vm: UUA

This week we celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Among other things, those in the UUA affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. So may we be!

Mother’s Day Prayer

Let us open ourselves widely to Life, and share a few moments of quiet attention…   {silence}

We call upon the Hopi Earth-Mother, Tuuwaqatsi, and Cybele, the Magna Mater; we think of Parvati, primal Hindu goddess, mother even of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva; today, we honor the Green Man, and the Maiden and the Crone, and especially we celebrate the Mother; we call to mind the Venus of Willendorf, carved 25,000 years ago, and we celebrate the ancient and still-present human impulse to respect and honor the Mystery of Creation…

we name our gratitude to be alive today, and as well as we are; we are grateful to be gathered among these good people;

we llift up those joys & sorrows just mentioned, and those which remain in the silent sanctuaries of our hearts;

we note the death of Maurice Sendak; we desire compassion for all those affected by his loss;

with the Religious Institute, and its partners around the world, we observe a Rachel Sabbath: we note the hundreds of thousands of women and girls who die every year as a result of preventable complications of pregnancy and childbirth; we desire better maternal healthcare and universal access to family planning;

we desire an end to the “mommy wars” as we honor mothers who work outside of the home, and we honor mothers who stay with their children, and we honor those who do some of each;

we desire less judgment of *all* people and more compassionate acceptance of who we are and how we live;

We desire enough food, and shelter, and peace of mind for all beings this day; we pledge ourselves in pursuit of this goal. Praise for living.
So may we be.

vm: Eva Peron

Eva Peron

This week we celebrate the birthday of Eva Peron, who cautioned, “When the rich think about the poor, they have ~read more~

vm: Buddha

buddha_kamakura

This week, we celebrate the Buddha‘s birthday (at least, according to many East Asian calendars). The Buddha taught that hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love. So may ~read more~

general strike–creatively

strike_stop_at_nothing

The Occupy movement is calling for a General Strike: “no work no school no housework no shopping” on May 1, 2012. Natasha Lennard suggests that there are many ways to participate, even if you must work or go to school, etc., that day. Beyond the usual recommendations (MayDayNYC‘s “If you can’t strike call in sick. If you can’t call in sick hold a slow down.”), Lennard offers two basic goals: do not support the oligarchy, and express ~read more~

vm: Tito Puente

Tito_Puente

This week we celebrate the birthday of Tito Puente, who reminisced, “we would find ourselves someplace to play, and stay there for hours.” So may ~read more~

vm: Viola Liuzzo

Viola Liuzzo

This week, we celebrate the birthday of Viola Liuzzo, who, when she saw others standing up for justice, went with them and said, “I want to be part ~read more~

tenth annual “new” Fast Day

fasting_can_change_your_life

Fast Day was once a national holiday. The “opposite of Thanksgiving,” instead of a feast and celebration, it featured a fast and contrition. It was even at the opposite end of the calendar, in April rather than November.

Centuries later, we are reviving and reimagining the holiday for contemporary life. This Thursday, April 5, 2012, the First Unitarian Church of Hobart will observe the tenth annual “new” Fast Day. You and your congregation are invited to join ~read more~

vm: Fast Day

no-eating

This week, we celebrate the tenth annual “new” Fast Day: may going without food on Thursday wake us from our habitual slumbers, and develop deeper compassion for all those for whom hunger is not ~read more~

vm: Thandeka

Thandeka_photo-by_Merrel-D-Booker-Jr

This week we celebrate the birthday of Thandeka, who reminds us that “the life blood of generations who refused to surrender their humanity in an inhumane world courses through [our] veins.” So may we continue.

(photo: Merrel D. ~read more~

so may we categorize: