Nurture spirituality. Foster compassion. Engage in service.

April Theme: Freedom

Engage in Service

You've probably heard the story of the young girl walking along a beach one morning. She discovers that many thousands, maybe a million, starfish have washed ashore. She begins picking up beached star fish and throwing them back into the ocean. A passerby points out that the number of starfish is overwhelming. "How can you possibly make a difference?" he asks.

The girl replies, tossing another starfish, "Makes a difference to that one."

You've probably heard that one. You might not have heard this continuation:

Just then the man saw a shark emerge and gulp down the starfish just as it was reaching the water's surface. Later, back home, he related the full story to his partner. "I guess it didn't even make a difference to that one starfish," he said.

His partner replied, "The difference it made was to the girl. Acts of kindness transform the doer into a person in caring connection with her world -- instead of a person oblivious, alienated, and disconnected. That's huge."

Indeed. That's huge.

Practice of the Week

Week #14

Take More Breaks

Last week's practice was, "Say yes." This week, say no. Say no to the constant, CONSTANT busy-ness. Taking breaks is good for you. Say no to constant work so that you can say yes to your own well-being, to friends, to spiritual practice, to recreation, and other activities that really feed you.

READ MORE...

Worship Service: "Congregation-Based Community Organizing"

Sun Apr 6 -- 10:00a

How Congregations can best make a positive difference in the world, how we can also transform ourselves while transforming the world -- and how we can live our faith.

Two Really Great Workshops in May:
May 10 & May 17

1. Sat May 10 -- 9:30a - 3:00p
CUC
Compassionate Communication
Led by Rev. LoraKim Joyner, DVM

"It's not enough to want to be compassionate, to want to stand for justice. We have to learn how. We have to learn the skills to hear each other with compassion.

"Cognitive brain learns quickly. Limbic brain is slow and needs a lot of practice, and it's limbic brain that needs the training."
(from "Nonviolent Social Change" sermon, Jan 19)

This workshop begins the vital training in the art of Compassionate Communication.

READ MORE...

2. Sat May 17 -- 8:30a - 4:00p
CUC
Beyond the Golden Rule?
A New Model for Intercultural Competency

Please join me at this important workshop.

We live in a multicultural world -- and we aren't always the most skillful in doing our part to make this reality a good one for ourselves and for those who are different from us.

READ MORE...

Cost: $20 (scholarships available). To register and pay,CLICK HERE.

Cool Bullets

Perry Montrose will be our next DRE. READ MORE...

The Prospectus for Journey Groups. READ MORE...

Wed Apr 16. Brown Bag Lunch. READ MORE...

Wed Apr 16. New Earth-Based Spirituality Group for all Westchester UUs. READ MORE...

About Rev. Kelly Murphy Mason. READ MORE...

Sat Apr 12. Second part of UU Environmental Justice Workshop. READ MORE...

Sun Apr 20: Bird Walk with LoraKim. READ MORE...

UU Regionalization. READ MORE...

Wed Jun 25: General Assembly begins. READ MORE...

* * *

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes to that. Yes to that, too. Oh, definitely yes to that!

See you Sunday,

Rev. Meredith Garmon
Minister

The Liberal Pulpit

Meredith's sermons and other reflections. CLICK HERE.

New Posts this week:

Diremption Redemption, Conclusion

Nurture Perfection

Paying More Attention

Basement Zendo

You're welcome to sit with, and hear Zen talks by, Meredith at the Basement Zendo in the Parsonage. CLICK HERE.

Index:

CUC Matters

Index page for all the articles on "CUC Matters."

CLICK HERE.

TWITTER

On Twitter, follow "CUCWP".

FACEBOOK

If you haven't yet "liked" the CUC Facebook page, CLICK HERE.

1. Click "Like."
2. Hover mouse over "Liked" button (without clicking). A menu will pop up.
3. Select "Get Notifications" and "Show in News Feed."
4. Select "Settings..." and select "All Updates."

The Five Foundational Spiritual Practices

Journal daily.

Study daily.

Silence daily.

Group monthly.

Mindfulness always.