UUFP meets next on...
Sunday, February 21
at 3:00 PM
Visiting minister
the Rev. John Harley
"In Praise of our Uncertainties"
The Rev John Harley suggests that we train our doubts to become our best workers. In a world in which the search for certainty seems to be gaining currency how can we find solid ground in our not knowing? With help from Rainer Maria Rilke and Rumi.
Where We Meet
Temple de Pentemont
(Eglise réformée de France)
106 rue de Grenelle
Paris 7e
Location: The location of the church
-- 106 rue de Grenelle -- is between Rue du Bac and Rue de Bellechasse, practically on the corner of Rue de Bellechasse. It is situated just a few blocks from the Musée d’Orsay, on the other side of Boulevard St Germain.
Closest Metro stations: “Solférino”, “Rue du Bac”, line 12. (At the Solférino stop, taking Sortie #1 or #3 means you will not have to cross the Boulevard St Germain. However, Sortie #2 has an escalator; if you take it you must then cross Boulevard St Germain to rue de Bellechasse.)
Other Metro stations: For those who are happy to walk a few more blocks: “Musée d’Orsay” (RER C), “Varenne” (line 13), and “Sévres-Babylone” (line 10).
Buses which run on Sundays:
63 (Porte de la Muette — Gare de Lyon), arrêt “Solférino-Bellechasse”,
68 (Place de Clichy — Châtillon-Montrouge), arrêt “Rue de Bac-René Char”,
94 (on Sundays runs only Gare Montparnasse — Gare St Lazare),
arrêt “Rue du Bac-René Char”.
Car: Parking is very difficult in the neighborhood which has many government buildings. It is easy to park temporarily at the front door of the church to drop off passengers. The closest public parking garages are the “Bac-Montalembert” on the corner of Rue du Bac and Rue Montalembert, and the “Musée d’Orsay” on the Quai Anatole France.
Cafés: Two cafés near the church which are open on Sundays: Café Mucha on the corner of rue de Bellechasse and Boulevard St Germain, and Le Florès on the corner of the Rue de Grenelle and the Rue du Bac.
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January President's Letter
Today -- January 6th -- was the first day that I noticed more light at 5 o'clock. I distinctly remember a very dark 5 o'clock moment on a similar Wednesday, just three weeks ago. Now, I happen to like the darkness. There is a certain peacefulness in the quiet of a dark day. But today, I was heartened. I love this kind of winter moment! Despite the cold, despite the darkness, there is this hint of hope and a reminder that the Earth is still moving along its age-old path around the Sun. We have begun emerging (once again) from the dark cave that surrounds this end of the year.
No matter what we do -- well or poorly -- the Earth keeps turning. That's a reassuring thought! The seasons keep changing. We keep living. People keep smiling or grumping. Things keep breaking, and getting lost, and becoming found, sometimes fixed. For some of us who try a little too hard to control our lives (and sometimes the lives of others, as my daughter daily reminds me), it's helpful to remember that it is not necessary to try so hard to make it all turn out "right". Because in fact, it seems that how things turn out in the bigger scheme of things isn't really under my control. Apparently. Much of the time.
But paradoxically, it seems I can have huge impact. A decision to smile. Handing someone a loaf of bread. An hour on public transport to deliver donations. A weekend given over to a project that someone else is really interested in. Daily emptying of pockets into our Guest at Your Table box on the dining table. A pause and well-chosen words. The recipients of such gifts show immediately that these are not wasted gestures. And the degree of connectedness I feel with each such chosen action reveals the two-way benefit of social action. Often, there is an even wider impact, depending on who sees the action. I believe there is almost always a witness who is inspired to act in kind. I know that I am often inspired to change my behavior thanks to the example of another, whether it is someone in front of me, a memory of personal contact, or a real or fictional hero that I read about in a book.
This month, our UU Fellowship of Paris is focusing on Social Action and Social Justice. ...
(Click
here to continue reading this and past President's letters.)
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