Potato. Quran. Guadalupe. Write out 135. Framingham. And i invite you all. Vietnamese. Wayland. Call mom. So our religious landscaping boston. American city. Religion. How much is. Www.aa.org. State map. There is no. We wish it were i think it might. Quite the same way. Let me just say it. Website. They're probably about members of the presbyterian church usa. More. But even if we're only looking at. A question question. Sak group. Call abarca. And it certainly wasn't for the protestant community. Emergency. Arizona. Emerging landscape. By the way. Brother. Growing number of. Curious about our neighbors. The world. Because that is so much more. Call house. Walmart. Problem. Conversation. All of our religious traditions. Call andrea rosewood. I have many friends who are among nelson. Brazen. A boy. Looking at. Biological. Enlarging and the other kind of them. Throat. Hard-working. Are you walking. In what part of the body. Islam. Universal. Very active. In united states. 911. American samoa. Already. But it was. Our neighbors. More than any other. Credible. Binary. Upenn. Religious pluralism american landscape. And say the word religion. Immediately. Who are they probably wouldn't. I don't hear any going on. Sign that it might be about co-op. Martin services app. Most exclusive. There is also other. Democracy that are. Recognize. Ohio. Boat factory in the state of florida. Also consider crippled right. Energy. Across-the-board religion. Rubidium. Humidity in paper lion. What is a red wine. Brightview. The changes of the immigration law changes in immigration policy of crackers as remote combined 11. On the relatives of the 1960s on everyone. Emergency. New immigration structure in the united states. United states. Immigration policy. Not. Rachel. Paranoia. Account. Love everybody. Under armour. Weather. Massachusetts. Western world. Bubble gum. Barry white. Without recognizing. Or sending greetings. On 1st street. Part of a very broad. Wider circle. The wave in perry. How to draw. Country where no catholic prelate will tell any catholic motorhome. Miniature wheels. Visible. Remodel. Invite candidate to the temple. Everyone. Governor's office. Every rapper. It's okay. Not. I guess my question is at the conscious level and it says. What do you do as a population. How do we. Important. And also because of the anxiety again. Wars in the country. Minecraft. Generator. Second generation. Generation. Children. Problem. We are not offering. Creative. They will hear that sings this. Their images. Around the world. Globalization. Doctor. Brighter side of tongue. We do ramada. I'm on our website from around the country and around the world. Contraction. Uncommon grounds. Multimedia cd rom. Library. Department. New releases. Department. Great clips important. One of my grandmothers. March 14th. How about. America. Cabrillo. Junior high high school. Play music. State score.

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20110109_faith_for_all_seasons_john_sermon.mp3

Bill murray's. Colleague. The other unitarian church in bethesda maryland. Cedar lane. My good friend. Kenneth mcclain. It tells the story of one's being asked by a parishioner. To try to describe it in as few words as possible. Very basic characteristic of unitarian universalist. Kim's walk for a moment and then replied. What you know. We are rather inclined to be skeptical. Two witches parishioner a quickly snapped back i don't believe that. I called the deconstructive or analytical. Negative. Of the way we use reason. In our face tradition. Received out-of-state. Never sad purser. And so we don't ask people to their critical thinking at the church door. But there is a positive constructive and synthetic. Side of unitarian universalism that. I believe is even deeper and more powerful. Or else we wouldn't be meeting here today. For 300 years the question here has not been the cradle questions. What words can we say that we all believe in,. Rather spend the deeper. And almost wordless. Covenant question. What are the holes. Fat anime dark heart. And what promises are we willing to make to one another. Into the context of our living. About how we will treat one another. As we try to live those. And almost wordless hopes. Into a greater reality that long ago. Impressed him over the years is how long we keep our hopes alive. Was thinking of some of our greatest leaders like the philosopher of religion charles hartshorne. Who lived wonderful age of 103. And produce more. Publications. About the science of ornithology. In his later years than he did. About. Philosophy. Universalist religious educator. Without whom are developmentally oriented. Sunday school with sophia lion claws. Was finally ordained at the age of 89 church. She preached her own ordination sermon. Things you didn't know how many more chances that she would have. And then proceeded to live to 102. For one of the leading organizers of new unitarian universalist congregation across the continent on recall. I made it. Within days of his 100th birthday. And our leading social episystem theologian jim adams. Mid 90. It's no different. You know that we now have 15 members of this congregation who are over the age of 90. Regularly worshiping with us. Which is pretty remarkable for a modest-sized congregation that's full of young families. And their children. Many of them before i start teaching the children downstairs. Course it isn't always easy after the age of 90 i depression or years ago who i'm reaching that milestone was wished many happy returns by a younger woman and looked up in horror. It gets hard you know. After the death of his own wife martin marty themself. Wrote about the losses. But make it hard. He called his book a cry of absence. Reflections for the winter of the heart. And there is a winter season of spirituality. Here is what i think he and other religious liberals of whatever label rely on. In the winter of the soul. Wheel of life. And care about the good of others. Or is gannett put it in 1880 we believe that to love the good it's the good is the thing. And even when. The season of the soul. Golden heart. That. Persistent. Safe. Keeps us warm. Plenty of room for skepticism in his face his went on to establish the gannett newspaper chain. Like usa today. Which reminds me that unitarian universalist of also produced more than our share of noted journalist i once sat down with charles trips. Another unitarian universalist whose family formed another newspaper dynasty. And scripts just replied. My father's motto. Was tell the truth. Isn't that what our faith says to. And i had to admit he was onto something. Goodnight i think knew that he was paraphrasing. The two great commandments was taught by jesus. Love the good. Elizabeth good. Spirit of life with all of one's passion and heart and mind strength. And then to love one's neighbor as oneself. Keep that safe promise. And everything else you need. Will be provided. With due allowance for the fact that the winter storms blow. And the rain falls. Sun shines on the just and the unjust alike. I think we try to live that. It is coral. We do it's even when the very springtime. Is clouded. By storm. And difficulty. I'm thinking now of our young prisoner. Gwen lorimer. Who was born with mitochondrial disease and from an early age had to receive all of her nutrition through in. Intravenous feeding tube. Her intestines kept poisoning her bloodstream and when she was seven. Last year. Her doctors did a multi-organ transplant giving her a new stomach and liver and pancreas spleen and small intestine amazing. And this weather she is on the cover of children's hospital. Magazine. Smiling. With an apple on top of your head. And the story called appetite for life. Filled with. Reflecting i think the spirit of royal family. And though she's still in the hospital.. Graft-versus-host syndrome among other things she is. Enjoying life. Smiling. Learning the violin. Happy little head of my grade level. Reporter. Her mom kim recently passed on a story sent by another mom. Child was born with some challenges you get pregnant said the story you plan on landing with your neutral. You plan all this. But then the child is born and the doctors say. Sort of like the flight attendant on a plane you have now landed in welcome to holland. It's spring. They're still flowers. Not quite the ones you expected. But so what. You tour. The wife. Where you have landed. With those who have landed in your life. Italy would have been great. It's just different. Quite what you expected. Would you take it off at all. Let's see there are tulips here. They say fast.. And that brings us to the summer. I have a gwen in my own life as you know my dear wife. Who's favorite children's book. For as long as i've known her husband ferdinand the bull. About the spanish bowl who prefers to just sit. Smelling the flowers in the field. Rather than fight. The mccourty.. Until one day when he sits on abby. Justice are looking for an angry bull. The fight in madrid. And he's chosen. And then sits down in the middle of the arena. Preferring to sniff the flowers. Thrown into the field. Some seem to think that ours is a face with only. Summertime. Sensibility. Or adequacy. But bill murray and i and our mutual friend robbie walsh who's the minister emeritus down in first parish in duxbury. Would testify otherwise. Ours is a face for all seasons. Robbie tells the story of a woman unknown to him who called about having a memorial service in the meeting house and is he talked to her. All he could think of. Was the leftover from the melt multi-generational worship. The sunday before. A balloon that had gotten caught in the rafters. Pie in the meeting house. One of those. Particularly stubborn. Expensive balloon will not leak and come down. With a big yellow smiley face on it. And is he worried about the people coming to the memorial service. And whether they would think. Unitarianism is nothing but a summertime face. He went out into the sanctuary still talking to the woman on his cell phone. And saw that. The smiley face head ever. So slowly descending. To where he could grab it and take it home. Those of us in the autumn of our lives from any inflated sense of ourselves. And about. People we have love. Being called home. And going to memorial services. We know about letting go like the leaves do an autumn. And still we try to love life and one another. And to keep the face. Interstate right. I think of the example set for me by my dear colleague mary harrington. Who died last year of lou gehrig's disease. Mary was the ministry of our congregation in winchester. And when she was diagnosed she told her people the truth immediately and then minister to them. And to work colleagues for as long as she could. Until she knew it was time to let go. And then she did even that with grace as well. Apart of our face. Is the altima. Greece. Into enduring gratitude. For the loved ones. Everyone of us said my dear friend and colleague now gone forest church has a face. A religion. Whether we acknowledge it or not it has little to do with the identities that we inherit or the doctrines or creed's that we profess with our lives. It has chiefly to do with the faith that we live. And the time that is ours. For religion. And face of any stripe is simply our human response to the reality of being alive and knowing that we too will have to die. And everyone of us therefore cuz. Efface however skeptical. But it's being written in our every word and action. What we need however our companions on the journey. Hope faith and doubt. Who are honest. Stabilizing. And good reminders of what it means at the heart of the human. Friends who can help us remember that in every culture religion or faith. Is nothing more than the deepest wisdom about life. And the most precious memories. Of the courage shown by those who have preceded us in every season. And winter spring summer and fall the lights. Those who have taught us that when it's. Comes down to it. All we really need to. Is just love life more fully. And carries deeply as we can. About the people that we share it with. For as long as we. We may not live as long as charles hart shorter jim adam. We may not live as long as sophia falls or laundry call even as long as some of those. I'll sit here in this meeting house. Worshipping with us. Life does not as the events of yesterday. I'm sorry to report provide much in the way of guarantees. No matter what we believe. Or how we live or whom we choose. Hazard community friendship in spirit i can tell you this. The poet mary oliver is right when she says this world you must be able to do three things. What is mortal. Hold it against your bones knowing your life depended upon it. And then when the time comes. The older i become. The closer i come to having to let go with. Relationships. Like mine with all of you. The more urgently i find myself. Having to repeat this basic wisdom. To myself. And to you. This is the wisdom that sounds to the generation. This is the reason. For the 300 years of this parish. It may have earlier that's history associated that wisdom with only one tradition or teacher. But now we know more than we think more widely. And still the message echoes on every time the bell in the steeple sounds. ,. Remember to love the source of life. That we share. Calma. Remember to love. Is though that person wear yourself. , dubuque. Even if you yourself are lost. These things are still commonly affirmed. However the words and the phrase that may change. The tune remains the same. Have you demonstrated. Not in our words hello. But in the way we live. With one another.

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20150308_0337_step_scudera_sermon.mp3

All grades movements and transformations begin. With the first step. 50 years ago on sunday march 7th 1965. A group of 600 black activists took. The first step. Out of brown chapel and onto the edmund pettus bridge. The junction of highway 80 with the town of selma alabama. As one organizer amelia boynton roads. Like the children of israel leaving egypt. We marched toward the red sea and we were on our way not knowing what was before us. Leaders from the student nonviolent coordinating committee snick. And the southern christian leadership conference slc. Sclc. But the way over the pettus bridge only to be halted by county sheriff jim clark. The band of deputized white men who hurled teargas and chase down the protesters. This bloody sunday march would be broadcast across the country women and men beaten in the streets. And it's spurred president johnson to submit his voting rights. 2 congress. A bloody sunday wasn't even. The first step. Of course the civil rights marchers were inspired by a long line of activists before them who risked taken the first step. The anti-slavery agents like angelina and sarah grimke. Intellectual powerhouses like w.e.b. du bois and anti-lynching journalist like ida b wells. But even for the march from selma to montgomery the first steps were made weeks earlier by organizers like amelia boynton. The word lobby for equal voting rights for black americans in alabama since the 1930s. These rights included not being subject to so-called. Literacy tests. Nearly impossible quiz has given at the discretion of the white registrars. And not having your name and address published in the local paper when you registered to vote. So that white locals could find you and let you know exactly what they thought about black citizens voting. During the civil rights movement boynton and her husband samuel opened their business office and they're home to sdlc and stick organizers. And after samuel died amelia continued their work for justice. In 1965 she ran for congress to encourage black voters to register and vote. The first woman and certainly the first african-american woman to do so in alabama. Despite the legitimate fear black citizens had a voting and despite american women severe lack of representation and engagement politically. Boynton received 11% of her primary vote. And it was she. After those years of voting rights advocacy in alabama. Who welcomed sclc leaders such as diane nash and james bevel into her living room. The plan of march from selma to montgomery. To protest the shooting death of 27 year old voting rights protester. Jimmie lee jackson. Boynton was 53. When she marched on bloody sunday in march 1965. The photograph of her knocked unconscious. Are white state troopers became an iconic image of brutality that black americans faced in the jim crow south. A photo that couldn't capture all of the damage. The teargas thrown at the activist scarred her vocal cords. And deepen her voice from a lyric soprano to a mezzo-soprano. And so boynton was invited. After all that. To witness president lyndon b johnson signing the voting rights act. Into law on august 6th 1965. And now it 103 years old. Amelia boynton has lived to see it society. Transforming. With more steps forward and some steps back. She has seen the fruits of her first steps. Her lifetime. Advocacy for equality. And march 7th 1965 wasn't the last step not even. For voting rights. On march 7th the activist return back they had to try again on march 9th. In april 21st and march 21st. It was only was only for that last march that the 8,000 gathered activists successfully crossed the edmund pettus bridge eventually numbering 25,000. As they marched into montgomery. And what i find so incredible. About the activist like amelia boynton. Is it her defiance was not only at the racial assumptions of her time but the sexist ones as well. She refused to stay disengaged passive. Second class citizen. Is audrey lorde roads it is better to speak. Remembering we were never meant. To survive. Women like amelia boynton who faced both racism and sexism in america understood that all oppression and discrimination is linked. One marginalized identity groups step forward could only help. Another marginalized identity group. We are as the reverend doctor martin luther king roads caught in an inescapable network. Of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly. Affects all. Indirectly. Selma to montgomery marches were not the last steps. A voting rights not for black civil rights not for women's rights. Amelia boynton and other prominent engaged women of color like her and turn inspired others. There are too many who have continued the work of eradicating discriminatory barriers for people of color and women in our country over the past 50 years too many luminaries to be named. On one sunday. But those first steps forward have. Continued. I think about authoring university professor toni morrison who in 1993 became the 90th winner of the nobel prize in literature and the first. Black woman's received the award. Mypoints in morrison defied societal expectations working and thriving in a field dominated. By white men. And by writing from that one backgrounds. In a recent interview with television personality stephen colbert. Morrison said of her writing i wanted to show how painful. Is constructed horrible racism was on the most vulnerable people in society. Girls black girls. Or girls. And then it really and truly could. Hurt you. That's what i was looking for and no one i thought had written that book. So since i really wanted to read it i thought. I should write it. Her first book the bluest eye is a perfect example. Morrison wrote this book and response to the black is beautiful movement that was born of the efforts of civil rights. The main parent character pocola is constantly reminded that she is an ugly child. For being black. And she deeply wishes she could become white. With the bluest eye. If you do wish. Sit along with other tragedies of her sad life in a segregated 1930s. If you do wish that. Drove piccola insane. I'm reminded of the psychologist mammy and kenneth clark who in a 1939 experiment asked little black girls to pick which of the two dolls presented to them. Would be the best one to play with. Artist one. The prettiest one. The only difference between the two dolls was that one had dark. Fabric skin with black yarn hair. And the other light fabric skin with yellow yarn hair. And you'd be correct if you guessed that the majority of little black girls. Chose the white doll. They had internalized the racism of the dominant culture around them. And morrison brought this reality to life. In the bluest eye. Her recognition by both the swedish academy for the nobel in the pulitzer prize in 1988 cemented morrison standing at the national literary treasure. And she serves on princeton she serves on princeton university staff for almost 20 years. Through her novels and through her teaching. Morrison has continued to inspire women writers and writers of color. To tell their stories. Especially. They had not been written yet. Since i really wanted to read that book. I thought i should write it. No it's 84. Toni morrison has lived to see it society. Transforming. Some more steps forward and some steps back. She seen the fruits of her first steps her lifetime of speaking her truth. Out into a culture that has refused to listen for decades. For centuries. And i think about forerunners like mammy peanut johnson. The first woman professional baseball player who signed with the negro leagues indianapolis clowns in 1953 just six years after jackie robinson was signed to the brooklyn dodgers and twenty years before women's sports were given an even playing field with title nine. Peanut. So nicknames because of her short stature just 5ft 3in was no peanut on the field. During her brief career johnson had a 3381 loss record. In 273 batting average particularly impressive. Picture. Johnson has recently popped up again and sports news with the emergence of little league pitcher thirteen-year-olds monet davis. Who was the first black girl to play in the little league world series. My favorite quote from johnson's interview with the new york daily news is this. About monet davis peanut johnson said this girl is the best thing since food. Davis herself would go on with her team to win the little league world series even landing on the cover of sports illustrated the first little reader to do so. It's the greatest gift on god's green earth to be here johnson. Watching davis's debut. I never ever thought. I would witness this. Now it's 79 peanut johnson has lived to see a society transforming. Those steps forward and some steps back. The fruits of her first-ever lifetime of being true to herself and her talents. Despite what society expected. All great movements and transformations begin with the first step. First role. First speech first letter first. Idea. We are indebted to those who came before us who brought us to today and it is our duty to carry on their work. A bending the moral arc of the universe. Toward justice. Today on the 50th anniversary of the march on selma we ask ourselves how we will contribute to greater holness. And holiness in our world. We may not always be the person who takes the very first step for first roll toward freedom liberation equality. We may not have the particular talents to organize marches or win the pulitzer with little league world series. But we can grow in ourselves the humility to follow those who courageously move ahead of us. And we can grow in ourselves the confidence. To give out of the talents and passions. We do have. Is reverend dr. mark morrison read wrote about those unitarian universalist who went to selma and giving their selves over to that time and its demands they found redemption. Together in selma they found their lives had a purpose. And many perhaps for the first time. Felt whole. That's the beauty of justice and care-giving work. It gives our lives purpose. And wholeness. That we would not have in our souls if we stayed focus. On ourselves. A beautiful thing. By giving ourselves away to the cause. We gained so much. I asked you on this anniversary day to reflect on what your talents are. But you can offer to the cause. Adjust this. I asked you to reflect on what your passions are. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied and that single garment of destiny. So whether the eradication of racism or sexism or homophobia or climate change or ageism ableism classism for whatever. Cause of justice calls to your cards. I ask that you answer. That call. I asked you to respond to the human longing. For equity and peace in our world. And cast your lot. With all those who age after age perversely and with no extraordinary power. Reconstitute our world. When we reach. 103. But amelia boynton. And margaret got hearts. Oecu society transformed. We see ourselves. Transformed. Will we be glad and proud of the seeds we planted today. Bloomed. Into beloved. Community. May we be blessed. By such a transformation in our own hearts. And the world around us. Baby speak are truths and experiences in love and they such an effort of vulnerability and openness today grow into the fruits of wholeness. Tomorrow. And maybe honor those who came before us. By carrying their work. Into this new century. Busby. An amen.

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20110731_confessions_of_an_omnivore_duffy_peet_sermon.mp3

I have no idea how many times has our child i heard one of my parents say. Finish what you have on your plate there are starving children in. I can't recall where the starving children wear. I do remember though. The tone of voice. And it was clear. The death conveyed more than the words did. I wonder if any of you heard something similar when you were a child. Well i'm not exactly sure. What they said the message was clear. I wish to eat what was on my plate usually what i had left was some type of vegetable. I didn't much care for. It was something that came after where the starving children were but. I don't remember what it was either. I can still recall though how i felt. If i had been asked how it was feeling back then i would have responded. I'm feeling bad. Today. I realized the bad feeling i was experiences experiencing. Included fear. Shame. And guilt. The fear and guilt. A rose in response to my parents disapproval towards not eating everything on my plate. The shame. Came from my childhood idea. That if i did something wrong then obviously there must be something wrong with me. I'm certain my parents. Intent was not to have me feel fearful. Guilty. Or shameful their intent. What to get me to eat my vegetables. To teach me not to be wasteful. And i have me consider how am i action impact others. I appreciate that they wanted me to learn these lessons. Lessons. They considered to be important. Today. I eat many more vegetables than i did as a child. And some of them i can even now say i like. I almost always eat the food i take. I do the best i can not to waste the food i have. And more importantly. I attempt to consider how a my actions may impact others. It seems clear to me now that the words that came after there are starving children in. Didn't really matter that much. What mattered. What's that i developed. A set of values. What is especially interesting. Australian just take on the values they had. I found a way to develop my own values. I taken the value of considering how my actions may impact others to a level. But neither of my parents could have imagined. Well their intention in. Mentioning starving children was to get me not to be wasteful of food. I know. i now go much farther than they originally intended. Eating everything on my plate. Is no longer the measure of whether or not i am living out my value of consideration for the welfare of others. Today i also consider. The type of food that is on my plate. And how it may play a part in people going hungry. The result. Is that i find myself. Dealing with conflicting values. And having to find a way to negotiate my way. True what the conflict revolves around. If you've noticed the title of my sermon today. You already know where i'm headed here. My values conflict involves. Eating meat. I. A carnivore. Before moving away from my hometown in central michigan. The phrase. Confessions of a carnivore. What is seems like nonsense. Tumi. Eating meat. As far as i knew was something everyone did. That's the store clerk clerk said to mind today's reading. Everybody wants meat. Needs meat. That's how it seemed in the rural farming community i grew up in. And some of what we heard in our reading from genesis. Would have been considered indisputable. In my hometown. As human beings. We are to be fruitful and multiply. To fill the earth and subdue it. And to have dominion over every living thing that moves upon the earth. From this perspective. I took for granted that meat was an essential part of a person's diet. I was really surprised when i first met people who claimed they were able to survive without eating meat. It seems like eons have passed since then. But it was only 40 years ago during my first year in college. That was when i learned there were people. Who are vegetarians. I was amazed by these folks. They not only ate vegetables. They enjoyed eating them. Since then i've developed friendships with many vegetarians. I've even gone so far as to marry one. Yet even though i now realize that not everyone needs to eat meat to survive and thrive. Bye. Continue. To include meat as a regular part of my diet. It would seem appropriate here to ask. So what. If a person eats me. What difference. Does it make really. From the frameworks contained in the genesis reading. Eating meat wouldn't seem to be an issue. But this is no longer the framework from which i perceive the world. My way of viewing and relating to world. Corresponds with the 7th of ruu principles. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence. Of which we are a part. With an attitude of respect for the interdependent web of existence. Eating meat. Is an issue. To consider the many ways that including meat in one's diet is significant. Who take longer than i have for this sermon. Therefore. Instead of addressing the matter with broad brushstrokes. I will focus on a portion of the issue with an eye towards death. I want to share with you one of the reasons that eating meat sets up a values conflict within me. I realize. Set because each of us have our own values. It is likely that what i'm about to share. May not seem relevant. To all of you. Since i'm relatively certain however that all of us consume food the issue of eating relates to us all. What is important. It's not just whether mean is a part of a person's diet. What each of us eats. Has an impact on others. Stand on our world. The issue of what we choose to eat. Is so important that the delegates at the uu general assembly last month. Voted to approve the statement of conscience. Title. Ethical eating. Food and environmental justice. You can find information and resources related to this statement of conscience. Play going to the ua website and i encourage you to do so. As a delegate at general assembly this year as a delegates from. You you need them right here. I experienced the concerns and disagreements this statement of conscience evolved. Whether you are a mediator or not. What are my values are similar to the ones you hold. I asked you to hear me out. I think you will find something to relate to and what i have to share. And i appreciate. Your willingness. To be present for my confession. Here. Is one aspect of my conflict. Because i eat meat. There is less food available for others. An early draft of the ethical eating statement of conscience explains it this way. And i quote. More food calories are available worldwide. The lower on the food chain food is harvested. Food chains usually start with plants. Which are eaten by herbivores which are then eaten by carnivores. Large amounts of energy are lost going up each level of a food chain. Eating lower on the food chain. Believe more calories for the human population. Each time i eat meat. I am eating high on the food chain. I'm using up more roof resources. Then if i ate only plant-based foods. It would seem then. But living out my value of considering. How my actions impact others could easily be accomplished by not eating meat i could eat only plants. Then. I could live happily ever after sharing vegetarian meals with my wife sandy. Would be wonderful. But there is a problem. Well it may not be apparent. I have a pretty high metabolism rate. You see if my body was a car it wouldn't be one of the new high-mileage hybrid versions. It would be one of those gas-guzzling muscle cars of the 60s and 70s. The function adequately i need lots of fuel and high octane fuel at that. In order for me to work even reasonably well i need meat in my diet. Without a regular intake of meat. My ability to think and act are significantly impaired. There's a second. Spell omit. Of the conflict. For most of my life the type of work i have chosen has involved being a service to others. This feels like a calling. Tumi. Not only do i consider others in regards to what i eat. I work. To serve others in my professional life. Further. I believe that if something is worth doing is worth doing well. In order to be a service to others at the level i'm capable of i need to provide my body what it needs to function optimally. The question i struggle to answer then is. How do i serve others. Evel evel i'm capable of and at the same time be considerate of those who may go hungry because i consume meat. There are many possible answers to the question. Reduce meat intake to the lowest level possible. Only eat meat that comes from animals that are free-range raised and fed. By meet the certified to be locally grown and organic. Decide which days i need to function at my best. Can only eat meat on those days and not on others. It would be easy to go on and on with options. Every option. Has its advantages. And. Its disadvantages. None of the options i've explored adequately and fully resolved my conflict. Well i can find ways to reduce the amount of values conflict i experience. I've not been able to eliminate. The conflict. Eating meat leaves me unable to live up to the values. Try haul. Some people are deprived of the food they need. Because i consume meat. As i mentioned earlier. Probably none of you share the exact conflicting values i have just described. It is possible. Those of you who are vegetarians maybe wondering if there is anything meaningful you can take away from this sermon. I would have shirt. But the real meat of my message here. Isn't about whether or not i'm a carnivore. Or for that matter what i eat or even what you eat. It's not just about the diet we choose for the particular values we may have in conflict. Tissue. Is larger than that. I stood up here and confessed to you one particular value conflict i'm struggling with. I'm certain however. But i am not the only person in the room who has values. Incongruent. Each of us. Does x. When some value we hold. Doesn't coincide well with another of our values. And then there are the times when a value we hold is in conflict with a value held by another person. The question then. Is what attempts are made. To address. The conflict. Do i try to ignore the conflict. And hope that it will go away. Do i keep the conflict private and strive to resolve it alone. Do i share with someone what i'm struggling with. And seek assistance or support in my efforts. Define resolution. Questions such as these. Matter greatly when conflict arises. The answers to such questions. Can be very important and they may be connected with the feelings. But the conflict generates. Remember back aways when i talked about how i felt bad when my parents would say there are starving children somewhere in the world. The feelings that i could then only identify is bad. I can now identify as. Fear guilt and shame. He's one of these feelings can be quite colorful. Pension have. Significant impact. On a person's behavior. My son's about fear guilt and shame are similar to how i felt as a child about most vegetables. I didn't like how they tasted i didn't want them on my plate and i certainly didn't want to have them inside me. Instead. What such feelings arise. I want to stop feeling bad. I want to stop thinking about what the feelings are connected with. Maybe i'm unusual. But i typically have a hard time. Sharing that i feel fearful. In a situation where i don't feel safe. I'm not likely to tell another of my guilty guilty feelings when i perceive. The person will judge my behavior. And i tend to keep my feelings of shame hidden. When i sensed my worth. Will not be acknowledged or honored. So today. I come before you. To confess that i'm a carnivore. And i realize. That this creates conflict within me and possibly. Between some of you. And me. I confess. But i'm not able to live up to the values i hold. I share with you even though i feel fear and exposing this vulnerable piece of me. I share with you even though i feel guilt about the harm my behavior may be causing others. I share with you even though sometimes. I don't acknowledge and honor. My own worse. Ishare. Because i trust that when we can respond to one another with love and compassion. We can find solutions to conflicts. We're previously none. Seemed possible. I sure because even though it appears we are all separate and isolated beings. I know. That we are all. Connected. I recognize that i cannot resolve my conflict all by myself. I recognize. Foundflix. Do and will arise within us. And between us. The emotions of fear guilt or shame may create distance between us. Distance. Fiction leave us feeling isolated. And alone. My hope. Is it as a result of my sharing someone may recognize that a conflict they are dealing with by themselves. Can be shared with another. My hope. Is that true my sharing someone will find a way to be more compassionate with themselves. Or with someone. They are in conflict with. An important aspect of our faith. Is that it is not based on a creed. Hours. Is it covenant alsace. Has frances david. European unitarian leader in the 16th century asserted. We don't have to think alike. Kalawa like. It is the covenants we make. And live out. That make this face. What it is. May we continue. To live in covenant together. And commit ourselves to the value. Values that underpin our liberal faith. And may we support. And encourage one another. Even. As we struggle to live up to the values. We hold dear. Matt besaw.

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20120527_remembering_christian_sermon.mp3

Memorial day weekend it's that time when we think back. Those. People who have fought for our country and died. The time to remember. I think about them. That's why i invite you to do. When i say remember i don't merely mean recall that they used to exist or think about them. I mean remember in a different sense. The re-member to put back together. To reconstruct. Cuz i think we have a little bit of a problem around that. If you trusted a survey last year. I had some results that didn't surprise me but interested me. Of americans under 30. Fewer than a third had an immediate immediate family member who was or have recently served in our military. Over 30 the number is more than 6 and 10. That's an interesting generational divide i think. 1/3 or 6 and 10 nearly double. Had an immediately family member who was or had served in our military. I said this wasn't surprising to me because i don't have any immediate family member. Who's serving. Or has recently served. I know it's different for people of a different generation. In world war ii 9%. Of the u.s. population served in the us armed forces. 9% of the entire populace of big number. Today is fewer than 1%. Rnr farms force. Are in our armed forces. Despite the fact that we're conducting or have recently conducted to wars. There's a quote from a gentleman from the future has paul taylor. He says what we have is an armed services that's at war. And a public that's not very engaged. Distract me is true. I can't say what i think about the war on a daily basis or if i do it's more of an afterthought. I don't think about our armed forces that much. I think it's a problem maybe spite the fact. Like i said that we're at war. There's a brokenness to this. There's a disconnect. Between the fact that people are conducting a war in our name and most of us are not very engaged.. I do have a couple connections to our military. College friend of mine. the serving right now. Not exactly on the frontline she's in england. But still doing her part. Have another connection to that really strike song for me. My good friend margaret is the ministerial intern at our sister church in watertown not too far down the road. Met a girl few years ago. Girl named susan. Susan. Is in the armed forces. She's logistics officer in the air force. They're not married i got to go to the wedding is kind of awesome. And susan a month ago was deployed to afghanistan or she's currently serving at at bagram air force base. But again those are my only two connections to armed forces i think that's an interesting phenomenon. It speaks to me of a disconnect between what is and what should be. We're at war a war that many of us probably disagree with here. But it was being fought in our name. We have different opinions about this some of us no doubt here are pacifist you don't see any reason for violence. I'm more of a just war proponent which is an interesting theory i just wore that sounds something like a contradiction but i think sometimes there are calls for us to participate even and violence and ordered for a greater good. But all of it speaks of the power of systems. Sea urchin to talked about systemic evil. But all of us participate in small axe that are part of a greater system which oppresses people. That's an interesting thing to think about in a war in which few of us have direct connections to our military and yet we are fighting. Systemic evil also boils down to the smaller things. That banana that you bought at the grocery store. More than likely fixed by someone who doesn't make a living wage and a country far away that you will never encounter. Something wrong with buying the banana for say but it's part of a larger system that is harmful to people. I'm about to making picking on the banana eaters here by the way. I'll take any offense coffees know better chocolate smell better. Difficult. This is why many of us promote things like just trade fair trade. The baxley military. Why does this matter. Again i say our military is fighting a war in our name that many of us disagree with. And that we have so little connection to. Isn't that an interesting thing. Can we talk about remembering i think about putting back together these broken connections. We have to know what's going on we have to be involved we have to make connections we have to be apart. Abdicating our responsibility is not an option. I think a brokenness in different ways to. Like my friends margaret and susan. Both women. Married in our church in the state of massachusetts but not according to the united states of america for according to the air force. Is susan god forbid dies margaret won't get survivors benefits she won't get any of the military's. Help. For spouses. She doesn't have some of the rights that married couples who are heterosexual have. In the military. Funny story about this too that's not funny but. About a month ago susan was at bagram air force base. And that's where the president showed up you might remember he made a surprise trip he visited. Susan got to shake his hand. A week later for acabanga pronounce the support for same-sex marriage i don't think it's coincidence thanks for the last i appreciate that. I told margaret and she told susan that you know we need to get her out working harder apparently it if all it takes is a single handshake from one lesbian to change the president's mind. President obama said. When you talked about his. Evolving support and his new position. He didn't speak event divorced from the reality of actual people. He spoke about members of his staff. About members of the armed forces like susan. He spoke about the reality of actual relationships and how that affects larger reality. That's why i think this is so important. We have to start with actual relationships one-on-one face-to-face communication. I'm actually more engaged with the military now is the unitarian universalist candidate for ministry then i was before. In part because of my wife's work with the church of the larger fellowship which is our one of our outreach efforts to. The military service members among other things. And because i know at least three candidates for the military chaplaincy now hurry unitarian universalist. It's an interesting phenomenon that it took becoming involved in unitarian-universalism to bring me closer to the army. That's not what i would have thought coming in. But it's the truth. So again this word remember. Not merely recall not merely think about but put back together the re. Remember. I think this is the work we all do in all of our lives to fix the brokenness where it exists. The begin to man the relationships to heal. Take down the fences. Today is i think about memorial day. This is what i'll think about. How our country can mend fences. Take them down sorry listen interesting. Interesting metaphor to talk about fences which separated men. Sorry. Sms i'd. Back to my point. Healing our relationships making the world a better place starts with one-on-one. And as i think today about memorial day that's what i'll think about. Making relationships making a stronger world making a better place through the power of love. That water which wears down the rock. As our guests a phone. I hope you'll join me with this thought to remember the world. I know.

uuneedham_org

20130127_hopes_dreams_hard_work_trust_laura_graham_sermon.mp3

Good morning. My name is laura graham and i am indeed your ministerial settlement representative from our unitarian universalist association. I am here are witness to our common bond and connection and to put into practice our congregational polity of cooperation and mutual support. Yes we are one. We are are you your way and it is and we are all in this together. Like so many of you i am a leader within my own home congregation. And i have experienced first-hand a little of what it feels like when a good and healthy congregation like yours. Phases of transition. After a powerful and impressive ministry. There are better ways of managing these transitions. And there are some less-than-optimal ways of managing these transitions. It has been my great good fortune to experience both. Trust the process and pays attention to these crucial elements. And i've lived in my phone serious of how it feels when it doesn't. I'm happy to say that thanks to god and thanks to research committee chair affectionately referred to by her fellows as the nazis we are all in good shape now. And i am dedicated to helping you all get it right the first time. There are particularly important elements in any good process. And these elements are not. Are simply mechanical. These are there are deeper spiritual considerations at work. Which is why i serve value this time with you here today in the pulpit. Title of my sermon is hopes and dreams hardware. Entrust. I hope you are all taking very seriously your obligation. Dream big. Define the place. Where your deep gladness and the world's. Hunger meat. Thank you gary smith for so relentlessly quoting beef. You have work to do first parish in needham. You have work to do that only you can do. Finding out what that work is. Finding out who you are. Now that you no longer have john behrens as your senior minister finding out. With your part of the equation is. Is serious work. You can hardly skimp on this part of your discernment and expect to have a solid internal compass to guide your congregation into the future. Your decision to give yourself the benefit of a full two-year interim was an extremely wise decision and your search committee when they are elected. Will thank you for it. So hopes and dreams are critical to your process. We are not to be dismissed as tucson. Or two abstract. They are as real. And critical as all of the hard work of implementation that follow. And don't worry the hard work gets here soon enough. Enjoy this exploration with ktv it's also. But it's joyful. Which brings us to the hard work the second topic in our discussion today you are soon to enter the business phase of your transition time. This is the time when you will choose a search committee and begin the actual business of formally collecting opinions. Feedback developing descriptions of yourselves alongside descriptions of the minister you hope to find. This is hard work for the test or large and it's hard for everyone. This is not to say that it cannot be joyful. It should be joyful. But it will involve. A lot of hardware. There's a lot of doing to be done by everyone. Following today's service i will meet with you all and go over the nuts and bolts. Of that hard work to come and i tried and i'll try to answer any questions you have. Which leaves me more time in this sermon to explore that last item. Trust. What do you think. When you see or hear that word. What do you think when you see that word applied to the transition process. Be honest. Does it make you uncomfortable. What do you hear when someone asks you for your trust. I have been jose later in my home congregation it just about every level of service. I've worked the crafts fair stuffed envelope serve food at open table chair the governing board and done just about everything else in between. I know it's serving on a committee feels like. When the balance each other and i know what it feels like to serve with a group. With competing chiefs and competing egos are the norm. Guess which group gets more done. Guess which experiences are more profound. And transformative. I have noticed over the years. That you use have a difficult relationship. With the concept of trust. We are not really sure how we feel about it when we are asked to do the trusting. Some of us are apt to read into the word fly when discussing the others. To call someone trusting is a backhanded compliment at best. Still others understand the act of trusting to be a form of abdication. I believe that we struggled with the concept because we so rightfully fries the individual in all things. And because we so valued the power in place of critical thinking. And yes. Want to be trans. Indeed i believe that one of the most profound rewards a faithful lady leadership. Is the experience of earning the trust of your brothers and sisters. We crave this. Earning the trust of others is a powerful motivator part and parcel. A fact. Is there any high honor higher. This is an interesting situation then. Our desire to earn trust. And our general reluctance to give it. How are we going to get from others but we won't give when others at. And have you ever noticed. Sometimes. What's the best least likely to place trust in others are the ones most demanding of yours. Consider pouches wisdom. He who does not trust enough. Will not be trusted. Right there. He who does not trust. Enough. How much. And how much is too much. How do we know when placing our trust in others is the responsible thing to do. And when should we appropriately withhold that trust. We can easily point two examples of misplaced trust. We have all experienced. We probably cultivate a healthy distrust of authority healthy skepticism is wealth healthy. I am sure many of you. Have watched. Different political situations unfold and realized it was your civic duty to challenge those in authority. To turn a blind eye. And 2 mile something lame about trusting leaders. Would be an outrage. So why should i be any different here in where is that line. What makes for a healthy trusting environment. Consider your newest member. Consider their first experience as a volunteer in your community. Affair initial experience of service. Is it this is from community dedicated to empowering them helping them take risks. Find bear gifts than you are likely to see that new member grow and bloom in your community. There are no resources in a congregation more precious than our volunteer resource. As a new member this person has not yet earned your trust not specifically. Your congregation may have cultivated a culture of trust. Trusted one another that does not depend upon a particular outcome. In fact just the opposite must be the case. You must have cultivated a culture that. Does not play semantics outcome at the center of the universe. Jack dixon says if you focus on results you will never change. What is at the heart of this kind of trust. I currently understand it to be the act of remembering that there is more to our relationship with one another than the work in front of us. I understand it to be the attribution of good face and goodwill to our fellow parishioners. Anna resendez a result of these things the attendant ability to have faith that all are bringing the best of themselves to the task at hand. Now before i go any further. Let me say very clearly. Before it is appropriate to bestow that kind of trust on your search committed you must have done your own due diligence. For heaven's sake. Choose your search committee members with great care use an excellent processing. Choose people with a demonstrated commitment to was too and respect for you the congregation and search committee members. When you are chosen understand it is your sacred obligation to use all of your skill and talent. To discern the congregations will. An interesting dynamic. The very people given the power to act as your matchmakers. Must be those will faithfully refuse to use that power. For anything beyond the power to discern your will who will place. Your preference above their own. So the capacity for eagle restraint. The ability to permit someone else to sometimes be your captain the ability to avoid and narcissism of small differences being able to say to oneself not my will but thine these are the very qualities you should seek in your search committee's. Then you should cultivate those same qualities in yourself. And of course choosing a body-wise we've wondered is composed of members that you know to have earned your trust is vitally important ensuring your ability place trust in them. Once you have done that. Created a good process and chosen good people who have interned committed to keeping the process wouldn't open. It's up to you to exercise that unfamiliar to some of us. Trust me. The practice letting go of the wheels and giving someone else a chance to leave. Raulerson writes in his book and passions play. We have religion when we have done all that you can. And then in confidence and trust ourselves to the life that is larger than ourselves. It's you think that placing trust in others in our human connection is all well and good when the stakes are too high. I will share. This personal story. I am politically. I was not selected in 2010 and 2004. One of my very best friends. Is republican. The moderate new england rockefeller almost kind of a democrat by modern terms can be born again in california. She is one of my people and i don't know why i love her so much and haven't i mean i don't know why she loves me ft. are you are we are connected. Buy something. Predator for the maintenance of my sanity all through the first eight years of the 21st century. When i went to calm down and become less convinced of our certain doom is nyway does not prove. I call salia. And i say sally talk to me now i don't want sally to tell me why she was right all along that would infuriate me and i sure don't want her to tell me why i was wrong that would make things worse. I want to know. Bertucci's. Okay i want to hear her optimism. And her confidence. And i say to her styling. Knowing you as i do in loving you inside. Knowing you to be. Every every bit as well-intentioned human being as i. The fact that you read this news. With joy. Gives me great comfort. Possibility. Maybe just maybe the sky isn't going to fall. Not today. I can remember most i can remember those moments that what matters most to me. Is this connection i share with those i love. And so i become calmer. Because now i have a broader perspective. On the place of the setback and my anxiety diminishes because what is anxiety anyway but the unbearable pressure of leading to some particular action must be taken and if no one will do it all is lost. It works. I stayed relatively say. So this is my current working definition of trust the recognition that are shared connections matter more than our particular conclusions are preferred outcomes. The recognition that we all want the same thing. And we may not agree with one another about what that looks like or even how to get there. But in this process. To believe that we have brought our best selves to the conversation. A dose of humility now and then can't hurt either after all we could all be wrong. Sometimes you make the right decision and for no good reason the wrong result happens sometimes you make the wrong decision and for no good reason everything is just fine life is like that a lot. It is not dull. It is not predictable. No matter how flawless are logic and no matter how. Clearly you think we can none of us can actually see into the future. The vividness with which we carry our fears or anxieties. Are actually our own creation. Hopes and dreams hard work and trust. I wish these for you first parish in needham. And i wish you joy in the experience of all. 4j maltman says. Joy is the most infallible sign of the divine spirit among us. I wish you. Much joy.

uuneedham_org

20101003_freely_we_covenant_together_john_sermon.mp3

This year not only marks the 300th anniversary of this congregation. Back in 1710. There were all of 45 households. In what is now. Wellesley and needham both. Just what became of the native americans whose lives here's another story that i will touch on. Next week. But this area was then part of dedham. And the 40 citizens who lived on this side of the charles river who submitted a petition. To the great and general court of massachusetts bay and to governor dudley said that it was just too far to go to church in dedham. So they asked for relief from paying taxes. Support of the dedham parish church in. Permission to form their own here. And the next year did just that. They did so by cover. You say is i never tire of telling folks who think that religion. Means having to believe certain must be believed propositions. We come from forebears who long ago decided to use their religious freedom. In another way. They fled the bishop simms creed's of the church of england and had exchanged the cradle questions what do we all believe in common. For the more profound questions. Do we most people share. And how shall we promise to help and treat one another spiritually. As we live. Together toward those hopes. The paraphrase a later minister and our tradition beliefs many things. And so is disbelief. But for us religions what happened. When we open our minds to a greater truth and our hearts to a deeper compassion and our conscience to the demands of justice. But this isn't an anniversary for this particular congregation it's also an important anniversary for. The whole family of faith the chairs this. Heritage of freedom with us it was 50 years ago. In may of 1960 that the american unitarian association and the universalist church of america each voted to consolidate with the other. And formed the unitarian universalist association of congregation. They celebrated with a huge service. In boston symphony hall. And the choir from this congregation was parts of the grapes combined choir. But saying that day betty mae was part of it. So it's possible doing. Perhaps a few others of you. Among other things i'm chairing. The denominations 50th anniversary task force planning the major celebration. Our. Freely covenanted. Free face. Which will be held at the 50th. General assembly. Next june in. Charlotte north carolina molly is helping. By putting up a portion of the uu a website devoted to gathering historic documents. Photos of memories and hopes and aspirations for the occasion. And today is called association sunday. More than 1,000 congregations in the uua. Are being asked to ponder together what it means. To be in covenant. Not only at the local level. But across the association. Today as well because in addition to her local. Work. On behalf of this covenanted safe. She has long been one of our most faithful delegates. To the annual general assembly of the association did far more faithful. In the years since i've been a former president of the association several years ago. Allen and sue mark their 40th wedding anniversary with a great party in the backyard. At which they renewed their covenant ultimate for one another and today i want to suggest that perhaps. Perhaps anniversaries for. And associations. Should. Recommitment. The summerall i was nominally on levi's presided at a summer wedding. What's inside service national co-chair of the effort to extend the right of civil marriage to all citizens gay as well as straight. I am very aware of the legal protections and benefits. But marriage affords. But when i talked to a couple. Especially if they're both lawyers. Leo plumbing her husband anthony barr. I'm at the point of. But the covenant of marriage is not a contract. Contracts after all. As lawyers can point out or all about distrust. And what is. Maybe penalty clauses. The covenant. Between two people. Or within a congregation. Begins. When there's trust. When there's loving kind. The mutual respect. And enough gratitude. Quality. That has appeared. Is a spiritual gift. But people say to one another we want this. Keep going. Because it nourishes. And so we will nurse yet. We will do everything we can. To keep the bong with covenant ultra. Respect alive. The former couple stands up in before god and everyone is this. Where promises. With all the spiritual help they can get. To do everything to stay in relationship. Grounded in the spirit of mutuality. Maybe you'll notice this week that the news reported that for the first time in american history. There are more young adults between the ages of 25 and 35 who are unmarried. Then there are four married. Commentators pointed out that 90% of all people with college degrees in our. Society eventually marry. But the percentage goes grammatically down. With lower levels of economic security. And education. Its lowest among young people. For both poor and busan parents. We're on married or divorced. More young couples than ever of course or living together. Having children together at times. Without ever entering into. The formal covenant of marriage. And though their breakup rate is. Rather higher than that of couples who. To make a public commitment to one another. Some relationships god knows do just fine. Without. The formality. I just preside when people are ready. And help them find the right words. When i heard that report you know what i thought. What's a congregation. Because we live together as a religious community without a cup. Maybe you've never noticed that. When the congregation was gathered in 1711. Well they didn't. Then they have to find a minister. They didn't get around to finding the minister if you'll notice over there until 1720. That the officer salary to get anybody to come out here. But when jonathan thompson derive the young harvard graduate 22 years old. He helped them find the words to say that they were covenanting to walk together as a church. Loving watching over one another and purposing to attend to the religious education. Of one another's children. Although that witch. Is it my study across the street at the moment it's usually hangs in the hallway downstairs. Ezra sutro can tell you is full of the most trinitarian calvinist. Formulas you can imagine we wouldn't sign it today. An interpretation of religion the. Townsend in his contemporaries have been raised. To regard as the only acceptable way to walk together. What's the very process of walking together in covenant will trust rather than. Credal bonds. Loving couples can tell you is probably going to change you. And so overtime greater acceptance of differences. Led to a stage where at the time of a. This congregation centennial 11. When was paul revere bell was first wrong. And when stephen palmer was the minister. His spirit led him to say that he didn't require everyone to agree to the same. Formula. As he put it everyone will have a creed of his own. I have mine. But i have no right to impose upon others. Nor have others any right to impose there's off on me. You think she has no more like to receive. And he was not open. To further conviction. Is in bondage to himself. Wise man my predecessor palmer. By mid-century this congregation had ministers who were universalists. Rather than unitarians when bylaws were revised in 1819 05. An open covenants. Was formally adopted making it explicit. But no affirmation of particular belief was required for membership. And then in 1944. The church was merged into the paris. And the covenant. Which was attached to the church body. Disappeared. Entirely. So that are blue. Well there's a legally required statement of purpose saying that we're here to provide a community where religious living is fostered through worship study service in fellowship. We have a mission statement even find it on the back of the order of worship. We hammered it out when we were planning. Strategically. Some of the things that we accomplished in renovating the building. Good luck you may say. But a mission. Anna purpose our products. The implicit covenant. That is what really brings this year brings us back. And i want a suggested that perhaps in conjunction with this anniversary we. Might do well to dated a bit more formal. Oh i can see nate looking at millie like oh my god he's going to suggest another thing we have to do. Many congregations. Do work at this however. First parish in cambridge for example. Came up with which we began the service. Which i find poetic. And inclusive. And they repeated. At the beginning of worship every week. Shepherd parish in milton they've been doing the same. Their covenants. Read simply. We gather to celebrate the secret within and among us. We strive to practice acceptance forgiveness and love. Together we work to build a world with justice. And compassion. Come let us gather together. They tell me. But their children. Know it by heart others here who praised their children and other uu congregation. Say the same. Ginger shapiro professional teacher herself. Talks about how each of her children learn to sail of the spirit of this church services it's law. This is our great covenant. To dwell together in peace. To seek the truth in love. The help one another and recently i've heard parents explicitly asking that our worship here be more predictable. And start with some things. But can this is where be learned by heart even by the young. A study group that took place over the summer. Studying a collection of essays by u u l almost spiritual underpinnings of our commitment to social justice came up with the same question why doesn't our congregation have a covenant. The ground the spirit of its life together. And it's worth in the world. The parish committee. Has the covenant. But it is adopted for. Itself. The remind itself of right relations among its members. Spirit wishes to call today. Develop in their classrooms. Covenants that speak of how they'll treat one another. Why not indeed. I'll come another language like what set at a wedding. Should be. More evocative and poetics of literal. But authentic. And inclusive enough to respect difference. When the uua was formed 50 years ago finding language that was. Acceptable to both of universalist in the unitarian sides of the family was. But by 1985 25 years later feminists in our midst were asking that it be updated because it was too much man this and man that. So when new statement was adopted. In which the member congregations covenant to affirm and promote seven principles and acknowledge. Set the living traditions that we affirm draws on a multiplicity of spiritual resource. You can find it in the front of the hymnal many of you probably know it. It ends grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and nobles are faith. We are inspired to deepen our understanding and inspire and our vision. As free congregations we entered into this covenant. Promising one another our mutual trust. And support. And support. That's another thing about toughness. They're not just words. Their spirit becomes real. When they are live. When the trust results. Your mutual care in action. We're free congregation free religious. One once pointed out does not come free. And when we freely join in covenant with 1,000 other congregation. Promising mutual support. We should probably not forget. That we promised. Before i came here as minister this we work to rebuild the vitality of this congregation first parish in needham did not always even contribute its fair share to the basic expenses of. I don't think we can get away with that any longer we have the uuhp finacial officer is a member. In recent years we've been quite generous. On these association sundays. I think because we are grateful. For the spirit that has. Has come to dwell in army. A generous spirit. Which ice. Ahmad by every time i walk into our. Our parish hall. A beautiful. But you know there are congregations in our family that are knots. And today i move to call to your attention again. One with which we have a particular relation. The first unitarian universalist congregation. New orleans. Has three times.. We were down there and they're brick building helping to rebuild right after katrina. We help them. Get started. We met their people. Who had to rebuild their own homes. As well as their church. Mlive. And we've seen how they. Have made a place that struggles to be the ferry center. Renewal of ethical social justice in their whole community. We've helped them clear space for a new kitchen. For meals can be cooked for the homebound elderly and for people with hiv aids. Yours truly. For the last four years has coach are not very successfully a national effort to raise funds for them. Because the use of new orleans have truly done all that they can do. To serve their mission. Without our support. The last month on the 5th anniversary of katrina. They found out that unless they raised another $150,000 by the end of this year. And completes the much-needed electrical work in their whole building they'll lose their contract. With the social service agency that will lease their kitchen. And they will have to repay that agency. $180,000. But they can't afford. So this week i got the blessing of. Uua vice president for development terry sweetser. To have the collection that we will take here. Agenus one i hope. For association sunday. Go to that urgent. Specific need. Of a congregation with which we are in implicit. Covenant. Are mermaids real. When they result in mutual care. And support. So is a concrete way of reminding ourselves that our freedom. Is one that we could promise. To use faithfully. A mutual trust. I heard you to be generous. Four marks of a spiritual covenant is that it encourages us. To serve a purpose. That is far bigger than we are. So may it be.

uuneedham_org

20111204_what_we_dont_talk_about_christian_sermon.mp3

About a month ago the news broke that a former penn state assistant football coach. Jerry sandusky. Was charged with dozens of criminal counts all of them related to allegations he sexually abused dozens of young boys. Over. of decade. The allegations are disturbing both in their graphic nature and in the fact that there are so many of them. Over such a long period of time. I think the story gets even worse though. Cuz apparently sandusky's bosses including legendary head coach joe paterno. New at least something about these allegations years ago. But rather than call the police. They took some rather pathetic actions of their own. Actions which is nothing to stop the abuse. But just moved it off penn state property. Sandusky superiors excused what was going on as mere force play. When it appears it was something much worse. Graphic sexual acts performed on and with youngboy's many times over a period of many years. A charity sandusky started it appears. Was little more than a convenient way for him to meet young boys. The fallout has already begun and it will surely continue for a long time. Since the allegations become public. Coaches and administrators have lost their jobs their legacies are tarnished. Penn state is reeling. And even more recently reports of abuse of young boys by syracuse assistant basketball coach should become public as well. He's been fired. And in both cases. Much of the coverage has centered on the effects of scandal will have on the institutions. For which the abusers worked. So much of those stories focus on the abusers. Their institutions how they might be affected. And very little time is devoted to concern for the victims. I wish this were the exception and coverage of abuse but i don't think it is. It's all too common for the the coverage. The focus entirely on the abusers. Not the larger picture of the reality of abuse. And those who matt haarms. The stories of the victims become second-place to the stories of those who did the abusing. We should be less concerned about penn state or syracuse. However vast their failures. And more concerned about those who have made the accusation. The victim's can't be the forgotten figures in the story. Even as we try to respect their privacy and their pain. Terrible thing for those boys many of the now grown. It's a double tragedy for victims of abuse. The abuse is terrible. And then having to relive it by talking about it could be worse. Victims of abuse often feel like they are alone but something must be terribly wrong with them. But they could be the one that's happens to. It's not true. Abuse victims aren't alone in their struggle was in fact it's all too common. A boston university study from a few years ago found some alarming statistics. Something other studies have confirmed. During their childhood one-in-four females will be sexually abused. One-in-six mail. Will be sexually abused. Think about those numbers for a second. Anytime you're in a room with 10 people regardless of their sex. An average of at least two of them have suffered sexual abuse. It's a terrible truth the sexual abuse is more common than any of us want to think about. It's something we prefer not to talk about. Abuse is something that's reported in the news. Something that happens to other people not those we know. That we can safely talk about it. Terrible as it is. What a shame that happened. How terrible that those people were abused the swim coach used his respected position. To molest little boys. And thank god that's not us. That we can talk about. What we don't talk about. It's just how close this actually hits the home. Sexual abuse affects all of us even if we don't know about it directly. The statistics make it clear that none of us is untouched by abuse. All of us know someone who has suffered it. We don't want to talk about it because it's so painful. So terrible to think that abuse happens to those we love. To think that is affects us all. And so we stay quiet. It made me think of something john mentioned to me about a story on npr. An expert was speaking about the difficulty in getting people to come forward who have been violated. This is what he said. It happens every single day. We have to get the awareness of the american people up about what the threat really is. He said it's hard to get people to speak publicly about what has happened. In his experience who said quote. They were very reluctant to come forward. 2 reasons. They were worried it would affect their reputation. And the second reason some of them outright said if i talk about this publicly. I will be over run again. This man representative mike rogers is a former fbi agent. He's currently the chairman of the house intelligence committee. And he wasn't speaking about sexual abuse. He was speaking about corporate espionage. About how hard it is to get officials of companies who have been half. To come forward and speak about it. They're worried people will think less of them. And that admitting they've been violated will mean the others will want to do the same again. I was done. Because this is a familiar refrain for anyone who's dealt with victims of sexual abuse. Abuse makes the victims think something is wrong with them. Not with the person who attacked them. Victims don't want to let anyone know they've been violated because of what they fear is says about them. Who am i to be abused. What is the wrong with me that this happened to me. Not someone else. These are the thoughts that run through their heads. And i know because it happened to me. I was young boy. An older man someone i knew but was not close to abused me. It happened only once. And then the terrible realm in which these things occur. It wasn't as bad as what others have suffered. It could have been much worse but he actually listens my protesting stopped. I'm lucky and yesterday has affected me for the rest of my life. In fact today here. Years later. Is the first time i've spoken publicly about this. Cuz i'm finally ready to do so. I told a few people close to me and now i share this experience with you. Because for years i didn't tell anyone and i wish i have. I wish i could have reached out for help. That i had the courage or the ability to let people help me. Instead i lived with it for a long time. And i still do. And it's only now that i can even talk about it. Abuse makes you feel like you are the one with the problem. That's something must be wrong with you when nothing could be further from the truth. Abusive something about first the person doing the abuse. They are the ones who are broken. The ones from him something has gone terribly wrong. And yet abuse does take innocent victims and damage them. Physically emotionally and psychologically. Victims have that terrible brokenness inflicted on them. They receive that pain. A terrible thing they've done nothing to deserve. It's the worst kind of tragedy because innocent people are changed in a way that stays with them for a long time. Forever. It's not a problem that we can ignore and hope that it will go away if we don't worry about it. A2 problem. Too much of a reality and all of our lives. It's not something that just happens to other people. It can happen to anyone. That's why this congregation has policies intended to create a safe congregation. Especially where our children are concerned. We want backgrounds background checks on anyone who works with children. We discussed issues of safety and sexuality in our classes. Including in the our whole lives sexuality education classes weekend.. We require there to be two adults in any room with children. And no adult is to be left alone with a child here for any reason. And if you want to know more about her safe congregations policy. Mark lapointe rd areas are officer for that. And he would love to talk to you about it. None of these policies indeed no policy that exist. Is a guarantee against abuse. But they are safeguards we undertake. To do our best. Those policies are part of the commitment we have made to create a safe place here. We will not tolerate abuse. And we stand prepared to combat it in our community and our lives. This is a safe place. To talk about issues of abuse to seek healing. And protection. We must report abuse when we know about it. We have to get authorities involved with the work of justice can be done. But also we as people of faith have a larger and in some ways much more difficult responsibilities concerning sexual abuse. We have to live out our vision of a world where people don't have to live in fear. And where they know they will have help. When inevitably bad things do happen. I think this is what our church has to offer the world. This can be a safe place to talk about difficult scary things. A safe place to seek help. To get support and stopping abuse and support and healing and it's aftermath. We are here all of us. To provide a safe place in an often scary world. Abuse does not have to ruin anyone's life. There is help and a chance for healing. That's one reason i'm so grateful to senator scott brown. I don't always agree with his politics. But i admire his strength and coming forward about the abuse he suffered. As a child and teenager. He suffered terribly but his success in life. And his courage and talking about such a difficult subject. Is a testament to the person he is. And though that abuse affected him forever. It has not prevented him from having a successful life and being a happy healthy adults. This church and places like it hold the possibility of being places where people can begin to get the help they need to heal from abuse. With the fort here. And help from other sources including therapy from qualified professionals. People can go on to have wonderful lives. I know this to. At a low point in my life. The church was the place i turn for support and healing. Our mission is to be that place for all people who come to us. To help them as we can. Answer connect them to the help they need outside our doors as well. In the words of our closing hymn this is a place where we can come to build a land where we bind up the broken. It's a place of sanctuary where we can be safe and share our stories. Even the painful ones. This is a place where we can begin the healing to create the world we dream about. To build the promised land that can be. So may it be. And all men.

uuneedham_org

20130407_searching_christian.mp3

It's not an easy time or and now the interim. In between. Ronnie journey searching and seeking and hoping and. Certainly we seek our next minister for this church but so much more. I'm guessing most of us are probably doubtful that it is god alone that saves us as we just heard thank you for the lovely music i'm doubtful to. But i'm here to tell you that no minister will either. Got one last. I hope that you're not sticking salvation from the search but perhaps relationship and meaning that might be goals we can achieve. And of course we're seeking a new minister for a year from now. So katie and lee and i decided to give our very different perspectives though having heard what you said i think i'm going to say some of the same things actually. Maybe that means they're true or that we're both wrong in the same way at least. So let me say that i've been there i am there right now going through this search process to find a congregation for me to serve next year. It's a time of journey a seeking that can be difficult. Not the least of which were those like me that. Patience can be an issue maybe there's a few of us out there. I'm not the most patient person i'll be honest with. I hate waiting. And the search process is many things but none of them are short. The time of the journey can be difficult to because the end is unclear. It's a process that works most of the time. But not without bumps and falls turns. And not without a fair amount of heartbreak. I don't know how this journey will end but i have some advice for you today. Three small points supplies for the journey. Point number one. Authenticity. It's a big word but i think it's key. My authenticity i mean several things one of them is being honest. But not just honest but to be aware of search of a rather strengths and weaknesses. Be able to dig in and see where our own blind spots might be. Sookie that authenticity i speak of is self-awareness. It's rare. It seems to me and i don't claim to be any expert at being aware of myself all the time but it's key to growth for churches for people. Families for communities. Authenticity also means acknowledging that no church no minister is perfect. Here's one of those things were both saying. Every church and minister has strengths and weaknesses things they like to do or things they can't stand doing. This church is not like the ones and wellesley or sherburne or dedham or noon or rather it's very much like those churches in some ways and not at all like them and others. I've never been involved with a church that values intergenerational programming as much as this one. To get one small exam. In my own search i did not meet with any perfect congregations. I did not meet with any that we're all bad i don't think either of those really exist. The congregations to which i was most drawn in search. We're the ones not with the fewest or least serious issues. But rather those who are most aware of the challenges they face. Most eager to dive in and take those challenges on. And just to reiterate there are no perfect ministers did i say that already. No one is good at everything no one's bad at everything so the key is not to find the world's best minister that perfect person. You'll waste your time and there's if there are any that exists. Instead identify those ministerial areas that are important for this church in this time. And find a minister who might be ready to take on some of. My second points. Vision. There are different ministers just as there are different churches. And this is why vision is so important. Authenticity the work that katie lee is doing the work we're doing right now. Can tell us who we are today. And who we have been. But just as important, more important. Then who we are and who we have been is who we are becoming. It's difficult there's a tendency to want to stay who we are or to go back to some golden time we remember. But change is inevitable as smarter people than i've said. This time of searches a time to embrace the future. To decide what we would like it to be. And choosing a minister for the future is crucial to that. It means both choosing the right minister for this church today. But more importantly choosing the minister that will be right for this church in a few years. It means calling a minister who embraces the vision of this church but is also ready. Willing eager to contribute to the development of that vision. Point number three. Welcoming. We are welcoming congregation. Both in the sense that we've been through the uu a program of that name. That helps us become more aware and more welcoming especially if people who are bisexual gay lesbian or transgender. That's important. But it also means that this congregation is a welcoming place in so many ways to so many different groups of p. It's a wonderful thing. I think we can be better but we do a very good job here of being welcoming. Am i searched the congregation that impressed me most. In this area was the one that welcomes my wife and son most fully on our visit. They offered to find babysitting for us. They wanted to meet see jay and kristin. Not all ministers have families of course but for me in my situation this was an important sign. Welcoming as shown in all we do. And that includes the way we welcome new members and new leaders into our community. There's a whole sermon here about the spiritual practice of welcoming. But it's not one i'll give you all of today. The one aspect of welcoming is especially important for search. It's being ready as katie lee has already told you. To be surprised. The minister you always dreamed of may not be the one you get. And that might be a good thing. Don't rule someone out because they don't fit all of the criteria perfectly. Be ready to welcome what you didn't expect. Those are my three points. Welcome to search. It's difficult time a wonderful time at challenging time. No matter what happens i believe all will be well. The search will have an end. Even if it doesn't seem like it sometimes to your search committee. It is my prayer that it will be the best possible end for this church. In my own search it's taken a wonderful turn in one i'm happy to finally be able to announce to you today. I will be the candidate for the position of minister at the first parish in malden. Which means i'll be away from here on may 12th of may 19th their candidate thing. Been a blessing to be here with this congregation and will be for a couple more months. I look forward to that time together. There is an end to the journey of search my friends. And it could be a wonderful trip in the meantime.

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20120226_you_are_this_universe_sharon_wylie_sermon.mp3

Remember the sky that you were born under. Know each of the stars stories. Remember the moon. Know who she is. I met her in a bar once in iowa city. Remember the son's birth at john. That is the strongest point in time. Remember sundown and they giving away tonight. Remember your birth. How your mother struggled to give you. Form and brass. You are evidence of her life. And her mother's. And hers. Remember your father. He is your life also. Remember the earth. Whose skin you are. Red or black. Yellow earth white earth brown. We are. Remember the plants. Trees. Animal life. Who all have their tribes. Their families. Their histories to. Talk to them. Listen to them. They are alive poems. Remember the wind. Remember her voice. She knows the origin of this universe. I heard her singing kiowa war dance songs at the corner of 4th and central once. Remember that you are all people. And all people are you. Remember that you are this universe. And this universe is you. Remember that all is in motion. He's growing. Is you. Remember that language comes from this. Remember the dance. That language is. That life. Is. Remember. I want to reflect this morning on some of the wisdom of earth's center traditions and their particular emphasis on the interconnectedness of all life. I want us to see with some clarity. Are interdependence. We want us to reflect on our 7th unitarian universalist principal. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence. Of which we. Are apart. For many of us the notion of our interdependence is more of an intellectual idea. And it's something we really understand in our hearts and in our bodies. The dominant culture of the united states is absolutely founded on the primacy of the individual. We admire self-sufficiency above all else. We glorify the self-made. Man and woman. Our language is filled with words and idioms that positively portray independence. To stand on one's own two feet. To freelance. To be self-employed. Self-determining self-directed self-reliant self-governing distinct. Unique. Unfettered. Unhampered unimpeded unobstructed and unbound. This world view is supported by the physics of isaac newton. Now. I need you to hang in here with me. I would not be very excited to hear about isaac newton in the middle of a sermon. So i need you to trust that we're going somewhere interesting. Newton believe that atoms were the smallest bits of matter and that they were solid and impenetrable. No atom could get inside another atom. And all atoms obey the same laws. In other words. That world is understood as made up of fixed and predictable individual parts. As congregational consultant peter stanky describes it. To explain the principles of newtonian physics. Teachers often use the example of billiard balls. They bump into each other. They suffer collision. But they can't connect. They are wholly impervious to one another. Billiard balls knocking each other. But they don't meet. Like newton's adams the balls are separate compacted masses. Operating according to ironclad laws. The end of that quote. This view of things extended beyond physics and became a paradigm for syncing about society. In this view of the world you and i are like billiard balls. We bump into each other. And we might move in a different direction afterwards. But we remain separate. From each other. Isolated. This way of thinking has influenced freudian psychology. With its emphasis on the self. Western medicine. With its division of the body into specialties. We see different doctors for different problems. Western education with its teaching of separate subjects. As if they're not connected. And even the business world. Where companies are frequently divided into separate departments and subdivisions with separate tasks. The idea that division and separation provide optimal results pervades our world. What about 100 years ago. Scientist discovered particles that were smaller than atoms. Has spanky tells us. These particles became so small. But there were no particles. Only relationships. Subatomic particles can only come into being. Because of the presence of other particles. Elementary particles are in essence a set of relationships. And quote. These ideas are known as quantum physics. Which contains there is no world. Composed of solid individual parts. Unaffected by an unrelated to one another. In other words quantum physics suggest we're not billiard balls at all. We're more like. Well. Turns out to be very hard to describe. We don't have any good language for it. Physicists have been unable to provide a satisfactory metaphor for the quantum world. Physicist dana zohar closet. Avast porridge of being. Where nothing is fixed or measurable. Somewhat ghostly and just beyond our grasp. That's a scientist talking ghostly porridge very helpful. Physicist fritjof capra calls it. Dynamic patterns continually changing into one another. The continuous dance of energy. Astronomer james jeans used quantum q6 quantum physics to explain. That the universe begins to look more like a great. Thought. Then a great machine. Perhaps when all is said and done poet joy harjo has said it best in our reading this morning. Remember that you are all people. And all people are you. We're not billiard balls. We are each other. How's that for interdependence. We have almost no language for describing this degree of interrelationship and connectedness. And fewer still for describing these things as positive. My thesaurus finds the following synonyms for interdependent. Codependent. Addicted. Attached. Hooked. We get closer with terms like collaborative. Complementary and correlative. But these aren't quite the same things. It's hard to capture that idea that were simultaneously separate. And not separate at all. We are each other. Organizational systems thinking is another modern theory with a profound understanding. Of our interconnectedness. Systems thinking posits that groups of people like families and congregations. R1 emotional unit. Characterized by complex interactions. Systems thinking recognizes that how you react to me for example. Depends not just on how i behave toward you. But also how the people around us are behaving. Toward us. Toward each other. We're not isolated billiard balls cracking into each other. Or more like those dynamic patterns. Continually changing into one another. And that continuous dance of energy. To give you an example. Here we are on a sunday morning worshiping together. Now think of someone whose presence here would surprise you. Maybe it's someone you're angry with. Someone who's hurt your feelings and you haven't had time to. Sorted out. Maybe it's someone whose politics you disagree with. Could be someone famous. What if barack obama were here. Maybe it's just someone you haven't seen in a long time and they're sitting at the end of your pew. For me i imagine what it would be like to have my parents here. They have never heard me preach. I would be thrilled and happy and nervous. To have them here. Wouldn't the mere presence of any of these people in the room change our whole experience of worship this morning. We not might not be able to listen well we'd be distracted thinking about what we'll say or not say after the service. Wondering why is barack obama here. But on the surface there's no reason for worship to be any different. Then it was without that person here. Tennis champion andre agassi famously lost a match. Keeping easily winning. After the arrival of former president bill clinton seemed to fluster him. Agassi's performance improved when clinton left the match in the middle. And then deteriorated again later when clinton returned. He ended up losing. Even more interesting lee agassi later insisted. He did not see clinton arrive. Or even know that he was there. On the surface we're just 100 billiard balls in the room together. But the reality is our interconnections run so strong and deep. That even one more person in the room. Can change our entire shared experience. We are each other. It shouldn't be a surprise that these ideas have also influence modern theology. And dreamings of the nature of god. In traditional or classical theism god was seen as the supreme unchanging being. But all that changed in the early 20th century. Philosophers alfred north whitehead and charles hartshorn. Conceived of a process based. Borneo classical theism. Where god is seen as the supreme becoming. A never-ending series of events and processes acting and reacting. To the always unfolding series of events and processes. Acting and reacting that is our human life. Rather than god being separate and static. Perhaps god is around us in between us. Perhaps god is a verb. Not a noun. Perhaps god is not a billiard ball. Bumping up against us. Perhaps we. Our god. The idea that we are deeply connected and interconnected to each other in the world around us. Is of course ancient. But the earth centered traditions of native americans and other pagans. Have historically been derided. Seeing as primitive simple. And quaint. Not to be taken too seriously. In january of last year. A man named carlos gonzalez gave a native american blessing. At the memorial service for the six victims of the tragic shooting in tucson arizona. Mr. gonzalez began by naming his lineage. His ancestors and his ties to the land. He named his connections to the university where the memorial was held. And he names that he had permission from tribal elders to give the blessing. He identified his neighborhood and described his upbringing. He called the seven directions of his tradition. East south west. North. Above. Below. And center. He asked for blessings for his son and afghanistan. And four creatures of errors and water. Including we two-legged creatures. Asking for harmony and balance. And he asked for final blessing. For all his relations. This is a man who knows and understands. The interdependent web of which he is a part. Connections to ancestors to land to institution to neighborhood to elders to offspring. 2 fellow-creatures of all types. To all his relations. He understands the importance of knowing where he is. Where is north. East south and west. What energy to invoke from the ground beneath his feet. And the sky above his head that energy might bring. They're in the magical center. In an 8-minute blessing watched by millions of people we may know more about carlos gonzalez. Then we know about friends of many years. More than we know about ourselves perhaps. The blessing was ridiculed in the press. Was completely foreign. Two are predominantly white predominantly christian culture. Why is he wasting so much time people wondered. Talking about the land and the elders and his own history. When is he going to start talking about god. We know of course. That he was. Just as subatomic particles exist only in relationship. Earth centered traditions know that we exist. Only in relationship. That god exists. Only. In relationship. To know and understand ourselves we need to know and understand ourselves in relationship to everyone. And everything around us. Who we are sitting alone at the edge of a lake. Is different from who we are sitting in a car. In rush hour traffic. Is different from who we are in a disagreement with a family member. Different from who we are. At church. On christmas eve. The work we are called to do is to learn about ourselves. And who we are. What is our lineage. Where is ireland. Where are we now. Who is this dynamic shifting being. Becoming. In relationships with the earth and the past and ancestors and the neighborhood and north east south and west. If you imagined yourself. Independent. If you imagine yourself sufficient. If you imagine yourself unbound. I am here to suggest to you that you are wrong. Remember the sky you were born under. Remember the moon. Remember your birth. And your father. Remember the earth. Whose skin you are. Remember the plants. Trees. And animals. Remember the wind. Remember that you are all people. And all people are you. You. Artist universe. And this universe. Is you. Remember that all is in motion. Is growing. Is you. Remember. Blessed be.

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20110529_roots_hold_me_close_molly_sermon.mp3

Over four-and-a-half years ago now. Before i was the newly reverend molly house gordon. In fact before i was a reverend or a gordon. I received my acceptance letter to harvard divinity school. It was both the fulfillment and just the beginning of a dream i had already carried in my heart for several years. And on the same day that that beautiful fat envelope arrived. My grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not just how life seems to happen nothing is ever just good. And nothing is ever just terrible. It is all there at once. For us to deal with. It seemed in those days that my dream and her cancer were tethered. Bound together in the way that so many contradictory things are. The way she puts it her pride was part of what carried her through. Her surgeon heard all about the harvard granddaughter. And her oncologist. And all the radiation nurses for weeks and weeks. They were all there rooting for me. As together we rooted for her. And when grandmother arrived and cambridge last spring to attend my graduation. Excited as can be. And cancer-free. They were celebrating two. And of course they all got to see the photos. But if you had asked me during that week of acceptance letter and diagnosis. How i felt what could i have said. Was i happy. Or sad. Yes. Was i excited or scared. Yes. And i have to tell you it really annoys me when people do that you asked them a clear either or question is it this or that and they just answer yes. Defensive smug in their wisdom. But perhaps that is because yes. Really is the true answer. Because nothing is ever just one way. Recently i was participating in a discussion about what compelling language could be used to define unitarian universalist identity. And what i came up with was this. Unitarian universalism is the roots that hold me close. And the wings. That set me free. Because of that time of excitement and fear. When everything seems to be happening at once. What i needed. And what i found in my face tradition. Was the comfort and safety of roots. And the inspiration and aspiration of wings. I needed both. To be held down and to be lifted up. That's why i love the image of a tree with roots. Just as large and. Magnificent as the branches that we see above ground because we need both. Because nothing is ever just one way it's all there at once. And we need to be both hell. And pushed. I didn't doing both and giving route. And wings. We live in a complexity that is truly life-giving. You see our language. And in turn our way of seeing the world. Is actually characterized by dualism. By the creation of categories and the naming of two things is opposite of each other. I would call this. Either or thinking. But as we know from our experience. The categories of language never capture reality and things are more complicated than that. When given a question of either or the more appropriate answer is often. Yes. And actually i'm at work thinking can even be violence. And it's eagerness. Just shove people and things into boxes that just don't fit. If we can break down those dualisms in our lives together. If we can stop trying to shove things into boxes we are as hartshorne would affirm actually doing something quite radical. We can live. In the middle of what seems like contradiction. By giving each other both roots and wings for example. We are making a statement about how to live in the complexity and tension that define our world. According to hartshorne one of the biggest problems in philosophy and religion is the rarity. Which which are faith communities encounter the true complexity of living with more than just platitudes. As he says our failure to exist to address the coexistence of power and sensitivity. Hope and realism. Private morals and public goods to name just a few. How to split the world. And each person. Within his or herself. And i actually think we see disembodied quite often in the national dialogue surrounding religion. The voices we hear. In the public square speaking about religion. I generally either. Religious fundamentalist. For strict secularists. With very few voices ringing out between the two. And while they really are people moving toward the extremes generally there are more of us. As with everything somewhere in between. Fundamentalist versus secularist binary like most binaries is a false one. And these are destructive to religious community not only because they posed false choices about what religion is and can be. But because they are simply devices. Perpetuating a choice between two opposite ideas is literally polarizing. As it forces us to choose one pole. Over the other imagined pull. And sometimes. We unitarian-universalist in a hurry to place ourselves in opposition to whichever end of the pool we see as most harmful. End up finding ourselves sometimes shallowly. Aligning ourselves. Into categories that don't quite fit. Secularists. Relativist. Other is. That don't really express the complexity of our theology. Or worldviews as individuals. For his congregation. For as a denomination. Sometimes i think this may be the biggest thing precluding us from developing a rich message and identity within the american religious landscape. And beyond that it separates us. Driving little wedges into our communities. Keeping us. From realizing the unity receipt. Because when there are only ever two options. The extreme multiplicity and diversity. That we claim to value so much becomes impossible to deepen. So often we get caught up in the diversity denying binary thinking when in fact we should by virtue of our theological diversity and difference. Be ideally situated to create a third way. Third could be rich instead of reductive. That would reject the black-and-white of binary for removing colorful multiplicity. How do we do this. The age-old problem among us. One suggestion is that we do it by naming. By naming either or sinking when we see it and by giving another option. Is hartshorne puts it when given a choice on the issues facing us. The solution is usually both. And we can be out there saying that. We can be moving from either or thinking that is built into our worldview. As americans. Do both and thinking. That is the worldview we seek. And actually the kind of thinking i think does run deep among us. Anecdotal you see it anytime iuu is cornered in an elevator. For an airplane window seat and reveals her or himself as such. When asked point-blank those uncomfortable questions do unitarians believe in god. 4. So are you christian. christian what are you. The traditional answer is. Yes. And no. Or. Some do some don't. Both. And. Yes. You see it being lived among us the supposed and attitude when we are at our best. When we challenge each other in our comfortableness. And bring comfort to each other in our challenges. 4. When we hold together both morning and celebration. In a moment's deep. And worshipful togetherness. As i feel we do every sunday. And you see it too at the most cutting-edge of social justice work among us. As activists in our miss challenge to either or thinking. That its roots encourages us to think of people as other. As either us. Or them. Transgender activists in ruu communities challenge our assumptions that someone is either male or female. Immigration activists in our communities challenge our assertions that people can be either legal or illegal. These leaders among us remind us. Always more complicated than that. And it is actually in challenging these categories that they get at the root of injustice the idea that anyone could be other than us. Less human than us. And therefore unworthy of the same right. Is important work. This both and is radical work. And what it takes is simply awareness and will. The next time you find yourself faced with an either-or question. Try coming up with three more options. And then ask the question again. Or think about what is emerging in between the either and the or. What does it look like to say yes. Both. This can actually be fun chocolate or vanilla. Yes. Or it can be challenging. Do i need tenderness or tough love. Probably both. Yes. Or it can be profound. Anytime the occasion rises to ask. Or them. And you know that occasion does arrive. What does it look like to say yes. Both. And when there is no choice in the matter which is most of the time. And when we are surrounded by joy and sorrow pain and pleasure weariness. An energy. Fear and excitement. We simply stay with it all. You name it. We feel everything together. And we don't run away. This is important work. Radical work. We stay with it all and faith that something new and beautiful will emerge in the space between. Because we have seen what can emerge. Love for each other. Care. Tenderness. As my dear friend karen pointed out in the sermon at my ordination last sunday. Loving each other is dangerous. It makes us vulnerable it almost guarantees us. It does garantias eventual pain. And yet we are all driven and called to do it. Both. And. Yes. And being in community is dangerous to we could be the trade. We could be swallowed up. Yet here we are. How do we reconcile both the ultimate affirmation of person personal conscience. And the ultimate reality of human interconnectedness. Or said another way how do we combine in this place. Are very you you value of individuality and difference. With our very you you desire to be united and beloved community with one another. As a religious community we want the group to be strong. Prophetic and even transcendence. But we don't want it to subsume us individually. Or deny our unique differences. One survey claims. That almost universal among here use personal experience. It's considered the most important source. A religious conviction. Yet here we are. Anna memorial day weekend. Sitting in a very hot sanctuary. When we could be somewhere else. Here we are. Because we see the importance. A combining. Both and. The both and of community. Why are we able to do this even if we struggle with it. It's because there's a part of us that understands that unity and diversity are not mutually exclusive. But rather contain one another. Our sense of diverse community can only be enhanced. By this transition to both and thinking as hartshorne tells us this way of thinking takes difference. And allows its both to coexist. And unite. The complexity that maintains uniqueness and promotes togetherness. One could imagine the strands of a complex braids. Within the brady strand exists and its own right. A maintained its identity. As unique and beautiful. But together braided together and is united into a hole that is even more beautiful. In the sum of its tran. Or we could take a new learning of mine as an example. About something called the pando. The panda is also called the trembling giants. And it's a colony of quaking aspen trees in utah. Classified as one of the single largest living organisms on the planet. As well as one of the oldest. And here's what's crazy is because it shares one giant root system. Creepin. Underground 4 acres and acres. This forest. A 42000 individual aspen trees is considered one living organism. Above-ground history stretch up to the sky as individuals. Buffalo they are entirely connected. As one living thing. How's that for a metaphor. And we can take it a step further because when the individual trees die. The single root system. Justin's uptmore stems. So while each individual tree lives for around 130 years. Some scientists claim that the trembling giant itself. That one big organism could be as much as a million years old. That is why we need roots and wings. For when we plant a tree to trees take roots. The one that lists its leaves into the air and the inverted one that please the soil. We are each unique. And beautiful as we stretch up toward the sky. Beautiful. And short-lived. An unrepeatable. And below we take route. Below we weave together as one. Solid. Study. Eternal. Nothing is ever just one way. That's how life happens. Nothing is ever just good and nothing is ever just terrible it's all there at once. But with roots to hold us close. And wings to set us free. Something new. And beautiful can emerge. Together. Both held and loved and pushed for thin challenge. Who knows what we can do. Let's find out.

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20200216_1145-catie-sermon-slavery.mp3

Federal house of representatives. Hr40 first debuted in the house in 1989. As formerly known as the commission to study and develop reparation proposals for african-americans act. Its purpose as stated in the legislation's introduction would be to address the fundamental injustice cruelty of slavery in the united states between 1619 and 1865. And to establish a commission to study and consider a national apology and proposal for reparations for the institution of slavery defecto racial and economic discrimination against african-americans. And impact of these forces on living african americans. The commission would then make recommendations to the congress on appropriate remedies. On june 19th. 2019 which appropriately it's also the juneteenth holiday commemorating the announcement in texas of emancipation after the civil war. Committee held a hearing. Featuring senator cory booker after danny glover and author whose testimony we heard as our reading today. All these men are themselves descendants of enslaved peoples. Each speaker for hr40 emphasize how enslaved people were never awarded reparations promised to them during reconstruction after the civil war. All black americans have suffered under ongoing racist governmental policy policies and community discrimination since that time. Because of june's hr40 hearing a handful of democratic presidential hopefuls declared that they supported a governmental study of reparations. Yet the legislation itself continues to sit in limbo. In the house of representatives. To attempt to make reparations in our personal and communal lives we must remember our history. This is why for this black history month i wanted to be sure we revisited the slavery history of first parish in needham. If you were here last february when the reality of needham slavery was introduced to the congregation into the town. I encourage you to find my sermon northern reparations on our church website you you need them. org. Today i'll tell you more about what we've learned since that time. Gloria grace of the needham history center performed so there isn't much new content to add. We do not at this time have new names to add to our list of enslaved needham ice. Homer rose jethro phoebe. Prince sylvia jack. Violet boston jenny and primus. However doctor grice has uncovered new information about. About free black residents of needham. 19th century cotton industry in needham heights. And doctor grace's perusal of the town of needham of denham's vital records. Two more found in needham families came up as potential slaveholders. As many of you may know before 1711 needham and wellesley. Angelo's records we find that ensign thomas fuller paid a bond for quote a negro boy that he have. And benjamin mills. It's possible that the mills servant-girl was not african-american. In the same section of denham's records there are many enslaved europeans and indigenous peoples listed. Certainly. Benjamin mills in 1734. Descendants were intermarried with thomas fuller's descendants and the gay family. Members of our congregation. Where in flavors. And were major donors for our beloved paul revere bell. Today in needham one can stop by the numerous historic homes owned by these three families the film the fuller's mills and gaze on burrell lane central avenue and great plain avenue. One of dr. graces intriguing finds in his last year was the oliver family headed by cromwell at elizabeth maiden name gosselin. Our first minister reverend jonathan townsend recorded that while living in needham the oliver's welcomed eight children into their family between 1731 and 17. 47. Joseph elizabeth. Judith susana rebecca rebecca. Simon and thomas. To their eldest joseph and the first rebecca are recorded as dying in infancy. And their eldest daughter betty died at age 18. Taking into our towns vital records dr. grace found that cromwell and elizabeth had been married in boston in 1730. And are listed as. Free negroes. Ethiopia and ancient greco-roman term for dark-skinned person or ethiopian. Delivery of the sermon it's not known where from cromwell oliver elizabeth gossen came we do not know whether they had previously been enslaved in greater boston nor how they came to settle for at least two decades. Indeed. Or what their work was here nor how they interacted with the enslaved africans fartown nor when they died. We also do not know if they were simply townspeople in our parish or covenant so members of our congregation. More research will have to be performed. Grice has a special interest in how the nineteenth-century textile and fabric industry in needham heights with tides of southern slavery. Cotton arriving in certainly came from slave labor in the american south. Family-owned factory. Was specifically producing for the southern market in the early 1840s. New term for me. And refers to a durable cheap and uncomfortable cotton fabric. Popeye slaveholders to close enslaved people. After the commonwealth of massachusetts. Benefited from the american slave economy. Has offered tanahashi coates wrote in an interview or set an interview with the new yorker. Virtually every institution with some degree of history in america via public via private. Is out of the african american community. Free cotton produce and other raw materials coming north from slave plantations until the civil war. Our congregations ties with southern slavery are nearly inescapable. And yet still reprehensible. There is still work to be done to continue uncovering needham slavery history. As faithful unitarian universalist and first parishioners. Will do with this history. There are few communities in massachusetts grappling so publicly with their slavery history. And many elected officials in our federal government would rather ignore the ongoing impacts of slavery than even study the possibility of reparations. I know that our friend dr. gloria grace is interested in continued research into needham's first african-american residents. Any european colonists enslavers. Her next step is to scour ancient probate records. For arkansas county to attempt of our town and by doing so attempts to determine whence these enslaved people came. Were they born in massachusetts. Of the many children enslaved here who and where were their parents. How did the town of needham treat those formerly is enslaved adult who continued living in our town after slavery was abolished in our commonwealth. Dr. grace and i are also interested to learn more about the free black oliver family. If there are any more records to uncover about their lives here in needham. Within our own congregation i know there's particular interest. And learning more about the origins of homer. The enslaved man who was held by our first minister reverend townsend from the time of his marriage to mary sugars in 1720 until homer's death in 1754. Also be interested to know how many if any of the free black residents of needham came to our congregation after emancipation. Has our congregation did vote in 1778 that the hines seats be reserved for negroes to sit in. This occurred just. Months after two black nida might david henderson and tato underwood. Are recorded as enlisting as reinforcements for the revolutionary army. Genealogical tools we may even be able to find present-day descendants of those who were once enslaved in our town. Honorable impulse to ensure this history does not become forgotten again. Office computer files will keep this research preserved and i've been honored by a suggestion from doctor grice that she and i work together in the future on an academic paper documenting our research. But we know how quickly academic papers in church records can be buried in the passage of time. So how else might we keep this history known and alive. You have suggested a plaque inside of our meeting house. In our memorial garden. On a bigger scale some have suggested working closely with the town to see if needham slavery history can be formally included in our public schools curriculum. If the slavery history could be remembered through a monument on the town common. Or through a publicly source reparation scholarship fund. For now mary ann mcgowan our member mary ann and the racial justice task force. Will be hosting an open dialogue about our national and congregational conversation about reparations next sunday afternoon. In the future we may want to consider reparations guidelines from organizations like the united nation to inspire us. Summary from the movement for black lives requires that five conditions are met for full reparations. Assurance of non repetition. Restitution as best can be approximated to the condition. Compensation appropriate and proportional to the gravity of harm done. Satisfaction from the harm party of the apology. And rehabilitation services offered to those experiencing ongoing trauma. This is certainly a high standard. And a challenge we can meet. With time and with communal dedication. History and spiritual ancestry is ties with american slavery need not be felt as heavy historical burdened dragging down the energy of. Is faith community. Sankofa bird. A canadian emblem for. Going back to get what was lost or stolen. We can pick up this horrific history our community had forgotten well continuing to move forward as faithful people journeying together toward more equity and justice within and outside our meeting house walls. In the words of twentieth-century euro-american uu minister rev jack mendelson. Here in this sanctuary of ancient dreams and wisdom and beauty. We come to grow to be healed to stretch mind and heart. To be challenged and renewed. Are own continuing struggles for meaning and for love. To help build a world with more justice and mercy in it. To be counted among the hooper's and the doors. In the face of cynicism darkness brutality around us and within. We seek to align ourselves with a living community. That would affirm rather than despair would. That would think and act rather than simply adjust and succumb. Cheer we invite the spirit of our own humanity. And healing powers of the spirit of life under around through and beyond it. To give us the nerve and grace the toughness and sensitivity. To search out the truth that freeze and the life. The maker of all things new. We pray that the spirit of life and love gives us courage and humility. As we remember those who suffered in slavery in this church that is our spiritual home. And remembering with clarity and respect helps us begin the journey toward reconciliation and reparation. The say her name social media and policy advocacy campaign. As a movement awareness for black women victims of police brutality. The anti-black violence in the united states. Say her name phrase and hashtag is also being used to lift up the names of transgender women of color been killed by police partners neighbors and strangers. Today we remember those who lived in the many who died and enslavement to white needham colonist. We say their names so we do not forget the violence against their bodies and their souls. Would you take. Deep breath with me. Before i save their names again. Breathing in. And breathing out. Homer. Throws. Jethro. Phoebe. Prince. Sylvia. Jack. Violet. Boston. Jenny. Primus. And all those whose names are yet unknown. Or never recorded. Remember you. We are sorry. And we are working to honor. Your memory. Going to be an amen.

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20110619_clothes_have_no_emperor_tad_staley_sermon.mp3

Good morning again. And happy father's day. A couple months ago john asked me to do the service i was. Please with a request. I think john. Have somehow. Had to hint that i was a father. Exactly right. I have four we have. Four children now mostly grown. But you made a mistake and thinking that i have any sort of timeless wisdom to impart i see with you. Should i take effect the longer the older my kids get the more self-sufficient they get. Mordecai actually know less and less. I think something's telling me that. I'm going to use this opportunity this father's day opportunity to. To talk really but a kind of evolution. Topix. I don't start with a phrase from my youth from any of our use of the phrase that serve inflame the passions of. Generation. And that's praises question authority. Is a rallying cry lettuce mo kaiser phone. Indiscreet and ill-advised activities like you know a big building ministration buildings and burning draft cards. Not that i did any of those things. Scarred. But. Essex worked out on your four years later so we're five years later i found myself on the other side of this equation another as teaching high school and and the term came up again question authority. But then another decade goes by and my my attitude completely reversed because by this time you know i had four. Inquisitive an impatient young minds and i recall one point driving around with a boot in the car and seeing the bumper sticker that said question authority. And i thought. I'd look in the rearview mirror the car and see some bedlam in the back of the car i think it's another bumper sticker i like you more which was because i'm the father that's why we're my attitude gone by that time. But my kids had the grace to. Help my sense of authority of all and all of us have our sense of authority of all sin. And by the time they started leaving home and going off to college. I'm kind of a last-ditch effort to impart some salient advice about the world that they were going until she wrote of the folktale. About the follies of authority and it was called that the clothes have no emperor. Handstand. It was meant to convey this notion that that. Fit as they go forward. You know they get they get accustomed to sing authority in preston ceremonial guards and attire and so on but underneath it all he's really know there is no ultimate authority. I'm never going to get used to that effect the real lesson is to figure out so once what do you do with life once you've. Accident at people disrobing what you do with that lack of authority. So the real topic here it's not fitting for father's day is authority. But i think it has a lot. Carries a lot of weight in our in our daily thinking in our worldview. For example is a recent book by george lakoff called don't think of an elephant instead of us creative for progressives to how to frame the debate debate differently with with. Conservative. The government politics in a family metaphor he cast conservative perspective and philosophy as the strict father model. Where is progressive is the nurturing parent model any plans at all political debate falls from those two things so. Authority matagorda after there. But as far as going back to kids going to college i think what happens then. We've all seen this is that. You. When you move out of home you actually get open to your more diversion. Philosophies and perspectives. And. Developmental theorists yuno from piaget to kohlberg eric's and talk about this. It's an interesting transition authority from through personal sources authority like your parents or teachers or coaches are choir directors are. Two more abstract forms of systems of sodden. Ideologies. And institutions and so on. And on. Photos of a natural transition extra moves from. Movie frontier adolescence into adults in attic what happens at this point is we consciously or subconsciously. Around frameworks here and vendors become authoritative for us. I'm just i just wondered could be a full system of of. The transition isn't always easy i recall a discussion with my oldest daughter. When she was in college now we're talkin about her plans what she's going to do in the frustration she blurted out. That's something i wish you would just tell me what you want me to do. Lasa wasn't strict father. At the risk of a overstretching a metaphor. The clothes have no emperor a metaphor. This phase be kind of construct our ideological mannequins. Army clothing with ceremonial attire and investing them with authority that we made subsequently cease to question. Mannequins which are really just the models of reality. Take on the mantle ultimate authority. And we know how dangerous that can be. In a recent book title all things shining. Part of this book. Sexy subtitle. The reading of the western classics. Define meeting in a secular age. Santikos. 2. Homer and. Dante bland on moby dick that's kind of the centerpiece. And. They claimed this great white whale really is a symbol of. Everything is unfathomable. Eyes are set wide as huge face is firstly faceless. It's great whites whites are represents this mystery of the deep. Think there's a sense they say wow. Apprentice it's this is the unrelenting mystery of the the center of the universe. Ahab meanwhile. Is single-mindedly determined. To subdue and conquer this awesome mystery. His legs. His pursuit of moby dick for soup. Of the final ultimate truth of the way things are. That there's an ultimate universal truth. About things. And they claim really that it's a piece of a circle. Seeking a certainty. For really a traditional monotheistic. So. I read a lot of moby dick and i never read this into puts interesting when you think the notion that. Ahab is looking for this certainty and he's actually going out for the whale to get the certainty. Cricket representative apparel. Clinging too tightly to. In reality you are you. You've adopted your system. Now you got your body for your medical degree or practicing. Accounting or no. The internet. Practicing a richly textured but rational domain. Safely ensconced in the capitalist. Democracy. To the most moron questions ideologies we've got. And you're trotting off to church on sunday morning thank you for that. Ordered system of ideologies. Sawyer. Your your systems are in place in wicker. Unless. Unless your interest active or you're paying close attention. Because what happened. For the injustice has inherited me systems. Collective soul. Origami providing purpose. Beautiful place. Will you be going to lose your trust and some of the conventional sources of authority. You can shake your world it going to lead to melaleuca anger depression. Because of the uncertainty. Religious or otherwise the loss of faith can be is saint john of the cross called it a dark night of the soul. And this particular out of the soil.. Which can last years or decades. Many decades even. You can be the caterer of. Another transition. Cuz i think mostly developmentalists this worth talking about. Yeah that's what the lifespan. And i think if again for paying attention of retrospective. We're tuned into that and we're not. Afraid of this dark night of the soul. Excited. His work on the stages of moral development by lawrence kohlberg calls these later at all stages. Postconventional. And robert keegan is another furious deep talks about this for the hallmark of the stage. Adult development. Is self arthur ship. Constrained by external authority you become you do your own authority. It isn't easy. I got the processes going beyond conventional 30. Systems can be on something cuz there's no simple clear answers in a post conventional mindset. There's no external reference points no absolute polestar that you can measure against. Performer x 42 used to think of his acquaintance even delusional. And to the extent that a myth is an approaching here at rishel story a society tells itself that encodes are represents the worldview. Beliefs and principles of that society. Submissive rarely recognize this mythical. The really recognized as. Constructions that aren't really reality that the presentations of reality. So we live now in a world as we leave then of authoritative miss. And i can feel very risky. To evaluate these myths. Tear down the deities and demigods is. In there. Close garment authority. Stories of the unfortunate mortals that actually questions authority. Likes emily one of those zeus's many. Mistresses. Akron sister are looking at him. And got incinerated. Or the hunter at the end who won. Famous greek author who accidentally stumbled on the artemis the goddess of the hunt. And force his indiscretions you got turn into a stag and devoured by his own house. Acrylic tradition does not look kindly on i just drove in your daddy's. Landscape authorities in congress would certainly prove the fact that you want to keep your clothes on if you want to retain power. Transition to post conventional. Perspective is important at call young. Metaphorically said whoever carries over into the afternoon. The log the morning. Must pay for so doing with damage to the soul. At this point in history. To develop develop a post conventional models of authority of no importance. Text lee furge. Now more than ever world's challenges command post conventional orientations because when i deal and ideologies become ends in themselves when they flexible and adaptable and so on. They can lead to servine chess. Imbalance in dangerous. I even revered ideologies like capitalism. When not balanced by a sense of. 50% of faith or a broader sense of justice. Can produce. Absurd wealth nephew irises we all know and. Creating social when heart-rending and balances. And also. It create a consumer society on a planet that's fragile. With finite resources. And as an ideology you could say it's taken it was a dangerous to a dangerous spot. So hard to become risky to look beyond our cherish models and i could even say underneath the garments of. Conventional systems. It's imperative. As einstein once said you can't solve a problem on the same level it as. At which it was created. So conventional wisdom can't solve the problem. Created. They're trying to gauge is going to strict father model port authority is appropriate. But it is at best a conventional form that is it requires going to rules and ideologies. It's it one force. So i'd like to chat. Briefly. About the supposed conventional. Formula. Paradise. What's required of us all of us. The function postconventional. How do we nurture our children to themselves become eventually. Post conventional adults. And finally as a spiritual community. How can we create an environment. It nurtures and supports at postconventional mindset. The first. Be called the billy deal with complexity and contradiction that i've another book reference now. Book called the opposable mind. At the recent book by rodger martin. He says that this is our opposable thumbs. Which was the potential to simultaneously retain and operate on contradictory ideas. Foster new insights. In the book or able to constructively embrace these models are called integrative thinkers. Conventional thinkers on the other hand tend to simplify complex problems and create manageable models. By discarding as many features as possible. Integrative or we may call them post conventional thinkers. Are able to accept messiness in the ambiguity of life. Creative art we all inherit. Amato's reality that reside in our own minds and these models become authority. It's easy and tempting to sir focus on the model as reality. Because the real-world komplex. Ambiguous and unclear. Rc models as the infrastructure sensations that they are. Are they aren't overly invested in a particular model or so. What women want said. Do i do i contradict myself. Very well then i contradict myself i am large i contain multitudes. How to change the world. Innovative thinking needs also be seasoned with another characteristic of post conventional thinking. With this orientation one sense of spirituality. Becomes reawaken. Developmentalists talk about this these different terms that use terms likely use the word mystery that use. A post critical. They use the re-enchantment of the world or the second naivete. But this mindset is spiritual in nature. Because of the n-word orientation of its authority. Hear it your archimedean point to sort of your reference point for the world is internal not external stop based on norms or mental model from his ideas. What is a kind of a super rational ground. A reminder called intuition i think. Form of confidence or wisdom can best be described as. But. Stop faith in something external. Not faith it is simply religious cuz that would be a conventional form of faithfully faith of seeing something outside. It's not the same as belief but i think the leaf often has a direct object. Conventional because it's in reference to something. Appetite also can have a direct object as in faith in god but the deeper form of faith. Its internal. Grounded. Self-sufficient. Fully present open-minded. Unlike ahab. People oriented. Ina post conventional faith. Are content with knowledge but not to apprehend. The mystery and authoritative power. Instead they're content to leave it beneath the surface and inscrutable. True acts of faith are internally base. Non-conforming. Authentic. And often contradictory. They come out of a place of quiet wordless reflection. Hawkins that supporting evidence. Or calculation. Alexa faith i think are nurtured in environments like this. Because his ideologies is relative models and imperfect means to defined ends. Post conventional faith can also be subversive. And i think it's required. To save the world. So. Here's hoping on this not so strict father's day. It is parents. We provide an environment. For continue level. Children. Wanted mabel's questioning of authority. I need one generations. It was fearlessly stare down and just roll the outgrown deities. Before crowing a into their own clothes. Close. Define ali. Just getting thanks to this post conventional and spiritual. Even the large run small groups. Which enables the kind of cell. Authorship. Second actually address. The issues created by this. Ideologically-driven age.

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041031_Lyceum7_McDonough.mp3

Good morning and welcome. Doraemon public affairs or quality culture and brian at the old meeting house of the first card. Power. Current. That we undertook in the year. Amor. With healthcare. We have heard a great deal about healthcare. Underline. I turned 10 that i thought might be kept informed. Clarify. And it is our morning. From john mcdonogh. Healthcare for all. John's background in healthcare in politics. In roxbury dorchester in jamaica plain. Bedtime. Afterimages service. Sean mcdonough. You all got the clock. Talk about it a little bit. And then i want to talk about it. As well. Complicated. And john tells me that the title. Today's healthcare in politics. Starter. I'm assuming everybody's. And i like to start off by just getting a. One of the definition of the word politics. Polly is from the greek. Jay leno have. Show business for ugly people. What are you talking about. Absolutely a big part of it so wages to get this resolved resolved for example help you resolve issues around healthcare. National basis for we can go back and be good 90 years and still haven't done it the other thing is important said you know when we think of politics we think of washington dc and elections and people in public office but of course there are all kinds of politics as well be on master office politics politics. Diy paper politics. Call derrick brother. so that's a part of it or something. Well yeah lobbyist or part of it but actually what i would i try to say to people is that you know when we think of politics and we think of politics is about them. Weather report. In washington dc for the lobbyists to explain it then. Negative. But of course in your private personal politics you're all lobbyists in your own way you just maybe never really thought of yourself as a kid you don't get paid for it. Well yeah it is. Private policy. Definition of politics is the way people decide in civil society. Who gets what. When where how and why. Vineland. We basically have two ways to figure out how we distribute benefits and rice. Obligation to society. Or politics. Which is the alternative in my mind to buy on figuring out how we distribute. What are we meeting. Electrical power. What do we mean what we're talking about in that case. Talk about budget politic. Commonwealth of massachusetts about 24 billion dollar and how they get that is a political judgment from does how much from income taxes sales tax other sources and then what they do with that money. How much does an education how much how much is public transportation jackson. Who gets the promotion who gets the title. Windows. Cubicle next to the coffee maker. Family politics. And we can in our. In our culture. Negative. I like the challenge that thoroughly. Negative. Cousin. You know in american society we love our democracy. We live our our government. Keytar politics. Pretty violent. And yet. It is the way that we figure out. Martin luther king. African american. Derisive. What are we talkin about them how does that. What we're talking about healthcare. The right to the services that are most important to us. We're taught when we talked about groups of hospital for example which group of hospitals is better funding formula from the federal government. Healthcare provider. Multiple ways in multiple levels. Part of the economy right now. Bigger part of the economy. Here we are in a presidential. We're arguing about healthcare. Where is healthcare in the national election this time. According to the polling has been done. Iraq. Then after that. Terrorism and after that is healthier. Number for voters are asked what's the most important issue you're thinking about. Everything you can look at it on the one hand is clearly not in the top two or three. It is probably. More important. But in the context of our public dialogue today. Really. Healthcare is my most important. What is it about healthcare. Mudkip. Find that there are variety of different responses single most important. The most important. 4 years ago that would not have been true for years ago it would have been more about availability of prescription drug coverage for senior year. Double-digit inflation. Underneath. Particularly for. Right now we have. 45 million american. Health insurance coverage. And again there's a number of different ways to look at that issue. Play 45 million today. Today about 45 million out of 290 million americans. Today any health insurance coverage. Here. How many people have had a nice tell of lacking health insurance coverage over a two-year. it's more in the neighborhood of 90. Craft of that 45 million how many of them have been uninsured for a year or longer it's about 20 million. Again. Define over number. Reflexive fight over. How big is. Should really. Raise taxes or two other things that are necessary to increase affordable health insurance coverage. You're going to talk about. . of time. Big complex issue. And. And they're alive. Big difference. If you pay attention to what they're saying. Stark differences in terms of approaching. Georgia sports. Has a plan in terms of the uninsured. That largely involved. What. We regarded. In the nature of health insurance coverage in the united states that they are trying to. Away from getting health insurance through their employer. And increasingly toward. American senior care on their own. When were people could be responsible for a greater amount of their own health care bill. Honda fury. The problem with healthcare class is that everybody all of you have too much health insurance coverage. In particular. Which is called health savings account. My health savings account. What they do is they have to have insurance coverage. But you have very high deductible within there. You might have a. For your insurance. You might have a deductible of 5000. We're even seeing. 10000 dollars. A year. You are catastrophic coverage in yuriko. They allowed to create something called a health savings account. 500-750 dollars account. And if you don't. They're a couple of cops. Baystate health insurance policy. The queen is dead. What you have to do you have to pray that you don't get sick and you have one hospitalization 500 or $750. And make everybody more class hunter. The problem with that whole series from our perspective. By the 80/20 rule. Terrified in italian. Who is garden. 80/20 principle. You know what. Terms of health insurance. Harvard pilgrim or blue cross medicare or medicaid you find an amazing week. Okay. Of the public. Multiple chronic illnesses. Who are in fact the most expensive. We don't see how the bush plant. Talk about that. Getting attacked. Senator kerry has a set of plans that are american. Plan. Would cover according to an independent. Emory university in georgia cover about 27 million of the 45 million on a door. President. About three million of the 45 million on insurance. Big difference in class. Harry quinn wilcock about 650 billion dollars over 10 years. About 100. Another big another choice of court is the medicare prescription drug law that was passed by congress in december 2003. Kansas how you heard a little bit about it it was a lot of the very controversial. We are on the house of representatives. 3 hour. And what is a cow. Complicated. Let me just give you my. I have a definition of healthcare quality. I like that i use a lot as a simple framework to try to think about it. Definition of quality. Quality. I'm doing it right. Okay. Quality inn apply to the quality of virtually anything. But it's good quite well when we're talking about healthcare. What congress. In terms of medicare prescription drug. I would characterize if i seen i think they did the right thing. You're creating a whole new pack. 4. That don't exist right now. Pharmacy. And will enroll. And provide the coverage for people. Stockton right now. You. Have a particular drive your arm important to you. You have to figure out okay. And. You can find out. Probably go on the web. Or understanding it or figuring it out. And a real problem. And then the other piece of course he's dead. Bartow courthouse. Are able to. Change it. 20 days notice. Durkin realty. We have we have in every state we have in massachusetts. That are particularly vulnerable they're called. And they're all so poor. Qualify for medicaid. Medicaid. Now covered massachusetts. Your drug. Beginning on january /. Are now going to lose. Prescription drug coverage. Really. For the public in temple looking at. Harry potter. Obviously. What a republican. Really involved. We are very concerned about. Program. Harvard now about 940,000 residents of massachusetts. 3 million. Federal. Medicaid. More people are covered under medicaid. Cost more money. Medicaid. Call population. We're family. And provide coverage for those three. Funny. We always find funny. You know you paper wonderful. Great apps for harvard pilgrim. Is an ad for medicaid. Never fear for medicaid nobody. It is one of the most vital part. We are. We are going to see going. Cry. Let me just talk a little bit about me. We reflect the problem. Uninsured in massachusetts. We had about 365,000 people in massachusetts. Had no health insurance coverage. Today. 400. We are about a hundred thousands more people who are running room store. Well on the face of it. Coverage for you so don't smoke generating income. Community health center. For a lot of the poor and uninsured population. We obviously are facing the implementation of the medicare prescription drug life with a lot of concern and we're all reeling. From. Four years of double-digit. Sierra premium in clayton. That is. Creating real problem. Provide coverage. Well. A very problem. 2005 and 2000. We are going to. Major. Quality process discussion conversation in massachusetts problems. Quality. Governor romney 18-month now. Going around. Provide health insurance coverage for everybody. We've been waiting. We also started a foundation about four years ago on a road map project. For universal coverage in massachusetts. Other. Organized labor organization. Create a broad agenda. Eliminate the problem. Driving. We're expecting the healthcare. Going forward. Rather than more problems. I know i covered a lot. Front end. Office of health and human services they're working on universal cover legislators are out. People in the fields are not involved. We're. Ultimately. Ghostbusters. You know how to program. Universal health care. Bolivar ohio state representative. Price. I think is a lot. What's your opinion on all of that. It's a great question great oxidation. We're family for women in hip. We're family. Make up about 70% medicaid. Are women and kids. Rail welder flux core welder. 30%. Okay. Who are residents of nursing home. Medicaid. 70. For those. Really are. Experiments going on. Protein. That takes real elders in the community. Managers are coming the right way. 9 is a way that fuel services away. The incidence of hospitalization. Not to work in terms of incorporating some of the management approaches. Universal property. Big poppa. House of representatives. Nike 97. Around healthcare access. In 1988. Michael dukakis. Universal health care line. That was intended. Cover everybody in math. And there were parts of that law that were implemented and that's p.m. today. For example. Which is the program with allow people when you're collecting. When you're unemployed your health insurance coverage. Through the state program that runs the unemployment. Okay that was started back in 1989 wonderful program. Rather than. Not going to work. Allowed. Disabled. Have working parents. On your family plan and say you were small businesses blows up the top pressure. Common health program. Wonderful program. We got to be so proud that we have some. Daca 1988 every employer. In 1988. Huelga bird. Very concerned about the impact of implementing there. So what happened was instead of. Several times. 1990. 1996. Wanted to make another. We brought in. Dad as well as i. 25-cent cigarettes now. And we created out of that structure. Fractured. Provide universal coverage for children. Everybody should know that. You know it. Massachusetts. Program in 96. Greatly expanded our medicaid program. We agreed to repeal. A crime. Something else going on right now. There is a proposal. Right now. Right to health insurance. Every resident. Coverage that is. Universal. Affordable high-quality acceptable. Proposal through it first round this past summer. Will be coming up for a second round. Complicated. Universal coverage is sort of a legislature. Go do it. It's hard to do. We would have. And because. As a society how to pay for it. Universal coverage in the united states. Ennavale ennavale. American. About 90%. Menu asset-purchase aerotek how much are you willing to pay to make it happen. Gary in all directions and that's where that's where the rubber meets the road that's where the question, hoping how much you might like that in your mind okay but when it's okay. Assignation. We made a statement over the past 4 years. We down. Providing health insurance coverage for all american. Realtor. As you just said. Healthcare problem rising cost of healthcare. Healthcare. Real. I'd like to dress. One of them is technology. Every industry. Technology. Improvements in productivity and a must-see for product. Healthcare. Technology is a major car driver. I read an article and science now over a decade ago i can't remember three reasons why healthcare cost for going to explode. Technology. Healthcare doing. Varsity. Paperwork. I hope i can stop contribute to that. Call. Malpractice insurance. Quit. Mostly don't go into malpractice awards they mostly go to. Malpractice lawyers or. Insurance. Areas. Medical. We have supposedly the most advanced healthcare in the world. Eyewear last among developed countries on. Survival rate for our patient. End. Prominent. Had to go to the health care service. Healthcare out of our. Marvel nike hat. Three areas are house. Problems that are driving cost up and driving effective. Down. And i don't see anything on the political horizon on the debate. Universal coverage. I'm with united states sending a dollar. Every other country goes down from there. In our health outcomes are help measured in the united states in terms of life expectancy. We have the best healthcare system on the planet. We have in many aspects. Every other country on the planet every other industrialized country. Okay. What's behind it. United states every other country. We are the only one of the country. That passive. Publicly. Private sector. We need market dynamic healthcare sector. There are people who are in charge of different and they're all crying. About the overall macro healthy so now when coming to ron be talked about healthcare costs really always really thinking about is. About 15%. New inexpensive drug. Aramark. About our incredible. Wait. In terms of prescription drugs. That was came out before fire was revealed as a hoe. But is also laying out the truth about the hoax around. Witcher being promoted. Pick up a book called overdose america by john. I work at a clinic for years. Very very important administrative costs somewhere between. In ways that simply are. Hard to understand. Medical error yeah we have we have a problem. We have a serious problem. The leading nation. Tied with great britain the united kingdom. Recognizing getting the property. Because of not in spite of medical care treatment. Societe generale. Remaining. You can join part of what we're doing our website. I asked you to join me.