Sunday Talks / Random Musings

A Musical Interlude

Sunday Talks / Random Musings
Share this page...

The Latin American Choir of NZ

Watch

Listen

or download the MP3

The Latin American Choir of New Zealand © 9 April 2017

The Latin American Choir of New Zealand (CLANZ) is an Auckland-based group whose members meet every week to share the joy of singing together in Spanish. Under the direction of professional musician Celina Reyes, the group welcomes anyone, regardless of their singing experience or their level of Spanish. Each rehearsal is a chance to improve one’s singing ability as well as maintain or enhance one’s proficiency with the language. CLANZ explores a wide range of traditional, folk and popular songs from Latin America and Spain, promoting an appreciation of Hispanic culture within its membership and amongst the greater community. The group rehearses every Monday during school terms at the Leys Institute in Ponsonby from 5.45 to 7.15 p m.

Roots and Wings of a Unitarian Lent

Easter, Sunday Talks / Random Musings, , , ,
Share this page...

Rev. Clay Nelson

Watch

Listen

or download the MP3

or download the PDF

Rev. clay Nelson © 2 Apil 2017

Each week we sing “Roots hold me close; wings set me free.” It is the Spirit of Life residing within each of us. The image resonates with a truth so deeply entrenched in us it could be part of our DNA. The metaphor is universal. I wonder if it might go back to our earliest ancestor, one that we all share. Carl Jung might consider it an archetype: A concept that resides in our collective unconscious the world over. Continue reading Roots and Wings of a Unitarian Lent →

Loving your political opponent – Creative Conflict

Sunday Talks / Random Musings, , , , , , , , , ,
Share this page...

Rev. Clay Nelson

Watch

Listen

or download the MP3

or download the PDF

Rev. clay Nelson © 26 March 2017

In this Age of Trump, for many of us, loving our political opponents seems a step too far. Friends in the US report political differences in their families and life-long friendships are fracturing them, some seemingly beyond repair. This goes way beyond “unfriending” them on Facebook. Marriages are dissolving. Children and parents are estranged. Communities are divided. Political debate has always been a blood sport in the US, but this level of carnage is beyond my experience. Continue reading Loving your political opponent – Creative Conflict →

Reforming the Reformation

Sunday Talks / Random Musings, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Share this page...

Rev. Clay Nelson

Watch

Listen

or download the MP3

or download the PDF

Rev. clay Nelson © 19 March 2017

Until 500 years ago this year, one church had controlled all of Christianity for more than a millennium. It had become grievously corrupt, in part because it had become interwoven with the state. One particular abuse was the last straw that enraged a young monk, Martin Luther, so much that he sent a message to his bishop condemning the practice of selling indulgences to political leaders to raise money to build St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. An indulgence was like a “Get out of jail free” card. No matter how serious the sin, the rich and powerful could buy an indulgence and have the church’s guarantee that they could get into heaven, without having to confess and do penance. Continue reading Reforming the Reformation →

Unitarians Seeking Sanctuary

Indian Students fighting for Justice, Sunday Talks / Random Musings, , , , , , , , ,
Share this page...

Rev. Clay Nelson

Watch

Listen

or download the MP3

or download the PDF

Rev. clay Nelson © 12 March 2017

Our recent experience with providing the Indian students with sanctuary has been a rich source of reflection for me since we said our farewells to them. And I know I’m not alone in that as I listen to conversations at morning tea. And not just for us, if comments of colleagues from other faith groups are any indication. Even the head of Auckland’s office of Immigration called this week to ask if we could have a coffee to unpack the experience. Continue reading Unitarians Seeking Sanctuary →

Building A Beloved Community

Sunday Talks / Random Musings, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Share this page...

Rev. Clay Nelson

Watch

Listen

or download the MP3

or download the PDF

Rev. clay Nelson © 5 March 2017

I’ve been reflecting a lot recently on why, since the age of five, I’ve more often than not been in church on Sundays. Of course, for most of my adult life it has been my vocation. It paid the bills. But in my reflections I’ve wondered, if that was not the case, would I still find myself here almost every Sunday? What need does it fulfil? Continue reading Building A Beloved Community →

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot

Sunday Talks / Random Musings, , , , , , , , ,
Share this page...

Rev. Clay Nelson

Watch

Listen

or download the MP3

Or download the PDF of this page.

Rev. Clay Nelson © 12 February 2017

When I was thinking about Sunday service topics in February I thought we might need some time to reflect on this strange new world we find ourselves in since the US presidential inauguration on January 20 and how to respond to it as Unitarians. I looked. There is nothing in the history books that tells us quite what to do. No one alive today has ever seen anything quite like this before, leaving many of us scratching our heads and wondering in the language of the military’s phonetic alphabet: Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot?

But the best-laid plans for this Sunday were trumped Continue reading Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot →