“Come, come, whoever you are, wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. Ours is no caravan of despair. Come, yet again come.” These words from #188 in the Unitarian Universalist hymnal “Singing the Living Tradition”, are based on a poem by Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī. Born in 1207 in present day Tajikistan and influential in his own … Continue reading Ours Is No Caravan of Despair
“I have opened my mind to the open air of the universe, to things as they are,” affirmed naturalist John Burroughs. “Our life depends from moment to moment upon the air we breathe, yet its winds and tempests may destroy us; it depends from day to day upon the water we drink, yet its floods … Continue reading An Ode to the Open Air
Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) didn’t quite write “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea.” This ubiquitous quote is a Readers Digest summary of a few lines of dialogue from one of her short stories, yet it feels true about how we connect to the element of water, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and are … Continue reading Connecting with Water
What are the elements? Well, if you are talking modern science, you are talking about the chemical elements in the periodic tables! But if we look back in time, we see how the elements of earth, fire, air and water have played a huge role in many ancient cultures, often from a philosophical perspective. Some … Continue reading The Element “Earth” and What It Means to Me First Service of The Elements Series
In Part II, Steve continues to explore our relationships with trees in all their forms: as beautiful forests, as healthy environments, as lumber and paper, and as the main source of the oxygen we breathe daily. Service Coordinator: Jill Moats See all services Sermon Video Order of Service Centering Thought “There is a necessary … Continue reading If You Go Down to the Woods Today, Part II
Join us on August 18 as Steve explores our relationships with trees in all their forms: as beautiful forests, as carbon sinks, as lumber and paper, as fire, and as the main source of the oxygen we breathe daily. Service Coordinator: Christina Swindells-Nader See all services Sermon Video Order of Service Centering Thought “If … Continue reading If You Go Down to the Woods Today
Ash Burkowski, from Friends of the Living Prairie Museum, will provide an overview on why native plants are something to consider and pay attention to, including their environmental and horticultural benefits. They will discuss how natural prairies are important for climate change, preserving endangered species, and providing a way for gardeners to have a low-maintenance … Continue reading The Joys and Benefits of Native Plants
Long before the Unitarian Universalist Association adopted its current statement of principles, which affirms “respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part,” John Ruskin Clark was urging us to adopt a new worldview that found the unity of being in what he called the great living system. “Life is … Continue reading Weaving the Interdependent Web
The Unitarian Universalist 7th principle is “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.” Biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change are changing nature at an alarming rate. Is “respect” enough to preserve nature, our life support system? Drawing on the “Milestone document” for Canada’s 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy, in … Continue reading Biodiversity and the Interdependent Web – Going Beyond Respect
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,” Job declared after lamenting that he was a laughingstock to his friends. I find myself increasingly drawn to wild places and the creatures that inhabit them. On World Wildlife Day, we will reflect on how the wildlife that surrounds us enhances our lives and teaches us … Continue reading Life on the Wild Side
