The Spirit of Generosity – 26/11/23

Musical Prelude: Federico Mompou – Musica Callada: Book 1, No.1, Angelico

Opening Words: ‘True Religion’ by Cliff Reed (adapted)

If a religion is true, it sets you free to be your true self;
it nurtures loving-kindness and generosity in your heart;
it humbles you before the Ultimate – and before your neighbour.

If a religion is true, it challenges your conscience and opens your mind;
it makes you responsible for yourself and for your world;
it stirs you to seek the liberation and wellbeing of others.

If a religion is true, it deepens your awareness and nourishes your spirit;
it brings you comfort and strength in times of grief and trial;
it connects you to other people and to the life of the universe.

If a religion is true, it will care less for dogma and doctrine than it will for love;
it will care less for rules and customs than it will for compassion;
it will care less for the gods we make than for the people we are.

As we gather together in community this morning, may ours be a true religion.

Words of Welcome and Introduction:

These opening words – by the retired Unitarian minister Cliff Reed – welcome all who have gathered this morning, for our Sunday service. Welcome to those of you who have gathered in-person at Essex Church and also to all who are joining us via Zoom from far and wide. For anyone who doesn’t know me, my name is Jane Blackall and I’m Minister with Kensington Unitarians.

This morning’s service is titled ‘The Spirit of Generosity’ – in the next hour, we’ll explore this theme, through readings and reflections, music and stillness – for as the UU minister Victoria Weinstein says in words that are on the front of your orders of service (and, if you’re at home, they’re up on our website along with the text of the whole service): ‘The purpose of the church is to encourage all who gather there to grow more generous in spirit and in action. This is the great end of all the world’s faith traditions: to bring the human being closer to the divine by acts of creation and compassion.’ As we enter into the season of Advent this Sunday you are invited to make it a ‘Season of Generosity’.

As we often say here – we make this hour sacred with our presence and intention – so let’s take a moment, before we go any further, to recall what our intention is, as we gather here again. We join together as a gathered spiritual community, travelling from all over London and sometimes beyond, and sitting down at our screens in places all over the world, to co-create something special together. So let’s take a breath or two to catch up with ourselves and make sure we’ve really arrived. Let’s set aside any worry or agitation we came in carrying, as best we can, and prepare our hearts to worship.

Lighting of Chalice and Advent Candle: ‘A Reminder and a Guide’ by Jane Blackall

Let’s light our chalice flame now, as we do each week. This simple ritual connects us in solidarity with Unitarians and Unitarian Universalists the world over, and reminds us of the proud and historic progressive religious tradition of which this gathering is part.

(light chalice)

We light this chalice as a reminder of the tradition that holds us,
and the values we share as a community:
our commitment to the common good,
and our yearning for a better world that’s yet to be,
where all may know true freedom, justice, equality, and peace.

May this little light, and all it represents, make a home in our hearts;
where it will ever guide us back to our highest aspirations,
and help us be responsive, creative, just, and loving,
faithfully embodying the spirit of generosity
in this complex and ever-changing world. (pause)

And let us light our first Advent candle too. Traditionally the first candle represents hope. May we know hope, this Advent season, hope that that the better world we dream of is on its way.

(light advent candle)

Hymn 62 (purple): ‘Here We Have Gathered’

Let’s sing together now. Our first hymn is number 62 in your purple books, ‘Here We Have Gathered’. For those joining via Zoom the words will be up on screen. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer. And sing up as best you can.

Here we have gathered, gathered side by side;
circle of kinship, come and step inside!
May all who seek here find a kindly word;
may all who speak here feel they have been heard.
Sing now together this, our hearts’ own song.

Here we have gathered, called to celebrate
days of our lifetime, matters small and great:
we of all ages, women, children, men,
infants and sages, sharing what we can.
Sing now together this, our hearts’ own song.

Life has its battles, sorrows, and regret:
but in the shadows, let us not forget:
we who now gather know each other’s pain;
kindness can heal us: as we give, we gain.
Sing now in friendship this, our hearts’ own song.

Candles of Joy and Concern:

Each week when we gather together, we share a simple ritual of candles of joy and concern, an opportunity to light a candle and share something that is in our heart with the community. So we’ve an opportunity now, for anyone who would like to do so, to light a candle and say a few words about what it represents. This time we’re going to go to the people in the building first, and take all of those in one go, and then I’ll call on the people on Zoom to come forward.

So I invite some of you here in person to come and light a candle and then if you wish to tell us briefly who or what you light your candle for. Please do get up close to the microphone as that will help everyone hear (including the people at home). You can take the microphone out of the stand if it’s not at a good height and have it microphone pointing right at your mouth. And if you can’t get to the microphone give me a wave and I’ll bring it over to you. Thank you.

(in person candles)

And if that’s everyone in the room we’ll go over to the people on Zoom next – you might like to switch to gallery view at this stage – just unmute yourselves when you are ready and speak out – and we should be able to hear you and see you up on the big screen here in the church.

(zoom candles)

And I’m going to light one more candle, as we often do, to represent all those joys and concerns that we hold in our hearts this day, but which we don’t feel able to speak out loud. (light candle)

Time of Prayer & Reflection: based on words by Richard Lovis

Let’s take those joys and concerns into an extended time of prayer. This prayer is based on some words by Richard Lovis. You might first want to adjust your position for comfort, close your eyes, or soften your gaze. There might be a posture that helps you feel more prayerful. Whatever works for you. Do whatever you need to do to get into the right state of body and mind for us to pray together – to be fully present here and now, in this sacred time and space – with ourselves, with each other, and with that which is both within us and beyond us. (pause)

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, in whom we live and move and have our being,
we turn our full attention to you, the light within and without,
as we tune in to the depths of this life, and the greater wisdom
to which – and through which – we are all intimately connected.
Be with us now as we allow ourselves to drop into the
silence and stillness at the very centre of our being. (pause)

In coming here to worship we each bring with us our own deepest needs,
and the deepest needs of those we love and care about.

Some of us bring the need to express thanks,
because we are aware that there is more to our
cause for thankfulness than anyone can take credit for.

Some of us bring the need to be contrite and to feel forgiven
because we realise that in spite of all our efforts to make amends
there are still wounds left unhealed, and things that were
said and done, which cannot be unsaid or undone.

Some of us bring the need for comfort and for consolation
because there is distress or loss in our lives or in the wider world
which is beyond the reach of gentle words and gestures of kindly souls.

Some of us bring the need for guidance and direction
because the tangle of life seems too complex
for reason and advice alone to unravel.

So in a few quiet moments let us take some time to pray inwardly the prayers of our own hearts;
calling to mind all those souls we know to be suffering this day, whether close to home, or
on the other side of the world. Let us hold all these sacred beings in the light of love. (pause)

Let us also pray for ourselves; we too are sacred beings who face our own struggles and muddle through life’s ups and downs. So let us take a few moments to reflect on our own lives, and
ask for what we most need this day – comfort, forgiveness, or guidance – to flourish. (pause)

And let us take just a little longer to remember the good things in life and give thanks for them. Those moments in the past week where we’ve encountered generosity, kindness, or pleasure.
Let us cultivate a spirit of gratitude as we recall all those moments that lifted our spirits. (pause)

Spirit of Life – God of all Love – as this time of prayer comes to a close, we offer up
our joys and concerns, our hopes and fears, our beauty and brokenness,
and we call on you for insight, healing, and renewal.

As we look forward now to the coming week,
help us to live well each day and be our best selves;
using our unique gifts in the service of love, justice and peace. Amen

In-Person Reading: ‘Generosity as a Spiritual Practice’ by Heather Brooks (adapted) (read by Sonya)

Generosity…. is a term that typically brings up thoughts of giving something to someone else. Even more, when we hear the word “generosity,” most of us tend to think in terms of money. A “generous” gift is an expensive one. A “generous” contribution has a lot of zeros after that initial number. There is also this sense of self-sacrifice in the idea of generosity. In the story of ‘The Widow’s Mite’ from the Christian scriptures, Jesus praises the impoverished widow’s meagre offering — all she had — over and above the large contributions of the wealthy at the Temple. But generosity is not merely, or even primarily, about money. We are generous with our time. We can share our knowledge and skills generously. We can be emotionally generous.

There is a connection between generosity and generative — note that common root, gen, which refers to birth or becoming. Mark Ewert suggests that, “generosity causes something new to be produced — either a connection between people or between people and organizations.” Yet, for most of us, generosity is a kind of giving up of something we have. If I have money, I can give some to someone else. If I have time, I can volunteer to help someone. This sense of generosity as “giving up” something I have begins to limit me. Perhaps it causes either a sense of scarcity or a sense of entitlement. Meditation teacher Sharon Salzburg suggests this sense of generosity puts a cap on our giving saying, “I will give this much and no more. Or I will give this article or object if I am appreciated enough through this act of giving.” But, as Salzburg teaches us, the power of generosity is created not from “giving something up,” but from letting go. She writes, “Being able to give to others shows us our ability to let go of attachments that otherwise limit our beliefs and our experiences … it is through the practice of generosity that we learn to see through the attachments and create space for ourselves.”

Generosity is a spiritual practice. It is a practice that allows us to free ourselves from that which holds us back, from that which tries to protect our heart, but ends up disconnecting us from one another. This move toward freedom, toward connection, toward spaciousness in our lives is a powerful tool in our spiritual toolbox. The Buddha is said to begin instructing students by teaching first about generosity. The Buddha would teach that we all have something to give. Materially, sure. But also paying attention to someone, listening deeply, smiling, touching, or thanking them. These are all displays of generosity of spirit. Our generosity, no matter how we practice it, will bring forth our connection to each other and the world upon which we live.

Hymn 37 (purple): ‘For the Fruits of All Creation’

Thanks Sonya. Let’s sing together again now. Our next hymn is number 37 in your purple books: ‘For the Fruits of All Creation’. The words will be up on screen as usual. Feel free to stand or sit as you prefer.

For the fruits of all creation,
thanks be to God;
for the gifts to every nation
thanks be to God;
for the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safe-keeping,
thanks be to God.

In the just reward of labour,
God’s will is done;
in the help we give our neighbour,
God’s will is done;
in the world-wide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God’s will is done.

For the harvest of the spirit,
thanks be to God;
for the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God;
for the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us.
thanks be to God.

Online Reading: ‘A Season of Glad Giving’ by Karen Hering (adapted) (read by Charlotte)

As the Christmas season approaches, we occupy ourselves with many traditions of giving. Our gifts may be boxed and wrapped, tied in bows and ribbons, laid under trees, or delivered one day at a time. In our many different ways, we participate in this generous giving and grateful receiving, exchanging gifts of time and music as well as material blessings. Yet sometimes, in the flurry of all the festive exchanges, it is easy to lose sight of the real meaning of this glad giving.

For on any day, in any season, a gift is no small thing. Given in gladness and without expectations, a gift is an opening of the heart, an offering of one’s self, an exchange of love, respect, or good will, or all of these at once. Even the simplest of gifts – sometimes especially the simplest – can be a powerful thing. As Jon Kabat-Zinn writes, “At the deepest level, there is no giver, no gift, and no recipient… only the universe rearranging itself.”

In the traditions of many tribal cultures around the world, a gift is something that must, by its nature, keep moving. The person who receives a gift is often expected in time to return it to the one who gave it, give it to someone else, or pass on a different gift in its place. The important thing is to keep the gift moving in the larger sense. A gift held too tightly ceases to be a gift.

As we consider the many gifts we’ve been given over our lifetimes – the talents we’ve received at birth or by training, the circumstances and opportunities that have blessed and shaped us, the comforts we enjoy materially, emotionally, and spiritually – we might ask ourselves how we will keep these gifts moving.

Perhaps this is the reason for the old tradition of writing New Year’s resolutions so soon after the gift-giving traditions of December. It may be the best time for remembering, with gratitude of heart, all that we have been given, and considering, with generosity of spirit, all that we might give back. It may be the best time to understand how we might participate all year long in the radical and restorative rearrangement of the universe.

As we move through this season of giving, let us be grateful for all that we receive, and let us remember to keep our gifts moving.

Meditation: ‘When Giving Is All We Have’ by Alberto Ríos

Thanks Charlotte. We’re moving into a time of meditation now. I’m going to share a poem by Alberto Ríos, ‘When Giving is All We Have’, to continue exploring our theme. The words will take us into 3 minutes of silence which will end with the sound of a bell. Then we’ll hear some music from Xiaowen to continue the meditative mood. So let’s each do what we need to do to get comfortable – adjust your position if you need to – put your feet flat on the floor to ground yourself – close your eyes. As we always say, the words are an offering, feel free to use this time to meditate in your own way.

‘When Giving Is All We Have’ by Alberto Ríos

One river gives / its journey to the next.

We give because someone gave to us.
We give because nobody gave to us.

We give because giving has changed us.
We give because giving could have changed us.

We have been better for it,
We have been wounded by it—

Giving has many faces: It is loud and quiet,
Big, though small, diamond in wood-nails.

Its story is old, the plot worn and the pages too,
But we read this book, anyway, over and again:

Giving is, first and every time, hand to hand,
Mine to yours, yours to mine.

You gave me blue and I gave you yellow.
Together we are simple green. You gave me

What you did not have, and I gave you
What I had to give—together, we made

Something greater from the difference.

Period of Silence and Stillness (~3 minutes) – end with a bell

Interlude: Philip Glass – Glassworks, Opening (played by Xiaowen Shang)

In-Person Reading: ‘On Giving’ by Kahlil Gibran (read by Brian)

You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
For what are your possessions but things you keep and guard for fear you may need them tomorrow?
And tomorrow, what shall tomorrow bring to the overprudent dog
burying bones in the trackless sand as he follows the pilgrims to the holy city?
And what is fear of need but need itself?
Is not dread of thirst when your well is full, the thirst that is unquenchable?

There are those who give little of the much which they have—
and they give it for recognition and their hidden desire makes their gifts unwholesome.
And there are those who have little and give it all.
These are the believers in life and the bounty of life, and their coffer is never empty.
There are those who give with joy, and that joy is their reward.

And there are those who give with pain, and that pain is their baptism.
And there are those who give and know not pain in giving, nor do they seek joy, nor give with mindfulness of virtue;
They give as in yonder valley the myrtle breathes its fragrance into space.
Through the hands of such as these God speaks, and from behind their eyes He smiles upon the earth.

It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding;
And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.
And is there aught you would withhold?
All you have shall some day be given;
Therefore give now, that the season of giving may be yours and not your inheritors’.

You often say, “I would give, but only to the deserving.”
The trees in your orchard say not so, nor the flocks in your pasture.
They give that they may live, for to withhold is to perish.

Surely he who is worthy to receive his days and his nights, is worthy of all else from you.
And he who has deserved to drink from the ocean of life deserves to fill his cup from your little stream.
And what desert greater shall there be, than that which lies in the courage and the confidence, nay the charity, of receiving?
And who are you that men should rend their bosom and unveil their pride,
that you may see their worth naked and their pride unabashed?
See first that you yourself deserve to be a giver, and an instrument of giving.
For in truth it is life that gives unto life while you, who deem yourself a giver, are but a witness.

And you receivers—and you are all receivers—assume no weight of gratitude,
lest you lay a yoke upon yourself and upon him who gives.
Rather rise together with the giver on his gifts as on wings;
For to be overmindful of your debt, is to doubt his generosity
who has the freehearted earth for mother, and God for father.

Invitation Into a Season of Generosity with a responsive ‘Litany for Generosity’ based on words by Joyce Rupp

Thanks Brian. So what can we say about the spirit of generosity? That it’s not really about money – or at least not just about money – though, for sure, there are plenty of charities, campaigns, and good causes out there who are very much in need of financial support, if we have any we can spare. And, I should say, we’re very grateful as a congregation for the generous contributions that people make to the work of this church, through their regular donations, and occasionally through legacies, which have been of great importance in keeping the show on the road here through lean times.

But as Heather Brooks said in the reading we heard from Sonya earlier: ‘generosity is not… primarily, about money. We are generous with our time. We can share our knowledge and skills generously. We can be emotionally generous… paying attention to someone, listening deeply, smiling, touching, or thanking them. These are all displays of generosity of spirit.’ The readings from Karen Hering and Kahlil Gibran also both remind us that generosity is about the endless interplay of giving and receiving – ‘keeping our gifts moving’ – for ‘life gives unto life’ – and as Jon Kabat-Zinn said ‘at the deepest level, there is no giver, no gift, and no recipient… only the universe rearranging itself.’

So the invitation of today’s service is this: I invite you to make this Advent a ‘Season of Generosity’.

There’s a little yellow slip of paper in your order of service if you’re here in the building – and if you’re at home Charlotte’s going to put a link in the chat to a downloadable version – it’s simple: there’s a space for every day from now until Christmas for you to jot down a generous moment that you notice each day. This might be an act of generosity that you do yourself – a generous moment that you’ve intentionally created – or it might be one you witness someone else doing.

Or as it says on the little form: ‘Look out for opportunities to be generous – in the broadest sense of the word – not just in the sense of giving material gifts or making donations to good causes, but offering a helping hand, taking time to listen, interpreting situations charitably, cutting people some slack, etc. Also look out for the spirit of generosity at work all around you in the kindnesses of others. Try to spot or create a ‘generous moment’ each day – small or large – and make a note of it on this page, or in a journal, or on your phone. And tell us about it!’

That’s your mission, if you choose to accept it! I look forward to hearing more about your ‘Season of Generosity’ – over tea, or in the WhatsApp group – over the next few weeks of the advent season.

So I invite you now to join in a shared reading – a ‘Litany of Generosity’ – which is in your order of service and also the words will be up on screen in a minute. It’s up to you, you can either join in with the first line in each pair of lines, which repeats is the same each time, or you can join in with the response, which changes each time, or you can join me in saying the whole thing out loud.

‘Litany of Generosity’ based on words by Joyce Rupp

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may fully appreciate all your many gifts to us.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may give without counting the cost.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may share without expecting something in return.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may know the joy that comes from helping others.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may freely share all of the blessings we have been given.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may hold our treasures in an open hand.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may be gracious and unbegrudging in our giving.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may learn the difference between what we need and what we want.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may recognize the many gifts in each passing day.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may know the freedom that comes with true generosity.

Spirit of Life, God of All Love, give us generous hearts:
so we may live lives of gratitude in service of the highest good.

May it be so for the greater good of all. Amen.

Hymn 200 (purple): ‘What Does the Lord Require?’

Time for our last hymn, number 200 in your purple books, ‘What Does the Lord Require?’ – a hymn which asks what it means for us to live rightly. It might seem a bit tangential to our theme but there’s something in the refrain – ‘true justice do, love mercy too, and walk with God’ – to love mercy – to me that speaks to the spirit of generosity. So please sing up as best you can for our closing hymn.

What does the Lord require
for praise and offering?
What sacrifice desire,
or tribute bid us bring?
But only this: true justice do,
love mercy too, and walk with God.

True justice always means
defending of the poor,
the righting of the wrong,
reforming ancient law.
This is the path, true justice do,
love mercy too, and walk with God.

Love mercy and be kind,
befriend, forgive, always,
and welcome all who come
to sing with us in praise:
and in this way, true justice do,
love mercy too, and walk with God.

Yes, humbly walk that way,
free from all pompous pride,
in quiet simplicity,
God always at our side:
thus evermore, true justice do,
love mercy too, and walk with God.

Sharing of News, Announcements, Introductions

Thanks to Ramona for tech-hosting. Thanks to Charlotte for welcoming everyone online. Thanks to Sonya, Charlotte, and Brian for reading. Thanks to Xiaowen for our music today. Thanks Liz for doing coffee and Juliet for greeting. For those of you who are in-person – please do stay for a cuppa and cake after the service – it’s served in the hall next door. I’ve made ginger cake with lemon icing this week. If you’re joining online please do hang on after for a chat with Charlotte.

We have various small group activities during the week. Heart and Soul, our contemplative spiritual gathering, takes place twice a week online. It’s a great way to get to know people more deeply. Send me an email if you want to sign up for Sunday or Friday. The theme is ‘True Feelings’. And we’ll also be gathering in-person this Wednesday night at 7pm. Let me know if you’ll be there.

As ever Sonya is here with her Nia dance classes on Friday lunchtimes from 12.30pm.

We’ve got loads of other notable events coming up in the coming weeks: Our Community Singing group will be back on Wednesday, 13th December, at 7pm, it’s free, and fun. It’s a collaboration with a brilliant local musician who’s skilled at getting a great sound out of us all. Everyone is welcome and you don’t need to read music; the repertoire is mostly classic pop and folk.

Our main carol service is on Sunday 17th December, we’ll have our quartet of singers, and it’ll be followed by a potluck lunch; please let Patricia know if you’re going to come and what you’ll bring. We’ll also be having our traditional candlelit service at 5pm on Christmas Eve (no 11am that day).

And please save the date for a winter solstice event – we’ll have a short concert of midwinter folk songs from our friend Marilisa Valtazanou on Friday 22nd December at 6pm – followed by time for festive treats and a small group gathering to mark the solstice through readings and sharing. Do let me know if you’re planning to come to that as it’d be really helpful to get a sense of numbers.

Next Sunday we’ll be back at the new time of 11am, with a service on ‘Disability Visibility’, which will draw on insights of some brilliant disability activists, to mark the International Day of Disabled People.

Details of all our various activities are printed on the back of the order of service, for you to take away, and also in the Friday email. Please do sign up for the mailing list if you haven’t already. The congregation very much has a life beyond Sunday mornings; we encourage you to keep in touch, look out for each other, and do what you can to nurture supportive connections.

I think that’s everything. Just time for our closing words and closing music now.

Benediction: loosely based on words by Charles A. Howe

As we depart from this place of sanctuary,
let us be thankful for the life that sustains and renews us,
receptive and open to the grace that surrounds and surprises us, each day.

May we go forth from this sacred gathering,
guided by the spirit of generosity, with compassionate hearts,
awakened, responsive, and ready to give of ourselves, for the sake of Love. Amen.

Closing Music: J.S Bach (arr. Myra Hess) – Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (played by Xiaowen Shang)

Rev. Dr. Jane Blackall

26th November 2023