Choose Your Spiritual Practice

Practice of the Week
Choose Your Spiritual Practice

“You create a path of your own by looking within yourself and listening to your soul, cultivating your own ways of experiencing the sacred and then practicing it. Practicing until you make it a song that sings you." (Sue Monk Kidd)

The "Practice of the Week" has offered many practices to help in the development of mental, psychological, and spiritual health, flourishing, and joy.

The "Slogans to Live By" and the "Worth a Try/Occasional" practices are recommended for everyone. Other practices aren't for everyone but might be for you. Here's a partial listing of possible spiritual practices:

using prayer beads
fasting
attending peace vigils
listening to music
serving on the congregation’s Board of Trustees
walking a labyrinthe
needlepoint
antiracism work
writing letters to the editor
painting
scuplting
cardio kickboxing
bath time with your kids
saying “hello” to cashiers and clerks
dancing
teaching RE
washing dishes
taking a bubble bath
chanting
camping
running
creating sacred space
tai chi
going to an art museum
surfing
making pottery
attending worship
caring for an ailing parent
writing haiku
playing an instrument
playing with children
yoga
hosting coffee hour
having dinner with friends
studying astronomy
quilting
knitting
cycling
recycling
singing in the choir
nature walks
going to a beach
cooking
martial arts
marching for social change
reciting mantras
e-mailing your governmental representatives
gardening
studying evolution

What Makes "Something I Do" into "A Spiritual Practice"?

Not every activity or pastime is a spiritual practice. The above activities might or might not be approached in a way that makes them a spiritual practice. It's a spiritual practice if it helps you cultivate spiritual development.

So how can you recognize spiritual development? Here are some symptoms of developing spirituality:

• increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen;
• more frequent attacks of smiling from the heart;
• more frequent feelings of being connected with others and nature;
• more frequent episodes of overwhelming appreciation;
• decisions flow more from intention or spontaneity and less from fears based on past experience;
• greater ability to enjoy each moment;
• decreased worrying;
• decreased interest in conflict, in interpreting the actions of others, in judging others, and in judging self;
• increased nonjudgmental curiosity;
• increased capacity to love without expecting anything in return;
• increased receptivity to kindness offered and increased interest in extending kindness to others.

Gardening or marching for social change or playing an instrument might or might not cultivate these symptoms. If you find that an activity helps you have more of these symptoms, then that activity is a spiritual practice for you.

An activity is more likely to work as spiritual practice if you follow these four guidelines:

1. engage the activity with mindfulness (see previous practice of the week, "cultivate mindfulness" HERE, and "be mindful" HERE).
2. engage in the activity with intention of thereby cultivating spiritual development. As you do the activity -- or just before and just after -- reflect on your intention to manifest those symptoms of spiritual development in your life.
3. engage the activity with a group that gathers expressly to do the activity in a way that cultivates spirituality. Group members share spiritual reflections before, during, or after doing the activity together.
4. establish a foundation of spiritual orientation through the three base practices: (a) daily meditation (SEE HERE), (b) daily journaling (SEE HERE), and (c) daily spiritual study (SEE HERE). Painting, running, or reciting a mantra -- or whatever spiritual practice you choose -- will work better as a spiritual practice if you lay this foundation with three base practices that prepare the way for experiencing other activities as spiritual.

Choose an activity and adopt it as your spiritual practice!

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PRACTICES INDEX

Religious Education: September 3, 2021

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Religious Education & Faith Development Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains September 3, 2021 2021-2022 RE Theme: Community, Wholeness, Discovering Our New Normal. Attn: Families Registration   We ask all PreK-12th grade families to please complete a new registration form. This will assist us in planning classes and activities for 2021-2022.   Click here for the registration form.  Thank you! Verify Your Newsletter Group(s)   All RE newsletter groups have rolled over, e.g., last year's 1st grade families have been moved to the the 2nd grade newsletter group.  Please use the "update subscription preferences" link at the bottom of this newsletter and follow the instructions to view your newsletter groups and verify that they are correct for the 2021-2022 school year.  We will occasionally send newsletters that are designed for specific age groups.  *Kindergarten families, please add yourselves to the new 2021-2022 kindergarten list.   *To sign up a NEW e-mail address, click here.  Sunday Worship   Sun Sep 5, 10:00am ~ “Curiosity” ~ Rev. Meredith Garmon Our September theme of the month is a key spiritual trait. Nothing shrinks our spirits quite like judgmentalism -- and curiosity is the antidote to judgmentalism. To join our summer worship, click https://bit.ly/CUUC-SummerWorship or phone in (audio only): 1-929-436-2866 · Meeting: 336 956 2210 · Passcode: 468468.  Orders of service are e-mailed and uploaded to our website prior to each Sunday.  Revisit past services anytime at our YouTube Channel and subscribe! Connecting in Community PlaceKeeping/RE Activities   “First Saturdays” PlaceKeeping Practice, Sat Sep 4  Come help us care for our land and our children. One of the outdoor PlaceKeeping/Religious Education activities this fall will be to show students how a cord, a nail, and sidewalk chalk can be used to draw a personal mandala. After the morning woodchip wheelbarrow brigade September 4th, Bice will demonstrate the simple process for all who want to learn now and help us teach later this fall. Click to read more about the practice. Contact: Bice Wilson (bicewilson@gmail.com). Story Time Resumes Thursdays Beginning Sep 9 7:15pm Check-in ~ 7:30-8:00pm Story ~ Zoom 4635  Story time continues with Barbara M reading Five Children and It by E. Nesbit (grades 4-7). "While their parents are away, some English children unearth a sand-fairy that is forced to grant their wishes, but luckily for them the wishes come undone at sunset."  Zoom 4635.  Meeting ID: 602 164 635  · Passcode: 468468.      Outdoor Religious Exploration   In September and October, we may offer some online programming but most RE activities will be outside (subject to pandemic trends, volunteer availability, and weather).  We are excited to partner with the CUUC PlaceKeepers for some of the sessions to help the children and youth connect with our sacred grounds and build ongoing practices.  September 12, 19, and 26, 4:00-5:30pm, Upper Parking Lot During the in-person, outdoor worship services (see the box below), we will offer outdoor RE activities for children and youth, and Diane and Hans will offer childcare on the outside playground. Children and youth are welcome to attend afternoon worship or RE. Everyone will observe pandemic safety protocols, including wearing masks. 4:00pm: Meet in the upper parking lot then classes and youth group will move to their own areas on the grounds.  Information about the activities coming soon! 4:30pm: Worship begins in the lower parking lot. Bring your lawn chair.  5:30pm: Pickup begins in the upper parking lot.  Children 5th grade and younger must be picked up by their adult.  Youth 6th grade and older will be send to the lower parking lot.   If the weather is inclement or threatening and we need to cancel, we will send out an email and post a notice on the CUUC website.  If outdoor worship is canceled, RE is also canceled.  Outdoor Worship From the Reopening & Worship Committees   CUUC Together: Outdoor Afternoon Services, Starting Sun Sep 12, 4:30pm, Lower Parking Lot Members and friends are invited to join together outdoors in the lower lot on Sunday afternoons for an in-person service that will be a more intimate version of the worship we streamed online that morning. Bring your own lawn chair or use the extra chairs we'll provide. Masks will be required and social distancing recommended. If the weather is inclement or threatening and we need to cancel, we will send out an email and post a notice on the CUUC website. Afternoon services are being planned for Sep 12, 19, and 26, and possibly beyond. They will also include outdoor RE activities for children and youth from 4:00-5:30. Watch for more details in the coming weeks! Contact: Ceighton Cray (creighton.cray@gmail.com) Journey Groups   Time to Sign Up. Our Journey Groups are for exploring together, and spiritually growing and deepening, each in our own way. Journey Groups meet once a month, Sep through Jun, to examine monthly themes. You won't want to miss a single meeting! And even if you can only come occasionally, you'll find them valuable. Signing up does not commit you to attend -- it helps us plan. Many of last year's facilitators are returning. While you are welcome to rejoin a group you were in before, we encourage everyone to try a new meeting this year. Click here to sign up for a Jourey Group onlline. Click here for the September reading packet, "On the Journey: Curiosity." Save the Date Halloween Party!   Saturday, October 30th, Afternoon Start thinking about your Halloween costumes!  We're planning a party outside at CUUC. Trick-or-Treating. Games. Community Fun! Stay tuned for more information... Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains   468 Rosedale Ave · White Plains, NY 10605-5419

Minister's Post, Fri Sep 3

Dear Ones,

Sign up for a Journey Group! You may want to try out a different group -- or you may want to stay in the same one (if it's available). Or maybe you haven't been in a group. Whatever the case, it's time to sign up and indicate what group you'd like to join.

Please go here to sign up:
http://cucwp.org/journey-groups

-Meredith

ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)

The Aug 29 worship service, "The Origins of Happiness," is here:



See our channel for many other past services HERE.

Covid Review

The Worldwide numbers are not reliable, and likely are greatly underestimating the actual prevalence of Covid-19. These numbers may nevertheless give us an indication of trends.

New Cases
Average New Cases per Day, worldwide:
Peak week (Apr 23-29): 828,292
Lowest since peak (Jun 15-21): 360,515
Four weeks ago (Jul 30 - Aug 5): 618,849
Last week (Aug 20-26): 657,378
This week (Aug 27 - Sep 2): 636,151

Average New Cases per Day, US:
Peak week (Jan 5-11): 255,849
Lowest since peak: (Jun 15-21): 11,955
Four weeks ago (Jul 30 - Aug 5): 102,782
Last week (Aug 20-26): 156,577
This week (Aug 27 - Sep 2): 164,185

Average New Cases per Day, Westchester County, NY:
Peak week (Jan 6-12): 861
Lowest since peak (Jun 17-23): 11
Four weeks ago (Jul 30 - Aug 5): 143
Last week (Aug 20-26): 186
This week (Aug 27 - Sep 2): 199

Deaths
Average Deaths per Day, worldwide:
Peak week (Jan 20-26): 14,808
Lowest since peak (Jun 29 - Jul 5): 7,688
Four weeks ago (Jul 30 - Aug 5): 9,436
Last week (Aug 20-26): 10,050
This week (Aug 27 - Sep 2): 9,401

Average Deaths per Day, US:
Peak week (Jan 7-13): 3,517
Lowest since peak (Jul 2-8): 243
Four weeks ago (Jul 30 - Aug 5): 557
Last week (Aug 20-26): 1,170
This week (Aug 27 - Sep 2): 1,226

Average Deaths per Day, Westchester County, NY:
Peak week of 2021 (Jan 28 - Feb 3): 11
Lowest since peak (Jul 21-27): 0.0
Four weeks ago (Jul 30 - Aug 5): 0.1
Last week (Aug 20-26): 0.4
This week (Aug 27 - Sep 2): 1.0

Worldwide, new cases and deaths are now declining. In the US, they continue to climb, with some fluctuation. New cases of Covid-19 in the US are now 164,000 -- which is 64% of the peak last January and 14 times the low in June. Deaths per day in the US are over 1,200 -- which is 35% of the January peak and 5 times the June low.

The delta variant surge is indeed alarming -- though there is a modicum of relief in the fact that new cases are less likely to result in death than they were 8 months ago.

The US vaccination rate is climbing, albeit agonizingly slowly. The percent fully vaccinated is up to 53.3 -- up from 50.2 a month ago. Meanwhile, the Westchester County fully vaccinated rate is 65% -- up from 62% a month ago. The world might (might!) have turned a corner, but the US and Westchester have not yet. Hang in there and be careful. We'll get through this.

Practice of the Week

Draft Your Obituary.

This summer we’re highlighting spiritual practices in the “occasional” or “give it a try” category. This week’s practice is: write your own obituary. The exercise is from Robert Hardies. He writes:

Editors from papers like the New York Times and Washington Post do some calculations to try to figure out what famous people might be dying in the near future. And on the basis of those predictions, editors assign reporters to interview these “subjects” about their lives and ask them how they want to be remembered. Obituaries are written and filed away until the appropriate time. Most of us won’t make the obituary page of a national newspaper. But the story of our lives matters deeply too. It matters to us and to our conscience. It matters to those whose lives we touch. We all play a role in shaping the unfolding drama of creation, so the story of our lives matters on an ultimate level, too. So let us be good and faithful stewards of our lives stories. Let’s pay attention to how the story is unfolding.

Take a moment today and write your obituary as if tomorrow were the last day of your life. Reflect on what has been most important. Use your journal -- or any piece of paper, or your computer keyboard.

For the full post, see: “Draft Your Obituary.”

See also our SPIRITUAL PRACTICE DIRECTORY

Draft Your Obituary

Practice of the Week
Draft Your Obituary

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.

This exercise is from Robert Hardies. He writes:

I heard a piece on the radio. It was a report from the annual convention of obituary writers in America. I hadn’t realized obituary writers had a convention. But the report revealed some interesting things about the particular beat. It turns out that editors from papers like the New York Times and Washington Post do some calculations to try to figure out what famous people might be dying in the near future. And on the basis of those predictions, editors assign reporters to interview these “subjects” about their lives and ask them how they want to be remembered. Obituaries are written and filed under lock and key until the appropriate time. Apparently, this is how obituary writers stay ahead of the game.

Most of us will never get the opportunity to have a newspaper reporter come to our homes and solicit the story of our lives. And most of us won’t make the obituary page of a national newspaper. But the story of our lives matters deeply too. It matters to us and to our conscience. It matters to those whose lives we touch. To our loved ones. If your faith is like mine and you believe that we all can play a role in shaping the unfolding drama of creation, then the story of our lives matters on an ultimate level, too.

So let us be good and faithful stewards of our lives stories. Let’s pay attention to how the story is unfolding. Go home today and write your obituary as if tomorrow were the last day of your life. Would the story you tell reflect what’s most important?

This week, give it a try! Use your journal -- or any piece of paper, or your computer keyboard.

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List of all weekly practices: "Practices of the Week Index"