Music: Sun May 29

Memorial Day is recognized in Sunday’s musical selections with several of Unitarian composer Edvard Grieg’s Lyric Pieces associated with remembrances and nostalgia, and two of American composer George Gershwin’s Preludes.

Prelude: Adam Kent, piano

Vanished Days, Op. 57, No. 1

Homesickness, Op. 62, No. 6

From Days of Youth, Op. 65, No. 1

                                                              Edvard Grieg

Opening Music:

Prelude No. 1

                                                            George Gershwin

Offertory:

Arietta, Op. 12, No. 1

Remembrances, Op. 71, No. 7

                                                            Grieg

Interlude:

Prelude No. 2

                                                            Gershwin

Music: Sun May 15

The Search for Truth and Meaning is embodied in the cutting-edge piano music of Cuban-born Tania Leon featured in Sunday morning’s Prelude. Leon’s music blends jazz and various indigenous idioms with an avant-garde harmonic language. Her work celebrate cultural diversity and artistic multiplicity. The Offertory also pays homage to Unitarian sources, with the work of Unitarian composer Edvard Grieg. The CUUC Choir is also on hand with selections associated with the monthly theme of Blessing. Read on for programming details.

Prelude: Adam Kent, piano
Prelude No. 2 “Pecera” (1966)
Tumbao (2006)
Momentum (1984)

                                                            Tania León (b. 1943)

Anthem: CUUC Choir directed by Lisa N. Meyer and accompanied by Georgianna Pappas

And Wherever You Go (A Choral Blessing) 

 Douglas E. Wagner

Offertory:
Homeward, Op. 62, No. 6

                                                            Edvard Grieg

Anthem:
Sing a Joyful Song                         

Cynthia Gray

Identify Your Emotions

Practice of the Week
Identify Your Emotions

Like, every time. Emotions are constantly being triggered, many times a day. You can let them carry you away. You can be in denial that they are there. Try, instead, stopping and identifying what the emotion is. The spiritual benefits of this practice led the Dalai Lama and Paul Eckman to team up to create atlasofemotions.com.

CALMNESS. Emotions constantly arise when triggered and then recede. Calmness is not itself an emotion, but the capacity to evaluate, and understand each emotion as it occurs. Without a baseline calmness, your emotions are “in control” and may “run away with” you -- or they are suppressed, which means they're operating in the background, manifesting at times and in ways that can seem random and surprising. Practicing at identifying your emotions cultivates calmness for understanding and responding effectively to your emotions.

This is a practice of continual self-monitoring. Whenever an emotion comes up, identify it. Say its name, using the following scheme of five basic emotions -- each with a number of variations.

THE FIVE BASIC EMOTIONS: sadness, anger, enjoyment, fear, disgust

Sadness: We’re saddened by loss.
S1. Disappointment: A feeling that expectations are not being met
S2. Discouragement: A feeling that there is no way to cope
S3. Distraughtness: Agitated sadness
S4. Resignation: Acceptance that nothing can be done
S5. Helplessness: Realization of the inability to prevent or cope with loss
S6. Hopelessness: A feeling that nothing good is to come
S7. Misery: Anguished sadness, usually prolonged
S8. Despair: Resigned anguish
S9. Grief: Anguished sadness over the loss of a loved one
S10. Sorrow: Sadness over a loss.
S11. Anguish: Intense agitated sadness

Actions that may be driven by sadness:
Seek comfort: seek help or support from others. Generally enables collaboration.
Mourn: focus on the loss. May either enable or inhibit collaboration
Protest: complain about the loss, knowing the complaint will not recover what was lost. May either enable or inhibit collaboration.
Ruminate: repetitively think about the emotional experience. Generally inhibits collaboration.
Withdraw: physically or mentally leave the scene of what is triggering the sadness. Generally inhibits collaboration.

Anger: We’re angered by interference.
A1. Annoyance: Very mild anger.
A2. Frustration: Response to failure to overcome an obstacle despite repeated attempts.
A3.Exasperation: A loss of patience at repeated failures to settle a problem.
A4. Argumentativeness: An inclination to prolong disagreements.
A5. Bitterness: Disappointment that no one wanted to settle a problem.
A6. Vengefulness: A desire for retaliation.
A7. Fury: Intense anger.

Actions that may be driven by anger:
Dispute: Disagree in a manner that may escalate the dispute.
Be passive-aggressive: Take indirect actions that have an angry undercurrent.
Insult: Disparage the other person in an offensive or hurtful way that is likely to escalate the conflict rather than resolve it.
Quarrel: Verbally oppose in a manner intended to escalate the disagreement.
Scream/Yell: Lose control of how one speaks; yell = speak loudly; scream = yell + high pitch.
Simmer/Brood: Act in a way that makes clear that angry actions are building or being contemplated.
Suppress: Try to avoid feeling or acting upon the emotion that is being experienced.
Use physical force: Harm or constrain someone; an action that may be deliberately chosen or the result of loss of control over how one acts.
Undermine: Take action to make someone or something weaker or less effective, usually in a secret or gradual way.

Enjoyment: We enjoy what feels good.
E1. Sensory Pleasure: Enjoyment derived through one of the five physical senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell.
E2. Rejoicing. A warm, uplifting feeling that people experience when they see acts of human goodness, kindness, and compassion. Also called elevation.
E3. Compassion/Joy: Enjoyment felt when you act to relieve another person’s suffering.
E4. Amusement: Light playful feelings of enjoyment and good humor.
E5. Schadenfreude. Enjoyment of the misfortune of another person, usually a rival.
E6. Relief: When something expected to be unpleasant, especially the threat of harm, is avoided or comes to an end.
E7. Pride: A desire for others to know the pleasure you feel in your own accomplishments or the accomplishments of someone either you nurtured directly or with whom you identify.
E8. Fiero (Italian): The enjoyment felt when you have met a challenge that stretched your capabilities.
E9. Naches (Yiddish): Feelings of pride in the accomplishments, or sometimes just the existence, of your offspring or mentees. Crucial for motivating the nurture of infants and children.
E10. Wonder: An experience of something that is very surprising, beautiful, amazing, or hard to believe.
E11. Excitement: Energy that unlike other enjoyable emotions is rarely felt slightly, but ranges from mid to high in intensity. May merge with any of the emotions generating a very active form of that emotion.
E12. Ecstasy: Rapturous delight. A state of very great happiness, nearly overwhelming.

Actions that may be driven by enjoyment:
Maintain: Continue to do what is necessary to continue the enjoyable feelings. Generally, enables collaboration.
Savor: Relish the experience of good feelings about physical and psychological experiences. Generally enables collaboration.
Indulge: Excessively engage in the enjoyable feelings. May enable or inhibit collaboration.

Fear: We’re afraid of danger.
F1. Trepidation: Anticipation of the possibility of danger.
F2. Nervousness: Uncertainty as to whether there is a danger.
F3. Anxiety: Inability to cope with an anticipated or actual threat.
F4. Dread: Anticipation of severe danger.
F5. Desperation: A response to the inability to reduce danger.
F6. Panic: A consequence of desperation.
F7. Horror: A mixture of fear and disgust.
F8. Terror: Maximum fear.

Actions that may be driven by fear:
Avoid: Physically stay, or internally keep one’s mind, away from what is triggering the fear.
Freeze: Become incapable of acting or speaking.
Hesitate: Hold back in doubt or indecision, often momentarily
Ruminate: Repetitively think about the emotional experience.
Scream/Yell: Lose control of how one speaks; yell = speak loudly; scream = yell + high pitch
Withdraw: Physically or mentally leave the scene of the threat
Worry: Anticipate the possibility of harm

Disgust: We’re disgusted by anything toxic.
D1. Dislike: The mildest form of disgust.
D2. Aversion: A desire to avoid something disgusting.
D3. Distaste: Response to a bad taste or smell; can also be metaphorical.
D4. Repugnance: Repulsion to something literally or figuratively toxic.
D5. Revulsion: Very intense disgust.
D6. Abhorrence: Extreme repulsion.
D7. Loathing: Intense disgust focused on a person.

Actions that may be driven by disgust:
Avoid: Physically stay, or internally keep one’s mind, away from what is triggering the disgust.
Dehumanize: Deprive someone of human qualities, personality, or spirit
Vomit: Expel contents of stomach through mouth
Withdraw: Physically or mentally leave the scene of what is triggering the disgust

Using the above list as your guide (print out the one-page PDF synopsis HERE), practice taking moments throughout the day to investigate and name what you are feeling right at that moment!

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For list of all weekly practices: "Practices of the Week Index"

Music: Sun May 8

Jazz legend Valerie Capers and bassist John Robinson return to CUUC for a special Mother’s Day performance. Dr. Capers will also participate in a special Wonder Box talk with R.E. students. Don’t miss the Valerie Capers Trio at Music at CUUC’s annual Jazz Fest! concert on Sat. May 14 at 8pm. For more information about Valerie Capers’ extraordinary career and artistry, visit www.valeriecapers.com. Read on for programming details:

Prelude:  Valerie Capers and John Robinson

“It Could Happen to You” 

Jimmy Vanheusen

OPENING MUSIC: 

“Don’t Get  Around Much Any More” 

 Duke Ellington”

OFFERTORY:

“Isn’t She Lovely” 

Stevie Wonder

INTERLUDE: 

“In a Mellow Tone” 

Duke Ellington

POSTLUDE: 

 “One Note Samba” 

Antonio Carlos Jobim

Music: Sun May 1

Solo piano works evocative of the season as well as our Flower Communion are featured this Sunday morning at CUUC. The Prelude opens with a charming celebration of May written for student pianists by Robert Schumann. Next come a set of tender floral tributes from American composer Edward MacDowell’s charming Woodland Sketches. The morning’s Offertory is Claude Debussy’s delicately scored “Heather”, thought to describe the lavender-rose scrub brush of the Brittany Coast. Several examples of Ragtime round out the morning’s solo piano music. In addition, the CUUC Choir is on hand with several uplifting selections, including a traditional 16^th-century May Day song for congregational participation. Read on for programming details.

Prelude: Adam Kent, piano

Mai, Lieber Mai, Bald Bist Du Wieder Da! (May, Lovely May, Soon You’ll Be Back Again!) , Op. 68, No. 13

                                                Robert Schumann

To a Wild Rose, Op. 51, No. 1

To a Water-Lily, Op. 51, No. 6

                                                            Edward MacDowell

The Chrysanthemum           

                                    Scott Joplin

Special Congregational Music:
Cottesmore: 16^th-century traditional May-Day song    

verses:

1.       Good morning lords and ladies, it is the first of May.

Come look at our fine garland that looks so green and gay.

2.       The cuckoo sings in April, the cuckoo sings in May.

The cuckoo sings in June, July and then she flies away.

3.       The cuckoo is a merry bird, she sings as she flies,

She brings us good tidings and never tells no lies.

Anthem: CUUC Choir directed by Lisa N. Meyer and accompanied by Georgianna Pappas
No Greater Gift      

 Amy F. Bernon   

Offertory: Bruyères (Heather) from Préludes, Book II

                                                Claude Debussy

Anthem:

You Are The New Day                             

John David, arr. by Peter Knight

Flower Communion Music
Heliotrope Bouquet                       

                                                Scott Joplin and Louis Chauvin

Pay Attention to Blessing

Practice of the Week
Pay Attention to Blessing

SLOGANS TO LIVE BY: Carry these reminders at all times. These practices don't require setting aside a separate substantial chunk of time -- but they will slow you down a bit (and that's a good thing.) Resolve to get stronger at living by these maxims, day by day. Sometimes make one of them the focus of your daily journaling.

"Neurons that fire together wire together"" -Donald Hebb, 1949 (CLICK HERE)

adapted from Rick Hanson, "Take In the Good" in Just One Thing

Negativity bias. As we evolved over millions of years, dodging sticks and chasing carrots, it was a lot more important to notice, react to, and remember sticks than it was for carrots. That’s because – in the tough environments in which our ancestors lived – if they missed out on a carrot, they usually had a shot at another one later on. But if they failed to avoid a stick – a predator, a natural hazard, or aggression from others of their species – WHAM, no more chances to pass on their genes. Thus, we developed brains with a built-in negativity bias.

• In a relationship, it typically takes five good interactions to make up for a single bad one.
• People will work much harder to avoid losing $100 than they will work to gain the same amount of money.
• Painful experiences are much more memorable than pleasurable ones.

At the end of the day, you're more likely to find yourself thinking about the one thing that went wrong than the fifty things that went right.

Our brains are like Velcro for negative experiences, but Teflon for positive ones. Negativity bias helped our hunter-gatherer ancestors survive, but it also oriented their feelings, expectations, beliefs, inclinations, and mood in an increasingly negative direction. This is not fair! Most of the facts in your life are probably positive or at least neutral. Yet the self-reinforcing increasingly negative orientation makes us anxious, irritable, and blue.

Fortunately, the natural negativity bias can be counteracted -- by paying attention to blessing.

By tilting toward the good -- toward that which brings more happiness and benefit to oneself and others -- you can level the playing field.

Don't just count your blessings. By focusing attention on them, the blessings in your life have a chance to change your brain -- re-orienting your feelings, expectations, and mood in a positive instead of negative direction.

You'll still see the tough parts of life. In fact, you'll become more able to change them or bear them if you pay attention to blessing, since that will help put challenges in perspective, lift your energy and spirits, highlight useful resources, and fill up your own cup so you have more to offer to others.

1. Look for blessings.

Take note of positive aspects of the world (something beautiful or pleasing) and yourself (your health, your skills). Take note of positive events (finishing a batch of emails, getting a compliment). Most blessings are ordinary and relatively minor -- but they are till real. You are not looking at the world through rose-colored glasses, but simply recognizing something that is actual and true.

2. Let yourself enjoy the blessing.

Once you've identified a blessing let yourself feel good about it. So often in life a good thing happens -- flowers are blooming, someone is nice, a goal's been attained -- and you know it, but you don't feel it. This time, let the blessing affect you. Take half a minute or so to give attention to the blessing and how much you enjoy it. You can do it on the fly in daily life, or at special times of reflection, like just before falling asleep (when the brain is especially receptive to new learning). Try to do this at least a half dozen times a day.

Be aware of any reluctance toward having positive experiences (thinking that you don't deserve the blessing; thinking that it's selfish, vain, or shameful to feel pleasure; fearing that if you feel good, you will lower your guard and let bad things happen). Then turn your attention back to the blessing. Keep opening up to them, breathing and relaxing, letting them move your needle. It's like sitting down to a meal: don't just look at it -- thoroughly taste it!

Most of our daily blessings are pretty mild. That's fine. Simply stay with it for ten, twenty, even thirty seconds in a row -- instead of getting distracted by something else.

Soften and open around the positive experience; let it fill your mind; give over to it in your body. The longer that something is held in awareness and the more emotionally stimulating it is, the more neurons that fire and thus wire together, and the stronger the effect on your base-level feelings, expectations, and mood.

Letting yourself enjoy your blessing is not the same as clinging to it. Actually, it's the opposite: by taking blessings in, you will feel better fed inside, and less fragile or needy. Your happiness will become more unconditional, increasingly based on an inner fullness rather than on external conditions.

3. Intend and sense that the blessing is sinking in to you.

People do this in different ways. Some feel it in the body as a warm glow spreading through the chest like the warmth of a cup of hot cocoa on a cold wintry day. Others visualize things like a golden syrup sinking down inside; a child might imagine a jewel going into a treasure chest in his or her heart. And some might simply know that while this blessing is held in awareness, its related neural networks are busily firing and wiring together.

Any single time of paying attention to blessing will usually make just a little difference. But over time those little differences will add up, gradually weaving positive experiences into the fabric of your brain and your whole being.

For Journaling

Paying attention to blessing means taking moments throughout the day. Extend the practice into your journaling. Name some of the blessings of the day. Write about how you enjoyed them (or are letting yourself enjoy them now). Reinforce the feeling (such as a warm glow spreading through the chest), the image (such as syrup sinking down inside), or the thought (that your awareness is wiring your neurons) by describing it in writing after each blessing you name.

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PRACTICES INDEX

Music: Sun Apr 24

Our special musical guest is the songster satirist, Roy Zimmerman.

He'll be singing at least 5 of his songs: 3 of them for the Prelude (10:00 to 10:10), and another couple during the service.

Later Sunday evening, Roy's giving a concert at the Ethical Culture Society at 7:30.

Roy Zimmerman sings satirical songs - original songs about class warfare, creationism, same-sex marriage, guns, marijuana, abstinence, Republicans (a lot of songs about Republicans), ignorance, war and greed.

There's a decidedly Lefty slant to his lyrics. "We used to have a name for Right Wing satire," he says. "We called it 'cruelty.'"

The Los Angeles Times says, "Zimmerman displays a lacerating wit and keen awareness of society's foibles that bring to mind a latter-day Tom Lehrer."

Tom Lehrer himself says, "I congratulate Roy Zimmerman on reintroducing literacy to comedy songs. And the rhymes actually rhyme, they don't just 'rhyne.'"

Joni Mitchell says, "Roy's lyrics move beyond poetry and achieve perfection."

In twelve albums over twenty years and on stages, screens and airwaves across America, Roy has brought the sting of satire to the struggle for Peace and Social Justice. His songs have been heard on HBO and Showtime. He has recorded for Warner/Reprise Records. He's a featured blogger for the Huffington Post. And everywhere Zimmerman goes, the Starving Ear goes with him. (Read more at: royzimmerman.com)

Here are a few samples of Roy's work:

"My Vote, My Voice, My Right"


"America"


"Everybody Is Everybody Else"


"I Approve this Message"


"End of the Ship"


"Summer of Loving"


"Hope, Struggle, and Change"


"Hope, Struggle, and Change" (cover by Phoenix Choir of UU Congregation of Atlanta)


"Austerity Beatles"