Reflections For October

October’s Theme: Foundational Beliefs

This October, we began our construction process of building our UU Theological House, the belief structures and similarities we all hold in common. First up was building the foundation of our house, our foundational beliefs. We constructed a concept of how to talk about our cosmology/theology – ultimacy. Whatever our ultimate reality is, whatever is ultimate in our concern is, functionally our god, goddess, universe. We talked about our relationship with this ultimate/intimate, and why we “worship”.

To review this month, or catch what you missed, you can view our past sermons on our YouTube page, or listen to the audio on our website.

Finally, if you haven’t already, spend some time with our Questions for Conversation and Contemplation in personal reflection or in conversation with family or friends:

  • How would you define and describe what is most ultimate in your life? (ultimate reason, intimate truth, deeper power, higher power, etc.)
  • What is your relationship with this ultimate/intimate?
  • How are you actively in relationship with it? (Or how would you like to be?)

October 13: What’s a UU God?

This past Sunday we discussed the concept of ultimacy. We pondered the proposition that it matters less if your conception of ultimate reality includes a god, goddesses or no god – and a lot more what the characteristic or nature of what that ultimate reality is. We looked to 20th century theologian Paul Tillich, who teaches us that our ultimate concern, or deepest care or concern about our world, can often point to what our concept of ultimate reality is. Rev. Kayla gave the example that she is most concerned with all having the space for connection, and the reality that oppression and division keep us apart from one another and therefore our whole selves. This aligns with her concept of a divine mystery present in connection.

We asked:

  • What are your ultimate concerns, and what is the characteristic of your ultimate reality?
  • What is your ultimate reality, and are your current concerns aligned with this, or have they gotten off track? (This is normal!)
  • Are you taking the time to be in relationship with whatever is ultimate for you? If not, or if you’d like to do this more, how might you do this
  • What practices might you start? (Remember simple, easy and repeating are the way to go!)

October 6: Why We “Worship”

This past Sunday, we worshipped the truth of our interconnectedness and how heartbreak and disaster return us to this truth, and the truth of our love for one another. We reflected that what we worship together is what is most valuable and worthy in our present time and space. When we do this wide-eyed, we can sometimes be both fully in the moment, and hovering over it, as well.

Our reading from Rev. Julián Jamaica Soto reminds us, “We are the people who return to love like a North Star and to the truth that we are greater together than we are alone.” And our choir sung a poignant refrain for our time from Melanie DeMoore, Love has made a place for you, where everything is new. Amidst disaster, love still makes us new, draws us together and calls us on.