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Wednesday, 02 May 2012 |
The worst ages of human-kind are marked by a strict insistence on dualism. Dualism is the purist’s worldview—good vs. bad, angels vs. demons, believers vs. heretics, our country vs. your country, straight vs. gay, faith vs. rationality. Presently we see dualism at work in partisan politics and religious extremism. Dualism corrupts what I believe is the most beautiful capacity of the human mind: the capacity to hold two potentially contradictory ideas in balance. The hymn #159 in Singing the Living Tradition portrays this capacity: “My countries skies are bluer than the ocean, and sunlight beams on clover leaf and pine, but other lands have sunlight too and clover, and skies are everywhere as blue as mine.’ It is possible to sincerely love one’s own country while recognizing how every country is worthy of love. It is possible to love one’s own virtues while recognizing the wholly different yet wholly worthy virtues of others.
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Wednesday, 02 May 2012 |
I just finished re-reading the letter we all received from our vice president and chair of this year’s stewardship campaign, Chris Houck, about the need to close the gap between our current giving and our goal. I am first struck by how incredibly generous this congregation is. I am also struck by how blessed we are by this situation. I know it could sound a little off to say it’s a blessing to be in a shortfall or to have to look carefully at what we might have to do without next year if we do not reach our goal.
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A Growing and Deepening Faith |
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Wednesday, 02 May 2012 |
Sadly, UUCS recently lost two members who passed away, leaving an emptiness in many hearts. We also will soon say goodbye to a few families who are leaving this area to be closer to other family members. Each person will be deeply missed and fondly remembered. They have touched the congregation—and individuals in the congregation—in so many ways. Their legacies and the memories they built at UUCS will live on for a long, long time. It would be easy to find faith challenged and to mourn the loss to the congregation. However, I see hope, meaning, and the determination to learn and make a difference everywhere at UUCS. I have faith that the people, the spirit, and the message of the congregation will ensure the continued growth and impact of this welcoming and vibrant community, and I have already seen many signs of this unfolding future in Religious Education (RE).
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