Gary Schumann: My Trip to Cabela’s: Live Oak congregant Gary Schumann recently visited the new Cabela’s off IH-35 in Buda, Texas. This enormous gun and hunting good store with its full-sized nature dioramas and hundreds of stuffed mounts celebrates a single theme – killing wildlife. Gary’s tour of the store invoked a spiritual reaction. His sermon is not a diatribe against hunting. Rather, it discusses how this visit helped expand his appreciation of the value of our Unitarian Universalist principles in effectuating change in our society and within ourselves. [23:46]
Rev. Chuck Freeman: Long Walk to Freedom: Nelson Mandela is the father of modern day South Africa at the cost of 28 years in prison. He is also the father of six children, 21 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. What can we glean on Father’s Day from this man of vast courage and unbounded moral integrity? [33:01]
Rev. Chuck Freeman: Judge Not, That You Not Be Judged: This ancient wisdom is offered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount and is reflected in other spiritual traditions as well. What does it mean? Does not life require us to make judgments? Does the sincere religious life handcuff us from doing so? What is the distinction between judgment and judgmentalism?
Rev. Kathleen Ellis: The Rainbow Connection: Kermit the Frog can bring a tear to my eye when he sings the opening song from The Muppet Movie: “Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what’s on the other side?” You may see lots of rainbows this week as we celebrate Gay Pride Week. Feel free to wear bright rainbow colors or multi-colored outfits. “Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers, and me.”
