UU Congregation at Shelter Rock Services
161 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingAudio recordings, at your convenience. Nurture your spirit. Unitarian Universalism draws from the teachings of the major world religions and appeals to people from a diversity of traditions. At the core of our faith are a set of principles that reflect values, rather than dogma. Our religious beliefs vary. For both the heart and the mind, Shelter Rock offers engaging worship, religious education, opportunities for social action, a breadth of extraordinary music, and a community of caring, curious and compassionate people. We aspire to be a loving religious community where we can grow spiritually and build a more just and joyful world.
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Episodes
Love at the Center, led by Rev. Daniel Lawlor
August 27, 2023 15:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MB"One cannot live with sighted eyes and feeling hearts and not know or react to the miseries which afflict this world.” - Lorraine Hansberry Unitarian Universalism is growing spiritual habits to respond to the ongoing climate crisis. How can love be at the center of our religious responses and relationships during this time of extreme weather and rising xenophobia? Hear grounding songs, special readings, a meditation for all ages, and an invitation to reflect on love as a spiritual practi...
What Have You Got To Lose, led by Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson
August 20, 2023 15:00 - 52 minutes - 35.8 MBWe often find ourselves stuck in unhelpful patterns, afraid to take a chance on something new. This week, we ask, "What have we got to lose?" Led by Rev. Kimberly Quinn Johnson, Guest Minister, on August 20, 2023.
How Then Shall We Live, led by Rev. Michael Crumpler
August 13, 2023 15:00 - 55 minutes - 38.4 MBIn light of the hate that is fueling our culture and targeting our people, how shall we live out our Unitarian Universalist values? Led by Rev. Michael Crumpler on August 13, 2023.
Soulful Sundown, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore with the Cosmic Orchestra
August 12, 2023 00:00 - 56 minutes - 38.5 MBSoulful Sundown offers Rev. Fenimore’s spoken word with music from The Cosmic Orchestra, onsite and online. Special guest musical artist Deb Talan featured at onsite-only Coffee House afterward. Where music resides at the heart of religious experience.
There Will Be Joy, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore
August 06, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBWith the world full of tragedy–with floods and fires all around–it can be too easy to succumb to despair. But humanity can be uplifted by hope and joy and love. We can contribute to the well-being of each other. How might we embrace JOY as a spiritual practice of this community? August 6, 2023
Being Creative, Finding Community, led by Rev. David Carl Olson
July 30, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBBeing Creative, Finding Community, led by Rev. David Carl Olson on July 16, 2023. The Worship Service in the Veatch Ballroom includes group singing and sharing, with a brief and thoughtful message by Rev. David Carl Olson. Rev. Olson was formerly the Associate Director of the Institute for Theology and the Arts at Andover Newton Theological School. There, community was emphasized through collective creative acts by visual artists, dancers, and musicians. Theologians in residence helped the c...
Thinking Otherwise, led by Rev. Dr. Claire MacDonald, with Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore
July 23, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 46.4 MBThere is growing conversation about what it means to be human. It isn’t just about ChatGPT but something more spiritual and creative; something that asks us to reconsider our human uniqueness and think about the intelligence present in the world around us – from trees to sea creatures. You are invited to think with me about what it might mean for all of us to open up to being "more than human." Rev. Dr. Claire MacDonald is a UK-based Unitarian minister and arts practitioner whose work takes...
Sunday Service: The Human Spirit, led by Rev. Jaye Brooks, Sunday, January 22, 2023
January 22, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBHow do we human beings “find our center” as this month’s worship and learning theme suggests? This Sunday explores the human spirit and the yearning to be connected to something greater than ourselves. To honor the Lunar New Year, our RE children will appear after the service in dragon form.
Sunday Service: Preparing the Way for Beloved Community, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore
January 15, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBThe Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change was founded by Coretta Scott King in 1968. The King Center’s mission is to empower people to create a just, humane, equitable and peaceful world by applying Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy and methodology. Unitarian Universalists also seek to create the Beloved Community which Rev. Dr. King envisioned. What might be our philosophy and methodology which would empower us to move closer to this goal? Sunday, January 15, 2023
Soulful Sundown Service led by Rev. Jaye Brooks, Friday evening, January 13, 2023
January 14, 2023 00:00 - 28 minutes - 19.4 MBRev. Brooks weaves spoken word with music from the Cosmic Orchestra. Where music lies at the heart of religious experience.
Love at the Center of our Covenants and Relationships
January 08, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 50.8 MBOur tradition includes the sacred notion that there is power in our choice to associate freely with each other and with other congregations. We express this in a number of settings—the UU Service Committee, the Long Island Area Council, Black Lives of UUism, the UU United Nations Office, and many more. Each year, General Assembly is the most authoritative expression of our faith. In 2023, it will be especially important. We will elect a new UUA President to serve a six year term and we will ...
From I to We, led by Guest Minister Rev. Oscar Sinclair
January 01, 2023 16:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBCOVID-19 was a universal experience, but its impacts were often felt individually. Drawing on lessons learned this fall at The Unitarian Church of Lincoln, on January 1, 2023, we'll look at one way of building community through sharing our stories.
Love Makes Miracles, Led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore
December 18, 2022 16:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBThe winter holidays are full of the stories of miracles. These miracles are a product of love and faith. Can it be that love and faith continue to make miracles happen all around us now? Our First Graders presented their annual Nativity Play. Lunch was a celebration of the first day of Hanukkah. Sunday, December 18, 2022
Messiah Sing 2022
December 11, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBGeorge Frideric Handel’s Messiah Sing A Beloved Long Island Tradition is BACK! THE ORCHESTRA AT SHELTER ROCK Stephen Michael Smith, Conductor THE UUCSR CHOIR with Professional Soloists Sarah Moulton Faux, soprano Michael St. Peter, tenor Leah Wool, mezzo Brace Negron, bass baritone Nathaniel LaNasa, harpsichord
Sunday Worship-Star of Wonder, Led by Rev. Jaye Brooks
December 11, 2022 16:00 - 48 minutes - 33.2 MBOn December 11, we thought about December as a month of wonder: Hanukkah in the Jewish tradition (Dec. 18-26); Yule and Solstice in pagan traditions (Dec. 21); and Christmas in the Christian tradition (Dec. 25). So let’s pause to contemplate the nature of miracles. Whether it's the magic of light in the darkness, the turning of the year, or the birth of a baby, we human beings experience wonder. There’s wonder, too, in the Fibonacci numbers that predict the spiral shape of our galaxy and in ...
Soulful Sundown-December 2022 with Lucy Kaplansky
December 10, 2022 00:00 - 39 minutes - 26.9 MBLed by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore with the Cosmic Orchestra Where music lies at the heart of religious experience.
What Wondrous Love, Led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore
December 04, 2022 16:00 - 54 minutes - 37.1 MBAs our Unitarian Universalist Association once again considers its Principles and Purposes, the Article II Bylaws Commission asks us to center Love as the enduring force that holds us together. What are your thoughts on the re-visioning of the Principles and Purposes of our Association? How might we move love to the center of the mission and vision of our faith? Sunday, December 4, 2022
Sunday Worship Service - Settle the Sands, led by Erol Delos Santos
November 27, 2022 16:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBWhen faced with change, we often feel like we are standing at the edge of a precipice, looking out into uncertainty. One way to help adapt to change is to lean on the things that provide stability in unstable times. Join Erol Delos Santos, student minister, to reflect on identifying spiritual resources and how to use them to soften moments of transition.
Thanksgiving Service: A Great Plenty, led by the UUCSR Ministers
November 20, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 47 MBThis 2022 annual celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday was a family Service. Music was provided by the Young Peoples Choir, Jazz Ensemble, and UUCSR Choir. Once again, we were able to come together and tell about the bread which nourishes us. Attendees brought bread to share in the Social Hall after the Worship Service. Guest at Your Table Boxes from the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee were distributed.
Soulful Sundown, November 2022, led by Erol Delos Santos
November 18, 2022 03:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBWith LIVE music from the Cosmic Orchestra on a very stormy night! Soulful Sundown. Where music lies at the heart of religious experience.
The Same Ax Twice, led by Rev. Jaye Brooks
November 13, 2022 16:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBChange is remarkable in the way it leaves us different and yet at heart still the same person. But human change is also complex—the way anything is complex when human beings are involved. Howard Mansfield’s insightful 2001 book, The Same Ax, Twice, explores how the restoration of things—like an old ax with a new handle—involves both change and stability. What about people? How do we retain stability while allowing change to equip us for better, values-based living? We considered these questi...
The Same Ax Twice, led by Rev. Jaye Brooks
November 13, 2022 16:00 - 45 minutes - 31.5 MBChange is remarkable in the way it leaves us different and yet at heart still the same person. But human change is also complex—the way anything is complex when human beings are involved. Howard Mansfield’s insightful 2001 book, The Same Ax, Twice, explores how the restoration of things—like an old ax with a new handle—involves both change and stability. What about people? How do we retain stability while allowing change to equip us for better, values-based living? We considered these questi...
Soulful Sundown, November 11, 2022, led by Erol Delos Santos (corrected)
November 12, 2022 00:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBWith LIVE music from the Cosmic Orchestra on a very stormy night! Soulful Sundown. Where music lies at the heart of religious experience.
Change the Story, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore
November 06, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBThis month we celebrate Thanksgiving and many people tell the story of the “Pilgrims and Indians.” The story is based in truth but has gained mythic status. There is, of course, more than one perspective in the story and more than one way to tell any story. How can we/should we change the story to be more inclusive?
That Which Shelters All
October 30, 2022 15:00 - 48 minutes - 33 MBIn a time when information is available to us in an instant, we often don't dwell in the uncomfortable space of the unknown. The truth is that there are limitless possibilities in 'not knowing'. Imagination thrives in the fertile grounds of mystery. There is something sacred in the secrets of the world around us. Listen to reflect on the courage required to be curious, to be contemplative, and to remain lost but seeking.
How Annoying, led by Rev. Jaye Brooks on October 16, 2022
October 16, 2022 15:00 - 55 minutes - 38 MBOne of the hallmarks of social life in America today is how many things out there are annoying. Confronting the myriad annoyances without losing it takes a remarkable level of centeredness. And maybe courage, which may be a strange character trait to associate with the ability to meet incoming annoyances with serenity. Even so, today's worship service explores the strange quality of courage in the face of annoyance.
Soulful Sundown, October 14, 2022, Courage, led by Rev. David Carl Olson
October 14, 2022 23:00 - 37 minutes - 25.6 MBWhere music lies at the heart of religious experience. Rev. Olson weaves spoken word with LIVE music from the Cosmic Orchestra.
Listening to My Ginko Tree, led by Rev. David Carl Olson
October 09, 2022 15:00 - 53 minutes - 37.2 MBThe notion of taking responsibility for “the seven generations yet to come” comes from a Native American aphorism that became quite popular in both the New Age and ecology movements. But it is sometimes read in a very linear way that can make it feel burdensome. There is another way of thinking that asks us to create the conditions today for living a rich and full life. We hold space for imagining the fullest life that we may offer to many generations around us now. October 9, 2022
Courage, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie M. Fenimore
October 02, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBCourage is the ability to do something that frightens you. It is not actually having no fear at all. From where comes the courage of this community? From the Jewish tradition of Yom Kippur we are asked to have the courage to examine our actions, reflect and repent – atone and begin again. Sunday, October 2, 2022
Courage, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie M. Fenimore
October 02, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBCourage is the ability to do something that frightens you. It is not actually having no fear at all. From where comes the courage of this community? From the Jewish tradition of Yom Kippur we are asked to have the courage to examine our actions, reflect and repent – atone and begin again. Sunday, October 2, 2022
A New Year, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie M. Fenimore
September 25, 2022 15:00 - 52 minutes - 36.1 MBIn the Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of Days of Awe, a 10-day period of prayer and reflection which culminates in Yom Kippur. How would you celebrate the birthday of the world? How would you begin anew? Held at UUCSR on Sunday, September 25, 2022.
Homecoming, led by the UUCSR Ministry Team
September 18, 2022 15:00 - 55 minutes - 38.5 MBHomecoming Service on September 18, 2022 was a welcome back after summer adventures. There were reunions of friends, children in the pews and the choir in full!
Twice as Many Stars as Usual, led by Rev. Sarah Skochko, Guest Minister
September 11, 2022 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.5 MBHumans seem to have an innate need for belonging. On Sunday, September 11, 2022, we talked about what it means to be mortal under a sky full of stars, and to find companionship and belonging throughout the days of our lives.
Soulful Sundown, led by Rev. Jaye Brooks, "Belonging"
September 09, 2022 23:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBWelcome to the September 2022 Soulful Sundown LIVE, a monthly collaboration between ministers and live musicians. In September, Rev. Jaye Brooks weaves spoken word with LIVE music from the Cosmic Orchestra. Coffee House follows with Guest Musical Artist Abbie Gardner. Onsite and online. Masks encouraged. Beneficiary: ABBA Back to School Supplies Drive for children in Hempstead, NY Soulful Sundown…where music resides at the heart of the religious experience.
Sunday Worship Service -The Call of the Elder, led by Rev. Anthony Mtuaswa Johnson, Guest Minister
September 04, 2022 15:00 - 47 minutes - 32.6 MBTimes of tumult, like these, of great uncertainty, can initiate an acceleration of a calling. This call may include an awakening of the elder and the sage within each of us. In many old wisdom traditions, elders were considered to have one foot firmly planted on the ground of presence and of survival, and the other in the realm of great imagination. This sermon explored the Call of the Elder in each of us as a resource of resiliency, endurance, and renewal. Sunday, September 4, 2022
Sunday Worship Service - Fig Tree, led by Rev. Jaye Brooks
August 28, 2022 15:00 - 43 minutes - 30.1 MBThe image of a tree—roots, trunk, branches, and leafy canopy—resonates with humans in so many ways. It’s a family tree, with the history of our ancestors. It’s a tree of life, showing the interrelationships among all species. And it’s often a symbol of community. In Ross Gay’s poem, “To the Fig Tree on 9th and Christian,” a tree on a Philadelphia street corner becomes a real-life, non-metaphorical experience of community. We need more of that.
A More Perfect Union, led by Rev. Julie Conrady, Guest Minister
August 21, 2022 15:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MBDepending on where we live, describing ourselves as Unitarian Universalists can complicate our relationships, our responses to social issues. How does geography play a role in our identity as UU's? How do we bring together Unitarian Universalists, across state lines, among cultures and backgrounds, to work together for the common good? August 21, 2022
The Sycamore, led by Rev. Jaye Brooks
August 14, 2022 15:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBOne of life's challenges is to cope and even thrive despite the accidents and unplanned consequences that beset us. Wendell Berry's poem "The Sycamore" offers a glimpse of how we might gather all accidents into our purpose. In a time when we need hope, a sycamore signals that hope is possible. August 14, 2022
Reinterpreting and Rethinking: Rituals and Rosaries, led by Cassandra Montenegro, Guest Speaker
August 07, 2022 15:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MBWhat does it mean to reengage religious and spiritual practices that we grew up with, that meant something to our ancestors, and, might mean something to us? In the words of biblical scholar Micah Kiel, “Rather than jettison, we must reexamine and rethink those traditions that have formed us” (Apocalyptic Ecology, xxi, relying on Lynn White). Sunday, August 7, 2022
Unheard Voices: Orchestra at Shelter Rock Summer Concert, July 31, 2022
July 31, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 53.6 MBStephen Michael Smith, Music Director UNHEARD VOICES: 3 Women Composers for Orchestra Louise Farrenc, Overture No 1, op 23 Florence Price, Symphony No 1 in E minor Margaret Bonds: Two Spirituals for Voice and Orchestra Anthony McGlaun, soloist Anthony P. McGlaun is noted for his clarity of tone, musicality and expressive delivery of text. He has a BA from Morehouse College and MM from UNI, and has made role debuts with Lyric Opera of Chicago in Porgy and Bess and San Francisco Opera in Sh...
Unheard Voices, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore
July 31, 2022 15:00 - 44 minutes - 30.4 MBHow often have we been denied the wisdom and creativity which come from marginalized voices/expressions? How might we make ourselves and our community more open? The Annual Summer Orchestra Concert followed the Worship Service. The Concert celebrated the “unheard voices” of three women composers for orchestra on Sunday, July 31, 2022.
Summertime and the Living Is Interesting, Rev. Gordon Bailey, Guest Minister
July 24, 2022 15:00 - 46 minutes - 32.1 MB"Summer has a flavor like no other. Always fresh and simmered in sunshine."—These words of Oprah Winfrey reminds me that the sixty summers I’ve lived or the fifty five of them I can recall each has a flavor and excitement; a narrative and memories filled with highs and lows, barbecue and sweet corn that fills my heart with joy and the blessings of life. Together, we unpacked, reflected upon and remembered how interesting the summers of our lives have been. Led by Rev. Gordon Bailey, Guest Mi...
A Chat with Anthony P. McGlaun and Music Director Stephen Michael Smith
July 23, 2022 18:00 - 51 minutes - 35.7 MBTenor Anthony P. McGlaun and Music Director Stephen Michael Smith talk about music, race, and making music as a Black man in today's America. Mr. McGlaun is the vocal soloist at the "Unheard Voices" Summer Concert of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock Orchestra on Sunday, July 31, 2022. $10 at the door. Reception follows. All welcome.
ReWilding Our Campus and Surrounding Community, led by members of the Green Sanctuary Committee
July 17, 2022 15:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MBOn July 17, 2022 at 11 AM, we asked, "What does it take to maintain wilderness within an urban or suburban setting?" Members of Shelter Rock's Green Sanctuary team shared stories of our woods and coyotes, our community garden, and the native plants in these hundred acres protected from development. In addition to the re-wilding of our local ecosystem, as individuals our members and friends can reduce plastic pollution and become part of the citizens climate lobby. Protecting planet Earth beg...
What We Deserve: Equity and Equality in the Age of Pandemic, led by Rev. Aaron Payson, Guest Minister
July 10, 2022 15:00 - 58 minutes - 40.4 MBIn the Sunday Service on July 10, 2022, we explored a Social Gospel for the 21 Century that asked what our response might be to the inequities exposed by the recent pandemic and the social unrest that has evolved during this time of uncertainty. “What We Deserve: Equity and Equality in the Age of Pandemic” was led by Rev. Aaron Payson, Guest Minister.
Soulful Sundown: Summertime, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore
July 09, 2022 00:00 - 40 minutes - 27.8 MBSoulful Sundown on Friday evening July 8, 2022 was led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore with music from the Cosmic Orchestra. “Summertime” was the subject of spoken word and live music from a full band.
Spiritual Democracy, led by Rev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore
July 03, 2022 15:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBRev. Dr. Natalie Fenimore led the Service, titled "Spiritual Democracy" on July 3, 2022. The Fourth of July holiday celebrates the American Revolution and the beginning of US political democracy. UU Principles also celebrate the democratic process but as something more than a political system. How do we understand the spiritual democracy which surrounds our congregational life?
Meet the Moment, led by Rev. Brooks, June 26, 2022
June 26, 2022 15:00 - 51 minutes - 35.1 MBWe celebrated the 2022 UUA General Assembly theme, "Meet the Moment." Wherever we've come from, wherever we're going, this very moment is the only time we can act to change ourselves, our lives, and the life of the wider world. Thousands of Unitarian Universalists gathered to consider the moment we all are now meeting. At the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, onsite and online, we celebrated the blessings that can arise as we "Meet the Moment."
True Colors, led by LGBTQ+ Group with Rev. Brower
June 19, 2022 15:00 - 52 minutes - 36.2 MBBe Your True Colors: JUNETEENTH and PRIDE SERVICE was presented on June 19, 2022. June is Pride Month, an annual celebration commemorating the 1969 Stonewall Riots that launched the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer rights movement in the United States. Juneteenth is the day we recognize the end of slavery in the United States in 1865. May we take this month of June as an opportunity to recommit to the values of equality and the dignity of every human person.
Memorial Day
May 29, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 41.4 MBMemorial Day, led by the Rev. Jennifer Brower This weekend, as many members of our congregation were on retreat together at Silver Bay, we gathered for a service of song and spoken word. As we honored Memorial Day and our nation’s fallen soldiers, we reflected upon the ways that each of us might serve life and humankind in creating peace. Choral music for this service was provided by the UUCSR Quartet.