Bill Thomas says, "I was looking at the list of our Principles in the program one Sunday when one of them made me think of a song. I started looking for more and developed a list of songs from Robert Burns, Bob Dylan, Malvina Reynolds, Rusted Root, Iris DeMent, folk songs, and more. Hearing these songs, juxtaposed with the principles, throws the principles (and the songs) into new light – it makes you think how and why some of these ideas have come out again and again in different ways. Hearing an idea in a song is usually more moving, or funnier, or just more intense. Some of the songs directly express the principle or comment on it; some show it by contrast, or indirectly."
As Unitarian Universalists, we have a general commitment to accepting different beliefs and choices: we tend to embrace tolerance as an important value. But how far should that commitment spread? Should we tolerate absolutely everything? Is tolerance our highest value? Moreover, if not, what does that mean about our own commitment to acceptance?
Jodi Ritter and Patty Kakac, The Granary Girls, are returning to FMUU to share their moving and entertaining repertoire of traditionally flavored folk music and original compositions. As part of the program, the Granary Girls will talk about how their work relates to peace and social justice and share some "Teaching" songs. Later that day the duo will give a concert as part of the Raise the Roof fundraising campaign for FMUU. For more information on the Granary Girls, visit www.granarygirls.com.
In My Journey – Taking God Out of the Box – Jon tells of his journey from the traditional Christian church to Unitarian Universalism. Jon is a Franciscan as a member of the Mercy of God Community and last February, in his first visit to FMUU he presented God is Gay. It had an impact on everyone who heard it, including Jon. We will hear of his journey from there to "here and now" and discover how he is taking God "out of the box."