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This workshop is designed for Unitarian Universalist congregational leadership to engage in playful and full-sensory ways that open the heart and spirit so that the mind may learn, but not necessarily lead, supporting a whole-hearted approach to lay leadership.
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Spiritual Retreat for Church Leadership
Developed for the Leadership of First Parish Church of Groton by Karen G. Johnston, Candidate for the Unitarian Universalist Ministry,
Ministerial Intern
Chalice Ligh+ng
Agenda
Paradigm Shi3: This is NOT a Mee+ng
How many Unitarians does it take to change a light
bulb? One. And only one. Certainly not three.
And the Universalists? How many of them are needed to change a light
bulb? All of them. Every single
one.
PR O B L E
M S O
L V E R
• QUICK note for idea you cannot trust to remember
• SNARK
How many Unitarian Universalists does it take to change a light bulb?
None. We believe it must change by itself. We’re not in the business of telling anyone they HAVE to change.
Eight. One to do it, seven to make sure that the power doesn’t go to his or her head.
We’re not in agreement as to whether the Light bulb really exists or if it is just another myth.
Rev. Kendyl Gibbons’ List of Qualities of Spiritual Intelligence/Maturity
• Sophrosyne • Reverence/Gratitude/Generosity/Wonder
• Surrender • Ambiguity/Complexity/Intensity • Tonglen • Beauty/Mercy/JusticeTshuvah • Leadership/Loyalty • Covenant • Mitakuye Oyasin • Memento mori Reverend Kent Hemmen Saleska
UU Church of Minnetonka
Reflec+ons on the Marshmallow Challenge
• What did you come to appreciate about someone else?
• What did you learn about yourself?
• What are some observa+ons about working without being able to talk?
How many Unitarian Universalists does it take to change a light bulb?
We strenuously object to the term ‘light bulb.’ We believe there are many ways of darkness dispersion and so would not want to par+cipate in an ac+vity valida+ng the light bulb as the exclusive light source.
We choose not to make a statement either in favor or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own journey, you have found that light bulbs work for you, that’s fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal rela+onship with your light bulb and present it next month at our annual light bulb Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb tradi+ons including incandescent, florescent, halogen, three-‐way, and even candle light all of which are equally valid paths of luminescence.
Engaging the
Senses
“their faith, not logic…” !
Let's try an experiment. Pick up a coin. Imagine that it represents the object at which you are grasping. Hold it tightly clutched in your fist and extend your arm, with the palm of your hand facing the ground. Now if you let go or relax your grip, you will lose what you are clinging onto. That's why you hold on.
-‐Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
But there's another possibility: You can let go and yet keep hold of it. With your arm
still outstretched, turn your hand so that it faces the sky. Release your hand and the coin still rests on your open palm. You let go. And the coin is still yours, even with all this space around it.
So there is a way in which we can accept impermanence and still relish life, at one and the same time, without grasping.
Breaking Bread Together