What does it mean to be truly generous? The talk will focus on generosity of spirit at this dark time of the year when there seems to be more hardship and bad news than we can bear. Beyond material giving, the smile we give to a stranger or the kind word to a friend may mean more than we know.
On this Giving Sunday we will explore the seemingly dichotomous idea that you can give your all and yet can feel as if it costs you nothing.
Living together while practicing our principles requires quite a juggling of values, feelings, ideas, egos, and intentions. Mutual respect is a pretty important ingredient in successfully engage in relationships. Let's explore what that might look like.
The complete sermon (including other service words) can be read below: Integrating respect into our internal and external relations is a life-long process of lessons and learning. Today we will hear about how one small creature taught an entire family much about respect.
Larry Gillman will be sharing his personal experiences working to support others in need. He will reflect on his 15 years as President of Beth Israel Synagogue in Peterborough, and sharing space with the Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough. Last year with the support of Julie they opened their doors to the Peterborough Mosque after the horrific act of arson. He will also reflect on his December visit to Karanda Mission Hospital in Zimbabwe, an impoverished rural facility.
As we embark upon a month of exploring the spiritual dimensions of respect, this Sunday we will begin by considering insights from various well-known individuals about the concept of respect as it relates to self and to others.
Is it possible to live life in a perpetual state of gratitude? What sort of impact might that have on you, your family, your community, the world?
Today's reflection began with this meditation: A Good Day with Brother David Steindl-Rast All of us experience challenges in our lives. Often there are aspects of those challenging times that offer gifts and opportunities for us, but are often missed as we remain steeped in the difficulty. On this Sunday we will explore broadening our perception of those challenging times to appreciate the potential gifts they offer.
At the heart of finding meaning at the end of life is gratitude. It’s easy to feel grateful when things are going well, but could we be grateful even for this time?
We often find inspiration and insight while facing significant challenges. Forrest Church was a prominent Unitarian Universalist minister who was given a terminal diagnosis in February 2008. He wrote a book called Love and Death, summarizing his life beliefs and sharing some insights on loss and love. It was a valuable contribution to those he left behind, and Dave will be sharing some of Forrest Church's thoughts.
The complete sermon can be read below: |
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