First Unitarian Society
Sermons (2007-2008)
By
Rev. Kendyl Gibbons
Sermons on tape and as printed booklets are available in the
FUS Bookstore
*Sermon in Spanish/Espanol*
Bread for the Journey
June 1, 2008
I am always struck by the careful thought with which serious backpackers decide what to take with them on a camping adventure, and the consequences of what they choose to bring along or leave behind. What about our life journeys? How do we prepare for them, what is essential to bring with us, and what sustenance might we find along the way? We will celebrate the reception of new members at this Assembly.
The Next Monument
May 25, 2008
Like many of my Boomer generation, I consider Maya Lin’s somber black granite slash in the earth engraved with the names of all the soldiers who died in Vietnam to be a brilliant memorial, physically evoking our national ambiguity about that tragic war. One day in the not-so-distant future, our collective consciousness will be called upon to create a monument to the devastation now unfolding for half a decade in Iraq. What haunted emotions will we want that structure to elicit in the beholder? How does one remember the nobility of human heroism and the unconscionable waste of human lives in the same moment of awareness? Memorial Day weekend seems the appropriate time to consider such questions. This Assembly will be followed by a sermon discussion.
Manifesting Humanism - Heritage Sunday
April 27, 2008
2008 marks the 75th anniversary of the publication of the first Humanist Manifesto, in 1933. This document, signed by prominent academics and liberal clergy, arguably marks the beginning of the modern humanist movement. Its authors and endorsers believed that the time had come for a significantly new approach to understanding the nature of the human condition and the purpose of religion. Since then, two subsequent Manifestos have sought to refine the meaning of humanism in changing times. What does the history of that original document tell us about this movement, and does it continue to speak to our situation across the decades? This Assembly will be followed by a sermon discussion.
Remembering Toward Freedom
April 20, 2008
As our Jewish neighbors celebrate the spring festival of the Passover, we contemplate the ongoing impact that stories of liberation have on both our personal lives and our society. What does it mean to say that “our ancestors” were slaves? Is that a statement that everyone can truly make? What does it mean if we know that our ancestors were slave owners? How do we celebrate freedom, and the earth we share, in a world that is not altogether free? We will also celebrate the dedication of children and families, and a special collection will be received at this Assembly.
On Becoming a Grown Up, Part Two
April 6, 2008
We understand what it means to come to physical maturity, and our culture has at least a few expectations around the meaning of emotional maturity, even though we may not ever achieve them all. Part of the point of religious community, I would suggest, is to help us grow into the less obvious qualities of spiritual maturity, for this is what enables us to conduct our lives with dignity, grace, and meaning. What are those qualities, how do we assess them, and what does it look like when we are in the process of acquiring them?
On Becoming a Grown Up, Part One
March 30, 2008
We understand what it means to come to physical maturity and our culture has at least a
few expectations around the meaning of emotional maturity, even though we may not ever
achieve them all. Part of the point of religious community is to help us grow into the
less obvious qualities of spiritual maturity, for this is what enables us to conduct our
lives with dignity, grace, and meaning. What are those qualities, how do we assess them,
and what does it look like when we are in the process of acquiring them?
Humanity’s Child
March 16, 2008
These days, I picture the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem over a path strewn with
palm leaves, with the disciples holding a banner proclaiming “Mission Accomplished.”
Days later, the prophet of peace died in agony at the hands of corrupt religious and military
oppression. Five years ago, our nation launched a war that was meant to end in triumph, and
today our young men and women continue to die—and live—in agony. The crucifixion is not a
one-time event, but a story that we seem doomed to repeat again and again. On this Palm Sunday,
what shall we make of this old image, so often reiterated?
Of Price and Value
March 9, 2008
It is said that a cynic is one who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing,
and we have an instinctive sense that values are diff erent from prices. How is what we most
value connected to what we are willing to pay for? How does what we are willing to pay for give
shape to our lives and communities? And how can we make our money serve our truest values? Don’t
forget to change your clock for Daylight Savings Time, or we’ll miss you this morning!
Somebody Say Something
February 24, 2008
We welcome to our pulpit this morning the Rev. Al Gallmon, Jr., the senior pastor
of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church,
a largely African-American congregation on the north side of Minneapolis. Rev.
Gallmon is a graduate of Howard Divinity School and was a leader in the corporate world
before entering the ministry. He is also a member of the Minneapolis Downtown Senior
Clergy and was one of the participants in last year’s Journey in Faith to Israel/Palestine.
In addition, he is a leader in the work of social justice activism in the north side community.
The Problem with Love
February 17, 2008
“Love is not all,” says the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, and she is correct.
There is a pious sentimentality which suggests that all we need is love that ends by attributing
to one human emotion the capacities formerly vested in the gods.
What is it reasonable to expect from love and what else is required for our
individual and collective well-being? Please note that this will be our Sweater Sunday,
and the thermostat at FUS will be intentionally lowered 5 degrees below our usual.
You are encouraged to dress warmly to remain comfortable.
This program is part of our Green Sanctuary effort to increase awareness
of the need to decrease our carbon dioxide emissions to work against global warming.
We encourage you to lower the thermostat at home as well.
The Way of the Sages
February 10, 2008
Contemporary American humanism has its roots in the heritage of European philosophy, but the Confucian tradition of the east holds many interesting parallels. Some contemporary Confucian scholars are finding connections with western humanist teachings in our increasingly
interwoven global culture. It is worth our while to know more about these intellectual cousins on
the other side of the world.
Come Sing a Song with Me
Speaking: Steven Protzman, Ministerial Intern and the FUS Choir
February 3, 2008
Carolyn McDade, author of “Spirit of Life” writes that “it is an act of courage to sing and that
when we sing with our hearts, we make our souls whole and our bodies shine”.
Drawing on the musical leadership of Barb Brooks and the FUS choir, this service will be a
hymn festival to hear and to sing some of the songs of our Unitarian Universalist faith,
learn about the diverse religious heritage from which we draw much of our music,
and reflect on the power of music to strengthen and inspire us for the journey.
Shared Words
January 27, 2008
Almost 25 years ago, the UUA adopted new language in the preamble to its corporate bylaws,
describing the purposes and principles to which the organization is dedicated. Since then,
these statements have become familiar among Unitarian Universalists and their congregations
throughout the US, and indeed the world. Today, a process is underway to evaluate this language, and determine whether it still offers a compelling description of our religious movement. A structured discussion will follow this assembly. Also this morning we will celebrate
the dedication of children and families; please speak to Jan Devor if you are interested in participating.
Creating Terror
January 20, 2008
The word torture once evoked an anachronistic vision of sinister
inquisitions or evil foreign despots. Incredibly, it is now a topic of serious political and ethical
debate. How are we to understand the human impulse to inflict torture
and to countenance its use, as well as the intuitive revulsion that the idea
evokes in many of us? Can we really use the terror of torture to defeat the agents
of terror?
Starting Off Right
January 6, 2008
As the calendar shifts to the beginning of a new year, the opportunity arises to prepare
ourselves for a fresh start. Are there aspects of the old years that you would wish to leave
behind with the time gone? Are there new qualities that you hope to bring into your
life? Let’s use the arbitrary markers of the days to our advantage, through reflection
on the past, and exploration of the future’s possibilities.
Jesus NOT for Dummies (from April 8, 2007)
December 30, 2007
Jesus is once again in the news, with claims of his tomb,
bones included, having been discovered. Easter morning
seems an appropriate time to consider how we as skeptics
could think about this person; who he might have been
historically, how his identity and role evolved in the Christian
church as we know it, and some of the many different
ways in which his life, death and teachings have been
understood over two thousand years. If the last time you
thought about Jesus was in Protestant Sunday School, it’s
time for an update..
The Postmodern Problem
December 2, 2007
Christian fundamentalists often cite the philosophical
position of Postmodernism as an example of what goes
wrong with the world once orthodoxy is abandoned. At
the same time, some Humanists claim that Postmodernism
attempts to undermine the intellectual validity of our
perspective. What is Postmodernism, anyway, and why
does it draw fire from both sides of this debate? Is there
a kernel of useful truth to be found among the heaps of
impenetrable verbiage?
How Not to Plant the Seeds
of Violence
November 25, 2007
Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Arun recounts that
shortly before his death, the world’s great advocate of
nonviolence gave the boy a list of the seven “blunders”
that he called “passive violence. These mistakes, he
claimed, prepare the ground for armed conflict and
oppression, and lasting peace can never be achieved until
they are confronted and overcome. As humanists seeking
to cultivate our personal and collective ethical lives, we
might be well served by taking another look at the seeds
we hope not to plant. A sermon discussion will follow
this assembly.
Failure to Attribute
November 11, 2007
The pollsters tell us that identified atheists are one of the
most unpopular and mistrusted groups in our culture. I
want to suggest that this perception is something more
complex than mere prejudice or adamant orthodoxy; it lifts
up a genuine moral conundrum " of which Michael Vick
is only the latest casualty. Developmental psychology and
artificial intelligence may help us throw some light on how
we might improve our public image.
Wisdom of the Tender Heart
November 4, 2007
The tradition of Dia de los Muertos (the Day of
the Dead) calls upon us to confront the reality
of death as a constant companion in the course
of our everyday lives, and urges us to remain in
relationship with the community of the dead whose
memories continue to influence us. In a culture
that demands constant emotional fortitude and
resilience, how can we learn to cherish what loss,
grief, and memory have to teach us? The FUS
Chorus and Orchestra will enrich our reflections
with another superb musical requiem.
Hungers of the Spirit
October 28, 2007
“The whole of nature,” wrote the English author William
Ralph Inge, “is a conjugation of the verb to eat, in the
active and passive.” Like every other creature on earth,
humans take part in a food chain, and our place in that
food chain, or web, determines to a considerable extent
what kind of creature we are. It has been suggested
that a creature that could conceive of eating anything
(including, notably, other humans) stands in particular
need of ethical rules, manners, and ritual. We are
not only what we eat, but how we eat, too. Shelley
Schreffler, winner of the 2007 Service Auction sermon
topic, has asked me to consider Michael Pollan’s The
Omnivore’s Dilemma, and the function of eating as an
expression of the human condition. A sermon discussion
will take place in the Dietrich Room following this
Assembly.
Now is the Time
October 14, 2007
In focus groups, surveys and roundtable discussions over
the past several years, thousands of Unitarian Universalists
have told the UUA that the most important role of the
Association is to “Help us grow!” Some see this as a
moment of opportunity, others as a crucial turning point.
Almost all agree that now is the time to raise funds and
spend them strategically to strengthen our movement. In
response, the UUA has launched a five-year comprehensive
fundraising campaign to generate $20 million in
immediate resources and $30 million in legacy covenants.
In the words of W.E.B. DuBois, “It is today that our best
work can be done.” Come learn about and celebrate the
work of the UUA as a community of congregations, and
help our Society generously demonstrate that Humanists
still own a significant piece of the action.
What Next?
September 30, 2007
As I begin my tenth year as senior minister at FUS,
our most recent five-year plan has run its course, and
some of the most obvious issues of finances and our
physical plant have been successfully addressed. Where,
now, should our energy as a congregation be focused?
With help from members of the Strategic Planning
Committee, we will look at some of the directions our
future together might take. A conversation with the
Trustees will follow the Assembly.
Not Past Our Understanding
September 16, 2007
Both inner spiritual peace and international political
peace are identified as desirable in almost every religious
and philosophical tradition, yet neither individually nor
collectively have most people actually achieved them.
Is peace really something that in its essence “passes
understanding,” and must come as a gift, or is it something
we can work for, with reason and history to guide
us? What is the role of the human spirit in that quest,
especially in a time of war like this? We will celebrate the
upcoming United Nations International Day of Peace,
and the Monthly Social Justice Collection gathered
today will be directed to the PEACE Foundation,
http://www.citypeace.org (See Social Action p. 9 for more
information.).
Sermons (2006-2007)
March 30, 2008
Humanity’s Child
March 16, 2008
These days, I picture the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem over a path strewn with palm leaves, with the disciples holding a banner proclaiming “Mission Accomplished.” Days later, the prophet of peace died in agony at the hands of corrupt religious and military oppression. Five years ago, our nation launched a war that was meant to end in triumph, and today our young men and women continue to die—and live—in agony. The crucifixion is not a one-time event, but a story that we seem doomed to repeat again and again. On this Palm Sunday, what shall we make of this old image, so often reiterated?
Of Price and Value
March 9, 2008
It is said that a cynic is one who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing,
and we have an instinctive sense that values are diff erent from prices. How is what we most
value connected to what we are willing to pay for? How does what we are willing to pay for give
shape to our lives and communities? And how can we make our money serve our truest values? Don’t
forget to change your clock for Daylight Savings Time, or we’ll miss you this morning!
Somebody Say Something
February 24, 2008
We welcome to our pulpit this morning the Rev. Al Gallmon, Jr., the senior pastor
of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church,
a largely African-American congregation on the north side of Minneapolis. Rev.
Gallmon is a graduate of Howard Divinity School and was a leader in the corporate world
before entering the ministry. He is also a member of the Minneapolis Downtown Senior
Clergy and was one of the participants in last year’s Journey in Faith to Israel/Palestine.
In addition, he is a leader in the work of social justice activism in the north side community.
The Problem with Love
February 17, 2008
“Love is not all,” says the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, and she is correct.
There is a pious sentimentality which suggests that all we need is love that ends by attributing
to one human emotion the capacities formerly vested in the gods.
What is it reasonable to expect from love and what else is required for our
individual and collective well-being? Please note that this will be our Sweater Sunday,
and the thermostat at FUS will be intentionally lowered 5 degrees below our usual.
You are encouraged to dress warmly to remain comfortable.
This program is part of our Green Sanctuary effort to increase awareness
of the need to decrease our carbon dioxide emissions to work against global warming.
We encourage you to lower the thermostat at home as well.
The Way of the Sages
February 10, 2008
Contemporary American humanism has its roots in the heritage of European philosophy, but the Confucian tradition of the east holds many interesting parallels. Some contemporary Confucian scholars are finding connections with western humanist teachings in our increasingly
interwoven global culture. It is worth our while to know more about these intellectual cousins on
the other side of the world.
Come Sing a Song with Me
Speaking: Steven Protzman, Ministerial Intern and the FUS Choir
February 3, 2008
Carolyn McDade, author of “Spirit of Life” writes that “it is an act of courage to sing and that
when we sing with our hearts, we make our souls whole and our bodies shine”.
Drawing on the musical leadership of Barb Brooks and the FUS choir, this service will be a
hymn festival to hear and to sing some of the songs of our Unitarian Universalist faith,
learn about the diverse religious heritage from which we draw much of our music,
and reflect on the power of music to strengthen and inspire us for the journey.
Shared Words
January 27, 2008
Almost 25 years ago, the UUA adopted new language in the preamble to its corporate bylaws,
describing the purposes and principles to which the organization is dedicated. Since then,
these statements have become familiar among Unitarian Universalists and their congregations
throughout the US, and indeed the world. Today, a process is underway to evaluate this language, and determine whether it still offers a compelling description of our religious movement. A structured discussion will follow this assembly. Also this morning we will celebrate
the dedication of children and families; please speak to Jan Devor if you are interested in participating.
Creating Terror
January 20, 2008
The word torture once evoked an anachronistic vision of sinister
inquisitions or evil foreign despots. Incredibly, it is now a topic of serious political and ethical
debate. How are we to understand the human impulse to inflict torture
and to countenance its use, as well as the intuitive revulsion that the idea
evokes in many of us? Can we really use the terror of torture to defeat the agents
of terror?
Starting Off Right
January 6, 2008
As the calendar shifts to the beginning of a new year, the opportunity arises to prepare
ourselves for a fresh start. Are there aspects of the old years that you would wish to leave
behind with the time gone? Are there new qualities that you hope to bring into your
life? Let’s use the arbitrary markers of the days to our advantage, through reflection
on the past, and exploration of the future’s possibilities.
Jesus NOT for Dummies (from April 8, 2007)
December 30, 2007
Jesus is once again in the news, with claims of his tomb,
bones included, having been discovered. Easter morning
seems an appropriate time to consider how we as skeptics
could think about this person; who he might have been
historically, how his identity and role evolved in the Christian
church as we know it, and some of the many different
ways in which his life, death and teachings have been
understood over two thousand years. If the last time you
thought about Jesus was in Protestant Sunday School, it’s
time for an update..
The Postmodern Problem
December 2, 2007
Christian fundamentalists often cite the philosophical
position of Postmodernism as an example of what goes
wrong with the world once orthodoxy is abandoned. At
the same time, some Humanists claim that Postmodernism
attempts to undermine the intellectual validity of our
perspective. What is Postmodernism, anyway, and why
does it draw fire from both sides of this debate? Is there
a kernel of useful truth to be found among the heaps of
impenetrable verbiage?
How Not to Plant the Seeds
of Violence
November 25, 2007
Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Arun recounts that
shortly before his death, the world’s great advocate of
nonviolence gave the boy a list of the seven “blunders”
that he called “passive violence. These mistakes, he
claimed, prepare the ground for armed conflict and
oppression, and lasting peace can never be achieved until
they are confronted and overcome. As humanists seeking
to cultivate our personal and collective ethical lives, we
might be well served by taking another look at the seeds
we hope not to plant. A sermon discussion will follow
this assembly.
Failure to Attribute
November 11, 2007
The pollsters tell us that identified atheists are one of the
most unpopular and mistrusted groups in our culture. I
want to suggest that this perception is something more
complex than mere prejudice or adamant orthodoxy; it lifts
up a genuine moral conundrum " of which Michael Vick
is only the latest casualty. Developmental psychology and
artificial intelligence may help us throw some light on how
we might improve our public image.
Wisdom of the Tender Heart
November 4, 2007
The tradition of Dia de los Muertos (the Day of
the Dead) calls upon us to confront the reality
of death as a constant companion in the course
of our everyday lives, and urges us to remain in
relationship with the community of the dead whose
memories continue to influence us. In a culture
that demands constant emotional fortitude and
resilience, how can we learn to cherish what loss,
grief, and memory have to teach us? The FUS
Chorus and Orchestra will enrich our reflections
with another superb musical requiem.
Hungers of the Spirit
October 28, 2007
“The whole of nature,” wrote the English author William
Ralph Inge, “is a conjugation of the verb to eat, in the
active and passive.” Like every other creature on earth,
humans take part in a food chain, and our place in that
food chain, or web, determines to a considerable extent
what kind of creature we are. It has been suggested
that a creature that could conceive of eating anything
(including, notably, other humans) stands in particular
need of ethical rules, manners, and ritual. We are
not only what we eat, but how we eat, too. Shelley
Schreffler, winner of the 2007 Service Auction sermon
topic, has asked me to consider Michael Pollan’s The
Omnivore’s Dilemma, and the function of eating as an
expression of the human condition. A sermon discussion
will take place in the Dietrich Room following this
Assembly.
Now is the Time
October 14, 2007
In focus groups, surveys and roundtable discussions over
the past several years, thousands of Unitarian Universalists
have told the UUA that the most important role of the
Association is to “Help us grow!” Some see this as a
moment of opportunity, others as a crucial turning point.
Almost all agree that now is the time to raise funds and
spend them strategically to strengthen our movement. In
response, the UUA has launched a five-year comprehensive
fundraising campaign to generate $20 million in
immediate resources and $30 million in legacy covenants.
In the words of W.E.B. DuBois, “It is today that our best
work can be done.” Come learn about and celebrate the
work of the UUA as a community of congregations, and
help our Society generously demonstrate that Humanists
still own a significant piece of the action.
What Next?
September 30, 2007
As I begin my tenth year as senior minister at FUS,
our most recent five-year plan has run its course, and
some of the most obvious issues of finances and our
physical plant have been successfully addressed. Where,
now, should our energy as a congregation be focused?
With help from members of the Strategic Planning
Committee, we will look at some of the directions our
future together might take. A conversation with the
Trustees will follow the Assembly.
Not Past Our Understanding
September 16, 2007
Both inner spiritual peace and international political
peace are identified as desirable in almost every religious
and philosophical tradition, yet neither individually nor
collectively have most people actually achieved them.
Is peace really something that in its essence “passes
understanding,” and must come as a gift, or is it something
we can work for, with reason and history to guide
us? What is the role of the human spirit in that quest,
especially in a time of war like this? We will celebrate the
upcoming United Nations International Day of Peace,
and the Monthly Social Justice Collection gathered
today will be directed to the PEACE Foundation,
http://www.citypeace.org (See Social Action p. 9 for more
information.).
Sermons (2006-2007)
March 9, 2008
February 24, 2008
The Problem with Love
February 17, 2008
“Love is not all,” says the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, and she is correct. There is a pious sentimentality which suggests that all we need is love that ends by attributing to one human emotion the capacities formerly vested in the gods. What is it reasonable to expect from love and what else is required for our individual and collective well-being? Please note that this will be our Sweater Sunday, and the thermostat at FUS will be intentionally lowered 5 degrees below our usual. You are encouraged to dress warmly to remain comfortable. This program is part of our Green Sanctuary effort to increase awareness of the need to decrease our carbon dioxide emissions to work against global warming. We encourage you to lower the thermostat at home as well.
The Way of the Sages
February 10, 2008
Contemporary American humanism has its roots in the heritage of European philosophy, but the Confucian tradition of the east holds many interesting parallels. Some contemporary Confucian scholars are finding connections with western humanist teachings in our increasingly interwoven global culture. It is worth our while to know more about these intellectual cousins on the other side of the world.
Come Sing a Song with Me
Speaking: Steven Protzman, Ministerial Intern and the FUS Choir
February 3, 2008
Carolyn McDade, author of “Spirit of Life” writes that “it is an act of courage to sing and that when we sing with our hearts, we make our souls whole and our bodies shine”. Drawing on the musical leadership of Barb Brooks and the FUS choir, this service will be a hymn festival to hear and to sing some of the songs of our Unitarian Universalist faith, learn about the diverse religious heritage from which we draw much of our music, and reflect on the power of music to strengthen and inspire us for the journey.
Shared Words
January 27, 2008
Almost 25 years ago, the UUA adopted new language in the preamble to its corporate bylaws, describing the purposes and principles to which the organization is dedicated. Since then, these statements have become familiar among Unitarian Universalists and their congregations throughout the US, and indeed the world. Today, a process is underway to evaluate this language, and determine whether it still offers a compelling description of our religious movement. A structured discussion will follow this assembly. Also this morning we will celebrate the dedication of children and families; please speak to Jan Devor if you are interested in participating.
Creating Terror
January 20, 2008
The word torture once evoked an anachronistic vision of sinister inquisitions or evil foreign despots. Incredibly, it is now a topic of serious political and ethical debate. How are we to understand the human impulse to inflict torture and to countenance its use, as well as the intuitive revulsion that the idea evokes in many of us? Can we really use the terror of torture to defeat the agents of terror?
Starting Off Right
January 6, 2008
As the calendar shifts to the beginning of a new year, the opportunity arises to prepare ourselves for a fresh start. Are there aspects of the old years that you would wish to leave behind with the time gone? Are there new qualities that you hope to bring into your life? Let’s use the arbitrary markers of the days to our advantage, through reflection on the past, and exploration of the future’s possibilities.
Jesus NOT for Dummies (from April 8, 2007)
December 30, 2007
Jesus is once again in the news, with claims of his tomb, bones included, having been discovered. Easter morning seems an appropriate time to consider how we as skeptics could think about this person; who he might have been historically, how his identity and role evolved in the Christian church as we know it, and some of the many different ways in which his life, death and teachings have been understood over two thousand years. If the last time you thought about Jesus was in Protestant Sunday School, it’s time for an update..
The Postmodern Problem
December 2, 2007
Christian fundamentalists often cite the philosophical position of Postmodernism as an example of what goes wrong with the world once orthodoxy is abandoned. At the same time, some Humanists claim that Postmodernism attempts to undermine the intellectual validity of our perspective. What is Postmodernism, anyway, and why does it draw fire from both sides of this debate? Is there a kernel of useful truth to be found among the heaps of impenetrable verbiage?
How Not to Plant the Seeds
of Violence
November 25, 2007
Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Arun recounts that
shortly before his death, the world’s great advocate of
nonviolence gave the boy a list of the seven “blunders”
that he called “passive violence. These mistakes, he
claimed, prepare the ground for armed conflict and
oppression, and lasting peace can never be achieved until
they are confronted and overcome. As humanists seeking
to cultivate our personal and collective ethical lives, we
might be well served by taking another look at the seeds
we hope not to plant. A sermon discussion will follow
this assembly.
Failure to Attribute
November 11, 2007
The pollsters tell us that identified atheists are one of the most unpopular and mistrusted groups in our culture. I want to suggest that this perception is something more complex than mere prejudice or adamant orthodoxy; it lifts up a genuine moral conundrum " of which Michael Vick is only the latest casualty. Developmental psychology and artificial intelligence may help us throw some light on how we might improve our public image.
Wisdom of the Tender Heart
November 4, 2007
The tradition of Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead) calls upon us to confront the reality of death as a constant companion in the course of our everyday lives, and urges us to remain in relationship with the community of the dead whose memories continue to influence us. In a culture that demands constant emotional fortitude and resilience, how can we learn to cherish what loss, grief, and memory have to teach us? The FUS Chorus and Orchestra will enrich our reflections with another superb musical requiem.
Hungers of the Spirit
October 28, 2007
“The whole of nature,” wrote the English author William Ralph Inge, “is a conjugation of the verb to eat, in the active and passive.” Like every other creature on earth, humans take part in a food chain, and our place in that food chain, or web, determines to a considerable extent what kind of creature we are. It has been suggested that a creature that could conceive of eating anything (including, notably, other humans) stands in particular need of ethical rules, manners, and ritual. We are not only what we eat, but how we eat, too. Shelley Schreffler, winner of the 2007 Service Auction sermon topic, has asked me to consider Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, and the function of eating as an expression of the human condition. A sermon discussion will take place in the Dietrich Room following this Assembly.
Now is the Time
October 14, 2007
In focus groups, surveys and roundtable discussions over the past several years, thousands of Unitarian Universalists have told the UUA that the most important role of the Association is to “Help us grow!” Some see this as a moment of opportunity, others as a crucial turning point. Almost all agree that now is the time to raise funds and spend them strategically to strengthen our movement. In response, the UUA has launched a five-year comprehensive fundraising campaign to generate $20 million in immediate resources and $30 million in legacy covenants. In the words of W.E.B. DuBois, “It is today that our best work can be done.” Come learn about and celebrate the work of the UUA as a community of congregations, and help our Society generously demonstrate that Humanists still own a significant piece of the action.
What Next?
September 30, 2007
As I begin my tenth year as senior minister at FUS, our most recent five-year plan has run its course, and some of the most obvious issues of finances and our physical plant have been successfully addressed. Where, now, should our energy as a congregation be focused? With help from members of the Strategic Planning Committee, we will look at some of the directions our future together might take. A conversation with the Trustees will follow the Assembly.
Not Past Our Understanding
September 16, 2007
Both inner spiritual peace and international political peace are identified as desirable in almost every religious and philosophical tradition, yet neither individually nor collectively have most people actually achieved them. Is peace really something that in its essence “passes understanding,” and must come as a gift, or is it something we can work for, with reason and history to guide us? What is the role of the human spirit in that quest, especially in a time of war like this? We will celebrate the upcoming United Nations International Day of Peace, and the Monthly Social Justice Collection gathered today will be directed to the PEACE Foundation, http://www.citypeace.org (See Social Action p. 9 for more information.).