chrysanthemum

What you see here is part of my speech-drafting arsenal: my High Holy Days prayerbook, an edition of Auden's poems, an apple, a bottle of honey, and a shallot. I may not employ any of them within the actual homily, but they will at least get me started. (Note to self: add Marge Piercy's Art of Blessing the Day. And Alison Luterman.)

I'm speaking at a Unitarian Universalist retreat at the end of the week. The themes of the presentation include community, identity, and social justice, and the congregation in question is based in the same city as the future mosque that's been drawing literal fire.

So my reading's also included the latest postings at Standingon the Side of Love. Rev. Paul Langston-Daley quotes Gandhi, the Buddha (cf. today's subject line), Augustine, and George Carlin. Rev. Dr. Meredith Garmon envisions future generations asking us, Where were you when they started burning the Qu'ran? -- and he isn't joking: a church in Florida has declared September 11 "Burn a Quran Day."

Also via the SSL website:

Excerpts from the Qu'ran for worship leaders to incorporate into Sept. 10-12 services.

talking points (general, GLBT, immigration)

quotations tweeted by Tapestry UU:

God is not God's name. God is our name for that which is greater than all and yet present in each. - Rev. Forrest Church

We can complain because rose bushes have thorns or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses. - Abraham Lincoln

Love one another into being real. - Reverend Paige Getty

Speak your mind even if your voice shakes. - Maggie Kuhn

You shall not oppress the sojourners who are in your land. - Deut. 24:14

And, in news from Memphis:

When pastor Steve Stone initially heard of the mosque and Islamic center being erected on the sprawling land adjacent his church, his stomach tightened.

Then he raised a 6-foot sign reading, "Welcome to the Neighborhood."