“In Judaism, showing hospitality (hakhnasat orchim) to guests is considered a mitzvah. When one knows of strangers who are hungry or need a place to relax, it becomes a legal obligation. Some rabbis consider hakhnasat orchim (literally the “bringing in of strangers”) to be a part of gemilut hasadim (giving of loving kindness).” – From The Jewish Virtual Library
The first story of hospitality in the Torah is when Abraham welcomes the strangers.
Ways to Deepen Your Congregation’s Welcome
Tomorrow begins the season of Lent.
#UULent is designed to be used individually, as a family, or as a congregation. For each day in Lent a word has been selected. Each day participants are invited to reflect on the meaning of the day’s word, then create a photograph that represents the word, idea, practice, or concept and post it here and/or elsewhere.
Beginning on Ash Wednesday and for each day until Easter, the word for the day and a related quote will be posted. Reflect and engage throughout the day, checking for the word and quote in the morning, then come back later in the day to add your photo* and to see the images and words others have shared throughout the day (*YOUR photo – please respect copyright!).
May this intentional practice and discipline impact your daily life in ways that bring you closer to your spiritual core and offer you resiliency for life.
Here at West Fork Unitarian Universalists we will strive to post a reflection each day on the word of the day. We look forward to journeying through this season of contemplation with you.
Special thanks to Mr. Barb Greve, Karen Bellevance-Grace, and Alex Kapitan for their work on #UULent
Our theme for the month of March is Renewing Faith. We will be posting about it and incorporating it into our services.
May we all grow in our faith and help each other feel renewed during this time.
Here are some songs to get us started.
“American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it.” – James Baldwin
The same could be said for Unitarian Universalist History. This Sunday join us as Cricket Hall explores UU History through the lens of Widening Our Circle.
We are forgoing meeting in person during the coronavirus epidemic, meeting on Zoom. We share music, readings, and hymns on our usual presentation slides, have a story and a talk, and share joys and sorrows, as well as a virtual “coffee hour” discussion starting at 10:30, with the service at 11. If you prefer not to be seen, video is optional. If you would like to participate, please email westforkuu@gmail.com for details and a link, or for help with using ZOOM.
If you are a regular attendee, we have added you to our Google Group if we had an email address. If you have not gotten a group email already, please email westforkuu@gmail.com so that we can add you to the group, which we will be using for staying in touch with each other during this time. Public announcements will continue to be posted here on the website and on our Facebook page and Twitter account, as usual.
Email westforkuu@gmail.com or use our contact form for more information or write to us at PO Box 523, Clarksburg WV 26302
Our theme for the month of February is Widening the Circle. We will be posting about it and incorporating it into our services.
While we will be discussing and posting about many things concerning the monthly theme, I think we will start with the report from The Commission on Institutional Change. Widening the Circle of Concern began “At a gathering convened by Unitarian Universalist Association co-presidents Rev. Sofia Betancourt, Rev. William Sinkford, and Dr. Leon Spencer in Atlanta in 2017, Unitarian Universalist leaders of color were asked to share their insights into how the Association could continue moving forward in the midst of another racially charged moment.” Here is the full report both as text and audio. The UUA has also provided a study guide for the book should you be interested.
Here are two songs to think about this month:
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” – Lilla Watson
This Sunday John Hall will explore themes of collective liberation and what that means as we widen our circle.
We are forgoing meeting in person during the coronavirus epidemic, meeting on Zoom. We share music, readings, and hymns on our usual presentation slides, have a story and a talk, and share joys and sorrows, as well as a virtual “coffee hour” discussion starting at 10:30, with the service at 11. If you prefer not to be seen, video is optional. If you would like to participate, please email westforkuu@gmail.com for details and a link, or for help with using ZOOM.
If you are a regular attendee, we have added you to our Google Group if we had an email address. If you have not gotten a group email already, please email westforkuu@gmail.com so that we can add you to the group, which we will be using for staying in touch with each other during this time. Public announcements will continue to be posted here on the website and on our Facebook page and Twitter account, as usual.
Email westforkuu@gmail.com or use our contact form for more information or write to us at PO Box 523, Clarksburg WV 26302
Welcome:
Good morning and welcome to West Fork Unitarian Universalists. I’m John and I feel blessed to serve this congregation as a lay leader. I’m glad to see all of you here today.
Thank you for joining us.
Let us use the prelude for centering. We are about to enter sacred time. We are about to make this time and this place sacred by our presence and intention.
Please silence your phones… and as you do so, I invite us also to turn down the volume on our fears; to remove our masks; and to loosen the armor around our hearts.
Breathe.
Let go of the expectations placed on you by others—and those they taught you to place on yourself.
Drop the guilt and the shame, not to shirk accountability, but in honest expectation of the possibility of forgiveness.
Let go of the thing you said the other day. Let go of the thing you dread next week. Be here, in this moment. Breathe, here.
Prelude:
Welcome: Our Lives Intersect and Intertwine by Tania Márquez
Welcome Song:
Chalice Lighting: In This Small Flame Dwell by Jean L Wahlstrom
Continue reading
Celebrate Winter Solstice with UU Ministry for the Earth! More info below:
As we count down to the year’s end and the winter solstice draws near, UU Ministry for Earth invites you to register to join us online for our Winter Solstice Celebration on December 22nd.
“On this #TransDayofVisibility, may all Unitarian Universalists declare our unapologetic support for trans people. As a parent and a faith leader, I know that #translivesaredivine. At the UUA, we emphatically denounce the vicious attacks happening in state legislatures around the country against trans people and their lives, well-being, rights and access to healthcare.
To dehumanize another is distort and damage one’s own humanity. This country is in dire need of more humanity, more compassion, more love and more justice for all.” – From UUA president Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray
Trans Day of Visibility is an annual awareness day celebrated around the world. The day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans justice. – click here for more education and activities
Celebrate Trans Day of Visibility, uplifting the beautiful lives and important work of trans & non-binary folk. We share this collaborative poem “Beyond Resilience” created by trans & non-binary writers as part of Forward Together’s annual art project. “Trauma is not our name. Survived is not our identity. The future is unbound, the chains are broken.” #tdov2021
The UUA Decries Anti-Asian Violence
Stop the “lone wolf” narrative by Nicole Cardoza
The work of @soni_artist on Instagram.
West Fork Unitarian Universalists 