Oct. 1, 2023- Loosen, Loosen, Baby

A single cylinder of interlaced bamboo strips seems delicate around two pointers–at least at first. But soon, they’ll want out. Without thinking, the digits back away from their closeness and find themselves stuck in place. Neither force nor frenzy will help; not twisting, not waiting, not pulling apart. The mind will need to calm to think of something beyond what’s worked before. The hands will need a wiser, more elegant idea to get free from the finger trap. Hubris would teach us to limit our trust to the ideas we already know. Panic for the problems around us will tighten our grip on what’s familiar. Living from fear for the future will only make it harder to remember the wisdom in the generations. To make space for what we’ve not imagined, we’ll need to release some of what we have. To get free will mean to decenter a lot of what we think we can control, what’s common, what’s cozy, what’s currently clear. To grasp what love needs from us now, how can we relieve the tensions which trap us? To get to freedom, what would happen if we found the way to loosen up and let go? Singing to Gather- Woyaya- Aimee K. Bryant (:31) Call to Worship- Dallas Rising (3:26) Singing Together- Loosen, Loosen, Baby- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (10:45) Story for All Ages- Aimee K. Bryant (14:59) Prayer and Meditation- Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (24:40) Practice of Giving and Receiving- Rev. Arif Mamdani (35:25) Offertory- Aimee K. Bryant and Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout (38:23) Reading- Generous Listening by Marilyn Nelson- Dallas Rising (42:19) Anthem- Aimee K. Bryant (44:09) Message- Loosen, Loosen, Baby- Rev. Jen Crow (48:29) Hymn and Benediction- (1:06:09)