The Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae - March 19, 2023
Whirling with the Dervishes
"Oh heart, sit with someone who knows the heart; Go under the tree which has fresh blossoms," writes the Sultan of Love, Mevlânâ Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī. Join us for our annual service of poetry, music, dancing, and prayer honoring the Queen of Months--Ramazan--in the Islamic tradition.
From Monthly: "Vulnerability"
We’ll explore in our worship, small groups, and personal reflection this month’s theme, The Path of Vulnerability. Life asks us to be vulnerable, as a “leap of faith”: When we seek friendship (the ability to say, “I like you.”); When we can’t do it on our own (the ability to say “I need help.”); When we hope (the ability to say “I trust it will happen. “); When we show our true selves (the ability to say “This is me.”). I always say that pain and fear, when they show themselves, come out looking like anger. I think vulnerability is like pain and fear… We tie ourselves up in knots and get into a lot of trouble with what we cover vulnerability over with. Some people maybe get more aggressive because they’re [trying to] mask the vulnerability even from themselves. ~ Krista Tippett Vulnerability is the gift life has given us to open us to the find connection with one another. ~ Rev. Tim House Reinventing Organizations: What replaces fear? A capacity to trust the abundance of life. All wisdom traditions posit the profound truth that there are two fundamental ways to live life: from fear and scarcity or from trust and abundance…. We come to believe that even if something unexpected happens or if we make mistakes, things will turn out all right, and when they don’t, life will have given us an opportunity to learn and grow. ~ Frederic Laloux One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone. ~ Shannon L. Alder The Book of Life. Open the book of life… what do you see as you flip through the pages soaking it all up…. Where is the joy, the pain, the hope, the loss, the love? Now close it tight, place your hand over your heart, and Pause… Then open the book of life again…. Pause once more…. remember beloved be vulnerable and Begin Again In Love. Come let us worship together. ~ roddy bell-shelton biggs (they/them) Faith minus vulnerability and mystery equals extremism. If you’ve got all the answers, then don’t call what you do “faith.” ~ Brené Brown When we were children, we used to think that when we were grown up, we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability. To be alive is to be vulnerable. ~ Madeleine L’Engle