AWAKE Weeks 1 through 6 (JC)

"This is the high point of my week."  "I make it a point to put this on my schedule."  "This is where personal growth meets church."  "The music is fantastic!"

These are just a few of the sentiments expressed about the UUCA's new AWAKE worship services, held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30-8:00pm.

AWAKE is an emotional literacy ministry dedicated to helping people make better life choices.  Some of the topics covered in weeks 1-6 include courage, dealing with fear, conscious listening, and being 100% responsible for your actions.

AWAKE's services include spirited music sung by the AWAKE Singers and Band, healing hands, candle lighting, prayer and an inspiring but brief message on spiritual and personal growth.  The newest addition to the service is the "Soul Spot" featuring the "Wheel of Wisdom".  This is a time when two people sit and discuss secular and religious topics ranging from success to God. 

AWAKE is our congregation's deliberate effort to reach out to underrepresented groups.  The service combines the emotive music from the African American tradition with the thoughtfulness and conscientiousness of traditional Unitarian Universalism.

 So far a spirited group of about 60 have been coming each week since our debut on March 12, 2013.  A significant number of those coming are people of color.

For me, AWAKE is fun!  It is  spiritual, soulful,and real.  I think it provides a model for what the future of Unitarian Universalism can be.  Come see the future of our faith!  Thank you for this opportunity, UUCA!

Love to you all,
Rev. John
www.awakeministries.us
www.facebook.com/awakecommunity
 

Saved by a Different Faith (JC)

I chose Unitarian Universalism as my faith not because of our history which is rich, indeed; not because of our pioneering efforts to end slavery, or how we helped in the women's suffrage movement. I did not become a UU because of our important work during the Civil Rights Movement.  I didn't choose this faith because I am antitrinitarian or because I believe in the salvation of all souls. I chose this religion as the one I would die for because, quite simply, it accepted me for who I was and where I was.  This faith said "You are okay as you are, you are an original blessing not an original sin--a work in progress." That is the reason I am a Unitarian Universalist. 

What about you? Is UUism a gift to you? A gift is "a thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present" (thanks Wiki). This movement came to us free of charge it was a present--presenting to us new opportunities for affirmation and association. It was freely given without any thought of repayment.  I don't know?  Somehow I feel compelled to do something with this gift. I want to pay it forward by sharing our message with others. An old hymn of the church comes to mind... "What shall I render for all the blessings? What shall I render, what shall I give?” The hymn goes on to say, “All I can render is my body and my soul, that’s all that I can render that is all that I can give.” I have to be present and share this UU gift because I am held captive by the message.

If you are not a UU you might ask "Is that all the UU message says--that 'you are okay and a work in progress'?   Yes.  Pretty much, but it does say more...  Our message says to you that we support inclusivity   We believe all humans are the "Imago Dei"-- made in the image of God, made in the image of Greatness!  We believe all humans beings have worth and are worthy of love.  We believe that all religions point us right back to ourselves and the "god(s) of our understanding."  We believe in the democratic process, that each person is free to responsibly search for her/his own truths in life.

Perhaps you are a Unitarian Universalist and don't even know it?  If you want to talk about it, give me a shout out.  The ways to reach  me and to check out some of my work are below.  

Peace and blessings,

Rev. John T., (MOLE)
Minister of Outreach, Leadership and Evangelism
UU Church of Annapolis, Lead Minister AWAKE
AWAKE website
AWAKE on Facebook
UUCA website
UUCA youtube page
UUCA Ministers blog
My Facebook page
sermon archive
AWAKE Drive-Time Msg
AWAKE Blog talk radio
GA Worship Service
AWAKE Amazon Store

Office 410-266-8044 x107
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RIDING THE CREST - Conscious Giving (JC)

Like many of you, I follow the UU Seven Principles and Six Sources as a guide for my life. These beliefs should not be seen as dogma or a creed but rather as guideposts for our lives.  I use them, daily, to help me navigate my moral compass in all situations that I'm presented.  I use these teachings to remind me of my highest aspirations.

In addition to the Seven Principles and Six Sources, I have also created seven ways of thinking that guide my life.  I believe when I have "right thinking" I am in line with my path, Spirit and life.  I have named this way of thinking "The Seven Principles of Consciousness.  They are:

 

            1.   Conscious Listening 

            2.   Conscious Learning

            3.   Conscious Loving

            4.   Conscious Giving  

            5.   Conscious Relating

            6.   Conscious Eating

            7.   Conscious Living

In this blog, I want to briefly focus on my 4th principle.

CONSCIOUS GIVING

To be conscious means we are aware of something.  Our awareness is shaped by our varying experiences.  Each day we learn something new.  My challenge to me is to be aware of what I am experiencing and learning.  I want to be fully present and in the moment so that I will not miss the lesson that is being given by life.

As a result of this awareness, I am conscious about my giving.  I ask, "How am I generous with my time, talent and treasure?  How am I being generous in my relationships--with my family, spouse, kids, colleagues, and congregants?  How is my generosity reflected in the quality of time I spend with folk in the community?  How am I using my gifts to serve others?  Am I sharing a positive word whenever possible?  Am I taking time to do the little things like holding the door for someone or buying the guys coffee ahead of me?"  Am I managing my financial resources in a faithful way?  Do I give, financially and generously to my church and other charitable organizations?  Am I active in any capacity where I am serving others who are not family or friends?"

When we are a conscious giver we are AWAKE and sensitive to our giving actions.

If you are not already, you can become a conscious giver today.  Just say, "I intend to be a conscious giver for the rest of my life" and you begin your new exciting path!  Yes, we all fall short of our expectation(s) but the goal is to keep reminding yourself to be generous and abundant in all that you say and do.  This is the secret to your success as a conscious giver.

In that light, I want to give you an opportunity to be generous.  The UUCA has an online store.  Books and other products you would normally purchase online can now be bought through our online store.  Here's how it works:
 
1. Go to the UUCA online store.
2. Click on "powered by amazon" in the upper right hand corner and anything you buy will benefit the UUCA. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Love & Light,

Rev. John       
         

LAW OF PURE POTENTIALITY (JC)

RIDING THE CREST
The Law of Pure Potentiality

 

Deepak Chopra is someone I am fond of.  He has a theory called the “Law of Pure Potentiality.”  The idea behind this is that everything that exists is pure energy.  We are all “star stuff”.  We are the universe and the universe is us.  We are kin to all living things on earth and in the cosmos.  Within this realm there is life, birth, death and constant expansion and change.  The more we understand WHAT we are---that we were meant to change and be changed throughout life, the faster our consciousness expands giving us more stability and peace.

When you release the “Law of Pure Potentiality” you are tapped into the core of the cosmos.  This allows you to manifest whatever you need in your life.  You need a job?  You need a new relationship?  You need help for your kids, marriage, family?  You want help dealing with stress or stressful situations?  Are you worried about a transition in your life?  Release the “Law of Pure Potentiality”.

Now it comes with a price.  The cost is you must be willing to change.  If you are not willing to change then this law will not work for you.  If you are willing to change here’s what else Chopra says you must do:

1.  Practice non-judgment -  There may be others who have what you want or desire but you must not give in to envy, jealousy or gossip.  Judge only your life and not others’.  Let go of any enmity or strife you carry.

2.  Commune with nature -  Daily meditate and spend time with Mother Earth.  Listen quietly to her, release your intentions to her and she will respond in due time.

3.   Practice forgiveness -  In order to get tapped in to that universal hum which is beyond time and space, right and wrong you have to let go.  Forgive so that you can be released from the temporal illusion of permanence.

When you do these three things that align you with YOU then get ready for your desires to be manifest.   Try it and let me know what you think. 

Until next time,

Rev. John

RIDING THE CREST (JC)

I am so pleased and thankful to have been given the opportunity to be the Sunday morning preacher at this year's General Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona.  For those who missed the worship service , you missed a treat!  There were 192 voices in the choir, a large house band, and over 4,000 people in attendance singing along jubilantly to hymns and choir songs. Your ministers were all participants in the service and by the number of comments we received after worship ended, we could all conclude that the service was a success.

I want to personally thank Marty Day for making the lovely stoles you see in the photo.  As I said in the sermon, "We looked marvelous!"  I also want to say "thank you" to those UUCA members who came all the way to Phoenix to support us.

For me, this powerful service marks the end of my church year and the beginning of summer.  As I go into the month of July, I plan to take time for study.  I am looking forward to reading several books.  I have a few I'd like to recommend to you, as these books more than likely will influence my ministry here with you in the coming months.

• The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander (She was one of the worship leaders at GA)
• The Persistence of the Color Line by Randall Kennedy (Fred's recommendation)
• How We Decide by John Lehrer
• It Was on Fire When I Lay Down on It by Robert Fulghum
• Voice from the Margins by Jacqui James and Mark Morrison-Reed
• The New Species: A Vision of the Evolution of The Human Being by Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott
• Guns, Germs, and Steel:  The Fates of Human Societies, by Jared Diamond

I am so thankful to you, UUCA, for allowing me the spiritual time needed to continue the vibrant ministry we have together.  We have had a great church-year!  We have lived boldly and compassionately.  I look forward to continuing the journey with you soon.

In the name of Love,

Rev. John