Unitarian Universalist Congregation East

2009 December 6

Sue C shared lots of important information about how to keep safe and healthy when the doctor puts you in the hospital.  Her notes are printed in today’s bulletin.

Sue’s sister, Joan, informed us about compasionate care giving.  It is important that someone watch out for you when you are confined to a hospital bed.  Beyond keeping an eye on hospital care, Joan also shared the importance of how to care for your loved one or friend.  It turns out that there are lots of ways to do that, and not all of them are obvious.  Be patient.  Listen.

An Important Message From Thich Nhat Hanh

Speaking today: Sue Crowley

Prelude: “Los Peces en el Rio“, Christmas Live, Mannheim Steamroller.

Bell Tone / Chalice Lighting

Opening Words p. 615 / Welcome

Song, “Christmas Canon” Christmas Attic, By Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Announcements

Joys, Concerns, Birthdays

Offeratory, “Adoramus, Te Christ,” From Celebrate the Seasons.

Singing, I Heard the Bells, p. 240

Responsive Reading: #616

Topic: An Important Message From Thich Nhat Hanh

Speaker: Sue Crowley

Comments / Discussion

Reading of the Covenant

Postlude: “Carol of the Bells” Celebrate the Seasons

*** Marco Valdez assisted Today

Social Time, following the service.

Thich Nhat Hanh is one of the best known and most respected Zen master in the world today. He is a poet, peace and human rights activist.

In 1966 Thay (meaning teacher as he prefers to be called) made the case for peace to federal and Pentagon officials. He persuaded Martin Luther King, Jr. to oppose the Vietnam War publicly and so helped to galvanize the peace movement.

In 1982 he founded Plum Village, a Buddhist community in exile in France where he continues to alleviate suffering of refugees, boat people, political prisoners and the hungry. He has written Cultivating the Mind of Love, Peace in Every Step, Being Peace, Living Buddha Living Christ, The Miracle of Mindfulness and many others.

Thich Nhat Hanh’s key teaching is that through mindfulness, we can learn to live in the present moment instead of the past and in the future.

Dwelling in the present moment is, according to Nhat Hanh, the only way to truly develop peace, both in one’ss self and in the world.

We affirm and promote: the goal of the world community with peace, liberty and justice for all.

Still – All that is Worthy of Celebration

Chime: Call to Stillness

Prelude: The Valley, by Jane Siberry, sung by K.D. Lang.

Lighting the Chalice in Silence
Our Covenant, from one voice
Welcoming Message, from one voice
Our Mission Statement, from one voice

Reading: Winter’s Harvest by Jane Elsdon

Today’s Service, Still – All that is Worthy of Celebration presented by Jennifer Bosveld, poet and founder of the UU Poets Cooperative, president of Pudding House Publications.

including:

Look at All You Can Trust, by Phyllis Stowel
To Choose, by Jennifer Bosveld
Your Participation, on Stillness
Testimony, by Rebecca Baggett

Closing Music Holy Now, by Peter Mayer, UU minister

Religion and Secular Humanism

Speaker: Roger Markum.

There are seven principles which Unitarian Universalist congregations afform and promote:

The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations and in society at large;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Boiling Frogs? What’s that got to do with Armistice Day? – John Martin

Jedediah – Eliza Gilkyson

Boiling Frogs: Thoughts on Armistice Day