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Reflection, Unitarian Universalism

Cupcakes and Our First Source

John Cooper
June 25, 2017
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Another Patheos Blog sharing a story about mysticism, revelation, one of our Six Sources in Unitarian Universalism…and cupcakes. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturespath/2017/06/cupcakes-first-source/

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Meditations, Reflection, Unitarian Universalism

Blogging on Patheos

John Cooper
April 27, 2017
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Every once in a while I get to share a blog reflection in the Nature’s Path, the UU Paganism blog on Patheos at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/naturespath The recent post is the beginning of reflection for a sermon about weathering earthquakes and renewal that I will be delivering this coming Sunday at South Valley…

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Capitalism and Ethics, Prejudice, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism

Encountering Change: A Chaplain’s Perspective

John Cooper
February 1, 2017
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How do we encounter the Other? Can we adapt and bridge in this time of challenging political division and change? What happens when a Chaplain encounters something different, strange or challenging? Watch this sermon online at the South Valley Unitarian Universalist YouTube Download a PDF of Encountering Change: A Chaplain’s…

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Poetry and Prose

Presence

John Cooper
November 24, 2016
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It happened one morning That tell-tale BEEEP Of the not-beating heart Flat line stretched horror Into that awful moment Creeping in the early Morning corners of creation. A time later she reflected There was a moment When you came Nobody heard what you said Nobody saw what you did But…

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Reflection

Dear America, Can we talk?

John Cooper
October 16, 2016
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Following is a sermon delivered at South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society on October 9, 2016. The video is available (Starts at about 10:00) You can download a PDF of this sermon here Dear America, Can we talk? Dear America, Hi.  It has been too long since I last wrote America.…

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7 Principles, Acceptance, Prejudice, Reflection, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism

“Fiercely Protect our Diversity”

John Cooper
April 18, 2016
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I was sitting in flower communion (a UU ceremony started in 1923 by Rev. Norbert Capek in Prague) listening to Rev. Patty Willis talk about the diversity of the flowers, and how they are made more beautiful by their differences.  It is the bright, luminous, array of colors of flowers that make…

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7 Principles, Acceptance, Capitalism and Ethics, Reflection, Unitarian Universalism

Reflection from 1936

John Cooper
March 19, 2016
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We UU’s, as a faith, have something to offer national politics and governance. For those who like social reflection out there…and find it fascinating when the past is relevant today…I was just re-reading the 1936 Commission on Appraisal Report “Unitarians Face a New Age” and Chapter 13, on page 307-308…

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Reflection, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism

Which God?

John Cooper
January 30, 2016
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Which God do you mean when you say “God?”  I realize some of you reading this may think “well, THE GOD, of course” still, do you know which one you mean?  What does the God you envision look like?  Feel like?  Smell like? Watch the video on YouTube Download the…

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Reflection, Sermons, Unitarian Universalism

The Kung Fu of Covenant

John Cooper
December 13, 2015
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This November I got to deliver a sermon about covenant in Unitarian Universalism at Utah Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.   I used a Kung Fu story in the sermon and realized it would be fun to call it “The Kung Fu of Covenant” Download the PDF       Watch the…

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Poetry and Prose

Sshhh Quiet Bird

John Cooper
November 8, 2015
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The trees the brook the rocks Smell in the breeze gentle song Creation sung into dawning Drifting then to softer tones dusk Beloved.  My beloved.  Ahh my beloved. Singing lullaby on wind, the brook, the rocks Whispered in the breeze leaves rustling Laughed across grass, earth, stone Tickled through skin…

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