UUs speak up for peace

During the month of March the UUA is trying to get 250 of its congregations to join with other UUA churches in what they call the March To Peace.

During the month of March we invite Unitarian Universalist congregations to
join together in an unprecedented March to Peace. As we mark the 5th
anniversary of the Iraq war, we hope to register the commitment of 250 of
our congregations, nearly 25%, to bring peace into their worship and their
worship into the world.

To learn more, go the UUA Social Justice web site by clicking here.

You're a Uni - what?????

429th anniversary of the Edict of Torda - the beginning of Unitarian Universalism

Yesterday, 02/28/08 was the 429th anniversay if King Sigismund's Edict of Torda in 1579 which some historians cite as the beginning of Unitarianism. John Ford published a good article on his blog, Monkey Mind, yesterday about this anniversary. If you are interested in UU history you can read John Ford's short article by going to his blog by clicking here.

Today is the anniversary of King John Sigismund's
Edict of Torda in 1579. It established the right of ministers to preach the
gospel as they best understood it, and, as well, for congregants to reserve
their own opinions in these matters. In contemporary Unitarian Universalism (as
in one or two other places) this has come to be called "freedom of the pulpit"
and "freedom of the pew."

Easter - Making Peace With Jesus

How does a Unitarian Universalist deal with Easter? Having been raised a Roman Catholic, the season of lent leading up to Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter was a season full of sacrifice, penance, reflection, prayer, and finally celebration and triumph. If we do not believe in bodily resurrection are there other lessons we could learn from the story? Rev. Sam Trumbore, a Unitarian Universalist minister in Albany, NY, reflects on the meaning of Easter on his blog in an article entitled, "Making Peace With Jesus."

Easter is one of the hardest holidays for Unitarian Universalist
ministers. The holiday is about something most Unitarian Universalists
don’t believe in. Most of us don’t believe in bodily resurrection,
especially after being dead for three days. The only way I could believe
it would be if he wasn’t really dead when they took him down from the
cross. But if that were the case, then it wouldn’t be resurrection would
it?

This creates a problem when this holiday comes around, as it will March
23rd this year. In a culturally Christian society, the average non-Unitarian
Universalist will walk into our Easter service with expectations that we will
not meet. At the same time, I don’t particularly want to offend them by
debunking the story each year. If we are going to accept the laws of
physics, chemistry and biology, the dead stay dead. There just isn’t much
room for this kind of supernaturalism.

Of course, Easter doesn’t have to be about Jesus since it was grafted
onto the Pagan holiday of fertility and new life that comes with spring.
The egg, bunny and flower approach to Easter that celebrates the cycles of the
seasons satisfies many Unitarian Universalists.

The egg, bunny and flower approach doesn’t fully satisfy me because
there are important truths about the Passion narrative that don’t receive the
appreciation they are due. If we are willing to step away from literalism,
the “folktale” of Jesus’ death and resurrection can be rich with meaning, even
for the most hard-boiled egg of an atheist.

To read Rev. Trumbore's whole post click here.

Rev. Don Reidell celebrates 30 years of faithful service to PMUC on March 16, 2008

Rev. Don Reidell has faithfully served Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion, NY for 30 years!

Gather with us to honor him at a brunch in his honor at Zambistros, 408 Main Street, Medina, NY after the service at PUMC on Sunday, March 16, 2008.

Don will be leading the service that day and then go to Zambistros after the service. There will be no coffee after the service.

We can't play god. A sermon by Scott Tayler

Scott Tayler, a Co-Minister of the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, NY, gave a very interesting sermon on February, 3, 2008, entitled "The Healing Power of 'We Can't'".

Reverned Tayler talks about his Mennonite roots of nonviolence and his attempt to square this with American Exceptionalism which is the American belief that we are divinely ordained to save the world. This hubris leads to an unconscious belief that we are God. To what extent does our nationalism become idolotry? Rev. Tayler then goes on to express a concern about America's survivor guilt, our sense of compassion of being responsible for the negative consequences of what we have set in motion.

I become quite impressed with the quality of Unitarian Universalist preaching about issues that affect our lives. I highly recommend Scott's sermon to you. It lasts about 20 minutes and you can listen on line or download the sermon to an MP3 player by going to the Digg site by clicking here.

Your healing role in your immediate life and in the world

Kaaren Anderson, Co-Minister at the First Unitarian Church in Rochester, NY with her husband Scott Tayler, gave a wonderful sermon last Sunday, 02/24/08, entitled "Do We Have A Healing Message?" Kaaren points out that the reputation of UUs is to be thinkers, intellectuals, people who like to talk and question. Outsiders more rarely think of UUs as healers. However, Kaaren points out that we all have a healing role to play in our immediate lives and in the world. Her sermon is well worth listening to and you can listen on-line or download it from the Digg web site by clicking here.

Only 3 in a thousand Americans say they are Unitarian Universalists

Statistics have been released by Pew Research on the denominational affiliation of Americans. It appears that only. 0.3 percent Americans identify themselves as Unitarian Universalists, that's 3 in a thousand. You can read more about this topic at the Philocrites web site.

Good overview of Unitarian Universalism on Street Prophets web site

Last Thursday, 02/21/08, the Web Site Street Prophets posted an overview of Unitarian Universalism. It is worth reading and you can go to the site by clicking here.

Here is a beginning snippet from the post:

UUism is a non-creedal, non-doctrinal religion. It is values-based, focused
around the Seven Principles:
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;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic
process within 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.

Facing death, facing life, bearing the light, a sermon by Galen Guengerich

Galen Guengerich preached a wonderful sermon on February 10, 2008 at All Soul's Unitarian Church in New York City entitled, "To Bear The Light."

Rev. Guengerich reflects on Forrest Church's life and impending death and talks about the meaning of life. It is one of the best sermons I have heard in a long time. I highly recommend it to you.

Here is a brief snippet of Rev. Guengerich's sermon:

If you find yourself in trouble this morning, reach out. Do the same if you see
someone else having a hard time. We depend on those around us, and they in turn
depend on us. Offer a shoulder to cry on, or an attentive ear to listen.
By the way, if something needs to be put right in your life or in one of your
relationships, take care of it now. This should go without saying, but I’ll
remind us anyway. Today is the day we are given to put things right.

You can listen to it on-line or download a MP3 by going to the Digg web site by clicking here.

You can read the sermon by going to the All Soul's Church web site and downloading a PDF file by clicking here.

On whose authority to do we believe what we believe? A sermon by Rev. Michael Schuler

Rev. Michael Schuler gave a great sermon on February 10, 2008 at the First Unitarian Society of Madison, Wisconsin on the topic of authority. Here is a brief description of his sermon from the First Unitarian Society web site:

"On Whose Authority?” by Michael A. Schuler, Parish Minister presented
February 10, 2008Religions vary widely over the question of authority: whose
words, teachings and instructions, and which bodies of doctrine are
followers obliged to heed? The Buddha famously urged seekers to “be lamps
unto themselves.” Hierarchical religions, on the other hand, vest
significant authority in a small council of elders (Mormonism) or a single
figurehead (Roman Catholicism). Although Unitarian Universalists are often
said to have “authority problems,” there are sources to which we, too,
appeal.

You can listen or download an MP3 or read a PDF of the sermon by going to the First Unitarian Society Web Site by clicking here.

Pot Luck Supper March 3, 6:30 PM

There will be a potluck supper at Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, 10 Park Street in Albion, NY, on Monday, March 3, 2008 at 6:30 PM. Everyone is welcome members, friends, newcomers. There is no program other than good food and good fellowship. Hope to see you there!

Why did the Unitarian Unversalist cross the road?

Where did that man get religion?

At one Sunday morning service, in of the very big Unitarian churches in Boston, a man was making a ruckus in the back pew. After every sentence the minister spoke, he would shout, "Amen! Halleluia!"

One of the ushers approached the man and spoke to him discreetly. "Sir, uh, we just don't do things like that here."

"But I got religion!"

"Well, you certainly didn't get it here."

God is not a Republican or a Democrat nor a Catholic or a Jew

As Unitarian Universalists we affirm and promote the acceptance of one another and the encouragement of spiritual growth in our congregations. As Francis David, a sixteenth century forbearer of Unitarianism said, we don't have to think alike to love alike.

With this in mind I was listening today to Marlin Lavanhar's sermon given on February 17 which raises the question of whether the purpose of religion is to bring us together or split us apart? Rev. Lavanhar makes the point that when religion and politics are mixed neither religion nor the government is well served. In this primary season as we enter the Presidential campaign, it would do us well as Americans to keep Rev. Lavanhar's message in mind. I highly recommend that you listen to his sermon.

Marlin Lavanhar, the Senior Minister at All Soul's Unitarian Church in Tulsa, OK gave a wonderful sermon on February 17, 2008 entitled "Why God Is Not A Democrat". Here is a snippet describing the sermon:

Last week, during Super Tuesday, my son came home from first grade asking
questions about the difference between Democrats and Republicans. At first I was
pleased to see that my son was beginning to take an interest in American public
life. I began by asking what he knew. He explained that he had learned from his
friend that Democrats don't believe in the Bible. Initially, I smiled and
thought it was a cute story about some first graders and their interpretation of
American politics and religion. Then, it came to me that this is what a lot of
adults actually think too. When any religion becomes identified with a
particular political party, that religion compromises its purpose, weakens its
witness and becomes idolatrous. In this protracted primary season it can do us
some good to think about the role of religion in American public life.

You can listen to the sermon (about 25 minutes) on line or download it. Click here to go to the Digg web page where the sermon is located.

Who are Unitarian Universalists?

Forrest Church is dying

Dr. Forrest Church gave a moving sermon at All Soul's Unitarian Church in New York City on February 3, 2008. He is dying from cancer. His sermon entitled Love and Death is well worth listening too. You can listen on line or download it from the Digg web site by clicking here.

Forrest, along with John Buehrens wrote the book, A Chosen Faith: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalism.

The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion, NY

The Pullman Memorial Universalist Church in Albion, NY has a web site created, developed, and maintained by Alan Nugent. You can visit the web site at this address. http://www.pmuc.org/

Which religion is best for you?

Wonder what religion best matches your personality and beliefs? Take the survey on Beliefnet.com and see which religion you might be matched with. Click on the link

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/76/story_7665_1.html

I was raised Roman Catholic and I found out I am best suited for the Unitarian Universalist faith and least suited for the Roman Catholic. Taking this quiz was quite an eye opener for me. Give it a try.

God is too big for any one religion

good words

Hold fast to dreams
for if dreams die
life is a broken-winged bird
that cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams
for when dreams go
life is a barren field
frozen with snow.

Langston Hughes

PMUC's road to becoming a Welcoming Congregation

Pullman Memorial Universalist Church was approached last summer by Soulforce to meet with Assemblyman Stephen Hawley to discuss marriage equality legislation in New York State. The PUMC board passed the following resolution:

Resolution of the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church

Whereas the first amendment of the constitution of the United States states that the government should make no law respecting the establishment of a religion;

And whereas States, in carrying out their civil responsibilities see fit to license people to marry;

And whereas the States’ license to marry does not compel or imply any religious endorsement but sanctions marriage as a civil institution;

And whereas the State should not discriminate against any of its citizens but treat them as equal under the law;

And whereas the State has a vested interest in promoting marriage as a stable foundation for a healthy society sanctioning rights and responsibilities of committed couples and their children;

And whereas the first principle of Unitarian Universalism calls for the respect of the “inherent worth and dignity of every person”;

And whereas the Unitarian Universalist Association resolved at it General Assembly in 1996 to urge its member congregations “to proclaim the worth of marriage between any two committed persons and to make this position known in their home communities”;

And whereas the UUA Board of Trustees and the UU Ministers Association have voted their support for the right to marry for same-sex couples;


Therefore, the Board of Pullman Memorial Universalist Church resolves to publicly support same sex marriage in New York State, in other states in the United States, and in other countries around the world.


Janice Jurgens, Rene Schlasil, Co- Presidents
President, Board of Pullman Memorial Universalist Church, Albion, NY

Dated: 07/15/07

In the fall, a welcoming congregation study group under the facilitation of Mark Dibelka, Bonnie Beiswenger, and Lauretta Young has been meeting twice a month to discuss with interested congregants what it means to be a Welcoming Congregation. For more information about the program of Welcoming Congregations go the the Unitarian Universalist web site here.

I hope that this spring, the PMUC board will vote to make PMUC a welcoming congregation.

Who is the God you don't believe in?

"I make the same point to those who tell me, 'I don't believe in God.' 'Tell me about the God that you don't believe in,' I often reply. 'The chances are that I don't believe in "Him" either.'"

John Buehrens, Former President of Unitarian Universalist Association

Nader is only Presidential candidate who agrees with UU position on military spending

While military spending has escalated in recent years and Dwight D. Eisenhower warned Americans in the 50s about the danger of the military/industrial complex, none of the candidates are seriously discussing this issue and all of them except Ralph Nader seem to favor military spending at record levels according to an article published on 02/21/08 on the Foreign Policy in Focus web site. Here is a snippet from that article:

One issue that will not be discussed in tonight's presidential debate between
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama is our nation's burgeoning military budget.
Earlier this month, the Bush administration announced a proposed military budget
of $614 billion, not counting the full cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This represents the highest level of spending since World War II, even though
our most dangerous adversary is a dispersed terrorist network measured in the
tens of thousands, not a nuclear-armed Soviet Union whose armed forces were
measured in the millions. If Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs
of Staff Chairman Michael Mullen have their way, these massive levels of
spending will continue even after the end of the war in Iraq, with a "floor" on
military spending of 4% of our Gross Domestic Product. Not only have the major
presidential candidates been largely silent on these record expenditures, but
they want to increase them. Barack Obama has said we will probably need to "bump
up" the military budget in a new administration, and both he and Hillary Clinton
have committed themselves to increasing the size of the armed forces by tens of
thousands of troops. On the Republican side of the aisle, John McCain and Mike
Huckabee are looking to spend even more than their Democratic counterparts.

To watch a 5 minute YouTube clip on Ralph Nader's position on the military budget click here. Ralph says that the military budget is not driven by defense considerations as much as by the corporate needs for profits obtained from selling weaponry to the U.S. government.

The Unitarian Universalist Association passed a resolution in 1979 encouraging congress to reduce our defense spending and reorder our national priorities.
The resolution says in part:

BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1979 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist
Association urges its members, churches and societies actively and persistently
to work for change in federal spending priorities; that such efforts include,
but not be limited to:
Establishment of workshops, seminars, and forums to
bring to public attention the disastrous consequences of ever-increasing defense
spending;
Organization of petition drives, letter-writing campaigns, etc.,
to the appropriate officials in the U.S. Congress and the administration; and
Where appropriate, direct non-violent political action; and
Our call
upon the citizens of all nations to work for a similar reordering of their
national priorities.

Link: Foreign Policy In Focus Dems: What about the Military Budget?.

Welcome to Chalicefire

Chalicefire is a blog devoted to thoughts and ideas about Unitarian Universalism. Comments are welcome on articles posted.