May our faith sustain us,
our hope inspire us,
and our love surround us
as we go our separate ways,
knowing that we will gather again
in this beloved community. Amen.
Devotional for Day 3
Author: CZ
Sunday December 11, 2016
Lama Surya Das writes about our shared values in Buddhist Voices in Unitarian Universalism: Buddhism and Unitarian Universalism value many of the same things, including experiential practice, study and self-inquiry, mindful awareness cultivation, insightful wisdom development, and loving-kindness, combined with active compassion in the world. This is the heart of sacred activism—empowering, educating, edifying, elevating, transforming, and liberating.
This Sunday John Hall will explore the histotical connection between Unitarian Universalism and Buddhism.
We would love to have you come worship with us.
Our services are Sundays at 11 a.m. at the Progressive Women’s Association Event Center, 305 Washington Ave. in downtown Clarksburg, behind the Courthouse.
Our Religious Education/ Life Long Learning Class will meet at from 10am to 10:45 am with a coffee gathering before the service. More about us.
Children are welcome. There is childcare and an activity for young children during the service.
The building is wheelchair accessible, with an accessible restroom.
The schedule for the current adult religious education class is here.
Email westforkuu@gmail.com or use our contact form for more information
or write to us at PO Box 523, Clarksburg WV 26302
~
Namaste
Cricket
Activities for Day 3
The Third Principle is Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations or We’re free to learn together.
Here are some activities to help you celebrate:
As a family
Pick up a game no one in your family has ever played before. Learn how to play it together.
Talk about your beliefs with each other and how they have changed and grown through the years.
As an Individual
Attend a lecture, go to the museum, see a play. Then, strike up a conversation with the people around you. If you go to school, offer assistance to a fellow student, and accept assistance as well.
Color some mandalas to practice mindfulness.
Meditate or pray.
Food
As a family, or with a friend, attempt to cook something you never have before. It might work out, or you might be ordering pizza. It doesn’t matter as long as you make the attempt!
Devotional for Day 2
“Why a flaming chalice?” the question comes.
It’s the cup of life, we answer.
A cup of blessings overflowing.
A cup of water to quench our spirits’ thirst.
A cup of wine for celebration and dedication.
The flame of truth.
The fire of purification.
Oil for anointing, healing.
Out of chaos, fear, and horror,
thus was the symbol crafted, a generation ago.
So may it be for us,
in these days of uncertainty, sorrow, and rage.
And a light to warm our souls and guide us home.
Happy St. Nicholas Day!
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/around-the-world/
I hope you all have a blessed day and have fun reading about St. Nicholas!
Namaste,
Cricket
Activities for Day 2
The second principle is about Justice, equity and compassion in human relations or Being kind in all we do.
Here are some activities to help you celebrate the day:
As a family
Try to go the whole day without arguing. Focus on putting the wants and needs of your brother/ sister/ mother/ father/ husband/ wife before your own.
Make little gift baskets for the kids or the elderly in your neighborhood. One of our neighbors made our son an Easter basket (also a Halloween and Christmas basket). It made our son, my wife and me feel great. The cost of each basket was probably $5.
Donate Toys or books.
As an individual
Through Send Kids the World you can send postcards to the siblings of seriously ill children. Siblings often don’t understand what is going on and feel left out because of all the attention and cards a sick sibling receives. (Scroll down the web page and look for the link on the left side.)
“Want me to pick something up for you?” If you know someone is overwhelmed – perhaps by a new baby, family health issues, or something else – give them a call when you’re going out to the store. Ask if they’d like you to pick something up. We’ve been the beneficiaries of this random act of kindness, and it’s great.
Food
Offer to buy someone else food.
Pay for the next person in the drive-through.
Go out to eat and tip your server double.
Devotional for Day One
We have a calling in this world:
We are called to honor diversity,
To respect differences with dignity,
And to challenge those who would forbid it.
We are people of a wide path.
Let us be wide in affection
And go our way in peace.
Amen.
Activities for Day One
The first principle is believing the inherent worth and dignity of every person or Each Person is Important.
Here are some activities that can help you celebrate the worth and dignity of everyone.
As an Individual
As the principle states, “Each person is important.” That means you too! Do something special for yourself today.
Food
Gather family or friends and plan a meal where everyone’s favorite food is represented. Spaghetti with a side of jelly beans? Why not, it’s the first night of Chalica!
Gifts
The adult version of this principle states that we believe in “the inherent worth and dignity of every person.” So, what makes the people in your life special? For each person in your circle, write down what you love most about them. Then, give each person their list.
Monday Starts Chalica
Chalica is a week-long celebration of our Unitarian Universalist Principles. The holiday first emerged in 2005 out of a wish to have a holiday organized around Unitarian Universalist values.
Chalica begins on the first Monday in December and lasts seven days. Each day, a chalice is lit and the day is spent reflecting on the meaning of that day’s principle and doing a good deed that honors that principle. Not all Unitarian Universalists celebrate Chalica, but it has a growing following. There is a Chalica Facebook page, blog, and many Chalica-themed videos on YouTube.
Here is an article from UU World about it.
This year we will have two daily blog posts each day, one that will have ideas for activities for each principle and one with a devotion for the day.
Hope you enjoy celebrating this unique holiday with us.
Namaste,
Cricket
Broken Hallelujah
Bring your broken hallelujah here.
Bring your broken hallelujah here.
Bring the large one that is beyond
Repair. Bring the small one that’s
too soft to share. Bring your broken
Hallelujah here. I know that people
Have told you that before you can give
You have to get yourself together. They
Overstated the value of perfection by a
Lot. Or they forgot. You are the gift.
We all bring some broken things, songs
and dreams, and long lost hopes. But
here, and together, we reach within.
As a community, we begin again. And
from the pieces we will build something new.
There is work that only you can do. We
wait for you.
-Theresa I. Soto
My friend Theresa wrote this and I thought that is was too perfect not to share. Hope that you all find it as comforting as I did.
Blessings of Peace,
Cricket
West Fork Unitarian Universalists 