with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 19^th August 2018

In preparing for this Sunday I made the mistake of looking at what I said the last time we welcomed new members. It was a mistake because I pride myself in never using a sermon a second time, but I have decided that much of it bears repeating. (Apparently pride goeth before the fall.) The reason being, declaring yourself a Unitarian comes with a problem. Friends and relatives, or just about anyone in New Zealand you meet who learns you are a Unitarian will ask you what is that and what do they believe. While other religions evolve over time, they consider that the revelations that began them as fixed and final in the past, never changing. But oh no, not Unitarians. We consider ours to be a living tradition. The truths we pursue are continuing to unfold. So, how to answer the question, “What is a Unitarian?” requires acknowledging the answer is constantly changing. Continue reading Passing the Flame 2.0 →

with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 12^th August 2018

Reading: Jabberwocky

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

‘Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

Many observers of the Age of Trump liken it to an Orwellian dystopia—a perfectly sound metaphor, I agree. However, I prefer another author. My father was a lover of words. The complete Oxford English Dictionary or OED was at his fingertips whenever he was writing articles, a book or a lecture. But also, readily at hand, were the works of Lewis Carroll. Continue reading Down the Rabbit Hole →

with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 5^th August 2018

It is pretty difficult to escape having difficult people in our lives who drive us to distraction, from simple annoyance to outright fury. These are often people we have to live with because they are our boss or co-workers, a neighbour, family members, and sometimes, even life-long friends who are enmeshed within our lives. Seeking ways to respond appropriately or effectively to their behaviour we find objectionable is often the cause of many a sleepless night.

If one person can disrupt our peace, how do we respond when it is a whole country? I am finding my antipathy towards our cousins across “The Ditch” growing exponentially. Continue reading The Ditch grows wider. How should we respond? →

with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 29^th July 2018

Considering the title of this sermon I’m half surprised to see anyone here this morning. Esoteric Greek words haven’t had much power drawing crowds in my experience since Aristotle was a boy. Perhaps you failed to read the newsletter or maybe you were a wee bit curious. Whatever the reason I am glad I have someone to tell about the only two memorable events that came of my studying Greek in seminary.

with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 22^nd July 2018

Are you living the life you chose or the life that chose you? Definitely a tricky question that raises mixed emotions within us. How might we know? Does your stomach sink at the idea that you chose your life and do you despair at poor choices made along the way, or give thanks that you did not settle for the life offered? Or do you give thanks for the life that chose you or find yourself resentful and unsatisfied? Continue reading Are you living the life you chose or the life that chose you? →

with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Includes an update from Paul Henriques on the latest from the Peace and Social Justice Group Pacific Dyslexia Aid Project

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Clay Nelson © 15^th July 2018

On our last day in Geneva I was running out of museums to visit while Rachel toiled at the UN. I was down to either the history of the watch or the history of the of the International Committee of the Red Cross, better known as the ICRC. I chose the latter. It turned out to be the best of the many museums I had visited. Continue reading Creativity—A Human Right →

with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 8^th July 2018

Does New Zealand need Unitarianism? Well, I suppose it depends on who you ask. When this church opened all the clergy in Auckland were invited to our opening service. None came. The only good thing about that is at least they knew who we were and agreed with the graffiti painted on the outside of the building the night before the service, “This is the house of the Devil.” It is safe to say that they definitely did not think New Zealand needed Unitarianism. Continue reading Does New Zealand need Unitarianism? →

with Rachel Mackintosh

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Rachel Mackintosh © 1 July 2018

E nga mana, e nga reo, e nga rangatira ma, tena koutou.
E te whare e tu ake nei, tena koe
E te whanau o Auckland Unitarians,
E nga manuhiri, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou
Ko tangata tiriti te iwi
Ko E tu, Ko te Kauae kaimahi nga uniana
No Tamaki Makaurau ahau
Ko Rachel Mackintosh toku ingoa
No reira
Tena koutou
Tena koutou
Tena tatou katoa

“Rape culture is a culture where we normalise sexual violence. We see this on a continuum – from rape jokes, ‘locker room banter’ and victim blaming, through to catcalling, non-consensual sexual photos, to sexual coercion and rape.” These are the words of Gill Greer, CEO of the National Council of Women. Continue reading Human rights. Whose rights? Our rights! →

with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 24^th June 2018

My flippant title that life is too valuable to be taken so seriously was a jab at myself. When I decided on it I was aware that life had become a little too serious for me. I needed to hear a sermon that told me to lighten up a little. (Let me share a secret about my sermons, I am almost always preaching to myself and inviting you to listen in if you’re interested. In other words, I rarely practise what I preach but I’m trying to do better.) Continue reading Life is too valuable to be taken so seriously →

with Rev. Clay Nelson

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Clay Nelson © 17^th June 2018

Sometimes when I choose a sermon title a month in advance it is an act of faith that I will have something to say about it when the time comes. Today’s was one such occasion. I knew it would be my first sermon upon my return from travelling to Athens and Geneva, both places I had never been. I trusted that the experience would educate, enlighten and engage me in such a way that my understanding of reality would not be the same when I returned. It had certainly been true after past travels. Like having cataract surgery or new glasses, I trusted that new lenses would expand my perspective of the world. I was not disappointed. Continue reading Seeing through new lenses →