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Welcome to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Oxford. We are a liberal religious community based on LOVE. ALL that share our values of Love, Justice, Equity, Transformation, Pluralism, Interdependence, and Generosity are welcome here.
Services at UUCO are held each Sunday at 10:30am
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Minister's Musings
By Rev. Sarah Osborne
Written by cantor Linda Hirschhorn, “Circle ‘Round for Peace” is a hauntingly beautiful hymn found in our grey hymnal #155. According to my favorite source for all things UU music, Rev. Kimberley Debus has this to say about it on her website Far Fringe, “This is a great piece-best sung a capella, with three strong song leaders to help fill in the rich harmony.” My absolute favorite recording of this piece comes from my friend and colleague, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, which you can find on YouTube here. Dr. Rideout’s angelic voice is mesmerizing and soothing. When I am troubled or stressed about the state of our country, I listen to this recording to ground and center myself. And I admit, I like to sing along in harmony with Dr. Rideout.
Let’s take a look at the lyrics so you can see why I find this hymn so meaningful:
Circle ‘round for freedom, circle ‘round for peace,
For all of us imprisoned, circle for release,
Circle for the planet, circle for each soul,
For the children of our children, keep the circle whole.
The call of our Unitarian Universalist faith is summed up in this short ditty and it explains why we come together. Having a faith home is important because it’s where we learn together to get free, where we wrestle with the complexity of humanity so that we can make sense of our lives. We come together to work for peace-our ability to create justice works most effectively when we all blend our voices for a common purpose and mission. We circle round to remember our interdependence and our inherent dignity. And we come together to figure out ways to heal ourselves, each other, and the planet-because we must leave a better place for future generations.
Unitarian Universalism is no easy faith. We have no dogma, no creed, no fear motivating us. We aspire to center love in all we do, we believe in each other, and what holds us together is our commitments to being in right relationship as we seek to improve our lives and discover liberation. And yet, because we are human, we fail at this often and sometimes spectacularly. I think circling back to this hymn and singing it for ourselves and for each other helps us get back on track. It seems simple, but sometimes
you need to hit the pause button occasionally to remember whose you are. If we are to stay in the long haul for liberation, we must find time for beauty and appreciation and generosity. A circle is no hierarchy, a circle doesn’t fight for power or rightness. A circle is interdependent, a circle makes space for everyone, a circle is collaborative and healing. A circle flows on and on…
I want to teach our children that we are stronger together and that we can right wrongs when we come together. Change and progress are sometimes slow, but if we keep widening the circle, we eventually find peace for everyone. That’s my prayer for us all. Keep the circle whole, my friends.
This June, I will be at the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly in Baltimore, where I will be participating in professional development at Ministry Days, offering support to our UU professional organizations- LREDA, AUUM, AUUMP, and AUUMM- as a trainer for the Good Offices program, engaging in workshops and worship, and circling ‘round with hundreds of UUs. The remainder of the month, I’ll be on study leave and vacation. While I’m gone, keep on singing.
“For the children of our children, keep the circle whole.”
With love at the center,
Rev. Sarah
By Rev. Sarah Osborne
Written by cantor Linda Hirschhorn, “Circle ‘Round for Peace” is a hauntingly beautiful hymn found in our grey hymnal #155. According to my favorite source for all things UU music, Rev. Kimberley Debus has this to say about it on her website Far Fringe, “This is a great piece-best sung a capella, with three strong song leaders to help fill in the rich harmony.” My absolute favorite recording of this piece comes from my friend and colleague, Dr. Glen Thomas Rideout, which you can find on YouTube here. Dr. Rideout’s angelic voice is mesmerizing and soothing. When I am troubled or stressed about the state of our country, I listen to this recording to ground and center myself. And I admit, I like to sing along in harmony with Dr. Rideout.
Let’s take a look at the lyrics so you can see why I find this hymn so meaningful:
Circle ‘round for freedom, circle ‘round for peace,
For all of us imprisoned, circle for release,
Circle for the planet, circle for each soul,
For the children of our children, keep the circle whole.
The call of our Unitarian Universalist faith is summed up in this short ditty and it explains why we come together. Having a faith home is important because it’s where we learn together to get free, where we wrestle with the complexity of humanity so that we can make sense of our lives. We come together to work for peace-our ability to create justice works most effectively when we all blend our voices for a common purpose and mission. We circle round to remember our interdependence and our inherent dignity. And we come together to figure out ways to heal ourselves, each other, and the planet-because we must leave a better place for future generations.
Unitarian Universalism is no easy faith. We have no dogma, no creed, no fear motivating us. We aspire to center love in all we do, we believe in each other, and what holds us together is our commitments to being in right relationship as we seek to improve our lives and discover liberation. And yet, because we are human, we fail at this often and sometimes spectacularly. I think circling back to this hymn and singing it for ourselves and for each other helps us get back on track. It seems simple, but sometimes
you need to hit the pause button occasionally to remember whose you are. If we are to stay in the long haul for liberation, we must find time for beauty and appreciation and generosity. A circle is no hierarchy, a circle doesn’t fight for power or rightness. A circle is interdependent, a circle makes space for everyone, a circle is collaborative and healing. A circle flows on and on…
I want to teach our children that we are stronger together and that we can right wrongs when we come together. Change and progress are sometimes slow, but if we keep widening the circle, we eventually find peace for everyone. That’s my prayer for us all. Keep the circle whole, my friends.
This June, I will be at the Unitarian Universalist Association’s General Assembly in Baltimore, where I will be participating in professional development at Ministry Days, offering support to our UU professional organizations- LREDA, AUUM, AUUMP, and AUUMM- as a trainer for the Good Offices program, engaging in workshops and worship, and circling ‘round with hundreds of UUs. The remainder of the month, I’ll be on study leave and vacation. While I’m gone, keep on singing.
“For the children of our children, keep the circle whole.”
With love at the center,
Rev. Sarah