Sunday, August 24, 2025
Mary Oliver: Shining a Light on Our 7th UU Principle
Presented by Cynthia Grzywinski
Mary Oliver, a beloved contemporary American poet, continues to inspire millions of readers with her beautiful, seemingly simplistic verse that celebrates the natural world in all its glory from the tiniest grasshopper to the magnificence of flying geese. Her poetry, with its frequent “aha!” endings, could grab you by the solar plexus and almost viscerally connect us UUs to our 7th principle, “Respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part.” Oliver, an introverted and private person, rarely gave interviews, yet perhaps we can draw back the curtain a bit for a few glimpses into her life, her loves, and above all, her evocative poetry.
Cynthia, a UUCSJS member, has been affiliated with this community since 2005. She currently serves as a member of the Nominations Committee and has been active in local environmental and social justice causes. She is a retired FAA Engineering Research Psychologist. A lover of music, Cynthia is a member of the UUCSJS choir who on occasion you’ll see at the piano or playing the flute – sometimes at the UU Coffeehouse. Recently she rejoined the Grace Notes Hospice Choir. A devotee and practitioner of Buddhism, she also belongs to the UU Buddhist Sangha. Cynthia, with her partner David, resides in Galloway Township.
Tune in remotely by visiting our Facebook page for Livestream of this service.
