Call and Response Blog
Voices of our faith, for the journey we make together in spirit, justice, and love. Please read, respond, and share!
Displaying 31 - 40 of 131.
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Our attic needed to be emptied for an insulation project. We brought down boxes and boxes of clothing that had once belonged to our three grown children. It all needed to be sorted for saving, discarding, or recycling—a huge, overwhelming job that I intended to get through as quickly as possible.
By Gail Forsyth-Vail | January 5, 2016 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: Gratitude -
Two weeks ago, I was part of an interfaith gathering where we asked one another, “What is weighing on you? What signs of hope are you finding? How do you see God’s spirit moving in the world?” One by one, people named the troubles that swirl around our communities and our world: racism,...
By Gail Forsyth-Vail | December 21, 2015 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: Christianity, Holidays & Ceremonies, Multigenerational Faith Development, Interfaith Family Programs -
You might not think that an historic resort on an isolated island would be the perfect place to talk about dynamic, innovative and faithful teamwork; but you’d be wrong! Last summer, 160 UUs came together for Lifespan Religious Education Week on Star Island and had a transformative experience in...
December 11, 2015 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: Faith Development, Leadership Development, Professional Development for Religious Educators -
The holiday season is upon us! This is a time of religious celebration. Christmas music is playing on the radio and in stores and restaurants, and nativity displays are everywhere. Many of our UU congregations have nativity displays as well. Our choirs sing Christmas carols, and we have special...
December 1, 2015 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: Humanism -
A UU, two Hindus, and a Baha’i walk into a Christian Ethiopian restaurant. The opening line to a culturally insensitive joke? No, my last dinner at the Parliament of the World’s Religions. In October, I attended the fifth Parliament in Salt Lake City. This one followed two Parliaments in Chicago...
By Jessica York | November 23, 2015 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: UU History, Multiculturalism, Interfaith Family Programs, Social Justice -
How would your congregation respond if a bomb threat forced you to shorten the post-service reception welcoming new members and re-locate child care for the stewardship dinner that evening?...
November 13, 2015 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: UU History, Civil Rights & Religious Liberty, Social Justice -
Welcoming people into our congregations takes a conscious effort. Being open to their stories, accepting them in their differences, and allowing their presence and experiences to transform us can be difficult, even when a person’s stories seem similar to our own....
November 3, 2015 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: Military, Military Chaplaincy -
How intentionally does your faith community include people who have disabilities? I would guess that leadership meetings about buildings and budgets are where the intentions show up: Can we build a ramp to the front door? How much will it cost? Of course, physical accommodations are important. We...
By Susan Lawrence | October 26, 2015 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: Justice, Disability & Accessibility, Social Justice -
Overwhelmingly, Unitarian Universalist faith communities want to be more inclusive of all ages, but aren’t sure how to do it. Creating intentional multigenerational communities means doing things differently. It means thinking creatively and constantly asking, are we considering the needs of all...
By Pat Kahn | October 15, 2015 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: Multigenerational Faith Development, Disability & Accessibility, Faith Development -
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson is the 2015-16 UUA Common Read. This beautifully written book looks closely at the life stories and circumstances of people who have been sentenced to die at the hands of the state or to live out their lives in prison. The author...
By Gail Forsyth-Vail | October 1, 2015 | From Call and ResponseTagged as: Due Process & Civil Liberties, Racial Justice, Social Justice