Expanding Horizons

Unitarians and Prayer

Today, Jennie, in her first address as our newly-appointed Lay Leader, reflects on the nature and purposes of prayer - both traditionally within mainstream Christian churches and within our own. Traditional forms of prayer are premised on an underlying assumption that there is consensus amongst church goers about commonly held beliefs. Jennie contrasts this with the purpose of prayer - or its absence - in the lives of many Unitarians - free as we are - to follow our own spiritual paths and beliefs. This includes the place of prayer in our lives - or its absence. She quotes from the words of one of today's songs about prayer -  "everyone prays in the end". "Well - is that so?" She asks. Unitarian prayerfulness is more likely to be manifested in "mental prayer" and meditation. Jennie proposes that prayer resides instinctively in the souls of most people - even we Unitarians! Listen on!

Faith - or foolishness?

Today, as we emerge from our second Covid-19  lock-down, Jenny, our President, in an address titled "Faith - or Foolishness?" reflects - via Zoom - on the phenomenon and genesis of recent Australia-wide street protests in response to the ensuing loss of freedom of movement and the need for universal vaccination. Jennie explores the responses of vulnerable groups who deny the advice of scientists and doctors advocating for universal immunisation and quarantine via lockdown. Jennie ponders the genesis of this denial and offers anecdotes drawn from most major religious traditions that illustrate the confusion between faith and commonsense. This confusion often arises from a failure to form a rational understanding of how God  - or Goodness works in the world. Groups that protest violently against the temporary loss of liberty imposed by a lockdown, prefer to believe conspiracy theorist-groups such as Q-Anon and certain sections of the media who grossly exaggerate the risks of immunisation and the temporary loss of liberty imposed by lockdowns. Listen on!

The Art of Losing

Jennie Dyster has called her address, today - " The Art of Losing". It's about the many forms of loss we all experience in our living: lost property, lost money, a lost competition, lost opportunities, lost places, lost friendships, lost love-ones, lost.....
Some loss can seem overwhelming - but, with the right mind-set - it may also be ennobling and enriching - even empowering!

Jennie cites some who've risen above deep personal and tragic loss to become an inspiration to us all in our time of loss.
She quotes from the American poet, Elizabeth Bishop who - in her poem - One Art, writes: 

"The art of losing isn’t hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn’t hard to master.
Then practice losing farther, losing faster:
places, and names, and where it was you meant
to travel. None of these will bring disaster."

Jennie goes on to explain how. It's the Art of Losing! Do listen on!

Mozart

Today's service - 11th July, 2021, was conducted by our President, Jennie Dyster. It is a celebration of the genius of Mozart with selected works played by Margaret Lambert. Jennie reflects on Mozart's musical achievements within his short lifetime, his family - and his dying. Jennie also shatters the fiction and mythology spread by the media.
And there was no better way to celebrate Mozart's Music than to hear it so memorably performed during the service by Margaret Lambert. Listen on!

Living Life Holistically - Atonement

In his address today - Sunday, June 27th in Adelaide, John Hall reflects on the word "atonement" - originally meaning "at-one-ment" - being "at one" - or in harmony with others and with oneself, thereby enabling us to live life holistically. This leads John to reflect also on life and the inevitability of death. We have a choice in how to approach death: from a position of fear or from a position of Love. "How do we develop a more holistic approach to this journey of life and living?" John asks. He suggests a holistic approach - centred on Hope. Listen on!

Ethics in a Complex World Part 2: Scattered Power.

In her address today - Sunday, June 20th, 2021, Jennie considered the use - and the misuse - of CRISPR gene-editing and 3D printing. This is the second of Jennie's addresses on ethical decision-making in a world made more complex by technology and power "scattered" or disseminated via the internet to those who might use it for good or for evil purposes. Listen on!

The Fable of the Ancient Mariner

On Sunday, 13th June, Peter Whitham and Margaret Lambert, pianist -  present "The Fable of the Ancient Mariner" by the English Romantic poet and Unitarian, Samual Taylor Coleridge. Peter read the poem and Margaret supported this reading with music from the Victorian-era (1867) cantata, "The Ancient Mariner" by John Francis Barnett- based on Coleridge's poem. The shooting of the albatross and its aftermath contains a Unitarian message for us all. Listen on!

Ruminating

This morning I explored the life of the 13th Century Sufi Mystic and Universalist, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkh Rumi who is known today by the nisbah in his name, Rumi (the poet and mystic from Rum) who, despite his flaws and mistakes, wrote about the overwhelming commonality and oneness of all people and of all faith traditions. Listen on!

The Future of Unitarianism in SA

On Sunday, 30th May we had a Café church service. A number of questions were put forward to the congregation as conversation starters: - our Music, Time of worship, Nature of God, our Church Community and the Spiritual & Pastoral support provided to it. People could make notes for themselves but were also invited to hand them in for the edification of the CoM at the end of the session.
If you were unable to attend on the day and would like to contribute to the discussion, please email your thoughts to admin@unitariansa.org.au and use the descriptor, "Café church" on the subject line.
Do not feel impelled to answer all of these questions, just the ones that move you to respond.
We would value your response to any - or all - of these questions. (Notes provided by Jennie D)

Masculinity

In today's address, Aaron immediately refers us to our 1st and 7th Principles. He begins by examining stereotypes of masculinity and toxic masculinity, prompted by the current debate re "toxic masculinity" amongst some male politicians and their behaviour towards vulnerable female staff. Aaron briefly examines commonly-held stereotypes of masculinity and the effects of such stereotyping. He maintains that, notwithstanding the recent political controversy regarding toxic masculinity by some State and Federal politicians, toxic masculinity is on the decline whilst actual masculinity, the polar opposite of toxic masculinity - is on the rise. He looks to nature for the 'obvious hint' as to why. In the natural world, 'male' and 'female' and are valued equally. This contrasts with human social systems - where males, stereo-typically - have been over-valued and females, under-valued. So why is "natural masculinity" on the increase? Listen on!