April 20: - "This Good Moment --- What Else is There?" -- Rev. Nathan L. Stone

In June Pat and I will return to Honolulu to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of my high school graduation. No jokes please!

What great moments were given to me in 1958 but now there are times when I can't remember the events or names or even the feeling of those moments. Now I will return 50 years later and more great moments will be given to me. Will I savor them or will I be too preoccupied with other things to enjoy the gift of that moment?

April 27 - "Freedom"-- Dr. Henry Walbesser

The greatest one sentence statement ever written on the timely subject of freedom is the focus of this discussion.

May 4: - "Why Jeremiah is Wright" -- Rev. Nathan L. Stone

This clever title is from a sermon delivered by my colleague at All Souls UU in Tulsa: Rev. Marvin Lavanhar.

My issue is not a political one but anger and disappointment that the media and much of our country do not understand the tradition of prophetic preaching and especially in the Black churches.

My issue is also related to the challenging task of preaching itself and especially doing it for a long time. If anybody ever pulled sound bytes out of the sermons I've preached since 1963 I'd probably be sent off to Guatanamo and certainly anybody associated with me might have a problem in the political arena.


May 11: "Circles of Sacredness in Unitarian Universalism" - --"Rev." Joy Hayes

Nathan's note: Of course you all know that I have long thought that if we could find a huge grant for Joy she should be off to seminary and then be ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister. So --- as I will be away with Pat for her birthday and our always-significant Mother's Day --- I asked Joy to speak this Sunday. A description of her subject follows:

Attending the worship service on Sunday mornings is a valuable part of the Unitarian Universalist experience. However, small groups or circles can be very meaningful and sacred. They can help you learn about yourself and they can drive you crazy. They can be symbolic of all the parts of you --- and the universe.

May 18: "Is There a Holy Spirit for Unitarian Universalists?" - --Rev. Nathan L. Stone

This question arises as I wrestle with Step 3 in my Al-Anon program: "Made a decision to turn my life and my will over to the care of God as I understand God."

What happens in life when more is needed? I have used my brain, I have researched all avenues and talked to everyone possible --- is there a holy spirit for us? If you're like me you might have come into the UU world and threw out the notion of a holy spirit because of the Trinity-issue. Throwing the baby out with the bath water comes to mind.

Tolerate me/humor me while I wrestle with this.

May 25: "Must We Sing?" - --Rev. Nathan L. Stone

This could also have been called "Reflections on the place of music in gathered worship." Is it to kill time or fill up the empty spaces or is it a transition item much like a commercial break? Or is to make everybody into good singers?

Or is it something far more than that?

Why do we sing and must we?