Monday, February 26, 2007

God, Inc on YouTube

Well, it finally happened. Someone reached into my brain and did something cool with all the flotsam swirling around in there.

If only...

No, "God, Inc.", the popular YouTube serial about the afterlife was not my idea. But darnit! It should have been. As of this writing there are six installments of this little gem posted. And now there is even God, Inc. swag on cafepress, so you know they have arrived.

If you haven't seen it yet, well, you aren't living. So stop hanging out at my blog and head on over to YouTube for a more surprising theological education.

And while you are there check out some of the animated versions of Billy Collins' poetry. They made me glad I gave up cable TV.

Vespers February 27 - Harmony

If you haven't been to Vespers in awhile, look out!

We now meet in the Great Hall. We have a soup supper afterwards. There are about 25 regular attendees now, in addition to the couple dozen who come once a month or so. We are starting a guest DJ program in which music enthusiasts choose the selections for the evening. But we are still a quiet and contemplative service that lasts thirty minutes every Tuesday night and has been reported to lower blood pressure and calm racing minds.

This Tuesday I'll be leading a service on "harmony." Please come out and join us. We start at 5:30 and there is childcare provided.

Also, the popular "Silent Vespers" returns on March 6. We do this a couple of times a year and it is an opportunity for more extended meditation. See you there!

Celebration Sunday

Another BIG Sunday here at First UU coming up.

On March 4 we will be having Celebration Sunday which is a glorious time for all. Hope you will be joining us and wearing your best festive garb. Rev. Jeanne will be in the pulpit and the seats should be full (read: come to the 9AM service).

See you on Sunday!

Lent again

Ah, the season is upon us again. The holy time of the year when the good people of St. Paul's Episcopal church get to cookin' cheese souffle! Yes, it is Lent again and this year I've decided to pull out the stops.

I have given up something for Lent and tried something on for Lent. How about you?

This is not part of my religious tradition, so it is new for me. In my lifelong quest to experience fully and widely, a little restraint and introspection is a twist. We'll see how I feel about it in a few weeks, but I didn't give up cheese so I should be fine.

See you on Wednesdays at St. Paul's where the lovely May and other volunteers will serve up cheese souffle. May works the take-out line. Give her my regards. I'll be in the dining room.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Vespers Feb. 6, 2007 - Promise

Wondering what we did at Vespers tonight while you were caught in traffic, eating fast food, or still working? Here you go. Hope you can join us in the future. The soup supper was particularly nice tonight as the temps. dropped below thirty.

Promise February 6, 2007

Promises are the uniquely human way of ordering the future, making it predictable and reliable to the extent that this is humanly possible.
Hannah Arendt

Words of Welcome - Our theme tonight is Promise, by which we mean – commitment, fidelity, potential and possibility. Open yourselves to all of these meanings and more. The chosen readings and music go in a variety of directions on the theme: both sacred and romantic; individual and communal.
Lighting the Chalice
Opening Music Farther Along/Billy in the Low Ground
Adrienne Young and Little Sadie
Opening Words "A Call to Worship" Rev.David Blanchard
Reading "Leaps and Vows" Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern
Music for Reflection My Love Will Keep Adrienne Young
Words for Reflection Think of promise as a golden light within you. Imagine you have this burning gift inside. It can be your love for another person which you have given to them formally as in a marriage, or unspoken as in a family, or informally in the love of friendship.
The golden light within you can be the potential for love you have. Your generosity. Your gentle side. Your secret self that is only revealed to those you love and trust.
And the promise within you is your hope. The golden light that leads the way when everything else is darkness and void.
In the minutes of silence that follow, I invite you to imagine the promise inside of you, and to let it grow.
Silent Reflection
Sharing of Hopes and Concerns

Closing Music Golden Ticket Adrienne Young
Closing Words Wherein lies your promise, your greatest gift? Consider those gifts carefully and then promise them to someone else. Give your best away.
Extinguishing the Chalice