New Beginnings: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

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By Rev. Clay Nelson.

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Clay Nelson © 13 September 2015

Tonight at sundown the shofar will sound wherever Jews gather to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the beginning of a new year. The shofar, a ram’s horn, makes a sharp sound, not like any other, that is intended to pierce the armour around our heart. Where it is heard in the heart, it calls a quiet moment out from our busy day. Where it is heard in the mind, it calls us to pay attention. Where it is heard in the spirit, it beseeches us to return to ourselves: slow down and turn inward, become at one with ourselves. Continue reading New Beginnings: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur →

Who is Krishna and Why Should We Care?

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By Rev. Clay Nelson.

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Clay Nelson © 6 September 2015

When John Shelby Spong was my bishop, he visited Japan. When he returned he met with clergy in his diocese to discuss what he learned about Shintoism and Taoism. I remember him saying that the best way to understand one’s own beliefs is to look at them through the lens of someone else’s.

Yesterday, many Hindus around the world celebrated one of their major feasts, Janmashtami, sometimes referred to as the Birth of Krishna. Continue reading Who is Krishna and Why Should We Care? →

Samoan Dyslexia Aid – August 2015 Visit

Pacific Dyslexia Aid
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Paul, Gary and Brenda visiting primary schools in Samoa, August 2015
Paul, Gary and Brenda visiting primary schools in Samoa, August 2015
Paul, Gary and Brenda visiting primary schools in Samoa, August 2015
Paul, Gary and Brenda visiting primary schools in Samoa, August 2015
During August 2015, Paul Henriques, along with Gary and Brenda Bendall, visited the pilot schools in Apia, Samoa to assess the pilot dyslexia aid project. During this self-funded trip they visited the 4 pilot schools, and had the opportunity to also visit rural schools meeting with school principals and librarians. The visit to Samoa concluded with a meeting with the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture, where there was an enthusiastic response to continuing the project in 2016, and to work on a Samoan version of the Steps programme.

Paul, Gary and Brenda visiting primary schools in Samoa, August 2015
Paul, Gary and Brenda visiting primary schools in Samoa, August 2015

A “Brand New” Testament: What if Jesus got a Do-over?

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By Rev. Clay Nelson.

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No audio available this week.

Clay Nelson © 30 August 2015

Did you know God is real and is a domineering white-trash bastard in a wife-beater T-shirt and ratty bathrobe who never gets off his computer? You already know about his son, but did you know about his daughter Ea? Neither did we until Rachel and I on a whim attended The Brand New Testament at the Auckland International Film Festival. This film by Belgian director Jaco van Dormael was made for Unitarians who like their Bible stories with a thick coat of satire. Continue reading A “Brand New” Testament: What if Jesus got a Do-over? →

Why Who and What We Love Matters

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By Rev. Clay Nelson.

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Clay Nelson © 23 August 2015

One of the problems with publicising a sermon topic a month before writing it is life does not stand still until you compose it. My published title, “Why what and whom we love is important,” was challenged almost immediately by my remembering John Lennon’s observation, “It matters not who you love, where you love, why you love, when you love or how you love, it matters only that you love.” He’s right…mostly and I’m wrong…mostly. What he doesn’t mention is we can love badly. But I get ahead of myself. Continue reading Why Who and What We Love Matters →

The Infinite Game: How to Live Well Together – Part 2

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Guest speaker Niki Harre, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Auckland, taught us the Infinite Game. The object is to understand current social structures that limit progress towards human and ecological flourishing and the vital role that organisations, individuals and communities can play in creating a better world.

As this was a live participatory event, no audio or text available this week.

The Empathy Paradox

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By Rev. Clay Nelson.

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Clay Nelson © 9 August 2015

When I was about 13, my father and I were walking home together. We would have made quite a sight. Because of his polio he walked rather slowly with a pronounced gimp. To keep his pace I unconsciously would walk along side him with the same gait. I can’t remember what prompted his comment, but he said to me, “Clay, I don’t think you should ever become a dentist.” Surprised by this seeming non sequitur, I asked why. “Because you are extremely empathetic.” Having no clue, I asked what that meant. Continue reading The Empathy Paradox →

Progressive Christianity: Oxymoron or Unitarian?

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By Rev. Clay Nelson.

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Clay Nelson © 26 July 2015

Many present day Unitarians have a negative view of Christianity, some for good reasons. They have experienced or were a victim of one of its toxic versions. Others formed their opinions from the side-lines. Media accounts that lumped all Christians together, reported on Christian adherence to patriarchy, opposition to a woman’s right to choose, intolerance of other religious faiths, condemnation of the LGBTQ community, belief in creationism, and reliance on the Bible as the literal word of God, to mention but a few. Continue reading Progressive Christianity: Oxymoron or Unitarian? →

Privilege: A Roadblock to Wholeness

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By Rev. Clay Nelson.

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Clay Nelson © 19 July 2015

Talking about privilege is a tricky business anyway, but particularly so when you are an able-bodied, reasonably bright, right-handed, heterosexual, white American whose gender identity is congruent with the outward physical signs of his maleness; who grew up in a home surrounded by books and had two loving, well-educated, professional, middle class, Christian parents, neither of whom ever experienced divorce. I never missed a meal involuntarily. I never experienced or witnessed violence in my warm and secure home. Not going to university was never an option. Annual family vacations were the norm. I was never told I’d have to choose between having a career or a family. And that is by no means a complete list. I am a poster child for privilege. I am reminded of my status every time I stop at a pre-pay petrol pump in Papakura and it comes on without me going inside first. Continue reading Privilege: A Roadblock to Wholeness →