Unitarian Universalists of Terre Haute

Using selections from the beloved story The Wizard of Oz and the contemporary play, Wicked, we'll explore the topic of the existence of good and evil. Come join us "My Pretty".

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Today is the first Sunday of Lent. Lent is comprised of the seven weeks leading up to Easter. Historically, it's a time when Christians re-evaluate what really matters. Although there are a few among us who hold dear a Christian theology, there are many in the UU community who don't. Whether one is drawn to Christian tenets or not, Unitarian Universalists are people of faith who value and grow from opportunities that help us to re-consider worth. On this Sunday morning, First UU joins with the White Violet Center from St. Mary of the Woods in order to launch a shared endeavor to help us practice simplicity and to encourage a "conversion of the heart."

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What comfort do we find in the noise that surrounds us? Why are we afraid of the quiet stillness?  What speaks to us in the silence? Pam Blevins Hinkle will explore these and other questions about the nature and gifts of silence.  [Note: this podcast begins with unique background music which is rather quiet on the recording itself.]

A member of the UU Church of Indianapolis, Pam is director of the Spirit & Place Festival in Indianapolis. She also teaches music improvisation at the Indiana Women’s Prison and is a member of THIN AIR, a 5-piece ensemble that improvises all its performance. Members of THIN Air will perform during the service.

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Family members who challenge our sensibilities:  So they won't just follow the rules?   Everyone family has a member that seems to follow the "beat of a different drummer" and presents many issues.

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From Football fields to hospital rooms, prayers emerge in many forms including the petitionary or plea. In fact, Hebrew and Greek words generally used for prayer mean "to request". There are many other types of prayer. Gratitude, forgiveness and simple regard are just three more. We'll explore the shapes and power of prayer.

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"To be sure, this title alone removes even the remotest possibility of my being elected President of the United States , but I will try to be definitive as to the meaning of that more-than-four-letter word."

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Research reveals we're in the midst of a paradigm shift regarding contemporary public worship. It appears that technology and fast-paced living are only two factors influencing the desire for change. What aspects of traditional worship will keep us anchored? What elements will nurture the flight of faith for generations to come? Facebook Faith? Twitter Truth? What's in store for tomorrow?

(Apologies for the odd background sound near the end of the broadcast.  This came from a visual device being used during the sermon, which was picked up by the microphone.)

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The plant world is vast and fascinating. It's especially interesting to discover how they have been incorporated into faith cultures worldwide. For example, the tulasi, an aromatic plant, is considered sacred by Hindus. During puja, the leaves are dipped in sandal paste and placed at the feet of representations of Vishnu. In Buddhism, the Lotus plant has deep symbolism. Did you know that Lotus seeds can still germinate even when they are 1300 years old and almost all parts of the lotus plant are edible? In Christianity, the humble olive has made an everlasting impact. It's a feast for the eyes and ears.

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Members of religions that do not have a creed are often asked what they believe. Answering that question can be difficult when there is no formal and rigid creed to provide easy answers to the question. It is also difficult to respond to questions about what the congregation believes. Responding to these questions is made even more difficult because the questioner’s ideas about religious beliefs can prevent communication from taking place. How can we respond to questions about our beliefs in ways that are truthful and also correctly understood by the questioner?

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Nearly every religion in the world today and in history has celebrated New Year's Day. But they have done so in every month of the year, and often bickered about what day is the beginning of the year, and why, and who gets to decide. Romans and later Christians have begun the new year on January 1st, off and on, since 150BCEish, but sometimes Jan 1st has been in early spring, even though it occurs today in the depths of the northern hemisphere winter. What day is "New Year's Day" is a fascinating question at the boundaries of culture, religion, politics, business, agriculture, math, and astronomy.

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