Something New
This month, try something new that you’ve never tried before! This can be something big or something small, but it should be something that is new to you. Here are some ideas:
- Try a new kind of food, especially a new fruit or vegetable.
- Learn how to say some words in a new language.
- Make a new friend or sit with a new person at the lunch table.
- Play a sport you’ve never played before.
- Listen to a different kind of music, or music from another part of the world.
- Learn about how children live in other cultures. There are many organizations that will match people up with pen pals in other countries. (Kids, ask your parents for help with this!)
- Learn the names of your mailman, grocery clerk, school crossing guard, or others who help you every day. You might even give them a thank you card to show them you appreciate them.
A New Freedom of Faith
Throughout the history of Christianity there have been big fights over changes in religious belief and practice, with different people say their version is the real version.
But King John Sigismund, the one and only Unitarian king in history, had a different point of view. Way back in 1561, John Sigismund was very interested in religion, partly because people in his country of Transylvania kept fighting about it. The Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists, and Unitarians all argued about whose views about God and Jesus and how church services should be conducted were right.
Francis David
Finally, King John called the best speaker from each church to come to a place called Torda for a debate to decide who was right. The speaker from the Unitarian church was a man named Francis David. He argued that no one has the right to force people to believe anything about God, and that it’s OK if our understanding of religion changes.
After 10 days, King John ordered the debate to end. But he did not announce a winner; he did not say that any of the four churches was the best. Instead, King John agreed with Francis David, and he created what was called the Edict of Torda, which declared that every church and every person would be free to follow their own beliefs, even if those beliefs changed over time. There are still Unitarians in Transylvania today who share that commitment to freedom of belief.
Read more about Francis David from the UUA’s Tapestry of Faith programming, or read the Edict of Torda for yourself!
Repainting Our Lives
Podcast: Download (Duration: 13:20 — 12.2MB)
Subscribe: More
Old paint on canvas, as it ages, sometimes becomes transparent. Read more →
Transitions, Expected and Unexpected
Podcast: Download (Duration: 13:06 — 5.9MB)
Subscribe: More
Reading #655 in our hymnal, Singing the Living Tradition, is entitled, “Change Alone is Unchanging.” It’s attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Heraklietos, also known as the weeping philosopher. Read more →
Making Change
Podcast: Download (Duration: 0:56 — 883.7KB)
Subscribe: More
Did you know that prisoners now make up more than 20% of the CLF’s membership? Read more →
Moving with Change
Podcast: Download (Duration: 3:16 — 3.0MB)
Subscribe: More
Being religiously savvy Unitarian Universalists, most of you probably know that one of the core teachings of Buddhism is impermanence. Read more →
From Your Minister
Podcast: Download (Duration: 6:10 — 5.6MB)
Subscribe: More
Here’s how I wish change happened:
Change says to The Universe, Hey, I’d like to happen now! And The Universe replies, with ease and joy, That’s terrific! Happen, then! Read more →
REsources for Living
Podcast: Download (Duration: 5:15 — 4.8MB)
Subscribe: More
I can’t claim that I’m a big fan of change. I like comfort. I like knowing what to expect. Read more →
Help Wanted:
Podcast: Download (Duration: 0:43 — 674.7KB)
Subscribe: More
CLF Pen Pals for some of the 725 CLF members in prisons who are new to Unitarian Universalism. Read more →
Did You Know?
Podcast: Download (Duration: 0:16 — 257.5KB)
Subscribe: More
…that you can sign up for CLF online classes to stretch your mind and spirit? Click here to learn more. Read more →
