TAOISM FOR UNITARIANS Five hundred years before the birth of Jesus, a quiet man in ancient China dictated 81 verses, which are regarded by many as the ultimate commentary on the nature of our existence. The classic text of these verses, called the Tao Te Ching, or The Great Way, offers advice and...

FORGIVENESS (95) AND JUDGMENT (646) Most of us would probably agree that forgiveness is almost always a good quality and judgment of others is often ill-advised.  And yet, don’t many of us struggle at times with both behaviors?  I know I do.  We will review two real-life stories illustrating almost...

PETE SEEGER SUNDAY Pete Seeger, the folksinger, died this past January at the age of 94. His career spanned seven decades and he gave his voice and life to environmental, civil rights, labor, and anti-war movements. His banjo had emblazoned on it: “This machine surrounds hate and forces it to...

FAMILY THANKSGIVING BREAD SERVICE Celebrate America as a blending of many traditions and people.  We’ll gather to break ethnic breads together as a family, sing Thanksgiving songs, and listen to a reader’s theatre.  “Molly’s Pilgrim”, is a children’s play in which Molly learns that it takes all kinds of Pilgrims...

“THE STORY OF JOB”: THREE PERSPECTIVES “The Story of Job” is one of the most important in the Western tradition. It has multiple dimensions: philosophical, literary and religious. Our speakers today will discuss the story from these three perspectives. What significant philosophical problem does the story raise? How is it...

BAD GIRLS OF THE BIBLE PART III: TAMAR The Bible is littered with the scandalous acts, beliefs and behaviors that come as a shock to anyone who has been taught to regard the Bible as a single-minded manifesto of virtuous heroes. No biblical literature is more scandalous than the story...

A PATH TO ETHICAL PHILANTHROPY Mark Twain said, “There is nothing more dangerous than a do-gooder”. When doing philanthropic projects in developing countries one needs to be sure he or she is not falling into this trap. Too often projects stifle initiative, create dependency, and leave things worse than they...

EMBRACING THE WILD Mary Oliver says: What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? In Maurice Sendak’s book “Where the Wild Things Are, Max is sent to his room for acting wild. In his room he becomes king of the wild things and they...

A PERSONAL LOOK AT PANTHEISM Unitarian-Universalists tend to be keenly interested in different spiritual paths.  We often teach our children in RE about the different world religions.  Plus we often hear our ministers deliver sermons about those religions over the years.  However, it seems one often-neglected religion/spirituality is Pantheism.  But...

THE CHALLENGE OF COMPROMISE There has been much wringing of hands of late over the polarization of American politics. But the problem is hardly restricted to our elected officials.  Generally speaking, people seem less willing to put their differences aside and come up with solutions that both parties can live...