From Your Minister
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As I reflect on this month’s theme of prayer, scraps of poems and songs I love dance before me. Read more →
REsources for Living
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I didn’t learn a whole lot about prayer growing up in a UU church in the 60s and 70s. Read more →
Prayer in a Time of Awe
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Holy grandparents of the Universe…energies of creation…endless mysteries of life:
You are the music that sounded before our world was born, Read more →
Blessing for Something New
New beginnings–whether starting a new grade or moving to a different city or taking on a new sport or hobby–can be kind of scary. Here is a blessing that you can say for yourself when you’re feeling worried about taking on something new:
Walking through this open door
I carry with me blessings four:
The love that surrounds me,
The knowledge that grounds me,
The courage that lifts me,
The chance this door gifts me.
credit:Christian Kaden
Bonus: A pep talk for teachers and students from Kid President
A Forgiveness Ritual
Rev. Rob Eller-Isaacs wrote a ritual of forgiveness for Unitarian Universalists, based on the Jewish Yom Kippur service. In this ritual, everyone repeats: “I forgive myself and I forgive you. We begin again in love.”
When someone hurts us, or we hurt others, the goal is not only that the person who was hurt forgives, we also need to forgive ourselves, and to start over in love. For those times when someone hurts you, or you hurt someone else, you might want to keep this in your pocket: “I forgive myself and I forgive you. We begin again in love.”
Table Grace
Thanks to beasts and birds and flowers and bees.
Thanks to earth and air and sun and trees.
In all we receive, may we learn to give.
In all we do, may we help life live.
Blessing after a Mistake
After a mistake how can we start over and move forward?
(adapted from Rev. Rob
Eller-Issacs Litany of
Atonement)
When we are hurting;
I forgive you,
I forgive myself,
We begin again in love
Please
Tonight we stood together around candles that marked the spot where his body was found this morning. Tonight we poured out our stories and our songs, our prayers and our tears. Tonight we reminded each other that we are loved and loving, that our lives have value and are valued by each other. Tonight we said good-bye to a good friend and a committed organizer.
So tomorrow, when you read in the paper or hear in the news that another black teenage boy was found shot to death in the 9th Ward of New Orleans, stop. Please stop and send love to his family, to his friends, to the community that cared for him, cares for him still.
Please stop and let your heart be broken, broken open at least a little bit, with compassion for a child who was loved, will always be loved, and for those who love him. Mark the passing of a dear soul light who shined brightly in this world and made it a better place.
If you pray, pray for us, pray with us.
Grieve with us. Mourn with us.
And then – organize.
Organize with us to heal this world, to change it into a place where 15 year olds are not killed by guns — are not killed at all. Make George proud.
Here is a blessing to offer anyone who is heading out on a journey–even if that journey is just as far as school.
May you go out in peace and may you come back in joy. On the road in between, may you find what fills your heart, feeds your mind and inspires your imagination.
Artist: Alice Popkorn