New Year, New Decade: Can we turn back the clock? – Please!
Rev. Dave Hunter Lay Leader: Cyndi Buell-Hall
A constitutional crisis in the United States may
await us, and the climate crisis threatens the
future of human civilization. Would that we
could turn back
On Being a Beloved Child Rev. Aaron Payson
Lay Leader: Emily Quarles-Mowrer
As Christians celebrate the Baptism of Jesus on this day in the liturgical calendar, we pause to explore the meaning behind this event. What is
baptism and how do we honor it similarly in our own liberal tradition. What does it mean to be a claimed as a beloved child?
Rev. Aaron Payson is in his 21st year as minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester, MA. Aaron lives with his wife Kristen in
Worcester. Their children, Morgaine (a senior at Boston University) and Charlie (a freshman at University of Massachusetts, Amherst) travel with
them this time of year to visit family in Temple, PA. Aaron is delighted to share a Sunday once again with the UU Fellowship of Pottstown!
John Brown: Martyr or Terrorist? Speaker: Jerry Lazzaro
Lay Leader: Allan Pallay
The truth about John Brown, immortalized in legend, poetry and song. And the truth about John Brown as revealed by meticulous historical research, unmask disturbing contradictions in religious faith and practice that resonate in a contemporary world threatened by radical theologies and the terrorism they spawn.
3rd Sunday Potluck will follow the Service
We’re now one fifth of the way through the 21st century – hard to believe! And an eventful year awaits us. The impeachment process in Washington should be concluded in the weeks ahead, one way or another. The Iowa caucuses mark the beginning of a new stage of the presidential campaign (which seems to begin the day after the last election – why can’t we compress the process to just a few months, like other nations?). The climate is unlikely to get friendlier without a lot of help from us humans, and do we have enough fingers (and toes) to count all the troubles and conflicts around the world?
Which is why we need religious communities, in particular, why we need our Unitarian Universalist congregation in Pottstown. We need a safe place where we will be – if only for a short time – at a distance from the troubles of the world and the nation (and from our own personal troubles). We need a safe place where we can take a break from our involvement in confronting these troubles, a safe place where we might hear new ideas, receive new insights; a safe place where a prophetic voice might renew our courage; a safe place where we can be reminded that, despite everything, we have much to be thankful for, and to express our thanks; a safe place where music can restore our souls.
And others, too, need religious communities. Some may not have recognized this need; some may have not found a religious community consistent with their view of their ethical and theological world or may not realize that such a religious community exists. We need to let our friends and neighbors, our coworkers and relatives, know that our UU fellowship is here, and that we would welcome their visit. Maybe we are what they have been looking for, whether they know it or not.
But let’s look beyond our own congregation. Now that your 2020 calendar is ready. Add Love Resists kickoff, January 12. Consider these two opportunities: UUA General Assembly, June 24-28, Providence RI. It’s a UU experience unlike any other; it’s important, it’s fun (mostly). And Providence is a lot closer than Spokane WA (2019 site). UUMAC – UU Mid-Atlantic Community, July 12-18, DeSales University, near Allentown. A UU family camp for all ages. Take a look at their website.
February donation requests: 29 sets of queen-size sheets, 29 queen-size and/or twin-size blankets.
If you can help with this appeal, please bring your donations to UUFP and put in the basket in the foyer. Our UU Pottstown Cluster rep Cyndi will take then to the Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities.
Compassion: Baby Steps Rev. Kerry Mueller
Lay Leader: Cyndi Buell-Hall
Some internet humorist once compared a too long sermon to a hostage situation. Mindful of this meme, and remembering that we preach what we most need to hear, in early December, I had mercy on us all and cut short a sermon introducing a series based on Karen Armstrong’s book on compassion. Today we will pick up that theme, and discuss the first three steps towards living a more compassionate life.
UUFP will be convening a #UUtheVOTE organizing and discussion session, beginning promptly at 4:00 PM in the Social Hall. Food and discussion will follow. BYOB and finger food, if desired.
Bring others interested in becoming involved in social justice issues at this critical time in our nation’s history. Meet new people. Make a difference.
For further details, please email Board@uupottstown.org.
What do you celebrate in December and why, and how? There are probably as many answers to this as there are UU’s. And I have not seen a direct line between the answer and people’s theology or ethnicity or upbringing. Religiously, there are a number of choices – Christmas, Kwanzaa, Yule, and Hanukkah are the best known in the United States, but there are also Buddhist and Zoroastrian holidays in December and a number of adjunct Christian holidays. And don’t forget Human Rights Day (December 10).
The Islamic calendar is lunar, so some years Ramadan comes right on top of Christmas.
Probably a plurality of us grew up with Christmas and observe it one way or another today. The mood ranges from uncritical sentimentality to Bah Humbug – sometimes in the same person at different times. And that person may be a staunch humanist with a soft heart for their grandmother’s dining table, or a Unitarian Christian, or an SBNR (Spiritual But Not Religious) who really enjoys gift giving and gatherings. The Humbug may stem from theological skepticism or growing up in a dysfunctional family or horror at the tinselly over-commercialization or politicization of a powerful symbol of love and hope and generosity. Christmas is complicated!
And, of course, many UU’s share celebrations in families of mixed traditions. This year you may light candles of Hanukkah and Christmas the same day, not long after the Solstice, and followed by the candles of Kwanzaa. Whatever you celebrate, and however, may you have some moments of quiet joy, some happy times with friends or family, good food and fun, and above all, may you have a chance to share kindness and compassion with others.
Love, Kerry