They Walk Into the Place Where (a reflection on immigration)

They walk into the place carrying a bandana, carrying a balaclava, carrying a bordada made by abuela. They walk into the place that burns the soles of huaraches, the soles of tennis shoes into twisted

Uncategorized immigration Arizona border Samaritans

"To me each breath of the summer air, each wave of the stormy sea, Each cloud which floats o’er..."

“To me each breath of the summer air, each wave of the stormy sea, Each cloud which floats o’er Heaven’s blue dome brings share of ecstasy.” - Frances Power Cobbe, “The Joy of Youth” (1845) Rest in th

Morning Prayer June 21, 2013

Beloved, may I awaken in this body and be glad for the new day. Yes, though I know pain, and yes, though I know sorrow, and yes, though limitations can chafe and wound, may I remember the goodness tha

Religion

Evening Prayer June 21, 2013

Wisdom bless us with the ability to slow down, be grateful, and cease judging so painfully those around us and ourselves. Help us discern what is truly worthy of dismissal and of correction and be gla

Religion

Youth service trip, day two

We worked on a Habitat for Humanity rehab project today. Three of us worked on nailing down oriented strand board on the roof, then putting up drip edge. Four of us worked on painting and other miscel

social justice Youth ministry Road trips uuaga2013

UUA welcomes one new congregation at 2013 GA

During Wednesday evening’s General Assembly opening plenary session, the Unitarian Universalist Association welcomed a new member congregation, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Cookeville, T

uuaga GA 2013 uuaga13 new congregations

New rules approved for ministers’ relationships

At its annual business meeting prior to the opening of the 2013 General Assembly, the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association (UUMA) voted to pass a new rule prohibiting sexual contact between mi

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When Worlds Collide

I had an interesting conversation with a friend the other day about a controversy in her church. A member raised the question to the congregation about what their policy should be about bringing guns

peace community abortion gun control LGBT issues values questions conflict conversation

"What makes good society? I answer, in one word, real fellowship."

“What makes good society? I answer, in one word, real fellowship.” - William Hazlitt, Table Talk (1823) p.332 (Unitarian, painter, essayist, critic)

Tamara Payne-Alex for UUA Moderator

Dearest Fellow Unitarian Universalists, Two weeks ago, I mailed in my off-site delegate ballot for the election of a new Moderator for the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.  My vote

UU Movement

Bob Senghas: Thinking of a Mentor

The Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association gathers just ahead of the annual UU General Assembly, this year in Lousville. This morning UUMA worship featured, as is the tradition, two speakers, on

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"Liberty and choice are the essential components that constitute human dignity."

“Liberty and choice are the essential components that constitute human dignity.” - Khaled Abou El Fadl, The Great Theft: Wrestling Islam From the Extremists

dignity liberty Khaled Abou El Fadl choice

A liberal still standing up for Jesus - a reply to a comment on my last blogpost

An early image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd A very important point was posted on my last blogpost  No image, no passion - why this liberal continues to stand up for Jesus  by Tim Bartik. Thanks, Tim,

Jesus Unitarian Universalist Association Epicurus Lucretius liberal Christian tradition Socrates John F. Hayward Unitarian and Free Christian Churches Existentialism and Religious Liberalism

"Shout, friends of Liberty, aloud! Shout with a mighty tone! Sing, angels in the upper world, A..."

“Shout, friends of Liberty, aloud! Shout with a mighty tone! Sing, angels in the upper world, A song of Freedom’s own! Now stripes and bondage are exchanged, For peace and quiet homes, Where no slave-

Evening Prayer June 20, 2013

Let the night welcome us and we welcome it, ready for the dreaming and the dark, to love this life fully and well. Let the night welcome us and we welcome it, as cover for those of us who must go out

Religion

Morning Prayer June 20, 2013

Beloved, lead us today in the building and maintaining the paths of trust necessary to create a peaceful and loving world. How easy it is to grow stony hearted and unkind, to be strong in relationship

Religion

Youth service trip, day one

I’m on a five-day service trip with a total of seven youth and adults from the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto. Agenda for day one: drive to Los Angeles, check in at motel, eat dinner and m

social justice Youth ministry

No image, no passion - why this liberal continues to stand up for Jesus

Jesus depicted on a Polish Socinian/Unitarian medallion The following piece is a revision of an address I've given a couple of times in Cambridge during the past few years. I've revised it for inclusi

Jesus liberal Christian tradition Stephen Dunn Jazz Francis David Chuck Israels Hungarian Unitarian Church Unitarian and Free Christian Churches

"They wait! yet while we look, the hour Comes with its blissful freight: Fling out the Stars and..."

“They wait! yet while we look, the hour Comes with its blissful freight: Fling out the Stars and Stripes, a sign They may no longer wait. Shout Lincoln’s name with blissful tears, Pray for him day by

A Journey to Le Puy

By Brad Harper How do I begin? This ancient place, it has been itself the site of pilgrims, come to see the Black Madonna, a small statue within the cathedral brought back by pilgrims from the holy la

A Shared Journey Brad Harper