Inspiration

UU thoughts, sermons, music

Sound of inspiration

CZ

Growing up United Methodist and a church choir member, hymns and songs were always something that inspired me. Finding new words to beloved hymns is one of the things that has moved me about being a UU. Here is a beautiful version of the traditional Irish hymn “Be Thou My Vision” with lyrics by Thomas Mikelson.

The Lyrics:

1. Wake, now, my senses, and hear the earth call;
Feel the deep power of being in all;
Keep, with the web of creation your vow,
Giving, receiving as love shows us how.

2. Wake, now my reason, reach out to the new;
Join with each pilgrim who quests for the true
Honor the beauty and wisdom of time;
Suffer thy limit, and praise the sublime.

3. Wake, now, compassion, give heed to the cry;
Voices of suffering fill the wide sky;
Take as your neighbor both stranger and friend,
Praying and striving their hardship to end.

4. Wake, now, my conscience, with justice thy guide
Join with all people whose rights are denied;
Take not for granted a privileged place;
God’s love embraces the whole human race.

5. Wake, now, my vision of ministry clear;
Brighten my pathway with radiance here;
Mingle my calling with all who will share;
Work toward a planet transformed by our care.

Being sung

Hope it brings you peace and vision.

~Namaste
Cricket

Historic day for Equality

CZ

Today is an historic day. As a friend said,  “This is a once in a lifetime thing for most activists. We don’t get to WIN. Most of the time, we see incremental progress in our lifetimes, but it is rare to get a big win like this.”

UUA President Peter Morales draped the General Assembly podium with a rainbow flag and invited same-sex couples to join him on the stage this morning to celebrate the Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision. An ecstatic crowd wept, cheered, and then sang “We Are Standing on the Side of Love.”

(Photograph © Christopher L. Walton/UUA)podiumdrape

Have a beautiful Rainbow day!

~Namaste

Cricket

Chance to learn about Climate Justice

CZ

As Unitarian Universalists we believe in the interdependent web of all life. This means taking care of each other, but it also means taking care of out planet. 
The UU College of Social Justice is hosting the Grounded and Resilient Organizer’s workshop.  West Virginia ‘ s own Tim deChristopher will be there during this five day intensive in Chicago. 
For more information – http://uucsj.org/grow/

Have a Blessed day!

~Cricket

A Blessed World Humanist Day to You

LdeG

Many of us, like this UU minister, are a complicated mix of beliefs and values we cherish from a Christian or Jewish upbringing, the mystic thread of seeing beyond the everyday surface of things that runs through medieval and some present Christianity, Judaism, Zen, Sufism, and nearly all religions, insights from pagans and nature religions, and the reason of humanism and science.

A Blessed World Humanist Day to You!
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/monkey And mind/2015/06/and-a-blessed-world-humanist-day-to-you.html

CHURCH SHOOTING IN CHARLESTON

CZ
Church Shooting in Charleston
June 18, 2015 – 9:20am

The Rev. Peter Morales, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, issued this statement following the news of the shooting in a church in Charleston, SC:

“News of last night’s shootings at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, SC, fills me with a profound sadness. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the victims and to the entire Emanuel Church community.

Unitarian Universalists are sadly familiar with the tragedy of church shootings. When two congregants were killed and six wounded at our Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in 2008, the entire community reached out and embraced our congregation with love and support. We will pass that love along to the Emanuel Church community in any way we can.

Emanuel AME Church has faced many hardships over the years, but the church has persevered and thrived. May Emanuel’s faithful find the strength to make their way through the tragedy that has taken the lives of nine of their members, including their pastor. We share their grief, and we stand with them in love and solidarity.”

taken from uua.org

We are working as a greater community to heal wounds and repair the rift. The conversation needs to be open and we need to listen as well as speak. Black Lives Matter Banner

~Namaste

Cricket