tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629846642689041212024-02-19T00:53:01.932-08:00experimental church blogmrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-32623028815753941122011-03-27T18:29:00.000-07:002011-03-27T18:29:55.773-07:0003/28/11--"Affrilachian Journey" by Frank X. WalkerWhat a treat we had today as Frank X. Walker, founder of the <a href="http://www.affrilachianpoets.com/">Affrilachian poetry</a> movement, shared with us some of his poetry and related it to our ongoing quest for racial reconciliation.<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#%21/pages/Affrilachian-Poets/24451584379">Mr. Walker read to us his poem "Amazing Grace"</a> and shared parts of an unpublished manuscript on the death of Medgar Evers. <br />
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Mr. Walker apologized to those of us expecting a sermon but said that perhaps his poetry would do some of the things a sermon did. I believe it did.<br />
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Go out into the world.<br />
G. mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-12264125733779488072011-03-05T08:25:00.000-08:002011-03-05T08:25:05.966-08:0002/20/11--"Theodore Parker: The Best Hated Man in America" by Rev. Annie FoersterOn this thunder gray Sunday morning, our candles look so beautiful. Annie says, "The candles of sorrow burn as brightly as those of joy." Ruby Malone's memorial service was on Friday, February 18, and we are all cloudy with our sadness but burning bright with the joy of knowing her.<br />
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Kara Allen shared her testimonial of how First Unitarian has transformed her life. As a stay-at-home mom, Kara values the chance to meet her small group and the chance to get to know so many talented people. <br />
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In the guise of Mrs. Parker, Annie shares the story of <a href="http://www25-temp.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/theodoreparker.html">Theodore Parker</a>. Parker was controversial during his time. Some would say he still is. He was fluent in many languages and a true scholar, so much so that even the well-studied Unitarians called him overly academic. He found himself in the controversy that troubled Unitarians at the time. He was a Naturalist, holding no special place in his beliefs for Jesus. He doubted the authenticity of miracles. He supported <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson">Ralph Waldo Emerson's</a> <a href="http://www.emersoncentral.com/divaddr.htm">Speech to the Harvard Graduates</a>. He studied the tenets of Transcendentalism that saw the mark of God on all things. He believed we could understand God using intuitive truth. He believed that man is divine and could realize that divinity outside of the church. <br />
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His supporters loved it. Parker was bringing life into religion. His detractors feared his "rampant individualism". He was shunned from pulpit exchanges with churches in Boston. His message was too controversial.<br />
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The people loved him. The religious authority at the time did not. He worked too hard trying to spread his message amid hostility. He died of consumption at age 50 in Florence, Italy, leaving Mrs. Parker sad. <br />
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Theodore Parker, preaching at the Boston Music Hall. mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-30313267890726419322011-03-05T07:50:00.000-08:002011-03-27T18:10:55.221-07:0002/13/11--"William Howard Taft" by Rev. Sharon DittmarSometimes I see the William Howard Taft plaque on the wall of our church and think, "I wish our church produced one of the more exciting presidents." There have only been four presidents with Unitarian or Universalist credentials--<a href="http://www25-temp.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/johnadams.html">John Adams</a>, <a href="http://www25-temp.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/johnquincyadams.html">John Quincy Adams</a>, <a href="http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/millardfillmore.html">Millard Fillmore</a>, and <a href="http://www25.uua.org/uuhs/duub/articles/williamhowardtaft.html">William Howard Taft</a>. To my eye, Taft is stuck in a three way tie for least interesting UU president. However, my eye is not always seeing what it should. As Sharon's sermons often do, this sermon helped me see things in a different way.<br />
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The Taft family has certainly made their mark on Cincinnati history and the history of our church. William's father, Alphonso Taft, was a member when we were located at our original 4th and Race site. As an attorney, Alphonso argued that bible readings should not be read in school--surely something that our Unitarian church would have supported. Their family was always associated with our church and even when he lived in Washington, DC, William Howard Taft still donated money to our church. He loved Cincinnati and he loved this church.<br />
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I loved the little details that Sharon found. His nickname was "Big Lub." He returned to Cincinnati soon after his inauguration so that he could participate in the rededication of his alma mater, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodward_High_School_%28Cincinnati,_Ohio%29">Woodward High School</a>. He was considered unambitious because he "only" wanted to serve on the Supreme Court, not to become president. It was his wife, Nelly, who encouraged his presidential bid and it seems like the job never suited him. Even his own mother did not picture him as presidential material, saying, "They do not want you as their leader but they cannot find anyone more available." We've all had the experience where someone has expectations we feel like we need to live up to. I wonder what Taft actually wanted for himself? He seemed ambivalent about the presidency. <br />
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One of his weaknesses (and one of my own) is that he didn't like disharmony. This is not a trait that makes you a very memorable president. His predecessor, Teddy Roosevelt, seemed to thrive where there was disharmony, and thus he ran against Taft in Taft's second presidential ticket. The Bull Moose ticket split the vote and threw the election to Wilson. Taft was a pretty easy target for Roosevelt. Taft didn't have the fire that his challenger did. How would history have been different if, perhaps, William had the ambition of Nelly or the ego of Roosevelt? How would history have been changed if Taft's UU principles were more evident in his work? It's a lesson to me that I shouldn't take a job where my light can't shine.<br />
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His stint as Dean of University of Cincinnati Law School and as Supreme Court Justice were more to his liking. But that desire for harmony, to get a whole court to agree, was not practical. His tenure on the court had some low points. Though he served with the liberal Oliver Wendell Holmes and Brandeis, some of the court's decisions read very conservatively now. For instance, the <a href="http://writing.upenn.edu/%7Eafilreis/88/sacvan.html">Sakko and Vanzetti Case</a> might play out differently if it were judged by a Unitarian Universalist in 2011.<br />
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We are the product of our time. Taft was shielded from the poor and the rebels because of his family's great wealth. In the same way that I was unable to see, he was, too. Maybe I can learn to forgive our forbear for what seem like mistakes to me and learn to be proud when I see that plaque.<br />
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Go out into the world,<br />
G.mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-88507738379264269412011-02-12T14:57:00.000-08:002011-02-12T15:10:28.828-08:0002/06/11--"Ours to Do" by Rev. Sharon Dittmar<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhicitta">Bodhicitta </a>is analogous to the broken heart--always seeking, but not quite achieving. And Saint Exupery's <a href="http://www.odaha.com/antoine-de-saint-exupery/maly-princ/the-little-prince">Little Prince</a> reminds us that "what is essential is invisible to the eye." What does this have to do with our recently adopted vision statement which reads:<br />
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We will be a liberal religious haven<br />
Sustained by tradition, <br />
Boldly seeking justice,<br />
Gently transforming lives.<br />
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Our discussions regarding our vision were meticulously tracked by the Strategic Planning Committee and posted for all of us to consider. An ad hoc committee took those comments and produced a draft. The draft was offered for comment and revision and the final vision statement was produced and shared. Soon, it will be made into song by Shelly Denham Jackson, a member here in years past. <br />
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Rightly, our minister noticed that our emphasis was on our social justice outreach. Our work in Avondale, Cease Fire, the Pride Parade, and Interfaith Hospitality Network are just a few examples of the good we do for others. She also noticed that we didn't make much mention of our own faith development. That is just like us. In the years I've been a member, I notice that we are practical and proud as opposed to amateur and servile. We enjoy the social justice work because it's for others and it produces a quantifiable effect. We play down our personal faith development because it requires us to sit, as Sharon would say, in our "soft spot."<br />
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We are not tender with ourselves. We, as a society and perhaps a congregation, have a low tolerance for discomfort. When we are not tender with ourselves, we cannot have the truly spiritual experiences that are possible for us.<br />
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<a href="http://www.religioustolerance.org/isl_jihad.htm">Jihad</a> is a word that many have stolen for their own uses but Sharon reminds us that in its original sense it means "the struggle to know self." We are involved in this jihad every day. Sharon reminds us "Live in your soft spot. Let yourself make mistakes. Boldly be tender. People who spontaneously break into song cannot worry about who is singing in tune."<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wBiLrZT3eno?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.vipassanadhura.com/howto.htm">Meditation</a> teaches us how to live with the pain of our lives. It is bold to be tender. Letting go of hurts and addictions that harden or mask our true self is probably one of the most difficult things we could do. We have to love ourselves enough. <br />
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I am glad to report that after Sharon's sermon we sang "Standing on the Side of Love" boldly together. And, indeed, some of us were singing out of tune, but boldly and beautifully. <br />
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Go out into the world,<br />
G.mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-69086832703856324402011-02-12T14:12:00.000-08:002011-02-12T14:12:18.633-08:0001/09/11 "The Sacred, The Holy, The Divine" by Rev. Annie FoersterFifteen new members and their children joined us on this morning. It is a joy to see our community growing.<br />
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According to the poet Allen Ginsberg, spirituality should be like singing in the bathtub. I loved this image. Unpracticed, not for an audience, and purely for its own joy. I would do well to remember this. <br />
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Rev. Foerster asked us what altars we have in our home. Where is the sacred center of your home? There are places where I like things to be "just so" because I think they're beautiful. She talked about the junk that is precious to children--sea shells, gold paper, pretty buttons--that they collect and hold sacred. I have some of these kinds of things collected on top of my dresser. I have always held these small items in high regard but I would have never called it my altar until today. <br />
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Many of us have rejected the deity or practices of our previous religions. "If I've rejected the deity, haven't I rejected the sacredness?" Annie reminds us that there is joy in all. She describes some of her own altars--quilts she made, a collection of bulls, Buddha, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guanyin">Guanyin.</a> "When I notice them, they are holy. When I look at them, I remember." <br />
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Annie mentioned the book by Linda Sexson, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=R5pS_b9iSn4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=linda+sexson+%22ordinarily+sacred%22&source=bl&ots=fW0sL8xEvt&sig=juReQujblW4jZ0JhjqfNNcVB2uQ&hl=en&ei=NAJXTfLZBYH58Aa0mvDsBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false"><u>Ordinarily Sacred</u></a>. And the poet <a href="http://www.panhala.net/Archive/Welcome_Morning.html">Anne Sexton's "Welcome Morning." </a>There is joy in all.<br />
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Go out into the world,<br />
G. <br />
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<em></em>mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-74808416779075640462011-01-03T14:28:00.000-08:002011-01-03T14:44:47.583-08:0005/14/00 Flashback Sermon: "Beneath the Blowing Bag" by Rev. Sharon DittmarSharon's topic on May 14, 2000 was the film I love, American Beauty. I think of the sermon and the movie's tag line "Look Deeper" fairly often. I ran across this artist during my regular traverse of the internet:<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1C_40B9m4tI?fs=1" width="480"></iframe> <br />
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and thought it might be a nice time to share with you <a href="http://firstuu.com/Sunday_Services/Sermon_Archive/2000/5-14-00.htm">Sharon's sermon on the movie</a> that inspired the artist, <a href="http://danielwurtzel.com/index.php">Daniel Wurtzel</a>. <br />
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Go out into the world,<br />
G.mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-77431140917506832132010-11-14T19:03:00.000-08:002010-11-14T19:05:04.973-08:0011/14/10--“The Gospel of Inclusion (Or: ‘Why am I a Universalist’)" by Rev. Bill GuptonRev. Bill Gupton of <a href="http://huuc.net/index.html">Heritage Universalist Unitarian Church</a> took the pulpit today. His career path has included stops as journalist, minister, and yoga teacher. He said Heritage is "where the Universalist comes first." His sermon reminded us of what a radical and rational concept it is to support <a href="http://www.uua.org/visitors/6798.shtml">the inherent worth and dignity of every person. </a><br />
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Universalist, Gupton says, is the grammatical modifier. You can be a Universalist Hindu, a Universalist Sufi, a Universalist Jew, or a Universalist Christian. The <a href="http://www.uua.org/visitors/history/6904.shtml">Universalist</a> side of our faith believes that we are all saved, universally. <br />
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Rev. Gupton shared the story of Rev. Carlton Pearson, a former Pentacostal bishop who has embraced Universalism. His story was covered by <a href="http://www.uuworld.org/life/articles/145503.shtml">UU World</a> and <a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/304/heretics">This American Life</a>. Rev. Pearson, the conservative leader of a mega-church in Tulsa, had a change of heart when he found that his best friend was gay. His religion told him that this man would go to hell. Pearson started to doubt a god that would punish his friend, a man he knew to be good. He started to preach a more universalist message. All were saved in God.<br />
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Pearson was soon rejected by his faith. <a href="http://www.allsoulschurch.org/">All Souls Unitarian Church of Tulsa</a>, a mostly white congregation, offered Pearson and his remaining followers to share space at their church. Their combined efforts have created the UUA's largest congregation in America. That is radical in Oklahoma. It's radical everywhere. <br />
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This radical love is something to learn from. It is radical to accept all comers--gay, straight, black, white, gospel, classical, urban, suburban. . . It's what All Souls and Pearson did. It's what our UUniversalist principles call us to do.<br />
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Go out into the world,<br />
G.mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-87629953941766223342010-08-11T23:42:00.000-07:002010-08-11T23:42:08.806-07:0008/08/10--What is Theism? by Rev. Sharon DittmarWhat is Theism? Jan Connelly started us off with thinking about this topic describing an exercise Sharon led Jan's orientation group through. Imagine a line with THEIST at one end and ATHEIST at the other. Where on the line would you place yourself on this human spectrum?<br />
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In the children's story, Sharon allayed some of the fears the adults might have had about God, assuring all, "You don't have to believe what I believe." She shared some books that might start a talk about theism started between you and your young person. Here's a reading list:<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Gods-Early-Childhood-Sprituality/dp/1893361101">What is God's Name? by Sasso</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Does-God-Look-Like/dp/1893361233/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281317963&sr=1-1">What Does God Look Like? by Kushner</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Where-God-Lawrence-Kushner/dp/1893361179/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281318055&sr=1-1">Where is God? by Kushner</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/God-Lives-Glass-Reflections-Children/dp/B003V1WFEY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281318174&sr=1-1">God Lives in Glass by Landy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ayat-Jamilah-Beautiful-Treasury-Children/dp/0910055947/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1281318245&sr=1-1-fkmr0">Ayat Jamila: Beautiful Signs by Conover and Crane</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Humanism-Whats-That-Book-Curious/dp/1591023874/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1281318319&sr=1-2-fkmr0">Humanism? What's That? by Bennet</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Everything-Seed-Story-Beginnings/dp/B003O86ISS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281318400&sr=1-1">The Everything Seed by Martignacco </a></li>
</ul>There were so many candles lit during Joys and Sorrows today. Most of us do not share at the microphone so I'm so glad that we can have a chance to express our burdens and share our grateful relief in this silent way. Whatever theism is, I felt it most here during this part of our service.<br />
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Sharon told the story of Rev. Bill Sinkford's journey from atheist to believer. It involves an exodus and return to First Unitarian. There was a long night waiting at his son's hospital bed. He described how his prayers evolved in the course of the night from begging to save his son to a comfort in knowing that whatever happened, Bill and Billy would be held in the hands of God.<br />
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Later, Sinkford's journey led him to become President of the <a href="http://www.uua.org/">UUA</a>. His call for developing a "language of reverence" to "name the holy" caused an <a href="http://www.religionnewsblog.com/3619/words-of-reverence-roil-a-church">uproar</a> for a while in Unitarian circles. Sharon reminded us that the conservative and fundamentalist elements of our society often hold the language that is related to God. What we hear about God is not liberal perhaps because liberals do not speak of God much at all. <br />
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The definition of God has evolved. Sharon said, "If we're free to grow and learn, we're going to change our minds." God had to change because the authoritarian God of our parents was more about power than justice and love. "In order to survive the twentieth century, God had to change."<br />
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This statement just blew me away. "God had to change." I have never thought of God as being very willing to change. But Sharon reminded me that this is true. My own process has led me from fundamentalism to atheism to agnosticism to theism. (And since Sharon introduced me to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panentheism">panentheism</a> this morning, I think that might me the next step on my journey. Or maybe I'm a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheism">pantheist</a>.) I thought I was changing. Sharon spoke of <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=MOO2NUDv27QC&printsec=frontcover&dq=I+and+thou+by+buber&source=bl&ots=DMf0t6PAtI&sig=3cEEHuyIHFU4s4CveTmpLuFGewc&hl=en&ei=CXRfTPOxPMP58AbL3rzCDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CCsQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false">I & Thou by Martin Buber</a>. Buber is saying you need God and God needs you. This forms the basis of <a href="http://www.uuworld.org/2003/04/feature3.html">Hartshorne's Process Theology</a>. So I'm left wondering what it is God needs us to do?<br />
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Feminist theology has added to Sharon's understanding of God. Many early religions have male and female aspects of deities. Women are generally gentler. So when God is seen as feminine, God can be more caring. And thus, women can be seen as powerful.<br />
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Black Liberation Theology has also influenced Sharon's definition of God. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Black-Theology-Liberation-Ethics-Society/dp/0883446855/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1281325439&sr=8-1">James Cone's work</a> has emphasized that if a God exists, God will be with the oppressed. If he is not, God is racist. Sharon says, "The day I read 'God is Black', I knew I could trust God again."<br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodicy">Theodicy</a> is the justification of God in the face of suffering. If God is all powerful, how do we explain holocausts, genocide, hunger, violence? For many, there is no way to explain these horrible things if God is all powerful. So maybe God isn't all powerful. And maybe God doesn't need to be. Perhaps, the thing we call God is just the guarantee that you will not be alone in your suffering. There are people at this church who will keep that guarantee. Bill Sinkford was assured of that when his mother died. He had been away from First for some time. But someone from this congregation brought him a covered dish when his mother died and that started him on a different course in his life. Maybe we find God in the covered dish. <br />
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The minister doesn't have all the answers to this. And neither does the blogger. I'm interested to hear your opinions and thoughts on this question for the ages. <br />
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Go out into the world in peace,<br />
G. mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-5105799146409147462010-07-30T14:41:00.000-07:002010-07-30T14:41:00.772-07:00Music/Sound Art/Community/Engagement/WorshipDo all of those words mean the same thing? I was flipping through some UU blogs and found <a href="http://www.danielharper.org/blog/?p=7247">this entry</a>. It's timely to me as we prepare this weekend to hear the musical journeys of some of our members. Nick Payne will be the service leader for what is always an engaging time. <br />
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Is this worship? Art? Performance? Noise? It does seem fun. It does engage. And my, those people seem young. See what you think. <a href="http://www.danielharper.org/blog/?p=7247%20">Forget those hippie drum circles. </a>mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-2077694009038382902010-06-13T23:15:00.000-07:002010-06-13T23:38:40.400-07:00"Gender Identity" with Rev. Sharon Dittmar on 06/13/10Pride Sunday is always a great day at our church. Today was no different. From the rainbow balloons in the entry, to our private accessible restroom on the second floor, to the rainbow sherbet served after the service, it is clear that this church takes PRIDE in welcoming and celebrating the gay community. <br />
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This year's Pride Sunday service focused on issues of gender identity. Rev. Dittmar taught us so much about the experience of GLBQT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgendered) people. Some <a href="http://www.religiousinstitute.org/acting-out-loud/definitions">vocabulary</a>, some etiquette, some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGFVnFoNnt4">popular culture</a>. <br />
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Sharon mentioned <a href="http://www.transgenderwarrior.blogspot.com/">Leslie Feinberg's</a> Beacon Press book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Transgender-Warriors-Making-History-Dennis/dp/0807079413/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210436454&sr=8-1%20">Transgender Warriors</a>. </i>This sounds like an excellent book to enhance understanding of the social justice issues that surround our gender expression. Feinberg's own life experience reminds me of the courage these warriors must summon in order to walk about in a world that prefers direct answer to "Is that a man or a woman?" Sharon also mentioned Jeffrey Eugenides's fictional <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Middlesex-Novel-Oprahs-Book-Club/dp/0312427735/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276489285&sr=1-1">Middlesex</a>, </i>which I can highly recommend. <i> </i><i> </i>The movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171804/">"Boys Don't Cry"</a> and the production notes <a href="http://www.foxsearchlight.com/boysdontcry/">here</a> also illuminate the violent death that Brandon Teena suffered because others were afraid of his gender expression. <br />
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<a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11016906/from/RSS/">Can a boy wear a skirt to school?</a> <a href="http://www.theindychannel.com/education/18926518/detail.html">Can a girl wear a tux to the prom?</a> This sermon reminds me that our teens, puzzling out their own sexual and gender identities, often lead us into clearer thinking on the issues with their willingness to question our standard ways of thinking. As Sharon reminded us, to them gender is something to play with. Boys with eyeliner. Girls in boxer shorts. Appreciate the difference. Children at our church and, hopefully, in our world will be accepted, embraced, protected no matter how they identify. <br />
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<a href="http://www.religiousinstitute.org/">The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing </a>offers resources for faith communities working in our own church, the community, and the world to celebrate and support GLBTQ people and to take a stand on issues of injustice related to sexuality. Our own <a href="http://uua.org/">UUA</a>, has started the <a href="http://www.standingonthesideoflove.org/">Standing on the Side of Love</a> campaign, led by our own RE graduate, Adam Gerhardstein. Adam's parents, Mimi Gingold and Al Gerhardstein, are rightfully proud of the ministry he has taken up, as we all are. The effort encourages using the power of love to conquer discrimination of all sorts, including advocacy to end unfair marriage discrimination for gay couples. (By the way, Standing on the Side of Love takes its name from our closing hymn today that was written in honor of another of our own RE graduates, former UUA president <a href="http://www.uua.org/aboutus/governance/officers/president/sinkfordwilliam/index.shtml">Rev. Bill Sinkford</a>.)<br />
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The problem of how to label, identify, and classify people is <b>not</b> their problem. Sharon reminds us, "The problem is ours and that's a good problem to have because we can change. . . Find your love and give it." <br />
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And take a peek at <a href="http://www.bretmichaels.com/2010/photo_files/photos.htm">Bret Michaels' hair extensions</a>. <br />
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Go out into the world. . .<br />
G.mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-46055444160855410062010-05-30T13:38:00.000-07:002010-06-13T19:08:40.178-07:00"Coming Home" with Rev. Sharon Dittmar on 05/30/2010Today's topic "Coming Home" deals with soldiers and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. You can find more information about PTSD and treatments at these links:<br />
<a href="http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml">National Institute of Mental Health</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.cincinnati.va.gov/services/PTSD_Mental_Health.asp">Cincinnati VA</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/ds00246">Mayo Clinic</a><br />
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Soldiers, familes, and communities are torn apart when a soldier leaves, is hurt, or dies. Sharon sang it so eloquently in the offertory today. Here's a link to the Dixie Chick's version of the song, "Travelin' Soldier."<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLBgmbXBOb8">You Tube</a><br />
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Go out into the world. . .<br />
G.mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-60732237035512510022010-05-16T23:24:00.000-07:002010-06-13T23:40:04.513-07:00Music on Sundays, May 16, 2010This past Sunday was Music Sunday, one of my favorites of our church year. I had to miss this year. I didn't get to hear our great musicians and that saddened me. Fortunately, the beautiful music our choir and others shared can be found at this <a href="http://firstuu.com/Sunday_Services/Audio/2010/spring_concert/holiday_concert.htm">link</a>. <br />
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Music Sundays remind me of the service our choir and musicians do for our church. Participation in choir is definitely one of the biggest gifts someone can make to our church. We'll never be able to count the number of hours that someone like Evelyn Payne has given to the church in her commitment to practice in the choir. Choir members practice on Thursdays and Sundays, in addition to any time they may practice on their own at home. All of this to provide us with an anthem, an offertory, a contemplative mood. Other musicians offer gifts from their years of expertise on their instrument. How long has Blake Taylor been playing the harmonica? When did Kevin Pease first bang on a set of drums? Count these hours, too, when adding up what goes into our worship service.<br />
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Some people contribute to our music programs in ways that are never heard. Cynthia Heinrich serves as the Choir's librarian. She makes sure that everyone gets a piece of music and everyone returns the one given to them. And the guys who run sound (Yes, it's all guys at this point. Any volunteers, ladies?) have another job that goes without much thanks. It's a job that only gets noticed if done poorly--which is probably why you may not have noticed this team's work before. They do great work. <br />
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And, of course, the music committee's work is unsung. Music is one thing in our worship service and in our budget that we all seem to have visceral feelings about. What sounds angelic to me may sound heathenish to you. The variety of song experienced today should remind us that when it comes to music, we all have something different that provokes our spirit. Our Music Director, Tom Sherwood, has made a commitment to encourage musical variety. If you don't like a song, just wait. Something you like (and something I may not like) will come along soon. Support those who give their gifts at church. Give thanks. <br />
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Go out into the world. . .<br />
G.mrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-562984664268904121.post-28581096320418311512010-05-02T16:41:00.000-07:002010-05-02T16:42:18.608-07:00"So Much More" with Rev. Terry Sweetser, on Association Sunday, May 2, 2010This week's sermon by Terry Sweetser gave us a lot to think about. So much more to think about. We are part of something bigger and this Sunday we focused on our part in the UUA. Here are some links that might help to connect to this week's service, the sermon and the social media that can link it all together.<br />
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Association Sunday is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) to encourage support of special projects. The funds we offered today will be used to encourage and support ministers of color as they begin their careers in ministry with the UUA. There's still time to donate to give your support. Click <a href="https://www.kintera.org/site/c.kkLRJ7MQKtH/b.5131091/k.2BC1/Assoc_Sunday_09_Donation_Form/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=kkLRJ7MQKtH&b=5131091&en=8gLJLRPsG6LFKTNCIcJFLSMvHiKZI4NyFgJVL4NJKlJTL0PFLuH">here</a> to donate. <br />
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Here's a sampling of other <a href="http://www.uua.org/giving/associationsunday/152620.shtml">Association Sunday sermons </a>that were heard across the country. <br />
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You can learn more about the <a href="http://www.uua.org/religiouseducation/curricula/tapestryfaith/">UUA's Tapestry of Faith curricula</a> that our young people use in their Religious Education classes. This project was supported by previous Association Sunday funds. <br />
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See a video of Rev. Sweetser's thoughts on generosity <a href="http://vimeo.com/9465029%20">here. </a><br />
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Did you love the Phillip Glass anthem that Wen-Mi Chen played today? I don't always like Phillip Glass, but it seems that I always like what Wen-Mi plays. If you'd like to learn more about Phillip Glass' music, iTunes U offers a series of <b style="font-weight: normal;">free presentation</b>s by knowledgeable educators, scholars, and performers provide aesthetic, historical, and social context on selected artists. <a href="http://deimos3.apple.com/WebObjects/Core.woa/Browse/ucdavis-public.1770420159">Here, </a>Pablo Ortiz discusses the work of Phillip Glass. And here you can <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/piano-music-of-philip-glass/id192121577%20">purchase the Aleck Karis version of Metamorposis II. </a><br />
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What else connected with you? Feel free to share your thoughts here. Or you can also get fancy and post some links, pics, videos, and music. <br />
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Go out into the world. . .<br />
Glenettamrs.krause.englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02432596340002566873noreply@blogger.com0