Chalice Circle Topic for February 2015

 What Makes You UU?

Chalice Circle Topic for February, 2015 adapted from a session created by
Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson

Note: See the Chalice Circle Session Sequence for process guidelines (following this outline).

Gathering, Welcoming (2 minutes)

Business
As needed—checking in about who is coming, where you are meeting, service projects, updating your group covenant….

Chalice Lighting and Reading (2-3 minutes)

We light this chalice for all who are here, and all who are not; For all who have ever walked through our doors, for those who may yet find this spiritual home, and for those we can’t even yet imagine. For each of us and for us all, may this flame burn warm and bright.

            -Erik Walker Wikstrom

Check-in/Sharing (3-4 minutes@ - 30-40 minutes)

This is an opportunity to share recent events and/or current feelings that may (or may not) need to be set aside in order to be most present for the session.

Opening Thoughts and Reading

            This year is a Coming of Age year for our 7^th and 8^th graders at BUF. They are working to understand what they believe and will be sharing their credo statements with us in May. Recently Paul has been asking the adult community to claim an identity regarding our relationship with the outside world—what kind of congregation we are—civic, activist, sanctuary, evangelical….

Sometimes it can be difficult to explain who we are as Unitarian Universalists and especially what we believe—in fact, many of us (especially in our recent past) most likely, when asked what we believe, would instead lay out what we don’t believe.

            Rev. Galen Guengerich, minister at All Souls UU church in NYC writes in his sermon “Gratitude should be the center of Unitarian Universalist theology”:

            “My twelve-year-old was on the playground recently with her Jewish and Catholic friends. The topic of religion came up, and they asked her what Unitarians believe. She found it hard to respond. Is there a playground-ready answer to this question?

            Unitarian Universalism often plays better to a graduate-school crowd than a middle-school crowd. Part of the reason for the enigmatic nature of our theology is that we haven’t worked hard enough to make it clear and simple. I am reminded of a minister who, when asked why he preached a 45-minute sermon, replied, “Because I didn’t have enough time to write a 20-minute sermon.” But there is another reason why this question is difficult. If your child’s friends (and their Muslim playmate) answered the same question about their own faiths, they would probably talk about a God who is revealed through a written scripture (the Torah, the New Testament, the Qur’an) and represented on earth by a prophet or messiah figure (Moses, Jesus, Mohammed).

            Unitarian Universalism has none of these concrete and uniquely defining elements. Instead, our prevailing—dare I say orthodox—view insists on our freedom to believe whatever we want. Indeed, I asked my very own daughter what Unitarians believe, and her answer was orthodox to a fault. Zoë replied, “We believe whatever we want to believe.” This answer is not good enough, and it certainly doesn’t work on the playground. It’s as if your daughter’s friend asked, “Where do you live?” and she responded, “I’m free to live wherever I want.

            ...If we have any sense of mission, we need to be able to say what we believe in language that is positive, relevant, and even playground-friendly. By positive, I mean that we must talk about something other than freedom, which is the absence of something such as coercion. People may be attracted to Unitarian Universalism because we don’t believe in a doctrine they find abhorrent. But they won’t stay because of what’s missing. (People don’t go to Carnegie Hall because of what they won’t hear.)”

            UU’s still have a hard time saying who we are as a group, but these days we’re more likely to have a spiritual practice, and/or claim a theology, and to be willing to share that with others. As we do so, I believe our connections begin to emerge; we gain strength from each other, find food for the journey, inspiration for action, and greater clarity as a faith tradition.

Questions for Reflection—Deep Sharing/Listening (60 minutes)

See if one of the following questions calls out to you:

What would you say makes you a U.U.?

What for you is the fullness of Unitarian Universalism? ie. what “music” do you hear here?

What was your journey like getting to where you are today, as a UU?

Open Discussion (as time permits—this is the cross talk portion)
This is the opportunity to ask questions, and continue to engage the topic….

Check-out/Feedback  (10 minutes)

Thank the group.   Ask what they liked in this session and what changes they would hope for.

Closing Words

“Belief is many things,” said one of our modern leaders, A. Powell Davies, “and so is disbelief. But religion is something that happens to you when you open your mind to truth, your conscience to justice, and your heart to love.” In Unitarian Universalist congregations we do not try to make one another fit a given pattern of experience. But we do discover together that there are religious dimensions in all our varied human experience.

–  from A Chosen Faith by John Buehrens and Forrest Church.

Chalice Circle Topic for January-- Waking Up in the New Year: Reflections on Transitions

By Crystal Neva, Adapted from, Jeff Packer’s sermon of the same name, shared at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship in December 2014

Note: See the Chalice Circle Session Sequence for process guidelines (following this outline).

Gathering, Welcoming (2 minutes)

Business
As needed—checking in about who is coming, where you are meeting, service projects, updating your group covenant….

Chalice Lighting and Reading (2-3 minutes)

Rumi:  The Dream that Must be Interpreted:

Humankind is being led along an evolving course,

Through this migration of intelligences,

And though we seem to be sleeping,

There is an inner wakefulness

That directs the dream,

And that will eventually startle us back

To the truth of who we are.

May this spark, which kindles our chalice

provide the light for awakening

in this time we share together

Check-in/Sharing (3-4 minutes@ - 30-40 minutes)

This is an opportunity to share recent events and/or current feelings that may (or may not) need to be set aside in order to be most present for the session.

Transition Meditation (optional, depending on the norms of the group)

Help the group move from check-in preliminaries to silence with directed deep breathing, soft words, music, or other meditative techniques.

Topic—Reflections on Transitions

Certain times of year seem to lend themselves to a discussion about transitions. Changing seasons, a New Year… probably, the topic is relevant at all times because life is actually always a series of transitions. On December 28^th, Jeff Packer gave the sermon, at BU, on this topic and brought up many things that are worthy of our careful consideration.

He reminded us about the constant flow of transitions—from the everyday transitions of getting out of bed in the morning (or in our out of the tub when we were children), the transitions we face based on our stage of life or development—the differences between the generations, based on different social circumstances and reactions to the previous generation, transitions involving illness and loss, and of course, the biggest transition—the one between life and death.

Jeff noted the following quote and then went on: “Life is an interesting mix between hanging on and letting go.”  The question then becomes: “What is worth hanging on to, and what do I need to let go of?”  I don’t think anyone can answer these for us, but they are worthy of deeper reflection.  Are we hanging on to things out of a sense fear, insecurity or lack?  Or out of deep commitment, compassion and love?  Letting go can also be extremely difficult.  Sometimes we are just not ready – and in some situations may never be ready!  And that’s OK.  But I have noticed a relationship between a refusal to let go when it’s needed, and the level of suffering one experiences.  Letting go is associated with a certain acceptance of situations beyond our control.  Some do find this through faith – a way of placing the situation in trust of Life itself or the will of God.  Similarly, some find it through spiritual surrender, which comes through a deep allowing of the present moment, and a willingness to embrace the mystery of life or the unknown. 

Deep Sharing/Deep Listening (60 minutes)

As we begin Deep Sharing and Deep Listening, I invite you to reflect on and share the transitions you are currently facing in your life and consider focusing your sharing on any or all of the following questions:

What are you holding on to?
What do you need to let go of?
What helps you let go—does it involve surrendering? To whom or what do you surrender?
If you are holding on to things that you really should let go of, why are you doing that?
How can you tell if you need to let go of something—is suffering our guide?
Which is harder for you—holding on or letting go, why?
What are your hopes regarding successful transitions for the New Year?

Open Discussion (as time permits—this is the cross talk portion)
This is the opportunity to ask questions, and continue to engage the topic….

Check-out/Feedback  (10 minutes)

Thank the group.   Ask what they liked in this session and what changes they would hope for.

Closing Reading/Extinguishing the Chalice

In the Garden, by Karen Miller

“Then I saw a garden.  I saw a multitude of iridescent greens.  The glint of sun-bleached stones.  Red bark and burnished branches.  The sheen on still water.  Light on a hill.  A foreground, a background: the seamless whole in three dimensions.  Colors with no names because I wasn’t naming them.  Beauty beyond measure because I wasn’t measuring it.  A view unspoiled because I wasn’t judging it.  The shine of the sky making everything vivid, even the shadows, with the radiance of being alive… When you see, really see, you just love.  When you love, really love, you just see.  You see things as they are, not as you expect… and in that wide-open space is love.  This is the kind of love that everyone wants, the kind that everyone needs… Unconditioned by definitions or demands… judgment or hesitation… You are in the Garden.”

December Chalice Circle Topic: Christmas Reflections

Christmas Reflections

Adapted from Main Line Unitarian Church, Devon, PA, December 2003

Note: See the Circle Ministry Session Sequence for process guidelines.

Gathering, Welcoming (2 minutes)

Opening Words & Chalice Lighting: 

Above the deep and dreamless sleep

The silent stars go by;

Yet in the dark streets shineth

The everlasting light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight.                                    

                                                              – Philip Brooks

Check In/Sharing (3-4 minutes@ - 30-40 minutes)

(The facilitator should briefly remind the group of confidentiality/anonymity, that this is not the time for cross conversation, etc.)

Discussion (60 minutes)

[See Circle Ministry Session Sequence as a reminder of the structure of this segment.]

First response

Cross-conversation

Concluding statements

Focus Reading:  

There is much in the Christmas season that speaks to deep human needs.  The northern European countries needed the light giving, warmth giving aspects of the Yuletide. So the symbols of light have become an integral part of the season.  Though much has been written deploring the commercialization of Christmas, the giving of gifts is still an offering of love. Evergreens, symbolizing the ongoingness of life, pervade the celebration.

Light, love, life – these are some of the universal needs symbolized in the Christmas season.  But no less universal are their opposites – darkness, death, hate.  It is usually a mixture, if not a conflict, of these contrasting symbols that has come to characterize the season.  It has given rise to the “Christmas Syndrome” of Christmas depression – love/hate, elation/depression, togetherness/loneliness.

A way of not becoming entrapped in the Christmas syndrome is to refuse to go along with whatever it is that works to spoil the season for you.  What really counts at Christmas are aspirations of hope and peace, feelings of goodwill and joy, and personal relationships – the sharing of warmth and love.

                                                                           -Eugene Pickett

 Focus Questions:

How do you celebrate the Holidays?  What are the specific traditions that have meaning for you?  What are the difficult aspects of the Holidays for you?

What choices do you have about the ways that you and your family celebrate?

What things can you let go of? 

What things do you want to change or add?

Imagine a winter holiday season that brings you joy.

Checkout/Likes and Wishes

(This is the time for facilitators to ask participants what they liked about this meeting and what they might wish for future meetings.  This is also the time for any discussion of logistics.)

Closing Words & Extinguishing Chalice: 

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Chalice Circle Session Plan for November 2014

Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

Chalice Circle topic for November, 2014

Descent into Darkness

By Crystal Neva, Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship

Note: See the Circle Ministry Session Sequence for process guidelines.

Gathering, Welcoming (2 minutes)

Chalice lighting (1 minute)

In sightless night, terrors draw near

Nameless fears of talon and tooth

Hopelessness yawns before us—an abyss

Alone and unknown in the gloom, longing for the dawn

O sacred flame blaze forth—wisdom brought to life

Guide us—

With the light of hope

The warmth of love

The beacon of purpose and meaning

Because we are all afraid of the dark

Let there be light

Check-in/Sharing (3-4 minutes@ - 30-40 minutes)

Discussion (60 minutes)

[See Circle Ministry Session Sequence as a reminder of the structure of this segment.]

First response

Cross-conversation

Concluding statements

Topic: Darkness

(Read this poem slowly—consider reading it twice with a pause in between)

October, by Mary Oliver

            1

There’s this shape, black as the entrance to a cave.

A longing wells up in its throat

like a blossom,

as it breaths slowly

What does the world

mean to you if you can’t trust it

to go on shining when you’re

not there? And there’s

a tree, long fallen; once
the bees flew to it, like a procession
of messengers, and filled it
with honey. 

            2

I said to the chickadee, singing his heart out in the green pine tree:

little dazzler,
little song,
little mouthful

            3

The shape climbs up out of the curled grass. It grunts into view. There is no measure
for the confidence at the bottom of its eyes--
there is no telling
the suppleness of its shoulders as it turns and yawns.

                        Near the fallen tree
something—a leaf snapped loose
from the branch and fluttering down—tries to pull me
into its trap of attention.

            4

It pulls me
into its trap of attention.

And when I turn again, the bear is gone.

            5

Look, hasn’t my body already felt
like the body of a flower?

            6

Look, I want to love this world
as though it’s the last chance I’m ever going to get
to be alive
and know it

            7

Sometimes in late summer I won’t touch anything, not
the flowers, not the blackberries
brimming in the thickets; I won’t drink
from the pond; I won’t name the birds or the trees;
I won’t whisper my own name.

                        One morning
the fox came down the hill, glittering and confident,
and didn’t see me—and I thought:

so this is the world.

I’m not in it.

It is beautiful.

Late autumn and winter are times of darkness. Bears are hibernating, birds move on for warmer weather. We endure the thickening barometer as the air gets heavier with water and the clouds push down upon us. The sun shines only sometimes—and we rejoice. But then it goes away again and we resign ourselves to the dull gray days. It is a time of sadness for some of us, a longing—a time when our energy and very life seems sucked out of us as the world around us withers and dies. Some of us are like the bear—we hunker down and hibernate. Some of us isolate. Perhaps we may see the darkness as the world’s permission to stay in and use it as a time for reflection…. We may note a sense of gratitude for the warmth of our homes and our loved ones, a time to gather for holidays as we wait for the return of the light.

Questions for Reflection:

(Invite people to answer the questions that speak to them—or reflect on the poem)

·      How are you affected by the darkness?

·      Is this a time of isolation? Longing? Reflection? Anticipation? Gratitude? Waiting?

·      Are you able to trust the world to go on shining if you aren’t there?

Feedback (15 minutes)

Thank the group….  Ask what they liked and what variations they would hope for.

Closing

We grow accustomed to the dark--
When Light is put away—

As when the Neighbor holds the Lamp

To witness her Goodbye—

A moment—We uncertain step

For newness of the night—

Then—fit for our Vision to the Dark—

And meet the Road—erect—

And so of larger—Darknessess—

Those evenings of the Brain—

When not a Moon disclose a sign—

Or Star—come out—within—

The Bravest—grope a little—

And sometimes hit a Tree

Directly in the Forehead—

But as they learn to see—

Either the Darkness alters—

Or something in the sight

Adjusts itself to Midnight—

And Life steps almost straight.

Emily Dickenson