Sunday, Jan. 29th
Guest Minister: Rev. Allen Wells
SACRED ECONOMICS
Rev. Wells noted, “Our economic system is driven by values contrary to those that many of us hold dear. I would like to pose some idealistic questions about our economy from the perspective of an economic dummy, and propose some new possibilities from a sacred perspective--relying upon the wisdom of the Dalai Lama, who has described himself as a Buddhist Marxist.”
ANSWER THE CALL
Rev. Ann Benedetto encouraged her listeners to “Answer the Call” during the 11 a.m. service on Sun., Jan. 22.
“2012, in more than one tradition, speaks of a time of great change,” noted Rev. Benedetto. “Hardships and uncertain times often inspire people to greater spiritual connections and practice. The big question of why are we here -- in this time and this place -- needs our attention.
“During this service, we tried to open the channels for better clarity as to our specific purpose for being here, so we may use our gift of life to its maximum potential. These times call for such clarity, awakening and participation.”
RADICAL SELF-CARE IN TROUBLED TIMES
Rev. Ann Benedetto discussed the idea of “Radical Self-Care in Troubled Times” during the 11 a.m. service.
“In the history of humanity on our planet, there always have been trying times, and 2011 was no exception,” said Rev. Benedetto. “Threats of terrorism, a shaky economy, global warming, loss of farmland, natural disasters, faulty nuclear plants--to mention a few biggies--are plaguing our society in the here and now.
“How do we take care of ourselves, given the uncertainty of the now and the future? What can we do to stay mentally, physically and spiritually strong in a world that has these serious concerns? Together we mused our way through possibilities for strength and hope.”
Rev. Ann Benedetto
No Room At The Inn
Guest minister Rev. Allen Wells talked about “living beyond our beliefs” during the Dec. 18th service.
Rev. Wells explained “At the Christmas season, more than at any other time of year, we suspend our cynical devotion to facts and allow ourselves to believe in the miracles of love and generosity. But it is even more important to learn how to live beyond reliance on our beliefs. What does this mean, and what would it reveal to us about this miracle we call life?”
Sunday, Dec. 11th
Rev. Ann Benedetto, Cynthia Lightbody, Lucy Cilento
WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION
Rev. Ann Benedetto joined LUUF members Cynthia Lightbody and Lucy Cilento in leading a Winter Solstice Celebration during the Dec. 11th service.
“Cultures around the world hold various types of light festivals during this time of more darkness and less light in our northern hemisphere,” observed Rev. Benedetto. “We gather to celebrate our Solstice with a traditional Scandinavian Santa Lucia candle lighting ceremony led by Lucy Cilento. We bring in the light and sing holiday songs.Guest Speaker: Sandra Ramos
ETHICS, LAUGHTER AND LOVE
Guest speaker Sandra Ramos talked about developing “Your Ethics, Laughter and Love” during the Dec. 4th service.
"We are each put on this Earth for a very special purpose," Ramos said. "Throughout our life's journey, we are faced with choices and decisions as to who we are and what we will do. Your ethics, laughter and love are of paramount importance in creating a life worth living."Rev. Ann Benedetto
ETHICAL EATING
Rev. Ann Benedetto discussed the idea of “Ethical Eating for a Better World” during the service on Sun., Nov. 27th.
Rev. Benedetto noted, “LUUF joins with hundreds of UU fellowships across the nation in addressing ethical eating as a core issue to healing the planet. We looked at how an individual's personal decisions and actions can have a global impact.
“Ethical eating provides direct means to affect pressing social issues of our time, such as hunger and malnutrition, free and fair trade, labor and exploitation, animal rights, environmental degradation and climate change. Let's see what we can change in our lives to make possible a different kind of world.”
Sunday, November 20th
Guest Minister: Rev. Allen Wells
THE SPIRITUAL SIDE OF CYBORGS
Guest minister Rev. Allen Wells talked about “The Spiritual Side of Cyborgs” – the futuristic idea of Electronic Transcendence -- during the Nov. 20 service.
Rev. Wells explained, “The Dalai Lama has opined that he might be reincarnated into an advanced computer. The Transhumanist movement promises us a bright future via Electronic Transcendence. Computer theorists predict that we’ll merge into human/computer hybrids – the intermediary step toward a full cyborg – before we know it.
“If so, will we have a soul? Do we have one now?”
Sunday, Nov. 13th
Guest Speaker: Marilyn Elie
HOW MANY WARNINGS DO WE NEED?
Guest speaker Marilyn Elie questioned the safety of nuclear power and asked “How Many Warnings Do We Need?” during the 11 a.m. service.
Elie observed, “Humans create systems, some beneficial and some harmful to the Interdependent Web of Life of which we are all a part. Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima are examples of tragic, widespread disasters as a result of serious problems with nuclear power plants.”
Marilyn Elie has been working close to Indian Point for almost two decades. She is co-founder of the Westchester Citizens’ Awareness Network and one of the original members of the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition (IPSEC). She also “watchdogs” the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and does much outreach to educate the public. She has regularly attended Nuclear Regulatory Commission meetings and has learned how to read the NRC reports for what is hidden between the lines.
Sunday, Nov. 6th
Guest Speaker: Sally Ward
CHANGING TIMES
Guest speaker Sally (The Gardener) Ward marked the end of daylight savings time with a sermon on “Changing Time(s)” during the Nov. 6 service.
“I addressed the history of time and our attempted control over it,” Ward said. “Truly, time--every breath--is that which we can choose to live fully, if we awaken to the powerful energy of each heartbeat. This wakefulness has changed and is changing our world.”
Sunday, October 30th--
closed due to weather
Sunday, October 23
Rev. Ann Benedetto
CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON DEATH
Rev. Ann Benedetto looked at “Cultural Perspectives on Death, noting, “At this time of year, death is specifically observed in Mexico and by those of Wiccan faith. Death often is a time of great loss and grieving, as well as a time fertile for spiritual growth. We look to the wisdom of other cultures as we grow, evolve and deal with death as it presents itself in our lives.”
Sunday, Oct. 16th
Guest Minister Rev. Allen Wells:
"A REVOLUTION OF THE HEART"
Rev. Wells will offered perspectives on the incipient revolution which began with Occupy Wall Street three weeks earlier, including his personal reflections in a first-hand account.
Sunday, Oct. 2nd
Guest Speaker: Clinton Hebard
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Sunday, Sept. 25th
Rev. Ann Benedetto
FAITH—REAL OR IMAGINED?
In the Sunday, Sept. 25th service, Rev. Ann Benedetto asked, “What is the nature of faith, and does it have a place and function in our liberal religious Unitarian principles and traditions? Is it hocus-pocus, or a real, valuable tool to support the human condition in uncomfortable times? We explored these questions and looked at words of wisdom from famous authorities to gain various perspectives on faith.”
Sunday, Sept. 18th
Rev. Allen Wells
LIVING FULLY IN TROUBLED TIMES
Guest minister Rev. Allen Wells talked about “Living Fully in Troubled Times” during the Sept. 18 service. Rev. Wells says, “The way we personally can adapt to our troubled times and enable ourselves to living fully in them is the same way our social and economic culture can adjust to the reality of a changed world, become sustainable and thrive.”
September 11, 2011
10:00 am
9/11 Reflections - Sharing Circle
Please join us in the LUUF Flower Garden for this informal pre-service ceremony, as we pause to acknowledge the 10-year anniversary of events most of us will never forget. Offer your own remembrances, thoughts, or stories, or simply be present to share with others in reclaiming this day in a spirit of Peace and fellowship.
11:00 a.m.
Rev. Ann Benedetto
THE WINDS OF CHANGE
Regular 11 a.m. Sunday services resume on Sept. 11, with a sermon by Rev. Ann Benedetto on “The Winds of Change.”
“Recent events, both natural and manmade, are wake-up calls for the necessary and inevitable changes that must come,” Rev. Benedetto says. “We need to learn to live in community with cooperative work and play. We need to take just what we need from Mother Earth and not a drop more. We need to learn to manage and share the Earth's resources for present and future generations.
“What can we do right now to accomplish these ends? How can we, as individuals and as a community, change the ways we relate to Mother Earth, each other and ourselves? Let's have this important conversation and become proactive, in cooperation with the inevitable winds of change.”Rev. Ann Benedetto
Is
the person you think of as your enemy really “Friend or Foe?” Rev. Ann
Benedetto addressed this question during the Oct. 24 service.
“We
all encounter people and situations who challenge our peace of mind and
what we want for ourselves,” noted Rev. Benedetto. “Our culture tends
to see people and situations through a polarized lens--either good or
bad, right or wrong, win or lose, friend or foe.
“Given the UU principle that states we respect the worth and dignity of every person,
how might we look at these challenges from a different perspective,
keeping peace in our hearts, in our homes and in the world? This talk explored a different way of dealing with conflict in our lives, with
the agenda of moving towards Unity Consciousness.”
FRIEND OR FOE?
Guest Speaker:
JEFF TITTEL
Director, Sierra Club New Jersey Chapter
THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY’S ENVIRONMENT
Jeff Tittel is the Chapter Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. For more than 12 years, he has led the club’s legislative and outreach efforts in Trenton and around the state. His most recent policy accomplishments include passing the Clean Car Act, the Highlands Act, the Global Warming Response Act and an unprecedented 300-foot buffer for Category 1 streams. Membership at the Sierra Club has grown with his legislative successes; in 1998 the Sierra Club had 13,000 members, and currently the membership is approximately 20,000.
In 2004, he received the Outstanding Achievement award by the Sierra Club, the highest honor given to an employee. He has also received the Conservationist of the Year award from the NJ Audubon Society and recognition from Monmouth Friends of Clearwater.
Tittel has helped to found more than a dozen environmental organizations, including the Elizabeth River Coalition, Sterling Forest Coalition, Highlands Coalition and Skylands CLEAN. He currently is a board member of the Work Environment Council, the Highlands Coalition and the New Jersey Oceans Coalition. He served on both the McGreevy and Corzine transition teams.
October 10th
Rev. Ann Benedetto
IF NATURE HAD RIGHTS...
Rev. Ann Benedetto examined the idea “If Nature Had Rights” during the Oct. 10 service.
“Seeing Nature as ‘resources,’ rather than as ‘relatives’ that sustain our lives, is causing a downward spiral of destruction on our planet,” Rev. Benedetto says. “Since Mother Nature is the basis of all human rights, communities all around the world are beginning to pass laws to protect the rights of Nature to exist, persist and evolve.”
Rev. Benedetto pointed out that legally a corporation can be considered a “person,” with the same rights as an individual human being--freedom of speech, right to due process and equal protection under the law. She posed the question, “What would it mean to each of us if Nature also had legal rights? Come and explore this inevitable change that is at our doorstep.”
~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ * ~~ *
October 3rd: FADING VERSUS GROWING Rev. Allen Wells
Guest minister Rev. Allen Wells talked about “Equal-Opportunity Faith” during the Oct. 3rd service. Rev. Wells responded to a quote by organizational consultant and poet David Whyte, who asked, “What would my life be like if I had as much faith in the parts of me that were fading away as I had in the parts of me that were growing?” Rev. Wells related the concepts of “fading away” versus “growing” to the Autumnal Equinox, Yom Kippur and our forthcoming earth changes.
HOW TO ‘LEAN TOWARD GREEN’
Rev. Ann Benedetto discussed ways to “Lean toward Green” during the service Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.
Following up on LUUF’s “Lean toward Green” Environmental Fair on Sept. 25, Rev. Benedetto talked about what we can do locally to support a healthier environment. She shared inspirational testimony and examples of “green” methods that have succeeded around the world.
“Organized and persistent, we still have the power to affect positive change in our daily lives,” she says. “Join us and, if you wish, bring your own stories of frustration and success that you have encountered in your communities.”
===============================================================================
Sunday, June 27th
WHEN OUR SPIRITS SOAR
Rev. Ann Benedetto
This service was dedicated to the progress and growth this year at our beloved LUUF community. When our spirits are nurtured and have a venue to shine and flourish, anything is possible. It changes our present perception of what is possible and the bigger picture, in concert with our personal lives, merge in Unity consciousness. We celebrated with a music extravaganza, readings, testimony and inspirational words, closing out this LUUF year with spirit and light as we moved to our summer, delightful, breezy porch discussions, beginning at 10am each Sunday from July 11th.
Sunday, June 20th
WHEN TO LET GO
Guest Speaker: MeriLynn Blum
Yoga instructor MeriLynn Blum will pose the question “What Are You Holding Onto?” and discuss “the power of letting go.”
Blum explains, “There are many times in life when ‘holding on’ is the skill that best serves the moment, but often peace and sanity are better served by letting go. All of life is a continuous process of letting go. Children grow up and move away, parents grow old and die.
“Everything is changing all the time, and we often even ask for change. For example, if we hold an intention to heal or to grow wiser, we are hoping that something about us will change. Yet even as we hope, pray and act on behalf of change, many of us continue to cling tightly to people, places, things, beliefs, emotions and behaviors that cause pain and deny reality.”
Mindful surrender is a choice and a skill, Blum says. She will explore this complex topic and discuss how we can let go of what no longer serves us or the world.
Sunday, June 13th
THE ORIGINS OF EVIL AND THE ROOTS OF VIOLENCE
Rev. Ann Benedetto
Rev. Benedetto talked about “The Origins of Evil and the Roots of Violence” during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, June 13th.. “Listening to the news, reading the newspaper or connecting with most media, we are bombarded with reports of violence each day,” says Rev. Benedetto. “Often, we are exposed to more sound bites concerning individual street crime than about the violence committed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and many other places around the globe. “I suspect most of the billions of people on Earth want to have families, raise children and live in peace. How did we, the people, manifest a world where the violent few rule the overwhelming majority? We examined the origins of evil and the roots of violence, so we can start to dismantle that paradigm and work towards a more peaceful world.”
Sunday, May 30th:
Guest Speaker: Walter Hoffman
HISTORY LESSONS WE SHOULD HAVE LEARNED
Guest speaker Walter Hoffman discussed “Living through History—Lessons We Should Have Learned” during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, May 30th.
In recognition of Memorial Day, Hoffman remembered the millions who have died in wars and other widespread conflicts in our lifetime. He also discussed proposals for more effective international institutions, to prevent such bloodshed in the future.
Hoffman is a Marine Corp Veteran of World War II and a graduate of the University of Michigan and of the University of Chicago Law School. In 1957 he moved to Wayne, where he served on the Township Council and practiced law. In 1985, Hoffman moved to Washington, DC, where he became executive director of the World Federalist Association. He was appointed by then House Speaker Thomas Foley to a U.S. Commission on improving the effectiveness of the United Nations, which issued its report in 1993.
Hoffman returned to Wayne in 1994 and became an adjunct professor at William Paterson University. He later taught International Law, Human Rights and the politics of the Global Environment at Ramapo College in Mahwah. Active in the American Bar Association, he served as vice-chair of its International Courts Committee and chair of the Arms Control and Disarmament Committee. He has attended international “World Peace through Law” conferences of lawyers and meetings of the World Federalist Movement around the world. Hoffman is credited with founding the Campaign for United Nations Reform, and served as its first national chairman.
Sunday, May 16th
11:00 a.m.
Guest speaker: Fr. Paul Mayer
COMMUNITIES OF FAITH AND GLOBAL WARMING
Fr. Paul Mayer, a long-time leader in the peace and environmental movements, reported on the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen where he delivered an address. He discussed the unique role of the human species in finding the solutions and healing strategies for survival and beyond.
Mayer's more than half-century of service to the earth has included 18 years as a Benedictine monk, involvement with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement in the South, work in the barrios of Central America and participation in the effort to end the war in Vietnam, as well as co-founding peace and environmental organizations. In his recently completed memoir, he revisits the major social and political movements of the last fifty years—the Civil Rights, anti-war and anti-nuclear movements, the Cold War and developments in Latin America.
Sunday, May 9th
HONORING MOTHERS
Rev. Ann Benedetto
“On this Mother's Day, we honored three well-known mother figures from around the world,” says Rev. Benedetto. “We discussed the importance of showing reverence for the Mother and embracing her innate qualities.
“We looked at the connection between those who do not honor mothers and the Mother principle, and the consequences for all the relations in the interdependent web of life. Finally, we honored those men who walk a path of respect and dignity towards a unity consciousness for healing our planet.”
Sunday, April 25th
BELTANE CELEBRATION 2010
Rev. Ann Benedetto
Rev. Benedetto led a Beltane Celebration during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, April 25th.
“Beltane is a pre-Christian holy day that celebrates the rites of spring,” Rev. Benedetto explains. “As our environment is in major trouble, this celebration is becoming an annual event at our Fellowship. That which was celebrated centuries ago perhaps needs even more attention today, to bring Mother Nature and Goddess consciousness back into the minds of the people to heal our planet. !”
“THE WORLD COME OF AGE”
Guest minister Eve M. Stevens explored the concept of childlike faith and what aspects of this we accept and reject as “UUs.” Stevens discussed theologian and humanitarian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who said "the world has come of age, and those who once walked with the faith of children no longer have a need for God or contact with holy mystery.”
Stevens grew up in a small, rural South Carolina town and attended a UU fellowship there from age three. She says she found the intense religious focus in her public schools and community “at times a profoundly positive experience and at other times profoundly negative.” She attended school in upstate New York as a History major and now is studying to be a UU minister at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She says the Unitarian Universalist church has remained her spiritual home because she feels it encourages her to search for meaning and truth.
Sunday, May 8th
Guest Speaker: Cyn Lightbody
Sunday, April 24th
Rev. Ann Benedetto
A COMMON THREAD
On Easter, April 24, Rev. Ann Benedetto talked about finding “A Common Thread” that unifies the major religions, during the 11 a.m. service.
Rev. Benedetto said, “While different traditions have different stories and rituals for specific times of the year, if we do the research we can find a common thread that intimately connects traditions to one another. The branches of the tree come from the same roots. Join us as we explore the connection between Christianity, Pagan worship, Judaism and Islam, noticing what we have in common and perceiving our differences as enriching our lives.”
Sunday, April 17th
Guest Speaker: Steve Kneisel
ARE ALL RELIGIONS ONE?
Guest speaker Steve Kneisel gave a talk called “In Search of the Red Thread: Is There Common Ground among the Great Religions?”
“In ‘All Religions Are One’ (1795), the English Romantic poet William Blake claimed that all religions are beautiful and all are true,” Kneisel pointed out. “The Dalai Lama affirms that “the essential message of all religions is very much the same.’ Mohandas Gandhi said, ‘Belief in one God is the cornerstone of all religions.’ A common metaphor for these views portrays the great religions as different paths up the same mountain.”
“But is it so?” Kneisel asked. “Our daily news sometimes seems dominated by violence between and within religious groups: Jewish vs. Muslim, Muslim vs. Christian, Sunni Muslim vs. Shia Muslim, Hindu vs. Muslim, Hindu vs. Christian, etc. Neither do animists, agnostics, atheists, Daoists and Buddhists escape attack by other groups. Let us see if we can find, if not a perfect answer to the question, at least some promising possibilities for more peaceful and constructive engagement among the dominant religions of the world.”
Sunday, April 10th
KEEPING OUR PROMISES
Rev. Ann Benedetto
Rev. Ann Benedetto spoke about “Stewardship and Covenants—Keeping Our Promises” during the April 10th service.
Rev. Benedetto said, “Differences in culture, class, in beliefs, personal needs and emotional maturity can have a negative impact in our church, temple or mosque communities, workplaces and anywhere people congregate to work as a group. Join us as we discuss stewardship and covenants as tools to help guide us through the intricacies of life.”
Rev. Benedetto defined a covenant as “an agreement or promise”—often to certain values and behaviors--and a steward as “a keeper, one who oversees the well-being of land or an organization, a caretaker.” She added, “Stewardship and covenants are two valuable tools to support healthy congregations, workplaces and anywhere people gather for a common purpose.”
Sunday, April 3rd
Guest Minister: Rev. Allen Wells
Sunday, March 27th
Rev. Ann Benedetto
THE INSPIRATIONAL LIFE OF WANGARI MAATHAI
Rev. Ann Benedetto presented the program, “What One Can Do—The Inspirational Life of Wangari Maathai” during the March 27 service.
Wangari Maathai was the first woman in central or eastern Africa to hold a Ph.D., the first woman head of a university department in Kenya and, in 2004, the first African woman to win the Nobel Prize in Peace. She also founded the Green Belt movement in Kenya, which has planted more than 10 million trees to prevent soil erosion and provide firewood for cooking.
Rev Benedetto says, “Continuing with the theme of my last sermon, for Women's herstory month, we detailed the amazing life accomplishments of Wangari Maathai. From caring for the Earth by planting trees, she moved forward on a journey from hands in the earth, to jail, to Parliament, and then to the high honor of being a Nobel Peace Prize recipient. We remember her continuing bright light, her passion and her life's journey for the Earth, humanity and all its relations.”
Sunday, March 20th
Guest Speaker: Clinton Hebard
"Ask the Questions, Just Don't Expect Any Answers"
What are the religious questions? Is it reasonable to expect firm answers? Perhaps the problem is with certainty in complex matters, both religious and secular. We have Fundamentalism in Atheism, Islam, Christianity, and Capitalism. True believers or ideologues in the past 100 years contributed to one of the most bloody centuries in human history.
Do promises of heavenly paradise or earthly utopias inevitably lead to disappointment and disaster?
Clinton Hebard examined these questions during the March 20th service. Clinton is a graduate of Ramapo College and has been a member of Lakeland Unitarian for 4 years.
Guest Speaker: Harriet Wagniere
WHAT IS METAPHYSICS?
Guest speaker Harriet Wagniere addressed the questions “What is Metaphysics?” and “What is Parapsychology?”
“The ancient-wisdom teachings give us insight into the meaning and purpose of life,” states Wagniere. “Together with the cosmic principles, they form a blueprint for living. We explored how this path can open doors to new horizons for the soul to travel.”
The Metaphysical Center of New Jersey offers classes at various sites around northern New Jersey. Wagniere, who holds a B.S. and an M.A., has been a member of the Center and of its Board of Directors for over 30 years, beginning as a student of founder Donald Yott. She has taught both MCNJ’s 13-level course of study in Metaphysics and Parapsychology and the five-level Tibetan Studies course several times, and also has lectured throughout the tri-state area. She has a private practice as a hypnosis consultant and spiritual counselor.
Sunday, March 6th
Guest Speakers: Lucy Cilento and Pia and Ettore Di Benedetto
THE PEACE CORPS AND FOREIGN SERVICE
Guest speakers Lucy Cilento and Pia and Ettore Di Benedetto talked about “The Peace Corps and Foreign Service” during the March 6 service.
Lucy Cilento joined the Peace Corps in 1975 as a teacher in Sfax, Tunisia. She discussed the history and organization of this agency and described her very positive experience as a volunteer. Her daughter, Pia Di Benedetto -- a Peace Corps volunteer in Uzbekistan and Morrocco in 2001
-- spoke on the three guiding principles of this organization and how they related to her experiences while serving in these two countries.
Lucy's husband, Ettore Di Benedetto, who has traveled around the globe for the Department of Peace Keeping for the United Nations, explained how the U.N. creates missions in countries where there is conflict and political unrest.
Rev. Ann Benedetto
Rev. Ann Benedetto presented a program, “What One Can Do—The Inspirational Life of Pete Seeger” during the Feb. 27 service.
Rev Benedetto says, “When ‘one’ follows a passion with consistency, persistence and love in the face of all challenges, ‘one’ can make a huge difference in the world. This talk detailed the life of Pete Seeger; his challenges and victories.
“We complemented his story in the most appropriate manner -- by taking a walk down memory lane with a congregational sing-along of some of Pete's favorite movement songs. We enjoyed the inspiration and music as we recalled the ‘folk’ days of yesteryear.”
Guest Speaker: MeriLynn Blum
SEEING WHAT IS
Yoga instructor MeriLynn Blum talked about “The Challenge of Seeing What Is” during the Feb. 20 service.
“Our minds have been conditioned by the past, making it difficult for us to see clearly,” Blum explained. “It's as if we walk around wearing glasses that cause us to focus on what we expect to see--we see the world and everything that happens through a lens of expectation. And because we see what we expect to see, what we expect to see becomes reinforced.
“To be ‘awake’ is to clean the glasses so that we can experience the moment as it really is. To be free is to be able to respond to the moment effectively, without the constraints of past experience. The challenge we face personally and globally is reclaiming the ability to see with beginner's mind -- to see what actually is.”
Blum holds an MAT in teaching from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MA in Psychology from Seton Hall University. She became a Certified Kripau Yoga Teacher in 1995 and later a Certified YogaRhythmics/DansKinetics Teacher. She has taught English and Dramatics at the high school level, pursued a career in advertising and worked as a therapist at Seton Hall, at Drew University and in private practice. For almost 15 years, she has taught yoga classes and chakra-inspired movement classes, for both workshops and private students. She remains a continuing student of yoga, benefiting from the wisdom of numerous teachers, healers and traditions. Her Web site is www.peacefulyoga.com.
Sunday, Feb. 13th
THE SPIRIT OF ABOLITIONISTS
Rev. Ann Benedetto recognized Black History Month with a talk on “The Spirit of Abolitionists” during the Feb. 13 service.
Rev Benedetto said, “This talk served to trace the history, herstory and contributions of abolitionists who struggled for justice, equity and a national community whereby peace, justice and liberty for all would prevail. Many Unitarians, if not all, participated in this movement. We must know our history, and tell our stories of struggle and accomplishments to the next generations, so that history will not repeat itself.
“While there have been many victories, sadly there is still much work to be done. What can we learn from past events? Can we latch on to the spirit of the abolitionist movement today to further the cause for equity and social justice? Please join us for our service and offer your perspective on this topic.”
Sunday, Feb 6
(Service canceled due to weather)
Sunday, Jan. 30
Guest Speaker: Dr. Arlene Scala
SUSAN B. ANTHONY—UNITARIAN
Guest speaker Dr. Arlene Scala looked at the life of Susan B. Anthony: "Suffrage and Abolition Warrior and Unitarian” during the Jan. 30th service.
Dr. Scala is an author, professor and chair of the Women's and Gender Studies Department at William Paterson University. This department has been in existence for over 30 years, making it one of the oldest Women Studies Departments in the nation. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to university study, preparing students to critique power struggles related to sex, sexuality, race, class, age, abilities, belief systems and other social institutions.
Dr. Scala also has attended the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades since 2005 and is a board member and chair of the program committee. A dynamic pathfinder in speaking truth to power, she has touched, educated and inspired many students during her over three-decade teaching career.
Rev. Ann Benedetto
2012--WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
Rev. Ann Benedetto discussed the Mayan predictions for the year 2012 during the Jan. 23 service. (This service was rescheduled from Dec. 26.)
“As the sun wheel turns and our calendar approaches 2012, many people face that year with apprehension and/or hope,” explained Rev. Benedetto, “because Mayan predictions say that cataclysmic and global transformational changes will occur on December 21, 2012.”
“We explored what Mayan prophesies state and offer interpretations from various spiritual, scientific and astrological sources. We looked at what this prediction might mean for us, and what if anything can we do to prepare -- just in case big changes are coming!”
Jan 16th:
Guest Speaker: Eve Stevens
WRESTLING WITH YOUR FAITH
Is it important to wrestle with your faith? Why should anyone not interested in a career in, or deep devotion to a spiritual path take the time to discern their faith and personal principles? Guest speaker Eve Stevens addressed these questions from a variety of theological perspectives during the 11 a.m. service on Sunday, Jan 16th. Drawing on the work of leading theologians, she explored the possibility that our spirituality and personal principles are illusions until we put them into action.
Ms. Stevens, who is a lifelong UU, grew up in a small South Carolina town and is now studying at Union Theological Seminary to become a UU minister. She says "my own wrestling as a first year UU seminary student is a reoccurring theme throughout as I am currently wrestling with defining my own principles as well as where I fit in the Unitarian Universalist faith."
Jan 9th:
11:00 a.m.
Guest Speakers: Clarence Taylor and Jean Weisman
RELIGION, RACE AND EDUCATION IN CUBA
Guest speakers Clarence Taylor and Jean Weisman talked about “Religion, Race and Education in Cuba” during the Jan. 9 service.
Taylor is a professor of History and Black Studies at Baruch College, CUNY, and author of the book "The Black Churches of Brooklyn, from the 19th Century to the Civil Rights Era" (1996, Columbia University Press). Weisman produced a video about transformations in the lives of former domestic workers in Cuba and taught a course on Cuba at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. Both speakers traveled to Cuba with a group in June of 2010.
Jan. 2nd:
Rev. Allen Wells
INSPIRATION FROM DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
Guest minister Rev. Allen Wells spoke about “Inspiration for the New Year from Dr. King” during the Jan. 2, 2011 service.
Rev. Wells said, “I begin this New Year, inspired to tackle today's issues, by looking at the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King to the causes of justice and peace.
“In 1965, I was arrested with him in Chicago. I would never have predicted then that his birthday would become a national holiday. Sometimes we achieve remarkable things. But there is much more to do, and he still inspires me to take on these challenges.”
December 19th
Cynthia Lightbody
December 12th:
Rev. Ann Benedetto
UNITARIANISM AND GRACE
Rev. Ann Benedetto tackled the topic, “Unitarianism and Grace—an Oxymoron?” during the Dec. 12 service.
“We looked at the origins of the concept of grace, cite various authorities on grace and explored contexts which might describe the experience of grace,” says Rev. Benedetto. “This holiday season, we might refocus our activities, take some time away from commercialism and remind ourselves of the foundation of these holy-days. Thanks for bringing your wisdom to our table as we shared thoughts, inspirational words and music.”
December 5th
Guest Minster: Rev. Allen Wells
November 28th:
Rev. Ann Benedetto
Rev. Ann Benedetto pose the question, “Why Be in the Now?” during the Nov. 28 service
Many of us view life through the lenses of the past or the future, and avoid being present and grounded in the moment,” said Rev. Benedetto. “But life happens, and all we can really be guaranteed is this moment! To have gratitude, and to surrender and focus on the moment, liberates us to 'see' truths, birth creativity, release pain and fears. We experience a profound freedom where seemingly mundane things become profound events.”
November 21st:
11:00 a.m.
Guest Speaker: Barnaby Feder
ARE ALL RELIGIOUS ‘TRUTHS’ EQUALLY VALID?
Guest speaker Barnaby Feder will speak about “The One Truth to Have When You’re Having More Than One” during the Nov. 21st service, scheduled for 11 a.m.
Feder says he once received a challenge from a friend and fellow member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Montclair. Pointing out to Feder that UUs are free to believe what their consciences dictate, the friend asked whether that meant accepting all the various interpretations of “truth” by the world's major religions as equally valid.
"This challenge raised a lot of theoretical questions for me about what we mean when we throw around words like ‘dogma’ and ‘doctrine,’" said Feder. "But more importantly, it got me thinking about whether belief that we are on a sacred path toward truth of some sort really matters in our daily lives."
FAITH OR CONTROL?
Rev. Ann Benedetto addressed the question of whether to live by “Faith or Control?” during the November 14th service.
Rev. Benedetto says, “As UU's, we sometimes are criticized for having a religion that is ‘miles wide and an inch deep,’ because we have no specific doctrines but a system of principles that encourages diversity of opinions.
“Since we have no established creed to follow—and no overall promise of heaven if we live as good people--where does faith interface with our liberal tradition? Are we people who have to control everything, or can we offer all or some circumstances up to faith? Should we strive for a balance between control and faith?”
November 7th:
What is the driving force behind it? Why does our our economic system depend upon it? How does it deplete our lives? Rev. Wells will explore these and other questions when he leads the service this Sunday, Nov. 7th at 11 a.m.
According to Rev. Wells, "The gap between rich and poor is widening, we are feeling more economically vulnerable than ever, and our resources are running out.
October 31st:
Guest Speaker: MeriLynn Blum
UNDERSTANDING CHAKRA THEORY
Yoga instructor MeriLynn Blum spoke about “Chakra Theory as a Way to Understand the Human Experience” during the Oct. 31 service.
“According to ancient yogic philosophy, at the core of each one of us spin seven wheel-like energy centers called chakras,” Blum explained. “Chakras are not physical entities, but rather centers of activity for the reception, assimilation and transmission of life force. These energetic processes manifest as patterned reactions that affect us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and impact our relationship to the earth, each other and the more etheric realms.
“An understanding of this system provides a template of the human experience that includes every aspect of being. I offer an introduction to this fascinating and useful view of humanity that provides insight and tools to examine, understand and transform ourselves.”
Blum holds an MAT in teaching from Fairleigh Dickinson University and an MA in Psychology from Seton Hall University. She became a Certified Kripau Yoga Teacher in 1995 and later a Certified YogaRhythmics/DansKinetics Teacher. She has taught English and Dramatics at the high school level, pursued a career in advertising and worked as a therapist at Seton Hall, at Drew University and in private practice. For almost 15 years, she has taught yoga classes and chakra-inspired movement classes, for both workshops and private students. She remains a continuing student of yoga, benefiting from the wisdom of numerous teachers, healers and traditions.
Her Web site is www.peacefulyoga.com.
Sunday, April 18th: Sandra Ramos talks about “Finding and Fulfilling Your Life’s Purpose…with Health, Joy, Peace and Laughter.” “We all have a right to be happy and fulfilled,” Ramos says. “Still, we often spend too much time doing what others want us to be, or what we "think" we are supposed to do.” She offers what might be controversial advice: “Let go...be yourself...do what you want...follow the/your spirit. It will lead you towards being a happier person and making the world a better place.” Sandra Ramos, of Ringwood, founded the first shelter for battered women in North America in 1970, and ever since has led the struggle to strengthen laws against domestic violence and advocacy for victims. She currently serves as executive director of Strengthen Our Sisters, a shelter for battered women and children in northern New Jersey. Ramos was the 2006 recipient of the Sunshine Foundation Peace Award and the 2001 recipient of the Russ Berrie Award for Making a Difference. In 1999, her life’s work was featured on NBC’s “4 Stories.” She has spoken before groups throughout the U.S.
FINDING YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE
Guest Speaker: Sandra Ramos
Sunday, April 11th
Rev. Ann Benedetto
The Origin of the Flaming Chalice and the Importance of Ritual
How many of us know the symbolism of the UU flaming chalice? Many UU’s are not big on the practice of rituals. This Sunday sermon explored the origin and legacy to date of “the” UU ritual of the Flaming Chalice, as well as why it might be important to incorporate consistent rituals into our daily lives. Being human is often not easy. This sermon looked at the possibility of ritual as a positive tool to help us with our humanity.
Sunday, April 4th
TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH In recognition of “Womyn’s Herstory Month,” Rev. Ann Benedetto examined “Women’s Tragedy and Triumph: Generations Connected”.
Guest Minister: Rev. Allen Wells
OUR PRECIOUS HUMAN BIRTH
In keeping with the season, Rev. Wells spoke about birth and death. But, in this service, he focused less on what happens to us after death or even after birth, and more about what it means to have been miraculously born on earth at this extraordinary time in history.
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Sunday, March 28th.
Rev. Benedetto’s sermon recalled the Triangle Shirtwaist
during the 11 a.m. service on Factory Fire in New York City on March 25, 1911. She said, “This service addressed the challenges and accomplishments of yesterday's strong immigrant women working in America, and how their struggles, tragedies, sacrifices and victories have impacted and benefited our lives today.”
Sunday, May 2nd
FOUR WILY WORDS AND A WARNING
Guest minister: Rev. Allen Wells
Guest minister Rev. Allen Wells talks about “Four Wily Words…and a Warning” during the May 2 service at the Lakeland Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 231 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ.
"The words we use influence the way we see the world,” notes Rev. Wells. “Most of us casually use four words whose connotations can subvert our consciousness, if we are not mindful. I'd like to explore the seductiveness of these words. And I'll offer a warning about our language, in general, that can save us from theological conundrums and help free us from personal suffering."
UN-BECOMING OURSELVES
On Sunday, March 21st, Guest minister Rev. Allen Wells explored questions of identity. "It's easy to trap ourselves by thinking we are who we were, who we should be and/or who we might become,” says Rev. Wells. “According to The Buddha, though, we trap ourselves by thinking we are even a self at all! Most of our fighting occurs around protecting our identities as persons, organizations, religions and countries."
Rev. Wells asked: “What if we could escape from ‘ourselves’ and enjoy undivided, unbounded, free-flowing living? What might such freedom mean for us, and what might it mean for jurisdictions such as Israel and Palestine?'”