January 2019: AFFIRMATION
Affirmation is a positive action, a confirmation that a person or a thing is good. It’s also a gift you are able give to yourself as well as to others. A statement of appreciation can change a day from dull to delightful, and positivity is contagious. Each Sunday we state our affirmation of the things we believe in, confirming our values as Unitarian Universalists. Join us in the New Year on Sundays in January to explore the meaning and significance of “Affirmation” in life.
February: CHALLENGES
Life is a series of challenges because it is a succession of changes— changes and challenges are linked. Common wisdom tells us that facing and overcoming are linked. Common wisdom tells us that facing and overcoming life’s challenges is how we grow in strength and character. Our country too faces challenges in many spheres—the environment, racism, and healthcare, to name but a few. The Dalai Lams says “To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is strive and persevere and never give up.”
Whether personal, national, or global, challenges are a fact of human life. Join us this month to hear our speakers in this topic, and to be a part of our discussion circle following the service.
March: EQUITY & EQUALITY
Equity and Equality are often thought to mean the same thing and often used interchangeably. But they are not the same.
Equity is based on the principle of fairness and on individual needs; Equality demands that everyone be treated the same, regardless of differences. Both are important to an ethical and compassionate society. Join us on Sunday mornings during March to learn more about practicing both of these in your life.
April: HONESTY
Honesty is the best policy, or so we’ve been told. In today’s world, it sometimes seems that Honesty is only a last resort, and that Truth is hard to discern amidst the chatter. The philosopher, Diogenes, is said to wandered Greece with a lantern, looking for an honest man. Come to church this month to hear from our speakers about the meaning and value of Honesty for living in the world.
May: INTERDEPENDENCE
Interdependence; mutual dependence; the dependence of one living thing upon another. Our Seventh Principle may be our Unitarian Universalist way of coming to fully embrace something greater than ourselves. The interdependent web—expressed as the spirit of life, the oneness of all existence. The glory of being human is in being a part of something as magnificent as the totality of all existence.
June: KINDNESS
“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” ― Henry James
In the month of June we will turn our focus to Kindness as a spiritual practice. Join us and our speakers to dig into this important topic.
July: MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness means being awake. The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. It means knowing what you are doing. Mindfulness practice means that we commit fully in each moment to be present; inviting ourselves to BE with this moment in full awareness, with the intention to embody as best we can an orientation of calmness, mindfulness, and equanimity right here and right now.
Jon Kabat-Zinn
August: OPENNESS
September:
October:
November:
December:
Affirmation is a positive action, a confirmation that a person or a thing is good. It’s also a gift you are able give to yourself as well as to others. A statement of appreciation can change a day from dull to delightful, and positivity is contagious. Each Sunday we state our affirmation of the things we believe in, confirming our values as Unitarian Universalists. Join us in the New Year on Sundays in January to explore the meaning and significance of “Affirmation” in life.
February: CHALLENGES
Life is a series of challenges because it is a succession of changes— changes and challenges are linked. Common wisdom tells us that facing and overcoming are linked. Common wisdom tells us that facing and overcoming life’s challenges is how we grow in strength and character. Our country too faces challenges in many spheres—the environment, racism, and healthcare, to name but a few. The Dalai Lams says “To remain indifferent to the challenges we face is indefensible. If the goal is noble, whether or not it is realized within our lifetime is largely irrelevant. What we must do therefore is strive and persevere and never give up.”
Whether personal, national, or global, challenges are a fact of human life. Join us this month to hear our speakers in this topic, and to be a part of our discussion circle following the service.
March: EQUITY & EQUALITY
Equity and Equality are often thought to mean the same thing and often used interchangeably. But they are not the same.
Equity is based on the principle of fairness and on individual needs; Equality demands that everyone be treated the same, regardless of differences. Both are important to an ethical and compassionate society. Join us on Sunday mornings during March to learn more about practicing both of these in your life.
April: HONESTY
Honesty is the best policy, or so we’ve been told. In today’s world, it sometimes seems that Honesty is only a last resort, and that Truth is hard to discern amidst the chatter. The philosopher, Diogenes, is said to wandered Greece with a lantern, looking for an honest man. Come to church this month to hear from our speakers about the meaning and value of Honesty for living in the world.
May: INTERDEPENDENCE
Interdependence; mutual dependence; the dependence of one living thing upon another. Our Seventh Principle may be our Unitarian Universalist way of coming to fully embrace something greater than ourselves. The interdependent web—expressed as the spirit of life, the oneness of all existence. The glory of being human is in being a part of something as magnificent as the totality of all existence.
June: KINDNESS
“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” ― Henry James
In the month of June we will turn our focus to Kindness as a spiritual practice. Join us and our speakers to dig into this important topic.
July: MINDFULNESS
Mindfulness means being awake. The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. It means knowing what you are doing. Mindfulness practice means that we commit fully in each moment to be present; inviting ourselves to BE with this moment in full awareness, with the intention to embody as best we can an orientation of calmness, mindfulness, and equanimity right here and right now.
Jon Kabat-Zinn
August: OPENNESS
September:
October:
November:
December:
2018 Monthly Themes
January: Rebirth
When speaking of Rebirth, one could be referring to reincarnation (being reborn - after death - into a new body), or a spiritual rebirth of being “born again” during this lifetime. There are also the terms ‘revival’ and ‘renaissance,’ both of which have roots in other languages that mean returning to life or going through a second birth. Our speakers for January will share their interpretations of the concept and meaning of Rebirth as it applies to our times and our lives. Join is for what promises to be an interesting and thought-provoking exploration.
“Like the butterfly, you will also go through stages of change, rebirth, and new beginnings for transformation and renewal.” Susan C. Young
February: Change
Change is frightening to some of us; we put a lot of effort into avoiding it like the plague. Others find Change to be exciting, enlivening, an adventure. But regardless of our feelings, Change is an inevitable part of Life, a virtual Law of Nature.
Think about one thing you have changed in your life, or about a time when things changed and you had no control over the changes. How did you deal with it? What tools or skills did you use? Come this month to hear what our speakers have to share about Change.
You may learn to “be the change you wish to see.”
March: Voice
Our Worship theme for March is Voice. March is also Women’s History Month.
In UU history, there are many women of courage and substance who have given “voice” to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless.
From Anne Bradstreet in the 1600’s, to Dorothea Dix, Clara Barton, Emily Dickinson in the 1800’s, Margaret Sanger in the 1900’s, and to Sylvia Plath, the voices of Unitarian women have spoken out for abolition, women’s rights, equality and justice in all its many forms.
Today women’s voices are making a difference in the world again. Join us with our speakers in March to learn about voice, the voice of reason, your inner voice, “the still small voice” whatever your gender.
“Be a Voice, Not an Echo.” Anon.
April: Boundaries
We can trust ourselves to know when our boundaries are being violated. Melody Beattie
Love, having no geography, knows no boundaries.
Truman Capote
Boundaries are to protect life, not to limit pleasures.
Edwin Louis Cole
Right knows no boundaries, and justice no frontiers.
Learned Hand
Art transcends cultural boundaries.
Thomas Kinkade
Do you know what your Boundaries are?
Do they help you? Or cause you trouble?
Did you create them? Or inherit them?
Join us this month to explore the issue of Boundaries.
May: Hope
Hope has been called our greatest weakness and our greatest strength.
Barack Obama said “Hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists….
that something better awaits us as long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.”
Desmond Tutu agrees, saying “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
Let’s hear what our speakers have to say about Hope this month.
June: Inclusion
Inclusion is a significant concept – a big word in terms of its meaning. We all probably have an idea of what the word means, but do we really think of the depth of the meaning? We include secret ingredients in our favorite recipes, we include second cousins on our holiday card list, we include exercise in our weekly schedules. That simply means those things are a part of the whole we have added them to.
On a deeper level, in human terms, when we are inclusive we incorporate someone into the group as an important and integral part. As UUs we are committed to affirming the worth and dignity of every person, and we strive for inclusivity. This month our speakers will address “inclusion,” each from his or her unique perspective. Join us to expand your understanding.
July: Liberation
Liberation is the act of setting someone free from imprisonment or bondage.
Sometimes the someone who is set free, or needs to be, is yourself.
Join us in July to hear our speakers’ discussing this fascinating and multi-faceted topic.
August: Symbolism
Our lives involve the use of symbols on a continuing basis. We communicate with symbols (words). We navigate with symbols (signs and maps). We study and learn with symbols (letters and numbers). And we worship with symbols.
This month we will explore the use and meaning of symbols/symbology in our lives and our faith. What symbols are meaningful to us as UUs? What symbols are part of your daily life? Join us on Sundays in August to dig into this topic.
September: Transformation
"Personal transformation can and does have global effects.
As we go, so goes the world, for the world is Us."
Marianne Williamson
Transformation comes in many forms – physical, emotional, philosophical. It can be superficial, like a coat of paint, or deep and lasting. Experiences can be transformational; relationships can transform a person; and religion has long been a medium of apparent transformation. Join us on Sunday mornings in September to explore the topic of transformation in your own life.
October: Enlightenment
The state of having knowledge or understanding; The "full comprehension of a situation." The independent use of reason to gain insight into the true nature of our world. In Buddhism: the awakening to ultimate truth; In the Western world the concept of enlightenment in a religious context has acquired a romantic meaning. It has become synonymous with self-realization.
Join us on Sundays in October and be Enlightened!
November: Remembrance
A Memory – a retained mental impression of a person, thing or event. We all have them – probably even some we wish we didn’t have. Here is what some renowned people have said about remembrance.
December: Sources
We all know a lot about sources. As UUs, we identify six sources of our collective Wisdom. But what about the sources of less “tangible” things than wisdom, information or knowledge?
For example – What is a source of comfort for you; what are the sources of your Joy; what things make you sad or mad or glad? Where does your strength come from? We may not think about the causal factors of our emotions but, if we did identify them, perhaps we could do more of what gives us good feelings and less of what creates bad feelings. Join us during December to explore “Sources.”
January: Rebirth
When speaking of Rebirth, one could be referring to reincarnation (being reborn - after death - into a new body), or a spiritual rebirth of being “born again” during this lifetime. There are also the terms ‘revival’ and ‘renaissance,’ both of which have roots in other languages that mean returning to life or going through a second birth. Our speakers for January will share their interpretations of the concept and meaning of Rebirth as it applies to our times and our lives. Join is for what promises to be an interesting and thought-provoking exploration.
“Like the butterfly, you will also go through stages of change, rebirth, and new beginnings for transformation and renewal.” Susan C. Young
February: Change
Change is frightening to some of us; we put a lot of effort into avoiding it like the plague. Others find Change to be exciting, enlivening, an adventure. But regardless of our feelings, Change is an inevitable part of Life, a virtual Law of Nature.
Think about one thing you have changed in your life, or about a time when things changed and you had no control over the changes. How did you deal with it? What tools or skills did you use? Come this month to hear what our speakers have to share about Change.
You may learn to “be the change you wish to see.”
March: Voice
Our Worship theme for March is Voice. March is also Women’s History Month.
In UU history, there are many women of courage and substance who have given “voice” to the voiceless and hope to the hopeless.
From Anne Bradstreet in the 1600’s, to Dorothea Dix, Clara Barton, Emily Dickinson in the 1800’s, Margaret Sanger in the 1900’s, and to Sylvia Plath, the voices of Unitarian women have spoken out for abolition, women’s rights, equality and justice in all its many forms.
Today women’s voices are making a difference in the world again. Join us with our speakers in March to learn about voice, the voice of reason, your inner voice, “the still small voice” whatever your gender.
“Be a Voice, Not an Echo.” Anon.
April: Boundaries
We can trust ourselves to know when our boundaries are being violated. Melody Beattie
Love, having no geography, knows no boundaries.
Truman Capote
Boundaries are to protect life, not to limit pleasures.
Edwin Louis Cole
Right knows no boundaries, and justice no frontiers.
Learned Hand
Art transcends cultural boundaries.
Thomas Kinkade
Do you know what your Boundaries are?
Do they help you? Or cause you trouble?
Did you create them? Or inherit them?
Join us this month to explore the issue of Boundaries.
May: Hope
Hope has been called our greatest weakness and our greatest strength.
Barack Obama said “Hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists….
that something better awaits us as long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.”
Desmond Tutu agrees, saying “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”
Let’s hear what our speakers have to say about Hope this month.
June: Inclusion
Inclusion is a significant concept – a big word in terms of its meaning. We all probably have an idea of what the word means, but do we really think of the depth of the meaning? We include secret ingredients in our favorite recipes, we include second cousins on our holiday card list, we include exercise in our weekly schedules. That simply means those things are a part of the whole we have added them to.
On a deeper level, in human terms, when we are inclusive we incorporate someone into the group as an important and integral part. As UUs we are committed to affirming the worth and dignity of every person, and we strive for inclusivity. This month our speakers will address “inclusion,” each from his or her unique perspective. Join us to expand your understanding.
July: Liberation
Liberation is the act of setting someone free from imprisonment or bondage.
Sometimes the someone who is set free, or needs to be, is yourself.
Join us in July to hear our speakers’ discussing this fascinating and multi-faceted topic.
August: Symbolism
Our lives involve the use of symbols on a continuing basis. We communicate with symbols (words). We navigate with symbols (signs and maps). We study and learn with symbols (letters and numbers). And we worship with symbols.
This month we will explore the use and meaning of symbols/symbology in our lives and our faith. What symbols are meaningful to us as UUs? What symbols are part of your daily life? Join us on Sundays in August to dig into this topic.
September: Transformation
"Personal transformation can and does have global effects.
As we go, so goes the world, for the world is Us."
Marianne Williamson
Transformation comes in many forms – physical, emotional, philosophical. It can be superficial, like a coat of paint, or deep and lasting. Experiences can be transformational; relationships can transform a person; and religion has long been a medium of apparent transformation. Join us on Sunday mornings in September to explore the topic of transformation in your own life.
October: Enlightenment
The state of having knowledge or understanding; The "full comprehension of a situation." The independent use of reason to gain insight into the true nature of our world. In Buddhism: the awakening to ultimate truth; In the Western world the concept of enlightenment in a religious context has acquired a romantic meaning. It has become synonymous with self-realization.
Join us on Sundays in October and be Enlightened!
November: Remembrance
A Memory – a retained mental impression of a person, thing or event. We all have them – probably even some we wish we didn’t have. Here is what some renowned people have said about remembrance.
- By recollecting the pleasures I have had formerly, I renew them, I enjoy them a second time, while I laugh at the remembrance of troubles now past, and which I no longer feel. Giacomo Casanova
- I know not why there is such a melancholy feeling attached to the remembrance of past happiness, except that we fear that the future can have nothing so bright as the past. Julia Ward Howe
- I've given my life to the principle and the ideal of memory, and remembrance. Elie Wiesel
- You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure. Jane Austen
December: Sources
We all know a lot about sources. As UUs, we identify six sources of our collective Wisdom. But what about the sources of less “tangible” things than wisdom, information or knowledge?
For example – What is a source of comfort for you; what are the sources of your Joy; what things make you sad or mad or glad? Where does your strength come from? We may not think about the causal factors of our emotions but, if we did identify them, perhaps we could do more of what gives us good feelings and less of what creates bad feelings. Join us during December to explore “Sources.”