A gift day
A couple in my church call it a gift day. It's that phenomenon of something completely unexpected but wonderful happening. For example, going to see a movie but having it cancelled so folks respond by
Beloved Community: The Now and Not Yet
Rev. Christine Robinson has a great little post up about the phrase "beloved community" and why it's problematic to use that to describe a church. Like her mom, I can get cranky about the whole thing,
Meditations on Grave Digging
I am not known to shy away from death (not yet, at least). Lest you forget or didn’t know, I am the foster parent (shhh, don’t tell DCF) who, when the cat hid away to die and was found twelve … Cont
Uncategorized grief gallows humor Memento Mori prayer for death of pet dog
June’s Services
Services for June 2013 at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Peninsula theme: Prophecy June 2nd: “From Where I Stand” As Rev. Andrew comes to the end of his third year serving as minister to
music Life leadership Family Growth Mission service Beloved Community Sunday Services bridging
Operation Streamline: An American Obscenity
I am not sure I can even begin to describe this obscene method of handling border crossings. Understand the militarization of the border was to prevent the crossing of terrorists into the USA. Since
Unitarian Universalism immigration Immigration reform SOAWatch SOAWatch Delegation immigration laws Operation Streamline
COMPARING PRESIDENTS
Presidents Day occasioned my annual peek into history, bringing me this time to Eisenhower, about whom no one seems to know jack. But he is vaguely recalled with fondness because time colors curre
politics Obama Cold War Eisenhower Gen. George Patton presidential anger Reagan Soviet Union the Missile Gap
Life is Not Safe
Coming to grips with our natural vulnerability, with the stark reality that no matter how hard we try, there is never any guarantee of safety for any of us, can earn us some freedom from fear, and the
Culture general fear vulnerability tornado Human Nature moore
Americans In the Line To Get Into Heaven
I have this vision of being on line to get into Heaven. An angel is standing at the gate. She says, “Do you recognize this?” And she holds up one of those little yellow plastic corn cobs with … Co
Mind of the Minister
"The spiritual life is not life before, after, or beyond our everyday existence. No, the spiritual..."
“The spiritual life is not life before, after, or beyond our everyday existence. No, the spiritual life can only be real when it is lived in the midst of the pains and joys of the here and now.” - Hen
spirituality presence attention Henri Nouwen
Don’t Forget to Lift a Toast to Harvey Today
Today is Harvey Milk‘s birthday. Harvey was the first openly gay person to be elected to office in California, and possibly in the country. He would have been eighty-three if he had not been assassina
Uncategorized
Ten years of Boy in the Bands
Ten years ago, today I made my first blog post: a prayer. In the meantime, I have written more than 3,400 posts, developed some resources and welcomed more than 7,100 comments. The last 10 years seen
Blog administration
Re-Imagining UUism: Part 3: Rene Girard
Part 1 Part 2 I don't know why I first read Gil Bailie's Violence Unveiled. It was quite a while ago, perhaps ten years or more. I don't even remembering reading it for the first time. I do remember
Morning Prayer May 23, 2013
Awake, my heart, to how Love calls me today. Like the rose welcoming the songbirds fleeing the hawk, may I make refuge and way for those seeking safety and love. Like the songbirds, after fear may I c
Religion
Evening Prayer May 23, 2013
Beloved, help me hold onto the courage I have, nurture it, and follow it through for love, for mercy, for goodness' sake. When I have had to scurry away, flee, or retreat, may I have the courage to go
Religion
Southside Presbyterian Church: Transforming the Heart of America Part II
In 2009 there were some anecdotal stories surfacing of water bottles being vandalized and border patrol agents shooting holes in the bottles. THe government stated this was not true and it was all an
Unitarian Universalism immigration SOAWatch John Fife SOAWatch Delegation USA Border Border Patrol Lila Watson Southside Worker Center US Human Rights Violations
Southside Presbyterian Church: Transforming the Heart of America Part 1
In the afternoon the SOAWatch Delegation went to Southside Presbyterian Church to hear Rev. John Fife, past minister of this congregation and Stephanie and Alejandro of the Southside Day Labor Center,
Unitarian Universalism immigration SOAWatch John Fife Sanctuary Movement SOAWatch Delegation USA Border
A fiddle-and-lecture order of service
In one step, from the medieval to Modernism. The Western Conference Unitarians — think of the middle third of the United States a hundred and more years ago — were known for a kind of bibical rational
Worship History
Sermon: "Faith's Future, Humanity's Future" (Delivered 5-19-13)
Call to Worship [This call to worship was read by a member of the youth group.] Good morning. My name is Reverend Thom Belote. Today I was going to preach about the future. So I built a time machine
"Where none work but slaves, usefulness becomes degradation."
“Where none work but slaves, usefulness becomes degradation.” - Lydia Maria Child, An Appeal in Favor of That Class of Americans Called Africans (1836) p.30 (Unitarian, author, reformer)
