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Curiosity

13 April 2023 at 05:00
Imagination is tied to curiosity for me. Being curious about the world around me sparks my imagination…why is that flower that color? what kind of evolution had to happen to make the platypus? Imagine if that had gone a different way! -Christina Rivera (CLF) What sparks your imagination?

J.R.R. Tolkien and white supremacy

12 April 2023 at 22:59
An interesting essay by Tolkien scholar Robin A. Reid points out that the beloved author’s works are also loved by neo-Nazis, white supremacists, etc. Why? Perhaps because Tolkien’s fictional universe sets up a fictional racial hierarchy similar to the real-world racial hierarchies promoted by neo-Nazis, white supremacists, etc. The essay’s title is, in of itself, … Continue reading "J.R.R. Tolkien and white supremacy"

Three Kinds of Resistance: Part 2

13 April 2023 at 06:00
In my life, it seems that resistance can come from three places, and only one of those requires me to dig in and continue the force of resistance. I want to talk about the second of those three places: a … Continue reading →

The Sikh Tradition: A Small Celebration

13 April 2023 at 04:00
        The Sikh TraditionA Small Celebration James Ishmael Ford There is one god, named truth, the creator, without fear, without hate, timeless in form, beyond birth, self-existent, (known by) the grace of the Guru. It was today, the 13th of April, in 1699 that the Guru Gobind Singh created a formal initiation […]

Mayor Harold Washington by Gwendolyn Brooks—National Poetry Month 2023

13 April 2023 at 03:00
I not only voted for Harold Washington for Mayor, I rang doorbells in Dick Mell's hostile ward for him. Monday was the 40th anniversary of Harold Washington’s election as the first Black Mayor of Chicago.   I remember how thrilled and excited I was to see the Congressman from Hyde Park win after a hard-fought, racially divisive vote.   He had captured the official Democratic Party nomination on the strength of a massive Black turn-out and faced Republican Bernie Epton—suddenly anointed the white savior of the city’s White ethnic wards.   I was proud to pound pavement on his behalf in both elections in Dick Mell’s 33rd Ward on the Northwest Side. Just a couple of weeks ago another Black progressive, Brandon Johnson, won his rac...

Patron Deities in Modern Paganism

12 April 2023 at 05:00
Some contemporary Pagans and polytheists have patron deities. Most don’t. “Finding your patron deity” is far from the most urgent matter for someone on this path.

Luxury condo plans opposed on Miami Ancestral site as old as Stonehenge

12 April 2023 at 17:00
A prehistoric archaeological site in Miami appears to be a contemporary of Stonehenge and Brú na Bóinne. The area around the site is under threat by development plans that are being opposed by Indigenous leaders and archeologists. Continue reading Luxury condo plans opposed on Miami Ancestral site as old as Stonehenge at The Wild Hunt.

t-rex

12 April 2023 at 17:05
Today in the Clear Spring School wood shop the Kindergarten students and I made dinosaurs. Last week when I asked the students what they would like to make next, one student immediately responded "dinosaurs!" And education at its best adheres closely to "the interest of the child," whatever the age of the "child" might be. That's a thing just as true for my adult students. This week I'll go to Little Rock where as a guest at UALR I'll make a Friday night presentation on the Wisdom of Our Hands, and then follow up on Saturday and Sunday with classes in box making. The details can be found in this link: https://ualr.edu/news/2023/04/06/stowe-artworks-artist/ Make, fix and create... Assist others in learning lifewise.

Luxury condo plans opposed on Miami Ancestral site as old as Stonehenge

12 April 2023 at 17:00
A prehistoric archaeological site in Miami appears to be a contemporary of Stonehenge and Brú na Bóinne. The area around the site is under threat by development plans that are being opposed by Indigenous leaders and archeologists. Continue reading Luxury condo plans opposed on Miami Ancestral site as old as Stonehenge at The Wild Hunt.

Apple Tree Transplant

12 April 2023 at 15:08
Four years ago I attended an apple grafting workshop, and created four grafted plants to bring home. I planted them in a “nursery” bed in the orchard, a Black Oxford variety in the center to remain there, and the others to later transplant. The root stock was called M111, a semi-dwarf variety. But I wasn’t […]

Sunday, April 16 ~ Soul Matters Sharing Circle Sunday ~ 10:30 a.m.

12 April 2023 at 15:02
“True resistance begins with people confronting pain…and wanting to do something to change it.”   – Bell Hooks Photo by Kyle Johnson on Unsplash   Sunday, April 16 Soul Matters Sharing Circle Sunday The Unitarian Church of Marlborough & Hudson invites you into a time of spiritual reflection with our newly-created Soul Matters Sharing Circle. Once a   [ … ] The post Sunday, April 16 ~ Soul Matters Sharing Circle Sunday ~ 10:30 a.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Stress

12 April 2023 at 05:00
Sometimes, when I feel a lot of stress, I imagine myself sitting on the shore in Homer, Alaska, a place I visited once–in 2007. There was something magical about that place where, under the 24-hour sunlight of late May the mountains gleamed across the Kachemak Bay from a tiny fishing village at the end of … Continue reading Stress

Kinship with the World

12 April 2023 at 05:22
Lindasusan Ulrich May we remember the belonging that is ours simply because we were born. Continue reading "Kinship with the World"

Three Kinds of Resistance: Part 1

12 April 2023 at 06:03
In another reflection, I suggested that there are various angles on resistance, and that has been my own invitation to reflect on how I personally encounter resistance. In my life, it seems that resistance can come from three places, and … Continue reading →

The Unity of Religions

12 April 2023 at 04:00
The Unity of Religions James Ishmael Ford “The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.” Emily Dickinson For anyone who says there are common currents to religions, say, like for me; there are challenges. Hard questions. Is there really a thread through them all, a tie that binds, some universal truth […]

Lately I’ve been praying to Muhammad by Chelan Harkin—National Poetry Month 2023

12 April 2023 at 03:00
                     Chelan Harkin. Chelan Harkin is a 30-something and lives in Washington state with her two young children, Amari and Nahanni.  She has authored four books of poetry, Susceptible to Light , Let Us Dance! The Stumble and Whirl with The Beloved , Taste the Sky , and Bouquet of Stars . She contributes to online spiritual journals and her popularity has grown rapidly. Harkin mixes mysticism and a social justice edge.  In   Lately I’ve been praying to Muhammad she sounds an awfully like a Universalist. Lately I’ve been praying to Muhammad Lately I’ve been praying to Muhammad, Moses, Krishna, Buddha, Baha’u’llah, Zoroaster, Jesus— why be choosy?  I ask any source of true love and great joy to thro...

Young owl

11 April 2023 at 21:53
I was out for a walk at dusk in nearby Wheelwright Park, and heard a strange sound coming from a nearby tree — a sort of whiny “cheep” kind of sound. I looked up, and there was a juvenile Great Horned Owl about 10 meters up. The fading light made it hard to see much, … Continue reading "Young owl"

New research provides direct link between Mediterranean shamans and earliest European use of plant drugs

11 April 2023 at 18:38
A team of archeologists in Spain has found evidence of what may be the most ancient use of plant substances in Europe. Continue reading New research provides direct link between Mediterranean shamans and earliest European use of plant drugs at The Wild Hunt.

Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – April 11th

11 April 2023 at 17:25
There is so much sprouting and growing, blooming and greening all around, pushing up through last Fall’s leaves, reminding us that change is constant. If you have attended a service or program at UUSS recently, you may have also felt the springing of energy there, ... read more . The post Co-Ministers’ Colloquy – April 11th appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Religious Education programming this weekend

11 April 2023 at 17:20
For the Faith Development of the children this Sunday, April 16, there will be a Children’s Chapel for those in 6th grade and under at Waters House. Parents please drop your children off before the start of the worship service. Older children are welcome to help ... read more . The post Religious Education programming this weekend appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Green Sanctuary & Earth Day

11 April 2023 at 17:15
The UUSS Green Sanctuary group invites you to join the Earth Day festivities at the Schenectady March for Climate, Sat. April 22 at noon in front of City Hall. There will be live music, dancers, exhibits, speakers, and a 0.8 mile march. For details see here: ... read more . The post Green Sanctuary & Earth Day appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Discussion of The People Could Fly: American Folktales by Virginia Hamilton

11 April 2023 at 17:05
We’re changing up a bit this month as we read a multigenerational book, The People Could Fly: American Folktales by Virginia Hamilton. We will gather by zoom on Monday, April 24, for a book discussion. Leah Purcell, our Interim Director of Lifespan Religious Education, has agreed to incorporate the ... read more . The post Discussion of The People Could Fly: American Folktales by Virginia Hamilton appeared first on Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady.

Wild and Precious: A Celebration of Mary Oliver: Reflecting on the making of an audiobook

11 April 2023 at 11:23
                                Wild and Precious: A Celebration of Mary Oliver Reflecting on the making of an audiobook James Ishmael Ford Just shy of a year ago I received an email. Helena de Groot was, okay, is a producer for Pushkin, a […]

Wild and Precious: A Celebration of Mary Oliver: Reflecting on an Audiobook

11 April 2023 at 11:23
                                Wild and Precious: A Celebration of Mary Oliver Reflecting on an Audiobook James Ishmael Ford Just shy of a year ago I received an email. Helena de Groot was, okay, is a producer for Pushkin, a multi platform publisher. […]

Imagination and Power

11 April 2023 at 05:00
“Imagination has power. Imagination is power. Therefore, be sure to have A good and elevating imagination” -Sri Chinmoy How have you experienced the power of imagination?

This Is You

11 April 2023 at 06:09
(studio recording…. )  Song by Keala Settle and The Greatest Showman EnsembleSongwriters: Benj Pasek / Justin Paul          This Is Me lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Walt Disney Music Company (Resist the notion that you are … Continue reading →

Karenge ya Marenge by Countee Cullen—National Poetry Month 2023

11 April 2023 at 03:00
Harlem Renaissance poet Countee Cullen.  Countee Cullen , leading light of the Harlem Renaissance was orphaned at 16 and was adopted into the home of Harlem’s most important clergyman, the Reverend Frederick A. Cullen, of Salem Methodist Episcopal Church.  He took the name of his foster father and enjoyed being at the epicenter of Harlem life.  He was sent to prestigious White schools where he excelled as a scholar and was quickly recognized as a poet.  In 1923 he graduated from New York University and was accepted to graduate school at Harvard.  He had already published several poems in important magazines and was lauded by white critics as a voice for his race.  That year he published  The Ballad of a...

Pagan Community Notes: Week of April 10, 2023

10 April 2023 at 17:00
In this week's Pagan Community Notes, we remember Rachel Pollack, the Parliament of World Religion repudiates Doctrine of Discovery, announcements, and more news Continue reading Pagan Community Notes: Week of April 10, 2023 at The Wild Hunt.

Easter Sunday at All Souls: Photos

10 April 2023 at 13:57
April 9, 2023 was a perfectly gorgeous Easter Sunday, and our Sanctuary and Emerson Hall were filled to overflowing. We had two energizing services with our choirs performing both the sacred and the secular versions of Hallelujah, the first by Handel and the second by Leonard Cohen. Our cherub, children’s and youth choirs performed as well. The 10 am service was followed by communion in the Sanctuary, and Easter egg hunts in the Memorial Garden and front lawn. Families gathered between services to enjoy the weather and reconnect with friends. It was wonderful to see so many of you, and […] The post Easter Sunday at All Souls: Photos appeared first on BeyondBelief.

The Absent Presences: Passover and Easter

10 April 2023 at 12:11
Now the green blade riseth, from the buried grain, Wheat that in dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green. When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain, Your touch can call us back to life again, Fields of our hearts that dead and bare have been: Love is come again like wheat arising green. --John McLeod Campbell Crum When we are all despairing: when the world is full of grief; when we see no way ahead, and hope has gone away;       Roll back the stone. Although we fear change; although we are not ready; although we’d rather weep and run away:       Roll back the stone. Because we’re coming with the women; because we hope where hop...

True

10 April 2023 at 05:00
Sometimes I feel like I’ve imagined my whole worldview into being. I believe in and care deeply about the animacy of the world — meaning that I see many forms of life as having agency and personhood, even if that personhood is very different from my own, and beyond my full understanding. The white, colonial … Continue reading True

Q&A: Aisha Hauser and Kirsten Hunter on UU Religious Education and the Future of Faith Formation

10 April 2023 at 10:00
Charles Coe UU World asked two deeply-involved religious educators to share their perspectives on on the future of the curriculum.

The World is a Beautiful Place by Lawrence Ferlinghetti—National Poetry Month 2023

10 April 2023 at 08:10
Lawrence Ferlinghetti at his City Lights Bookstore in North Beach. Leave it to Lawrence Ferlinghetti, the Dean of beat poets, who died two years ago just a month shy of his 102nd birthday to capture a post-Easter take on mortality.  Never one to shy away from ambivalence, his deep well of moral outrage at a brutal modern world is counterpoint to the sunny optimism of What a Wonderful World , the Vietnam Era Louis Armstrong hit. The World is a Beautiful Place                  The world is a beautiful place                                                            to be born into if you don’t mind happiness                              

Disaster Everywhere

10 April 2023 at 06:18
I see disaster everywhere; I also […] see generosity and resistance everywhere. Rebecca Solnit Sometimes, I confess, I see disaster everywhere. I get discouraged and depressed by what I perceive as destructive ideologies and events around me. I also get … Continue reading →

Once You’ve Had a Taste of the Otherworld

9 April 2023 at 05:00
The Gods I serve and who occasionally allow me to experience them directly have forbidden me from spending too much time in the Otherworld, much less staying there. I’m allowed to taste it. Occasionally. I can’t forget that taste. And I can’t stop wanting it.

Easter as a cultural holiday

9 April 2023 at 22:03
Someone I know was worried when I said I hadn’t bought Carol an Easter gift. I immediately felt guilty. Is that what one is supposed to do these days? It turns out this is in fact a growing cultural trend. Religion News Service asked recently: “Is Easter the new Christmas?” They reported that there are … Continue reading "Easter as a cultural holiday"

“I can be both”: an Easter conversation with Christian Witches

9 April 2023 at 17:00
TWH's editor-in-chief, Manny Tejeda Moreno, speaks with several self-described Christian Witches about the challenges of practicing magick in a Christian context. Continue reading “I can be both”: an Easter conversation with Christian Witches at The Wild Hunt.

The Blessed Fool

9 April 2023 at 15:10
as preached at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston, April 9, 2023 When I was in my early twenties, I used to take part in a lot of mass mobilizations. It was an era of giant puppets and papier-mâché. On the streets of Seattle, Chicago, or, say, Washington, DC, it was not uncommon to […] The post The Blessed Fool appeared first on Colin Bossen.

DYING & RISING: A Zen Reflection on Easter

9 April 2023 at 15:00
              DYING & RISINGA Zen Reflection on Easter James Ishmael Ford   For the last half of my professional ministerial life, I served in some venerable New England parishes. Spiritually we were pretty much generic contemporary Unitarian Universalists. That is, we shared a naturalist and humanist bent. And issues […]

Artificial Intelligence 101

9 April 2023 at 13:45
Join UUs and James Carroll after service for this week's topic: Artificial Intelligence 101.

What Am I Doing Here?

9 April 2023 at 12:34
I was speaking this week about why I’m writing and how. My therapist says it is reclaiming something that was…</p> The post What Am I Doing Here? appeared first on Taking Up Space.

A Time for Faith, A Time for Doubt

9 April 2023 at 12:30
For Easter, a story of Jesus' last wishes for his loved ones...including us.

Easter

9 April 2023 at 05:00
The holiest day in the Christian calendar is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus, celebrated on Easter Sunday. The inspiration of this miracle is to make the necessary teachings of Jesus live in the world–it inspired his followers to keep on going when they least wanted to. How can you imagine something necessary in … Continue reading Easter

Weekly Bread #217

9 April 2023 at 11:10
Well, it is Easter and therefore it is a good time for a resurrection. It is handy that it comes in the springtime. This year it is after a winter of heavy rain, so the wildflowers are out in abundance. Yes, I do know it is still snowing in other places. And it is OK […]

would works video 2

9 April 2023 at 10:08
 https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/discover/inspired-to-make/would-works/meet-shirley This is volume 2 of a series from LeeValley.com Make, fix and create...

An Easter thought for the day from the blog archive . . .

9 April 2023 at 07:58
At the moment I’m away on leave and so, for the first time (I think) in my twenty-three years of ministry, haven’t led a service on Easter Sunday. So, just in case anyone drops by here looking for an Easter Sunday themed piece, here’s mine from last year: L’chaim! — to life!: A religion without God and an ethics without absolutes—A short Easter Sunday reflection   

Poets’ Sidelong Glances at Easter—National Poetry Month 2023

9 April 2023 at 03:00
  Not everyone buys the traditional Easter story hook, line, and sinker and others are unsure what it really means. It’s Easter morning and I hope it is lovely where you are .   If you came here today expecting lofty contemplations of a stone rolled away and an empty tomb, of redemption and hallelujah! you are bound for disappointment .   Likewise, if you are a Unitarian Universalist who squirms uncomfortably in the pews waiting for your sensitivities to be assaulted or a pagan longing for a hymn to Oester you will likewise be crestfallen.   Not this year .   Maybe another time . Today we celebrate the quirky, sidelong glances at the Spring festival in short pieces by some well-known poets .   Each is fresh and exciting and deman...

New website for early American sacred music

8 April 2023 at 20:46
If you’re interested in early American sacred music (as I am), you might be interested in a new website being developed by Nym Cooke, a well known scholar and practitioner in the field. A friend forwarded me Cooke’s introductory email, which says in part: “I invite you to explore a new website, Early American Sacred … Continue reading "New website for early American sacred music"

Offerings

8 April 2023 at 17:24
My room became a Wunderkammer of sorts, filled with strange and magical items right alongside cheap pieces of mass-produced plastic that made me laugh and reminded me of my friends. The ways in which I saw the gods grew into a visual language, a series of physical metaphors grounded in my everyday experience and sprawling across my living space. Like all languages, it began to create its own meaning. Continue reading Offerings at The Wild Hunt.

the nose knows...

8 April 2023 at 15:54
The nose knows. This morning Rosie discovered the bat house we made at school last year and that we hung on our barn. After adding anti-rodent devices under the hoods of our truck and car, she's stopped obsessing about squirrels in the engine compartment and turned her attention to bats. Don't we wish our politicians could be so smart? The lot of them appear to be missing common sense and the ability to gain an accurate view of themselves.... some think that they can take gifts from rich and powerful friends and that no one will see there are strings attached. Some think that expelling two black legislators while thinking they will not be immediately recognized as racist. How in the world can folks be so self-delusional? Brace yourself. ...

All Ages Worship (9 April 2023)

8 April 2023 at 11:54
Please join us on Sunday (2 April 2023) at 11:00 AM for “The Sun’s Returning (Spring holiday service with Rev. Barbara Jarrell and members of the All Souls Choir). Join us this Easter Sunday as we celebrate new life returning in this sacred season — the new life promised by the coming of spring, the … Continue reading "All Ages Worship (9 April 2023)"

Upcoming Events Reminders for 8-9 April 2023 and Beyond

8 April 2023 at 11:48
Easter Worship Service and Egg Hunt (9 April 2023) Announcement of Special Congregational Meeting (16 April 2023) 2023 Pledge Drive — We Need Your Pledge Now

Children and Youth Religious Education Classes — 9 April 2023

8 April 2023 at 11:43
Children and youth will attend the worship service for the first 15-20 minutes and then are dismissed to their classes. We are now discussing peace, social justice, and the interdependent web and these ideas connect to our Unitarian Universalist faith. Elementary class with Ash McLain and Kevin Henry will have a lesson and activity focused … Continue reading "Children and Youth Religious Education Classes — 9 April 2023"

Adult Religious Education Taking a Break (9 April 2023)

8 April 2023 at 11:34
Our adult religious education class is taking this Sunday off. The class will not meet on Easter Sunday (9 April 2023). We will resume at 9:00 AM on Sunday, 16 April 2023. We will be trying a dual-platform class and will welcome participants in person in the social hall and also via Zoom.

Zoom (and In-Person) Lunch on Tuesday (11 April 2023)

8 April 2023 at 11:29
Please join us next Tuesday (11 April 2023) at 12 noon for our weekly Zoom lunch. Our weekly Zoom lunch is going dual-platform — join us from home using Zoom or in person in the social hall. Bring your lunch and meet up with your All Souls friends, have lunch, and just catch up.

There are things we cannot control

8 April 2023 at 10:53
Going through old files, I found this reflection poem from 2014. It feels even more fitting for today, especially living as I do in the "realm" of chronic illness. I cannot control how much energy I will have each day, and rarely can I take action that might have an influence in the world outside […]

Dreams

8 April 2023 at 05:00
​”It is always miraculous to see a dream take shape and form.  Dreams in themselves are made of the chiffon of [people’s] hopes, desires and aspirings.  There may be no limit to their fabulous unfolding, rich in all the magic of the fantastic.” -Howard Thurman Dream, hope, desire, aspire today.

Some photos from a visit to Stonea Camp Iron Age Hill Fort

8 April 2023 at 10:38
All photos taken with a Fuji X-T2 using Kevin Mullins’ Padilla recipe Just click on a photo to enlarge it  Stonea Camp, Wimblington, is an Iron Age Hill Fort situated just a few miles from March. It’s not only the lowest hill fort in Britain (lying at only 6 ft 7 in. above sea-level), but it may also be the site of a significant battle in 47 CE between the Romans and the Iceni tribe because the site corresponds to that mentioned by Tacitus who tells us how the Romans troops overwhelmed the local fighters who were “imprisoned by their own defences.” If this is the case, and it’s not proven absolutely so far, then Stonea Camp would be the first place in Britain to enter into the historical record! You can read a pdf report on th...

Murfin Verse—Cosmos, Consciousness, and Creator—Me! National Poetry Month 2023

8 April 2023 at 08:22
Some of the things that pop up regularly on my Facebook page are posted from Big Think which popularizes advanced scientific research and speculation for the reasonably literate lay person.   Most often I glance at the summary but delve into the articles from time to time.   Frankly, most sail over my head.   Sometimes articles contradict each other as scientists advance different hypotheses.   An awful lot leaves me mystified. I am no scientist, philosopher, or theologian—some of the most speculative stuff seems to demand that, too.   I am a humanities major who dropped out of college and spent most of my working life as a blue collar worker, janitor, and gas station clerk—manifestly incompetent to understand much of what I re...

Easter Egg Hunt (9 April 2023)

8 April 2023 at 02:29
After the 9 April 2023 Easter worship service, we will have an Easter egg hunt for toddlers through 5th grade.  Our middle and high school youth will hide the eggs that morning and get special “bonus” for helping with the egg hiding. Before Easter Sunday, please bring a dozen filled plastic eggs to the office. … Continue reading "Easter Egg Hunt (9 April 2023)"

Building and Grounds Work Day (Saturday, 8 April 2023)

8 April 2023 at 02:25
Our monthly building and grounds work day will happen on Saturday (8 April 2023) from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We will have tasks available for all ages and abilities — inside and out. This is a great way to get to know others in your All Souls community while working side by side.  Please … Continue reading "Building and Grounds Work Day (Saturday, 8 April 2023)"

Meditation with Larry Androes (8 April 2023)

8 April 2023 at 02:22
Please join us on Saturday (8 April 2023) at 10:30 AM for our weekly meditation group with Larry Androes. This is a sitting Buddhist meditation including a brief introduction to mindfulness meditation, 20 minutes of sitting, and followed by a weekly teaching. Please note that this group is still meeting via Zoom.  You will need … Continue reading "Meditation with Larry Androes (8 April 2023)"

New approach to defeating evil spammers

7 April 2023 at 22:12
I’m trying something new. For some years now, this blog has used a WordPress plugin called “CaptchaBank.” This plugin forced you to solve an arithmetic problem before you could comment (and I have had to solve an arithmetic problem before I could login). It was a great plugin that kept the spammers at bay. And … Continue reading "New approach to defeating evil spammers"

Asatru UK Gears up for Growth

7 April 2023 at 18:54
Lyonel Perabo speaks with Jack Hudson, chair of Asatru UK, about the British organization's plans for new festivals and potentially acquiring land permanently. Continue reading Asatru UK Gears up for Growth at The Wild Hunt.

#HealthForAll Women in Haiti

7 April 2023 at 16:06
UUSC takes a moment to sit with a Haiti partner organization to discuss access to healthcare for women in Haiti.

From the UUA President: Tennessee Teaches Us We Cannot Normalize Authoritarianism. We Must Protect Democracy.

7 April 2023 at 12:46
Susan Frederick-Gray UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray responds to the recent vote of the TN House of Representatives to expel State Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson because of their actions supporting gun safety advocates. Continue reading "From the UUA President: Tennessee Teaches Us We Cannot Normalize Authoritarianism. We Must Protect Democracy."

Beacon Behind the Books: Meet Ruthie Block, Editorial Assistant

7 April 2023 at 10:25
When I started to think about career options in my first year of college, I knew I wanted to do something in the world of books and I knew I wanted, within that, to work somewhere that recognized the inherent political power of publishing and that was committed to using that power in a way that was both disruptive and purposeful. I also knew—or thought I knew at the time—that I wanted to be in New York.

Friends

7 April 2023 at 05:00
My brother had an imaginary friend named Low.  One day, when Low and my brother were talking to my Mom, my brother asked my Mom to hold Low.  My Mom obliged, but then continued with the laundry. My brother screeched, “Mom!  You’re getting Low all wet.”  I love that my brother had a friend that … Continue reading Friends

Adopting an Eighth Principle 

7 April 2023 at 10:00
Arthur Hirsch How one congregation is learning to live into its antiracist commitments.

They are Hostile Nations by Margaret Attwood—National Poetry Month 2023

7 April 2023 at 08:01
Modern war--the innocent are only in the way. The ongoing brutal war in Ukraine is only the most visible of dozens of armed conflicts across the globe—insurrections, rebellions, civil war, tribal battles, intractable conflicts spanning decades if not centuries.  Nuclear sabers are being rattled by Russia, China, North Korea, Israel, and, yes, even the United States.  The nagging Cassandras at the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists have reset the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight—the closest to oblivion it has ever been.  Peace is not only not in hand, it seems increasingly impossible. Margaret Atwood in the 1970's. Even back in the 1970’s Canadian Margaret Atwood despaired.  The feminist poet, novelist, cultural critic i...

Walking Together

7 April 2023 at 06:06
Hanging on our bathroom wall upstairs…. Soul Matters has this to say about resistance.  “Let’s start with the complexity. Sometimes resistance involves bravely picking up a picket sign; other times it asks us to courageously put down our masks and … Continue reading →

Prayer For Dreaming World Whole - Community

7 April 2023 at 06:00
A Prayer For Dreaming the World Made Whole: Community Shelter, Refuge, and Home of the Displaced and Dispossessed, the Exiled and the Ones Who Shall Not and Have Not Been Relocated, invite us to dream a world and then work each to create it, to converse together and try stuff...

Every Day is the Good Day: A Zen Meditation on Good Friday

7 April 2023 at 04:00
        Every Day is the Good Day: A Zen Meditation on Good Friday James Ishmael Ford Yunmen, asked, “I do not ask you about the fifteenth of month. Come. Tell me about after the fifteenth. He then gave his own response, “Every day is a good day.” Blue Cliff Record, Case 6 […]

Worshipping online

6 April 2023 at 23:42
At First Parish in Cohasset, where I serve as minister, 10-15% of our Sunday congregation each week attends online. This percentage is probably typical of most Unitarian Universalist congregations. A recent study shows that in Black churches, the percentage is much higher. As reported by Religion News Service (RNS): “According to the Pew Research Center, … Continue reading "Worshipping online"

Poem: I Dare You

6 April 2023 at 23:44
by Dorianne Laux It’s autumn, and we’re getting rid  of books, getting ready to retire,  to move some place smaller, more  manageable. We’re living in reverse,  age-proofing the new house, nothing  on the floors to trip over, no hindrances  to the slowed mechanisms of our bodies,  a small table for two. Our world is  shrinking, our closets mostly empty,  gone the tight skirts and dancing shoes,  the bells and whistles. Now, when  someone comes to visit and admires  our complete works of Shakespeare,  the hawk feather in the open dictionary,  the iron angel on a shelf, we say  take them. This is the most important  time of all, the age of divestment,  knowing what we leave behind is  like the fragrance of blossomin...

23S Week 5. Inspiring Women Leaders

6 April 2023 at 23:10
The focus talk was made up of contributions from WomenExplore participants describing women who had inspired them.  Click here to hear what they had to say. Main lecture:  Muna Killingback Muna Killingback joined the Center for Women in Politics and Public Policy with many years of experience advocating for and writing about women's and human rights, peace, and social and economic justice issues.  At CWPPP, she works with the  Gender, Leadership, and Public Policy graduate programs , oversees communications, and assists with fund development. Formerly at the  Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities after Disasters  at UMass Boston, she had previously served as Executive Director of the Cambridge-based nonprofit organization,...

Pan-African Parliament Guidelines seek an end to witchcraft accusations

6 April 2023 at 17:00
The Pan-African Parliament released and adopted new human rights guidelines to eliminate witchcraft accusations and stop attacks on that can lead to torture and death in many parts of the content and the world. Continue reading Pan-African Parliament Guidelines seek an end to witchcraft accusations at The Wild Hunt.

Is It Me or Is It Getting Hot in Here?: Beacon’s New Sexuality List

6 April 2023 at 12:43
A Q&A with Catherine Tung | This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time! Editors all have bucket lists of books they want to publish, and near the top of my list has been a book that introduces the rich world of kink to a general audience without sensationalizing, othering, or distorting the material. When I arrived at Beacon three years ago, my senior colleagues encouraged me to brainstorm ideas for new lists that I could develop. I started with the idea of a kink book, and the idea of a sexuality list flowed naturally from there.

What the ICJ Opinion Means and Why It Matters

6 April 2023 at 12:58
UUSC partner’s work to encourage a climate change opinion heralds increased meaningful responses to climate change across the world.

Washing Feet

6 April 2023 at 05:00
A few months after I first joined a Unitarian Universalist congregation, I was invited to celebrate the Christian holiday of Maundy Thursday. At the worship, we were led in a ritual of washing each others’ feet, as Jesus had washed the feet of his disciples the day before his execution by the state. This simple … Continue reading Washing Feet

Rohingya Language Project Addresses the Cultural Costs of Genocide

6 April 2023 at 08:10
There’s more to genocide than the loss of life.

Murfin Verse Passover Poems Revisited—National Poetry Month 2023

6 April 2023 at 08:03
Lambs blood on the lintel--a sign to God's avenging angels to pass over the homes of Jews as the firstborn sons of Egypt are slain. Last night at sundown Passover or Pesach began when Jews around the world gather around  ritual tables to remember and give thanks for the events that lead to the ultimate freedom of the Hebrew people and a Promise Land of their own.  That came at a terrible price for their oppressors—a pain that they thank God for inflicting.  It is an uplifting night, a hopeful night, but also a terrible one. The story of Passover and the Exodus from Egypt is a saga of freedom that not only gave comfort and hope to Jews through centuries of persecution but inspired others who were enslaved and oppressed.  Blacks held...

Resistance Roots

6 April 2023 at 06:07
To stand back,  remain standing anywhere;  to stand still, halt, stop, stay;  to stay behind, remain, continue Resistance is one of those words that is not originally English. English brought the word “resistance” into usage from Latin through French in … Continue reading →

Zen, Maundy Thursday, and the Mysteries of Memory and Communion

6 April 2023 at 04:00
Zen, Maundy Thursday, and the Mysteries of Memory and Communion James Ishmael Ford Today is Maundy Thursday, sometimes called Holy Thursday. In the Christian tradition this is the day that two of the central three rituals directly associated with Jesus’ ministry are specially commemorated. The one not noted here was also not initiated by Jesus, […]

dovetailed chest of drawers

5 April 2023 at 18:02
My small dovetails jewelry chests are ready now to sand and assemble prior to making the drawers. One is walnut, one is cherry and one is bring made from ash. I never make anything this complex and challenging without making a few mistakes. But that's part of being human, isn't it? The walnut stretcher near the bottom of the box is intended to do the job of holding the sides and top square, while also being hidden from view by the bottom drawer. Make, fix, forgive and create. 

Taylor Swift accused of Witchcraft in Eras Tour

5 April 2023 at 17:00
Taylor Swift’s Eras World Tour called out on Twitter and TikTok as promoting Satanism & Witchcraft On Stage. Continue reading Taylor Swift accused of Witchcraft in Eras Tour at The Wild Hunt.

Capisic Brook

5 April 2023 at 16:07
Two people have reached out to me in the last few weeks to ask about the origins of the name of our little Capisic brook. They accurately assumed that it was a Wabanaki name, as are many waterways in what is now Maine, and wondered about its original meaning. I have wondered that too, though […]

April 9, 2023 ~ Easter Sunday Service: Exploring the Empty Tomb ~ 10:30 a.m.

5 April 2023 at 13:09
April 9, 2023 ~ 10:30 a.m. Easter Sunday Service Exploring the Empty Tomb   Did Jesus simply swoon? Was someone else crucified in his stead? Join us this Sunday, April 9, as Rev. Alice explores alternate views of just what happened on the cross — and the implications these would have for a Christian theology based   [ … ] The post April 9, 2023 ~ Easter Sunday Service: Exploring the Empty Tomb ~ 10:30 a.m. appeared first on Unitarian Church of Marlborough and Hudson.

Paul Dean’s Lectures: the tenth and final lecture

5 April 2023 at 13:00
This is the tenth and last of the lectures in Paul Dean’s 1832 A Course of Lectures in Defence of the Final Restoration, an homage to celebrate the Universalist minister’s 240th birthday. The numbers in brackets are the beginning of the page in the original. LECTURE X. PROOFS OF THE FINAL RESTORATION. EPHESIANS, I. 9,10. … Continue reading "Paul Dean’s Lectures: the tenth and final lecture"

UUA Presidential Election 2023

5 April 2023 at 10:00
Staff Writer General Assembly delegates will elect a new faith leader this June.

Light and Camera: The Principles in Action

5 April 2023 at 09:59
Elaine McArdle With the Community Church of New York's All-8 Workshop, young people are exploring the Principles in ways that touch both their creativity and their identities.

In 2022 Elections, UU the Vote Built on Prior Success 

5 April 2023 at 09:59
Jeff Milchen The campaign helped reach more than two million potential voters before midterms.

UUA General Assembly Will Explore “Faithfully Becoming” 

5 April 2023 at 09:59
Sonja L. Cohen Delegates at GA 2023 will help shape the future of the faith.
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