Unitarian Universalists have seven principles that guide us… but in 2017 an Eighth Principle was introduced for consideration. This principle is about how we dismantle racism and move to anti-oppression in our faith. This is a fitting topic as we celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Includes a chalice lighting written by Rebekah Savage.)
0Recording opens with a prayer reflecting on the events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This is followed by a reading from Ivone Gebara in Longing For Running Water. Then Rev. Nancy:”Many of us have rejected the theology of God we were raised with. For some, this has left us without a theology and without religious language. We explore theologies that may offer a new way to move into our religious home with intellectual engagement.”
0We celebrate fire in this service, thinking of what it offers as one of the basic elements of our planet. And fitting with this, we will have time for a burning bowl; a time to reflect on what to put behind us this past year, and what to move into as we look to the future. (Opening words adapted from “Out of the Flames” by Sara Eileen LaWall; includes a poem by May Sarton, and concludes with music – Romance by Shostakovich.)
0Begins with hymn Here Together, written by David Glasgow. Reading: “The Church Has Left the Building” By Margaret Weis. Sermon: Foundation of Congregants – “UU’s have a foundational belief in Congregational Polity. This means that we have no higher authority in our faith tradition than the congregation itself. This calls us to know ourselves well and to be responsible. It calls us to make promises to each other, trust each other, and commit to each other that we will care for each other. The work of the church is up to us.” Hymn reprise.
0Begins with song “Let Your Little Light Shine”. The Time for All Ages was about Creating a Home. Hymn: Return Again. Sermon on Coming Home – synopsis: “Our theme for the year is Our House of Belonging, and we will begin by welcoming you home to Northlake after a summer of wanderings. Which leads to the questions…what makes a place home? Where do you belong, and when we ultimately are alone with ourselves in life, what makes us feel a sense of belonging?” Ends with song: Love Come and Be with Me.
0Rev. Nancy leads a meditation, involving four elements: earth, sky, fire and water. Then Rev. Nancy speaks about Our UU Ancestors. Her summary: “We understand ourselves only in the context of our history, although we may not fully recognize how ancestors are foundational. This week we will talk about our ancestors, talking about why we need to know how they influence us, and then specifically introducing Hosea Ballou and William Ellory Channing, our Unitarian and our Universalist ‘fathers’.” The recording concludes with Jaie leading “We Are.”
0The recording begins with a reading of a poem by Maya Angelou, in honor of the loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Then our new music director, Jaie, leads us in singing There is a Love. Nancy shares a “Meditation on Hope and Love in a Time of Struggle” By Alice Anacheka-Nasemann, and a sermon on a Faith of the Heart and the Head – Foundational Theologies of Unitarians and Universalists. The recording closes with the hymn We Shall be Known.
0Time For All Ages: “Why Are There Protests?” Prayer from Rev. Joan Javier-Duval. Reading: “Love Is Calling” from Jess Reynolds. Reflection/Sermon: Riot is the Language of the Unheard by Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee – “What is it that America has failed to hear? We will explore the message we need to attend to. We will reflect on our response that shifts the focus from our fear and discomfort and centers on what and who have been silenced.”
0After months of quarantining we are being pushed to return to “normal”. But should we? Could we use this lesson as a way to change destructive habits? And what is the cost to the front-line workers in returning to the previous habits? Let’s look at this closer. [Recording opens with “We Are Not in the Same Boat” by an unknown author.]
0Excerpts from our Mother’s Day Online Service – opens with the song “There is a Love” sung by Dave, then Trish reads “Circle of Care” by Lisa Bovee-Kemper. Rev. Nancy shares a “Prayer For All Who Mother” by Victoria Weinstein, and her own reflection, titled Honoring Those Who Nurture.
0The Failure of Perfectionism – by Nancy Reid-McKee.
0A reflection for Stewardship Sunday.
0We have entered a time of uncertainty. This is the time between realizing we are in a crisis, but before knowing the extent of it. This time is unsettling, it is much like passing through airport security, trying to get reorganized before we board the plane for the real trip. How do we become recombobulated?
0Nancy Reid-McKee with a reflection on Chaos Theory, and the changes in our life due to coronavirus. This reflection was part of a virtual worship service on Zoom teleconferencing.
0Long-time Northlaker Diane Fennema speaks about practicing compassion in the times of coronavirus. This homily was given as part of our virtual service on Zoom on 3/29/20.
0Hard times come around for all of us. Some people get knocked down by challenges and never recover. Some are more resilient, and can bounce back to where they started. Some rise like a phoenix from the ashes – stronger than ever before. How can we build resilience in ourselves, each other, and our communities? What protective factors create the safety nets that catch us when we fall, and launch us back up onto our feet? Speaker: Janelle Durham
0Some of the hardest work we do is healing the broken world. And so, we give and we share what we have. What does the next step look like? Our prophets (not our Biblical, but our Social prophets) call us into relationship with others. That means moving closer, becoming proximate to those most broken.
0Buddhism has a term for what ails us: the hungry ghost. We desire a full life but have learned to dull our craving. How do we identify what we most need, and how do we work together to move toward satisfying this?
0We will reflect on our UU martyrs. Martyrs are those who have died for their beliefs, for their faith. We will explore the characteristics of a Saint/Martyr, and recognize those of our tradition. Sermon by Rev. Nancy Reid-McKee. Northlake Unitarian Universalist Church, Kirkland, WA
0This week, the Kirkland area is living with the presence of coronavirus in our community. We worry about over-reacting… we wonder if we should just go on about our lives as usual, knowing that for many people this virus only causes a mild illness. We worry about under-reacting. If we don’t change our behaviors, and keep going out in the world and interacting as we always do, could we increase the spread of the disease, putting many others at risk. In the spirit of compassion, and honoring the interconnectedness of all beings, we try to find a middle way.
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