UUFSMA: “A Forgiveness Practice”

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Sunday Service

“A Forgiveness Practice”
Speaker: Reverend Tom Rosiello

Sunday, October 2, 2022
10:30 am

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/414604040

Password: 294513

By Joseph Plummer

UUFSMA Board Secretary

In this Sunday’s service Reverend Tom Rosiello, Minister of the Fellowship, takes his inspiration from the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which is observed this year from sundown October 4 to sundown October 5.

The second of the High Holy Days on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur invites the faithful to celebrate a time of forgiving and seeking forgiveness. And, in the days leading to Yom Kippur, Jewish people practice “teshuva,” which is known in English as “returning.”

“Through a spiritual practice of forgiveness,” Rev. Rosiello reminds us, “we return to our better selves by letting go of feelings, attitudes, and other obstacles that hold us back from relationships and attitudes that take us to happier places in our lives. By forgiving ourselves and each other, we become able to move forward with refreshed minds and renewed spirits.”

The service will include music associated with Yom Kippur, as well as declaration of the Kol Nidre, which is recited before both evening services. The Old Testament story of Jonah’s anger with the Ninevites will be the springboard for this discussion.

“We will consider examples from today’s world and our own lives of being held back by failures to forgive, as well as what is possible when forgiveness prevails,” Rev. Rosiello says.

The service will also offer a children’s program with bilingual instructors based on the UU principles of “Justice, Equity, and Compassion” related to Yom Kippur and the adult’s service. Regardless of religious background or beliefs, all children and adults are welcome to attend. For information on the Children’s program, contact anne.geyer@comcast.net or chris.chase1955@gmail.com.

Unitarian Universalism is a liberal faith inviting its community to gather around a set of harmonizing values and principles for living. Our UU Fellowship welcomes people of all ages, races, religions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Belief in a divinity is not the central issue around which we gather for worship and generous action. Rather, we come together with a belief in community, love, compassion, social justice, and reverence for nature, all within the interconnected web of existence.

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