Expanding Horizons

Our Water Service

Today our young people joint with us in celebrating our annual water "communion" . We were each given an opportunity to contribute our water offering to the common bowl which our young then carried out with them to to add to our garden, to feed other living plants and animals. As our water has intermingled, so do we. It is it illusiory to think that we are all separate. Today we come together to celebrate the wonderful diversity of cultures to be experienced in Adelaide; yet we are still - One Humanity, united by our common needs far more than what may divide.
In extending this water theme, Grant reads from the poet, Rumi about water followed by Kris's reflections on water. Despite the illusion that we are solid, Kris points to the the disproportionate amount of water that comprises all life on earth - the "sine-qua-non" of life - "without which we are nothing". Kris then reflected on Babylonian and Jewish creation myths separating water and sky (the firmament). And when humans arrive - well, that's when all the trouble began! Other water practices include ritual cleansing, immersion (the Jewish, Miqveh), absolution, baptism, "World Water Day", "Water for Peace" , ...the needs of Palestinians in Gaza and Rafah! We need the thirst to become better people!
Listen on for more of Kris reflections on what was a memorable celebration of Water!

Getting ready for a new year

Kris commences "Getting ready for a new year" with some illustrations and observations on ancient stone monuments, astronomically aligned to identify the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, which - since the stone age, heralded in the commencement of a new year. With Spring came fresh aspirations, to be energised into new resolutions for the year ahead: in Japan: Shunbun no Hi; amongst Kurdish and Iranian people - it's the rapidly approaching Nowruz.
Kris observes that the sum of our past thought and actions bear fruit and we "reap what we sow." Hopefully that fruit is wisdom and - if not loving - then at least positive, productive relationships that we can build upon.
Kris asks: "How did you go with your New Year resolutions?" We are invited to start afresh with the approaching Nowruz of the Kurdish and Persians? However, it's not the day or date - but the strength of our resolve to bring about change within ourselves that really matters. A New Year - the time for new resolve, a fresh start - can be any day, like now!
Kris begins the denouement of this address with a memorable quote from Unitarian, Ralph Waldo Emerson - "....every day is the best day of the year...." and follows this with some ideas for new resolutions which I found to be very relevant. Hopefully, you will too! So do listen on!

Ramadan

Today we were privileged to have Salim return to address us about Islam, and especially the Islamic practices and observances during Ramadan - commencing after sunset, tomorrow. After his address, Salim gave us all the chance to ask some questions about Ramadan, and Kris followed with some questions of his own.

Ramadan

Today we were privileged to have Salim return to address us about Islam, and especially the Islamic practices and observances during Ramadan - commencing after sunset, tomorrow. After his address, Salim gave us all the chance to ask some questions about Ramadan, and Kris followed with some questions of his own.

What we stand for!

Kris commences his address "What (Do) We Stand For!?" at our Vespers Service at Shady Grove today with an anecdote that comes in the form of a criticism of Unitarians and Unitarianism: "You don't stand for anything!"
Perhaps the criticism was from a person searching for the certainties of a creed and we are a Non-Credal church. But it's not that we are without beliefs, principles - certainties even! It's just that we are free to decide what those certainties are. Unitarianism is older than Trinitarianism, and today, Kris answers that criticism with What We Do Stand For.

Australian Unitarians find themselves historically, philosophically and globally - midway between British Unitarianism and American Unitarian Universalism. Kris's address today considers where we've been as Unitarians, where we're at -now, and where we might be heading. We have some decisions to make!

The Eight-fold Path

Kris's Address today is on the Buddhist approach to living - The "Eight-fold Path" to Enlightenment, based on the Four Noble Truths:-

• that suffering is an inevitable part of living-
• - whose causes can be determined.
• It's possible to escape suffering and-
• there is a path - the "eight-fold path" we can follow to  end suffering.

The Buddha's practical guide to effective living is as relevant to our living today as it was 2,500 years ago.

Kris explains the Eight-fold path: Right View; Right Intention (or Resolve); Right Speech; Right Action; Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness; Right Concentration. The Eight-fold Path is not an ordered sequence of steps to follow - but more like eight spokes of a wheel, each playing their part - in keeping the wheel turning, true! And then there's the role of Meditation. Kris also sets us some homework! - And some challenges!

Paul versus Jerusalem

In "Paul versus Jerusalem" Kris takes us on a fascinating journey from radical Judaism to Orthodox Christianity. We explore with Kris - the journey of the Jewish Pharisee, Paul. Born to privilege in Tarsus - initially a persecutor of Jews who had believed early accounts of Jesua's teachings, miracles, crucifixion and resurrection. Paul, their persecutor, in his "Road to Damascus" moment of conversion, was to soon to join those he persecuted, ultimately to die - a Martyr. Early Christians had formed a revolutionary break-away sect of Judaism - soon to morph into the early Christian Church. Kris traces Paul's - and the Christian Church's separation from orthodox Jewish traditions, beliefs and practises. In James's writing we glimpse the early debate between himself and Paul and other early Christians about Faith and (good) Works. Is Faith enough to ensure salvation? Paul's letters and those of Peter and James were soon augmented by other early Christian writers who wrote under the pseudonyms of Paul, Peter and James to develop a distinctively "Christian" doctrine for Gentiles, spreading beyond Jerusalem especially after it was destroyed by the Romans, beyond Jewry - to Gentiles, to Rome and to the world.

Wisdoms from the Desert

Today I dig down into the true meaning of the Beatitudes (St Matthew Chapters 5-7) as taught by Jesus in his "Sermon On The Mount", over two Millennia ago. To help me, I use the scholarship of the Presbyterian theologian, the Late Rev. Professor William Barclay, who studied the ancient Aramaic language spoken by Jeshua - in Germany, in the years prior to the outbreak of WW2. It is only by revealing the ancient Aramaic meaning of these eight Beatitudes that their meaning, power and relevance shine through to illuminate our lives, today. Ironically, these wisdoms were taught in a land that now reverberates with the sounds of war, rendering the Holy Land, "Unholy". These eight Beatitudes point the way to peace - within ourselves and between neighbours, communities, and nations. My address today is graced by excerpts from two late Mozart Sonatas for Violin and Piano: K 269 and K 301, played to us by Margaret (piano) and Barry (violin).

Alchemy

Today, Kris explores the 'medieval?' pursuit of Alchemy. Many of the concepts of the Alchemists are still relevant within our lives, today: Change and Transformation - as expressed in the Arts, in Psychology, in spiritual writings, and in our search for that 'holy grail' of a transforming, spiritual dimension to our lives.
Kris's insights today may help us in the 'alchemy' of our own spiritual transformation:  - from the literal objectivity of the alchemist (scientist?) - towards the mystical: - that "letting go" of all our hurts to allow for regrowth and transformation towards more loving, kinder people and towards a deeper spirituality, - towards better selves, - an 'alchemy' of insight, understanding and transformation that we are all searching for.

"Blessing of the bags";"Why are we here?"

The first part of today's service was a celebration of our young people - traditionally called "the "blessing of the (school) bags" - in recognition of the new school year facing our young people. Kris interviewed each of them about their hopes and aspirations for the school year ahead. To quote Kris - "What wisdom they bring! what amazing truths"! We celebrate the maturity and potential of the children of our Unitarian Church. This was reinforced by Grant's memorable reading from the Diary of Ann Frank. As we are elevated by her wisdom, revelation, maturity and insight; we also weep at her loss, as one of millions of young victims of the holocaust.
Kris commenced his address today with a question: "Why are we here, this morning - rather than in a Christian Church?" Today, Kris explores the distinction between Unitarianism and Christianity and what we share in common with Christian Churches. Unitarianism is as old as Christianity. We SA Unitarians have come from a Christian background. Many of us once attended Christian churches. We have our seven Unitarian Principles but these have arisen from the stories and wisdoms in both the old and New Testament that brought them alive in our imagination, not the dogma - those unbelievable bits such as the Trinity, written into Credo to bolster the power of the institutional Church. Our Seven Principles also add modern insights.
But let's not forget these ancient stories - and the parables and wisdoms of Jeshua, to which we may add wisdoms, insights and practices of other religious traditions. They are our stories - our wisdoms, too!
Kris's address today is not to be missed! Listen on!