Nurture spirituality. Foster compassion. Engage in service.

THEME OF THE MONTH FOR FEBRUARY: RELIGIOUS AUTHORITY

The Brand!

A new UUA 7-page report called, "The UUA Brand Story," notes: "After many coffee hour conversations, sit-down meetings, and hallway dialogues, we learned that we need to address the inconsistent signals of our brand. We need to rethink the story we are telling about Unitarian Universalism within our own communities and the wider world."

Read the the report (flashplayer): CLICK HERE.

"Better branding" simply means doing a better job of telling the story about what Unitarian Universalism is. One step is a new UUA logo (at right). The previous logo (adopted circa 2006), is at the top right of this email, and the logo before that (the one that's on our hymnal) is at top left.

The UUA report says: "We recognize that a logo is not a brand, but it is the first step among many the Unitarian Universalist Association plans to take to reshape, revision, and reframe the story and the brand of us....This is the beginning of a long transformative journey to tell the story of us and inspire individuals to join that journey."

READ MORE...

Practice of the Week

Week #8

Get More Sleep

Over 12 years ago, when I was a new at Buddhist meditation as my spiritual practice, LoraKim would joke with me that her spiritual practice was napping. She spoke of opening a facility to be called the "Siesta Spiritual Practice Center."

Turns out it's no joke. Getting more sleep really is a spiritual practice.

READ MORE...

Worship Service: "Natural and Religious History of Compassion"

Sun Feb 23 -- 10:00a

The news is good. Compassion emerged from the faith instinct, and it has been evolving, growing, and spreading. We are getting better able to be caring toward strangers -- not just our own families and tribes.

It's taking us thousands of years, but we actually are, very slowly, beating swords into plowshares.

Adult R.E.: "Behind the Kitchen Door"

Sun Feb 23 -- 11:35 - 1:20p

Fellowship Hall

We'll discuss and explore restaurant justice, and we'll look at Saru Jayarman, Behind the Kitchen Door -- the UUA Common Read for 2013-14.

Bring a Brown Bag Lunch!

Order the book (from Amazon: CLICK HERE).

Read the ROC (Restuarant Opportunity Center) Diner's Guide to Ethical Eating: HERE.

Check out the UUA 2011 Statement of Conscience on Ethical Eating: CLICK HERE.

Music: Concert

Sun Feb 23 -- 3:00p

Sanctuary

CUC Music Director Adam Kent teams up with clarinetist Enid Blount Press, cellist Adrian Dourov, and violinist Elena Peres in chamber music classics by Grieg, Brahms, and others.

Suggested donation $20 ($10 for Seniors & Students)

SEE FLYER...

Program: Bird Walk
Sun Mar 2 -- 8:30a

Read LoraKim's report on the Feb 9 Bird Walk: CLICK HERE.

You can also see her report on the Jan 5 Bird Walk: CLICK HERE.

Adult R.E.: "Around the UUWorld" Brown Bag Lunch

Wed Mar 19 -- noon

Fireside Area of Sanctuary

Bring your lunch and join me to discuss a recent article from our denominational magazine, the UUWorld.

For Wed Mar 19 we'll discuss "Political Empathy" (from the 2013 Winter issue. CLICK HERE.)

For questions to consider: READ MORE...

Cluster Program: Beyond the Golden Rule?
Sat May 17
CUC

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.

Denominational: General Assembly

Wed Jun 25 - Sun Jun 29

Providence, RI

What are you doing this upcoming Jun 25-29? I'll be in Providence, RI, and it sure would be great to have you there with me!
READ MORE...

Report: Buildings and Grounds

From Tim Lynch: "Wolff [our contractor] advises that WP Plumbing inspector Mullins will be on site Fri Feb 21 for inspection of Wolff's installation. Once approved, Con Ed will be notified to complete its work. They previously said that they would require up to two weeks to complete their work."

* * *

Yours in the faith we share,

Rev. Meredith Garmon
Minister

The Liberal Pulpit

Meredith's sermons and other reflections. CLICK HERE.

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.
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The Five Foundational Spiritual Practices

Journal daily.

Study daily.

Silence daily.

Group monthly.

Mindfulness always.