with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Opening Words are by James Luther Adams

The Meditation is ‘Attic’ by Jill Sobule.

Closing words are by Assata Shakur

Clay Nelson © 1 March 2020

I’m not sure what inspired me to focus on today’s topic. It may have been spending too much time in the dystopian world of Gilead watching The Handmaid’s Tale or reading the news from my birth country just to cheer me up. Or it could be that fascism by any other name is finding new life around the world. We should not be oblivious.

with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 23 February 2020

Being a curious sort, I wondered what the origin of “curiosity killed the cat” was. The reference is from a Ben Johnson play, Every Man in his Humours, only he said, “care’ll kill a cat.” In his use of care, he meant worry will kill the cat. The play is thought to have been performed in 1598 by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men, a troupe of actors including William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was no slouch when it came to appropriating a memorable line and it crops up the following year in Much Ado About Nothing: “What, courage man! what though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care.”

with Rev. Clay Nelson

Opening Words are Fault Line by Robert Walsh

Rev. Clay Nelson © 2020

This morning we carry love and hope and courageous faith, and seek to renew our covenantal commitments. We remind ourselves of the home we share, a home that we come back to, whether after a long or short absence, a home we welcome all to make their own: a home of love and hope and faith—come, let us gather together within.

with Sally Mabelle

Sally Mabelle © 2020

No text this week

Opening Words are by Jack Kornfield

Closing Words are by Andrew Pakula – There Are Miles Behind You

Nina Khouri © 19 January 2020

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. 

Today we played host to members of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco Choir and the UC Berkeley Alumni Chorus. 

They are doing a lightning tour of New Zealand over the next 8 days, which includes the following 2 concerts:-

• 7.00 PM Tuesday January 7th at St. Andrew’s Church, 85 Hamilton Road, Cambridge.
• 4.30 PM Sunday January 12th at St. Peter’s Church, 1 Camp Street, Queenstown.

Do get to see / hear them if you can.

with David Hines

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David Hines © 29 December 2019

A month ago I saw one of the most spectacular sights of my life.

with Rev. Clay Nelson

Clay Nelson © 22 December 2019