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Vivian Carlson July 6, 2025 Simplicity. Webster’s dictionary defines simplicity as the state of being uncomplicated, free from pretense and clear in expression. Chaos is the opposite - a state of utter confusion, an unorganized mass or mixture. So how do we dispense with pretense and find clarity in a world that seems more cruelly chaotic daily? One strategy is to look to the wisdom of our ancestors who managed to survive overwhelming natural disasters, plagues, unimaginably evil tyrants, wars that killed entire generations and more throughout recorded history. The Bhagavad Gita, the ancient Hindu scriptures written 5,000 years ago, contain these words: “Where there is no sense of unity, . . . society is plunged into chaos. Social chaos is hell for the family and for those who have destroyed the family as well. It disrupts the process of spiritual evolution begun by our ancestors.. . these terrible deeds, violate the the unity of life.” The Tao Teh Ching, written by Lao Tzu in China 2,000 years ago reminds us that “There is no calamity like not knowing what is enough. There is no evil like covetousness. Only he who knows what is enough will always have enough.” And, more recently, our own Walt Whitman tells us that “This is what you shall do: Love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give 1 alms to every one that asks, stand up for those who are different, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence toward the people, go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families, re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul. . .” Both Lao Tzu and Walt Whitman offer perspectives shared by most indigenous peoples who have lived close to Mother Earth and supported one another in order to survive for centuries. My indigenous friends in South America shared with me much of their ancient wisdom which is still practiced on a daily basis today. There are 9 indigenous tribes in Guyana. They have fought wars against one another as well as carefully balanced their relationships with one another and the rainforest for centuries. Each tribe hunts different animals in the forest so that no one species is ever depleted. Each tribe specializes in making different items so that trade with one another is necessary. My Makushi friends have ancient knowledge and skill at making the curare poison used to coat hunting arrows and making baskets so carefully woven that they hold water. Other tribes make, trade and share different necessities and all take only enough from the forest, and do so only after asking the spirit of what is taken for permission and expressing gratitude for the gift. The forest is life. My Makushi friends often stated this simple truth in conversations about their way of life. 2 Robin Wall Kimmerer, author, environmental biologist and member of the Potawatomi Nation, has written a small book entitled The Serviceberry describing this “culture of gratitude” in which life centers around acknowledgement of and gratitude for the all of the gifts we find in our lives. Being grateful for all that we have leads to the realization that we have enough. Taking only what we need and giving a reciprocal gift for what we have taken is a radical response to our surrounding consumer culture. In a culture of gratitude and reciprocity, “all flourishing is mutual.” We can create interdependent webs of self-reliance and reciprocity, sharing what we have with others, passing on the gift by caring for one another, using, re-using and sharing needed items, and caring for the earth. Compassion is not an ideal, but a way of being in the world. It is an outcome of gratitude and in times of social chaos may be expressed in all human relationships as well as in many social and political actions. Working to address injustice through involvement in groups and actions designed to support those most affected by tyrannical cruelty and to fight injustice in all its many forms brings a sense of agency, strength and sharing in otherwise overwhelming situations. Acts of kindness require courageous action in our everyday lives. There will be more kindness in the world if we practice gentle breaths and balance our efforts with quiet ease. Practicing kindness in daily life requires reaching out to others, including those with whom we disagree or 3 find offensive or frightening. Such judgments often interfere with our intentions to see the good in each person. Being kind to all in a divided and violent society is difficult. It is also a way of reducing the divisions and violence that surround us. Peace is also not just an ideal. It is an active practice. We can increase peace in the world by practicing nonviolence in our thoughts and actions, by pausing to think before we speak instead of reacting, and by centering ourselves in the love of the divine spirit that lives within us. Meditation, prayer, yoga, tai chi, immersion in the natural world all offer pathways to peace. So how can we benefit from the wisdom passed down by our ancestors? We can seek to live simply, practicing compassion, kindness and peace as a means of resisting the injustice and chaos in our country. Taking collective action in support of social justice increases the effectiveness of our resistance and our individual practices. Simple living requires awareness, presence, thoughtful responses and integrity. It requires understanding the concept of ‘enough’ and never taking more than we need from others or from Mother Earth. It requires gratitude for our many gifts and an understanding of the fact that we can build mutual relationships based on sharing and reciprocity that will help to shield us from the ravages of social chaos. May it be so. Reflections on solstice - Ellen Williams When I was young I knew there were solstices since they were written on the calender. I also knew that I was happy playing in the dirt and planting. I liked longer days in summer. Im not sure I knew much more than that. The funny thing is that longer days are up until summer solstice and then they start to get shorter. When I was in Alaska a few years ago, they mentioned how in Fairbanks, they have a baseball game that lasts all night on the solstice. We were thee a few days before that. I remember watching the sun set at 11:45 pm, but it didn’t really get dark after that. Now I know that solstices measure when the light changes and the position of the earth’s axis is closest to the sun for summer solstice. Other names for this holiday are Litha and midsummer. Some folks make flower crowns, collect herbs and look at the magnificence of nature. Some folks leap bonfires, however, please don’t do this without guidance. Solstice meditation Take a deep breath and slowly let out Take another deep breath and slowly let it out Visualize the sun’s brilliant light surrounding you, filling you with warmth and energy. Visualize the abundance and joy that summer brings, feeling these qualities within yourself. As you exhale, imagine releasing any negativity, stress or old patterns. Imagine a personal sphere of sunlight about you filling you with vibrance and energy. Repeat I am statements, like I am alive, I am joyful, I am abundant, I am free of any other I ams that are personal for you Express gratefulness for the sun and the season for the Gradually Bring your awareness, back to your body and your surroundings. Give yourself time to be fully conscious in this room. As I was at a concert with my mother in law last week, she asked what I was doing the next day. I said I was working on a service for church. She asked what it was about, and I said it was about Soltice and simplicity. She asked more about solstice, and I wasn’t ready to say I’m a pagan to my 91 year old mother in law, who is Episcopalian. So I explained how I see spirit in nature, in the plants, and trees and how flowers grow from seeds, and she said “that’s how it should be” and I explained how soltice can celebrate the beauty in nature. As in the reading messenger, where Mary Oliver suggests we focus on what matters, standing still and being astonished and rejoicing at all we see in nature. She also suggests we be grateful for all that we are exposed to. In the song welcome, rejoice, and come in, I am called by the upbeat melody, the feeling of connectedness I feel I share with other folks here. S o I am welcomed, I rejoice and am glad to come in. Then today will be a joyful day reminds me of the carefree days of summer. Some ways I feel joyful in summer include watching the butterflies at my milkweed plants and hummingbirds at many of my plants. Or being in the yard and listening to children playing in nearby yards. Or sitting around a campfire with good friends. Or curling up with a good book. Please find some ways to celebrate solstice over the next few weeks.

Gathering Music (Mary Bopp) Welcome (Martha Larson) Announcements (Stacey Musulin) Centering Prelude "The Oneness of Everything" by Jim Scott, arr. by Mary Bopp Chalice Lighting Excerpts from "The Awakening" by Joseph M. Martin Awake, awake, my soul, and sing! The time for praise has come. The silence of the night has passed; A new day has begun. Let music never die in me! Forever let my spirit sing! Let all our voices join as one to praise the giver of the song. Introduction to the Service Opening Hymn #188 "Come, Come, Whoever You Are" Hymn #16 "'Tis a Gift to Be Simple" Hymn #38 "Morning Has Broken" Andy Ricci, speaker, guitar and hymn leader Hymn #1007 "There's a River Flowin' in My Soul" Welcoming Visitors and Sharing Joys and Concerns Musical Response #123 "Spirit of Life" Hymn #346 "Come Sing a Song With Me" Jenn Richard, guitar and hymn leader Hymn #21 "For the Beauty of the Earth" Hymn #1064 "Blue Boat Home" Hymn #159 "This Is My Song" Offertory Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the month of July will be shared with three local pantries: MACC Food Pantry (Manchester), Hockanum Valley Food Pantry (Vernon), and CT Mutual Aid East of the River Food Pantry (East Hartford). Offertory Music #1051 "We Are ..." by Ysaye M. Barnwell; 2020 GA Virtual Choir, directed by Benjie Messer; Soloist Dr. Ysaye Barnwell Hymn #131 "Love Will Guide Us" Dorothy Bognar, speaker Jenn Richard, guitar and hymn leader Hymn #203 "All Creatures of the Earth and Sky" Hymn #337 "Have I Not Known" Hymn #1026 "If Every Woman in the World" Hymn #1 "May Nothing Evil Cross This Door" More hymns if time Extinguishing the Chalice Excerpt from "The Awakening" by Joseph M. Martin Let music never die in me! Forever let my spirit sing! Wherever emptiness is found, Let there be joy and glorious sound Closing Circle May faith in the spirit of life And hope for the community of earth And love of the light in each other Be ours now, and in all the days to come.

Gathering Music     Welcome & Announcements   Centering   Prelude:   “Simple Gifts Meditation” Trad. Shaker hymn, arr. by Mary Bopp   Chalice Lighting and Opening Words From “Benediction” by Bernadette Miller   Introducing the Service   Opening the Quarters     Opening Hymn   # 361  “Enter, Rejoice and Come In” by Louise Ruspini Enter, rejoice, and come in. Enter, rejoice, and come in. Today will be a joyful day; enter, rejoice, and come in. Open your ears to the song ... Open your hearts ev'ryone ... Don't be afraid of some change ... Enter, rejoice, and come in ...   Welcoming Visitors, Joys and Concerns   Musical Interlude   Offering Continuing our practice of sharing our gifts with the community beyond our walls, fifty percent of our Sunday plate collections for the month of July will be shared with MACC Food Pantry (Manchester), Hockanum Valley Food Pantry (Vernon) and CT Mutual Aid East of the River Food Pantry (East Hartford).   Offering Music “Ordinary Miracles” by Mary Bopp   Reading “Messenger” by Mary Oliver   First Reflection: “Reflections on Solstice” (Ellen Williams)   Second Reflection: “Living Simply Amidst Chaos” (Vivian Carlson)   Closing the Quarters   Closing Hymn #16   “Tis a Gift to be Simple” by Joseph Bracket, American Shaker tune 'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free, 'tis a gift to come down where we ought to be, and when we find ourselves in the place just right, 'twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed. To turn, turn will be our delight, 'till by turning, turning we come 'round right.   Closing Words  “Choose to Bless the World”  by Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker   Extinguishing the Chalice   Closing Circle May faith in the spirit of life And hope for the community of earth And love of the light in each other Be ours now, and in all the days to come.

Music plays a key role in our services and in our congregational life. Upcoming Concerts & Musical Events Contact the office for details - email: info@uuse.org phone: 860.646.5151 More...

This is the listing of upcoming services. It is automatically updated from the events database. Old services are moved to the past services page. Upcoming Services Reminder: UUSE has a Low Scent Policy Here's a list of upcoming services. Past services can be found here . 7/13/25 Sing! Sing! Sing! OOS Sermon YouTube Sunday Service: "Sing! Sing! Sing!"  Our second annual hybrid hymn sing service will feature favorite hymns with some sharing about why they are meaningful. Coordinators : Martha Larson and Stacey Musulin. Summer schedule: 10:00 A.M. service #eBlast-07-09 7/20/25 Sunday, July 20th: General (Assembly) Reflections. OOS Sermon YouTube Sunday, July 20th: General (Assembly) Reflections. Rev. Josh Pawelek will share his reflections on the recent Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly in Baltimore; and maybe a few more general reflections on summer, the state of the nation, etc. Special music by Jenn Richard. Coordinator: Rev. Josh Pawelek. 7/27/25 Sunday, July 27th: Adult Credos. OOS Sermon YouTube Sunday, July 27th: Adult Credos. Some of the adults who participated in this years Affirmation Class will share their credos. This is a time to reflect on what, how, and why we believe. Coordinator: Martha Larson.

Religious education is not just for kids. We have plenty of programs to keep adults busy too. Intro to UU The Intro to UU program is taught periodically by the minister. There's not one scheduled at the moment. Keep an eye on the Happenings section of the website to see when the next session might be coming.