The early Universalist preacher had to be somewhat defensive since they were often considered heretics, believing that God loved everyone and didn’t believe in predestination like the Calvinists. They seemed to have developed a quick and ready comeback There’s a story about John Murray, often called the Father of Universalism, that during one of his sermons, a stone flew through the window…

Opening Words:Welcome back! Ollie Ollie In Free! DO you remember those words from the children’s game of calling in those who have been hiding; it’s safe to come out now! SO, we call to those who have been away for the summer to come home, come home. We start our new church year, our new Sunday school year, and of course, a…

There is a story about the famous atheist and philosopher Bertrand Russell who was sent to jail during W.W.II for being a pacifist. As he was being processed the clerk had to ask him many personal question and finally he asked: Religion?Russell answered him defiantly: Atheist.The clerk , not too bright, and remember this was a time when the term wasn’t as…

Depending on ones point of view, I am either cursed or gifted with my sense of humor; perhaps it’s the same thing. Try as I might, I just see humor in so much of life, but I don’t want to be a comedian, I am a minister. Yet I have always found a sense of laughter in the divine as well. Humor…

After the recent shooting at the Knoxville Unitarian Universalist Church I believe it is even more important to emphasize the power of love to overcome hate, and that sometimes we must laugh so that we can get over the tears. We UUs like to poke fun at our liberal religion,.. How to know that you’re a UU?: How Many UUs Does it…

There was a child who loved watching Sesame Street, and for a Xmas treat got to visit the studio where Sesame Street was produced, and later wrote a letter to Big Bird that said:Dear Big Bird,The other kids were fooled but not me. I know that you’re really not a giant bird. I know that you wear a costume. I also know…

The great Psychiatrist Carl Jung had words carved over his door in Latin that said something like, Called or not, the Gods will be present but humorist G.K. Chesterton warns us: Never invoke the gods unless you really want them to appear. It annoys them very much. . In one of my favorite the comic strips dealing with the family is, “For…

A woman with cancer is told by her primary physician she’ll be dead in an hour. She runs to the window, looks up to the sky and says, God, save me. Out of the blue comes that wonderful melodious voice saying, Don’t worry, my dear. I will save you. The woman climbs back into bed, feeling reassured. She writes: “When an illness…

Native American wisdom says that when you discover you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount and walk.  However, in modern business, and maybe even a few churches, because of the heavy investment factors have to be taken into consideration, often other strategies of today’s business chiefs (and no doubt church chiefs) have to be tried with dead…

Mother, May I?Mothers DayMay 11,2008Rev. Arthur G. SeveranceSon of EvaMae Johnson Severance,Grandson of Eva Christina Johnson and Elizabeth Ann Severance (Heath )Husband of Cathie  Lenore Harvie SeveranceFather of Cristina Mae, Katie Anne, and Elizabeth Jane Severance Feminist Prayer Our mother, who art in heavenSister shall be thy name.Our washins done, our kitchens cleanOn earth and it isn’t heaven.Give us this day equality…