I am excited, and a bit nervous, about March in our congregation. Our worship theme is Christianity, which over the past half century seems to have become the most challenging world religion for us to discuss and experience as Unitarian Universalists. It’s definitely the most challenging world religion for me. Some of what Jesus taught, … Continue reading Teaching about Christianity
All our lives, we need physical spaces where we are warm, sheltered, and safe. Spaces where our bodies can rest, relax, and prepare for our forays into the activities of living. During the month of February as we explore the idea of sanctuary, we will consider many aspects of the concept and ask ourselves, where … Continue reading Finding Sanctuary
One of the great joys of my work is that I get to witness, or sometimes just overhear, the spiritual wonderings and discoveries of people from the nursery to the nursing home. I am eager for this new year, eager to continue the journey with you, eager to think and act together, to reflect on our experiences, and perhaps … Continue reading Learning About Inclusiveness from our Kids
It has been a wonderful month to be your Minister of Lifespan Faith Development. I have received hugs from toddlers who feel safe and loved here at church, overheard a 10-year-old telling his Sunday School teachers that they were “doing a great job” and seemed very experienced because they both knew a lot, laughed with our teenagers as they … Continue reading Faith Formation is in Full Swing
We are very excited about the upcoming church year and the expanded opportunities for adult learning, practice, and service that will be offered two Sundays per month after worship, followed by a community lunch on those days so that we can socialize and share our experiences over a meal. We are also looking forward to … Continue reading Ch-ch-ch-changes!
What is joy, and where does it come from? Is it necessarily fleeting, a height we cannot realistically hope to maintain, or can it be a daily disposition, the ground in which we plant ourselves? I believe that joy – both the dizzying kind and the more ordinary experiences of happiness and contentment – is a side effect of … Continue reading An Ode to Joy
Last Sunday as I was sitting at my desk in the Church School office, I heard two familiar voices in the hallway – one of our six-year-olds, in animated conversation with one of our elders. “I’m a liberal,” I heard the child declare confidently as he opened a door and made his way into the children’s choir rehearsal. A … Continue reading Faith Development Happens Everywhere
Our worship theme for April is Equanimity, and I will freely admit that equanimity is not anything I’m famous for. I laugh easily, cry easily, and while I can be extremely patient with other people’s children, my own personal children? My older son, now 22, came home to visit and got a volley of criticism … Continue reading Equanimity: a Theme for All Ages
We have a challenge for you – with rewards for all and a prize. But first a little background: our Coming of Age program is intended to be a great opportunity for our youth to explore who they are spiritually, ethically, and emotionally. We want them to develop a UU identity, grounded in our history, … Continue reading Ministers’ Challenge
As someone who recently moved and experienced my mother’s death, our December worship theme of “Letting Go” resonates strongly with both my outer and inner self. Reckoning with letting go is a lifelong spiritual task for all of us, because change is inevitable and yet holding on, too, is a human necessity. We are social … Continue reading Letting Go
