On Sunday, October 6th Twinkle led services at Starr King UU Fellowship in Plymouth, New Hampshire. The sermon is entitled: “Anam Ċara & the Divine Echo.” The service was crafted with the Soul Matters Sharing Circle Theme of Belonging+Mysticism in mind. Many thanks to musician Sarah Dan Jones and the SKUUF Worship Team. ((For TEXT click HERE))
Anam Cara & the Divine Echo – October 6, 2019 from SKUUF Plymouth NH on Vimeo.
UPDATE WINTER 2020:
Our schedule for 2020 has been updated and will continue to include additions for Twinkle’s Pulpit Supply and local retreats. Twinkle will be hosting a retreat in New Smyrna Beach Autumn 2020 in addition to her Moosehead Lake Retreats in Maine. While Twinkle is in a time of needed self-care and deep contemplation after the loss of her son, she is making herself available to our community in ways she feels best to serve. Grief is a tender process. She has only just begun. Yet it is a process that takes place within the ever-flowing rhythms of life and living. As Twinkle says, “May we continue to be blessings to each other.”
UPDATE AUTUMN 2020:
Due to the tragic death in our family, many of our 2019 Autumn-time events have been cancelled or postponed, including retreats in Pittsfield and on Moosehead Lake. If you were registered for an event, please see your inbox for details or message us. The monthly women’s book group at Twinkle’s Place will resume in December. Weekly silent meditations and Hygge teas will begin in November.
Events and speaking engagements that will remain as scheduled include:
So grateful to have this annual gathering with our friends at this beautiful Inn overlooking Moosehead Lake on Saturday evening. Cherished moments of laughter and connection.
Our community is mourning the loss of Sumner “Bud” Jones
As time permits I will write a homily about Bud. I have only known this wonderful man for five and a half years, yet I have several cherished anecdotes. He and his wife Barb were so welcoming of me when I moved here. And charming. By their example they taught me a great deal about the many facets of being in a multi-religious, multi-political community in rural Maine.
Bud you will be missed.
https://obituaries.bangordailynews.com/obituary/sumner-jones-jr-1076990286
Every year on 9/11 my services always include this song – played, sung or spoken. “If I Give Your Name” by Pat Humphries and Sandy O of Emma’s Revolution. As well as some version of Judy Chicago’s Merger Poem as prayer, as meditation, as wish and as dream. May the day come when we can all live in gentle compassion and peaceableness.
California friends – take note!
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This Sunday many will gather for the Water Communion. The UU Singers choir in the congregation I serve this week will be singing “Turn the World Around” by Harry Belafonte/Robert Freedman. I adore this song! The reminder, and the call, of our unity.
When Harry Belafonte performed this on The Muppet Show, he talked about what makes the world go ‘round, that we are here for a very brief time, and that if we take the time to understand each other that there is not really any difference in any of us. And that, if we get to know each other, to really care about each other, we can turn the world around.
May your Water Communions be beautiful calls to compassionately love one another.
“Turn the World Around”
by Harry Belafonte/Robert Freedman
We come from the fire
Livin’ in the fire
Go back to the fire
Turn the world around
We come from the water
Livin’ in the water
Go back to the water
Turn the world around
We come from the mountain
Livin’ on the mountain
Go back to the mountain
Turn the world around
Oh, oh so is life
Oh, oh so is life
Oh, oh so is life
Oh, oh so is life
Do you know who I am
Do I know who you are
See we one another clearly
Do we know who we are
Oh, oh so is life
A ba tee wah ha so is life
Oh, oh so is life
A ba tee wah ha so is life
Water make the river
River wash the mountain
Fire make the sunlight
Turn the world around
Heart is of the river
Body is the mountain
Spirit is the sunlight
Turn the world around
We are of the spirit
Truly of the spirit
Only can the spirit
Turn the world around
We are of the spirit
Truly of the spirit
Only can the spirit
Turn the world around
Do you know who I am
Do I know who you are
See we one another clearly
Do we know who we are
Oh, oh so is life
A ba tee wah ha so is life
Oh, oh so is life
A ba tee wah ha so is life
Join Us!
Sermon: Gentle Ripples, a Water Communion Service to Gather The Beloved Community
Sunday, September 8th, 2019 (10:00 am)
The Universalist Unitarian Church of Waterville
69 Silver Street, Waterville, Maine
Worship Leader: Rev. “Twinkle” Marie Porter-Manning
Thought for Contemplation:
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
~ Coretta Scott King
#PulpitOfPeace #BuildingTheBelovedCommunity #UUSermon
Most of our UU congregations are beginning their new service year in the next couple of weeks. When you reflect on this song, “We’ll Build a Land,” what is it you hope Unitarian Universalism (and your congregation) will help build in the world? I especially like the new verse in this version:
“We’ll build a land where the forests are fertile
Where the water and wind run clean and clear
And community matters more than positions
Come share this land
Let’s build it right here!”
Note: This song is by Carolyn McDade and is included in the primary Unitarian-Universalist hymnal. However, this version sung by Mo Mack in Concert with John and Cynthia Boeling as a benefit for the First Unitarian church of Portland in 2016 drops two original verses and adds a new one.