Universalist National Memorial Church

Push Me Higher

Mike Miller stepped in with only three days' notice when Shawn Logue, our scheduled preacher, traveled to Connecticut after his best friend died suddenly. Our deeply felt sadness is extended to Shawn, and we trust that he will find comfort and solace through his friends and God.

Mike brought an insightful sermon on God pushing us higher, higher. We, on the swing, keep urging God to do so. How little we know how much God wants to push us as high as we can go! We often miss the signals that God sends to nudge us skyward.

Mike illustrated this through his own life in the way God has "pushed" him through his longing to preach. He has taken a new look at spiritual growth and is saying to God, "Push me higher!" How high will Mike let God push him? How high will you or I?

It is that small, still voice that is so powerful. It is not the things that we can easily do to which God calls us - but the things we believe that we cannot do.

Shalom,
Pastor Jim

New Series ! Life’s Saga

Join Rev. Dr. Jim Morgan and David Burton for four evenings of exploration Wednesday evenings at 7:15 in May:

May 8 - What Does Human Mean?

May 15 - The God Particle

May 22 - One Powerful Seed

May 29 - Quo Vadis?

Curious? Come!

Sanctuary

Last Sunday Dave Gatton identified "sanctuary" as a place of radical acceptance.  It is a place where a person feels safe, loved, and able to be himself or herself. Participation in its life and liturgy may or may not be important. Our sanctuary has been given to its present worshippers as a gift to be treasured and a spiritual legacy to be enjoyed and celebrated.

There is a longing in me to capture that as a reality. It is so needed in these times of terrorists, rogues, those with evil intentions, and those lacking any spiritual interests. Few things are sacred any longer. Shrines, tombs, mosques, and other houses of worship have been invaded by authorities determined to "get their man". Even embassies are targets for those with no sense of morality.

Our sacred space is what we have decided to make of it. We need to hold it in trust for future generations, so they can pass it on to the next generation. It needs to reflect our beliefs and cherished ideals. Only we can make that a living reality.

Shalom, Pastor Jim

The Helpers and the Hope

"We are the Helpers and the Hope."

A prayer in the wake of the Boston bombings.
By Rev. Sue Phillips, Unitarian Universalist Minister

Video by Jessica Ferguson

"Let us run with patience the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12:1)

What to Do?

Our Church was excited about Easter Sunday when so many turned out to celebrate the Resurrection with us. They came from everywhere - young and old, even kids. The service was bright with emotions and the choir exquisite. The hospitality hour was abuzz with energized conversation.

Then came the Sunday after Easter. Oh, my. Where did they all go? We were still at home plate, not even able to get a walk to first base. Up and then down. Excited and then dumped. Rallied and then left in the lurch.

But isn't that just like life? We are on a roll, at the crest of the wave. Then it breaks, and we are unceremoniously dropped into the trough and pounded by the water's follow-trough and pounded by the water's follow-through. Sometimes then, we are thrown up on the sandy beach.

Life's test is "What do we do next ?"

Do we pick ourselves up? Shake the sand off and say, "I like that. Let's do it again."  Or do we lie there on the beach, feeling sorry for ourselves and slowly drift into despair? We do have a choice, even though that may seem like a tiny possibility.  Choose, choose this day.

Your Pastor, Jim

Lent Is When I Say Yes

Lent is when I say yes
Yes, I will have dinner with you
In Jerusalem
Yes I will eat bread with you and drink
Wine with you and I will promise
To never forget you
To never forget our pact with God
To make the world new
To never forget what will pass
Between us this night.

Lent is when I say yes
Yes I will go with you to the garden
Yes I will stay awake with you
And pray
And I'll hold your hand
And I'll cry with you
And I'll scream with you
And I'll rage with you
Because you're right
It's not fair.

Lent is when I say yes
Yes I will kill anyone who tries to take you
Even though that is not your way
I can't help it I love you
Yes I'll obey when you tell me to stand down
Yes I'll follow you and be your witness
Before earth and sky
As they beat you and mock everything that
We mean to each other
Yes I'll try not to order legions of angels
To kill them all when they spit in your face
But I can't promise.

Lent is when I say yes
Yes, I'll scream your name even
If no one else will
Yes, I'll cry when I see you in a crown of thorns
But I won't look away
Yes, I'll beg God to take my life
When they nail you to the cross
But I'll stay with you
Yes, I'll try to smile when you look
Down at me and say forgive them.

Lent is when I say yes
Yes, my heart will break
Yes, I'll be scared without you
Yes, I know I could be next
But I'll go to the tomb anyway.

Easter is when I say yes
Yes I believe
Yes maybe it was worth it
Yes I'll tell them the good news
Yes, I still love you
Yes, I know you will never leave me
Yes, I'll have breakfast with
You in Galilee.

by Lisa Harris

Jesus’ Sparkling Moment

Sermon preached by Deacon Perry King on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2013

This is a sparkling moment for us now in this place, among this community, in this season, in this city, in our beautiful cathedral, among the beloved community -- spring in DC. I wish I could say that we're coming out of a long cold winter, but somehow we missed the blizzards that hit much of the Northeast and Midwest. Soon we'll have our Cherry Blossoms lining the street again and the scent of lilacs in the air. Soon Wendy and I will make our annual pilgrimage to the Arboretum to see the field of lilacs in their array of purples, pinks, whites, and blues. These are the sparkling moments that we live for from day to day, season to season. By the way our church in this building is 83 years old today as our 1^st service was held on Palm Sunday in 1930. Also I want to point out that we have a stained glass window to commemorate Palm Sunday.

Today I want to use a narrative therapy framework to explore the Palm Sunday narrative. I invite you to really look at this narrative with different glasses so you can see it fresh with new meaning, and I hope you can use it as a metaphor for your own life and uncover some of your sparkling moments.

Celebration

Weekly message from Rev. Dr. Jim Morgan:

In harmony with Perry King's sermon on "Sparking Moments" last Sunday, let's celebrate the sparkling moment in the life of Jesus this Sunday. With his resurrection, he changed the entire course of history, your history, and my history. Can you remember when that event took control of your life, shook you to the your roots, turned you upside down, and set you on a new path?  If you can't, it can. There is nothing more life-altering or compelling than an insight and appreciation of that experience.

Jesus opened up an entire new world, even more spectacular that the one that Elan Alexander talks about in his book, Proof of Heaven. His was a one-time experience in which only he participated. By contrast, about 500 people witnessed the resurrected Jesus, and that encounter turned those people into daredevil, sacrificing disciples who restarted the clock of history. Jesus talked not about heaven, but about the Kingdom of Heaven, which is here and right now, not something in the bye and bye. Come, celebrate with us. Just maybe you will find out for yourself.

Maundy Thursday 2013

Bring a friend to share our communion table.

Bring a dish for the community meal.

Bring your love and your hope.

The Power of the Resurrection

Weekly message from Rev. Dr. Jim Morgan:

To what extent have we explored the Gospel of Christ? How have we experienced it? What is the nature of the new creation in Christ that the New Testament celebrates? These are weighty questions and deserve some of our time in their consideration. For many, they are ultimate in nature.

Paul writes,

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God.”

The cross and the resurrection of Christ are of one piece. They are God’'s act for thinking people. On Easter Sunday, March 31, we are going to examine that act and make our decision about it. Come join us, and let us journey and ponder together. It just might be a life-transforming moment, for it is the power of God that we are probing. God is the One, you remember, who tossed the galaxies into space.