June 18, 2017
"Flower Communion" by
Rev.
Gretchen E Weis
It's
the
last
official
Sunday
of the
church
year
- a
time
when
we celebrate
Flower
Communion.
It's
also
Father's
Day,
a time
to honor
the
fathers,
stepfathers,
grandfathers
and
other
men
who
love
and
nurture
the
children
in their
lives.
Everyone
of all
ages
is invited
to bring
a flower
to add
to the
community-wide
bouquet
we build
together
at the
front
of the
sanctuary.
Your
individual
flower
symbolizes
the
many
gifts
you
bring
to our
shared
life
together
here
at Murray
Church.
After
we bless
our
gathered
bouquet,
everyone
is invited
forward
to take
a different
flower
home
with
them,
to symbolize
the
many
gifts
you
receive
here.
June 11, 2017
"Reflections From Our Favorite
Pond" by
Rev.
Gretchen E Weis
He
was a young 28-year-old bachelor, when
he left traditional work behind to go
live beside a small pond near Concord.
Henry David Thoreau went to Walden Pond,
to "live deep and suck out all
the marrow of life, to live so sturdily
and Spartan-like as to put to rout all
that was not life." In this bicentennial
year of Thoreau's birth, let us celebrate
this Spartan young man, his friendship
with Ralph Waldo Emerson and other Unitarian
Transcendentalists of his time, the
two years he spent living close to nature,
and his seminal work, Walden, a cornerstone
of American nonfiction.
June 4, 2017
"Celebrating 100 Years of Humanism" by
Rev.
Gretchen E Weis
Rev.
John Dietrich, a Unitarian minister,
is considered the father of Religious
Humanism. It was 100 years ago when
he began to preach the radical notion
that each of us is accountable for the
possibility of human life in the here
and now. We must not wait to be rescued
or saved. The world can only bend towards
love and justice when it is shaped by
human hands. We are the powerful agents
of salvation. Join us as we celebrate
the development and evolution of Humanism
and how it has influenced our faith
movement over the past 100 years.
Today,
Len Yutkins takes a look at how we "support
the troops," who is really at war,
and what can be done to bring back the
real meaning of Memorial Day.
May 21, 2017
"Roots and Wings" by Rev.
Gretchen E. Weis
Join
us for our annual bridging ceremony,
where we will celebrate our two graduating
high schoolers,Kenny Laferriere and
Arlyss Milne. The service is co-led
by Kavita Vansant, our Director of Lifespan
Religious Education, and members of
our Youth Group.
David Egan, the ministerial intern from First Parish Unitarian Universalist Canton will lead worship. While on this day we celebrate and honor the women in our lives, today David will focus on the origins of Mother's Day. This day was first created as a movement for peace by Julia Ward Howe as a response to the bloodshed of the Civil War. Let us not forget the original meaning of Mother's Day as we continue to struggle to find peace in our world today.
May 7, 2017
"Unconscious Bias" by Rev.
Gretchen E. Weis
We want to do a good job of welcoming in the stranger. But sometimes unconscious bias - those snap judgments we often make based on initial appearances - can get in the way of seeing the humanity of someone who is different from ourselves. We often have to get past our unconscious biases - and we all have them - before we can build meaningful relationships with people of other races, faiths and socio-economic or national backgrounds. Thanks to the work of this church and our involvement in the Greater Attleboro Interfaith Network, the Attleboro Police Department will be among the first in the state to receive unconscious bias training, in an effort to overcome prejudice and discrimination in their work with all members of the community. As people of faith, what do we also need to know about unconscious bias, if we are to open ourselves to deeper, more meaningful relationships across difference with others.
April 30, 2017
"What You Need to Know About Addiction" by Rev. Gretchen E
Weis
When
a dose
of heroin
costs
less
than
a pack
of cigarettes,
is it
any
wonder
that
we find
ourselves
in the
middle
of an
opiate
addiction
epidemic?
Our
hearts
break,
as we
have
seen
at least
five
drug
overdoses
touch
the
lives
of people
in this
congregation
over
the
past
several
years.
As
people
of love
and
faith,
what
do we
need
to know,
and
what
can
we do
to help
stem
the
tide
of addiction?
The
service
will
include
words
from
Jeremiah
Falvey,
Donna
Palmer
and
Joel
Piggott.
April 23, 2017
"The Gift & Glory of Trees" by Rev. Gretchen E
Weis
This
Earth Day Sunday, we celebrate the wonder
and beauty of trees, essential life-sustaining
partners in the interconnected web of
life. This is a multi-generational service.
Kavita Vansant, our Director of Lifespan
Religious Education leads us into a
guided meditation, followed by our first
reading by Bertha Young. Judy DePue,
Chair of the Green Sanctuary Task Force
next offers a reflection. Our second
reading is by Maddie Galvin and Rev.
Gretchen Weis offers the final reflection.
April 16, 2017
"The Empty Tomb" by Rev. Gretchen E
Weis
Resurrection
and
life
after
death:
myth
or reality?
If Jesus'
story
had
ended
on the
cross,
chances
are
he would
have
been
long
forgotten
- one
more
poor,
illiterate
Jew
of thousands
crucified
by the
Roman
Empire.
But
the
Easter
stories
- stories
written
60 to
100
years
after
Jesus'
death
about
Good
Friday,
an empty
tomb,
and
about
a resurrected
Jesus
appearing
to some
disciples
after
death
- these
stories
would
help
nurture
and
spread
beliefs
that
would
become
one
of the
world's
largest
religions
today.
So many
of us
might
stumble
on these
tales,
if we
think
of them
as factual.
Scholars
Marcus
Borg
and
John
Dominic
Crossan
challenge
us to
get
beyond
the
question:
did
these
things
happen
or not?
And
seek
instead
to explore:
what
might
these
stories
mean?
April 9, 2017
"Sharing Our Stories: Memories
of Murray Church by Rev. Gretchen E
Weis and members of Murray Church
Our
church
is blessed
to have
a quite
a number
of folks
who
grew
up here
in the
congregation.
In some
cases,
their
parents
and
grandparents
were
also
long-time
members.
Join
us as
several
of our
muti-generational
members
share
their
stories,
and
an appreciation
for
the
many
gifts
thay
have
received
by being
a part
of the
Murray
Church
faith
family.
This
Sunday,
we focus
on the
work
of AHOPE
(Americans
Helping
Others
ProspEr).
Dr.
Umer
Akbar
shares
information about the volunteer
work
of
AHOPE,
which
has
helped
to resettle
more
than
65 refugee
families
from
Syria,
the
Sudan
and
other
trouble
hot
spots
in our
area
over
the
past
year.
Many
in our
congregation
have
given
generous
furniture
donations
to help
settle
the
families.
Several
members
of our
congregation
volunteer
in other
ways
to welcome
in these
newcomers
to our
shores.
Click
here to learn more about AHOPE.
March 26, 2017
"This is the End" Rev. Paul
Sprecher
Death is hard to talk about, but it touches us
all. If we can bring ourselves to accept its reality, we can focus each
day on the love we want to share and to leave behind us.
We
join
communities
for
many
reasons:
to share
common
interests
or values,
for
mutual
support
and
friendship,
for
spirituality
and
more.
What
does
community
mean
to you
and
why
are
your
communities
important?
Writers
from
the
Murray
community
share
their
original
work
about
community.
March 12, 2017
"Our
Giving
Bears
Fruit"
by Rev.
Gretchen
E. Weis
You are a wonderfully generous people, whose gifts of time, talent and treasure continue to build an active, energized, committed church community, filled with love and care. Join us for our traditional Stewardship Sunday, when we lift up and celebrate the many ways we contribute to the creation of Beloved Community, together.
March 5, 2017
"Shaping Worth" by Rev. Gretchen
E. Weis
The
ancient
root
of the
word
"worship"
means
to shape
worth
and
meaning,
to honor
what
is most
worthy.
As we
gather
to worship
together,
why
do we
do what
we do
each
Sunday
morning?
What
do the
different
elements
of our
service
symbolize?
What
theological
statement
do we
make
in our
call
to worship?
What
about
our
shared
rituals,
such
as lighting
the
chalice
or sharing
stones
of joys
and
concerns?
Why
do we
sing
hymns?
And
what
is that
benediction
at the
end
of each
service
all
about?
Come
join
us,
as we
explore
the
whys
and
hows
of our
worship
experience,
as we
come
together
to shape
and
honor
the
worth
and
meaning
of our
lives?
The
congregation
will
pick
your
favorite
hymns
to sing.
February 26, 2017
"Living Our Faith" David Calusdian
As Unitarian
Universalists, we promote 7 Principles
that we use to guide our lives. But
what do these Principles mean in practice?
How do we really "live our faith?"
At Murray, we do this in many ways,
and this service will explore how we
as a church community and as individuals,
really do live our faith. We'll hear
from seven different members of our
church family on how each Principle
is "lived" at Murray Church.
Today's speakers include Sandy Stuart,
Janet Richardi, Kenny LaFerriere, Len
Yutkins, Charlie Adler, Bruce Field
and Judy DePue.
February 19, 2017
“"The New Better Off"
by Rev. Gretchen E Weis
What's
happened
to the
American
Dream?
For
the
first
time
in history,
the
majority
of American
parents
don't
think
their
kids
will
be better
off
than
they
were.
Very
few
people
work
at the
same
career,
or for
the
same
company
all
of their
work
life.
Salaries
no longer
leap
frog
in increases
from
generation
to generation.
And
far
less
people
are
able
to afford
home
ownership
today.
In her
book,
The
New
Better
Off,
journalist
Courtney
Martin,
asks
the
question:"What
constitutes
the
21st
Century
good
life?"
Is a
new
American
Dream
possible?
And,
if so,
what
would
it look
like?
By what
metrics
might
we measure
the
quality
of our
lives?
February 12, 2017
“"Be Still, and Know..."
by Rev. Gretchen E Weis
When
was
the
last
time
you
actually
sat
in stillness?
Found
a quiet,
centered
space,
amid
the
busyness,
the
bustle,
the
digital
noise
of your
life?
How
long
has
it been
since
you
heard
that
still
small
voice
within?
Many
religions
encourage
the
faithful
to look
outside
themselves
to discover
truth
and
meaning.
Ours
is a
faith
that
directs
us to
turn
inward
if we
are
to continue
to know
and
rediscover
who
we are
and
what
we hold
to be
true
and
meaningful
about
ultimate
wonder
and
mystery.
This
is the
Talent
&
Treasure
sermon
topic
selected
by Len
Yutkins
for
his
winning
bid
in last
spring's
silent
auction.
February 5, 2017
“"Finding Hope"
by Rev. Gretchen E Weis
Hope.
How the human heart yearns to believe
we can be delivered from our current
loss, grief, pain and suffering -- to
be restored to a future of wholeness
and happiness once more. Yet one person
can't "make" another feel
hope. We can only provide the encouragement
and support to help another choose hope
for themselves. What are the wellsprings
of hope that lift and encourage you
when times get tough? What helps you
endure?
January 29, 2017
“"Let's Talk About Sin"
by Rev. Gretchen E Weis
Religious
liberals
often
avoid
talking
about
the
problems
of sin
and
evil,
because
if we
did,
we would
be forced
to examine
our
own
capacity
to inflict
damage
and
harm.
What
does
the
concept
of sin
mean
to our
faith?
And
how
does
the
religious
humanist
tradition
help
inform
our
moral
decision
making?
January 22, 2017
“Whose Are We?"
by Rev. Gretchen E Weis
When
we ask
the
question,
"Who
am I?"
it can
often
lead
to a
deeper
question:
"Whose
am I?"
Our
personal
identity
is defined
by relationship.
Who
needs
you?
Who
loves
you
and
whom
do you
love?
To whom
are
you
accountable?
Whose
lives
are
altered
by your
choices?
Quaker
teacher
Douglas
Steer
reminds
us that
our
lives
are
transformed
by the
bonds
we create
and
keep
with
others.
In our
faith,
those
bonds
are
defined
by covenant:
the
promises
we make
to one
another
to create
relationships
built
on mutual
respect,
trust
and
caring.
In a
world
growing
more
rude
and
cruel
each
day,
it is
no small
thing
to pledge
to treat
one
another
with
kindness.
January 15, 2017
“Thanksgiving - Moment by Moment"
by Werner John
Werner
John presents musical
exploration
of the
American
holiday
and
what
it can
teach
us about
life.
Selections
include
live
Native
American
flutes.
His
new
composition,
"A
Thanksgiving
Suite"
for
Native
flute
and
drum,
harpsichord
and
cello
is presented in it's entirety following
his sermon.
Werner
John
is an
independent
musician
and
recording
artist
specializing
in wood
flutes.
He currently
lives
in Vermont.
January 8, 2017
“Fresh Start, New Beginnings" Rev.
Gretchen E. Weis
Are
there
some
behaviors
and
habits
that
are
holding
you
back?
What
beliefs,
expectations
or stories
have
you
outgrown,
or no
longer
serve
you?
Shedding
the
old
to make
room
for
growth
and
deepening
is a
natural
part
of the
rhythm
of life.
Come
join
us for
our
traditional
New
Year’s
fire
community,
as we
write
down
what
we would
like
to let
go of,
and
release
it into
our
communal
burning
bowl
to make
room
for
a fresh
start
and
new
beginnings
in the
year
ahead.
January 1, 2017
“Starting Over" Religious Services
Committee
There
comes a point in your life when you
realize that turning the the page is
the best feeling in the world because
there is so much more to the book than
the page you have been stuck on. Welcome
the New Year with stories of starting
over, original poetry and music for
a fresh start!
December 18, 2016
“Jesus: The Radical Rabbi"
by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
How
did Jesus, the revolutionary rabbi of
first century Galilee become Jesus the
hrist? In his book Zealot: The Life
and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, scholar
Reza Aslan explores the historic Jesus
of Nazareth, and the two competing camps
that began to shape entirely different
meanings to his life, his teachings
and his death following the crucifixion.
An interesting look at how the Jesus-as-God
narrative ended up as the winning story
of the early church.
December 11, 2016
“Peace on Earth, Goodwill to All"
by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
This
is the
third
Sunday
of lent,
where
we are
reminded
to pledge
ourselves
anew
to the
some
of the
hardest
work
of all
- creating
peace
on earth.
Peace
among
humankind
begins
with
peace
in our
own
hearts.
December 4, 2016
“Finding the Sacred in the Season"
by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
The season of over-doing is upon us. We are pressed at every turn to over-commit, over-schedule, over-spend, and over-indulge in food and drink. Many of us may no longer find a religious connection to the stories and traditions of Christmas. What do you find sacred in this time of year? How can we stay centered and nurture our spirits as the mother of all holidays is about to catch us up in the swirling whirlwind of holidays past, future and present
November 27, 2016
“Peace on Earth"
by
Rev. Richard Trudeau
This
sermon
offers
a meaning
of Christmas
that
we can
hold
onto
while
the
tidal
wave
of commercialization
washes
over
us.
Rev.
Richard
Trudeau
was
for
17 years
the
minister
of the
UU Church
of Weymouth,
and
for
35 years
a teacher
of math
and
the
history
of astronomy
at Stonehill
College
in Easton.
His
latest
book
is "Bible
Stories
for
Skeptics."
He is
married
to Susan
O'Connor,
who
works
at a
non-profit
that
teaches
computer
skills
to residents
of Roxbury,
Massachusetts.
November 13, 2016
“Gratitude for Those Who Serve"
by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
From the front lines in World War II, to the Korean War, Viet Nam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as peacetime, - our church is home to those who have served the nation as veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces during these conflicts. We pause to honor the sacrifice and service of those veterans, and their families, as well as those who served in peacetime. In this season of gratitude, let us be thankful for this sacrifice and service.
November 6, 2016
“Who Loved You Into Being You?” by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
It is that time of the year when many faith
traditions and
cultures honor the memory of ancestors.
On this Sunday, let us remember and honor those in our lives,
both
living and dead, who nurtured, encouraged, challenged and
inspired us to become
the people we are today, including teachers, scout leaders,
coaches, ministers,
Sunday School teachers, family members, neighbors and
friends.
October 30, 2016
“The Season of Inbetween” by
Rev. Sandra D. Fitz-Henry
The
ending of the summer season and the
falling of leaves often stir memories
of times past; losses - joys, sorrows.
In many cultures there are customs and
traditions which reflect this seasonal
change and suggest that, at such transitional
times, a kind of passageway occurs which
invites the life that has died in previous
years to re-emerge from the spirit world.
What might some of these customs and
traditions suggest about All Hallows'
Eve -- about darkness, fear and playfulness?
October 23, 2016“Into the Locker Room” by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
I had another sermon planned, but given recent events, I cannot
remain silent about a systemic culture that encourages the objectification, harassment
and abuse of women. We will focus
on the issue, not on any candidate, past or present. But, yah, we’re going there. Into the locker room.
Note: This sermon talks about sexual abuse,
assault, rape and harassment. Please consider the sensitive
nature of this topic and take good care of yourself before
deciding to listen to the sermon.
October 16, 2016“To Forgive, And Begin Again In
Love” by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
Yom Kippur, the annual
Jewish high holy day of atonement,
was celebrated around the world earlier this week. Considered the
holiest day of the Jewish calendar, people of that faith are asked to
reflect and to make amends for harm
they might have done to others and to themselves in the year just past.
But isn’t this a good spiritual
discipline for people of all faiths?
Let us make time ourselves to pause, reflect, and to
seek forgiveness and reconciliation with those whose feelings or
fortunes we
may have harmed, even unintentionally. In our faith, it is never too
late to forgive ourselves and
each other, and to begin again in love.
October 9, 2016
"Being Muslim in America, Today" by
Dr. John Robbins
Today,
Muslims
in America
find
themselves
faced
with
a multitude
of challenges:
from
hostile
work
environments,
prejudice
by law
enforcement,
and
bullying
at school
to widespread
unfamiliarity
with,
and
even
outright
hostility
toward,
their
religion.
In an
environment
in which
hate
crimes
against
Muslims
and
mosques
are
at record
highs
and
many
Americans
view
their
Muslim
neighbors
with
suspicion,
it is
more
urgent
than
ever
to build
bridges
and
show
the
deep
connections
between
communities
that
are
too
often
presented
as fundamentally
opposed.
Being
a Muslim
in America
today
means
confronting
real
fears
and
prejudices,
but
also
embracing
an opportunity
for
increased
engagement
and
sharing
the
hope
for
a future
filled
with
greater
love,
hope,
and
understanding.
October 2, 2016
"The Heart of Democracy" by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
It is not enough that we have the right to vote. Our faith, and our fifth principle,
call us to action – to register and vote our conscience in local, state and
national elections. Yet, as our
electoral process becomes ever more polarized, we seem to be talking past one
another, instead of with one another.
Quaker educator and pacifist Parker Palmer, in his book Healing the Heart of Democracy, believes
we must engage in respectful dialogue across our political differences. We must seek and identify the common
ground we share, if we are to preserve the best of democracy and tackle
effectively the many challenging issues we face as a nation here at home and abroad.
September 25, 2016
"We are Held in Love" by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
This is John Murray Sunday, when the birth of American Universalism is celebrated. It was on September 30, 1770 that John
Murray preached his first sermon in America -- introducing the theology of
universal love, forgiveness and salvation — in a small meetinghouse on Thomas
Potter’s farm on the shores of the New Jersey colony. It is an extraordinary story how the two men met, and a new,
uniquely American religion was born.
This church began as a Universalist congregation. Come learn more about the man whom our
church’s name honors.
September 18, 2016
"Pilgrim's Progress" by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
This summer, I participated in a minister’s pilgrimage to
Transylvania in the Carpathian Mountains in modern-day Romania – one of
the European birthplaces of our Unitarian faith. What does it mean to be
a pilgrim? Pilgrims are called to open their
hearts to mystery and wonder. A
pilgrim must also be willing to experience discomfort, because it is
when we
are most uncomfortable, we open ourselves to the possibilities of
transformation. Looking back on my two week pilgrimage,
where did I experience wonder and mystery? When was I most
uncomfortable, and how was I
transformed?
September 11, 2016
"Ingathering Water Communion" by
Rev. Gretchen E. Weis
Welcome to the start of a new church year! People are invited to bring a small
water sample from as far away as your summer travels to as close as from your own
backyard garden hose or kitchen faucet.
We will combine our individual water samples into the ingathering bowl
to symbolize the shared blessings of our community life together here at Murray
Church. This will be a multigenerational service.
Murray
UU Church