Jewish Hate Crime

The Jewish Hate Crime that occurred in Kansas City on April 14th is horrible.   Pure evil.   These perpetrators  are called white supremacists because the only people they condone are people like themselves.  Today we are global society, a civilization whereby Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Baha'i, Quakers, Christians, Unitarian Universalists (das us!) all share planet Earth, this beautiful jewel of the universe.  

Any group who espouses evil and terror makes us sit back and hope everyone can learn to live together.  After all, there can be unity in diversity.   

Shen Yun Performance Group

Program Cover

Rev. David Robins was our minister for 23 years.  His son Eric married Chia Lin and they are part of the Shen Yun Performance group showcasing Chinese dynasties beginning in ancient times.  Eric plays trumpet and Chia Lin is a percussionist with the orchestra.  The best musicians and dancers from throughout the global community are featured.    Shen Yun is so large they have several traveling groups.  They are trained in Cuddebackville NY where Eric and his wife live.   Shen Yun will never perform in China until it moves from communist rule.  Sad. 

I had the good fortune to see Shen Yun yesterday at Braden auditorium where 3000 seats were filled.  The afternoon was magical. David ministers in the Peterborough Church in New Hampshire and this morning I sent him an email with the picture below and he emailed back to say he was happy I was able to be at a Shen Yun performance.  My friend Sarah Riehl had an extra ticket.  The afternoon will remain with me for a very long time.

UUBN Will Discontinue Supporting New Life School in Uganda

It came to our attention via two NLS volunteers, a couple, a  geochemist  husband and his wife, a teacher, that the partnership money of 9 UU churches was not spent as intended.   When this came to the attention of the UU Partnership Council in Boston, they decided not to remain the fiduciary agent for the 3 year old project to include relinquishing their leadership role.  

The All Souls Tulsa Church decided to rewrite the project.  Their commitment to this rural school of 500 children is remarkable.

As part of the All Souls proposal:

"All churches will provide a representative on a rotating basis to go to Uganda to disperse funds to targeted projects at NLS."

This did not rest well with us because of the safety issue and the rudimentary facilities at New Life school.  What a huge responsibility to deliver the funds and to disperse them accordingly plus check that the money is spent for what it was intended.

Tomorrow I will send an email to our UUBN New Life School Committee so they know the project will not be continued.  Our minister asked me to say a few words at a congregational meeting  April 27.

The benefits to UUBN will not be forgotten, especially the UU Uganda Festival.  We learned about a culture vastly different from ours.  Personally, my trip to Uganda with Gretchen will forever remain with me.

50th Anniversary of Civil Rights Act

Vice president Lyndon Baines Johnson signed this
landmark legislation into law 50 years ago,
the year after beloved President John Fitzgerald Kennedy
was assassinated in Dallas on November 23, 1963.

"There is no issue of States' rights or National rights.
There is only the struggle for human rights."

Robins Are Back

I removed the foundation twigs

The garbage bag tells the robins to build
 their nest in a safer location.

Peaceable Kingdom, Randall Thompson

1899 - 1984

The Illinois State University Civic Chorale will perform Peaceable Kingdom in its entirety this Sunday, April 6.  Oh how we adore this piece!  Ed has a solo in one of the movements.  We performed Peaceable Kingdom about 15 years ago but Ed was going on sabatical in Perth, Austrailia so was unable to sing at the performance although he attended all rehearsals.  Ye Shall Have a Song, the last section, is my favorite. 

April 1, 2014

HAMILTON, N.Y. -- Playing on its household namesake, the famous toothpaste, Colgate University, Ed's alma mater, announced today that it will open a graduate school of dentistry.  Releasing a polished video with tongue-in-cheek appearances by an array of administrators, faculty and a local dentist, the university posted the video on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media sites.

THE PRESIDENT, JEFFREY HERBST, PULLED OFF THIS MAGNIFICENT APRIL FOOLS JOKE.  THE VIDEO IS BRILLIANT.  CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT HERBST!

The New York City High Line -- to be Presented to our UU Congregation this Sunday

Learning about the NYC High Line would have made an excellent summer program at UUBN but the powers that be asked me to plan a regular Sunday service!  As you know, I am spiritually attached to this most remarkable reclamation project.  Uncle Jan introduced me to the High Line in 2010 a year after it opened, and I walked it last April and again last November with Laurie.  The last section, the Rail Yards, are planned to open this summer.  Wish I knew how to embed my PowerPoint into the blog -- there are ways to do this but it's too complicated.  You may be interested in going back to a post in November.  The High Line website contains information about every facet of The High Line.   www.thehighline.org or merely google the High Line. 

Oxallis tuberosa

A most interesting plant that is easy to find  in most supermarkets around St. Patrick's Day because  the leaves resemble shamrocks.  The leaves fold up at night and open in the day.

The Angeli Symphony Composed by Stuart J. Sharp

Snap Judgement, the podcast hosted by Glynn Washington is new to my podcast list.  This episode  is about a man who lost a newborn son named Ben. The evening of Ben's funeral, the bereaved father, Stuart Sharp, had a vision and heard astoundingly beautiful music, a symphony!   He saw Ben's body rise and an Angel came down and gave Stuart a gift, the gift of strength to pursue the vision.  He is not a religious man.

Without any musical training, he left his family, divorced his wife and moved from Leicester to London to pursue the vision.  It took many, many years.  At one point he was homeless. 

From the dissonant beginning to the lyrical resolution at the end, you may listen to a portion of the piece here.

Click on the 4th icon, the one about The Angeli Symphony to learn about Stuart's journey.

This is the first time in history the musicians in The London Philharmonia stood to give a composer a standing ovation.