with Derek Handley

Follow this shortcut to the bottom of the page for the various readings, videos, etc. shared in the service.

Derek Handley © 31 July 2022

Meditation / Conversation starter:

• What opposites or paradoxes are you dealing with in your life?
• How are you coping within that allness of all things?

– social divisions on issues like the vaccine and te reo…

with Derek Handley

Follow this shortcut to the bottom of the page for the various readings, videos, etc. shared in the service.

Derek Handley © 24th October 2021.

No text this week.

Meditation / Conversation starter:

When division confronts us and we are ready to quickly judge or react:-

• How can each of us serve to unite rather than divide,
• in our conversations,
• in our deeds,
• in our acts,
• and in our thoughts?

Links

First Reading from “The Importance Of Living” by Lin YuTang

Chalice Lighting is from “Chalice Lighting for Challenging Times” By Lisa Doege

and from “Chalice Lighting” By Oberlin UU Fellowship, OH, USA

Second Reading:- “Uriel” by Ralph Waldo Emerson – 1803-1882

Third Reading features wise words from Marcus Aurelius, Heraclitus

Closing words include:- “As We Go Forward” By Cheryl Block

with Derek Handley

Derek Handley © 24 January 2021

Discussion / Meditation

Our questions today are:

• In what ways could we be living more ‘in season’?

with Derek Handley

No text this week.

Follow this shortcut to the bottom of the page for the Welcome, Spirit of Life, Opening & Closing Words, Postlude, Links shared during the chat.

Breakout

As we slowly begin to emerge from this pandemic lockdown, we have chances to think and behave anew when we get back out into the world.

We can choose to return on autopilot. Or we can choose NOT to do things we typically would do. We could choose to BE or NOT BE in ways we would not typically be.

What callings or signals have you been hearing, in amongst the stillness of recent weeks, that you would like to make more of an effort to honour instead of perhaps brush aside?

Links

Words of Welcome are from the Mother’s Day Proclamation by Julia Ward Howe

Opening words are from Self-Reliance an 1841 essay by Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

Closing words are A Prayer among Friends by John Daniel

Shared Links

Links were provided by church members for discussion purposes, inclusion in this list does not signify endorsement of the linked content by Auckland Unitarian Church.

• None this week!

with Derek Handley

Derek Handley © 12 January 2020

Whichever way we get at it or try to describe it, it is the pursuit of happiness that has held centre stage for much of human history across centuries, sects and civilizations. 

with Derek Handley

Opening words are ‘Expect Nothing’ by Robin Tanner

Closing words are ‘Remembering that the universe is larger’ By Marjorie Newlin Leaming

Derek Handley © 1 December 2019

Last month, my wife and I were in Japan watching the wrong team win the Rugby World Cup,

but we also went to visit the ancient city of Kyoto. 

Deep within the quiet, peaceful labyrinth of dozens of 15th and 16th century temples in the Myoshinjii compound – 

there is a temple called Shunkoin.