with Sally Mabelle

Sally Mabelle © 31 January 2021

Have you heard the phrase ‘there’s an elephant in the room’?…this is just a metaphor

for an important or enormous topic that is obvious but no one mentions or wants to discuss it because it might make them uncomfortable or is personally, socially, or politically embarrassing. However, we Unitarians like digging into important discussions, so I searched for

‘Elephant in the room quotes’ to trumpet out for us today….here are a few of my favourites…

with Derek Handley

Derek Handley © 24 January 2021

Discussion / Meditation

Our questions today are:

• In what ways could we be living more ‘in season’?

with John DiLeo

Read below, or download the PDF

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

John DiLeo © 17 January 2021

Today, I’m going to spend some time talking mostly about myself. These musings put me in mind of the Talking Heads song lyric: “And I think to myself / well…how did I get here?” Today, as I stand before you, I’m comfortable calling myself a UU Sceptic. Even just a couple of years ago, that wasn’t the case…

with David Hines

David Hines © 10th January 2021

No text this week.

Discussion / Meditation

• What can we learn from the scary situation in the USA?
• Can we share our fears and hopes with each other?

Links

• K Road Chronicles – 8 short films from TVNZ looking at the lives of those homeless on and around K road.
• Save Canal Road Native Trees
• Uplift Project – This project collects new and second hand bras and sends them wherever we have request.

with David Hines

David Hines © 3rd January 2021

No text this week.

Discussion / Meditation

• What was your reaction to Juliet Moses’ address?
• Is racism a problem in New Zealand?
• If so, what could we do about it?

Links

The link to the Abrahamic Council discussion below is straight to Juliet Moses contribution shown in David’s talk, there is also follow up from her in response to a question starting from about 57:08.

Let’s Celebrate
– Tune Vulpius 16^th Century – Words © David Hines

Let’s celebrate how time began,
bursting to life in one huge bang,
the birthday of the whole shebang.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Beautiful Earth, with coat of green,
you’re the best planet we have seen.
Here we can breathe and dance and dream.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Running in Darwin’s relay race,
one creature dies; two take its place.
New species bloom in each free space.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

When I was born, one awesome day,
love welcomed me along the way,
fired me with hope and DNA.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Last night I heard a small voice say:
Creatures of Earth, come out and play.
Rise and enjoy this holiday.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

with John DiLeo

Read below, or download the PDF

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

John DiLeo © 27 December 2020

My musings today are, not surprisingly, about us.

Nina Khouri led our service a few weeks ago, mentioning that she, Derek Handley, and I have embarked on an inquiry regarding the “Future Church.” We have been asked to reflect on the current state of our community, and ponder the possibilities for what it could be in the future. It occurred to us – pretty much immediately – that this isn’t something we can go off and do on behalf of everyone else. Instead, we need to lead a guided introspection by the entire congregation.