This was particularly unfortunate because many (most?) of the non-Christian religions were (are?) closely associated with nature and the natural world.  In the duality paradigm, Christians (emphasis in the spiritual world) = “good” and NonChristians (emphasis in the natural world)  = “evil.”  When Christians own the best weaponry, this is not going to turn out well for the religions who glorify the natural world.  Twas ever thus… at least since the 17th century.

Shawn told us about the modern Druidism movement.  It is way more interesting than you ever thought.  Their worship days are all tied to the seasons and the cycle of the year is the cycle of life.

Becca told us about the modern Eco-spiritual movement.  Much of which is a movement to save our precious little planet from the destruction of it by those who do not appreciate the spiritual world.  (one bit of hope, however, springs from the evangelical movement which is beginning to take note of the problem presented by God… who encouraged humanity to assert dominion over the created world, which probably did not include destroying it.

Thurmon talked to us about native American spirituality.  Native Americans have the distinction of practicing the only set of religions that the United States Government has ever declared to be outlawed.  It turns out that Americans are very bad at reading the Constitution.  George W. Bush tried to get the armed forces to declare Wicca as a non-religion, but the courts intervened.  The courts declared that Christians do not get to define other people’s religion as an evil non-religion.  I guess someone does know how to read the Constitution after all.

Imbolc is being celebrated by the Three Cranes Grove this afternoon.  See http://www.threecranes.org/ for details.

Peace,

Rick

Elizabeth told us about Evangeline Booth and the founding of the Salvation Army.  Booth arranged for the Salvationists to accompany the U.S. Troops into France in WWI.  They provided the army with much needed care, comfort, food and even entertainment… which the War Department had not seen fit to provide.  Clara Barton founded the Red Cross.  She started by caring for the wounded in the American Civil War.  Interestingly, she never took a side in any debate on politics or morality.  She saw suffering, and she tried to relieve suffering, whether brought on by war or by human error or deficiency.

Betty told us about John Lennon and his struggle to bring the idea of peace to the world.  She read several rememberances  about John Lennon from some very famous people.

The Three Cranes Grove is celebrating Imbolc on Jan 29 at Blacklick Park.  Come at 5:30 with Ceremony at 6:30.  They are at the heated shelter so don’t worry about the weather.

Next Saturday is the third Saturday (Jan 21) and that means our oun pot luck will be happening at the church.  It is National Hug Day, so that is the theme.

Shawn’s birthday is Saturday.  Jan’s birthday is the 17th.

Lars is walking now… hold on to your hats.

For those who have noticed my dwindling dedication to prompt correspondence, I apologize for my absence from posting News and Notes for each Sunday service.  I shall rededicate myself to timely publication of the chronicle.

This Sunday, we spent with personal rededication to the principles of the Unitarian Universalist.  Jim played a video that featured several prominent UU’s of the past and present.  There were a couple of early presidents of the United States who professed to be either Unitarian or Universalist (it is unlikely for anyone to be nominated for President today without much soul searching over religious convictions.)  Jim had a presentation wherein many people expressed dedication to UU principles.  After that, many of us in the congregation spoke of our own decisions to join in with this particular congregation.

Announcements:  The Sierra club sent us a thank-you for participation in their Bike to the Future event last fall.  They would also like our help in future events such as their campaign to tell ODOT  that Ohio needs more Transportation options. 

Betty announced that she is still seeking volunteers for bringing refreshments to share after each Sunday Service.

Please remember to sign up for the Kroger Community Rewards Program.www.krogercommunityrewards.com Our organization number is 80237

By the way, I recently read that over half of all UU congregations consist of fewer than 100 citizens.  So, although we are small, we are not so much the anomaly that those in the Meadeville district would have us believe.   Also, according to the latest treasurer’s report, (what? You haven’t been reading the treasurer’s report?) we are pretty much right on our budget target for the year.  We never seem to be so far ahead as to get comfortable, nor so far behind as to become panicky. 

Welcome to Winter in Central Ohio.

Rick

http://www.edwardsfuneralservice.com/sitemaker/sites/Edward2/obit.cgi?user=329982denBroeder

Shirley had been planning a presentation on the life of Lydia Francis Child (1802-1880) so we did that today in her honor.   She was an abolutionist, women’s rights activist, author, and a Unitarian.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia_Child

In other news;  Please register to vote.  Last night’s pot luck was great, and special thanks to Elizabeth and Deepa for helping out.  Jim Crowley came over to rescue Thurmon’s virus infected computer, so Thurmon made a special donation to the church in his honor.  We are all Thankful for Jim’s assistance and we don’t stop to tell him often enough.  We lit a candle for Barbara, and one for Charlotte who has lost her job to a RIFF.  We also lit a candle for Gordon who is attending his nephew’s funeral this weekend.

If there is anything you would like to learn more about and you think it would make a nice topic for us all, you can take that idea to David Soliday and he will consider taking it on as a sunday sermon.

For a children’s story today, we played a video of  the “Over the River and Through the Woods” song.  The original poem was written by:  Lydia Francis Child.

Rick

Barbara is out of the hospital and is feeling better.  She is recovering at her home.  We lit candles for peace in the UK, people killed and injured in Indianapolis last night.  We lit one for the people in Somalia and for Elizabeth’s niece.  The three cranes group performed a Lughnasa at the Dublin Irish Music festival and drew 350 people….

There will be a pot luck after the service on Sep 28.  September 24 is a day in Columbus to move beyond fossil fuels.  There is an 8 mile bike ride leaving from Columbus, Franklin Park Conservatory at noon.  September 24 is also the day that David Soliday will be hosting Earth Dance at the Ohio Wesleyan college in Delaware (to start at 4PM).

The board authorized some picnic tables for the back yard.

Peace, Rick

David Spangler writes that the art of the blessing has an improvisational element.  We must

1. be mindful of the occasion,

2. Idenify yourself as the blessor.

3. Be open to alligning yourself with the blessee.

4. Inhabit the space.

5. perform the act of blessing.

In our water blessing, everyone took turns blessing the water and, if you care to, add a comment about our relationship with water.  Peace, rememberance of childhood, connectedness, bringer of wealth, trouble, and calm, precious giver of life, nourisher of trees, nourisher of the land a cure for the ills of the spirit, and silence.

There is a pot luck next Saturday night, July 16 with a red white and blue theme.  Betty said Cathy is providing a movie but Cathy wasn’t there today to defend herself from the charge.  The 350 day schedule is firming up for the fall.  Also, the Three Cranes Druids have been asked to perform a religious service at the Dublin Irish Festival on Sunday morning.  That will be Sunday Aug 7 at 10:00 am.

After the service on Sunday August 28 we are having a picnic.  Warren Wolfe is the speaker that day.

Remember to re-register your kroger card.  The number is 80237.

Yours, Rick

Megan lead off with an explanation of Anger.  Megan is an art therapist by way of occupation and she helps people through their anger using art.  She pointed out that anger can be controlled or uncontrolled.  The uncontrolled sort is often characterized as wrath as it turns violent.  However deadly it may be, there is an intrinsic value to anger and it is often suppressed in very unhealthy ways.  But anger can be appropriately channeled and it is considered a functional necessity for survival.  If you or a loved one are attacked, anger can help channel a very appropriate response.  Nevertheless, the Catholic church defines anger as the power of vengeance which is sinful, the Buddhists consider it one of the 5 hindrances and the Judaic tradition holds that  

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city (Proverbs 16:32)

Thurman said Envy is characterized by an insatiable desire for things not material.  When you perceive something lacking in yourself and you wish to deprive someone else of it, then envy is destructive… except when you are trying to evoke those thoughts in others when you are trying to show off your new girlfriend or boyfriend.

Madeline said Gluttony depends on your perspective.  Poor people eating a lot are gluttonous.  Rich people eating a lot are living well.

Matt said Greed is having unmet needs that you are trying to satisfy.  How much is enough?  What is greed in the service of others.  That is to say what if you are trying to feed a family or a community? 

Gordon said Lust is pleasure, eager appetite, desire or excessive desire.  It seems to have negative connotations when the church is talking about it but who has not felt that way sometimes?  If pursuit of it injures yourself or others, then perhaps it is bad, but most of the time society claims that it is injurious to the community the real reason is that society just doesn’t approve of it.

John talked about Pride.  He said that pride is the worst because in encompasses all the other deadly sins. 

Jim and Jan together demonstrated Sloth. The church likes to define it as the failure to use ones talents and gifts.  It is a sin of omission against the community.  The community has a funny way of extracting vengeance against its members who do not work had and donate a good part of their labor to the well being of the church.

IN other news.  The Potluck is NEXT Saturday folks.  Don’t miss it.  On June 13 Teresa Mills, director of the Buckeye Environmental Networkwill be speaking about Fracking in the land below Ohio.  July 1 will be Pyropaloosaat Sean’s house… all are invited. The spelling checker does not like pyropaloosa so we shall have to refer to it as amateur pyrotechnics on steroids.

Rick

To what extent do we get to choose our own calling?  George Bailey has big plans to see the world and to build things.  But his aspirations weren’t enough to keep him from saving the town in its hour of need.  He, aided and abetted by his new wife, Mary, save the town from ruining the “Building and Loan” in a bank panic and he never does get out into the world to make his mark.  He spends his life saving the saving the town through running the Building and Loan even though his aspiration was to leave and build things somewhere else.

There is a theory called an Acorn theory that says we are born with a seed inside of us that gives us the ability to become what we are to become.  This is a key element of Budist, Mormon and Hindu thought… that we have a destiny that we must nurture and embrace.  But, contrary to that,  it is said that a man is born many men, but dies only one (attributed to Martin Heidegger.)

Kathy introduced another theory that the soul alters aspirations and achievements, and another that our circumstances introduce limitations.  Winston Churchill was sick as a child, for example, and he gained his deep understanding of people through the books he read as a child.  In George Bailey’s case, his father dies and there is no one to take over the Building and Loan if George does not do it.

Often we do not like limitations being put on us, but often the limitation is a blessing. You may know someone with lots of talent that never settles down to accomplishing things because they are always chasing off in another direction.  Or as Harry Nillson put it when he described the troubles of Oblio, the pointless child… a point in every direction is the same as no point at all.

Your calling is not necessarily your vocation.  The final 10 minutes of the final Oprah show was devoted to Oprah Winfrey imploring everyone to take their own individual point of light and use it to illuminate their individual piece of the world.  Your point of light may be tied to your job, but it is just as likely that your calling is what happens in your life when you are occupied doing something else.

“The truth is that when we are summoned, it is not because we are great or special, but because we can give of ourselves to the norld in some way.” – David Spangler

Joys concerns, and announcements:  The new parking lot should be going in this week.  Next Saturday is John Martin’s ordination.  The ceremony will happen at 2PM June 4 in Belleville.   John’s will be speaking to our congregation on Sunday under the topic:  The Gospel according to John.   Gordon and Elizabeth want to start a walking group in Blacklick Park on Sunday afternoons.

The children’s story was “The Pea Blossom.”  It is about a pea that does not get to chose its destiny, but is happy because it was open to the possibilities of the universe.

As always,

Rick