Podcast: Thomas Paine UU Fellowship

The Equinox and a Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
The Equinox and a Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning
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Growing up in New England and Pennsylvania, fall was always my favorite season:  harvest time; the wild colors of the leaves; the crisp air. It came around every year, just as the sun rose and set every day and the moon waxed and waned every four weeks. These cycles are comforting, and for many that … Continue reading The Equinox and a Free and Responsible Search for Truth and Meaning

It’s Only Impossible Until It’s Not

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
It's Only Impossible Until It's Not
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September’s Soul Matter theme is Embracing Possibility. In keeping with that theme, and with the spirit of the Jewish High Holy Days, we’ll explore possibilities for reconciliation and revitalization. This will be our second hybrid service, with limited seating in the Sanctuary for vaccinated, masked members and friends. Due to continuing cautions during the COVID … Continue reading It’s Only Impossible Until It’s Not

Labor Day – A Celebration of Labor

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Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Labor Day - A Celebration of Labor
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Bonnie Neiman, Uniserve Representative for the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association, will be our guest speaker. (She is also the sister of TPUUF member Anne Rostosky.) In her role with PSEA, Bonnie represents teachers, support staff, and even health care workers. She will talk about the contributions that … Continue reading Labor Day – A Celebration of Labor

Jericho’s Walls

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Jericho's Walls
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Despite poet Robert Frost’s pronouncement, “Something there is that doesn’t love a wall,/ That wants it down,” we do persist in building walls, within and without. UU Troubadour, Mike Holliday, returns to our pulpit to explore with us the walls we build in our society and within ourselves and what it takes to bring them … Continue reading Jericho’s Walls

Toward a Culture of Peace

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Toward a Culture of Peace
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Jim Scott suggests that Unitarian Universalists could adopt a “Ninth Principle” promoting non-violent resolution of conflict. Beyond issues involving interpersonal behavior, Jim suggests three steps toward peaceful conflict resolution: gaining a greater perspective on our privilege, healing our own wounds, and reclaiming our creative voices to heal the world. In our service this morning, he’ll … Continue reading Toward a Culture of Peace

Relentless Gifts

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Relentless Gifts
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Don’t we often recognize many of the lessons and gifts of our life retrospectively? When we’re experiencing a particular challenge, aren’t we often anxious to get through it or over it as quickly as possible? Poet and author David Whyte writes that we are often drawn to “making false choices: living only in the past, … Continue reading Relentless Gifts

Teachable Moments

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Teachable Moments
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The Tao Te Ching declares, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” This Sunday, we’ll reflect upon “teachable moments” in our own lives. What is it about those moments that made us ready to learn? And what was it about us that made us open to learning? Unitarian Universalists are part of the … Continue reading Teachable Moments

Thomas Paine’s Foundational Principle of Religion and Government: Justice

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Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine's Foundational Principle of Religion and Government: Justice
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On this Independence Day 2021, Gary Berton will enlighten us on Enlightenment icon (and our Fellowship’s namesake), Thomas Paine, whose writings inspired the Declaration of Independence and the American Revolution. Paine’s first principles are few, but he held one, Justice, as a “foundational” principle because it combines the essence of the others. A letter from … Continue reading Thomas Paine’s Foundational Principle of Religion and Government: Justice

Improvising Even When We Don’t Have To

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Improvising Even When We Don't Have To
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For over a year, we have had to improvise in our daily lives, our work lives, and the life of our Congregation. In the process, we may have discovered some improvisational capacities that we never knew we had. It has been a difficult year (to say the least). Stephen Nachmanovitch’s The Art of Is gives us … Continue reading Improvising Even When We Don’t Have To

Let It Grow: Flower Communion & Faith Development Sunday

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Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Let It Grow: Flower Communion & Faith Development Sunday
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The title for this multi-generational service comes from a musical, The Lorax, written in part by Dr. Seuss. We recognize on this Sunday that Unitarian Universalism is a path committed to ongoing personal and spiritual growth. Our Unitarian forebears were committed to what they called “self-culture” that came from an understanding that we can participate … Continue reading Let It Grow: Flower Communion & Faith Development Sunday