Love and the Value of Generosity
Explore These Resources
  • From Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love, ed by LInnea Nelson, Skinner House 2022.
    • “Creating Robust Communities of Care” by Sky Gavis-Hughson from B, pages 121-126.
    • “No One Is Outside the Circle of Love” by Rev. Elizabeth Nguyen p. 127
  • Explore some of the iterations and etymology of the saying, “Blessed are those who plant trees under whose shade they will never sit.” 

“Being ‘kind’ seems to take being ‘nice’ a bit further in being gracious, generous, empathetic and hospitable,” Plante said. “It involves action and intentions beyond just politeness or niceness. Both demonstrate good social skills and a gracious manner, but I believe that being kind is a higher level of engagement, behavioral intentions and commitment than being nice.”

“Nice vs. Kind: The Difference Is Significant” by Caroline Bologna, Huffington Post, October 19, 2024.

Experience: Out In the World

  • Choose one small way you can express generosity out in the world. Do it, don’t tell anyone, and then reflect on the experience. What did you notice? What do you imagine the world might be like if there were many people striving to express generosity purely for the sake of it, without filming it to put on the internet or otherwise expecting congratulations?
Love and the Value of Justice

Explore these Resources

  • “Liberating Love” by Fredric Muir in Chapter 23 of Love at the Center: Unitarian Universalist Theologies edited by Rev. Dr. Sophía Betancourt.
  • Section (7 ½ minutes) from Martin Luther King Jr. ‘Birth of a New Nation’ April 7, 1957
    • Audio Recording (28:10 – 35:43) 
    • Sermon Text The whole thing is fantastic, but specifically read (or listen to the audio) from “there is a great day ahead…” to “… that we will be able to live with people as their brothers and sisters.”)
    • “The Miseducation of Justice-Making” excerpted in the UUA Worship Web from Nathan C. Walker. Exorcising Preaching: Crafting Intellectually Honest Worship. St. Louis: Chalice Press. 2014.
  • Read through these tips and reflect on your own answers. These tips are just a few from a longer resource called, “Safety Planning for Protests,” from The NYC Anti-Violence Project.
    • How might my perceived race, gender, sexuality and other identity factors impact the ways that police and community members interact with me or target me?
    • Are there factors that increase risks to my safety if I am arrested, surveilled by police or documented by media or fellow protestors, including around immigration, outstanding warrants, mental or physical health needs, or other risks? 
    • How well have I slept and how is my mental health today? Will either of these factors negatively impact my ability to make clear, fast decisions in a scary moment?
    • How is my body feeling today? Am I able to get away quickly if a situation escalates?

Please come prepared to share based on one of these storytelling prompts:

  • Tell a brief anecdote about an act of generosity you have witnessed or experienced, particularly one that is not about money. Why was that situation meaningful? What feelings or sensations did it bring up?
  • Tell a brief anecdote about an act of justice you have witnessed or experienced, where justice or equity was established or restored due to someone’s actions. (Rather than where justice or equity was restored by “karma” or natural consequences.) What made it particularly meaningful or effective?
  • Tell a brief anecdote about a missed opportunity to express generosity or take action to make something more just. Were there barriers? What were they? What were the outcomes? What might you do differently, given the opportunity?