Redemption
Have you ever done something you regret? I think we all have. Maybe it’s something we said, or didn’t say; maybe it was the way we treated someone long ago, or just last week; maybe it was something illegal, or just morally wrong. We’ve all had those moments. What do we do with them? How do we live with them? Redemption isn’t a word you hear a lot in Unitarian Universalist circles and I think it’s too bad. It’s a…
Authority
Recently, I used the “speech to text” feature on my phone to send a friend a text. I said into the phone something about “UUism.” My iPhone translated “UUism” to: “your your wisdom.” It made me laugh. But then it also made me think. Is UUism all about “your wisdom?” In other words, are we our own authorities? Our six sources list all kinds of “authorities” or sources of wisdom. The very first one is “Direct experience of that transcending…
Beginning of a New Year
“and now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been.” ~ Rainier Maria Rilke I love this time of year. It’s the beginning of a new year and I have a lot of hope for it. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year.” With respect to Emerson, I think of it this way “Write it on your heart that every day is the first…
Sian’s Shenanigans
I’m a big fan of Albert Einstein. I love his open and creative mind, his passion for peace and justice in the world. I should probably love him for his theory of relativity, but it’s such a difficult concept! But Einstein had a gift for explaining difficult concepts, even God. In response to a question about whether or not he believed in God, Albert Einstein said: “Your question [about God] is the most difficult in the world. It is not…
CAIR and OCUUC
Your Board and Minister want you to to know that the leadership of OCUUC voted to support CAIR’s call for organizations to stand in solidarity with them against Islamaphobia. CAIR is one of the most respected Islamic organizations in the country. If you’d like to know more about how your Board and Minister stand on the side of love, contact Rev. Sian or Tom Loughrey. Sian’s Shenanigan’s “Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn’t matter. Ours is not a…
Sian’s Shenanigans
“Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. It doesn’t matter. Ours is not a caravan of despair. come, even if you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come, yet again , come , come.” Rumi This poem has become in our tradition one of my favorite songs to sing. It invites and humbles. And it is at the core of covenant. This month we are exploring “Covenants.” A covenant is simply a promise. In some churches…
Sian’s Shenanigans
Evil. *shudder* I don’t like to talk about evil, our worship theme this month. I prefer to talk about hope, love, compassion, or justice. I prefer to see the best in people – their inner beauty, their capacity for love, their “best self.” In fact, I pride myself on being able to do just that. I live with a pretty Pollyanna view of the world and that gets me through the tough days. But it also can keep me blind…
Memories from Our OCUUC Faith Community
If you went to church, mosque, circle, or synagogue as a child, what do you remember? What builds memories that last for our children and youth? In the spring, I asked our younger children what they remembered about the last church year, and here are their responses: Stories and Time for All Ages Playing the Hula Hoop Game with the strings (1st-3rd graders) The game with the ball where we said something nice [to each other] The day the bears…
The Care and Feeding of your Staff
It may come as a surprise to you that your minister is not “staff.” Well, not technically. I’m “called” by the congregation (voted in). Today I want to talk to you about your true staff – the ones who were hired by you all. They are fabulous! I can’t tell you how many complaints I get from other ministers about their staff. Ours rock. But while I may be their supervisor, you, in fact, are their employer. Not you, specifically,…
Peace like a River
I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got peace like a river in my soul. Traditional American Song [and a Unitarian Universalist favorite!] ~~~ As our country reels from another domestic shooting this month, I am very grateful that our children and youth have a faith community where peaceful solutions to personal and societal problems can be discussed and modeled. Resolving differences thoughtfully and peacefully is not always a quick or easy thing to…
Getting Cozy
It’s getting awfully cozy in our sanctuary! Now that we are at one service, here are some tips that will help everyone get a good seat: Get there early. This last Sunday I noticed we were about 1/3 full 15 minutes prior to the service! People are there to see friends and to get a good seat. Come on down! Reserve the back seats against the wall for those with strollers, walkers, etc. But don’t block the aisles! We need…
Summer Notes
Welcome to the glorious summer season! We will offer only one service on Sundays, beginning at 10:30 am. As usual, we’ll meet for coffee and conversation on the patio after the service at about 11:30am. Stay cool, and see you soon! Rev. Sian