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Displaying 1 - 36 of 36
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We are an angry and beautiful people.Reflection | By Laura Solomon | June 1, 2022 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Brokenness, Connections, Direct Experience, Disaster or Crisis, Fear, Humanism, Love, Suffering, Unitarian Universalism, Worship -
The power to choose is the power of life in the midst of brokenness.Reading | By Rebecca Ann Parker | May 7, 2022 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Activism, Body, Brokenness, Choice, Direct Experience, Humanism, Integrity, Self-Respect, Unitarian Universalism, WorshipWeb, Reproductive Justice, Worship -
Every year, I tell the congregation not to worry about mistakes because there aren’t any; there is only us, telling an old story about love getting born into this aching world.Reflection | By Elea Kemler | December 18, 2019 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Advent, Brokenness, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Community, Direct Experience, Forgiveness, Love, Playfulness, Tradition, Transcendence, Unitarian Universalism -
As a hospital chaplain, I often listen to painful stories. We call it compassionate presence, but I may be crying inside. When words fail, I pray and sing.Reflection | By Yuri Yamamoto | June 12, 2019 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Arts & Music, Brokenness, Challenge, Despair, Direct Experience, Faith, Fear, God, Presence, Unitarian Universalism -
Voice 1: You are beloved and you are welcome here Voice 2: Whether tears have fallen from your eyes this past week or gleeful laughter has spilled out of your smiling mouth Voice 1: You are beloved and you are welcome here Voice 2: Whether you are feeling brave or broken-hearted; defiant or...Opening | By Joan Javier-Duval | January 16, 2019 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), Acceptance, Brokenness, Caring, Community, Compassion, Diversity, Inclusion, Love, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness, Worth, Worship -
There is too much beauty in this world to give up on it yet, and it is always too soon to surrender to cynicism....Opening | By Gretchen Haley | February 16, 2018 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Brokenness, Disaster, Hope, Sadness, Unitarian Universalism -
As the news cycle brings us images of terror and heartbreak once again, We grieve together As each of us faces into this new level of horror, We grieve together As we remember other moments of pain, fear, and loss, We grieve together Yearning for an end to violence and suffering, We grieve togeth...Litany | By Caitlin Cotter Coillberg | December 8, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Brokenness, Community, Connections, Disaster or Crisis, Grief, Healing, Solidarity, Suffering, Unitarian Universalism -
We live inside paradox. Humans generally don’t like to admit it—we much prefer tidy, stable, comprehensible, logical ways of getting through the day—but paradox is woven into the fabric of this particular universe we inhabit. Light is both a particle and a wave Imaginary numbers describe the...Opening | By Lindasusan Ulrich | October 2, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Agnosticism, Balance, Brokenness, Christianity, Easter, Faith, Hope, Mystery, Unitarian Universalism -
Pray, if you pray. Send love and money, too. We will be rolled and covered, but we will rise and carry others with us. Watch for the opportunities to rise and carry. Watch for the holy moments where some people see God.Reflection | By Teresa Honey Youngblood | August 30, 2017 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Awe, Brokenness, Caring, Community, Disaster, Healing, Nature, Transcendence, Unitarian Universalism -
”If we don’t find a way to transform our pain, we will always transmit it to those around us or turn it against ourselves… If your religion is not teaching you how to recognize, hold, and transform suffering, it is junk religion.” —Fr. Richard Rohr People are in pain all around us, all of...Reflection | By Erika Hewitt | May 10, 2017 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: Brokenness, Buddhism, Compassion, Connections, Direct Experience, Healing, Mystery, Pain, Spiritual Practice, Spirituality, Unitarian Universalism -
Here here is where you can lay it down Lay down all that you have carried the weight of the world that has rounded your back leaving you aching and exhausted Here here is where healing begins where burdens are set down and alongside one another’s their magnitude does not seem as great Here here i...Opening | By Joan Javier-Duval | April 13, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Acceptance, Brokenness, Community, Healing, Hospitality, Unitarian Universalism -
We are sometimes selfish, sometimes complicit with systems that do harm, sometimes the cause of pain and injustice. Until we can hold compassion for ourselves and others—until we can be forgiving when we fall short—our love is incomplete.Reflection | By Sean Parker Dennison | March 29, 2017 | From Braver/WiserTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Anti-Oppression, Brokenness, Compassion, Conscience, Direct Experience, Disability, Growth, Honesty, Humanism, Multiculturalism, Secular, Solidarity, Unitarian Universalism, Vulnerability -
Your gifts—whatever you discover them to be— can be used to bless or curse the world. The mind's power, the strength of the hands, the reaches of the heart, the gift of speaking, listening, imagining, seeing, waiting Any of these can serve to feed the hungry, bind up wounds, welcome the...Blessing | By Rebecca Ann Parker | February 9, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Anti-Oppression, Brokenness, Choice, Community, Humanism, Integrity, Living Our Faith, Love, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Purpose, Sacred, Secular, Service, Seven Principles, Unitarian Universalism -
Welcome to this space, this sanctuary of peace where we come to not only create our best selves, but to also do the work of creating a beloved community....Opening | By Jo VonRue, Linette Lowe | January 26, 2017 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Acceptance, Brokenness, Community, Direct Experience, Diversity, Hospitality, Humanism, Inclusion, Interdependence, Multiculturalism, Presence, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness -
Loving and Transforming Grace, Source of creation who some know as God -- Be with us now. We have endured the hard night of struggle for our nation’s soul for lo these many months, and find ourselves looking inward, to each other, to all fonts of wisdom, for guidance....Prayer | By Deborah Weiner | November 28, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 5th Principle (Conscience & Democracy), 6th Principle (World Community), America, Brokenness, Democracy, Despair, Secular, Unitarian Universalism, Unity -
To the refugee family seeking a safe place For their children’s dreams, say: I am with you in this. To the trans teenager longing for a world That accepts them for who they are, say: I am with you in this....Litany | By Phillip Lund | November 25, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Activism, Anti-Oppression, Brokenness, Caring, Compassion, Connections, Disaster or Crisis, Immigration, Justice, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Queer, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Solidarity, Unitarian Universalism -
In times of darkness we stumble towards the tiny flame. In times of cold we seek the warming fire. In times of repression we reach for the lamp of truth. In times of loss we pray for the comforting light. In times of joy we light a candle of celebration....Chalice Lighting | By Brian Kiely | October 6, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Brokenness, Challenge, Hope, Purpose, Tradition, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism -
O God who gave us life and death, you hold us in your hands. You cradle us in our need, and you push us into growth. We confess to you that all is not well, that we grieve the loss of many things and people....Prayer | By Beth Merrill Neel | August 24, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Brokenness, Christianity, Despair, Disaster or Crisis, Fear, God, Healing, Unitarian Universalism -
Spirit of life and love, light within and without, mystery from which we have all emerged, within which we live and die: be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the silence and stillness at the center of our being. As people of faith, we seek to live in a spirit of love, a spirit of...Prayer | By Laura Horton-Ludwig | August 15, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Brokenness, Compassion, Courage, Evil, Fear, Healing, Love, Mystery, Searching, Unitarian Universalism -
Note: these words were written for a Sunday following a significant national tragedy Far too often, we are forced to confront the terrible things that people can do to each other. When these things happen, all we can do is come together in places like this church to remind ourselves that there is...Offering | By Elena Westbrook | August 8, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), Brokenness, Community, Disaster or Crisis, Purpose, Secular, Solidarity, Trauma, Unitarian Universalism, Unity
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This piece can be read as a meditation, or used as a litany, in which the congregation responds to each line (in unison), "We ask a blessing on this day." In one way or another, each of you was born of a mother. Because we are human, it's likely that your relationship with that mother is, was, or...Litany | By Maureen Killoran | June 3, 2016 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Brokenness, Children, Compassion, Conflict, Family, Forgiveness, Healing, Hope, Love, Mother's Day, Mothers, Unitarian Universalism, Universalism, WorshipWeb -
Spirit of Life, Source of all, to this beautiful place to this hallowed time and in the midst of this kindred company we bring hearts broken yet again by senseless violence....Prayer | By Kristin Grassel Schmidt | December 1, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Brokenness, Despair, Direct Experience, Disaster or Crisis, Grace, Hope, Terrorism, Unitarian Universalism -
God of mercy, spirit who makes peace out of war, who wanders with refugees and keeps vigil with children at our border and all borders; Holy healer in hospitals and shelters, at schools, in homes, at weddings, and in planes; May your love be balm for all the hurt. May your truth be present in...Prayer | By Elizabeth Nguyen | August 31, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, Brokenness, Doubt, Freedom, Healing, Hope, Justice, Peace, Suffering, Unitarian Universalism -
This pastoral prayer is adapted from the prayer of Shantideva, an 8th century Buddhist monk and major source of inspiration to the Dalai Lama, who references the original prayer often. There are many translations, some of which contain the whole text; some of which do not....Prayer | By Karen G. Johnston | March 2, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Brokenness, Buddhism, Healing, Hope, Service, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness
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Spirit of Life and Love, we are here because we believe what we do matters. We are here because we believe how we live our life matters. That with every act of kindness or meanness, courage or fear, love or hate, we are weaving the fabric of the universe that holds us all. We are here because we...Meditation | By Laura Horton-Ludwig | February 19, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Activism, Brokenness, Challenge, Character, Choice, Commitment, Conscience, Disaster or Crisis, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Unitarian Universalism -
Today we walk toward the dayspring breaking through, the Easter day of joy.Opening | By Daniel Chesney Kanter | February 17, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Brokenness, Change, Christianity, Hope, Joy, Palm Sunday, Power, Unitarian Universalism -
Spirit of Life that flows through our hearts like a never ending stream, On this blessed day we are filled with gratitude to find ourselves together once again in this sacred time and place, unified in our diversity by the hope and compassion in our hearts, as well as the sadness and...Prayer | By Krista Taves | February 17, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: #BlackLivesMatter, 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), Brokenness, Compassion, Disaster or Crisis, Hope, Justice, Prophetic Words & Deeds, Race/Ethnicity, Unitarian Universalism, Vision
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Something has changed in me this winter. In the past I’ve focused on how long winter is, How miserable I find it, and how it seems so interminable. This winter, I find myself thinking instead That every day, every hour, every minute Brings us just that much closer to spring. We all experience...Poetry | By Tess Baumberger | January 25, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Acceptance, Advent, Agnosticism, Atheism, Brokenness, Christmas Eve / Christmas, Despair, Earth-Centered, Humanism, New Year, Strength, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness, Winter Solstice / Yule
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Let us enter into a time of meditation, contemplation, and prayer. Feel the earth beneath your feet as it supports you. Feel the love of this community as it surrounds and enfolds you. Feel your breath as it flows in and out of your body. Listen to your heartbeat. Listen to your heart......Meditation | By Thomas Rhodes | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 3rd Principle (Acceptance & Spiritual Growth), Brokenness, Compassion, Connections, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness
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Each week we take up an offering for the support of this congregation, and often, for the support of others who are working for a better world. To be honest, we need your support—especially in todays economy, when pledges are down and the future appears uncertain. But there is another truth here...Reading | By Thomas Rhodes | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Brokenness, Generosity, Privilege, Stewardship, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness
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With humility and courage born of our history, we are called as Unitarian Universalists to build the Beloved Community where all souls are welcome as blessings, and the human family lives whole and reconciled. With this vision in our hearts and minds, we light our chalice. —“A vision for...Chalice Lighting | By UUA Leadership Council | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Acceptance, Brokenness, Calling, Courage, Diversity, Humility, Strength, Unitarian Universalism, Vision, Wholeness, Worth -
Each day I am newly reminded of my unworthiness—a dozen thoughts misspoken; another day when the good I do falls short of the good that I could do; myriad small interchanges; moments of sharing that strain to the breaking point my desire to be generous, helpful, and kind; months of careful work...Meditation | By Elizabeth Tarbox | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Body, Brokenness, Earth, Earth-Centered, Healing, Nature, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness, Worth -
The human spirit has enormous resilience. But it is pushed to the limit by grief following the tragedy we have witnessed: sudden and unexpected death, the loss of so many lives. These vicious attacks defy our understanding. It hurts. We grieve. We do not understand, nor do we accept the logic of...Prayer | By Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 1st Principle (Worth & Dignity), 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 6th Principle (World Community), 7th Principle (Interconnected Web), Brokenness, Christianity, Connections, Good, Healing, Pain, Service, Unitarian Universalism, Wholeness
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From arrogance, pompousness, and thinking ourselves more important than we are, may some saving sense of humor liberate us. For allowing ourselves to ridicule the faith of others, may we be forgiven....Prayer | By Harry Meserve | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), Brokenness, Challenge, Humility, Purpose, Searching, Unitarian Universalism
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We are here because we are people of faith. Within each of us lives the conviction of a saving faith that could restore our broken planet and illuminate the lives of our sisters and brothers. Ancient wisdom teaches that we who would save the world must first save ourselves....Reading | By Kendyl L. R. Gibbons | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: 2nd Principle (Justice, Equity, & Compassion), 4th Principle (Truth & Meaning), 6th Principle (World Community), Brokenness, Faith, Healing, Mystery, Service, Unitarian Universalism, Wisdom
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Divinity is our birthright. God nods to God from behind each of us. But let us remember, as Mr. Emerson said, "divinity is behind our failures and follies also." In the silence that follows, let us pray that we may notice and accept the Divinity of tiny things the Divine of ordinary miracles and...Meditation | By Victoria Weinstein | January 21, 2015 | From WorshipWebTagged as: Brokenness, Connections, Direct Experience, God, Meaning, Purpose, Unitarian Universalism, Unitarianism