Passover, which commemorates the Jewish exodus from slavery in Egypt, has engendered a wealth of traditional, liturgical, and programmatic music, examples of which are featured in this morning’s musical selections. In addition, the theme of liberation has resonated with oppressed peoples ever since Old Testament times, and a number of African-American Spirituals speak to an identification with historic Jewish struggles.
French composer Charles Valentin Alkan (1813-1888) was an observant Jew, who is purported to have perished when he reached for a volume of the Talmud and toppled an entire bookcase! His paraphrase of the 137th Psalm recalls another period of exile during biblical times. Read on for highlights of musical works to be performed as well as a translation of the 137th Psalm.
Centering Music: Adam Kent, piano
Wade in the Water
Traditional Spiritual, arr. by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
Super Flumina Babylonis (Psalm 137)*
Charles Valentin Alkan
Special Music: Kim Force, soprano
There’s No Seder Like Our Seder
Irving Berlin
Other Holiday-themed songs include: Go Down Moses, Dayeinu,Soon the Day Will Arrive, Chad Gadya, and Shalom Chaverim
Psalm 137
1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion. 2 There on the poplars
we hung our harps, 3 for there our captors asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord
while in a foreign land? 5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill. 6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem
my highest joy.
7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did
on the day Jerusalem fell.
“Tear it down,” they cried, “tear it down to its foundations!” 8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy is the one who repays you
according to what you have done to us. 9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.
“When despair for the world grows in me,” Wendell Berry says, he turns to nature for solace. I, too, resonate with “the peace of wild things” – where “the wood drake rests” and “the great heron feeds.” After a while hanging out with the critters, though, duty and need calls me back into the human world. Is there anything among humans that lifts hope in answer to the despair of our times?
Answer: congregations. It is an awesome thing that you do, coming to and participating in CUUC. Just showing up Sunday after Sunday, and at other programs during the week, is huge.
Our ailing democracy needs more than fixes to our electoral system – necessary as those fixes are. We – Americans generally – also need work at opening our hearts to democracy as a way of life. At CUUC, we’re doing that work – and have been doing it since 1909. Here, as well as at congregations and other voluntary associations across the land, the arts, the skills, the heart-habits of democracy are cultivated and honed.
Being regularly at our congregation has helped you grow an understanding that we are all in this together, dependent on, and accountable to, one another. It has fostered appreciation of the value of “otherness,” and hospitality to the stranger, those who seem different.
Congregational life has taught you to creatively engage with tensions: both the internal tension of finding yourself doing something not precisely in line with what you’ve said you value, and the external tensions with people whose opinions differ from yours. Engaging those tensions, neither hiding them nor hiding from them, has helped you understand yourself and our neighbors.
In congregational life you have found your voice, known the satisfaction of contributing to positive change, and resisted narratives of your own powerlessness. You have created community, knowing that it takes a village to raise a Rosa Parks, and that steady companionship of kindred spirits nourishes the courage we each need to speak and act as citizens.
Regular participation in congregational life is not the only way to do the work of opening one’s heart to democracy as a way of life, but it is the best way I know.
I am so deeply appreciative of – and I invite us all to appreciate together -- what an important thing, what an amazing thing, it is to decide to be a congregation together: to keep our well-beloved CUUC going; to stay at the table to hash out differences; to resist the many temptations to take our ball and go home when things get a little hairy; to hang in and let the friction rub us smooth; to discern finally the lovely and delightful in one another and the light shining through our cracks.
You come to CUUC, and you do that -- and it is such a great, hopeful thing that you do!
The numbers are dwindling of Americans participating during any given week in any congregation where people practice and learn the gentle and the rough and tumble arts of being a people. More Americans are staying home. Those that do venture to a faith institution are increasingly likely to attend a mega-church, where they see a good show every week but participate in no decision-making, no dialog, no real encounter with one another. And our country suffers from the decline of heart-habits of democracy.
This is a concern, of course, but I do not despair – for hope is reborn every time I step into our building and see you, the members and friends of CUUC, creating, deliberating, deciding, learning, building, growing together. The democratic traditions and customs that you keep alive at our congregation, week after week, may have ebbed in our country in recent decades, but by keeping them strong at CUUC you help them have a chance, soon, to begin again to grow throughout the land.
If I may say it in my native tongue: Y’all are awesome!
In love, Meredith
In case you missed it . . .
Here's the sermon of Sun Mar 25:
New on The Liberal Pulpit. The Liberal Pulpit is a YouTube Channel HERE! Videos include the sermons starting on Feb 25.
Practice of the Week.Let Go and Have Faith.(Occasional). For one week try letting go of something that you normally spend energy “shoulding” about or otherwise trying to control. Just let go of worrying and meddling with it. In other words: pick one thing that you habitually expend energy to control -- and then step back and let go of as much control as you can over that thing. Have faith that it will turn out OK (even if it isn’t what you would have thought you’d want).
Your Moment of Zen.Pain During Zazen. Black Bear came to see Raven one morning and said, "I have this persistent pain under my right shoulder blade. Shall I try sitting through it?" Raven asked, "Have you tried sitting through it?" Black Bear said, "It just gets worse." Raven said, "Maybe you should elevate your seat a little. Try sitting on a stone." Black Bear said, "It doesn't seem to help." Raven said, "Try lying down." Black Bear said, "Can I really do zazen lying down?" Raven asked, "How else can you do it?"
Minister's Tuesday Coffee Chat. I'm at a coffee shop (almost) every Tuesday from 3-5pm. I invite you to drop by and chat. Apr: Barnes and Noble Cafe, Vernon Hills Shopping Center, Eastchester
Sun Apr 29. A SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED to vote on the proposal that Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation takes the following Position on Escalating Economic Inequity . . . read the position HERE -- it's about a 10-minute read.
Or, if you like, you can listen to me read it out loud. (About 19 minutes, out loud.)
Lifespan Religious Education
The theme of the month for April is faith and it begins this Sunday on April Fool’s Day. Many UUs find faith to be foolish, when it is described as blindly following. However, the term contains so much more meaning than that, in a UU context. Paul Tillich in his book Dynamics of Faith defines faith as “the state of being ultimately concerned.” It is an orientation toward what matters most to you. Faith development theorist James Fowler talked of “faithing” as a process of wrestling meaning from life and subjecting it again and again to the scrutiny of our minds, the leap of our hearts, and the reality of action. It is about finding the meaning on which your life centers and deciding how to put that into action. Our UU faith community fosters that discovery. That’s no joke!
Please see the following six (6) announcements:
1) This Sun Apr 1 Easter Egg Hunt and Activities
Join us for our annual RE Easter festivities, including...
Easter Children's Worship
Egg Hunt
Cookie decorating
Easter crafts
Egg-and-spoon race and other games
To view the Religious Education Google calendar, CLICK HERE.
To view a spreadsheet version of the RE Calendar, CLICK HERE.
2) Passover Help Needed
Help make the Passover Service and Meal a success.
We need kitchen help on Sat Apr 7 and Sun Apr 8. There are many roles for all skill sets.
To sign up, CLICK HERE.
3) CUUC Recipe Book
Send in your favorite recipe to be included, whether barbecued, baked, or poured, by April 7.
The recipe book will be sold at the Variety Show on Sat, May 12 and the two Sundays afterward, with all profits benefiting the New American Children's Cultural Enrichment Fund.
If you'd like you or your child to be included, please submit the following to Irene Cox at Irene.cox@gmail.com and Erin Foster at eefoster@aol.com:
1 recipe
Your own introduction/description (up to 200 words): perhaps the story behind why you make it, what the dish or cooking in general mean to you.
A photo of you/your family in the kitchen or a picture you want to share with the congregation.
4) UU Common Read Discussion Sun Apr 15, 11:40
Hosted by CUUC Wisdom Reading and Discussion Group
We will discuss Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want, one of the two books selected for this year’s Common Read. This optimistic book is for Americans who are asking, in the wake of Trump's victory, What do we do now? The answer: We need to organize and fight to protect and expand our democracy.
Facilitated by Rev. Meredith and Sabrina Cleary (clearytheory@gmail.com).
5) Save the Date for Bingo!
April 27 at 6:30
A night of pizza and community fun!
Help us out by donating a gift to our collection of prizes.
All ages welcome! $5/adult; $3/child; $15/family max. RSVP: cuucevents@gmail.com
6) Refugee Children Need Friends
The family that recently arrived from Afghanistan and is living in White Plains would like to make some new friends. Would you and your children like to meet them, maybe for a play date or shared outdoor activity? (The children are 4, 5 and 10.)
For more information, please contact Jane Dixon, lilrhodie@gmail.com.
Sincerely, Perry
Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development
Category: Occasional. These are practices suggested for "every once in a while." Some of them are responses to a particular need that may arise; others are simply enriching occasional enhancements to the spiritual life. All of them are worth a try at least once. And any of them might become a regular and central part of your spiritual practice.
For this exercise, we will consider faith in its aspect of trust.
For the Western religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam), faith involves trust in God. The core idea is that we don’t have to take responsibility for everything. How things turn out is, of course, an interactive mixture of what we do and what is beyond our control. Yet sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking we control what we do not.
One of our “secret” strategies for control involves “shoulding.” I try to ensure that other people – or even inanimate objects – will behave in the way I want by clinging tightly to a belief that they should behave that way. Thus, when somebody (maybe me) fails to be and do as they should, and the result is that things don’t turn out as I want, I get upset. Trust (whether in God, or in society, or in the universe) involves letting go of trying to control everything – including letting go of shoulding. There are two levels.
Level A: Trusting that things will work out the way I want them to
Level B: Trusting that things will work out in a way that is really and deeply OK even if it’s very different from what I would have wanted.
“Level B,” of course, gets more to the essence of faith – which reminds us that acceptance as well as trust are central aspects of faith.
Your exercise, then, is:
For one week try letting go of something that you normally spend energy “shoulding” about or otherwise trying to control. Just let go of worrying and meddling with it. In other words: pick one thing that you habitually expend energy to control -- and then step back and let go of as much control as you can over that thing. Have faith that it will turn out OK (even if it isn’t what you would have thought you’d want).
Examples might be:
-If you always follow a recipe when you cook, try making something elaborate and original with no recipe.
-If there is some assignment that your assistant or co-worker carries out with your careful oversight, trying letting them "fly solo" this time.
-Trust your kid in a way you haven't before.
-Try giving your next presentation with fewer notes than you usually rely upon.
-Set aside time for being outdoors (beach, woods, etc.) -- but do not check the weather forecast -- avoid any source that might mention what the weather will be. If it rains, or is too cold (or hot), adapt on the fly.
-Or, if this is the sort of thing that would be novel for you, go into the city without a plan. Just see what catches your fancy.
-If you carefully pair your socks before putting them in the drawer, next time you do laundry, throw all the sock in the drawer loose.
-Go on a "news fast." For one week, read (watch, or listen to) no news media. Let the world take care of itself for a week.
-Pick something that you're a fastidious perfectionist about, and do a half-assed job one time. (Who knows? By aiming at "half-assed," it may turn out even better!)
NOTE: Do exercise reasonable prudence in selecting something to let go of. Stepping back and trusting your toddler to make it across a busy street by himself would probably not be a good choice.
For Journaling
Write about the experience. What was hard about it? What was surprisingly easy?
.
Easter Sunday music at CUUC opens with works from religious and secular traditions by J. S. Bach, who saw all artistic creativity as an expression of the divine. The Offertory features a seasonal favorite by Unitarian composer Edvard Grieg. The CUUC Choir is also on hand with a Pete Seeger classic and a festive salute to the holiday. Read on for programming details.
Centering Music: Adam Kent, piano
Sheep May Safely Graze
J. S. Bach arr. by Egon Petri
Partita No. 1 in Bb Major, BWV 825
Sarabande and Gigue
J. S. Bach
Anthem: CUUC Choir directed by Lisa N. Meyer and accompanied by Georgianna Pappas
In 2018, we've had a "Faith Development Friday" once a month. We've had three so far, and the April event will be on Fri Apr 13. It's great! We gather for dinner and fellowship at 6-ish, and programming starts at 7:00. I've been having a great time leading an exploration of aspects of UU history. On Fri Mar 16, we looked at the role of reason in our tradition -- its triumphs and pitfalls. On Fri Apr 13 we'll be looking at reform movements: the role of intentional efforts to make change, how intentional change tends to include unintentional change, how theology and institution interplay as each makes changes -- and how all this manifests in our UU history. Fascinating stuff!
Our you can choose to go to the Journey Group: Barbara Montrose facilitates the adult group, and Perry leads the kids group. There's also just the option of just enjoying social time with fellow CUUCers.
One Friday a month, CUUC is the place to be! You'd probably enjoy being a part of it.
In love, Meredith
Sun Apr 29. A SPECIAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HAS BEEN CALLED to vote on the proposal that Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation takes the following Position on Escalating Economic Inequity . . . read the position HERE -- it's about a 10-minute read.
Or, if you like, you can listen to me read it out loud. (About 19 minutes, out loud.)
Minister's Tuesday Coffee Chat. I'm at a coffee shop (almost) every Tuesday from 3-5pm. I invite you to drop by and chat. Mar: Starbucks, 51 Purchase St. Rye Apr: Barnes and Noble Cafe, Vernon Hills Shopping Center, Eastchester
Practice of the Week. Aspire to the Impossible(Slogans to Live By). We’d be selling ourselves short if our aspirations weren't so lofty as to be impossible to fulfill. Just keep making effort in the direction of fulfillment of the aspiration but don't expect to complete the job. You will always have more to do. To commit to something you actually could accomplish is such small potatoes for a lofty, sacred human being like yourself.
Your Moment of Zen. The Way Things Are. Raven took her perch on the Assembly Oak and said, "The problem is that one thing seems to lead to another." Owl asked, "Isn't that the way things are?" Raven said, "Not really."...
Lifespan Religious Education
Spring is officially here! The weather may not have represented our hopes for spring, but the warmth of community on Sunday certainly will. Join us for a special musical guest and interesting classes that include social action, an earth-centered tradition, Easter reflections, welcoming, and new self-discoveries.
Please see the following six (6) announcements:
1) This Sun Mar 25
K-5th start in sanctuary for Music for All Ages with special guest Melody of Dragon.
6th-12th start in classroom.
Classes
Pre-K-1 - Creating Home: Comings and Goings
2nd-3rd - Passport to Spirituality: Boston (Unitarian Universalism: Social Action)
4th-5th - Bibleodeon: Jesus & Easter
6th-7th – Neighboring Faiths: Wicca
8th-9th – Coming of Age: Faith Statements
10th-12th – Youth Group
To view the Religious Education Google calendar, CLICK HERE.
To view a spreadsheet version of the RE Calendar, CLICK HERE.
2) UU Common Read Discussion This Fri Mar 23, 7pm (Pizza at 6:30), Fireside
Hosted by CUUC Wisdom Reading and Discussion Group
We will discuss Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want, one of the two books selected for this year’s Common Read. This optimistic book is for Americans who are asking, in the wake of Trump's victory, What do we do now? The answer: We need to organize and fight to protect and expand our democracy.
Pizza will be served at 6:30. Please RSVP to cuucevents@gmail.com.
Facilitated by Rev. Meredith and Sabrina Cleary (clearytheory@gmail.com).
3) Easter Egg Hunt and Activities Next Sun Apr 1
Join us for our annual RE Easter festivities, including...
Egg Hunt
Cookie decorating
Children's Worship
Egg-and-spoon race and other games
We need helpers to make the cutout cookies that the children will decorate. Please contact me at dlre@cucwp.org if you are able to make some ahead of time.
4) Passover Help Needed
Would you like to help with the Passover Service and Meal?
If you have an interest in Passover or simply enjoy being in the kitchen, please contact Perry at dlre@cucwp.org.
5) CUUC Recipe Book
Send in your favorite recipe to be included, whether barbecued, baked, or poured, by April 7.
The recipe book will be sold at the Variety Show on Sat, May 12 and the two Sundays afterward, with all profits benefiting the New American Children's Cultural Enrichment Fund.
If you'd like you or your child to be included, please submit the following to Irene Cox at Irene.cox@gmail.com and Erin Foster at eefoster@aol.com:
• 1 recipe
• Your own introduction/description (up to 200 words): perhaps the story behind why you make it, what the dish or cooking in general mean to you.
• A photo of you/your family in the kitchen or a picture you want to share with the congregation.
6) Refugee Children Need Friends
The family that recently arrived from Afghanistan and is living in White Plains would like to make some new friends. Would you and your children like to meet them, maybe for a play date or shared outdoor activity? (The children are 4, 5 and 10.)
For more information, please contact Jane Dixon, lilrhodie@gmail.com.
Sincerely, Perry
Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development
