Thursday, 12 December 2013, 04:59 am PST
Unitarian Universalism: The Institution of Spiritual Freedom
Promoting Spiritual Liberalism
Featured Ministers
Dealing with Trauma
Our community lost a former member and her child in a traumatic and violent way. What I want to share with our community right now is a little bit about how to recognize if you are experienc... [read more]
Rev. Cyn
The Infinite Demand
We live by grace. We live in grace. Amid the buzz and rattle of all that is, there is joy. The joy is not constant, and there are pains and terrors that almost outweigh it, but joy still pers... [read more]
thelivelytradition
On Holidays & Holy Days
At the congregation I serve we have monthly themes that provide a framework for our Faith Development efforts, including our weekly worship. This month the theme is "Holidays & Holy ... [read more]
A Minister’s Musings
Sermon: "Why Do We Sing?" (Delivered 12-8-13)
Call to Worship Why do people sing? Anthropologists and musicologists hypothesize about the primal origins of singing, suggesting it may have originated in animal mimicry or mother-child connection... [read more]
RevThom
Who gets to tell Jesus's story?
IDEAS: A single story may win, but the alternate stories do not fully disappear. [read more]
Ideas from UU World
Taking a break
As you may have noticed, I haven’t posted anything in a while…my sermons this fall have felt very specific to my congregation & less suitable for posting publicly. So I’ve dec... [read more]
Drink from the Stream
Newsletter Column 2013 Dec
God The theme for December is “God. ” Among Unitarian Universalists, this topic can be incendiary (appropriately enough, perhaps, given the story of how Yahweh appeared to Moses). Here’s a be... [read more]
The Liberal Pulpit
What's the point of Jesus? — Advent 2. Let there be no child who comes into the world without some hope, some joy in him
Nativity scene on the Cambridge manse mantelpiece Readings: Luke 2:12"This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger. ” From the Fo... [read more]
Caute
Into the Silence We Breathe — by David Pyle
Into the silence, we breathe Breathe in, breathe out Through that breath, we feel the spirit of life Life that has been with us since that first breath When we first come into this world A miracle ... [read more]
Celestial Lands
Pope Francis Echoes the Missional Chorus: Do So is more important than Say So
This morning I saw yet another Facebook meme about Pope Francis. This time Pope Francis is going out in to the streets of Rome dressed as a common priest in black garb to feed the poor and otherwis... [read more]
Sunflower Chalice
#62 Compassion: what is heck is it?
Jon Barstad/Riksarkivet (National Archives of Norway) Compassion? Do you know exactly what you mean when you use the word “compassion”? …Continue reading » [read more]
The Naked Theologian: stripped-down theology
See all blogs entries from The Naked Theologian: stripped-down theology
Unitarian Universalist Essentials II: Many Names
This morning is part two in our Unitarian Universalist Essentials sermon series, and we begin with a cat and mouse story with a twist…. One day, a mother mouse was taking her babies for a walk. A... [read more]
Thousand Voices
Du’s Stew
I made this last week and shared it with my neighbor, Jan. She loved it and wanted to know what it’s called. I didn’t have a name for it, but I do now, in honor of her beautiful, noble ... [read more]
PeaceBang
Turning Toward the Morning
This sermon was introduced by a rendition of Gordon Bok's song "Turning Toward the Morning". TURNING TOWARD THE MORNINGRev. Kit Ketcham, Nov. 24, 2013, PUUF ... [read more]
Ms. Kitty’s Saloon and Road Show
World’s Lamest Engagement Story?
I delivered this little essay at a recent church dinner. I love you, Heather! Heather and I grew up in Southern Indiana, a two-hour drive apart. We met in London, England, at Harlaxton College, the... [read more]
Just Wondering
Unitarian Christianity: Relevance for the 21st Century?
Whenever people ask me if Unitarian Universalism is a Christian faith, I usually respond by saying we have Christian roots but we are not Christian. This is much like asking if Christianity is a... [read more]
A Unitarian Universalist Minister in Mississippi
See all blogs entries from A Unitarian Universalist Minister in Mississippi
Life On Fire Harrisburg, PA Sermon: Living Missives of the Sacred
Life on Fire: Sermon at First Unitarian Church, Harrisburg, PA, Nov. 9, 2013, Rev. Ron Robinson Reading: from Isaiah, chapter 58 Is not this the fast that I choose: To loose the bonds ... [read more]
Planting God Communities
Modern Judaism
A Story:“Once there was a king whose palace had been ransacked by wild hordes. For the wood and stone of the palace he had no tears, but for the crown jewels, passed down for many generations—f... [read more]
Faith Talk
Embracing Risk
“You’re a drunk and a liar” he yelled at me. For a moment I thought he was going to punch me in the face. I shut my eyes and turned slightly. But his anger was enough of ... [read more]
Rev. John Morehouse
Announcing Jan 4th, 2014 Social Media Intensive for Congregational Leaders
Friends, on January 4, 2014 I will be leading a social media intensive for congregational leaders. This event is being held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson, AZ. If you are a ... [read more]
UU PLANET Ministry and Media
Sense of Place
When I first learned of the terrible injustices inflicted by people upon people I felt very helpless. I think a part of my life has been spent trying understand these realities in part to sustain... [read more]
RadicalHapa
Odds & Ends
Who’s a member? (What’s a member?)
Three of us from our congregation met this afternoon to talk about our new membership database. The topic for today’s conversation: what categories will we have for people in the database? Tw... [read more]
Yet Another Unitarian Universalist
See all blogs entries from Yet Another Unitarian Universalist
The Midst of Icepocalypse
Austin and I find ourselves in the midst of Storm Cleon, or as friends have titled it, “Icepocalypse. ” Following a full inch of sleet and freezing rain throughout the night, we now h... [read more]
traveling tUUsome
Coop Goes to High School Part 9 – On My Own Terms
Living life on my own terms, at my own cadence, surrounded by those with whom I could share a sense of real collaboration and community, that’s what I wanted. Not some day in the future after I... [read more]
Lefty Parent- Living and Parenting Without The Rule Book
See all blogs entries from Lefty Parent- Living and Parenting Without The Rule Book
Trying to work with an open heart chakra
Sometimes when I’m on my way to work a song or news event will open me up. I’ll start feeling things. I’ll feel connected to the universe and ready to interact with it in a whole ... [read more]
DiscoverUU.com
What's Your Real Religion?
Take the Test
UU News
Nativity Scene On Air Base Creates Controversy
The annual flare up over religious displays on public property at Christmas time appears to have moved this year to military bases. AP reports that at Shaw Air Force base in South Carolina last Fri... [read more]
Religion Clause
Human Rights for Sex Workers: An Interview with Melinda Chateauvert
For Human Rights Day, Melinda Chateauvert, author of "Sex Workers Unite: A History of the Movement from Stonewall to Slut Walk," makes the case for treating the rights of sex workers ... [read more]
Beacon Broadside
UU minister says historic 'I do' in Hawaii
NEWS: Eight minutes after same-sex marriage became legal, minister and fiancé wed at First Unitarian Church of Honolulu. [read more]
News from UU World
Giving to good causes, and more UUs in the media
‘Reverse offering’ empowers congregants to give The Unitarian Universalist Area Church in Sherborn, Mass. , and its minister, the Rev. Nathan Detering, were featured in a piece about th... [read more]
UU’s In the Media
Mandela, compassion, beloved imperfection, and more
Remembering Mandela The Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern celebrates Nelson Mandela’s long commitment to the work of justice. One would think that almost 20 years of revolutionary activism, 27 yea... [read more]
the interdependent web
Featured Podcasts
God's Confronting Partners, Michael Cowan, December 8, 2013
Unity Church-Unitarian of Saint Paul, MN
See all podcast episodes from Unity Church-Unitarian of Saint Paul, MN
Big Music Sunday
We celebrate the hope our children give us by performing two wonderful pieces of music. John Rutter's Mass of the Children and Arthur Honegger's Une Cantate d... [listen to the episode]
First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco Podcast
See all podcast episodes from First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco Podcast
Get Real World Instagram Followers at Super-Fast Rate Via Itking.Org
Everyone is aware of Instagram and its significance in the world of social media. This image sharing website requires followers to share and promote the news and images posted by a particular accou... [listen to the episode]
The Pageless Book
Are the Rolling Stones Right? Or Can We Get Some Satisfaction? by Rev. Gretchen Weis at Davies Church in Camp Springs, MD
11/3/2013 - Nearly 50 years ago, this summer, the Rolling Stones released their first big international hit that put them on the map. Listed as either the number one or number two greatest rock ... [listen to the episode]
DMUUC Message
"Now is the Time: Stewardship Sunday" - April 10, 2011
Come celebrate the gift of our beloved community as we reflect on what this moment in our congregational history calls us to do. We'll also have a child dedication at this service. [listen to the episode]
Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
See all podcast episodes from Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
Featured Blog Posts
Colin Wilson 1931 – 2013
“The exploration of oneself is usually also an exploration of the world at large, of other writers, a process of comparison with oneself with others, discoveries of kinships, gradual illumina... [read more]
The Wild Hunt
Abraham vs. Snopes.com
I saw a story that someone posted that I knew was a satire piece. It just had to be – I didn’t even need to click the link for it. It talked about how the pope was going to trade … ... [read more]
Spirituality and Sunflowers
Engels saw what would go wrong in Cuba, China, and the USSR
From Tyrannies ruling in the name of socialism | Socialist Worker. org:Engels, in his criticism of August Blanqui, a French socialist who believed that revolution would be brought to the masse... [read more]
it’s all one thing
Remembering Nelson Mandela in D.C.
I live about a 20 minute walk from the South African embassy, so I went this afternoon to pay my respects following the death of former SA president Nelson Mandela. My feelings are hard to put into... [read more]
Boy in the Bands
Ready or Not in the Land of the Dying
I was sure he'd have died by now. He was sliding fast last spring. I hoped he'd see his birthday in late June, but was positive he'd be gone by August. Positive. Come his birthday and he ... [read more]
Wandering Monk, Reluctant Gyrovague
See all blog entries from Wandering Monk, Reluctant Gyrovague
Struggling
I have been really having a hard time this holiday season. I am not sure why. As long time readers know, it has been a big year of loss for me and my family. My uncle, whom I have... [read more]
Everyday Unitarian
Du’s Stew
I made this last week and shared it with my neighbor, Jan. She loved it and wanted to know what it’s called. I didn’t have a name for it, but I do now, in honor of her beautiful, noble ... [read more]
The manic mind of the minister
Laborem Exercens: the liberal legacy of Pope John Paul II
Recently I was telling a friend about a post I wrote on Daily Kos several years ago, and I noticed that software changes over the years had wrecked the formatting, so that it was now hard to read. ... [read more]
Free and Responsible Search
Andy Puddicombe: All it Takes is 10 Mindful Minutes
Today, just a . . . → Read More: Andy Puddicombe: All it Takes is 10 Mindful Minutes [read more]
Daily Buddhism
If Rep. Trey Radel Had Been Black…..
…. and had been caught with 3 grams of cocaine, does anybody really think that he wouldn’t be on his way to jail with a felony charge? That he wouldn’t lose his right to vote in F... [read more]
east of midnight
Informed by Faith
I gave this sermon at UU Farmington on November 17, 2013. Reading: Impassioned Clay, by Raph N Helverson (Singing the Living Tradition, #654) Deep in ourselves reside the religious impulse Out... [read more]
Finding My Ground
Back in the Saddle?
So it goes a little something like this. I put Chutney to bed because I got a job working for my church. And I was afraid I would offend people. And I was afraid Chutney would get me into trouble (... [read more]
Making Chutney
Accordion Home
Fall has finally fallen; I know this because I sleep with a blanket of cats these days. The last several days I have awoken not just with a cat at my feet, but with one on my abdomen or my ... [read more]
uuMomma
Repost: gulfnews : Kfar Owaid massacre will haunt Syria
Reposted from December 2011gulfnews : Kfar Owaid massacre will haunt Syria An organized slaughter. .. no survivors. وذبح نظمت في كفر عويد، ولا ناجينUpdate: WARNING as it'... [read more]
Pfarrer Streccius
To Be Seen and Known
This sermon was given to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bowling Green on July 28th, 2013. A similar version that used the Galatians 2:15-21 was given at First Christian Church of Bowling Gre... [read more]
Elizabeth’s Little Blog
Roundup: Media coverage of 2013 General Assembly
In addition to early media coverage of last Thursday’s clean energy rally—the public witness event of the 2013 UUA General Assembly—GA also attracted the following news coverage: The main... [read more]
General Assembly Blog
Midsummer behind bars
I facilitated several Asatru Midsummer rituals in several prisons the last couple weeks, but this one in particular will stay with me, because of the efforts and creativity of the inmates. Check ou... [read more]
Cuumbaya
All is well! Just super-busy.
Sorry if I've worried any of you with the months-long lack of posts. All is well here at the Happy Kitten Cottage, and I've been keeping super-busy. I'm not teaching this summer, thank goodness,... [read more]
Educated & Poor
College Students Behaving Badly - in 1832
In November 12, 1832 the postmaster at Williamsburg Virginia sent a letter to the editors of the Southern Pioneer in Richmond Virginia explaining that there was a fair number of subscribers w... [read more]
SC Universalist
Thanks and a bathtub...
Hello to any who (and I would be astonished if its anyone! ) may still get this post. I loved posting as Boston Unitarian and am very grateful for those who checked in now and again. Life has take... [read more]