At long last, I have recused myself from standing in theological judgment of people’s most reflexive prayers, including their seasonal prayers for good weather. The heart wants what the heart [...]]]> Praying, preaching and giving thanks

The Rev. Dr. Kelly Murphy Mason has “gotten out of the business of having opinions about anyone’s prayer life, petitionary or otherwise.”

At long last, I have recused myself from standing in theological judgment of people’s most reflexive prayers, including their seasonal prayers for good weather. The heart wants what the heart wants and our lips are wont to give it voice. (The Reverend Dr., May 24)

The Rev. Meredith Garmon reviews the Festival of Homiletics, beginning with a message to Christians and atheists.

To my Christian friends and parishioners: I’m on your side. To my atheist friends and parishioners: I’m on your side. Aside from a few quibbles here and there that I think turn out to be largely or wholly semantic, the only significant point on which I disagree with either of you is the one point on which you both seem to agree—to wit, that it’s not possible to be on both sides at once.

It is, and I am.

The tribal Christians, who would like to defeat atheism, and the tribal atheists, who would like to defeat Christianity, will both be disappointed in me for my report on my experience at the 2012 Festival of Homiletics. Let us all pray, and/or meditate, and/or go to therapy to get over ourselves. (Lake Chalice, May 22)

Beginning with thoughts about giving thanks for meals, the Rev. Peter Boullata explores the ways in which “grace notes” of gratitude appear in our lives.

There are moments when we survey the banquet of our lives and are thankful. . . . We cannot command them or produce them, but there are moments of pleasure and delight that grace our days unexpectedly. A sense of serenity, that all is well; the comforting silence between companions. The special quality of such moments is that we don’t bring them about by overachieving or being perfect. We don’t bring them about at all. They are given freely, gratuitously. In such moments of clarity, we understand that all of life is a gift. (Held in the Light, May 23)

Personal reflections

On her daughter’s seventh birthday, Lizard Eater considers the ways in which each member of her family has been changed by childhood cancer.

I don’t like the phrase “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I don’t feel it to be necessarily true.

But I do think that what doesn’t kill you often makes you different. And if you look hard enough, some of that different might be good. (The Journey, May 24)

Amy Peterson Derrick loves to write, but her busy life leaves her mind cluttered with mental notes for future writing.

[Picture] a section of my brain covered with Post-It notes about big “Ah-ha” moments and earth-shattering paradigm shifts. . . . The more days go by the more Post-Its seem to litter my brain, leaving little room for other new, time-sensitive, important information, and my daughter shows up for a beloved school Pajama Day in her regular play clothes. (UU@Home, May 22)

A UU World article about the church in which she discovered Unitarian Universalism prompts Christine Leigh Slocum to think back on the beginnings of her UU journey.

I eventually joined the Unitarian Universalist Church of Amherst. . . . The decision of which church was made by proximity: I could ride my bike to UUCA because I lived down the road. Between the wonderful communities at University Unitarian Church and UUCA, proximity is working well for me as the decision-making criteria. (Seattleite from Syracuse, May 23)

Dissenting voices

Eddie Proulx wishes that communities of social progressives were more tolerant of dissenting voices in their midst.

Within a group of self-described socially progressive individuals, I commented that their understanding of an issue was inaccurate—wrong on the facts. This group summarily shut me down, effectively ending a conversation that so desperately needs to be had at this time and in this place.

This group, who considers themselves “voices of dissent” were very uncomfortable with the appearance of “dissenting voices” within their ranks. (Enso Peace, May 20)

One of Thomas Earthman’s central complaints about UUism is the tendency of some congregations to belittle one or more of our sources.

We must see ourselves as one faith, with many sources, and not many faiths merely tolerating each other for the sake of political impact and the respectability of numbers.

There is no means to respond to a congregation that is getting this wrong. The UUA has little authority to question, much less rebuke, a congregation that is ostracizing those who come seeking truth. All we can do, for now, is try to get out the message that this is not how we want our religion portrayed or practiced. We have to make it known that we are one faith, and that what we believe not only matters, but can change lives and communities. (A Material Sojourn, May 24)

Happy Birthday, PNWD!

The Pacific Northwest District celebrated its 50th birthday at a District Assembly in Anchorage, Alaska—the first District Assembly ever held in Alaska.

Strange Attractor shares the lessons she learned from serving on the planning team for District Assembly.

I have never been much of a joiner. While it might be very nice to believe that I have such a charismatic personality that people are just dying to get to know me, the truth is it is very easy to attend and even join a church, and stay a stranger to most. . . . There is no doubt that I over-extended myself this spring, but I am finding that the best way to get to know people is to get involved and do some work. This is probably not a news flash to you, but it is progress for me. (Strange Attractor, May 24)

During the District Assembly’s closing worship service, young adult Chris Jenkins and youth Elizabeth Hitchcock shared what they believe Unitarian Universalism will be celebrating in another fifty years.

Spirituality and intellectualism are no longer mutually exclusive.

Our congregations are fully multicultural, multigenerational, and integrated.

Not only do Unitarian Universalists know what Unitarian Universalism is, so does the general public. . . .

The youth to young adult “bridge to nowhere” has been rebuilt with strong programs and systems to support and sustain vibrant faith, integration, and community for our young adults. (Growing Unitarian Universalism, May 22)

Around the blogosphere

Crystal St. Marie Lewis wishes Christians would start interpreting the Scripture like Jesus did.

[Have] you ever noticed that when those in power used their influence to entrap people with doctrine, Jesus used compassion to release them from it? . . . Christianity has a reputation among the non-religious for being a hatred-producing propaganda machine because we have yet to master the art of using scripture in the way that Jesus used it. I hope this changes in my lifetime. (Crystal St. Marie Lewis, May 22)

The Rev. Chip Roush and his Labrador, Lilly, discuss displays of affection in men’s basketball.

I’m tickled that they’re showing all the players hugging. Look—players and coaches from both teams are hugging each other, unabashedly. This never would have happened, even five years ago. (So May We Be, May 22)

[Time magazine] took a picture that made extended breast-feeding look as freakishly weird as possible. I say that while still supporting that there is nothing [...]]]> Motherhood in the media

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum responds to Time magazine’s provocative cover photo, which shows a mother breastfeeding her three-year-old son, and to its “Are you mom enough?” headline.

[Time magazine] took a picture that made extended breast-feeding look as freakishly weird as possible. I say that while still supporting that there is nothing wrong with what is depicted. But given that in our society extended breastfeeding is seen as unusual at best and as “wrong and perverted” as some comments have said about this picture, the cover photo is a picture that did everything it could to make the situation look even more abnormal and wrong. (Rev. Cyn, May 15)

Sara from The Curriculum of Love weighs in on this latest skirmish in the “Mommy Wars.”

Are the Mommy Wars real? I don’t really see folks getting into fights about parenting choices face to face. But in print, or on the internet, there we go to extremes and fight. The idea that there is some perfect way to parent, or to live, just baffles me. All there is is our own human frailty, blinding groping toward living the life that human dignity demands of us—a life of integrity in compliance with what our hearts call us to do. (The Curriculum of Love, May 12)

Idealism, realism and reconciliation

The Rev. David Owen-O’Quill responds to post-Boomers who are weary of the culture wars.

The question of how do we reconcile is huge. The point that attacking one another doesn’t seem to be the answer is well taken. However, as someone firmly on the side of gay acceptance for faith reasons, and definitely on the side of extending equality under the law, I get troubled sometimes by the talk of reconciliation. I wonder how much of it is a reaction against the messiness, chaos, and conflict that such culture wars produce. (news from the spiritual underground, May 16)

Finding our religion

Christine Slocum wonders about a UU version of the evangelical Christian book, Blue Like Jazz.

The book is a coming of age story for twenty-something, open-hearted evangelical Christians trying to find meaning in an old system that does not necessarily speak to them.

I wonder what the Unitarian Universalist equivalent would be? It seems there could be one, as there are a lot of stories in the blogosphere about feeling alienated, struggling to find meaning, and so forth. What stories would populate that book? Who would write it? (Seattleite from Syracuse, May 15)

In the second of two posts on raising her atheist and agnostic sons, Sarah MacLeod writes about asking her boys what they do believe.

As a strong proponent of a free and meaningful spiritual search for each individual, I’m fine with my children’s choices, which may be temporary or permanent. Either way is fine with me.

But.

Yes, there’s a but. . . . My “but” goes like this: those labels tell me what you don’t believe and nothing about what you do. Without a sense of what one then does hold sacred, important, or true, those are labels of negation (atheism) and uncertainty (agnosticism). There’s nothing wrong with either, but to me, left alone, they are immature and incomplete. (Finding My Ground, May 15)

Congregations and beyond

The Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley shares next steps in the “Congregations and Beyond” process.

I have to say I am simultaneously excited and scared. . . . The excitement part for me is probably obvious: it’s an incredible privilege to work at what feels like the beginning of a huge culture shift in UUism. . . . The scary part is that we really don’t know what “it” is yet. I’m usually quite comfortable with this; I even teach and preach the virtues of holding ourselves in creative space without rushing to conclusions or outcomes. But I also know that there are many people out there who are looking for conclusions and outcomes! (Learn Out Loud, May 13)

Thomas Earthman wonders if we should push beyond congregations, beyond Facebook, to a missional social media platform.

The idea is to mirror some of the work that is being done on other social media, but in a place that is devoted to UUs and not clogged with everyone else’s friends, ads, and games. I want a place where people can come and focus on being part of a larger movement. I want a place where we can support each other, discuss crazy ideas, and not fear judgement and ridicule for wanting to speak radically about our faith. (A Material Sojourn, May 17)

Around the blogosphere

The Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern asks, “What annual income are folks are expected to live on in your area? Do you think it’s feasible?”

Setting the minimum wage far below the poverty level is one of the biggest pieces of corporate welfare we Americans fund. Instead of businesses paying people a living wage, they pay wages at which a full-time worker–or even two full-time workers–can’t support a family, and the taxpayers step in to fill the gap with welfare programs. Or, more usually, the gap just stays a gap. (Sermons in Stones, May 16)

The Rev. Dan Harper describes his multi-ethnic neighborhood, and then explains why he thinks his neighbors wouldn’t be welcome in most UU congregations.

Mostly . . . I think the problem lies in the misguided notion held by many Unitarian Universalists that we are supposed to feel comfortable hanging out with everyone in our congregation. We feel we must achieve a social consensus; we must have congregations where there are no divides of any kind.

That’s why people in my neighborhood won’t fit into a Unitarian Universalist congregation. Yet I believe they might go to a liberal congregation if there were no implicit social consensus they were expected to fit into. (Yet Another Unitarian Universalist, May 14)

The Rev. Ed Searl shares the introduction he uses in same-sex marriage ceremonies. (Ed Searl’s Journal, May 13)

Watching the movie, The Descendants, prompts the Rev. Naomi King to write about advanced medical directives. (The Wonderment, May 11)

The better question, friends, is: Are we ready? Tomorrow morning, we will rise and wake to a new day. . . . The faith and devotion of those who have gone before us beg us to [...]]]> Marriage equality

After long months of hard work opposing North Carolina’s “marriage amendment,” the Rev. Robin Tanner asks, “Are we defeated?”

The better question, friends, is: Are we ready? Tomorrow morning, we will rise and wake to a new day. . . . The faith and devotion of those who have gone before us beg us to step forward. From Stonewall to today, they urge us onward and ask a single question: Are we ready? (Piedmont Preacher, May 9)

Kathleen McGregor feels battered by everything that happened this week in the fight over marriage equality.

The congratulations, and requests that we thank Obama for “evolving” on this “issue” do not feel right on a day after 61% of North Carolina voters enshrined bigotry in their constitution for the second time. . . . I think that I am supposed to be happy that Democrats will start coming out in favor of marriage equality. Well, pardon me if it feels like too little, too late. (Both/And, May 9)

For Andy Coate, it’s important to celebrate victories along the way, even though equality has not yet been won and other injustices also call for action.

This is an issue I’ve been passionately fighting for for years. Marriage equality DOES still matter; we cannot wait for everything to be perfectly aligned, for all other injustices to be healed before we celebrate any wins. I’m happy that Obama came out in favor of marriage equality. I’m going to celebrate that. (thoughts ON, May 9)

The Rev. Bill Sinkford acknowledges the complexity of our reactions to this week’s news stories about marriage equality.

Our task is to live buoyed by the hope that developments like Obama’s statement provide while, at the same time, knowing that there will be setbacks like the North Carolina decision.

So we celebrate, we mourn and we commit ourselves to the on-going work of creation. It is no simple task, but it is what we are called to do. (Rev. Sinkford’s Blog, May 10)

My Country, ‘Tis of Thee

The Rev. Sam Trumbore provides a thoughtful examination of the Doctrine of Discovery, which will be a focus of discussion at this year’s General Assembly.

Given the large indigenous population in Arizona, and the historical connection with the indigenous population in Mexico, the focus for us to pay attention to the Doctrine of Discovery makes a lot more sense. The Doctrine of Discovery connects with the setting of national borders between the United States and Mexico that bisected the lands of some Native peoples. Remember the Southwest came into U.S. possession through war with Mexico. Our partners like to say, “We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us.” (Rev. Sam Trumbore, May 8)

When Representative Michelle Bachmann’s dual citizenship leads to charges of “civic bigamy,” the Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern begins to consider what “allegiance” to one’s country means.

“Allegiance” is just not a word I apply to my relationship with my country, certainly not undivided allegiance. That allegiance . . . is shared with the commitment I make to all living things; to humanity as a whole; to the truth, as best as I can perceive it; and to the aims of liberty and justice for all, which is the only phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance that ever moved me. (Sermons in Stones, May 10)

The Rev. David Pyle has just finished reading a near-future science fiction novel, in which the United States has become nearly irrelevant—while still holding on to the idea of American Exceptionalism.

Whenever I think of American Exceptionalism, I think of the speech given by Ronald Reagan where he talked about the “City on the Hill”, paraphrasing the Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (though second-hand, through John Winthrop). Perhaps it is time we realize that Reagan got the scripture wrong. . . . The metaphor of the City on the Hill was not about that city being exceptional in its own right. It was about the need for the city that all can see to behave in a way that inspires all of humankind. What would make such a city exceptional was not what it was, or who founded it, or whatever ideals they might have. It was how they behaved. (Celestial Lands, May 10)

Facing an uncertain future

The Rev. David Owen-O’Quill reviews the recent book by Diana Butler Bass, Christianity After Religion: The End of Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening.

This “fourth great awakening” is transforming the way we understand faith, the church, and ourselves. It effects not only the overtly spiritual matters but the realms of ethics, community, politics, and culture. The question for the church is not if things are going to change but how is that change going to come about. How will the traditional institutions respond. Will they support leadership adapting to the new cultural realities, will they ignore such efforts, or will they sabotage them. . . . Its an open-ended question. (News from the Spiritual Underground, May 9)

Tom Wilson finds hope for the future of Unitarian Universalism, not in transformational experiences, but in steady, incremental improvements.

[R]adical transformation is a buzzword in some UU circles. But is this a piece of Christian baggage that we would be well rid of? Radical change sometimes happens. But like winning the lottery, it is of note exactly because it is so rare. . . . [We] are better served by attentive practice and incremental change. It’s not as sexy as winning the transformation lottery, but many small enlightenments may take us where we want to go. And if they don’t––at least we’ll be enlightened. (Musings and Essays, May 5)

John Beckett offers advice for living in a world that seems to be on the brink of catastrophe.

Start small, practice, work on yourself, practice, help someone else, practice, set a good example, and practice some more. You’ll persuade far more people to live responsibly by happily living responsibly yourself than by angrily demanding changes that people aren’t ready to make. (Under the Ancient Oaks, May 8)

Around the blogosphere

After reading a list of “Seven Things to Avoid when Talking to Strangers about Humanism,” the Rev. Dan Harper translates the list for Unitarian Universalists who want to talk about their faith.

“Don’t talk about God.” It turns out that most people aren’t that interested in having theological discussions about whether or not God exists, and if God does exist what is the nature of God . . . . When someone asks me about my Unitarian Universalist congregation, I tell them about the amazing Sunday services, the great people who are part of the congregation, the fun that the kids have in Sunday school, the social justice work that we do; there’s never time to even get to God. (Yet Another Unitarian Universalist, May 7)

Doug Muder shares the text of his presentation, “A Humanist Approach to Death.”

A few weeks ago I found myself at a funeral where no doctrine of the afterlife was preached. . . . Instead of speculating about where she is now, the service celebrated the life that she had led, the kind of person she was, and the effect she had on those who knew her. I came away from that funeral with two impressions: First, that this woman had really lived. And second, that living a human life is a pretty cool thing to be able to do. In short, that funeral was an inspiring, upbeat event. (Free and Responsible Search, May 6)

I’ve overheard heated rants about Christians and theism during coffee hour. It’s embarrassing, given the UU commitment to supporting free spiritual searches by all and to protecting the worth and dignity of all humans. . [...]]]> Gated religious communities

Sarah MacLeod writes that when Unitarian Universalists fall short of our commitment to pluralism, we hinder UU interfaith work.

I’ve overheard heated rants about Christians and theism during coffee hour. It’s embarrassing, given the UU commitment to supporting free spiritual searches by all and to protecting the worth and dignity of all humans. . . . Sure, we teach our children and ourselves about the religions of the world, but that’s not interfaith work. And badmouthing any religion in a church committed to supporting religious freedom is downright contradictory to even beginning true interfaith work. (Finding My Ground, May 2)

The Rev. Fred Muir suggests that UU congregations can be like gated communities—havens that welcome only like-minded members.

I can already hear and feel some push-back—of course we aren’t, we’re not gated! . . . Really? Anyone is welcome? No gate? Or are there people and families for whom the gate is closed, while for others the gate is open? . . . Let’s look for the gates to our church, to our way of religion. Let’s think about who gets in and who doesn’t. . . . Together let’s answer the call to open the gate, greet others with hospitality, and become a community where we “inspire and empower bold and compassionate living.” (Building the UU Beloved Community, May 2)

How does a church run?

As the Rev. Christana Wille McKnight gives visitors a church tour, one of them asks, ““How does a church run, anyways? Where does your money come from?”

As I explained . . . [offerings and pledging] to our guests . . . their eyes grew wide. “You mean, a church has to run things like a business?” one of them questioned in disbelief. “You have to have income and expenses and salaries and everything?” I nodded. Surprisingly, she smiled. “That’s so cool. So this church really is about being for the people and by the people—a real community.” (Ordinary Days, May 2)

The Rev. Kent Hemmen-Saleska’s congregation has been transitioning to Policy Governance®, and he shares the wisdom of Laura Park, a consultant with Unity Consulting.

Part of my commitment to this model stems from my belief that it better supports democracy than other approaches to governance I’ve seen. That belief starts with how I understand democracy. I understand democracy to mean that it’s clear how the voice of the whole finds its way into the decisions of our elected leaders. (Moving in Faith, April 30)

In a series of posts, the Rev. Dan Harper shares the text of his Pacific Central District presentation, “Transform and Grow Your RE Program.”

As you will see, growth is not rocket science; growth is all about patient attention to detail. I think you will find this presentation to be quite different from other Unitarian Universalist approaches to growth: it’s kind of geeky; it’s not exciting; it lacks sexy jargon terms; and it’s all about management and administration. However, since the exciting, sexy, theological approaches don’t seem to be working all that well, maybe you should check out my approach. (Yet Another Unitarian Universalist, April 27)

Taming inner monsters

Jacqueline Wolven acknowledges that generosity of spirit does not come naturally to her.

I want to be loving and kind and filled with generous words of spirit—and mean it. . . . It just takes me a minute to get there. What happens is like a quick monster overcomes my heart and I feel myself tense up into a knot as it grabs all the kind words out of my throat and stuffs them in to my belly. . . . If I can just take one breath, I can move through that feeling into something else. Sometimes it takes just a moment and I remind myself what I really want for others—not the stinginess that swells inside. Other times it takes months, maybe even years. (MoxieLife, April 30)

The Rev. Lisa Ward gathers her inner strength, and faces her moderate fear of heights, by embarking on a ziplining adventure.

When my arms became wobbly, again more from fear than logic, I . . . extended my arms out to encourage the flow of chi, and trusted that the fear could accompany me and ride into joy. This discipline accompanied me throughout the three hour journey, filled with sights and sounds and laughter that keep me smiling to this day. (Pondering on the Path, May 2)

Losing faith

Gary Lerude highlights an NPR story about the Rev. Teresa MacBain, a Methodist minister who recently “came out” as an atheist.

After the internal conflict became too much to bear and she declared her true belief—or lack of—she had to resign and face ostracism from her church community. Had she been a Unitarian Universalist, her questioning would have been encouraged, her atheism accepted, her spirit nurtured. (Be Spiritual, May 1)

Commenting on the same story, the Rev. Jeff Liebmann writes that being an atheist minister requires more faith, not less.

The atheist minister believes in the beloved community, a world with peace, social justice, economic fairness, and freedom. The atheist minister knows that someday, we will build a world in which every child is fed, everyone has a home, all illness is treated, and each person is free to pursue their path in life and proclaim their own identity.

As John Lennon sang, “you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope some day you’ll join us and the world will live as one.” Welcome, Teresa, to the covenant of dreamers. (uujeff’s muse kennel and pizzatorium, May 1)

Professional UU leadership

The Rev. Tom Schade outlines several problems in professional religious leadership, and a few solutions.

We need “super-congregational” structures that function as employers. (By “super” I mean “above” not “better”.) These structures would allow multiple congregations to share ministers, musicians, religious educators and administrators. One idea would be for the flagship congregations in a region to actually employ a larger staff, providing services to smaller, local congregations and billing them appropriately. Perhaps Districts and Regions could become employers.

If the UUA can run a professional health insurance company, there is no reason why it cannot create or contract with a third party to provide payroll services for all congregations, thus standardizing and professionalizing this function. (the lively tradition, April 30; see also May 1)

Katy Carpman celebrates the completion of her process of becoming a Credentialed Religious Educator.

Moments before entering the room, my chaplain mentioned, “And Eliot Chapel has the Channing pulpit.” I did not really have time to be stupefied that I was about to preach from the same pulpit as William Ellery Channing. . . .

I did not set myself on fire as I lit the chalice. (MissDRE and Wonder, May 3)

Matt Kinsi, who hopes to become a director of religious education, wrestles with the question of how to get the experience he needs.

I assume there’s some kind of farm system for experience—be a quarter time DRE somewhere for a while before becoming a full time DRE. But that’s not possible for me—I can’t work in a less than full time position and make the ends meet. (Spirituality and Sunflowers, May 2)

Around the blogosphere


Christine Leigh Slocum reports in from the May Day protests in Seattle.

The vandalism frustrates me. . . . There is a perception that going to these protests comes with those risks, not because you may be violent but as a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time because the police are trigger happy and the anarchists are provocateurs. . . . I would argue that incurring fear is only an effective tactic if you are arguing that you can protect the fearful from the target, not when you are becoming the entity to be feared. (Seattleite from Syracuse, May 2)

As she completes more than a year of grant work related to helping congregations set up and practice digital ministry, June Herold issues a “last call” for input about how UUs would prefer to receive and use the information she’s gathered. (The New UU, May 2)

Herold also provides a Spanish translation of UU President Peter Morales’ “Congregations and Beyond” sermon, preached in English at the UU Church of Arlington, Virginia. (The New UU, May 2)

[The] leader’s facial expression caught my eye—eyes rolled slightly upward, lids slightly lowered, cheeks slack, head tilted slightly back—it was subtle, but I recognized that facial expression. It was the expression that [...]]]> Intimacy with the sacred

While singing shape note music, the Rev. Dan Harper notices a facial expression he’s never seen during a UU Sunday service.

[The] leader’s facial expression caught my eye—eyes rolled slightly upward, lids slightly lowered, cheeks slack, head tilted slightly back—it was subtle, but I recognized that facial expression. It was the expression that comes at peak experiences, at moments of religious ecstasy. (Yet Another Unitarian Universalist, April 23)

The Rev. Sam Trumbore wonders what UUs can learn from an evangelical approach to developing a personal relationship with God.

Our constructed sense of self and of God as separated from each other and in conflict with each other interfere with the direct experience of the unity of being. Imagining oneness and unity create the possibility for experiencing that reality. (Rev. Sam Trumbore, April 21)

Celebrating Earth Day

Jason Pitzl-Waters offers a Pagan perspective on Earth Day.

Modern Pagan and Heathen faiths, whether they identify as “nature religions” or not, have a special sacral relationship with the natural world. Our gods and goddesses can be found in oceans, rivers, forests, and mountains. . . . Our rites often mark the changing seasons, and once tracked the progress of crops essential to our survival. . . . So it isn’t surprising that many Pagans feel a special urging to advocate for the environment and the protection of the natural world. (The Wild Hunt, April 22)

The Rev. Tony Lorenzen celebrates a Franciscan Earth Day.

I celebrated Earth Day by picking up large rocks, hauling bricks in a wheelbarrow, shoveling and spreading loam, shoveling and spreading mulch, hauling rocks to line the herb and strawberry spiral, and ripping open and pouring bags of concrete into post holes for the posts of bird houses. . . . I preached the gospel all day long Saturday and rarely did I use any words. I worked with about four dozen brothers and sisters and we preached by our deeds. (Sunflower Chalice, April 22)

The shape of justice

The Rev. Susan Karlson participates in a “Jericho Walk,” a vigil for immigration justice outside the Supreme Court as it considers Arizona’s SB1070.

After the seventh circle around the Supreme Court, we raised our arms again and Father Fabian read the Jericho Prayer in Spanish while I read it in English. And then we began the lament—the shout of all the sorrow and pain accompanying those who came from Arizona, those who have long been working to bring greater justice, love, fairness and dignity to people’s lives. Without words, the cry continued, bursting from our hearts and lungs, spilling onto the steps. (Minister’s Musings, April 25)

The Rev. Jude Geiger explores the “white rage” that fuels violence and prejudice.

I believe it’s in part sourced in the crossroads between the myth of the American Dream, and the pain we feel when things that used to go our way stop seeming to go our way. . . . The American Dream says that if you work hard enough, you’ll achieve financial success, a house, and 2-point-something children. For some people that’s still true. But it seems like it’s true for less and less of us. (Rev. G. Jude Geiger, April 25)

The Rev. Fred Hammond responds to Alabama’s anti-immigration HB658.

Rep. Micky Hammon stated before voting to move the revision bill HB 658 out of committee that “Churches need something written in crayon because they exaggerate.” Exaggerate? . . . It is also not an exaggeration to state that Rep. Micky Hammon’s statement reflects a disdain for religious values that guide humane behavior. (A Unitarian Universalist Minister in the South, April 24)

Speaking from her own experience, the Rev. Elz Curtiss weighs in on the issue of providing payment for caregivers.

Money is how we demonstrate that something has value, how we honor an action or output across different subcultures, languages, races, even state boundaries. . . . Unless I’m a total freak, I believe that paying other caregivers as I am paid will release huge waves of tension throughout our national body politic. (Politywonk, April 25)

Access, worth, and dignity

Theresa Ines draws attention to gap between our commitment to inherent worth and dignity, and the reality of physically inaccessible spaces.

If I start with the premise that a place that is not accessible to me is tacitly refusing my patronage, I arrive at the conclusion that all the places that are not accessible are places I am not welcome or wanted: the platform at the chapel of my church; the supply room of the religious education wing; seminaries with inaccessible facilities. (Inexplicable Beauty, March 26)

In her series of posts about the recent UUA Board meeting, trustee Linda Laskowski notes that accessibility is among the reasons for UUA headquarters to leave Beacon Hill.

Last week the UUA Board cleared the UUA Administration to sell [25 Beacon Street], plus two other buildings on Beacon Hill, and move to another location. . . . Over the past year the Board and Administration have been looking at whether or not these properties fit our values. . . . First there is the issue of accessibility: there is an elevator, but there are also ramps that are very difficult for physically challenged people to navigate. . . . Between the cost to maintain and do significant (needed) repairs to old buildings, and the difference between what we could get for selling the building and moving to a different one that fit our values around people and our environment, we could add a significant amount of money for programming each year––programming that goes directly to supporting our congregations. (UUA View from Berkeley, April 26)

Around the blogosphere

Christine Slocum admits that she is no longer a strict vegetarian, and is, instead, a “conflicted, relaxed, maybe-not-a-vegetarian.”

I am torn up over this choice. It is not that my beliefs changed. I do not believe it is ethical to kill needlessly. I do believe that the best course of action is to minimize harm. My country eats too much meat, and suffers for it. Unfortunately, I have been suffering from health issues that I highly suspect are diet-related. The conflict is that I have an ethical imperative which I can no longer maintain without cost to my body. (Seattleite from Syracuse, April 23)

Searching for a new religious home, Hafidha Sofia visits another Seattle UU congregation.

My initial impression . . . is that it is down-to-earth, a good balance of intellect and heart, youth friendly (youth have voting rights, and some actually attend services, adults spoke of them as fellow congregants), and possesses a strong spirit of fellowship. There seems to be a tight-knit community, but it didn’t feel exclusive. There was a prevailing sense of expansion and openness. As I looked around the sanctuary and the grounds . . . it felt like there was space for me and Kidlet there. (Never Say Never to Your Traveling Self, April 23)

The Rev. Brian Kiely looks for a happy medium that combines online community with face-to-face meetings.

Lots of people like to talk about “on-line communities” and sing their praises. Just about as many people like to disparage them for not being “real.” Like a lot of things, the truth is probably somewhere in the middle—and perhaps involves a more fluid concept of ‘community.’ (Divining the Digital Reformation, April 23)

The Rev. Peter Boullata reviews—and recommends—Dan McKanan’s book, Prophetic Encounters: Religion and the American Radical Tradition.

Prophetic Encounters is a good antidote to contemporary progressive activists’ antipathy toward organized religion and spiritual movements. Anyone whose view is that religion’s role in public life is necessarily conservative needs to read this book. (Held in the Light, April 25)

Because there have been times when shame has crushed our ability to be wholehearted We let go of who we ought to be and embrace who we [...]]]> A litany of wholeheartedness

The Rev. Dawn Cooley shares a “Litany of Wholeheartedness,” based on the work of Brené Brown and inspired by Rev. Rob Eller Isaac’s “Litany of Atonement.”

Because there have been times when shame has crushed our ability to be wholehearted
We let go of who we ought to be and embrace who we are. . . .
Because we have struggled to have compassion for ourselves or others
We let go of who we ought to be and embrace who we are. (Speaking of, April 14)

Responding to changing times

The Rev. Dan Harper considers the “disruptive forces” affecting Unitarian Universalism—and what we should do about them.

Instead of succumbing to nostalgia or fantasy, I’d prefer to look at how we might innovate. What can we adopt and adapt from the disruptive forces that are destroying our current business model? How might we become a disruptive force ourselves? Are there theological advantages to new and innovative business models? Or, to use a traditional metaphor, what are the new wineskins into which we will put our new wine? (Yet Another Unitarian Universalist, April 16)

Liz James objects to the argument that “our congregations have to adopt social media, or they won’t survive.”

“We must change to survive” is just not a good enough reason to make deep changes in how we do religious community. Institutional survival, after all, is not an end—it’s a means to an end. If adopting Social Media leads to survival but undermines what makes Church valuable, then we shouldn’t do it. The only good reason for a religious institution to change, in my mind, is to better serve its purpose. I believe that Social Media can help us better serve our purpose. (Sacred Lego, April 18)

Plaidshoes’ religious education committee has been discussing the pros and cons of having large, flat-screen monitors in each classroom.

I am torn on this. . . . We are also not a wealthy congregation and I am reluctant to use much of our RE budget towards this expense. I have heard, though, many UU congregations are jumping on the high-tech multi-media bandwagon and have some pretty snazzy RE rooms. I have also heard that a lot of UUA curriculum will be in this format. I would love to hear some of your thoughts on this. (Everyday Unitarian, April 18)

The Rev. Sean Dennison serves a congregation that gives its minister significant decision-making authority.

At my current congregation, we’ve done a lot of work to clarify who has the power to make decisions about particular things. For instance, under policy-style governance we use, the minister has the power to make decisions about almost everything that falls under “ministry.” Are we going to start a book group? I can decide. Is a program losing momentum and taking up a lot of resources? I can decide to end it. Are we going to add another service? Up to me. Do we need to hire a few singers to help round out the choir? Done. (ministrare, April 19)

In response to this trust, Dennison has developed a mnemonic that reminds him when to slow down and consult others.

When will you stand up?

When residents of his hometown protest a proposed mosque, Nicolas Cable asks, “When will you stand up?”

It is important that we help give voice to the other side of the debate by helping our brothers and sisters be heard. Islam is a religion of peace just as imperfectly as Christianity, Judaism, and the rest have been throughout history. . . . This is not an isolated event. These struggles are happening all over the country. Reach out to your congregations to look deep within their hearts and ask, “how can we be advocates of peace and freedom, this day?” (Spiritual RevolUUtions, April 17)

Kathleen McGregor is concerned about developments in her home state of Arizona, where Mexican and Native American history classes are being eliminated.

Only since the 1970s has the program to send Native American children off to boarding schools to “kill the Indian and save the man” discontinued. Many of those affected are are still living. I hope that the youth of today are not doomed to repeat history on the ordinary brown skinned men, the Vatos, as well as the women and children of the state who deserve respect because of their inherent worth. (Both/And: A Peculiar Mix, April 19)

Learning from Sabbath and sabbaticals

For the Rev. Naomi King, keeping a Sabbath helps her come to terms with “being without doing.”

For much of my life, I have connected being without doing as the state of being ill, trapped in bed, unable to participate in life. Sabbath gives me the gift of a different way of appreciating and understanding being without doing, a vibrant participation in life, access to a well of gratitude in dwelling in present blessing. (The Wonderment, April 13)

A sabbatical allows the Rev. Cynthia Cain to re-examine and reclaim her introversion.

It was not until this sabbatical that I truly accepted that I would always be “shy” (now I am reclaiming that word which has such a negative connotation) and realized that many of the challenges I faced came from my own and others’ unwillingness to adapt and accept that. I know that ministry was the “right” career choice for me because I could pursue the intellectual, spiritual and environmental goals about which I feel passionate. Still, it has been a challenge (the dominant personality type for clergy is ENFJ) because of the expectations of outgoingness and charisma that can create enormous stress for an introvert. (A Jersey Girl in Kentucky, April 16)

The Rev. Krista Taves’ sabbatical church-hopping leads her to All Souls in New York City, where she wrestles with feeling small in a large space.

Maybe it’s good to feel lost sometimes. Maybe it’s good to sing with a pipe organ and not be able to hear your own voice. Maybe my own voice needs to be drowned out once in a while. Maybe the truth needs to echo and I should struggle to hear it. Because really, it’s not all about us. (And the stones shall cry, April 14)

Around the blogosphere

For the Rev. Tess Baumberger, contra dancing provides a metaphor for a minister’s work

Ministry is a weighty profession. You need the people you serve to hold and give weight that counter-balances yours. In my tradition lay people and ministers need to connect in appropriate ways, then lean back a little so there’s some space between them. The space establishes a center of gravity you can both move around safely, and in ways that can be really fun. These are things I have learned from contra dancing. (Transformation Tree, April 16)

John Beckett suggests a few “defenses against the proselytizing arts” for Pagans and other members of minority religions.

The purpose of Defense Against the Proselytizing Arts is defensive—it’s not for winning arguments with fundamentalists and it’s certainly not for aggressively promoting your own religion. Its goal is to help you and your family stay safely and comfortably on the path to which you’ve been called. Its goal isn’t to change someone else’s mind—its goal is to keep someone else from changing your mind. (Under the Ancient Oaks, April 17)

The Rev. Andrew Pakula provides a series of testimonials from the Unitarian General Assembly meetings in Britain.

We’re living now on yesteryear’s fat—the legacy of the past
If we don’t increase our numbers, our movement will not last

So I implore you, delegates, to yourselves this aim apply
Because otherwise our movement will eventually die

We are the ones with power and the responsibility
There’s no one else can make us grow—only you and me.

So let’s make a pledge today—the focus of our lives
To ensure through our efforts Unitarianism thrives. (Throw Yourself Like Seed, April 17)

We had our first casualty this week. . . . I did not know this Soldier. He was part of another Battalion within our Brigade. . . . When I heard we had a casualty I cried. [...]]]> UUs living with military deployment

Bridget Rainey, whose husband Dallas is stationed in Afghanistan, lets us know “how deployment feels.”

We had our first casualty this week. . . . I did not know this Soldier. He was part of another Battalion within our Brigade. . . . When I heard we had a casualty I cried. I went to my room, closed the door, and sobbed for a long time. I cried for him and for his family, for his fellow Soldiers, and for the others injured in the incident. But mostly, I cried for me. Because my husband is over there too and all of a sudden the possibility that it could have been him became all too real. (Twinisms, April 6)

Experiencing Easter

In a series of posts, the Rev. Meredith Garmon explores differences in the four stories of Easter—and what they mean for us.

The resurrection is about you. Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John give four different stories: four metaphors for what each of us encounters. In these metaphors, Mary Magdalene is you. Jesus is also you. Jesus is the part of you that you thought was dead. You mourn its loss. But these stories are here to tell you: it’s not dead.

It’s not dead.

Easter is the time for soul-searching. Go, as Mary, and look. Look to find your self. (Lake Chalice, April 11)

“Fausto” considers the parallels between Passover and Easter, which happen to coincide this year.

The parallels between Passover and Easter are far deeper than the mere fact that the Last Supper happened to be a seder meal. They also share a common theme of deliverance and liberation: deliverance from worldly bondage to the Pharaoh in Egypt, deliverance from spiritual bondage to sin and death at Calvary; liberation first for the nation of Jacob at the Red Sea, liberation next for all the other nations at the empty tomb. . . . Indeed, in all languages except English and German, the Christian festival of the Resurrection is known by some variant of the Greek word Pascha, which in turn is a translation of the Hebrew Pesach, or Passover. (the Socinian, April 8)

For Christine Slocum, a potluck with friends was the best way to celebrate an agnostic’s Easter.

Will and I skipped church and hosted a potluck for Easter in our new home. Most of those who came were friends from church; most had also skipped today’s service. Reasons cited: busy, Easter service is awkward, too bad we don’t do the flower communion then, and trying to avoid “Easter Only” Unitarians. (Seattleite from Syracuse, April 9)

Crystal St. Marie Lewis encounters the sacred when she leaves Easter services to answer a cell phone call from her mother.

As I descended into the subway, I realized that I’d experienced a momentary encounter with the Divine. I had heard the still, small voice of God in the wind and it sounded like everything around me. It sounded like my mother, and it sounded like wind rustling in the trees and the laughter of a child. Truly, everything was new in that moment… I took a deep breath and said inside my heart without wavering: God lives. (Diary of a Christian Universagnosticostal, April 8)

John Beckett provides a Pagan perspective on Easter.

Jesus didn’t die for your sins or for anyone else’s sins—the doctrine of substitutionary atonement is a relic of a hierarchical, barbaric worldview that persists in our time in honor killings. Nor is Easter a triumph of life over death. Death is not the enemy—it’s a part of life. Birth is the gateway from the Otherworld into this world and death is the gateway from this world back into the Otherworld. (Under the Ancient Oaks, April 6)

Making sense of liberal religion

The Rev. Robin Tanner doesn’t believe in intercessory prayer—but does it anyway.

I used to feel embarrassed in my rational religion to be caught . . . praying to anyone as an intercession let alone a saint! But . . . I’ve come to learn the world is a lot more complicated than I can ever understand. I’ve learned that the earliest things we experience about religion and spirituality can create grooves of sort in our minds and even bodies. (Piedmont Preacher, April 11)

A “cool kid” in a pub asked the Rev. Dr. Victoria Weinstein, “Why should I go to church? Are they offering lap dances and handing out free $50 bills?”

I have thought for some time that the way to witness to people like that is to match them sarcastic comment for sarcastic comment, let them poke fun at me and the Church (and God), and stay around being cool with them. . . . But now I think that there must be some middle way between sheer mutual goofing around (after all, would I so casually tolerate that level of disrespectful teasing about any other important aspect of my identity?) and over-earnest evangelizing. However I do it, I want to keep it light, friendly and inviting, but I also want it to be real and courageous. (PeaceBang, April 11)

The Rev. Tom Schade responds to Andrew Sullivan’s “Christianity in Crisis.”

Sullivan is a Catholic, and so he seems to see his only choice as the hierarchy or the mendicant monk. He doesn’t quite get Protestantism as a viable reform movement in Christianity, especially the fruits of the Radical Reformation, which persist today in the radically inclusive sects like Quakerism and the Unitarian Universalism I serve, and which influenced Jefferson.

Sullivan starts with Jefferson’s Bible, but does not follow that historical thread. Jefferson had contemporaries and together they all have heirs, in that many others have pursued the project of an institutionalized “pure Christianity.” (the lively tradition, April 10)

Around the blogosphere

David G. Markham asks, “What is the popularity of The Hunger Games telling us about ourselves?”

The Hunger Games is not some dystopian fictionalized account of the future, it is being enacted daily in our lives, and our children know this and consume the “fiction” which mirrors their daily truth. It takes a novel and movie to tell them the truth that they are mere objects in political games that their parents and grandparents play for their own benefit and amusement. (UU A Way of Life, April 7)

Sara from The Curriculum of Love reviews Tending the Flame: The Art of Unitarian Universalist Parenting, a new book by Michelle Richards, author of the UU Parenting Blog at UU World. (The Curriculum of Love, April 12)

The Rev. Bill Sinkford is inspired by 108-year-old Alice Herz Sommer, a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps and the cancer she was diagnosed with twenty-five years ago.

[She] talks about what has sustained her through so much adversity. Gratitude for “a smile, a kind word, the sun” is her first response. She has learned that “hatred eats the soul of the hater, not the hated.” But it was another of her responses that lifted my spirit: “I know about the bad, but I look where it is good.” (Rev. Sinkford’s Blog, April 12)

In one important midrash of this story, Moses does raise his staff and pass his hand over the sea, but the sea does not part. What were the Israelites to do? Finally Nachson, a tribal [...]]]> Observing holy days

Preparing for Passover, the Rev. Bill Sinkford shares an alternative telling of Israel’s safe passage through the Red Sea.

In one important midrash of this story, Moses does raise his staff and pass his hand over the sea, but the sea does not part. What were the Israelites to do? Finally Nachson, a tribal prince of Judah, strode into the sea. Wading through the rising tide, the waters first reached his waist, then his chest and shoulders. At the very last moment, as the waters reached his nostrils, the Red Sea parted and the children of Israel followed him across. (Rev. Sinkford’s Blog, April 5)

With Good Friday approaching, the Rev. Sam Trumbore rejects the idea of redemptive violence.

Most Unitarian Universalists find value in Jesus’ life and teachings not in his death. His death cut short his prophetic ministry preaching the redemptive power of love and advocating for a just society he called the realm of God.

It dishonors and destroys the message we receive from Jesus to warp it into one of redemptive violence. (Rev. Sam Trumbore, April 3)

UU activism

Laura Wagner’s congregation supports a local immigrant community—but only after listening carefully to its needs.

An effective ally knows that it’s important to get to know our brothers and sisters who live in our communities and that we come to understand the unique challenges faced by all. Those of us in the majority do not have all the answers and should not try to be a “helper” who “fixes” problems.  Rather, we should strive to be allies who listen to those who are experiencing injustice and know that what affects one person, affects the whole community.  (Cooking Together, April 4)

The Rev. Kathy Schmitz, who serves a congregation thirty minutes from Sanford, Florida, reflects on her actions in response to the murder of Trayvon Martin.

[Two] of my UU colleagues and I answered a clergy call to come to Sanford. . . . We gathered with many other clergy (black and white, though clearly more black) and together prayed before leading the half mile march to the convention center, where Trayvon’s parents spoke before the Sanford City Commission. (Growing in Place, April 4)

Providing helpful background on the so-called “curse of Ham,” Kim Hampton asks, “Why do black bodies scare non-black people?”

I believe there is a theological issue at play here. And we ignore it at our peril. Everybody mouths the words that “we are all God’s children.” Yet on the other hand collective actions say that God is a respecter of persons. Has the curse of Ham been lifted? If we’re looking at the Trayvon Martin case, it would seem that the answer is no. (East of Midnight, March 29)

The Rev. Tom Schade celebrates the power of social media to draw attention to previously hidden outrages.

Once they ‘go viral’ information about these outrages explode across the national consciousness. They travel as petitions, as posters, as jokes, as serious articles, as cartoons, as calls to action. They cannot be stopped. There are many sources, many versions of the same message, many information pathways. . . . [They] are fast and cheap. . . . [and] they get results. (The Lively Tradition, March 30)

UU identity

The Rev. Meredith Garmon identifies the reasons why someone might choose to be a Unitarian Universalist.

If . . . your spirit hankers for . . . a community of faith to grow your spirit amidst religious diversity; if you want a place where people of different beliefs worship together as one faith . . . if you need a place to do the work of learning how to be the deeply caring, calmly loving person that you want to be, a place where you can be helped in that work by people whose preferred metaphors for alluding to that which is beyond words are highly varying––well, welcome home. (Lake Chalice, April 2)

The Rev. David Owen-O’Quill rejects “believewhateveryouwantism,” choosing missional Universalism instead.

The missional point of this being that the practice of telling people they have a million spiritual options available to them is redundant for our contemporary culture. As a Universalist I’m called by a particular theological interpretation, practice, and experience. Witnessing people discover the reality of God in their life is powerful and transformational. Like I said, I’m a grace guy. (news from the spiritual underground, April 3)

Around the blogosphere

The Rev. Debra Haffner reports on the status of the Religious Institute after its recent “financial tsunami.”

People and organizations have been supportive beyond words and expectations. Within 2 days, I had raised $40,000 to cover the debts we were left and staff salary for two payrolls. By the time I’m writing this, in just five weeks, we have commitments for more than two thirds of a scaled down 2012 budget. (Sexuality and Religion, March 30)

After recounting some of her own history, Kathleen MacGregor asks, “How does your social location inform your own spirituality?”

As I’ve journeyed through seminary, one of the most important lessons is on knowing one’s “social location.” By knowing where I come from, I will continue to know why I must speak out in the face of injustice. (Both/And, April 3)

Christine Slocum engages “the cable guy” in conversation, and finds out he’s been trying to help people save money.

He told me that he’s trying to save people money because his other job with the company is as a debt collector. He . . . sees how the company’s nickel and dime’ing model adds up. He attributed it to how people become late on their bills. He described how he hates seeing people in debt. “I mean, I feel for them, I really do.” (Seattleite from Syracuse, March 30)

[We] are called to live boldly in compassion, to love our neighbors as ourselves, to not fear but to welcome the stranger. Yet we have failed and are struggling again, losing another child to violence and fear, losing ground living [...]]]> UUs respond to Trayvon Martin’s death

The Rev. Naomi King offers a prayer of grief and compassion.

[We] are called to live boldly in compassion, to love our neighbors as ourselves, to not fear but to welcome the stranger. Yet we have failed and are struggling again, losing another child to violence and fear, losing ground living with love. For love flourishes in the safety of accountability, in the safety of each of us bearing responsibility, in the safety of mercy and restraint. Out of grief we raise our hearts and our voices, out of grief for our children, our friends, our loved ones, our neighbors. Out of grief for Trayvon Martin we raise our hearts and our voices. (City of Refuge, March 23)

Several UU congregations observed “Wear Your Hoodie to Church Day,” demanding justice for Trayvon Martin, and protesting the racism that endangers young black men.

Issuing an invitation to wear “hoodies,” the Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern of the UU Church of Palo Alto asks, “When will young black men be free to walk in safety?”

Everyone is invited to wear a hooded sweatshirt, and we’ll put our group photo out there to show the world that our hearts are broken by the death of Trayvon Martin, that we are watching, that we want the same justice for his family as we would want for our own, and that we will not rest until black Americans are as free as white Americans. (Sermons in Stones, March 23)

The Rev. Christine Robinson reports that one third of the congregation at First Unitarian in Albuquerque wore hooded sweatshirts to Sunday services, and gives some background on this form of protest.

Who knew that hoodies had such massive symbolic weight? This item of clothing has been in the news since the killing of Trayvon Martin and the comment by Geraldo that the hoodie was just as much to blame for his death as the gun. (Guns don’t kill people.  People kill people, especially people who are so foolish as to wear a hoodie.) Talk about blaming the victim! (iMinister, March 26)

The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Landrum asks, “Who do we mourn?”

The fact that we are, really, conditioned through our media and our culture to be more sympathetically inclined towards dead white children and to find their deaths sadder and more outrageously wrong makes it even more clear how very, very wrong Trayvon’s death was. (Rev. Cyn, March 28)

Doug Muder examines the racism whites don’t want to see.

[Why] did the police find [Zimmerman's] story credible and his actions excusable? You’re an armed white adult chasing an unarmed black teen-ager you outweigh by about 100 pounds. Naturally, you would feel threatened. That’s the kind of racism that is still endemic in every nook and cranny of America. . . . Being black is no longer three strikes against you, but it’s still one or two. By and large, White America doesn’t want to believe that. (The Weekly Sift, March 26)

Exploring religious community

After a yearlong hiatus from Unitarian Universalism, Hafidha Sofia shares the reasons she stepped back from active attendance.

I wanted to focus on my family and settling into our home and new town. I have a history of saying “Yes” to people’s requests and overextending myself. I issued a one-year moratorium on making volunteer commitments, and avoiding church altogether made it much easier to keep that promise.

I liked my old church. A lot. It was the only church I’ve ever been a member of, and it was emotional to leave it behind. I didn’t feel ready to jump into a new church yet.

Did I even want to go to church anymore? (Never Say Never to Your Traveling Self, March 26)

The Rev. Krista Taves continues her series about “sabbatical church hopping.” After her visit to the Metropolitan Community Church in St. Louis, where the minister’s sermon was about sexuality and spirituality:

I was moved to my core to see the minister of the most prominent gay Christian church in St. Louis legitimize BDSM and polyamorous relationships structures [as] having intrinsic sacred worth and value, and in fact having something to teach the rest of us about how to be living manifestations of that drop of God. (and the stones shall cry, March 25)

Earlier that morning, Taves visited an evangelical megachurch, where she was startled by the Universalism of the preacher’s message.

I really couldn’t believe what I was hearing. His sermon was about pure love. Unconditional unfailing love and he was saying it is all around us. That even when we do the worst things we can imagine, God is seeking our cell phone signal and in fact, he’s already found us. Are we going to let ourselves be healed with that undying love? (and the stones shall cry, March 23)

Around the blogosphere

Deb Weiner is grateful for Romneycare.

My friends, who share my political bent, sometimes look at me in amazement when I openly express my gratitude to Romney for having signed this health care program into law.  But I’m serious:  my family would be uninsured, and in even rockier financial shape than we are now, without it.  So as the Court hears the arguments this week on the pieces of legislation the President fought hard to enact—so that many of you out there might be covered under similar kinds of insurance if you found yourselves without private health care—think about me for a minute. (Morning Stars Rising, March 28)

The Rev. Qiyamah A.Rahman shares some of her experiences at this year’s Annual Retreat of Unitarian Universalist Religious Professionals of Color and Latina/os. (Ruminations of the Soul, March 28)

The Rev. Dan Harper responds to a column in The New York Times Magazine which argues that while it was easy to find ethical arguments against eating meat, it was difficult to find ethical arguments in favor of eating meat. (Yet Another Unitarian Universalist, March 26)

The Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley contrasts the Baby Boomer’s individualistic efforts to change the world with the “assumed covenant” expressed in the Millenial’s emphasis on working together.  (Learn Out Loud, March 23)

The Rev. Amy Zucker Morgenstern notes the death of poet Adrienne Rich, and comments on the impact of Rich’s poetry on her understanding of ministry. (Sermons in Stones, March 28)

Patrick Murfin tells about preparing to go to prison as a [...]]]> Letting one’s life speak

Melody Platz looks at the recent arrest of George Clooney in a protest at the Sudanese embassy in Washington, D.C., and asks “How far would I go to support a desperate cause? How far would you go?” (Melody Platz, March 16)

Patrick Murfin tells about preparing to go to prison as a draft resister during the U.S. war in Vietnam.

A lot of my time was spent making the rounds of friends, fellow workers in the IWW, and others who I had collaborated with in various radical episodes. I guess when I started out on this, I imagined that I would be lionized as a brave martyr to the revolution. I imagined that going to prison would punch my ticket as a revolutionary. After all hadn’t all of the great ones done time in the slammer and come out stronger and more committed? I was sadly disillusioned to learn that almost no one else shared this view. Most of them knew me too well to detect anything heroic about me. (Heretic, Rebel, a Thing to Flout, March 19)

Kimberley Debus outlines evidence that “the world is going to hell in a handbasket.”

I am outraged by them all. Every single cause (along with many more I haven’t listed) is worthwhile, needing support, focus, attention. But I have reached the bottom of my personal well of outrage. . . . However, I can pick one, and run with it. The one issue that I’ve been carrying a torch for since I was a teen is the cause of women. And it is this torch that I need to focus on. . . .

So please, I ask you, you who are outraged by the things I listed at the top of the page but may not have the energy to take up the cause of women, it’s okay. And please understand if I can’t engage in your outrage, as I’m too busy engaging in my own. Between us, we will share the burden and together, on many fronts, we WILL turn the tide. (Notes from the Far Fringe, March 19)

The Rev. Terasa Cooley begins a series of blog posts on the subject of covenant.

I heard a lovely sermon yesterday delivered by my colleague Sarah Lammert, who asked us to think of covenant as being a spiritual obligation to anyone around us, not only “our” people. Indeed, how would that shape our sense of covenant if we understood it not necessarily to be that which is agreed upon by a community or between two people, but a way of being in the world? (Learn Out Loud, March 19)

UUs engaging the Bible

The Rev. Dr. David Breeden translates Matthew 4:1-11.

One point I had missed in thinking about this passage until recently is that the ancients thought of “the wilderness” in exactly the opposite fashion to we moderns—for them, the wilderness was where to go to face demons, not to escape them. For the ancients, the cities were places of light and reason; the wilderness places of darkness and chaos. In going to the wilderness, Jesus was not heading out to commune with nature, but rather to do exactly as he does—to face down darkness and terror. (Make No Peace with Oppression, March 19)

The Rev. Christine Robinson improvised on the Psalms some years ago, and is now further distilling them on Twitter.

Great Mother, hear my prayer. Hold me in life, be with me in the night, melt me down to my essence. Guide me to love and justice. Psalm 17 (iMinister, March 19)

The Rev. Naomi King is “always learning.”

Jeremiah 31:31-34 . . . Every day we can learn something new about how to live faithfully. Some days we might even have the opportunity to learn many new things. Those can be both exhilarating and humbling days, depending on how we approach learning. If our identity is being learned already, if we’re attached to knowing what’s what and what’s up, then we will have, along with our serving of learning a nice dish of humble pie. At least, that’s been my experience. (City of Refuge, March 19)

The technology of faith

The Rev. Sam Trumbore attended a panel about “being tethered 24/7 to today’s technology.”

If there is a secret, I think it is filtering. The amount of really high quality content will always be very slim. What we will rely on more and more are people who filter content for us to find the good stuff. Before electronic media came along, there were far more books published, movies to see, concerts to attend and magazines printed that we could consume. What we will be looking for are people who know quality and can pick it out for us and save us the effort. (Rev. Sam Trumbore, March 21)

The Rev. Christine Robinson prays with phone to hand and provides some ways she uses it.

Having learned to take pencils, journals, books, and art supplies into my prayer time, perhaps it was inevitable that I started taking my phone. That might seem off-putting to some, but a smart phone is, after all just a tool, as a pen and paper or a printed book might be. All tools take getting used to, and none work for everybody, but I’m certainly not going to put a limit on what tools God can use to get through to me! I encourage you to try some of these suggestions and see if they work for you. Even if the old ways feel better to you, those of us who advise that younger generation should keep them in mind. (iMinister, March 19)

What does it mean?

The Rev. Paul Beedle reflects on four fields of human experience.

Religion is concerned with one fundamental fact of life: there are things that are within our power to do or create, and there are other things beyond our power or preferences. The traditional Christian terms for these are “works” and “grace.”

In dealing with this fact of life, a religion must also take account of the fact that we experience both an outer life and an inner life. Our outer life is concrete, physical, and social. Our inner life is ephemeral, emotional, and solitary. In both our outer life and our inner life, there are things within our power and things beyond our power or preferences. And so taken together, these two polarities of grace and works on the one hand, and inner and outer experience on the other, define the fields of what religion needs to address. (Reflections, March 18)

David G. Markham is looking at UU congregations through the “sociobiological systems” set out by James Griffith in Religion That Heals, Religion That Harms: A Guide For Clinical Practice.

People join church organizations because they want to “belong.” They want to be part of a group. They want to join and become a member of a herd because there is safety in numbers and becoming a member of a group provides a feeling of safety. . . . This boundary between us/them appears to promote a sense of peer affiliation and engagement by the individual with the group and vice versa. Unitarian Universalism, being a very inclusive organization, often does not have clear boundaries because it welcomes all comers from various religious traditions or none and thus presents itself as a very amorphous, ambiguous entity. (UU A Way of Life, March 19)

“Lizard Eater” shares photos of the custom boots with flaming chalices her husband gave her upon graduation from seminary.

[The chalice means] something to me, perhaps due in part to being a parent who has raised my children as Unitarian Universalists. In our small congregation, it was a rite of passage when they were old enough to go forward and light the chalice. They’ve been taught the story of Hans Deutsch, the artist who created the original picture, and pushed into the frame of our front door is a chalice pin. It was, honestly, one of the first words Little Wren learned. I’d have her in my arms, fumbling for the keys, and she’d lean forward, touching it with her tiny finger. “Cha-ice,” she would say. It was a touchstone; it meant that she was home. (“The Journey,” March 21)

Around the blogosphere

The Rev. Lisa Ward tells how she comes to a place of forgiveness.

There are times when I come to realize that there is not enough apology in the world to heal a wound.
That’s when I arrive at the entrance of forgiveness. (Pondering on the Path, March 16, continued on March 18)

The Rev. Sharon Wylie, in search for a congregation to serve, has “been struck by the abundance of construction issues that came up.”

With a concrete vision to work towards, our congregations are almost unstoppable. The construction or renovation of a building is an incredibly complex process (I know what I’m talking about here). But the vision of a renovated facility can be galvanizing and motivating. Boards, committees, and task forces come together to share decision-making, raise money, coordinate with multiple stakeholders (including the local community), COMPROMISE!, and get the job done. I can’t help but wonder what we could accomplish if our congregational mission statements were as concrete as our construction plans. (Ministry in Steel Toe Shoes, March 17)

Elizabeth asks, “Who is church for?”

Or, is the church for the world? Are we about love freely given? Unconditionally? Are we about healing those who hurt? Are we about radical hospitality? Are we about facing our own demons and pushing through that even when it is hard and soul wrenching because the world needs us? Are we about getting over ourselves? (Elizabeth’s Little Blog, March 18)

Stentor Danielson laments the presentation of military and academic achievement as being in opposition, as seen on a bumper sticker: “My soldier defends the freedom of your honor student.”

There’s nothing wrong with taking pride in your child’s honorable military service. What I find interesting, though, is the implied opposition between military service and academic success. (debitage, March 20)

The Rev. Scott Wells created a customized Google search to show the ministers of UU congregations who are not in ministerial fellowship with the UUA. (“Boy in the Bands,” March 21)