Podcast: Thomas Paine UU Fellowship

Hold Fast to Dreams

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Hold Fast to Dreams
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Beloved Community, the aim of the freedom movement, was shaped by those who dared to imagine themselves in the grip of a Grand Purpose. They held fast to this dream despite periods of disappointment, depression and dangerous opposition. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance and upcoming presidential inauguration provide a context to reflect on our own dreams for humankind … Continue reading Hold Fast to Dreams

I’d be Startin’ Anew

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
I'd be Startin' Anew
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In the song, “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free,” is this memorable verse: “I wish I could do all the things I can do. Though I’m way overdue, I’d be startin’ anew.” As we launch this new year, we may truly want to be “startin’ anew” and, at the same … Continue reading I’d be Startin’ Anew

Twelfth Night: Festivity, Fantasy and Foolishness on the Path to Wisdom

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Twelfth Night: Festivity, Fantasy and Foolishness on the Path to Wisdom
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Observance of Twelfth Night, like observance of Winter Solstice, pre-dates the Christian Era by thousands of years. Both observances were appropriated by and integrated into Christian belief and practice. In the Christian tradition, Twelfth Night marks the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, a day commemorating the viewing by the three Wise Men (Magi) … Continue reading Twelfth Night: Festivity, Fantasy and Foolishness on the Path to Wisdom

Be Still

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Be Still
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We tend to define ourselves and our lives by all the things we do. (And certainly, there is much that needs doing.) But the dark and quiet of winter invite us to an alternative experience. Even as we feel the pull toward action, we can remember and value its  necessary counterpoint: stillness. Back by popular demand, Unitarian Universalist minister … Continue reading Be Still

Oh, Yes We Will! Oh, Holy Night: A Christmas Eve Multi-generational Candlelight Service

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Oh, Yes We Will! Oh, Holy Night: A Christmas Eve Multi-generational Candlelight Service
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Nothing can keep us from celebrating our Christmas Candlelight service this year! Sure, we cannot gather together in our building—yet we WILL gather. Sure, we cannot hear our sanctuary fill with each other’s voices, but we WILL sing. Sure, we cannot pass candlelight from one person to another, but we WILL light candles. Join us … Continue reading Oh, Yes We Will! Oh, Holy Night: A Christmas Eve Multi-generational Candlelight Service

Celebrate the Solstice!

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Celebrate the Solstice!
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Solstice is the longest night of the year, after which days grow longer as we progress toward the Spring Equinox. We’ll celebrate the return of the light with music, stories, and poetry. Dress for the occasion—if possible, wear white, red, and green clothes for the service, including a headband of greenery and holly berries. Let’s … Continue reading Celebrate the Solstice!

Turned Outside In: Spiritual Silence for Saints and the Rest of Us

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Turned Outside In: Spiritual Silence for Saints and the Rest of Us
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Too often we think that silence is a spiritual practice meant for those living in cloisters or those of us who go on the occasional silent retreat. But, as English Quaker William Littleboy reminds us, “God is above all the God of the normal. In the common facts and circumstances of life, [the Divine] draws … Continue reading Turned Outside In: Spiritual Silence for Saints and the Rest of Us

In Stillness and Perseverance is Our Power

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
In Stillness and Perseverance is Our Power
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Several religious traditions teach us the power of stillness. Yet, for many of us, stillness seems ethereal and impractical. One author asks the question, “How different would the world look if people spent as much time listening to their conscience as they did to the chattering broadcasts? If they could respond to the calls of … Continue reading In Stillness and Perseverance is Our Power

Let UUs All Be Grateful…for Healers

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Let UUs All Be Grateful...for Healers
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Continuing in our Thanksgiving weekend tradition of extolling the spiritual practice of gratitude, this year we’ll extend special thanks to people who’ve been a healing presence in our lives. Members and friends of our faith community are invited to submit the name of a person or persons who helped them heal from significant physical, emotional, … Continue reading Let UUs All Be Grateful…for Healers

What are the Paths of Healing?

Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
Thomas Paine UU Fellowship
What are the Paths of Healing?
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Healing comes to us in many ways. And there are many paths to healing. For example, the practice of “slow medicine” lures us into a deeper inquiry into our life as a whole. Sacred stories invite us into new ways of seeing and being. Music evokes in us its healing power. Can we be part … Continue reading What are the Paths of Healing?