Where do we go from here?

by Lyndon Harris

In 1967 The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. took a hiatus from active civil rights work in order to finish what would become his final book, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? Today, as we gaze into the fires of chaos unleashed by the January 6^th attack on our nation’s Capital Building, perhaps there could be no more fitting or consequential question for us to ask. Where do we go from here? Our present polarized political climate, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the Civil War, threatens to explode our hopes for civil society. 

Be a part of the conversation this Sunday, January 17 at 10:30 as we take up this question, “Where do we go from here?” and explore hopeful, constructive thoughts in response in order to move forward and beyond the great divide of this present moment, dreaming of a future of Beloved Community.

Sunday, January 3, 2021 – Lyndon Harris

In January, the political clock will re-set and we will see an ambitious rollout of the vaccine that promises to restore our bonds of community. It’s time to celebrate new beginnings. But with some degree of trepidation, we may remember Faulkner’s memorable line: “The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past.” So, how do we as spiritual people honor the struggles of the past, even as we expect and work for better times in the future? Perhaps the Roman god, Janus, from which we get the name of the month of January, might offer aid in discernment. Janus had two heads: one looking back towards the past, and the other facing forward toward the future. The figure of Janus inspires us to reflect upon our past, as we declare our intentions for our future.

The holiday season is often eclipsed by the desire and drive to find just the perfect gift, at the perfect price, for our imperfect but loveable family and friends. This year the holidays appear against the backdrop of extreme political polarization and an ever-present worry of the dangers of a pandemic. What are the kernels of truth, the sparks of inspiration we might draw from these timeless holiday traditions for our present time? What are the gifts we might give to others – and to ourselves – that will help us navigate our journey ahead? Join us as we celebrate this time of light and illumination even as it flickers courageously against the dark.

…and a Spirituality of Longing,  with Lyndon Harris

When we gather on December 6th, it will be for many in the faith world the second Sunday of Advent. But for Unitarian Universalists, Advent is not a time of preparation for either the birth, or the second coming, of Jesus. It is a season of yearning, a yearning for the birth of a new humanity. We long for the emergence of a new world order spoken of by the Hebrew prophets, but also intuited by our humanistic spirituality: a spirituality that honors the dignity of every human being, seeks a path of justice for all, and embodies a sacred path open to all quests for the truth. Join us on December 6th to experience Advent from a Unitarian Universalist perspective.

Gather the Spirit

with special guests and musicians Helen Wolfson and Eric Thomas

The word “spirit” is often bandied about in UU congregations, but it seems to mean different things to different people. In this musical service, Eno River UU Fellowship members Helen Wolfson and Eric Thomas visit the concept of spirit from a humanist perspective and illustrate that the word embodies a core concept that can be meaningful to the humanist – and to others as well.

Join us!

online at:   https://zoom.us/j/92930924845

or by phone: 646-876-9923    Meeting # 929-3092-4845

How many of you remember Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? Robert Pirsig’s 1974 novel has little to do with orthodox Zen meditative practice, and even less, as he states it, with motorcycle maintenance. But nevertheless, his novel (rejected by publishers 121 times!) remained on the NY Times bestseller list for years. What might Pirsig say to us as we brace ourselves for the 2020 presidential election, happening in just a couple of days? What might we learn from Zen practitioners about how to navigate these trying times? With a bit of wit, a few insights from meditative practice, zero knowledge of motorcycles, and a strong dose of hope, Lyndon will seek to offer some thoughts about facing the next few days (years?) with grace and civility, balanced with hope and expectations for the future.