December 10, 2017

Alex Raffray is not available for “Nervous Energy” tonight.  I’m Orlando Montoya.  I’m filling in his program with the same program that I’ll do on Sunday, “The Heart and the Hand.”  Love is the spirit of this program. The music spans many genres but has unifying themes of justice, love, learning and hope. The messages come from podcasts, sermons and readings from Unitarian-Universalist and other allied sources in liberal religion.  The title of this program comes from the words of a beloved Unitarian-Universalist hymn, “Spirit of Life,” including, “Sing in my heart all the stirrings of compassion” and “Move in the hand, giving life the shape of justice.”

Braver Wiser

“Tender Places“

The Rev. Lindasusan Ulrich

First Unitarian Congregation of Ann Arbor

Sermon

“Losing the Hierarchy“

The Rev. David Breeden

First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis

Message

“Poor People’s Campaign“

The Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray

President, Unitarian-Universalist Association

Natural Silence

“The Himalaya“

Andrew Skeotch

ListeningEarth.com

World Religions

Today is the birthday, in Hampshire, in England, in 1741, ofthe pioneering Universalist minister John Murray.  Sometimes called the “founder ofUniversalism,” Murray began his ministry in Boston in 1770, preaching that allsouls would be saved, a heresy that got stones thrown at his church.  His most famous quote, “Give them not hell,but hope,” is misattributed to him, but sums up his gospel, deeply rooted in18th Century Christianity.

Tuesday is the feast day for Our Lady of Guadalupe.  The holiday celebrates the Catholic accountof the appearance, in 1531, of the Virgin Mary before a peasant, Juan Diego, ona hill in modern day Mexico City.  The site’sbasilica is the world’s most-visited Catholic pilgrimage site.  Our Lady of Guadalupe has become a symbol ofMexico.  Her feast day brings music,dance and tables set with tacos, sopas, frijoles, cajeta and other delicacies.

Wednesday is the start of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival ofLights.  Observed for eight nights anddays, Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of a temple in Jerusalem during thesecond Century, B.C.E.  The holiday includesthe story of a miracle, when oil meant to last one day lasted eight days.  Traditions include nightly candle lightings,the playing of a dreidel, or spinning top, and eating food made of oil,including doughnuts and latkes.

Friday marks the day, in 1791, when the Bill of Rights wasratified.  The constitution’s first tenamendments notably include what legal experts call the “establishment clause,” protectingfreedom of religion.  An ever-evolving conceptin society, religious freedom now includes the right not to be indoctrinated inpublic schools.  And soon, hopefully, itwill not include the right for L-G-B-T people to be discriminated against at businesses.

Friday marks the day, in 1943, when priest and mathematicianPavel Florenski was murdered in a Soviet gulag. A scientist and philosopher, Florenski made important contributions in bothfields and saw the natural and spiritual worlds as connected.  He led developments in electrodynamics andthe mystical doctrine of name-worshipping. For mentioning God in his work and wearing priestly garb, Stalin-era authoritiesshot him.

Friday marks the day, in 1993, when the Catholic church’sDominican order expelled priest and theologian Matthew Fox.  A proponent of Creation Spirituality, Foxdrew inspiration from mystical philosophies of Medieval Catholics as well aswisdom from Judaism and Buddhism.  Catholicauthorities objected to his feminist theology, his belief in Original Blessinginstead of Original Sin and his refusal to condemn homosexuality.

Saturday in Hinduism is Dhanu Sankranti, an auspicious daycelebrated when the sun enters the sign of Sagittarius.  The holiday is most important in the easternIndian state of Orrissa, where it honors Lord Jagannath, a form of one ofHinduism’s major gods, Vishnu.  Holidaytraditions include street theater reenactments of Hindu scripture, eating wildpotatoes and a special delicacy made of sweetened rice flakes called dhanu maun.

And Saturday marks the beginning of the San Luis WinterSolstice Native American Celebration, a two-day festival honoring thetraditions of various tribes in what is now called the American South.  Centered around Mission San Luis, home of theApalachee people, near present-day Tallahassee, the event includes artistmembers of the Choctaw, Seminole, Muskogee, Creek and other nations, as well asmusic, crafts and living history. 

Sermon

“The Good News“

The Rev. Bill Sinkford

First Unitarian Church of Portland

Message

TBD

Conclusion

Seven Principles of Unitarian-Universalism