with Derek Handley
Derek Handley © 24 January 2021
Discussion / Meditation
Our questions today are:
On Being a UU Sceptic
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…
Continue reading On Being a UU ScepticThe American Nightmare
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.
Which do you prefer – the Jewish Garden of Eden? Or the Christian One?
with David Hines
Or the Christian One?
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 16th 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.
How do we want the world to see us as a community?
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.
Continue reading How do we want the world to see us as a community?2020 Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
Our Christmas Eve was a little different this year.
At 6.00 pm we held “A Christmas for all ages”. An inter-generational service featuring and focusing on our children. Those who didn’t like to drive at night and who normally forgo the later service found this a fun and joyous alternative.
At 8.00 pm we held our traditional candlelight service followed by a festive Christmas supper. This service was live streamed to the interweb, see below:-
A Christmas Miracle: Why Unitarians still celebrate Christmas
with Rev. Clay Nelson
No video or audio this week.
But you can still 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.
Clay Nelson © 20 December 2020
On this last Sunday that I will be sharing my musings in 2020, I thought I would make it as Covid-free as possible. I decided to muse on why Unitarians still celebrate Christmas against all reason.
Continue reading A Christmas Miracle: Why Unitarians still celebrate ChristmasFreedom
with Martin Lewis
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.
Martin Lewis © 13 December 2020
Tena koutou whanau a Tāmaki Unitarians. It’s great to be able to speak to you all today, and particularly to those of you, whom I know.
Today I am speaking about Freedom. A huge subject of which I will only be able to skim the surface. Even this talk was cut down from a three hour exploration of the subject.
Continue reading FreedomAre individuality and religion oil and water?
with Rev. Clay Nelson
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.
Clay Nelson © 6 December 2020
I’ve struggled for a long time with how to build a Beloved Community with a bunch of strong individualists. I shared UU minister Cheryl Walker’s story a few years back to exemplify the problem:
Continue reading Are individuality and religion oil and water?Keeping up with generational change
with Rev. Clay Nelson
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.
Clay Nelson © 29 November 2020
A couple of separate events in the past week have come together in my musings. The first was the forty-second birthday of my youngest last Sunday. The second was the arrival of my new iPhone. The first boggles my mind. In a different way, so does the second.
Continue reading Keeping up with generational change