Did You Know?
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That CLF’s online worship is now accessible on mobile devices? Read more →
The Reverend Joseph Cleveland
The Reverend Joseph Cleveland is the settled minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Saratoga Springs, NY. Before he found his calling in Unitarian Universalist ministry, he squandered much of his time on the guitar and banjo. He also founded the Folkus Project of Central New York, a nonprofit group that presents folk and acoustic music in Syracuse, NY.
Every now and then, you’ll find Joe’s put another song up on his page at http://soundcloud.com/joe-cleveland.
Markus Grae-Hauck
Markus Grae-Hauck is a conductor, pianist, and vocal coach based in the New York City area. He has been a UU musician since 2005 and is currently serving as Music Director for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair, NJ.
Markus has conducted and/or accompanied big bands, various vocal ensembles, and over 70 musical theater productions, including a national tour of Irving Berlin’s “I Love A Piano”. He has also lived in Germany, France and Spain, figured out the meaning of life, played keyboards in a rock group while dressed in a neon pink jumpsuit, co-founded an opera company, and released two CDs of his own piano compositions; his music has been featured on nationally syndicated German network radio and on the sampler “le classique abstrait” published worldwide by Universal Music.
You can contact Markus at musicdir@uumontclair.org. Some of his music can be found at www.markushauck.com.
Signs and Wonders
December 2014
“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.”—Socrates
Articles
Wondering and Wandering
In a meeting the other night we lit a small chalice and someone shared a blessing to center us down and gather us in for whatever work it was, and the blessing ended with the question, “What do you welcome in winter?” Read more »
No One Lights a Lamp
No one lights a lamp in order to hide it behind the door: the purpose of light is to create more light, to open people’s eyes, to reveal the marvels around. —Paulo Coelho Read more »
Miracles and Wonders
A man arrives at a wedding banquet and finds that they have run out of wine. Mysteriously, plain water is transformed into wine sufficient for all the guests. Read more »
God Crashes the Wedding
Was it only dumb luck in that wedding, out at the state park, when I happened to call thunder and lightning down out of the sky? Or was it a sign from God? Read more »
From Your Minister
When I was a kid, I pictured the part of the Christmas story about “no room at the inn” as a kind of neon no vacancy sign, blinking from the ancient motels of Biblical days. Read more »
REsources for Living
Some days are special not because there is a birthday or a holiday—although those are very special days. Some days are special because if you are paying close attention, you get a sign. Read more »
When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer
When I heard the learn’d astronomer, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me… Read more »
What Will We Do with God?
Dear God,
Well, here it is, early in another church year and, silly me, I have decided to lead off by talking about you…whoever or whatever you are. Read more →
Brief Thoughts on God
Many people have questioned whether any concept of God can be meaningful in a modern, scientific world. Others, however, find the idea of God to be profoundly meaningful. Read more →
No One Lights a Lamp
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Read more →No one lights a lamp in order to hide it behind the door: the purpose of light is to create more light, to open people’s eyes, to reveal the marvels around. —Paulo Coelho
When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer
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When I heard the learn’d astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, Read more →
To Live Deliberately
Why should we live in such a hurry and waste of life?
We are determined to be starved before we are hungry.
I wish to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life.
I want to learn what life has to teach, and not, when I come to die, discover that I have not lived.
I do not wish to live what is not life, living is so dear.
Nor do I wish to practice resignation, unless it is quite necessary.
I want to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life,
I want to cut a broad swath, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms.
If it proves to be mean, then to get the whole and genuine meanness of it, and publish its meanness to the world;
Or if it is sublime, to know it by experience, and to be able to give a true account of it.
By Henry David Thoreau
Sin Brought Me Back
Sin is what caused me to leave the church and give up religion, and sin is what brought me back. Read more →
