Nurture spirituality. Foster compassion. Engage in service.

MARCH THEME: REDEMPTION

Community Ministry

For over a decade, CUC has had one Community Minister in Affliation: Rev. Deb Morra. Now two additional Community Ministers have expressed interest in becoming affiliated with our congregation: Rev. Kelly Murphy Mason, and my spouse, Rev. LoraKim Joyner.

Who are these people, and what the heck is Community Ministry anyway? Reasonable questions. . .

Kelly is a counselor with the Psychotherapy and Spirituality Institute and also teaches at Columbia Teachers College. She lives in Riverdale with her husband, CUC member Benjamin Unger. They've both been regular attendees for worship with us on Sunday mornings since last September. Look for her during Sunday's Pancake Brunch -- say hi and get to know her.

Read more about Kelly and what Community Ministry is: CLICK HERE.

Practice of the Week

Week #11

Protect Your Brain

Toxins, inflammation = bad.

Exercise, relaxation = good.

Simple, right? Get the details.

READ MORE...

Worship Service: "Redemption Without Judgment"

Sun Mar 16 -- 10:00a

The notion of redemption in popular understanding has a lot to do with judgmentalism. What is redemption in the absence of other people judging us as having redeemed ourselves or not.

Adult R.E.: "Around the UU World" 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...

UU Christian Fellowship
Thu Mar 20 -- 7:30 - 9:00pm
Community Church of NY

"Shrouded in Mystery": a discussion of selected section of The Gospel of Thomas, and Chapter 11-12 or Ron Miller, The Gospel of Thomas: A Guidebook for Spiritual Practice.

READ MORE . . .

Compassionate Communication

Practice Group

Sat Mar 29 -- noon

Parsonage

Workshop

Sat May 10 -- 9:30a - 3:00p

CUC

Led by Rev. LoraKim Joyner, DVM

"Our Unitarian Universalist history from the 60s shows us that 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. There are weekend workshops that we could have here. We could create practice groups meeting monthly to gradually hone the skill of hearing each other with compassion. We can make that happen if we want to. Tell me. Shoot me an email, give me a call, catch me after the service. If we have the interest, we'll make it happen." (from "Nonviolent Social Change" sermon, Jan 19)

Enough of you did catch me after that service. And so we are making it happen. To build the skills we need to build that world for which we yearn:
- there's a practice group forming: first meeting Sat Mar 29,
- CUC is hosting a workshop on Sat May 10

READ MORE...

Workshop: Environmental Justice
Sat Mar 29 & Sat Apr 12
10:00a - 3:00p
4th Unitarian Society of Westchester, Lake Mohegan

Facilitated by Rev. Karen Brammer.

READ MORE . . .

Program: Bird Walk
Sun Apr 20 -- 8:30a

About the monthly Bird Walk: CLICK HERE.

Read LoraKim's report on the last Bird Walk, Sun Mar 2: CLICK HERE.

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...

* * *

To study the way is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self. To forget the self is to awaken to everything. And there you have it!

See you Sunday,

Rev. Meredith Garmon
Minister

The Liberal Pulpit

Meredith's sermons and other reflections. CLICK HERE.

New Posts this week:

"A Natural and Religious History of Compassion, Conclusion"

"Redemption"

"The Myth of Scarcity, Part 1"

"The Myth of Scarcity, Part 2"

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.