We celebrate Christmas with a multigenerational Candlelight Service, full of readings and carols, and will include a Youngstown Christmas pageant, a visit by St. Nick, and lighting the tree. Families are especially welcome – we start at 5 pm.

Christmas can be a hectic time filled with a To Do list worthy of a full-time job. Reflecting on material from Unplug the Christmas Machine by Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staeheli, we will explore the current state of Christmas commercialism and expectations, as well as reflecting on Christmases past. We will explore ways to … Continue reading Dec 18, 2016 – “The Gift of Presence”

We live in an increasingly uncertain and chaotic world. The holidays find many of us amped up and frenetic, as we deal with numerous family and professional obligations. How do we weather the storm? We’ll explore some ideas and techniques for finding personal presence in these times.

Differences can cause fear, inspire curiosity, or bring delight.  When do differences open the way to a pleasant surprise?  How do we interact with difference such that bridges are built?  Let’s reflect on the presence of Unitarian Universalists in the world and how we interact with difference.  All are welcome.

We often believe old stories about ourselves — stories that are no longer true, and may never have been true. These are called ‘thin stories’ in the practice of Narrative Therapy. Instead of continuing to tell these stories, we seek to replace them with hopeful, helpful, and more honest ‘thick stories’. These we seek to … Continue reading Nov 27, 2016 – “Thick Stories, Thin Stories”

Every day we come in contact with strangers – some we pass by quickly and others become an important part of our lives. Speaker Tom Beck will examine the role that strangers play when influencing our lives. During this Thanksgiving Service we will be collecting items that will be delivered to the Richard Brown Memorial … Continue reading Nov 20, 2016 – “Strangers Among Us”

As we finish one of the strangest, most divisive election cycles in any of our lifetimes, we’ll reflect on these times, and seek to discern what drives the current level of polarization. What does the future hold? What needs to change?

Megan Bee will share stories of how her personal experiences traveling the country have translated into the songs she plays on stage. As a naturalist, traveler, and farmer Megan Bee’s music rings with an unquenchable wanderlust and a raw love for the land. True folk-Americana blends over a distinctly clear voice and an acoustic simplicity. … Continue reading Nov 6, 2016 – “Song Stories”

Unitarian Universalism has little to say about death and afterlife compared to most other religions. Indeed, we are left to ponder on our own, or not, as we like. But today, we’ll explore death, and engage in a Day of the Dead ritual.

In the Kabbalah, the mystical teachings of Judaism, there is a story that God created the world out of vessels of light made from parts of God’s essence. But some vessels shattered and the shards, representing brokenness, still carry power and need to be reunited with God. Both mystical and practical effort are required to … Continue reading Podcast: Oct 24, 2016 – “Tikkun Olam – To Repair the World”