In times of devastating loss and disorienting transitions it often seems impossible to reconnect with contentment, much less joy.  Love of self and others can be a stretch.  The Easter story is one of resurrection of love incarnate, the reanimation of our soul as we begin to find hope, an invitation to open to joy … Continue reading Opening to Joy

Deciding to have joy is an act of resistance.  Embracing joy, especially in the face of adversity or authoritarian rule, is a forceful and defiant act, a way of reclaiming agency and challenging those in power.  Joy contains the seeds of hope.  Joy undermines those trying to control others through fear and intimidation.  Yes, joy … Continue reading Joy as Bravery

“When I first came in I did not expect to find such warm and inquiring minds, such open and honest share, laughter, oh laughter everywhere.”  These choral lyrics will help welcome our largest cohort of new members in recorded history.  While there may not be laughter everywhere, there is a joy being in community, belonging … Continue reading Joy of Community

“Trust is like the air we breathe – when it’s present, nobody really notices; when it’s absent, everybody notices.” (Warren Buffett)  Trust involves vulnerability.  The wounds of broken trust run deep.  Recovery is often hard and not always possible.  Yet without trust we cannot find love or joy in our relationships, nor can we have … Continue reading Restoring Trust

Historically, the Western encounter with difference has been catastrophic:  the extermination and displacement of aboriginal populations, the transatlantic slave trade, and colonialism.  China took a different historical path.  What can we in the West learn about our understanding of racial identity and racism from the Chinese approach to pluralism informed by Chinese philosophy?  How does … Continue reading Metaphysics of Harmony

Trust is core to social capital, the foundation of cooperation, networks, norms, and belonging.  Social capital anchors relationships and helps communities function by fostering a sense of shared purpose, mutual support, and accountability.  There is trust within groups, trust between groups, and trust in institutions and leaders.  Trust is the glue that holds it all … Continue reading Communities of Trust

Michael will offer a look at the culture and institutions of the United States from the perspective of a foreigner impressed by the diversity, inclusion, and pro-active wrestling with tough and ambitious questions of social justice.  

The number of visitors has soared.  Our “Exploring Membership Group” is larger than ever.  There is a longing for belonging, a desire for connection, an expectation of inclusion and sanctuary.  How do we make these aspirations real?  How do we move to making all of us feel at home, feel seen, feel that “sisi ni … Continue reading Can We Connect?

For 198 years, our congregation has evolved and morphed into the community we are today.  What are (some of) the stories that have brought us together, held us together, and will likely bind us together in the years to come?  And how are they related to the stories that bind us together as a larger … Continue reading Stories that Bind Us Together

The narratives we adopt to make sense of life’s vagaries and whims frame how we see ourselves and the world.  Whoever creates the narrative has tremendous influence on how we feel and what seems possible – at the personal level and for groups and peoples.  Claiming the power to tell our own stories can transform … Continue reading Owning and Shaping Your Story