uucsr

George Frideric Handel’s
Messiah Sing

A Beloved Long Island Tradition is BACK!
THE ORCHESTRA AT SHELTER ROCK
Stephen Michael Smith, Conductor

THE UUCSR CHOIR
with
Professional Soloists

Sarah Moulton Faux, soprano 
Michael St. Peter, tenor
Leah Wool, mezzo
Brace Negron, bass baritone
Nathaniel LaNasa, harpsichord

In a time when information is available to us in an instant, we often don't dwell in the uncomfortable space of the unknown. The truth is that there are limitless possibilities in 'not knowing'. Imagination thrives in the fertile grounds of mystery. There is something sacred in the secrets of the world around us. Listen to reflect on the courage required to be curious, to be contemplative, and to remain lost but seeking.

Courage is the ability to do something that frightens you. It is not actually having no fear at all. From where comes the courage of this community? From the Jewish tradition of Yom Kippur we are asked to have the courage to examine our actions, reflect and repent – atone and begin again. Sunday, October 2, 2022

In the Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of Days of Awe, a 10-day period of prayer and reflection which culminates in Yom Kippur. How would you celebrate the birthday of the world? How would you begin anew? Held at UUCSR on Sunday, September 25, 2022.

Depending on where we live, describing ourselves as Unitarian Universalists can complicate our relationships, our responses to social issues. How does geography play a role in our identity as UU's? How do we bring together Unitarian Universalists, across state lines, among cultures and backgrounds, to work together for the common good? August 21, 2022

One of life's challenges is to cope and even thrive despite the accidents and unplanned consequences that beset us. Wendell Berry's poem "The Sycamore" offers a glimpse of how we might gather all accidents into our purpose. In a time when we need hope, a sycamore signals that hope is possible. August 14, 2022

What does it mean to reengage religious and spiritual practices that we grew up with, that meant something to our ancestors, and, might mean something to us? In the words of biblical scholar Micah Kiel, “Rather than jettison, we must reexamine and rethink those traditions that have formed us” (Apocalyptic Ecology, xxi, relying on Lynn White). Sunday, August 7, 2022

Stephen Michael Smith, Music Director
UNHEARD VOICES: 3 Women Composers for Orchestra

Louise Farrenc, Overture No 1, op 23
Florence Price, Symphony No 1 in E minor
Margaret Bonds: Two Spirituals for Voice and Orchestra

Anthony McGlaun, soloist

Anthony P. McGlaun is noted for his clarity of tone, musicality and expressive delivery of text. He has a BA from Morehouse College and MM from UNI, and has made role debuts with Lyric Opera of Chicago in Porgy and Bess and San Francisco Opera in Showboat. He has also appeared with Spoletto Music Festival and New Orleans Opera. This fall, Mr. McGlaun will appear at the Metropolitan Opera in Porgy and Bess. He is a much sought after soloist, recitalist, and lecturer, specializing in the Negro Spiritual and work of African-American composers of Art Songs. Mr. McGlaun uses these musical opportunities to further the cause of social justice.

How often have we been denied the wisdom and creativity which come from marginalized voices/expressions? How might we make ourselves and our community more open? The Annual Summer Orchestra Concert followed the Worship Service. The Concert celebrated the “unheard voices” of three women composers for orchestra on Sunday, July 31, 2022.

"Summer has a flavor like no other. Always fresh and simmered in sunshine."—These words of Oprah Winfrey reminds me that the sixty summers I’ve lived or the fifty five of them I can recall each has a flavor and excitement; a narrative and memories filled with highs and lows, barbecue and sweet corn that fills my heart with joy and the blessings of life. Together, we unpacked, reflected upon and remembered how interesting the summers of our lives have been. Led by Rev. Gordon Bailey, Guest Minister on Sunday, July 24, 2022.

In the Sunday Service on July 10, 2022, we explored a Social Gospel for the 21 Century that asked what our response might be to the inequities exposed by the recent pandemic and the social unrest that has evolved during this time of uncertainty. “What We Deserve: Equity and Equality in the Age of Pandemic” was led by Rev. Aaron Payson, Guest Minister.

Soulful Sundown on Friday evening July 8, 2022 was led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore with music from the Cosmic Orchestra. “Summertime” was the subject of spoken word and live music from a full band.

In his book, Awakenings, Dr. Oliver Sacks recounted the cases of his patients who had contracted sleeping sickness during the great epidemic just after World War I. They were frozen in time until 1969 when Sacks gave them the medication L-DOPA and the patients “awakened”. The book, and the movie based on the book, explore questions of health, disease, suffering, care and human connection. What might our own awakenings be?

In Unitarian Universalism, the idea of "Renewing Faith" (this month's learning and worship theme) isn't so much about reviving faith of a particular style and description. Instead, it's more about understanding the roots that have supported faith thus far and spreading the wings that take us to a new place of understanding. In our faith tradition, each person is on their own personal search for truth and meaning—a lifelong process of learning and growth.

So each of us can ask, "What are my roots?" and "How can I spread my wings?" as we support one another in a journey of change and renewal—not circling back to the old meaning, but spiraling up to the new.

"Where music resides at the heart of religious experience." A contemporary evening Worship experience led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore with music from The Cosmic Orchestra.

In the Service on February 27, 2022, we reflected on the days we have been given, our complicated lives, our moment in history and the seeds of joy that abide here. The Service was an invitation to accept the gift of the day we have been given, with all the beauty and challenge that we find here, and to meet our days with gratitude, resourcefulness, generosity and love.

The Rev. Lauren Smith was appointed Director of Stewardship and Development at the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in February 2019. She oversees the UUA’s fundraising efforts, including Annual Program Fund contributions from member congregations. Lauren’s ties to Unitarian Universalism stretch back five generations. Her great great grandfather William Hazel was born a free black person in North Carolina and became a member of the First Parish in Cambridge after his family fled north prior to the Civil War.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.(1929-1968) quoted the Unitarian minister, Theodore Parker (1810-1860) when we said “the Arc of the Universe is long but it bends toward justice.” Our UU communities have long embraced a commitment to taking this long journey towards building a more just, peaceful and loving world. Our young adults incorporate the quest for justice and inclusion into their spiritual lives; hear their words on this connection.

The sermon on December 26, 2021 asks: What is wisdom? How does it differ from knowledge? Is the difference worth discerning? It will explore the landscape of the difference between knowledge and wisdom and how the difference plays out in our modern world. Led by Guest Minister Rev. Anthony Johnson.

In this season of many holidays in world religious traditions, a recurring theme is peace—both inner peace and peace in the world. The human longing for peace may seem small and muted in a world filled with war-clamor and hostility. Yet peace is real, if often distant; each of us has the capacity to experience peace and birth it into the world. December 12, 2021

As we prepared for the holiday season, many of us still find ourselves seeking a renewed place of solace amidst the living histories of our lives. Some of us may even be feeling a bit untethered, disconnected from one another, from our families, and even from parts of ourselves. Cassandra Montenegro, second year Master of Divinity student at Harvard Divinity School, led this Service on Sunday, November 28, 2021, that explored how the poetry of the historical religious figure Saint Teresa of Avila, a mystic poet from a Converso Jewish family who worked through illness and reformed a Catholic order, continues to inspire the artists among and within us.