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The Seven Principles in Word and Worship
The Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism continue to be plumbed for meaning, depth and inspiration. This elegant volume presents fresh perspectives from seven ministers who joined the ministry after the Principles took their current form. Here are essays, prayers, chalice lightings, litanies, meditations and worship readings on each Principle-helping us reflect on their significance and the ways they call us to ethical action and deeper spirituality.
- GenresReligionSpirituality
124 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 15, 2021
I read this book throughout a "school" year, 2020-2021 as part of a course given by my Unitarian Universalist (UU) church called Wellspring. During last year's Wellspring course (2019-20) we studied the UU sources, and this year we have been studying the seven UU principles through a series of meetings entitled "Deep Questions". I found the essays on each principle interesting and inspiring, as were the prayers and readings at the end of each chapter. This book deepened my understanding of the principles which guide my chosen faith tradition. The UU denomination is in the process of considering/adopting an 8th principle based on racial equality, which is not contained in this book published in 2007.
January 5, 2018
As a former director of programing and worship at my Unitarian Universalist church, this is my favorite liturgical source book. UUs are extraordinary poor liturgists. In fact, this shortcoming is notorious. It is the first criticism from clergy of other denominations. It is a bad joke among UUs (ex. "Why is a UU choir so bad?" "The singers are all reading ahead in the hymnal to see if they agree with the lyrics." Is it a joke if it really happens?). This book is organized for easy reference and yet can be read as a theological essay as well. When I am asked for advice by new worship service facilitators, I give them this book.
June 4, 2019
I think the combination of essays and responsive readings, opening and closing words, and prayers for each principle works well. In any compilation such as this one some of the offerings are going to work better than others for me personally, but I am hopeful that is an indicator that there is lots here to resonant with many different UUs.
July 13, 2013
‘Seven Principles in Word and Worship’ is published by the Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA) Imprint, Skinner House. It is a compendium of seven very short essays, each elaborating on one of the ‘official’ Principles that the UUA affirms and promotes.
UU congregations are notably open and non-creedal, and I’ve seen criticisms of this book that state that these seven principles amount to a creed. Not so – at most the church considers them moral guidelines. As nearly any church member will tell you, no statement of belief, either pronounced by the church organization, or by any individual member, is beyond the realm of free and open discussion and respectful disagreement. UU’s thrive on such discussion. Just read and contemplate the underlying arc of the principles themselves, especially the fourth. This book would be a good place to start.
Each of the seven essays is written by a young UU minister—young enough to have been ordained after the UU statement of Seven guiding Principles was adopted in its current form in 1985.
Rather than simply list the Seven Principles here as officially adopted, I’ve chosen, as a prologue to this review, to share my own poetic interpretation of them. I don’t know if anyone else in the faith has noticed this, or whether the principles were deliberately crafted this way, but I find a clear symmetry to the seven principles, which I’ve reflected in my poetic rendition, offered in my favorite form—the ‘tight-rhymed Fourteener’:
To seven bold-struck rules we hold. The first says ‘All have worth.’
The last declares: ‘Bequeath your heirs a healthy living earth.’
Rules two and six: let justice fix compassion’s primal drive
So world-wide peace achieves release from bonds for all alive.
Our fifth and third rules guide the ‘herd’ of fellow trav’lers all:
Accept and cheer your friends and peers toward growth by common call.
And at the core is number four: for balance springs from this:
Seek to be free, responsibly; dynamic truth is bliss.
In the interest of full disclosure one of these essays is written by Rev. Paige Getty of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD, a congregation of which I was a member.
In addition to the essays, each of which explores the individual's personal take on one of the Principles, there are six short 'Prayers and Readings' appropriate to the theme.
Since I bought the book and read it straight through, I've found myself returning to it as a reference to both broaden and clarify my understanding of a particular Principle. I've also used the readings in some of the Adult Education classes I've attended that are organized by my congregation.
In a nutshell, this is an excellent resource for people new to UUism, because it can serve as both a handbook and a jumping off point for the personal spiritual seeking that UUism so favors.
UU congregations are notably open and non-creedal, and I’ve seen criticisms of this book that state that these seven principles amount to a creed. Not so – at most the church considers them moral guidelines. As nearly any church member will tell you, no statement of belief, either pronounced by the church organization, or by any individual member, is beyond the realm of free and open discussion and respectful disagreement. UU’s thrive on such discussion. Just read and contemplate the underlying arc of the principles themselves, especially the fourth. This book would be a good place to start.
Each of the seven essays is written by a young UU minister—young enough to have been ordained after the UU statement of Seven guiding Principles was adopted in its current form in 1985.
Rather than simply list the Seven Principles here as officially adopted, I’ve chosen, as a prologue to this review, to share my own poetic interpretation of them. I don’t know if anyone else in the faith has noticed this, or whether the principles were deliberately crafted this way, but I find a clear symmetry to the seven principles, which I’ve reflected in my poetic rendition, offered in my favorite form—the ‘tight-rhymed Fourteener’:
To seven bold-struck rules we hold. The first says ‘All have worth.’
The last declares: ‘Bequeath your heirs a healthy living earth.’
Rules two and six: let justice fix compassion’s primal drive
So world-wide peace achieves release from bonds for all alive.
Our fifth and third rules guide the ‘herd’ of fellow trav’lers all:
Accept and cheer your friends and peers toward growth by common call.
And at the core is number four: for balance springs from this:
Seek to be free, responsibly; dynamic truth is bliss.
In the interest of full disclosure one of these essays is written by Rev. Paige Getty of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia, MD, a congregation of which I was a member.
In addition to the essays, each of which explores the individual's personal take on one of the Principles, there are six short 'Prayers and Readings' appropriate to the theme.
Since I bought the book and read it straight through, I've found myself returning to it as a reference to both broaden and clarify my understanding of a particular Principle. I've also used the readings in some of the Adult Education classes I've attended that are organized by my congregation.
In a nutshell, this is an excellent resource for people new to UUism, because it can serve as both a handbook and a jumping off point for the personal spiritual seeking that UUism so favors.
May 14, 2011
I think this is a very good book for anyone who wants to reflect on such matters as ethics,spirituality,and our place in the universe. It is based on the Unitarian/Universalist principles, but discusses ideas of general interest.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews