Inspiration

UU thoughts, sermons, music

A month of Gratitude Day 1

CZ

In the month of November people tend to focus on gratitude and thankfulness. While this should be a practice all year, Thanksgiving makes November an easy target. This November we are going to do a gratitude challenge. We hope you will join us.

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Today’s question is what smell are you grateful for today?

Here is a meditation from Braver/Wiser called Petrichor by Alex Haider-Winnett.

Namaste,
Cricket

Safe Space/Brave Space

LdeG

From First UU Austin, October 21. The sermon begins at about 29:30 minutes in. The reading at about 22:30.

Meg had asked on Facebook for thoughts on threats and challenges for this service. The sermon Safe Space/Brave Space, how we can make and be sanctuary,  is on supporting and challenging each other.

Jesus’ Financial Text of Terror

Robert

Here’s a small Biblical light on “Economic Justice” from a Mennonite perspective. In her sermon, “Jesus’ Financial Text of Terror“, Amy Yoder McGloughlin, pastor at Frazer Mennonite Church, Frazer, Pennsylvania, interprets Mark 10:17-31 as a lesson on Capitalism for us all.

— Robert

Here’s what is so problematic about this whole story, and probably why this text is not taken more seriously in Christian circles — In capitalism, redistributive justice is heresy. The justice that cares that all are fed, that all have what they need to live goes against the over-simplistic “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” philosophy of capitalism. But for Jesus in the Gospel of Mark, redestributive justice is the kingdom of God. So those of us who are rich have reason to be concerned by this text. If we take it seriously it has an important challenge for us.

www.storiesfromtheredtent.com/2018/10/17/jesus-financial-text-of-terror/

Autumn Crocus

Trans Faith and Faith Formation

CZ

Here is the VUU from 9/27/2018

We chatted live with Rev. Jaelynn Scott, Buddhist minister and UU religious educator, about trans faith and faith formation in Unitarian Universalism.

Rev. Jaelynn Scott is a Buddhist community minister who has served as the Director of Lifelong Learning at Woodinville Unitarian Universalist Church. A graduate of Naropa University’s Buddhist Divinity program, she was ordained by Ven.’s Bhante Chao Chu and Tampalawela Dhammaratana, and brings decades of dedicated meditation experience to her ministry.

The VUU streams live on Facebook every Thursday at 11 am ET. We talk social justice, Unitarian Universalism, religion, spirituality, and whatever else is topical and interesting!

Hosts: Meg Riley, Michael Tino, Aisha Hauser, and Christina Rivera; production support provided by Jessica Star Rockers.

The VUU is brought to you by the Church of the Larger Fellowship.

Blessed Rosh Hashanah

CZ

“Rosh Hashanah ushers in the beginning of the Jewish year and is a holiday that celebrates the creation of the world, something that’s reflected in its name, which means “head of the year” in Hebrew.” From Time

Here is a video from the acapela group The Maccabeats

Blessings of peace for the New Year to all of our Jewish friends and family.

Namaste,

Cricket

 

 

 

Our Faith’s Complacency in Racism

CZ

“We have an absurd amount to learn, or unlearn, about race in this country. America allowed slavery to exist by seeking out personal and regional salvation at the expense of universal salvation. Our country felt better about itself because with the South as the identified patient, it never had to look at its own addiction.”

This reflection by Nathan Ryan is part of healing and of the work we need to be doing.

 

Photo Credit: UU World