http://www.oruuc.org Another Nifty Geeklog Site admin@oruuc.org admin@oruuc.org Copyright 2010 Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church GeekLog Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:19:57 -0500 en-gb http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100309131930172 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100309131930172 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:19:30 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100309131930172#comments Sunday Services What We Owe Our Stuff Rev. Jake Morrill, leading both services Materialism is the sin that be-sets our age, impoverishing our lives through misdirected acquisition. And yet, the answer is not in pursuing the ethereal life, disconnected from the world of things--separate from stuff. What does the uncluttered soul look like in relationship with cherished things? How can we be in right relationship with our stuff? http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=20100309131930172 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100303155846885 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100303155846885 Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:58:46 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100303155846885#comments Sunday Services What We Owe Abundance March 7, 2010 Rev. Jake Morrill, leading both services Our minds are oriented toward complaint--and perhaps our words, too--but the truth is that we are the recipients of so many gifts, not excluding our ability to take one more breath. And then another. On this day, we will reorient ourselves toward gratitude for having received so very much. And then we will find ourselves challenged: having received an infinite amount of treasure, what on earth in our short lives could we do to repay it? http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=20100303155846885 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100224124930799 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100224124930799 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:49:30 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100224124930799#comments Sunday Services Psalm in the Storm February 28, 2010 Rev. Jake Bohstedt Morrill, leading both services No matter our positive thoughts on sunny days, times come when the rain won't stop, when we're caught in a storm. In times of challenge, some of us may secretly envy those of an authoritarian faith, who have something solid to cling to when times are hard. How can we, of a free faith, stand firm in our faith when we are challenged, when hard times come? How can the hopeful faith of Unitarian Universalism engage the reality of evil? http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=20100224124930799 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=2010021609305155 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=2010021609305155 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 09:30:51 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=2010021609305155#comments Sunday Services Psalm in the Highway Members of ORUUC As Jake preaches at the new UU congregation in Maryville, members of our community will share their stories of overcoming obstacles and learning the practice of reverence, each in their own different way in the journey. http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=2010021609305155 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100209113253582 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100209113253582 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:32:53 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100209113253582#comments Sunday Services "Psalm in the City" Rev. Jake Bohstedt Morrill and the Welcoming Congregation Team, co-leading both services The Bible begins with the simple and pastoral society of Adam and Eve and concludes with the complex fever dream, the urban visions, of the Book of Revelation. Our world in the twenty-first century is more like the latter--a tapestry of cultures, values, and lives which defy simple reduction. Throughout this diversity, Unitarian Universalism asserts the unity of love. On this Valentine's Day, along with many of our sister congregations, we will take the chance to affirm our faith in a wider love that encompasses each person and each family, and fuels our work toward aligning the world with the reality of this love. Because this will be a service about justice, this will be a service about love. http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=20100209113253582 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100203145235706 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100203145235706 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:52:35 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100203145235706#comments Sunday Services Psalm in the Swamp February 7, 2010 Rev. Jake Bohstedt Morrill, leading both services Science and religion are often foolishly pitted against each other. But in this age of environmental disaster, we need a worldview that unites the world as it is with the world as it ought to be--that links facts and values. As we begin this month of reverence, we'll explore a theology built from the stuff of creation, that does not reject life, but revels in it. http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=20100203145235706 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122114608870 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122114608870 Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:46:08 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122114608870#comments Sunday Services January 31, 2009 Recovery: When We Break Our Promises Rev. Jake Bohstedt Morrill, leading both services Well, as it turns out, making promises is easier than keeping them. But, good luck: when we inevitably fail in our quest for perfection, what really matters is how we respond. Do we give up? Do we despair? Or do we take a breath, come to center, and go on with intention. How can we do this? http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=20100122114608870 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122113822970 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122113822970 Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:38:22 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122113822970#comments Sunday Services January 24, 2009 Hope: A Promise We Make in the Dark Caitlin Cotter and Rev. Jake Bohstedt Morrill, co-leading both services Winter is a time of cold and darkness, when the joyful evidence of life can be hard to find. After the celebrations of the turning of the year are over, where do we look for meaning in this season? What is winter's power and potential, and how is it important for our personal journeys? Caitlin S. Cotter is a third generation UU and a native Tennessean. After graduating from Bryn Mawr College in 2008, Caitlin spent a year as a professional environmentalist and now is working as a batik artist. In January, she'll take part in a social justice residency at The Mountain before beginning seminary studies in the fall, toward UU ministry. http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=20100122113822970 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122113737459 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122113737459 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:37:37 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122113737459#comments Sunday Services January 17, 2009: Martin Luther King, Jr, Sunday Vision: A Promise We Make to Our Grandchildren The Youth Group, leading both services At the Ministry Vision session last fall, a leading theme of people’s hopes was greater youth involvement and leadership. ORUUC is blessed by strong youth leaders, who have a keen eye on the present and the future of UUism. Today, we’ll hear news from the front-lines of our faith. http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=20100122113737459 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122113454766 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122113454766 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:34:00 -0500 http://www.oruuc.org/article.php?story=20100122113454766#comments Sunday Services January 10, 2009: Bring-a-Friend Sunday Ubuntu: A Promise We Make to Each Other Rev. Jake Bohstedt Morrill, leading both services Ubuntu is a Xhosa concept from South Africa that describes a sense of community and human interdependence.  Speaking of 'Ubuntu,' South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has said, 'The solitary human being is a contradiction in terms and therefore you seek to work for the common good because your humanity comes into its own in belonging.'  On this Sunday, come to experience the 'Ubuntu' of ORUUC and to feel fully human in your belonging. http://www.oruuc.org/trackback.php?id=20100122113454766