Pride 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.
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 vocabulary, some etiquette, some popular culture.
Sharon mentioned Leslie Feinberg's Beacon Press book Transgender Warriors. 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 Middlesex, which I can highly recommend. The movie "Boys Don't Cry" and the production notes here also illuminate the violent death that Brandon Teena suffered because others were afraid of his gender expression.
Can a boy wear a skirt to school? Can a girl wear a tux to the prom? 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.
The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing 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 UUA, has started the Standing on the Side of Love 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 Rev. Bill Sinkford.)
The problem of how to label, identify, and classify people is not 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."
And take a peek at Bret Michaels' hair extensions.
Go out into the world. . .
G.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
"Coming Home" with Rev. Sharon Dittmar on 05/30/2010
Today's topic "Coming Home" deals with soldiers and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. You can find more information about PTSD and treatments at these links:
National Institute of Mental Health
Cincinnati VA
Mayo Clinic
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."
You Tube
Go out into the world. . .
G.
National Institute of Mental Health
Cincinnati VA
Mayo Clinic
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."
You Tube
Go out into the world. . .
G.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Music on Sundays, May 16, 2010
This 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 link.
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.
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.
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.
Go out into the world. . .
G.
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.
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.
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.
Go out into the world. . .
G.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
"So Much More" with Rev. Terry Sweetser, on Association Sunday, May 2, 2010
This 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.
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 here to donate.
Here's a sampling of other Association Sunday sermons that were heard across the country.
You can learn more about the UUA's Tapestry of Faith curricula that our young people use in their Religious Education classes. This project was supported by previous Association Sunday funds.
See a video of Rev. Sweetser's thoughts on generosity here.
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 free presentations by knowledgeable educators, scholars, and performers provide aesthetic, historical, and social context on selected artists. Here, Pablo Ortiz discusses the work of Phillip Glass. And here you can purchase the Aleck Karis version of Metamorposis II.
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.
Go out into the world. . .
Glenetta
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 here to donate.
Here's a sampling of other Association Sunday sermons that were heard across the country.
You can learn more about the UUA's Tapestry of Faith curricula that our young people use in their Religious Education classes. This project was supported by previous Association Sunday funds.
See a video of Rev. Sweetser's thoughts on generosity here.
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 free presentations by knowledgeable educators, scholars, and performers provide aesthetic, historical, and social context on selected artists. Here, Pablo Ortiz discusses the work of Phillip Glass. And here you can purchase the Aleck Karis version of Metamorposis II.
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.
Go out into the world. . .
Glenetta
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