2016
24 January,Rev. Geoff Usher: “Cleaning Up”
Most of us are clearing up the debris and getting back to normal after the rush and busy-ness of Christmas and New Year celebrations. Cleaning up is one of life’s basic realities. We can explore it on three levels: personal, institutional and spiritual cleaning up. Zen simplicity is that state of being in which we have been able to clear away the karma of the past and the life cluster of the present, to savour the moment in the name of an unencumbered future.
31st January, Laurence Gormley: “The Age of Terrorism”.
A brief exploration of the roots of contemporary terrorism including its relationship with religion, followed by a general discussion amongst the congregation.
7 February, Martin Horlacher: “The Power and the Passion”
We all want to break free, we all want to *live*. But it’s never that easy…but even so, don’t give up!
14 February, Helen Whatmough: “Saint Valentine”
Valentine’s Day – facts and fables from Roman times to modern times; Western world to Asia and the middle East.
21 February, Jan Tendys: “Catherine Helen Spence – A Unitarian High Achiever”.
Unitarians are known for their practical responses to the need for social justice as much as for their progressive theology. Both these aspects of our faith played a role in the life of this outstanding Australian.
28 February, Rev. Geoff Usher: “Ten Characteristics of Religious Maturity” Part 1.
Mature religion grows with out increasing knowledge of the world. It is willing to accept today’s truth, even though this means giving up the cherished comfortable truths of yesterday. Mature religion is vitally interested in the world around it, and in improving that world. This mini-series of two services will consider what a truly mature religious position might be like.
6 March, Martin Horlacher: “Right and Wrong”
The issue of just what is right, and what is wrong, is easily one of the perennial questions of moral philosophy, and one that has plagued ethicists and thinkers for perhaps as long as humanity has existed. However, whilst this talk will indeed ask this very question, it will also seek to engender discussion, rather than impose any one view as the definitive answer.
13 March, Rev. Geoff Usher: “Ten Characteristics of Religious Maturity,” Part 2
Mature religion grows with out increasing knowledge of the world. It is willing to accept today’s truth, even though this means giving up the cherished comfortable truths of yesterday. Mature religion is vitally interested in the world around it, and in improving that world. This mini-series of two services will consider what a truly mature religious position might be like.
20 March, Colin Whatmough: “Seeking a New Easter”
Where a Resurrection of thought will better serve the needs of the Western World in the 21st Century
27 March, Easter No meeting
3 April, Martin Horlacher: “The Good Life”
Australian author and philosopher Hugh Mackay has spent his entire working life asking others about their values, motivations, ambitions, hopes and fears. In his new book, “The Good Life”, he examines what he feels makes a life worth living – and this talk will examine the conclusions he draws.
10 April, Carolyn Donnelly: “What’s the use of Dr Seuss?”
Turning the pages and focusing on the concepts, principles and purposes of his children’s books, and his association with Unitarian Universalists, during Theodur (Ted) Suess Geisel’s lifetime.
17 April, Lyn Macpherson (guest speaker): “Truth”
Lyn will discuss her recent book.
24 April, Anzac weekend. No service.
8 May, Rev. Geoff Usher: “Mothers Day”
Charles Simmons said: “If you would reform the world from its errors and vices, begin by enlisting the mothers.” But there are some mothers who should not be enlisted. Let us not put mothers on a pedestal. Let us not idealise them to the point they become unreal, fondly sentimentalised paintings, rather than flesh and blood.
15 May, Colin Whatmough: “Vietnam – the Sorrow of War”
22 May, Jan Tendys: “How did Unitarian Universalism arrive at its Principles and Purposes?”
How did the American Unitarians (Christians but unconventional) transition to today’s even more unconventional Unitarian Universalists where Christianity is one option among many?
29 May, Rev. Geoff Usher: “Leisure and Bustle: A Contrast”
In his poem “What is life ….?” W. H. Davies wrote:
“What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
……………
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance,
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.”
Even in our modern, busy, industrialised society, it is important to take time “to stand and stare”.
5 June, Martin Horlacher: “Spinoza: Was He the Prince of Philosophers?”
Baruch Spinoza is widely considered one of the greatest rationalist philosophers not only of 17th-century Europe, but perhaps of all time, laying the groundwork for the 18th-century Enlightenment and modern biblical criticism, as well as modern conceptions of the self and the universe. His moral character and philosophical accomplishments throughout his 44 years of life have led one 20th-century philosopher to name him “the ‘prince’ of philosophers”, and this talk will examine why.
12 June, No service (Market day. Kirribilli).
19 June, Jan Tendys: “And so she returned to her old friend.”
Sometimes we need to rediscover what we knew early in our lives.
26 June, Rev. Geoff Usher: “Flowers and Rainbows.”
The rainbow is an excellent example of unity in diversity. All those lovely colours come together to make the rainbow. We need all seven colours there, or the rainbow just wouldn’t be right. It can remind us that we are often blind to hidden beauty around us all the time.
3 July, Martin Horlacher: “Spinoza: Was He the Prince of Philosophers?”
Baruch Spinoza is widely considered one of the greatest rationalist philosophers not only of 17th-century Europe, but perhaps of all time, laying the groundwork for the 18th-century Enlightenment and modern biblical criticism, as well as modern conceptions of the self and the universe. His moral character and philosophical accomplishments throughout his 44 years of life have led one 20th-century philosopher to name him “the ‘prince’ of philosophers”, and this talk will examine why.
10 July, No service (Market day. Kirribilli).
17 July, Colin Whatmough: “Iraq: Corruption, Crime, Oil.”
24 July, Sandy Biar: “Change Makers and Unitarian Values: the Qualities of Effective Leaders”
Many of the inherent traits of Unitarians are the same traits that underpin effective community organisers and leaders – curiosity, irreverence, imagination, a free and open mind and a sense of humour. We’ll explore how these values are at the heart of reform and movement building, and how they can help us chart a course towards a stronger movement in Australia for Unitarian values.
31 July, Rev. Geoff Usher: “Ram Mohan Roy and the Brahmo Samaj.”
The Brahmo Samaj was formed in Calcutta early in the 19th century, during a drive to reform Hinduism and Indian society. It continues to this day as a small but influential movement, based in India but with branches in other places around the world. Ram Mohan Roy, who was generally regarded as the Founder of Modern India, was particularly important in the reform movement which led to the formation of the Brahmo Samaj.
7 August, Martin Horlacher: “Nous: Intellectuals and Modern Society”
In a society ruled by dumbed-down attitudes to culture and five-second sound bites, the role of the intellectual – be it in a public or private capacity – has never been under greater threat. This talk will examine what can possibly be done to combat this problem.
14 August, No service owing to markets at Kirribilli.
21 August, Ginna Hastings: “How do we deal with evil in our world?”
Tragedies abound, world peace seems a lost cause, selfish aggression is rampant. What do we do?
28 August, Rev. Geoff Usher: “Fungi, Rabbits and Sheep”
Beatrix Potter is best known as an author and illustrator, the creator of Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-duck, Tom Kitten and Mrs Tittlemouse. She was also a farmer, sheep-breeder and respected show judge. And she was a generous supporter of the National Trust, to which she bequeathed most of her estate.
4 September, Martin Horlacher: “Was Monotheism a Mistake?”
Are many gods better than one or vice versa?
11 September, No service today owing to markets.
18 September, Helen Whatmough: “Privacy Issues in Today’s World”
A review of privacy issues in our world today; government, social media, even shopping centres—an all pervasive issue.
25 September, Rev. Geoff Usher: “Good news in the Present Tense.”
I feel uncomfortable when I am confronted by people whose earnest wish is to convert me: to persuade me that their particular religious sect—their view of Biblical Truth—their interpretation of the Will of God—is the only true and right one.
I am more interested—and more likely to be convinced—if someone wants to tell me about a local organisation that is trying to do something: to alleviate suffering, or to improve the lot of people in the local community.
2 October, No Service
9 October, No Service
16 October,Ginna Hastings: “Has our society lost its moral compass?”
With all the press reports about corruption in many places in our society, it feels like we have lost our moral compass as a society. Have we really?
23 October, Colin Whatmough: “Privatisation – the Extent and the Myth”
Australia once prided itself as an egalitarian nation which it is not now. The significant difference between then and now is our current commitment to privatisation.
30 October, Rev. Geoff Usher: “A Perpetual Parsonical Problem”.
One of the biggest problems in announcing sermon titles in advance is that people may think they know what you’re going to say, so they think they need not come to hear it.
6 November, Martin Horlacher: “Ephemeral Dymaxion: The Life and Philosophical Times of Buckminster Fuller.”
An architect, systems theorist, author, designer, environmental activist and inventor, Buckminster Fuller was also a Unitarian – and one whose powerful philosophical influence is still very relevant today.
13 November, No service owing to Kirribilli markets.
20 November, Martin Horlacher: “Postmodernism.”
Postmodernism describes both an era and a broad movement that developed in the mid to late 20th century across philosophy, the arts, architecture, and criticism which marked a departure from modernism. But, just how far-reaching is its influence, and is it a good thing, or not?
27 November, Rev. Geoff Usher: “Paper Bags and Calabashes.”
All of us need the discrimination to know whether we are seeing nothing because there is truly nothing to be seen, or whether we are seeing nothing because we are unaware, insensitive, unperceptive, or lacking in spiritual insight. We need to work for the integration of the material and the ideal, our doubts and our beliefs.