Matimoju Femi 24 January at 19:00
Lord, I just want to say THANK YOU, because this morning I woke up and knew where my children were. Because this morning my home was still standing, because this morning I am not crying because my husband, my child, my brother or sister needs to be buried out from underneath a pile of concrete, because this morning I was able to drink a glass of water, because this morning I was able to turn on the light, because this morning I was able to take a shower, because this morning I was not planning a funeral, but most of all I thank you this morning because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Haiti. Lord I cry out to you, the one that makes the impossible, possible, the one that turns darkness in to light, I cry out that you give those mothers strength, that you give them peace that surpasses all understanding, that you may open the streets so that help can come, that you may provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all that they need in a blink of an eye. For all those that have lost family members, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue to go on! Protect the children and shield them with your power.. I pray all this in the name of Jesus!!! To all my friends please continue to forward this so that we can pray together for the people in Haiti. We here are truly blessed!!!!!. Matimoju Femi...First Unitarian, Lagos Nigeria.
Monday, 25 January 2010
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Worship Materials on Haiti from UK Unitarian
FOR HAITI – JANUARY 2010
O God,
who is the impulse to love and
compassion in human hearts,
in the face of suffering on
an unimaginable scale,
in the face of the disaster in
Haiti that has taken so many lives
and could yet take so many more,
move us to love and generosity of spirit
for our neighbours in that shattered land.
So might we do what we can to bring your
love to bear upon them in their great affliction.
Amen.
(CMR170110)
LIGHTEN OUR DARKNESS
(Chalice-lighting)
“Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord...” :
darkness of despair in the face of untold horror;
darkness of the closed heart and the closed hand;
darkness that only love, given and received, can penetrate and dispel.
FOR THE DEAD OF HAITI...
(Opening Words)
For the dead of Haiti, peace.
For the bereaved, comfort.
For the survivors, hope – and help.
For the helpers, of all faiths and nations, strength –
and the willingness to stay the course.
May this be our prayer as we worship here today.
(CMR200110)
Cliff Reed
17th & 20th January 2010
O God,
who is the impulse to love and
compassion in human hearts,
in the face of suffering on
an unimaginable scale,
in the face of the disaster in
Haiti that has taken so many lives
and could yet take so many more,
move us to love and generosity of spirit
for our neighbours in that shattered land.
So might we do what we can to bring your
love to bear upon them in their great affliction.
Amen.
(CMR170110)
LIGHTEN OUR DARKNESS
(Chalice-lighting)
“Lighten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord...” :
darkness of despair in the face of untold horror;
darkness of the closed heart and the closed hand;
darkness that only love, given and received, can penetrate and dispel.
FOR THE DEAD OF HAITI...
(Opening Words)
For the dead of Haiti, peace.
For the bereaved, comfort.
For the survivors, hope – and help.
For the helpers, of all faiths and nations, strength –
and the willingness to stay the course.
May this be our prayer as we worship here today.
(CMR200110)
Cliff Reed
17th & 20th January 2010
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
After the Earthquake in Haiti - Prayer
North American colleague John Gibb Millspaugh wrote this prayer regarding the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake that was used in worship this past Sunday in various Unitarian Universalist congregations in the USA and in the Unitarian church in Horsham, England.
It is shared here with John’s blessing in case other communities would like to make use of it. He is happy for you to adapt it and revise it as desired or appropriate.
"After the Earthquake in Haiti, January 12 2010"
By Rev. John Gibb Millspaugh, Co-minister, Winchester Unitarian Society, Winchester, MA, USA
A Haitian prayer book, entitled God Is No Stranger, includes the following
words:
"Father, I have learned that one strong in calculation is called a 'mathematician.'
You are the greatest mathematician
because You can count all the people yet still see each one of us."
Those words find new poignancy
in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, in which tens of thousands of people lost their lives, and many others lost their homes, their families and loved ones.
We who have watched from afar have felt helpless, powerless, in the face of this tragedy, forgetting that we do have the capacity to make a difference, one life at a time.
Let us enter that space of silence and honesty known by many names.
Let us pray.
Spirit of Life; Sacred Web of Life, Death, and Renewal:
Our hearts are open to all who suffer as a result of the earthquake.
We see-on our televisions and computer screens and in our newspapers- the shattered buildings, the hastily erected shanty towns, survivors struggling to find their kin, or just food or water or medicine; so many lives in ruins.
We know about the country's staggering poverty that preceded this most recent disaster; we are keenly aware of our own privilege.
In these times we stand confused before the global forces that shape our lives, in awe before the mystery.
Spirit of Life and Love,
even as we have witnessed death sweep the landscape, we know that life renews itself, and renews itself even now, as human good springs up in the face of disaster, and people reach out to one another across neighborhoods, across oceans, serving one another across every difference.
We pray for the people of Haiti,
that they know the people of the world stand with them as they face the challenges ahead.
We pray for those who work with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and other relief organizations,
that they may act from ongoing wisdom, and courage, and compassion.
We pray for ourselves and other people living in comfort, that our hearts might be touched yet again to generously support human beings facing a terrible tragedy we cannot comprehend, but that they must live through.
May we open our hearts and our wallets to them, as they work to rebuild what they can.
Spirit of Life; Web of Life, Death, and Renewal, We pray, too, for our personal struggles, which matter even though others always face greater challenges than ours.
There are those among us in this community who are sick, those of us who are grieving, Those of us who have not yet discovered our substantial power to bless the world.
We pray for support amidst our struggles, that we might find the courage and grace to move closer to healing and the sacred potential of our lives.
We pray for strength, and finally we pray for gratitude:
for all that is not lost, for all that can be rebuilt, for our chance to play our part, for the ever-renewing powers of life.
And we join in this time of silence, in which we lift up the meditations of
our hearts.
Shalom, Salaam, Namaste, Blessed Be, and Amen.
It is shared here with John’s blessing in case other communities would like to make use of it. He is happy for you to adapt it and revise it as desired or appropriate.
"After the Earthquake in Haiti, January 12 2010"
By Rev. John Gibb Millspaugh, Co-minister, Winchester Unitarian Society, Winchester, MA, USA
A Haitian prayer book, entitled God Is No Stranger, includes the following
words:
"Father, I have learned that one strong in calculation is called a 'mathematician.'
You are the greatest mathematician
because You can count all the people yet still see each one of us."
Those words find new poignancy
in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, in which tens of thousands of people lost their lives, and many others lost their homes, their families and loved ones.
We who have watched from afar have felt helpless, powerless, in the face of this tragedy, forgetting that we do have the capacity to make a difference, one life at a time.
Let us enter that space of silence and honesty known by many names.
Let us pray.
Spirit of Life; Sacred Web of Life, Death, and Renewal:
Our hearts are open to all who suffer as a result of the earthquake.
We see-on our televisions and computer screens and in our newspapers- the shattered buildings, the hastily erected shanty towns, survivors struggling to find their kin, or just food or water or medicine; so many lives in ruins.
We know about the country's staggering poverty that preceded this most recent disaster; we are keenly aware of our own privilege.
In these times we stand confused before the global forces that shape our lives, in awe before the mystery.
Spirit of Life and Love,
even as we have witnessed death sweep the landscape, we know that life renews itself, and renews itself even now, as human good springs up in the face of disaster, and people reach out to one another across neighborhoods, across oceans, serving one another across every difference.
We pray for the people of Haiti,
that they know the people of the world stand with them as they face the challenges ahead.
We pray for those who work with the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee and other relief organizations,
that they may act from ongoing wisdom, and courage, and compassion.
We pray for ourselves and other people living in comfort, that our hearts might be touched yet again to generously support human beings facing a terrible tragedy we cannot comprehend, but that they must live through.
May we open our hearts and our wallets to them, as they work to rebuild what they can.
Spirit of Life; Web of Life, Death, and Renewal, We pray, too, for our personal struggles, which matter even though others always face greater challenges than ours.
There are those among us in this community who are sick, those of us who are grieving, Those of us who have not yet discovered our substantial power to bless the world.
We pray for support amidst our struggles, that we might find the courage and grace to move closer to healing and the sacred potential of our lives.
We pray for strength, and finally we pray for gratitude:
for all that is not lost, for all that can be rebuilt, for our chance to play our part, for the ever-renewing powers of life.
And we join in this time of silence, in which we lift up the meditations of
our hearts.
Shalom, Salaam, Namaste, Blessed Be, and Amen.
Saturday, 16 January 2010
News from Unitarians in Indonesia
Dear ICUU friends,
On behalf of Unitarian Christian Church of Indonesia (JAGI Church), let me share the result of our 3rd National Meeting, December 24-27, 2009 :
1. We have new board for 2010-2015, who is :
Chairman of High-Council : Elder Tjahjadi Nugroho Secretary of High-Council : Elder Kristanto Tjahjasaputra
Chairman of Elder Board : Elder Nathan Tjahjasaputra Secretary of Elder Board : Elder Ellen Christiani (Ellen Kristi)
President of Executive Body : Elder Aryanto Nugroho Vice-President : Elder Tirto Sujoko General Secretary : Elder Mosye Adam Vice-Secretary : Ester Treasurer : Oktino Setyo Irawan
++ some departments inside the Executive Body
The High-council will responsible for the teaching of the church The Elder board will responsible for the development and control of the work of Elder The Executive Body will responsible for day-to-day activity of the Church The contact person of the church for international movement is still me, since i was chosen as President of Executive body. We hope that the good relation between ICUU and JAGI (UCCI), will flourish in the coming year :)
2. We have formally agreed to use the name UNITARIAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF INDONESIA as our international name.
This is our brief information about our last National Meeting, please pray for the work of the new board and keep in touch.
Best wishes,
Aryanto Nugroho
President of Executive Body of UCCI
Indonesia
On behalf of Unitarian Christian Church of Indonesia (JAGI Church), let me share the result of our 3rd National Meeting, December 24-27, 2009 :
1. We have new board for 2010-2015, who is :
Chairman of High-Council : Elder Tjahjadi Nugroho Secretary of High-Council : Elder Kristanto Tjahjasaputra
Chairman of Elder Board : Elder Nathan Tjahjasaputra Secretary of Elder Board : Elder Ellen Christiani (Ellen Kristi)
President of Executive Body : Elder Aryanto Nugroho Vice-President : Elder Tirto Sujoko General Secretary : Elder Mosye Adam Vice-Secretary : Ester Treasurer : Oktino Setyo Irawan
++ some departments inside the Executive Body
The High-council will responsible for the teaching of the church The Elder board will responsible for the development and control of the work of Elder The Executive Body will responsible for day-to-day activity of the Church The contact person of the church for international movement is still me, since i was chosen as President of Executive body. We hope that the good relation between ICUU and JAGI (UCCI), will flourish in the coming year :)
2. We have formally agreed to use the name UNITARIAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF INDONESIA as our international name.
This is our brief information about our last National Meeting, please pray for the work of the new board and keep in touch.
Best wishes,
Aryanto Nugroho
President of Executive Body of UCCI
Indonesia
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Season of Hope: Message from ICUU President
Dear U*U Friends around the Globe,
It seems to be a good day to sit down and write a seasonal message to you all. In Canada, the traditional Christmas comes with the snow and cold weather you often see in Hollywood portrayals of the holidays. A week ago we received about a third of a metre of snow, and on December 13 my home city of Edmonton, Alberta recorded an overnight temperature of -46C making us briefly the coldest place on the planet! Our pride is mixed with our concern for those who must survive homelessness in this harsh setting and like so many good people, Unitarians are working hard to help provide the necessities for our neighbours in need.
This is of course, only one of the unusual natural phenomena. A volcano is erupting in the Philippines and Australia is facing another summer season of devastating fires due to drought.
I scan the newspapers and Internet and see so many issues of global concern. There are, of course, the Copenhagen talks on climate change. If not doomed to failure, they will likely produce only a very limited success as developed and developing nations square off over money driven issues. If there is hope to be had, I suppose it is that they are talking at all. That cannot be underestimated. It is only by talking, or perhaps more accurately, it is only by listening deeply to the deep truths of others that we have any hope of finding some safety, some ‘redemption’ to use a good religious word.
But for so many, this is the season of hope, whether you celebrate the hopefulness of the birth of the baby Jesus, the miracle of the temple lamps, or the death and rebirth of the ancient gods.
On behalf of the Executive and Staff of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, I want to wish you the happiest of holiday seasons, warmed by family and friends, deepened by faith and made magical by hope renewed.
May peace, prosperity and love be your guides and your companions in this season.
May you awake on Christmas Day with a renewed sense of hope and purpose sustained by your deepest beliefs, and may your wishes be fulfilled abundantly.
Brian Kiely
President, ICUU
It seems to be a good day to sit down and write a seasonal message to you all. In Canada, the traditional Christmas comes with the snow and cold weather you often see in Hollywood portrayals of the holidays. A week ago we received about a third of a metre of snow, and on December 13 my home city of Edmonton, Alberta recorded an overnight temperature of -46C making us briefly the coldest place on the planet! Our pride is mixed with our concern for those who must survive homelessness in this harsh setting and like so many good people, Unitarians are working hard to help provide the necessities for our neighbours in need.
This is of course, only one of the unusual natural phenomena. A volcano is erupting in the Philippines and Australia is facing another summer season of devastating fires due to drought.
I scan the newspapers and Internet and see so many issues of global concern. There are, of course, the Copenhagen talks on climate change. If not doomed to failure, they will likely produce only a very limited success as developed and developing nations square off over money driven issues. If there is hope to be had, I suppose it is that they are talking at all. That cannot be underestimated. It is only by talking, or perhaps more accurately, it is only by listening deeply to the deep truths of others that we have any hope of finding some safety, some ‘redemption’ to use a good religious word.
But for so many, this is the season of hope, whether you celebrate the hopefulness of the birth of the baby Jesus, the miracle of the temple lamps, or the death and rebirth of the ancient gods.
On behalf of the Executive and Staff of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists, I want to wish you the happiest of holiday seasons, warmed by family and friends, deepened by faith and made magical by hope renewed.
May peace, prosperity and love be your guides and your companions in this season.
May you awake on Christmas Day with a renewed sense of hope and purpose sustained by your deepest beliefs, and may your wishes be fulfilled abundantly.
Brian Kiely
President, ICUU
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
The Spiritual Message of Polly Guild
Thinking of her a month after her departure
THE SPIRITUAL MESSAGE OF POLLY GUILD
The history of the Unitarians, our history, goes in parallel to large historical cycles marked by the birth of new paradigms of science and culture that our "prophets",” martyrs", "saints" promoted. Darwin is one who illustrates better this idea. We are a movement that walks with the "men of goodwill" or with our human family in exploring new possibilities of existence.
Polly Guild embodies the feeling of our liberal faith, for this time of globalization, in which we are interdependent beings, in which it doesn´t matter to which country we belong, but we have a common responsibility as humans to our planet, our common home and our common family. That is why we gather in the ICUU and why she dedicated her life to organize it.
The Latin Americans also received encouragement from Polly Guild, through beautiful letters that she sent to us, keeping us in touch with the larger Unitarian movement, encouraging our hearts and minds to organize Unitarian groups, so we can foster a world spirit of fraternity and unity. (This is the significance of the word Unitarian, not only to oppose the Trinity, but to sponsor the Unity)
That Unitarian Universalist spirit is the richest legacy left us by Polly Guild. We have to keep it, take care and develop it, as a present for the human family.
But besides this, for whom that had the privilege to know her personally, she leaves us her tenderness, the enormous amount of love that was always in her look, which despite her death continues to accompany us in our long walk of life.
Although we feel sorrow for her absence, we understand that these mutations are part of life, and therefore we who are committed to her spiritual message remain united in ICUU.
With gratitude and affection we say farewell to her as her spirit sustains us on this new journey,
With love,
Olga Flores from Bolivia
THE SPIRITUAL MESSAGE OF POLLY GUILD
The history of the Unitarians, our history, goes in parallel to large historical cycles marked by the birth of new paradigms of science and culture that our "prophets",” martyrs", "saints" promoted. Darwin is one who illustrates better this idea. We are a movement that walks with the "men of goodwill" or with our human family in exploring new possibilities of existence.
Polly Guild embodies the feeling of our liberal faith, for this time of globalization, in which we are interdependent beings, in which it doesn´t matter to which country we belong, but we have a common responsibility as humans to our planet, our common home and our common family. That is why we gather in the ICUU and why she dedicated her life to organize it.
The Latin Americans also received encouragement from Polly Guild, through beautiful letters that she sent to us, keeping us in touch with the larger Unitarian movement, encouraging our hearts and minds to organize Unitarian groups, so we can foster a world spirit of fraternity and unity. (This is the significance of the word Unitarian, not only to oppose the Trinity, but to sponsor the Unity)
That Unitarian Universalist spirit is the richest legacy left us by Polly Guild. We have to keep it, take care and develop it, as a present for the human family.
But besides this, for whom that had the privilege to know her personally, she leaves us her tenderness, the enormous amount of love that was always in her look, which despite her death continues to accompany us in our long walk of life.
Although we feel sorrow for her absence, we understand that these mutations are part of life, and therefore we who are committed to her spiritual message remain united in ICUU.
With gratitude and affection we say farewell to her as her spirit sustains us on this new journey,
With love,
Olga Flores from Bolivia
Monday, 9 November 2009
Polly Guild's Sense of Mission
The Rev. Polly Guild died at her home near Boston MA on November 7. She was the Minister Emerita of the Follen, Massachusetts, Unitarian Church, and one of the founders of the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists. She and her husband Ted Guild were dedicated UU's and long-time international enthusiasts. In the late 1980's they combined these interests when they accepted the task of International Co-ordinators for the UUA, as volunteers. In this role they made contact with most of the existing U-U organizations and groups in the world, and were instrumental in helping to plan and fund the founding meeting of the ICUU. Polly worked with the ICUU as volunteer program coordinator for many years, she helped develop the first ICUU web site, took care of archives, and helped to make the ICUU known within the UUA.
Many ICUU member congregations and leaders were personal friends of Polly's. She sponsored students and helped ministers in need, she contributed to building projects in India, a community bank in the Philippines, she was a beloved mentor to U-U's in Pakistan, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Khasi Hills, and more. Through these relations and projects her goodwill will continue to help Unitarian-Universalism grow and prosper for many years to come. We will miss her presence, but her spirit will live on through us.
ICUU Program Co-ordinator Jill McAllister paid tribute to her writing: “Polly Guild was a mentor for me, and a good friend, for more than 15 years. Her dedication to the wide-world of Unitarian Universalism, and to the global U-U movement, inspired and instructed me. We worked together in ICUU meetings and conferences around the world, and in UUA events and programs here at home. Her easy way of being a friend and supporter to so many is one of the things I will always remember, and I hope that some of that friendly spirit of hers will live on in me and through me as we continue the work which was so important to her.”
Many ICUU member congregations and leaders were personal friends of Polly's. She sponsored students and helped ministers in need, she contributed to building projects in India, a community bank in the Philippines, she was a beloved mentor to U-U's in Pakistan, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Khasi Hills, and more. Through these relations and projects her goodwill will continue to help Unitarian-Universalism grow and prosper for many years to come. We will miss her presence, but her spirit will live on through us.
ICUU Program Co-ordinator Jill McAllister paid tribute to her writing: “Polly Guild was a mentor for me, and a good friend, for more than 15 years. Her dedication to the wide-world of Unitarian Universalism, and to the global U-U movement, inspired and instructed me. We worked together in ICUU meetings and conferences around the world, and in UUA events and programs here at home. Her easy way of being a friend and supporter to so many is one of the things I will always remember, and I hope that some of that friendly spirit of hers will live on in me and through me as we continue the work which was so important to her.”
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