The fifth of a multi-part series on putting our Principles in Practice. We will focus on the prophetic call embedded in our Principles. During my visit to Mexico, several contacts grasped that we do not truly have a democracy in the USA, even if they didn’t fully understand the electoral college. We’ll consider issues like … Continue reading “Re-Imagining a Democratic Society”

The fourth of a multi-part series on putting our Principles in Practice. We will focus on the prophetic call embedded in our Principles. We live in a world filled with fake news, spin, gaslighting, and lies at the highest levels. But truthseeking and truthtelling is an important spiritual virtue. We consider our fourth principal’s “free … Continue reading “What is True, Anyway?”

The third of a multi-part series on putting our Principles in Practice. We will focus on the prophetic call embedded in our Principles.

However we live our lives, meekly, just getting by, or vastly, as activists or change agents, we need ways to face the storms that life brings before us. We’ll explore how we can develop inner calm as we cope with the outer storm, as we consider our third principal’s “encouragement to spiritual growth.”

The second of a multi-part series on putting our Principles in Practice. We will focus on the prophetic call embedded in our Principles.

A favorite Bible verse is Amos 5:24 “Let justice roll down like a river, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” In an era when justice for all is under increasing attack, we consider our faith’s call to “justice, equity, and compassion in human relations.”

The first of a multi-part series on putting our Principles in Practice. We will focus on the prophetic call embedded in our Principles.

The election showed us many things. That many votes – the majority, in fact – did not count. But more fundamentally, that great swaths of people in this country feel they don’t count. We’ll begin to unravel this with our first principle, affirming “the inherent worth and dignity of every person.”

Our Christmas Day service offers time to be in the presence of each other, enjoying selections from Olivier Messiaen’s wonderful mid-century piece “Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant Jésus” (“Twenty Contemplations on the Infant Jesus”) played by Marcellene Hawk, interspersed with readings and silence. There will be no Religious Education classes, including Nursery.

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. Worship Leader: Rev. Matt Alspaugh Worship Associate: Gina … Continue reading “Being Present in a Chaotic World”

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 “Thick Stories, Thin Stories”

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?

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. You are encouraged to bring small remembrances (photo, momento, etc.) of those … Continue reading “You Would Know the Secret of Death – Día De Los Muertos”