We mark the start of a new church year by instituting an integrated, intergenerational curriculum based on monthly themes. Each month, from September 2008 through June 2009, worship, religious education, covenant groups and Wellspring Wednesday programs will offer opportunities to contemplate, consider, contend with and discuss a theological theme. Our hope is that this approach will bind us more closely together and inform our lives in effective and positive ways.
Go directly to Monthly Theme:
Blessing Redemption Sin Prayer Resistance Repair
Gratitude Forgiveness Unity Sabbath
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Reflection for Families (pdf)
Books
An Altar in the World: a Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor
Present Moment, Wonderful Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh
Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives by Wayne Muller
The Miracle of Mindfulness: A Manual on Meditation by Thich Nhat Hanh
Putting Family First by William Doherty and Barbara Carlson
The Hurried Child by David Elkind
Creating Balance in Your Child’s Life by Beth Saavedra
Living Simply with Children by Marie Sherlock
Film
Soul Food
A 1997 film starring Vanessa L. Williams and Vivica Fox that tells the story of family on the brink of dissolution following the illness of the matriarch of the family. What will still the family enough to return to togetherness?
On Golden Pond
A 1981 film that tells the story of a family on the banks of a body of water to which they have returned over the course of many years
The Big Chill
A 1983 film that tells the story of a family of college friends on the brink of disillusionment after the untimely death of one of their members.
Meditations and Readings
Between the Lines Reflection -- Karen Hering
Sermons
Listen to Sermons online
Unity Church Blessing Well Blog
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Reflection for Families (pdf)
Books
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Plain and Simple: A Woman’s Journey to the Amish by Sue Bender
The Soul is Here for Its Own Joy: Sacred Poems from Many Cultures, Robert Bly, editor
Listening to Your Life: Daily Meditations with Frederick Buechner
Breakfast at the Victory: The Mysticism of Ordinary Experience by James Carse
Film
Fiddler on the Roof
Tevye the Milkman is a Jewish peasant in pre-Revolutionary Russia, coping with the day-to-day problems of ‘shtetl’ life, his Jewish traditions, his family (wife and daughters), and state-sanctioned pogroms.
The Color Purple
Celie (Whoopie Goldberg) and Nettie (Akosua Busia) sing to one another—you and me must never part—but time and tide will not allow. Their lives lead them along an arduous path.
The Wrestler
Randy “The Ram” Robinson is hanging up his spurs. He is leaving the life of professional wrestling but it is not as easy as he had imagined. Along the way, he finds hardship and blessing.
Meditations and Readings
Mother's Day Meditation (pdf) - Karen Hering
Sermons
Listen to Sermons Online
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Reflection for Families (pdf)
Books
Growing an Inch by Stanley Gordon West (2003)
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (2002)
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah (2007)
Film
Shawshank Redemption
Falsely imprisoned for the murder of his wife, Andy DeFresne tries to find meaning and ‘salvation’ in the Bible.
The Negotiator
Danny Roman (Samuel Jackson) and Chris Sabian (Kevin Spacey) seek justice and redemption in one another over lines of race and the presumption of guilt. These two 21st-century hostage negotiaotors labor to discover the truth about corruption in the Chicago Police Department and the truth about our real-life imprisonment and the possibility of redemption.
The River Wild
Meryl Streep, Kevin Bacon and David Strathairn star in an action film about a woman’s passion, her faith in family and her sense of deep courage. Gail Hartman (Streep) tries in earnest to create a way-outa-no-way for her marriage to succeed.
Meditations and Readings
Sermons
One More Redeemer -- Rob Eller-Isaacs [April 5, 2009]
Redeem This -- Rob Eller-Isaacs [April 26, 2009]
Listen to Sermons Online
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Books
Son of the Morning (1978) Joyce Carol Oates’ fever of a novel tells the story of Nathan Vickery, a young man born with the gift of prophecy.
The Confessions (various) Augustine.
A demanding, towering classic of Christian literature that focuses on the sin of pride. It is well worth the effort.
Sin, Pride and Self-Acceptance (2003) Terry Cooper. A well-presented overview of both theological and psychological approaches to the concept of sin.
Books for families
Seven Lonely Places, Seven Warm Places: The Vices and Virtues for Children by April Bolton (Author), Brent Beck (Illustrator). A new approach to the deadly sins, one that illuminates both the consequences of sin and a more cheerful alternate path.
Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong: A Guide for Young Thinkers by Dan Barker (Author), Brian Strassburg (Illustrator) A humanist approach to morality for kids. A UU staple on parents’ bookshelves.
Cain and Abel: Finding the Fruits of Peace by Sandra Eisenberg Sasso. A retelling of the Old Testament story of the first act of violence and its consequences.
Film
Dead Man Walking is the story of the relationship between Sister Helen Prejan (Susan Sarandon) and Matthew Poncelet (Sean Penn),a man accused of rape and murder. Sister Helen asks Poncelet to come to terms with his sins or his truth in the eyes of God before the end of his life.
Based on the writing of Isak Dineson (Karen Blixen), Babbette’s Feast is the story of a return from a life of sin, but not the kind of sin that is often imagined. UU theologian Jack Mendelsohn maintains that we are punished by our sins, not for them. Babbette’s Feast asks us to show up for life.
Cider House Rules, John Irving’s classic of 1985, became a film directed by Lasse Hallström. Orphan Homer Wells (Tobey Maguire) learns the truth about sin and sorrow and learns to find his own path through a complicated world.
Meditations and Readings
Just Right Meditation - Karen Hering
Sermons
Listen to sermons online
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Books
The Energy of Prayer, Thich Nhat Hanh
After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, Jack Kornfield
The Soul is Here for Its Own Joy: Sacred Poems from Many Cultures, Robert Bly, editor
Books for families
A Child’s Book of Blessings and Prayers, Collected and Introduced by Eliza Blanchard. Interfaith prayers, ideally suited for UU families.
The Monk Who Grew Prayer, Claire Brandenburg. A sweet example of “prayer without ceasing”: a Christian monk blends prayer in with his daily tasks like chopping wood.
A World of Prayers, Jeremy Brooks. A dreamily illustrated collection of prayers organized into categories like, “Mealtime Graces” and “Bedtime Prayers.”
Grandad’s Prayers of the Earth, Douglas Wood. A grandfather shows his grandson how the whole earth prays by offering its beauty.
Meditations and Readings
Take off your shoes - Karen Hering
Sermons
Listen to sermons online
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Books
My Experiments with Truth, BN Publishing 2008
The autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi.
An Interrupted Life: The Diaries of Etty Hillesum, Henry Holt & Co 1996
Civil Disobedience, Wilder Publications 2008 -
Henry David Thoreau
Films
Star Trek: First Contact (1996) “Resistance is futile.” But not really.
I Am Sam (2001) Sean Penn as a developmentally disabled man fighting for custody of his daughter.
Good Night, Good Luck (2005) Against the threat of Communism abroad and McCarthyism on the domestic front, Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) and Fred Friendy (George Clooney) of CBS News mustered the courage to take a stand against fear and idealogical persecution.
Norma Rae (1979) Sally Field as a courageous single mother who helps to organize the plant where she works.
The Secret of NIMH (1982) To save her ill son, a field mouse must seek the aid of a colony of super-intelligent rats, to whom she has a deeper link to than she ever suspected. (Family)
Amazing Grace and Chuck (1988)Chuck Murdock is the top pitcher of the little league team. After taking a tour of a nuclear silo, Chuck decides to quit playing little league until nuclear weapons are disarmed. Can one kid’s act of resistance make the world listen? (Family)
Sermons
Listen to sermons online
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Books
The Silence of Jesus, James Breech (Fortress Press 1983, 1987) A brilliant work of textual criticism in which the author points to the parables of Jesus as authentic to his ministry and message.
The Gospel According to Jesus Christ, Jose Saramago (Harcourt Brace 1994) The Portuguese Nobel Laureate tells the ancient story with an astounding twist. Could it be that Jesus, like so many sons must do, was attempting to complete Joseph’s unfinished business?
Repair: the Impulse to Restore in a Fragile World, Elizabeth V. Spellman (Beacon 2002) “We live in a world constantly in need of repair. We fix things and relationships all the time without giving it much thought.” Could it be that another title for “the Prince of Peace” might be “Repairer of the World.”
Films
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
There was a run on the bank! I know. It’s hard for us to imagine (hmm), but this classic directed by Frank Capra is an all-time great.
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
A broken legal system falsely imprisons a broken-hearted man for the murder of his newly estranged wife. Time and “grace” do their best to repair the situation.
Love Actually (2003)
This is a joyous and touchingly serious tale about finding wholeness and greeting the season with care and honesty.
Sermons
The Silence of Jesus -- Rob Eller-Isaacs [December 7, 2008]
Listen to sermons online
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Books
Gratefulness: The Heart of Prayer by
David Steindl-Rast (Paulist Press 1990)
The Grateful Heart: Daily Blessings for the Evening Meal from the Buddha to the Beatles, M.J. Ryan, Editor (Conari Press 2002)
Film
Pay it Forward (2000) Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment star in this touching tale of the transforming power of gratitude. A great family film appropriate for children 8 and over.
Awakenings (1990) Robert De Niro, Robin Williams and Julie Kavner come together to bring the Oliver Sacks book to life.
Readings
Gratitude Theme Readings (pdf)
Sermons
Practicing Gratitude -- Rob Eller-Isaacs [November 16, 2008]
Thank You George -- Rob Eller-Isaacs [November 2, 2008]
Gratitude: The Grammar of Our Lives -- Janne Eller-Isaacs [November 9, 2008]
Listen to sermons online
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Books
No Future Without Forgiveness by Desmond Tutu, Image Books 1999
A Little Book of Forgiveness: Challenges and Meditations for Anyone with Something to Forgive by D. Patrick Miller
How Good Do We Have to Be? A New Understanding of Guilt and Frogiveness by Harold Kushner
Saint Maybe by Ann Tyler
Between Vengence and Forgiveness by Martha Minow
Biblical Stories
Jacob and Esau – Genesis: chapters 25 and 27
Abraham and Isaac — “The Akedda,” the traditional text for Rosh Hashanah Genesis: 22
Matthew 18:21-22
Film
The Straight Story 1999 (PG13)
A lovely story of a man who drives 300 hundred miles on a ride-on mower in order to reconcile with the brother from whom he is estranged.
Crash 2004 (R)
Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock and Matt Dillon are among a marvelous ensemble cast caught up in interweaving stories involving racial tensions, murder, intrigue and twists of fate.
A Long Nights Journey Into Day (2000)
A brilliant documentary about the truth and reconciliation process in South Africa.
Readings
Forgiveness Theme Readings (pdf)
Forgiveness Theme Readings (pdf)
Sermons
Listen to sermons online
Newsletter Reflection (pdf)
Books
American Transcendentalism (2007) Unitarian Universalist historian Phillip Gura offers a vibrant story of the philosophers and activists who shaped the American mind and led liberal religion beyond sectarian limits.
Yes to a Global Ethic: Voices from Religion and Politics edited by Hans Kung.
The Mind’s Eye by Timothy Ferris. Exploring the scientific research about mystic experiences of the unity of all.
Infinite in All Directions (2004) the great physicist, Freeman Dyson, publishes his Gifford Lectures in praise of diversity.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965) the classic story of one man’s journey from racial isolation to all all-embracing love.
Film
The Englishman Who Went Down a Hill and Came up a Mountain (1995 )A family comedy in which the whole village responds to disappointing news.
Amazing Grace (2007) a marvelously well-crafted historical drama about the struggle to end slavery in England.
Norma Rae (1979) Sally Field stars in this film about union organizing.
Pay it Forward (2000) how one boy wants to make a real difference. Do watch it with your older children.
Readings
Unity Theme Readings (pdf)
Sermons
Listen to sermons on line
What's in a Name? -- Rob Eller-Isaacs, September 14, 2008
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