Speaker & Worship Leader:- Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 30 July 2023

My father loved words. The Oxford English Dictionary and books on etymology, the study of the origin of words and how their meanings have changed throughout history, were never far from his fingertips. If he couldn’t find just the right word for the book he was writing, he had no reluctance in just creating a word that captured his intent. He passed on his love of words to me. That was to my benefit in seminary, where I was required to take two semesters of word study. It was essential to preparing sermons. Our task was to fully understand biblical words in all their meanings, translations and uses in biblical times so they could be applied relevantly in our modern and cultural context. I know it sounds boring and tedious, but thanks to Dad, I loved it.

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 23 July 2023

You might remember me telling you the story of the 1969 UUA General Assembly in Boston. It was at the height of the Black empowerment movement in America. For that reason, many Black UUs attended instead of the token few who usually came. White UUs were shocked and wondered where they all came from. They had always been there since the 18^th century but had been generally ignored or discounted. We were more diverse than we had been aware of or at least acknowledged. But in 1969, systemic racism reared its ugly head, undermining that diversity and many Black UUs walked out the door, never to return. Much has happened within Unitarian Universalism since then. So, it was highly newsworthy when Sofia Betancourt, a woman, a person of colour and openly queer, was overwhelmingly elected as president of the UUA.

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Kate Lewis

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Kate Lewis © 16 July 2023

Nō Ingarangi, Kōtirana, Tiamana me Huiterangi ōku tīpuna

I whānau mai au i Hartford, Connecticut, Ngā Whenua Tōpū o Amerika

I tupu ake au i Baltimore, Maryland, Ngā Whenua Tōpū o Amerika

I tae mai au ki Aotearoa i te tau rua mano mā waru

Ko Martha’s Vineyard tōku karanga motu

Ko Tiasquam tōku karanga awa

Ko Vineyard Haven Moana tōku karanga moana

Kei Hauraki / North Shore o Tāmaki Makaurau ahau e noho ana

Ko Kate ahau

My ancestors hail from England, Scotland, Germany and Switzerland

I was born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA

I was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, USA

I arrived in New Zealand in the year 2008

Martha’s Vineyard is the island that calls to me

The Tiasquam is the river that calls to me

Vineyard Haven is the harbor that calls to me

I am currently living in Hauraki on the North Shore of Auckland

I am Kate

Many of us have lost a sense of belonging in one place or another, having made a life around the world from where we were born and grew up. There is a longing for a beloved past and people, and despair when we realize that when we go back everything has changed and feel grief at what has been lost.

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Rev. Clay Nelson

Organ and Piano:- Jaime Taylor

No recordings this week – technical gremlins attacked.

Links

Opening words:- “A New Song, a New Harmony” By Richard S. Gilbert

Chalice Lighting:- “Chalice Lighting for Music Sunday” By Marnie Singer

Closing Words:- “As we listen to the blessing of music” By Maureen Killoran

Speaker & Worship Leader:- Alix Geard

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Alix Geard © 4th June2023

Today’s theme is inspired by “Beyond growth: Pathways towards sustainable prosperity in the EU”

I wanted to share something about what the future might look like: especially something new about what’s going on in the space around climate change and degrowth. I’ve been finding that quite depressing, though.

I admit that I even asked ChatGPT for some examples of what I might say. The homilies it came up with were familiar, reassuring, anodyne and almost completely pointless. They did sound good, though.

Instead, I want to throw some ideas at you about what people are like, and how we work together. The ideas are all a bit flawed – they’re working notes and patterns to look out for – but I’ve found them useful.

Speaker:- Peter Lineham
Worship Leader:- John DiLeo

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Follow this link to Peter’s detailed notes on his talk.

Peter Lineham © 28th May 2023

Meditation / Conversation Starters

• Can “noisy” religions be valid for some people?
• Do you think that there are religious arguments in favour of democracy?
• How do we reconcile cultural and language difficulties, with world harmony and peace?

Worship Leader:- Rev. Clay Nelson

No recordings this week.

Following our ritual for welcoming new members into the congregation, Clay gave us a whirlwind tour of some of the early New Zealand Unitarians who have gone before us in this congregation.

Opening words:- “New Member Covenant” By Laura Randall

Chalice Lighting:- is adapted from “Chalice Lighting” By Oberlin UU Fellowship, Oberlin, OH, USA

Closing Words:- “Each of us ministers to a weary world” By Darcy Roake