The Wednesday Brown Bag Sep 26

Bring your brown bag lunch to the Common Room at noon, Wednesday Sep 26.
It's a chance to discuss, really, anything that's on your mind.
Our "default" topic for Sep 26 will be some short pieces in the UUWorld, Fall 2012, pp. 5-11.

The articles are:
"Learning to Trust,"
"Souls Bold Enough to Experiment,"
"Steps Toward a Nuclear-Free World," and
"A Spiritual Oasis."

LEARNING TO TRUST

UUA President Peter Morales reflects:

"It is a lot easier to love another person than it is to trust that person. . . . Love is wonderful,"

but it's not enough.

"Love has to act. To act, to create deep and enduring relationships in a family, a congregation, or a religious movement, our love must develop into mutual trust."

If UUs trusted each other more, then,

"We would discuss less and do more."

What does it take to develop trust?

"I can only trust you if I am willing to let go of some control. I can only trust you if I stop insisting on doing everything my way. We can only earn each other's trust if we take time to know one another."

Can we do it?

SOULS BOLD ENOUGH TO EXPERIMENT

See photos of the All Souls New London congregation.
See the All Souls New London website.
The UUA web site shows the New London, CT congregation as having 214 members. The article says they have 255 members. Their new space was once a car dealership.

What do you think of these ideas from what the New London, CT congregation does or has done?

- An "energy break" in the worship service, led by the youth, involving "hoisting a volleyball net and heaving a rainbow-colored beach ball to the seated congregation."

- "The congregation installed showers in their new building so that the homeless guests could bathe."

- Taking seriously the congregation's name, "All Souls New London," the people refer to themselves as "souls." "At the end of the service, the entire congregation stands and joins hands, and [Rev. Carolyn] Patierno leads a call and response: 'Who are we?' 'All Souls!' 'We are!' 'All Souls!'"

- A dozen years ago: "At annual meetings, we used to quibble over $50, $100 expenditures . . . Nobody trusted enough of the leader so we could do bold things." However:  "Over the past decade the congregation has developed a tradition of 'deep listening' and respect for their minister, their leadership, and each other."

- "All Souls adopted new, higher expectations for members. 'Members have to pledge, participate, and show up. You don't just come when you want to; you come.'"

STEPS TOWARD A NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD

In 1987, the Allen Ave UU Church, Portland, ME, declared itself a Nuclear Free Zone. For 25 years they've been working for a world free of nuclear weapons.

The Social Action Committee works with other organizations:
Peace Action Maine
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Physicians for Social Responsibility

The congregation has hosted regional meetings, has joined a teleconference with their US Senator, and formed teams that met with both their Senators, has letter-writing campaigns.

We mind find allies in the area using resources here:
Campaign for a Nuclear Free World.

What does this example tell us about how we can do Social Justice at UUFG?

A SPIRITUAL OASIS

What do you think of the look of the UU Congregation of Phoenix, AZ? (425 members).