INTIMATIONS OF A NEW UNIVERSALISM A Reflection the Whence and Whither of Unitarian Universalism A Sermon 3 October 2010 James Ishmael Ford First Unitarian Church Providence, Rhode Island Text Do you belong to a religion that says humankind is not divided— except by ignorance and prejudice and hate; the religion that sees humankind as naturally one and waiting to be spiritually united; the religion that proclaims an end to all exclusions—and declares a brotherhood and sisterhood unbounded! The religion that... Read more

J. R. R. Tolkien died on this day in 1973. His books were a part of the background of my young adulthood, for which I remain grateful… Read more

I’m shocked and moved and grateful that people have found this little blog of some interest in their lives. I have no idea what is supposed to be a big number in this universe, but let me tell you a quarter of a million visits sounds like a big number to me. I’m so glad when four years and a month ago and I was about to go on sabbatical friends encouraged me to blog as a way to keep... Read more

Mostly a note to those of my friends who are disappointed that Mr Obama isn’t the radical of your dreams and if you are thinking of sitting out the congressional election… Pull your darned socks up. Geeze… Read more

Annie Besant was born on this day in 1847. Certainly one of the more remarkable people I’m aware of. A prominent political figure in England, as a journalist she was assigned to review a new book by the equally remarkable spiritualist medium and now founder of the Theosophical Society, Madame Helena Blavatsky. It looks she intended to expose the controversial figure. However, repeating more or less what had happened earlier with another journalist, instead of exposing Blavatsky, she converted and... Read more

According to Wikipedia on this day in 1207 Jalalaldin Rumi, Persian mystic and poet was born. Nice to have that in my heart as I dash off to sesshin. Read more

According to a recent Pew study Americans are woefully ignorant about religions… Want to know what you know? Check out the fifteen questions for yourself. (Now, I’m a professional, so it should be no surprise, but, me, I got fifteen out of fifteen, he says modestly…) Read more

On this day in 1066, William, Duke of Normany and his band of barely civilized, barely Frenchified Norsemen crossed the channel and began their conquest of England. Soon his bloody hand would put a king’s crown on his brow. Among the band of brigands was my direct male ancestor. He appears to have done rather well, as well… Another hundred years or so after some of his descendants would cross to Ireland, and for their bloody deeds would be given... Read more

A MEMO TO THE WORSHIP COMMITTEE A Background Document James Ishmael Ford Twenty years ago when I was, as we say in my trade, in search for my first pulpit, I wrote a series of essays about my understanding of some crucial aspects of church life. I am now serving the fourth congregation in my ministerial career. While one should never say never, I do not expect to be in formal search for a call again. Some of what this... Read more

GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME A Religious Call for Marriage Equality A Sermon by James Ishmael Ford 26 September 2010 First Unitarian Church Providence, Rhode Island Text On the 23rd of April 2010, our congregation voted its third covenant since our first gathering together as a congregation in 1720. It reads: We, the members of the First Unitarian Church of Providence, with respect for the worth and dignity of each person, with wonder at the light we know... Read more