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Before yesterdayAggs

Turning

4 October 2022 at 05:30
“Now is the time for turning. The leaves are beginning to turn from green to red and orange…. God, help us to turn–from callousness to sensitivity, from hostility to love, from pettiness to purpose, from envy to contentment, from carelessness to discipline, from fear to faith.” -Jack Riemer What do you need to turn towards in … Continue reading Turning

What Franklin Graham says

4 October 2022 at 19:43
We have a post box for our mail, so sometimes we receive mail sent to previous holders of that box number. Today we received the October issue of “Decision” magazine, published by the Billy Graham Evangelical Association. The editor-in-chief, Franklin Graham, wrote the lead article in this issue, titled “We Can Still Turn Back.” Franklin … Continue reading "What Franklin Graham says"

Wednesday Photo: Summer view from a train

4 October 2022 at 19:00
Taken with a Fujifilm X-T2 Just click on the photo to enlarge it   This summer I visited my parents on the Tendring Peninsular where I grew up (in a village called Kirby-le-Soken). They now live in an even smaller village called Wrabness by the Stour Estuary. Given that I do not own a car thankfully it has a station (really a wayside halt) on the rather lovely branch line (now known as the Mayflower Line) that runs between Manningtree and Harwich. On boarding the train at Manningtree Station the photo here presented itself to me which I gratefully took. 

Lithuanian Parliament rejects Romuva again despite ECHR decision

4 October 2022 at 17:23
The Lithuanian parliament rejects the Romuva petition for recognition as an official religion again, even after the European Court of Human Rights ruled against Lithuania in favor of the Romuva. Continue reading Lithuanian Parliament rejects Romuva again despite ECHR decision at The Wild Hunt.

October Theme: Democracy & Interdependence

4 October 2022 at 16:44
Gordon Sumner, aka Sting, said to a live audience recently, “Democracy is under attack. It’s under attack in every country in the world. It’s in grave danger of being lost unless we defend it. The alternative to democracy is a nightmare, a prison of the ... read more . The post October Theme: Democracy & Interdependence appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – October 4th

4 October 2022 at 16:40
This past weekend we had the honor of offering the Charge to the Congregation at the installation service for the Plattsburgh congregation and the Rev. Nicoline Guerrier. They have worked together for four years and finally decided to take a leap of faith and commit ... read more . The post Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – October 4th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Religious Education News – Oct. 4th

4 October 2022 at 16:30
Children in grades K-6 are invited to join us for some Children’s Chapel fun on Sunday, 10/9, in Waters House beginning at 10:30. K-3 Wonderful Welcome: will meet next on Sunday, 10/16! K-3rd grade Children will begin in the Great Hall with their families and stay ... read more . The post Religious Education News – Oct. 4th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

#UUtheVote Voter Registration & Donation Drive

4 October 2022 at 16:20
Join us on Sunday, Oct. 9 to help register voters! We are partnering with Progressive Schenectady on a voter registration event, tabling at the weekly Sunday Street Soldiers gathering in Schenectady (Zion Lutheran Church parking lot).  Donations Accepted at UUSS Sunday, Oct. 9 We are also collecting ... read more . The post #UUtheVote Voter Registration & Donation Drive appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Long Strange Trip UU History Course – Starts October 20th

4 October 2022 at 16:10
The Long Strange Trip UU history course will be offered in multiplatform mode (in person or Zoom) starting Thursday, October 20 for six weeks (skipping Thanksgiving) ending December 1st. Learn about the inspirational stories of 500 years of courageous and prophetic UU ancestors who devoted their ... read more . The post Long Strange Trip UU History Course – Starts October 20th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

4 October 2022 at 11:00
          Not a big fan of royalty. I take no hankering to kings and queens on thrones or in decks of cards.           Let’s admit that when we left the Empire we didn’t entirely: Hollywood is our re-creation of royalty, with its unending Red Carpets—as is the world of athletics. In all, we pay obeisance […]

Cactus

4 October 2022 at 09:03
I asked my spouse To stop buying me flowers – “Buy me a houseplant instead, So I don’t have to watch them die.” So now my “Sorry you got assaulted” cactus Sits on the mantle Next to Uncle Frank and the “Congratulations on 6 months sober!” cactus And the one I picked up For her […]

Courage?

4 October 2022 at 06:03
Courage is a tricky one to find. Sometimes, I just cannot find it. Today may be one of those days.  I am recovering from very severe health problems. The treatments changed my life in every way. One important way it … Continue reading →

Bodhisattva Francis

4 October 2022 at 04:00
          Today, the 4th of October, is the feast of St Francis. The Sufis speak of Madzubs. The Western Sufi teacher Wali Ali Meyer once described a madzub as “a human being who has an immediate and intimate relationship with the God reality, and who often is absorbed in that realm […]

Revisiting the Murfin Verse Goyish Take on Yom Kippur

4 October 2022 at 03:00
  This poem has appeared on this blogat least ten times for Yom Kippur.   I guess that this makes it an official tradition. It was inspired not only by my genuine admiration for the Holy Day, but by an ongoing controversy in my own Unitarian Universalist faith.  For many years UUs have gone blithely on incorporating snatches of prayers, ritual, and traditionfrom other religions into our own worship.  We do it mostly in good faith claiming “The Living Tradition which we share draws from many sources…” But lately we have taken grieffrom Native Americans for adopting willy-nilly rituals and prayers which we don’t fully understand and take out of context, many of which, frankly, turned out to be New Age touchy-feely faux traditio...

Posts and beams

3 October 2022 at 23:07
Some photos from the attic of the 1747 Meeting House in Cohasset: This image shows the joint in the middle of the second truss from the north end. The ends of the trunnels (treenails) are clearly visible, as are the adze marks. This photo shows an unusual joint between a beam and a post. This … Continue reading "Posts and beams"

Harm

3 October 2022 at 05:30
Sacrifice can also be harmful to us, causing injury (physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual). How have you faced the possibility of harmful sacrifice?

Pagan Community Notes: Week of October 3, 2022

3 October 2022 at 18:02
In this week's Pagan Community Notes: Supreme Court cases, Earth-based Spirituality Action Team, a call for Ancestor Altars, and more news. Continue reading Pagan Community Notes: Week of October 3, 2022 at The Wild Hunt.

October Share The Plate

3 October 2022 at 15:03

Resources & Next Steps from Climate Disaster Response Webinar Session One

3 October 2022 at 14:57
Thank you so much for signing up for the first webinar of our “Climate Resilience through Disaster Response & Community Care” series at Side With Love. Whether you were able to attend in real-time or plan to watch the recording later, we are grateful for your commitment to building communities of care in the face of climate disasters.  Resources & Materials from Session 1 Linked below are materials & resources from our September 27 session on “Assessing Climate Impacts & Making Connections.” Please note that most of these can be found in the UUA Climate Disaster Prep Google Drive Folder , in both PDF & Google Doc formats. Climate Disaster Preparedness Guide for UUs   Climate Disaster Response for UUs Materials & Resources Clima...

Be Your Note

3 October 2022 at 06:00
God picks up the reed-flute world and blows. Each note is a need coming through one of of us, A passion, a longing-pain. Remember the lips where the wind-breath originated, And let your note be clear. Don’t try to end … Continue reading →

A Gathering Place for Courageous Love

3 October 2022 at 05:00
Two Services We are going to do two services that we believe can meet the needs and capture the interest of our community and those who may not yet know such a community like All Souls exists. But when they find it they will feel at home in a way they never have been before. Who are those people? We have a church that appeals to people who are not traditionally religious. Some of them may believe in God and have a deep spirituality and some of them may not believe in God and may not have much interest in […] The post A Gathering Place for Courageous Love appeared first on BeyondBelief.

Five Year Later Looking Back on What Doesn’t Stay in Vegas—Murfin Verse

3 October 2022 at 03:00
Five years ago, on October 1, 2017 Wikipedia reminds us: Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old man from Mesquite, Nevada, opened fire upon the crowd attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Between 10:05 and 10:15 p.m. PDT, he fired more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition from his 32nd floor suites in the Mandalay Bay Hotel, killing 60 people[a] and wounding 411, with the ensuing panic bringing the injury total to 867. About an hour later, Paddock was found dead in his room from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His motive remains officially undetermined. The incident is the deadliest mass shooting committed by an individual in modern United States history. It focused attention on firearms laws in the U.S., par...

Cause

2 October 2022 at 05:30
Sometimes, we are asked to sacrifice for a cause beyond ourselves, something that will make our society better for everyone. When have you been asked to sacrifice for a cause?

Unique 2,500-year-old ritual wash basin discovered in Turkey

2 October 2022 at 17:04
A unique water basin has been discovered in Turkey near the ancient Greek city of Klazomenai. Continue reading Unique 2,500-year-old ritual wash basin discovered in Turkey at The Wild Hunt.

Remembering the Power of Non-Violence

2 October 2022 at 14:35
The International Day of Non-Violence reminds us of our power to withhold cooperation in the face of injustice.

The Sacred and the secular

2 October 2022 at 14:45
A sermon about the nature of the sacred and the secular offered during the Jewish High Holidays.

Courage to See, Courage to Be

2 October 2022 at 12:30
Thoughts on the quiet courage of giving to the world from our deepest selves.

Weekly Bread #190

2 October 2022 at 11:46
Redwood trees are amazing. New trees grow from the stumps of ones that have died. It takes years though, decades and more. Change is never easy. I know that, don’t you? L’Chaim Average weight this week is up 1.5 pounds for a total loss of 150.7.

Noting Gandhi Jayanti

2 October 2022 at 10:07
          Today, the 2nd of October is Gandhi Jayanti in India. It is one of three national holidays in the country. The United Nations has also marked out today as International Day of Non-Violence. All this turning on the Indian spiritual and political leader Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi who was born on […]

A Pagan Response to Christian Nationalism

2 October 2022 at 05:00
Christian nationalism combines the worst of Christian fundamentalism with the worst of right-wing politics. It is truly a dangerous thing and it’s winning elections in some places. We must cede no ground and leave no one behind.

It Was Time for a New Way to Manufacture Stuff

2 October 2022 at 03:00
Industrial pioneer Aaron Lufkin Dennison. Ordinarily the relocation of a factory from one town to another would hardly be the fodder for all but the most arcaneand specialized of almanac-like features.  But on this date in 1854 Aaron Lufkin Dennisonmoved his four year old watch making business to new facilities in Waltham, Massachusetts, setting the stage for a revolution in industrial production first known as the American System of Watch of Watch Manufacturing.  The principles of precision made interchangeable parts, use of specialty machine tools, and consistent calibration measured by highly accurate instruments were soon applied to other industries ushering in a new phase of the industrial revolution that created the machines that...

Sacrifice

1 October 2022 at 05:30
This month, we will explore the theme of sacrifice. When it is healthy, and when it is not. When it is harmful theology, and when it is relational and life-affirming. When have you made a sacrifice that was healthy and healing for you?

Column: The Art of Showing Up

1 October 2022 at 19:14
Each day that we breathe air, we make a choice as to how we show up in our lives for ourselves, for our various traditions, for our neighbors, and for our world. The art of showing up is the art of living. Continue reading Column: The Art of Showing Up at The Wild Hunt.

October Action Alert: We Must Support Children’s Mental Health

1 October 2022 at 11:57
  “The Supporting Children’s Mental Health Care Access Act and the Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act would increase access to mental health care services and provide direct funding to schools for mental health promotion and suicide prevention. These bills are bipartisan efforts, and they are gaining momentum. Let your elected representatives know you support them. It takes everyone to address this mental health crisis.” — Dr. Deanna Behrens, Pediatric Intensive Care     The Surgeon General has sounded read more... The post October Action Alert: We Must Support Children’s Mental Health appeared first on Promise the Children.

The Delicate Adventure

1 October 2022 at 09:00
I am happy to be starting a new experimental adventure. After four years away following my retirement, I am venturing back into involvement with my former congregation, Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church. In our faith community, a retiring minister traditionally stays away for a few years, to make room for a new minister to bond […]

The reflection worth indulging doesn’t know where it is going—A fantasia on a passage by Henry Bugbee

1 October 2022 at 03:42
A short  “ thought for the day” offered to the Cambridge Unitarian Church as part of the Sunday Service of Mindful   Meditation  (Click on this link to hear a recorded version of the following piece) —o0o— In a couple of weeks, in the community where I am the minister, there will take place a “life of the church” meeting in which members of the congregation have the opportunity to explore together the various things that a liberal, free religious congregation might want and be able to do in the coming years. Years that, without question, will be hard and challenging in many, many ways. As individual members of the congregation decide whether or not to attend, I realise it’s important to acknowledge that there is always ...

Almost too Good to be True—Little Golden Books the Cheep and Durable Books that Children Love

1 October 2022 at 03:00
A well used copy of  The Poky Little Puppy , the best selling of the 12 original  Little Golden Books. Today’s responsible parents are required by law to provide educational, psychologically vetted, and age appropriate books for their tykes, preferably penned by a celebrity and sensitively illustrated by a renowned artist.    The book must be an over-sized hard cover festooned with award medallions and must be purchased at specialized children’s book boutique for at least $22.95 plus tax.  The parents will read this book to the designated tot 1.2 times before it is carefully placed on colorful shelves with scores of other books in a display meant to impress other parents and visiting in-laws wit...

Ambiguity

30 September 2022 at 05:00
“Those of us who call ourselves religious Humanists have a strong reverence for life. Many of us experience a deep sense of awe before the mystery of life and death, those powers greater than ourselves. We share a respect for science and reason, and we are willing to live with ambiguity to live without definitive … Continue reading Ambiguity

All-Ages Worship (2 October 2022)

30 September 2022 at 20:17
Please join us this Sunday (2 October 2022) at 11:00 AM for our annual Blessing of the Animals worship service with Jennifer Russell and Eva Kate Peck. Bring your ready-for-prime-time pets (either on a leash, carrier, or other appropriate container) to join us in the sanctuary to celebrate our shared home in the interdependent web … Continue reading "All-Ages Worship (2 October 2022)"

Trunk or Treat (29 October 2022)

30 September 2022 at 20:09
Join us Saturday (29 October 2022) from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM for a Halloween Trunk or Treat celebration! Decorate your car — and yourself! Bring some candy or something kid-friendly and fun to give away, and if you want, a game or craft for the children to do at your car. Children will trick … Continue reading "Trunk or Treat (29 October 2022)"

Online Adult Religious Education — Slave State Documentary Screening (2 October 2022)

30 September 2022 at 20:04
Please join our adult religious education class on Sunday (2 October 2022) at 9:00 AM for a screening of the documentary film Slave State followed by a Q and A session with Slave State author Curtis Davis.  Our adult class will be meeting via Zoom. This is a documentary film inspired by the book Slave … Continue reading "Online Adult Religious Education — Slave State Documentary Screening (2 October 2022)"

No Children and Youth Religious Education This Sunday (2 October 2022)

30 September 2022 at 19:52
No Children and Youth Religious Education Classes this Sunday (2 October 2022) — we will be together in the sanctuary for the Blessing of the Animals worship service.

League of Women Voters of Caddo-Bossier — October 2022 Give-Away-The-Plate Recipient

30 September 2022 at 19:49
Each month we dedicate all of our non-pledge income to an organization doing the work that best embodies our Unitarian Universalist principles and values. For the month of October 2022, we choose the League of Women Voters of Caddo-Bossier — a member organization of the League of Women Voters at the state and national levels. … Continue reading "League of Women Voters of Caddo-Bossier — October 2022 Give-Away-The-Plate Recipient"

A day of blasphemy

30 September 2022 at 17:00
TWH commemorates International Blasphemy Day, a holiday meant to educate the public about blasphemy laws and freedom of expression. Continue reading A day of blasphemy at The Wild Hunt.

CAPAS and the 8 Principles of Unitarian Universalism

30 September 2022 at 14:10
The work of supporting immigrants aligns with every principle of the UU faith

We Are Called to Help Those Affected by Hurricane Ian

30 September 2022 at 12:30
Staff Writer Donate to the UUA's Disaster Relief Fund today to aid affected congregations.

“From Religious Freedom to Free Religion” (1983) by Shinichiro Imaoke & “Liberal Religious Reformation in Japan” (1984) by George M. Williams

30 September 2022 at 11:58
For a number of years now, I have wanted to read an essay (“From Religious Freedom to Free Religion”) written in 1983 by the remarkable and influential figure in the development of progressive and liberal religion in Japan, Shinichiro Imaoke (1881-1988).  George M. Williams, in his recent book about Imaoke (which I have just ordered but not yet received), describes him as “a Bodhisattva-Kami-Christian-Unitarian-sage — the Emerson of Japan. Each of these religious perspectives or evaluations saw him as their highest conception of humanity: Buddhist, Shinto, Christian, or religious radical.” Then, last month, I finally saw a secondhand copy of the book was available in which the essay is found and so I duly bought it. At the b...

Atlanta Congregation Holds Grand Opening for New Campus

30 September 2022 at 10:10
Staff Writer After years without a building, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta has held the grand opening of its new campus.

stuck in Indiana

30 September 2022 at 09:59
I'm in Indiana for a class in box making and came down with a case of covid-19 mid-week. Fortunately, by Wednesday, we'd proceeded far enough in the class that my students have been able to carry on without me.   My assistants took on responsibility for oversight and remaining lessons. I am grateful for such help, but worried that if I've gotten covid-19, others from my class may also. Fortunately, and thanks to my vaccination status, my case is rather mild, requiring isolation and a few over-the-counter medications as well as isolation. I'll return home on Monday. I stopped by school yesterday after class to pack up my things. A few students were still at work and insisted that even without me, the class has been one of their favorites...

James Dean Raced on the Road to Cultural Icon

30 September 2022 at 09:08
  James Dean reaching the heights of stardom in 1955 while making just his third feature film. It has been 67 years since James Dean died in a wreck of his sports car on a country highway near Cholame, California on September 30, 1955.  He was just 24 years old.  At the time of his death, he had shot to fame on the strength of one already released film— East of Eden —and had two more completed projects in the can, including the role that would define a generation.  On this slender body of work rests the fame that has eclipsed most of his contemporaries and endured as a legend.  Today he is a cultural icon that remains undiminished by time.  Generations of adolescents, whether they know it or not, do what John Mellencamp describ...

Basic Belonging

30 September 2022 at 06:15
It seems that when we consider the idea of belonging our first inclination is to think of belonging through our relationships with one another. This is certainly an important aspect of the human yearning for belonging. And, what if just … Continue reading →

Prayer for Farmworkers

30 September 2022 at 06:00
Prayer for the Week of October 3, 2022 - A Prayer for Farmworkers Wisdom, may we take time to thank those who plant, grow, care for, harvest, and nurture the food we eat, the farmworkers who may not be owners of the land they work, who might be paid by...

Daydreaming, astral travel, planning ahead — they’re all related

30 September 2022 at 00:13
About a month ago I was sitting in the sanctuary readying myself for the weekly worship run through. Looking over the script up in the Tech Booth, I immediately see the headline for that week’s sermon — daydreaming. I thought that sounded very interesting to me and wondered where it was going. I didn’t have […] The post Daydreaming, astral travel, planning ahead — they’re all related appeared first on Nature's Sacred Journey.

22 Fall: My Search for Magic 29th September 2022

30 September 2022 at 00:47
I always knew that fairy tales were simply made-up stories and I never believed in the tooth fairy or Easter bunny. I  tried   to convince myself that Father Christmas was real. I had glimpsed a rotund figure clad in red in my bedroom one Christmas Eve when I was five or so, but I knew that my grandmother, who was staying with us that night, had a red dressing gown. Dev, the man who later became my grandmother's second husband, was able to pull a shilling out from behind my ear. I wasn't fooled. Even though I didn't know how it was done, I knew it was just a trick. Around the time of my seventh birthday I spent a while in hospital and as a consequence a friend persuaded her mother to buy me a book,  Cherry Ames at Hilton Hospita l. It...

Infinite Love

29 September 2022 at 05:00
Yes, Love blesses me, Even as the sources and symbols of my pain look on. Love blesses me from its infinite well, And I turn and notice… that goodness and kindness and grace, follow me everywhere, everywhere I go. -from “Psalm 23 for this moment,” by Kevin Tarsa Read the rest here. How can you … Continue reading Infinite Love

25 September 2022 Worship Livestreaming Video

29 September 2022 at 21:07
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have begun to broadcast a livestream video of our Sunday morning worship services. This worship video will be available live and in recorded formats. For our livestream video of our worship services, we are using Facebook Live.  One does not have to log into Facebook … Continue reading "25 September 2022 Worship Livestreaming Video"

18 September 2022 Worship Livestreaming Video

29 September 2022 at 21:03
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have begun to broadcast a livestream video of our Sunday morning worship services. This worship video will be available live and in recorded formats. For our livestream video of our worship services, we are using Facebook Live.  One does not have to log into Facebook … Continue reading "18 September 2022 Worship Livestreaming Video"

11 September 2022 Worship Livestreaming Video

29 September 2022 at 20:59
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have begun to broadcast a livestream video of our Sunday morning worship services. This worship video will be available live and in recorded formats. For our livestream video of our worship services, we are using Facebook Live.  One does not have to log into Facebook … Continue reading "11 September 2022 Worship Livestreaming Video"

4 September 2022 Worship Livestreaming Video

29 September 2022 at 20:54
Due to the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we have begun to broadcast a livestream video of our Sunday morning worship services. This worship video will be available live and in recorded formats. For our livestream video of our worship services, we are using Facebook Live.  One does not have to log into Facebook … Continue reading "4 September 2022 Worship Livestreaming Video"

What to Read to Better Understand Puerto Rico in the Wake of Hurricane Fiona

29 September 2022 at 17:26
By Alicia Kennedy | The day after category 1 Hurricane Fiona had left the entire archipelago of Puerto Rico with no power, caused destructive flooding, and generally unleashed catastrophe in most places, tourists were back to normal in Old San Juan. My husband and I biked throughout the metro area to take stock of the damage and hear just how many generators were running—the hum and smell of burning diesel were constant—and when we returned, we saw the photo shoots continuing as planned: Women in their best dresses with full faces of makeup, flip-flops on their feet and Instagram-ready heels in hand; men attempting to keep up, carrying heavy cameras or maybe just a selfie stick. Bars were full because what else were we going to do? B...

Finding a home for black cats

29 September 2022 at 17:00
Black cats make up a large portion of the animals in shelters and rescues that are frequently hard to find homes for. Binx's Home for Black Cats is dedicated to helping to change that and improve the overall image of the black cat. Continue reading Finding a home for black cats at The Wild Hunt.

More Supernatural Adventures of the Wilde Circle

29 September 2022 at 13:53
Lord Alfred Douglas and Robert Sherard were not the only members of Oscar Wilde’s circle to be featured in the pages of spiritualist publications. So I thought I would share a few snippets found in the archive. Maurice Salis-Schwabe’s mother, Mary, was an associate of the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research and wrote […]

A Feast for the Archangels and for the Liminal

29 September 2022 at 04:00
      Today within the Christian liturgical calendar is Michaelmas. Or, and actually my preferred name, for the holy day, today, is the Feast of the Saints Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. Or, maybe you would prefer the shorter while still more accurate version, today is the Feast of the Archangels. It’s an important […]

Sunday, October 2, 2022 ~ Stories of Courage ~ 10:30 a.m.

29 September 2022 at 09:45
  Stories of Courage A Multigenerational Storytelling Service with Rev. Alice Anacheka-Nasemann   Join us as Rev. Alice introduces the October worship theme of Courage with storytelling and reflection. This service is suitable for all ages and children are especially welcome! Childcare is available in our nursery wing for babies and very young children.  We are   [ … ] The post Sunday, October 2, 2022 ~ Stories of Courage ~ 10:30 a.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Midweek Message September 29, 2022

29 September 2022 at 09:33

My Covenant Group

29 September 2022 at 06:07
I’m not one to belong to groups. I didn’t have a want or need to belong to one. My Covenant Croup is the exception. I’m in a covenant group at UUCG. I have been part of this group for over … Continue reading →

A Feast for the Archangels

29 September 2022 at 04:00
      Today within the Christian liturgical calendar is Michaelmas. Or, and actually my preferred name, for the holy day, today, is the Feast of the Saints Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. Or, maybe you would prefer the shorter while still more accurate version, today is the Feast of the Archangels. It’s an important […]

A Modern European First—France Emancipates its Jews

29 September 2022 at 03:00
  This idealized print celebrates a decree by Napoleon extending emancipation to all of the lands conquered by the Empire. France became the first nation in the modern era to grant its Jews emancipation under the law—full equality of citizenship rights and the removal of all traditional encumbrances that had been historically placed on the community—on September 28, 1791 by Emperor Napoleon I .   The edict was in line with the liberating thought of the Enlightenment, and the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen which guaranteed freedom of religion and free exercise of worship .   The new edict when further both in its specificity and in provisionsthat recognized the freedom of the Jewish community, as well as i...

Accountability and Acceptance

28 September 2022 at 05:00
As those of us in relationship with Judaism mark the High Holy Days, our hearts fill with hope and fear, turning and settling, mystery and agency, accountability and acceptance. -from “Call to Gather for the High Holy Days (Days of Awe),” by Leah Ongiri To what do you hold yourself accountable?

Be-coming Out

28 September 2022 at 10:59
Heather McDuffee I wasn’t really “born this way.” I grew this way. Continue reading "Be-coming Out"

Tree Poaching Threatens Redwoods and Other Old Growth Trees

28 September 2022 at 17:49
In addition to logging and wildfires, the forests of giant redwoods are also facing increasing threats from tree poachers. Continue reading Tree Poaching Threatens Redwoods and Other Old Growth Trees at The Wild Hunt.

Join us for the launch of UPLIFT Action!

28 September 2022 at 17:20
Every Body Is Sacred! Join Side With Love for the official launch of our latest organizing campaign, UPLIFT Action! This virtual event will be held on Thursday, October 13th at 5pm PT / 6pm MT / 7pm CT / 8pm MT. Register at https://bit.ly/UpliftActionLaunchParty. We'll be honoring the sacred importance of bodily autonomy with several of our partners and Unitarian Universalists from around the country who are faithfully organizing for LGBTQIA+, Gender, and Reproductive Justice. Come be a part of this special event where we proclaim "Every Body is Sacred!" and celebrate the inherent worth and dignity of every person and launch ourselves into action!

Shut Down Etowah Campaign Demonstrates the Power of Solidarity

28 September 2022 at 11:25
A deep commitment to justice helped shut down one of the most notorious detention centers in the United States.

Labels

28 September 2022 at 06:00
I have a part inside of me that understands that every other human and I belong to each other. Granted, that part of me understands that this is a lofty notion, and so it often remains quiet . Other parts … Continue reading →

Lord Alfred Douglas: Modern Mystic

28 September 2022 at 09:01
The International Association for the Preservation of Spiritualist and Occult Periodicals archives its collection at the Internet Archive. One of the surprising discoveries is a 1937 article by Catholic convert Lord Alfred Douglas in a publication called Modern Mystic. “Lord Alfred Douglas, who contributes an article to this issue,” wrote the editor, “is perhaps the […]

Religiously Affiliated Colleges Need to Decide What’s First

28 September 2022 at 05:00
A Mormon news site published a series of essays from leaders of religiously affiliated colleges and universities titled “Dare to Be Different.” I support the right of religious groups to operate their own schools. But they have to choose what comes first.

The Sage Confucius is Born: A Small Zen Appreciation

28 September 2022 at 04:00
          By some forms of reckoning it was on this day, the 28th of September in the year 551 before our common era, that the sage Kǒng Fūzǐ, “Master Kǒng,” or commonly 孔子; Kǒngzǐ, or to most of us, Confucius was born. I am not regular in noting this day as it rolls […]

A Treasured Historic Myth Flushed Down the Drain

28 September 2022 at 03:00
Thomas Crapper & Co. toilets are still in common use in the United Kingdom. As a blogger who covers historical events and personages both great and small, it is my sad duty to occasionally disabuse you of your most cherished illusions. Like this one:  The standard flush toilet was invented by Sir Thomas Crapper in the Britain in the 19th Century, lending his name to human solid waste disposal, the waste itself, and anything else that stinksfor any reason because it was emblazoned on his products. Wrong on two or three major counts but containing the kernel of truth. On the other hand, the self-appointed myth busters who claim that the whole thing is a lie and that there never was a Thomas Crapper are also wrong. Thomas Crapper, plumber ...

People who no longer like capitalism

27 September 2022 at 21:33
On Saturday, Pope Francis spoke to a gathering of one thousand people under the age of 35. He said, in part: “‘The first market economy was born in the 13th century in Europe through daily contact with Franciscan Friars, who were friends of the first merchants. That economy certainly created wealth but it did not … Continue reading "People who no longer like capitalism"

Presence

27 September 2022 at 05:00
My young adult daughter was visiting for a couple of weeks. She loves our dog. She would be mid sentence, or mid task, and catch a glimpse of our dog, and she would stop and smile and say “look how cute”. I might have walked by several times and not have noticed, but she would … Continue reading Presence

Recent ruling undermines religious freedom and the ACA

27 September 2022 at 19:06
A recent ruling in Texas and preventative HIV medical treatment could have impacts that Pagans should be aware of. Continue reading Recent ruling undermines religious freedom and the ACA at The Wild Hunt.

Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – Sept. 27th

27 September 2022 at 18:45
As part of our mission-centered policy-based governance, each year the new Board of Trustees has a retreat to consider the year to come. They work on getting to know one another, choosing an Annual Focus of Ministry, Open Questions for the congregation, work projects from ... read more . The post Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – Sept. 27th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Religious Education News – Sept. 27th

27 September 2022 at 18:40
RE classes began this past Sunday! It was such a joy to look around the Great Hall and see so many Children and Youth, and then to see them transition to their classrooms for the in-person start of another RE year! It was a good ... read more . The post Religious Education News – Sept. 27th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Mid-day Meditations – Six Tuesdays from 3-4 pm

27 September 2022 at 18:30
Join UU Schenectady member and mindfulness Buddhist practitioner, Tamara Geveci, for six sessions of shared in-person meditation and mindfulness practice. All are welcome for any or all of the Fall sessions in the Emerson Room (or maybe outside if the weather allows). This will be ... read more . The post Mid-day Meditations – Six Tuesdays from 3-4 pm appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Learn more about UU & UUSS!

27 September 2022 at 18:20
If you are new to this faith or this congregation, or if you’d just like to learn more about both, then come to Getting To Know UU! This is a 3-session course featuring learning and conversations with Rev. Wendy, Rev. Lynn, UU history expert Ernie ... read more . The post Learn more about UU & UUSS! appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

BIPOC Book Group Discussion October 24 at 6:30 pm

27 September 2022 at 18:10
In October, we will read the 1985 classic The Color Purple, written by Alice Walker, which won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. Topic: BIPOC Book Discussion on ‘The Color Purple’ Time: October 24, 2022 06:30 PM Contact Kat Wolfram with questions, or ... read more . The post BIPOC Book Group Discussion October 24 at 6:30 pm appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

We Found the Perfect Beacon Books for “Abbott Elementary” Characters

27 September 2022 at 15:29
By Bev Rivero | To everyone’s delight, beloved ABC comedy, “Abbott Elementary,” has returned for its second season! The award-winning show has earned fans across every demographic and pulls off being sweet while still being grounded in the reality faced by staff and parents navigating the public school system.

Recalling the Evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson

27 September 2022 at 11:29
        “Never did I hear such language from a human being. Without one moment’s intermission, she would talk from an hour to an hour and a half, holding her audience spellbound.” A reporter’s description cited in Christianity Today Aimee Semple McPherson died on this day, the 27th of September, in 1944. The […]

Belonging to Myself

27 September 2022 at 06:03
Most of my life I belonged to everyone else but myself . I was molded to put my needs on the back burner to take care of everyone else. I couldn’t live my life.  My mother suffers from borderline personality … Continue reading →

That Day When the Champion Chicago White Stockings Didn’t Draw Flies in Troy

27 September 2022 at 03:00
Almost all of this 1880 Championship team was back for another romp to the crown a year later.  Cap Anson front and center.  My beloved Chicago Cubs have been terrible this year after a management fire sale of stars and an announced rebuilding.  They remain 21½ behind their old rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals and in third place in the National League Central despite a recent meaningless winning streak.  But the team’s dedicated fan base continues to plunk down money and show up at Wrigley Field.  Sure, they didn’t sell out every game this year, but the stands are normally fuller than many teams in tight playoff races. The team also continues to be the biggest visiting team draw in baseball as the vast Chicago diaspora turns out...

Trunk-or-Treat at our Fall 2022 Annual Auction

26 September 2022 at 22:20
Join us at our first ever Trunk-or-Treat on October 29 in the lower parking lot!

The Book of Life

26 September 2022 at 05:00
“The Book of Life is open before us. It tells stories of sadness and happiness, despair and hope, stagnation and change, and a peaceful stillness that transcends both. May you be written in the Book of Life. May you write your own name there, in shining ink stirred together from the tears of the past … Continue reading The Book of Life

Pagan Community Notes: Week of September 25, 2022

26 September 2022 at 18:03
In this week's Pagan Community Notes, US Congress has more Indigenous representation than before, M. Macha Nightmare receives croning, Pagan Pride announcements, and more news. Continue reading Pagan Community Notes: Week of September 25, 2022 at The Wild Hunt.

Juglans elaeopyren, Texan Walnut in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden

26 September 2022 at 15:21
Juglans elaeopyren, Texan Walnut in the Cambridge University Botanic Garden Taken with a Fuji X-T2, straight out of camera Just click on a photo to enlarge it
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