September’s worship theme has been “Building Belonging”, and we’ve reached the final Sunday of the month. As a sendoff to this theme I will consider various and sundry related topics. Indeed, it shall be a bit of a hodgepodge.
A Buddhist wisdom tale ends with the awareness, “you belong to everything, and everything belongs to you.” No one religion or culture or scientific insight can teach us how to experience universal belonging. But there are certain insights that each one – including mysticism, Christianity, and indigenous culture – can help provide.
How can one remain true to one’s self while also searching for belonging? Through reflections offered by Buddhists, Christians, and Quakers, we examine an interfaith reaction to this question Together, we explore how people from the world’s religions connect to and honor their authentic selves.
This Sunday, we delve into the wisdom of the Quaker faith. Quakers teach that, during each worship service, there is a sacred stream below them, binding them together in faith, belonging, and love. As we join together for Ingathering, we contemplate the flowing, invisible waters that unite us and all of whom we encounter. Through acts and sentiments of radical welcome and agape love, we…