The Myth of the Cave   Rev Ernie Mills

Through his Myth of the Cave, the ancient Greek philosopher Plato invites us to come out of our caves and explore the world outside. The cave, in this case, would represent the closed or imprisoned mind that cannot see beyond what appears. The English Romantic poet, William Blake, wrote, “If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is: infinite.”     Let’s find ways to come out of the caves of our own making.

The Fascinating Religion of Mexico      Rev Ernie Mills

When the Spanish came to what is now Mexico in the 1500’s, they brought their Catholic religion with them. They took stones from the pyramids built by the ancient Olmecs, Mayans, Aztecs to build the many Catholic churches. Yet it was more than just stones. Those ancient stones represent the religion of the indigenous people that was absorbed and incorporated into Catholicism as it is experienced by the Mexican people. I’ll show a few images of winged saints, surrounded by giant serpents and a “Jesus” covered in blood. Of course, at the center of both religions is human sacrifice.

A Unitarian Universalist Idea of God     with Derek Harrison

I want to explore the changing idea of God in the modern world, and In particular how the UU conception of God differs from that of many other religions. That will require distinguishing any discussion of religion from discussions of God, and more importantly, suggesting how modern spirituality has been evolving toward a possibly more mystical and pantheistic understanding of God, with some reference to the ideas of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

Tranquility      Rev Ernie Mills

Tranquility is the name of a Queen Ann-style home in Flat Rock, built in 1880 by my great-grandfather, W. F. Edwards. It would be great if tranquility was something we could find in a building or a place on the map. A lasting and genuine tranquility is a state of mind and something we must nurture in ourselves in spite of the external environment we may find ourselves in. It is not a luxury, but a necessity; it is restorative and a vital need of the soul. We will explore ways we can nurture tranquility in our lives.

Above Us Only Sky   Rev. Ernie Mills

“Above us only sky” is a line from John Lennon’s song Imagine.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we humans could just do what is right without expecting a reward, that is, if we treated virtue as its own reward?  I am reminded of a church billboard that read: “Jesus is your ticket to heaven.”  I don’t believe Jesus would care a whole lot for being seen as a piece of paper with markings on it.

No Hell Below Us     Rev. Ernie Mills

   “No hell below us” is a line from John Lennon’s song “Imagine.”  Hell is a product of the imagination for reasons that I will explain.  If hell can be imagined into existence it can also be imagined out of existence.  A concept often used to highlight Unitarian Universalism is “give them not hell, but hope.”  That’s what we do.

Spring: The Resurrection of Persephone    Rev. Ernie Mills

10:30AM

What do new life, recreation, resurrection, rebirth, Easter, Easter eggs and Persephone have in common? Spring! Our distant ancestors celebrated spring with festivals, ceremonies and sacred rites. Because we moderns do not experience the harsh winters we may not feel the profound impact of the season and the sheer joy and “intoxication” of Persephone’s return. Spring means food, and food means life. We will widen our horizons by exploring the meaning of Easter and set it within a universal framework.

When Religion Was Fun!    Rev. Ernie Mills

10:30AM

Long before religion moved up into the head and became THOUGHT (theology), it was a matter of the feet and dancing. It was not what a person thought that mattered but what they did and there was no ritual without dancing. As the human species evolved, religion became more and more a matter of “right belief” (orthodoxy). Yet deep within us still resides the impulse to move, to dance, to hop and skip in elation, ecstasy and joy.

Special Fifth Sunday Service    Becky Kraai and Ian Read Share their Stories

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. Who better to say this than Maya Angelou who kept her tragic story inside for many years but then shared it in her best-selling book, “Why the Caged Bird Sings.“ We don’t have stories as much as we ARE stories. We humans have been telling stories for as long as we have existed. Our own Becky Kraai and Ian Read will share their stories with us. Becky is a UU convert, but Ian is a “lifer.” Lots to look forward to!

My Spring of 1981    Rev Ernie Mills

In January of 1981 I entered seminary at Duke Divinity School. The academic demands of graduate school presented me with tremendous challenges. Due to the medications I was taking at times it made it difficult to focus on reading assignments and daily lectures during class times. Fortunately, I came into contact with Professor Richard Goodling, a pastoral psychologist who agreed to meet with me in private sessions. Doctor Goodling listened with patience and understanding. One thing he said that is etched on my memory: Don’t ever forget what happened to you; mine it for the treasure it holds.