Let’s stop apologising for God

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with David Hines

Let’s stop apologising for God
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Follow this shortcut to the bottom of the page for the various readings, videos, etc. shared in the service

David Hines © 16 January 2022

Introduction

My sermon today says Let’s stop making apologies for God. She’s a total nuisance.

In the Christian circles I grew up in, people were constantly saying how good God was.

They blindly ignored all the grief and harm in the world, and if anybody drew attention to it, they’d come up with excuses. Like: God sent this to test you.

If you pointed out that God did nothing whatever to help you through these troubles – after you prayed for help and nothing happened, they’d say: God aways answers your prayers: Sometimes the answer is Yes. Sometimes it’s no, and sometimes it’s wait.

I was not very old before I realised this too was crap, because that means absolutely any thing can be called God, and in practice that’s the same as there being no God at all.

So I’d like to talk about the claims religious people make for God, and the major excuses they make when she doesn’t deliver.

Continue reading Let’s stop apologising for God

What kind of religion in school Muslims are hoping for

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Speaker:- Rehanna Ali

Worship Leader:- David Hines

What kind of religion in school Muslims are hoping for
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Q and A session – What kind of religion in school Muslims are hoping for
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Rehanna Ali is head of the Federation of Islamic Associations of NZ‘s Islamic Awareness programme and joint convenor of their Education Sector Development; and was a founder of the Islamic Women’s Council of New Zealand (IWCNZ).

Rehanna Ali © 9 January 2022

Links

Come Come Whoever You Are” STLT#188
Performed by This is Lea.
Hine e Hine
Performed by Hayley Westenra

The ills of fearing “the ills of socialism”

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with John DiLeo

No recording this week

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Follow this shortcut to the bottom of the page for the various readings, videos, etc. shared in the service

John DiLeo © 2 January 2022

Since I mentioned it at the beginning of our time together, let me start my musings with a bit more background on my hospital stay. As I mentioned when I last led our service, in October, I’ve found myself during this lockdown eating less well, gaining back weight I’d thought I was long rid of, and becoming more and more sedentary. My workdays have gotten really long, resulting in my spending as much as 15 hours a day sitting in this very chair.

Continue reading The ills of fearing “the ills of socialism”

Seeing is not believing; believing is seeing

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with Rev. Clay Nelson

Seeing is not believing; believing is seeing
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Follow this shortcut to the bottom of the page for the various readings, videos, etc. shared in the service.

Clay Nelson © 19 December 2021

I need to begin this musing with a warning to those who might be triggered by words like Jesus or Christianity. On the Sunday before Christmas, I give myself permission to express some of my thoughts and ideas about progressive Christianity, which are the foundation of my faith. My justification is that both of the denominations that make up Unitarian Universalism were progressive Christians before we had a term for it. While Unitarian Universalism no longer identifies only with Christianity, many of our members are progressive Christians or Christians without God as I like to call them. For those who are repelled by Christianity either because they have experienced toxic Christianity or count themselves amongst rationalists and humanists or follow another faith tradition they bring to the mix, I hope learning about the scholarship that has revealed a very different Christianity from what we normally see around us will be both enlightening and beneficial.

Continue reading Seeing is not believing; believing is seeing

Climate Action Resources

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How you can find out more about, and contribute to doing something about, the climate crisis?

The purpose of this list is to stimulate research / education / discussion / action.

Inclusion here does not necessarily signify endorsement by Auckland Unitarian Church.


Carbon Footprint Calculators

https://www.carbonclick.com/

https://ekos.co.nz/

https://www.toitu.co.nz/what-we-offer/carbon-management

FutureFit

Gen Less – supported by EECA (the NZ Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority). 

How to REDUCE your carbon footprint

Do One Thing – Climate Change

NZ Ministry for the Environment – What You Can Do

Continue reading Climate Action Resources

Interfaith Celebration of Human Rights Day

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On Wednesday evening, 8 December 2021 at 7.00pm,

Auckland Unitarians Peace and Social Justice Committee are hosting an Interfaith Celebration of Human Rights Day which is held annually on 10 December.

All are welcome and we encourage you to join a Zoom gathering for 60–75 minutes via the Zoom Link below.

Faith representatives include Rev Clay Nelson for Auckland Unitarians, and Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Maori-Bahai, Sikh, Islamic speakers, each of whom will present a five-minute sharing of how their faith expresses its commitment to human rights. The event relates to Article 18 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which begins “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”

Voyager 1 – Earth from beyond Neptune
this pale blue dot is the only home we’ve ever known‘ – Carl Sagan

2021 Service Auction – Virtual Covid Edition

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Begins Sunday 5 December 2021

Ends with final ‘live’ (by Zoom) auction on
Saturday 11 December 2021 at 7.30 pm

Our church’s service auctions are the major fundraising events of the year.

Due to Covid restrictions, we haven’t been able to plan our usual in-church auction for 2021. That’s why for this year’s Covid edition, bidding for most items will take place by email over 5 days (from Sunday 5 December until Friday 10 December).

Follow this link to the catalogue of auction services and items, along with instructions on how to bid.

On Saturday evening 11 December, everyone will have an opportunity to socialise and place live bids on some select items by attending a live auction by Zoom starting at 7.30 pm.

Here is the link for joining our finale evening by Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8949163748?pwd=eU4vaXhzRXZJNkd5c3JIVmliSm1pZz09
Meeting ID: 894 916 3748
Password: 12345

Welcome to Limbo. Please leave your certainties at the door

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with Rev. Clay Nelson

Welcome to Limbo. Please leave your certainties at the door
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Follow this shortcut to the bottom of the page for the various readings, videos, etc. shared in the service.

Clay Nelson © 5 December 2021

Buddha told a parable: A man was travelling across a field when he encountered a tiger. He began to run, and the tiger chased after him. Coming to a precipice, he slipped and was able to catch hold of the root of a wild strawberry bush, hanging in the air. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down only to find that another tiger was waiting to eat him. He thought the bush could sustain him for a while, until he saw two mice gnawing away the vine. A tiger above, a tiger below. The man saw a ripe strawberry near him. Grabbing the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other, and ate it. How sweet and delicious.

Continue reading Welcome to Limbo. Please leave your certainties at the door