“Change” Is a Word on Wheels by DeReau K. Farrar
Orange Picture Credit: Kris Nobis Cervantes
Chalica 2020 Day Two
2nd Princple
Chalica 2019 Day 2
Chalica is a week long holiday celebrating the Seven UU Principles. It is a time of reflection, community, and living our faith.
Here are some ways to help you celebrate.
Two Meditations:
A Prayer for Rising to the Occasion by Laura Horton-Ludwig
To the People who Have Mistaken Freedom for Justice by Theresa I. Soto
A Thought to Ponder:
Should you be kind to people who hurt you? What about people who commit really terrible crimes?
A Song:
Orange picture credit: Kris Nobis Cervantes
How to Reach Out to Someone Who Is Struggling
We can help our struggling loved ones by reassuring them that they can bring us their pain without guilt or shame. This article from Omid Safi is a good place to start.
How to Reach Out to Someone Who Is Struggling
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.
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.
Sunday, October 4, 2016: Defying the Nazis
Welcome: To Remind Ourselves What Is Real, By Elena Westbrook
In a world ravaged by violence, by hatred,
by conflicts that seem eternal and insoluble,
sometimes the only thing we can do
is be still for a moment
to remind ourselves what is real:
the sun that rose this morning,
the dirt under our feet,
the air whispering in and out of our lungs.This hour, try just to be present in each moment as it unfolds.
Your simple attention is what makes these moments holy.
Chalice lighting: Embrace The Night, By Jennifer Leota Gray
Universal mystery,
Guide us away from the desire to
Shine light in all the corners.
Teach us to embrace the night,
For without the darkness,
We never see the stars.
West Fork Unitarian Universalists 