Source: 16 Children’s Books For ‘Spiritual But Not Religious’ Families
Joy Berry: Visioning For the Future of Religious Education and Family Ministry
I love the way Joy thinks about religious education and thoroughly enjoyed reading her words.
Everywhere I turn, conversation about the future of the church and organized religion and even Unitarian Universalism in America is happening. Some believe faith communities are in danger of extinction; some believe that it’s only a matter of time, unless we chart a new course. I believe that people always have been and always will be in need of sacred spaces and experiences, a tribe, and a way to make meaning of their lives. (And help with the children, forever and ever, amen.) Whether we have the will and the energy to make sure our churches can still do all those things is an open question, but a hopeful one. After all, it’s ours to do, and no one can stop us, should we decide to focus our energy on making the church more responsive, more finely tuned to the needs of today’s congregants. We can decide to consider how…
View original post 909 more words
Posted by Barry on February 18, 2016
https://gatheredbythefire.org/2016/02/18/joy-berry-visioning-for-the-future-of-religious-education-and-family-ministry/
When Hate Stays in the Closet
One of the best constructed responses to marriage equality opponents. Best thing I have ready today.
answering the most sympathetic and reasonable arguments against same-sex marriage
I found the Marriage Conservation Facebook page when one of my FB friends linked to something “hateful” posted there. And it’s true, you don’t have to read very far to find nasty comments cloaked in self-righteousness.
But that’s not what I found interesting.
In general, I try to discourage my friends from winding themselves up by seeking out other people’s bile. Once in a while I run into some blessedly innocent person who doesn’t understand the depth of irrational hatred in the world, and who (sadly) needs to be disillusioned a little. But I believe that for most of us, the idea that there are crazy, nasty, ugly people on the other side comes to mind far too easily.
What’s harder to hold in mind is all the good, decent, well-meaning people who are trying their best to do the…
View original post 2,482 more words
Posted by Barry on February 16, 2015
https://gatheredbythefire.org/2015/02/16/when-hate-stays-in-the-closet/
More Love Somewhere: The unedited hymn
A wonderfully thoughtful and inspired piece about this beautiful song and our propensity to change the lyrics.
I have long been uneasy with a recent practice among Unitarian Universalists of singing changed words to a particular song in Singing the Living Tradition, the hymnal published by the Unitarian Universalist Association.
Granted, we are always changing words to make them more palatable and therefore singable in our congregations. We free original hymns of their sexism and God-talk, for example, in an effort for our worship to be more inclusive.
The changed lyrics I am thinking of are to the old African American song, “There Is More Love Somewhere.” I have heard it sung by UUs as “There is more love right here.”
And as much explaining as I have done from the pulpit about understanding and respecting the history and context of the song, I field questions from congregation members who protest the song’s words when we sing it as is.
There is much to be troubled…
View original post 1,096 more words
Posted by Barry on November 2, 2014
https://gatheredbythefire.org/2014/11/02/more-love-somewhere-the-unedited-hymn/