Max Rashbrooke : Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis (PDF summary).

The gap between the rich and the rest has widened faster in New Zealand than almost anywhere else. So what does this mean for our values? Are we still an egalitarian country? And what is this widened gap doing to the social fabric of our country? Our guest speaker (whose great-great-great-grandfather and family were Unitarians from the UK who settled in New Plymouth), will discuss these issues and more in a thought-provoking look into one of the issues of our time. Max Rashbrooke is the editor of Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis, published in June 2013 by Bridget Williams Books, and the author of The Inequality Debate: An Introduction, published in March 2014, in paperback and as an e-book. He has written stories for national newspapers and magazines in Britain and New Zealand, including the Guardian, the National Business Review and Metro. He was also the recipient of the 2011 Bruce Jesson Senior Journalism Award. No audio available this week.

Reflections Upon Conflict and Reconciliation

by Myrna Mitchell

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A sermon based on her research on various contemporary approaches to peacemaking a propos the centenary of the Great War. Myrna Michell is a trained Unitarian minister who moved to New Zealand from the UK in January 2014 and is working now as an independent vocal teacher and piano accompanist.

The Quiet War on Asylum

by Tracey Barnett

Tracey Barnett has been a contributing commentator and columnist for The New Zealand Herald, The Sunday Star Times, and TV3, among others. She is the author of the new book, “The Quiet War on Asylum”, an introduction to asylum issues in New Zealand and the region and is the creator of the asylum rights campaign, “We Are Better Than That” (Facebook Page) for anyone who wants to learn more and stay up to date on refugee and asylum issues in NZ. No audio available this week.

by Corinne Henrikson and Jenny Boyd

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or download the MP3

Corinne and Jenny intend to start a discussion and get you to thinking about this issue.

by Shaun McLaughlin

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or download the MP3.

An exploration of the meaning of love and friendship as expressed in the Queen Song “Somebody to Love” and the Queen/David Bowie song “Under Pressure.”

A Spiritual Practice for Living our Seven Principles

by Rev. Jean McElhaney

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or download the MP3

. Rev. Jean McElhaney, LPC, LCSW. will explore how the principles of Compassionate Nonviolent Communication (NVC) can help us align with and embody the 7 principles of Unitarian Universalism in our everyday lives. Jean is ordained as an interfaith minister and certified as a trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication.

by Chris Breeden Childs

Chris reads a sermon by Rev. Howard Dana formerly of Unitarian Church of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA.

This sermon addresses the language we use to describe our thoughts on spirituality and on “god” and encourages us to think about what we want “our” UU church to be.

No audio available this week.

by Craig Wedge

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or download the MP3

A shamanic perspective on how we can liberate ourselves from the myths we live, and instead walk our own path with heart.

From an article by Ross Heaven.

by Eric Stierna

Eric reads a sermon by Rev. Wendy Bell of Harvard UU Church, Massachussetts, USA, titled “The Practice of Peace”.

Includes a review of Deepak Chopra’s “seven practices for peace” to help us become better peacemakers.

No audio available this week.