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Rev. Lee Legault
July 3, 2022
First UU Church of Austin
4700 Grover Ave., Austin, TX 78756
www.austinuu.org
The culture wars highlight the growing prevalence of speaking without communicating, and such speech is a form of verbal violence. Semanticist Wendell Johnson sums it up well: “Our language is an imperfect instrument created by ancient and ignorant men.” Let’s explore an alternate communication paradigm. How might our households, churches, faith, and world benefit from moving towards nonviolent communication?
Chalice Lighting
This is the flame we hold in our hearts as we strive for justice for everyone. This is the light we shine upon systems of oppression until they are no more. This is the warmth that we share with one another as our struggle becomes our salvation.
Call to Worship
We have to-morrow
Bright before us
Like a flameYesterday, a night-gone thing
A sun-down nameAnd dawn to-day
Broad arch above the road we came,
We march– Langston Hughes
Affirming Our Mission
Together we nourish souls, transform lives, and do justice to build the Beloved Community.
Meditation Reading
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase each other
doesn’t make any sense.The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don’t go back to sleep.– Rumi
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