“Known in the Breaking of Bread,” Richard Watts

I begin with a story from the early years of New Covenant Community.  [Read more…]

“The Days of Awe,” Susan Ryder

READINGS
Leviticus 23:26-28 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Now, the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you: you shall deny yourselvesand present the Lord’s offering by fire; and you shall do no work during that entire day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God.

Matthew 5:23-24 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sisterhas something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister,and then come and offer your gift. [Read more…]

“That New Car Smell,” Bob Ryder

READINGS

“The journey is the destination.” Anonymous proverb

“If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African Proverb [Read more…]

“Life’s Big Questions – The End?” Susan Ryder

READINGS:
Mark 3:1-6 Jesus went to the synagogue and a man was there with a withered hand. They watched Jesus to see whether he would cure the man on the Sabbath, so that the Pharisees could accuse him. Jesus told the man to come forward. Then he said to his detractors, ‘What is lawful on the Sabbath – to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?’ The Pharisees were silent, and he looked at them with anger for their hardness of heart.  So he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ The man stretched it out, and his hand was instantly restored. The Pharisees went out and conspired with the Herodians to destroy him. [Read more…]

Joint Worship Service with the Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal
Sunday, August 19, 2018

After remarks from Rev. Mary Moore, Susan Ryder shared these thoughts:

I might as well point out the obvious as I begin my remarks – the word Covenant has a prominent place in the name of our congregation. When our founding mothers and fathers first came together in 1991 to consider forming this congregation, they were very thoughtful in their discernment about what to call this new kind of spiritual community they were birthing. Referencing the covenant between God and humanity from the Old Testament, and the new covenant offered and mediated by Jesus in the sharing of the bread and cup in the New Testament, Gwen Pruyne suggested that the word “covenant” be part of our name. Sharing that a covenant is a promise, a vow, made between individuals and groups of people, Gwen thought covenant was an ideal description of the promise those original 12 founders were making to one another as they created what became this progressive Christian community. Part of that covenant was that they would serve the larger community, as well as each other, by honoring and sharing the teachings and mission of the radically inclusive and compassionate historical Jesus. They made a promise to work together toward a common goal – not one based on a set of creeds they agreed to, but based on a vision that bound them, and those of us who joined later, on the journey forward. [Read more…]

Life’s Big Questions: A Meaning of Life OR The Meanings of Life,” Bob Ryder

READINGS:

Q. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.(Westminster Shorter Catechism)

Norman Maclean – “A River Runs Through It ‘Long ago, when I was a young man, my father said to me… “Norman, you like to write stories.” And I said, “Yes, I do.” Then he said, “Someday, when you’re ready… you might tell our family story. Only then will you understand what happened and why.”‘ [Read more…]

“Life’s Big Questions: What is Truth?” Bob Ryder

READINGS
John 18:33-38    Pilate entered the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘Are you asking this for your own reasons, or did others tell something you about me?’ Pilate replied, ‘I am not a Jew, am I? Your people and the chief priests have handed you over to me. Now, what have you done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being prosecuted. As it is, my kingdom isn’t here.’ Pilate asked him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘That’s how you chose to look at it. The reason I was born – the reason I came into the world – is to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’ [Read more…]

“Life’s Big Questions: Do We Need Religion?” Bob Ryder

READING
Luke 6:27-38   Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other cheek too; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your belongings, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. [Read more…]

“Life’s Big Questions – What is Karma?” Susan Ryder

READINGS:

Lao Tzu: Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

Jesus: Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.

Gal 6:7-9Do not be deceived, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. [Read more…]

“Life’s Big Questions: Are There Miracles?” Susan Ryder

READINGS
John 20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs and miracles in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

 Ralph Waldo Emerson– “The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common.”

Albert Einstein“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” [Read more…]